Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 135
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 135. How to Not Obsess Over a Child Missing for Over Half a Year (4)
After the typhoon named Larimar passed, I moved to have a word with the Chamberlain. But she sat there with a sullen expression, her lips sealed tight, saying nothing. She’d been laughing merrily just moments ago while watching my daughter suffer—so why the sudden silence now?
“My apologies, Your Highness. It seems my mistress is not in the mood to speak today.”
“Ha! Must a Princess concern herself with the feelings of a mere criminal?”
“My apologies. You are well aware of how disrespectful this person can be, are you not, Your Highness?”
I’m well aware of it. But her temperament was tolerated because the Chamberlain was the Lorowi Marquis. Now she’s nothing but a disrespectful little brat, and I have no reason to back down.
“Please, I beg you, forgive her for my sake.”
But when Butler Grandfather adopts such a submissive posture, my resolve weakens. Though I have no memories of the past half year, spending time with him has somehow endeared him to me unconsciously.
“Listen here, Chamberlain! If you act disrespectfully again next time, I’ll have you whipped!”
“Hmph.”
Ugh, I was planning to mock the Marquis mercilessly for ruining the household and ending up in Prison, but out of consideration for Butler Grandfather, I’ll let it slide today.
I kicked the iron bars with my feet, threatening the Chamberlain, and decided to leave the Prison. I could hear Aunt calling out behind me, inviting me to visit again next time.
“Well then, shall we have some fun today?”
“Fun, you say?”
“Don’t you have lessons to attend?”
Huh? Today’s a day off from lessons, isn’t it? As I tilted my head in confusion, Croa dramatically swirled his tunic cape and Prisoner performed his usual magic trick, pulling out a scheduler.
“How does that work?”
“Starting today, Pisha has been added to the sword training schedule. Once a week, you’ll also learn marksmanship with us from Father.”
“What?”
Why did they add such lessons without my consent? And I’m already learning self-defense sufficiently, aren’t I? Why do I need to learn both swordplay and marksmanship?
“Why? Why must I learn swordplay?”
“Choco insisted quite strongly that the kidnapping incident wouldn’t have happened if you’d learned how to use a sword.”
“But how would knowing how to use a sword protect me from sleeping gas!”
“Apparently there’s a breathing technique to counter gas.”
What is this, Demon Slayer?!
“What about my right to refuse? Don’t I have a say in this?”
“Try saying that in front of Choco.”
Both Croa and Shirley laughed ambiguously, as if daring me to try. What’s wrong with you two? What did Choco do to you while I was gone?
Well, Choco is usually reasonable, so if I persuade her well enough, won’t she listen? Of course, I know there’s no refusing when Father offers to teach me marksmanship. That lesson is unavoidable.
“Is it just me taking this?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a solo apprenticeship, apparently.”
What are you even saying?
In any case, I’ll have to meet Choco directly and settle this. At the very least, I should die together with them. If nothing else, I need to take the lessons with them so I won’t feel wronged.
I led the children toward the Training Ground beside the Imperial Guard Barracks next to the Princess Palace, where Choco was waiting. On the sturdy stone ground, Choco had set up several straw bundles and was waiting for me.
“Pisha! I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Hey! Why must I learn swordplay!”
“Ha, well, that’s how it’s turned out!”
How has it turned out like this! I won’t learn! I absolutely won’t! Swordplay causes calluses and is incredibly exhausting! I can tell just by holding your hand! Your hands aren’t normal human hands! They’re completely rough like stone!
“If you don’t learn, I will die.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll die.”
What was she talking about? Was Father threatening to kill me if he didn’t teach me swordsmanship? I thought perhaps he’d received some kind of threat himself, so I tried to have a calm conversation about it. But Choco simply grinned wickedly and drew her sword. Then, with a sharp motion, she repositioned it and pressed the blade against her own neck.
“You’ll die.”
“Nooooo! Stop! Please! Don’t die!”
As I grabbed Choco’s pant leg and begged her not to die, the man grinned like a ghost and made his threat with complete confidence.
“Choose. Will you learn, or will you watch me die?”
“I’ll learn! I’ll learn, you madman!”
“Ha, I knew you would say that.”
Choco smoothly repositioned her sword and sheathed it. What was wrong with her? Was she insane? I looked to Shirley and Croa for support, but my friends just stared blankly before offering me encouragement without a care.
“Do your best. We’ve already endured this for half a year, so we’re used to it.”
“Pisha, fighting!”
He wanted me to learn swordsmanship from this emotionally unstable murderer? Moreover, whether this was some kind of one-person transmission or not, Choco actually drove everyone away, saying they couldn’t watch the training sessions.
“Well then, Pisha, let’s start by learning how to grip a sword.”
“It’s so heavy!”
Wait, wait—this is way too heavy! Normally, don’t they start practice with wooden swords? Weren’t there practice swords or blunt blades? When I pointed out the danger and requested an alternative, Choco just grinned wickedly again and said exactly what he wanted to.
“Swordsmanship is the art of murder. Of course you must learn with a real blade.”
“Eeeek!”
What princess in the world learns murder techniques?! Even if you learn swordsmanship, it’s usually for hobby, refinement, or self-defense—not with the explicit purpose of killing people like this!
“First, let’s get you used to cutting! After straw, we’ll move on to logs!”
“How am I supposed to cut through logs?!”
“Eventually you’ll cut rocks too! Keep your spirits up!”
So how was I supposed to cut through rocks, you madman?! Save the Princess!!
I cried out for someone to save the Princess from the center of the Training Ground, but it seemed they were all determined to instill murder techniques in me—no one came to my rescue.
I rolled around in Choco’s hands for two hours, and eventually I collapsed on the Training Ground floor, battered and broken.
“Pisha!”
“Pisha, are you alright?”
“Normally, everyone vomits and collapses while learning at first.”
What do you mean “normally”—you better watch your back later.
I didn’t have the energy to speak, so I had to crawl onto Shirley’s back and be rescued. After being moved to the bed in the princess’s palace and consuming two healing spirit stones, I was finally able to eat a spoonful of rice with my arms trembling due to muscle pain.
I was so exhausted I couldn’t even speak, so I was rescued with Gear carrying me on Shirley’s back. After that, I was moved to a bed in the Princess Palace, and only after consuming two healing spirit stones was I barely able to lift a spoonful of rice with my trembling arms from the muscle soreness.
“Whoa….”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Sigh….”
At this rate, I’m going to die. This is serious business. Shooting lessons with Father are manageable since he watches over me and lets me take breaks, but Choco’s training? I genuinely feared I wouldn’t survive if things continued at this pace.
At least today I didn’t have to be carried away by my friends, which was a relief.
I hobbled along using the walking stick Father had made for me when his mobility was limited. Once I returned, I’d dissolve healing spirit stones in the bathtub and soak away my aches. As I made this silent vow, I spotted a golden sheep trudging along in a similarly pitiful state.
“Oh? Kisomalos?”
No one was around, right? I sent Emily away at a distance and approached the golden sheep. Kisomalos had been bleating and making sheep sounds because of the onlookers nearby, but once we were alone, he trembled and rose unsteadily onto his hind legs.
“It’s been a while, Kisomalos. Are you unwell? Why do you look like that?”
“I have no face to show you, so I might as well work.”
What are you talking about? Why would a pet sheep be working? When I pressed the matter, Kisomalos told me what had happened during my disappearance.
Surprisingly, Father had known that Kisomalos had manifested in his golden sheep form, and he’d asked if he could track my location. Apparently, he’d shared this information with both Choco and the Chief Chamberlain.
“So Choco and the Chief Chamberlain both know Kisomalos is in this state?!”
“Yes. And because they said I was useless, those bastards…!”
Kisomalos trotted along and opened a container on the outer edge of the Research Facility. Inside, a cylindrical drum connected to a generator resembled a hamster wheel or cat wheel.
“If you’ve got nothing better to do, generate some sheep power!”
“You’ve been generating electricity this whole time?!”
No wonder I couldn’t figure out where he’d gone all this time! He’d been doing manual labor here!
“Even if I’m incompetent, I never thought I’d be treated like this!”
“Kisomalos!”
“Eh, descendant! Will you help clear my name?!”
“No!”
I’m not interested in that. Honestly, I’d always thought he was pretty useless anyway, so I’m actually grateful he’s found employment.
“Enough of that—just show me the favorability window!”
“Disrespectful brat.”
“Oh, right. Media asked me to tell you that you’re a ‘sheep bastard.'”
“Tssss….”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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