Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 150

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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 150. When Demons Appear Between Incidents, Go on a Date (3)
Croa looked so bedraggled that I suggested we return to the Imperial Palace, but he insisted that changing clothes and wringing out his hair would suffice, so we pressed ahead with our botanical garden exploration.
An attendant purchased a tacky tracksuit—a botanical garden souvenir—for him to change into, and after I hastily dried his hair, we strolled along the walking path.
“That goose is terrifying. How did it even get in here? The ceiling is sealed, so they must be raising it here?”
“How could anyone be so reckless as to let such a dangerous creature roam free! Once I return, I shall enact a Goose Safety Act!”
Geese must wear muzzles during their walks, and every household keeping geese must display a “Goose Warning” sign. While I’m at it, I’ll add geese to the list of dangerous beasts so people can exercise proper caution.
“By the way, Pisha, you’re incredibly strong…. I’m amazed.”
“Indeed, I was surprised myself.”
Even though Croa had been in the water, he came flying out as I pulled—I was genuinely startled. Why had I suddenly become so strong? Was it from those resonance pills Netcha gave me and the century-old polygonum essence?
“Say, would you mind if I tried lifting you for a moment?”
“Be careful. Please remove your inline skates first.”
Right, balance would be difficult otherwise. I removed my skates and stood barefoot on the ground, then hoisted Croa up with a heave. To my astonishment, he lifted effortlessly into the air.
“Wow!”
“Pisha, you’ve really gotten strong!”
I know! I’m amazed too! What on earth did Netcha feed me?!
As I was exclaiming in wonder, the guards and attendants hidden somewhere nearby also let out an impressed “Wow.” Do these fools realize they’re supposed to be concealed? If they’re going to follow us anyway, they might as well do it openly.
“Me too! Let me try lifting Pisha!”
“Ah… don’t strain yourself.”
Since Croa’s inline skates had become as natural to him as his own limbs, he could be lifted as is. I set him down and spread my arms wide, ready to be picked up. Croa grabbed my shoulders and thighs, preparing to lift with a heave, but it didn’t take long for his determined voice to twist into pain.
“Nnnngh!”
“I told you not to strain yourself.”
“No, this shouldn’t be happening—hnnngh!”
Stop it, really. It’s pitiful. I tried to soothe him with gentle words, thinking Croa had done his best, but the panting Croa suddenly cried out as if something was truly wrong.
“No, Pisha, it’s like my legs are stuck to the ground! It’s not that I lack strength!”
“I understand.”
“No, that’s not it! Choco! Come out for a moment!”
Croa was so indignant that he called Choco over to show off his strength. I found it amusing—despite Croa’s usual mature demeanor, he was still just a child at heart. But then, to my surprise, I watched as Croa lifted Choco by the waist and hoisted her up effortlessly.
“See! Even if the other person is an adult, I can lift them just fine!”
“You’ve got decent strength yourself, don’t you?”
Choco’s larger frame meant I couldn’t give her a princess carry, but regardless, he had lifted an adult male’s weight. If that were the case, lifting me should be easy too. How curious. And I’m at standard weight.
“Pisha, you’ve been taking the medicine Netcha gave you recently, haven’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Choco seemed to have a suspicion and looked at me with interest, then began kneading my shoulders and arms.
Finally, she lifted me up effortlessly, then said, “My, my,” as if I were heavy.
“This is a thousand-pound weight. It’s a secret technique for fixing your lower body, and once you get used to it, you can control it.”
“Oh, so you can adjust your weight however you like too?”
“Of course. How important is it to maintain your center of gravity in combat?”
So that’s why sometimes she floats like a feather, and other times she can strike the ground hard enough to crack it with her blade? Fascinating. So this is the mystery of southern martial arts.
Anyway, my curiosity was satisfied, so I sent Choco back to her post and completed the walking course with Croa.
After touring the botanical garden, we bought souvenirs for Father and Shirley, and on the way back, we stopped by an apothecary and a spirit stone shop to purchase parasite medicine and a healing spirit stone.
Croa had fallen into the pond, you see. Falling into freshwater is dangerous, so it’s best to take parasite medication beforehand.
I wrapped Croa in a blanket and made sure he gripped the healing spirit stone tightly, then returned to the Imperial Palace to regale Father and Shirley with tales of today’s adventure.
When Father reached the part where I was being chased by the goose, he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger as if restraining his emotions. It seemed he was devastated at not witnessing firsthand the sight of me being pecked by that goose.

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Time flowed on. Months changed, seasons shifted. Winter arrived, my birthday passed, and I turned twelve years old, yet I still hadn’t heard from Nanac or Hisperon. And when I requested the cola recipe as a Christmas gift, Kisomalos said it was a secret even in the Heavenly Realm and there was no way to smuggle it out.
Making such excuses, he simply gave me a polar bear plush toy to drink cola with as a Christmas present. Utterly useless, like that old sheep.
“Princess Pisha! Your Highness Princess Pisha! A telegram has arrived from someone presumed to be Emperor’s Son Nanac!”
“What?!”
It was true! It had to be true—otherwise Emily wouldn’t have called me by such an absurd title as “Your Highness Princess Pisha,” would she?!
I hurried to Father’s Temporary Office to check the telegram. There, Father and the Chief Chamberlain were examining it with deeply troubled expressions, and when I asked to see it, they both urged me to take a deep breath first.
“Prepare yourself for a shock, Your Highness. If you collapse, I’ll topple backward too, so steel yourself.”
“Some things in this world are better left unknown.”
No, I don’t like that. I need to know everything. Especially if it concerns Hisperon.
Following the Chief Chamberlain’s and Father’s advice, I took a deep breath and urged them to speak. Father looked at me with doubt, then reluctantly read the telegram.
“Nanac is alive.”
“See! I told you he’d be alive!”
“Hisperon is dead.”
“…?”
I… didn’t hear that correctly? Cupping my hands to my ears and leaning forward to ask Father to repeat himself, he let out a long sigh and spoke the words again.
“Hisperon is dead.”
A strangled cry tore from my throat.
I collapsed backward from the shock. My head throbbed painfully, and I soon lost consciousness.

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“Oh no… oh no… oh no…”
The moment I regained consciousness in bed, I did nothing but wail and cry out in anguish. After exhausting myself with tears, my eyes were swollen and my energy depleted, leaving me to do nothing but murmur those same words over and over.
Hisperon dead? It couldn’t be. It was impossible. Yet Kisomalos’s words kept echoing in my mind, and somewhere deep in my heart, I was accepting Hisperon’s death as reality.
No matter how much I turned back time, those destined to die would die. Hisperon was originally fated to die before reaching twenty, so in a way, he had endured far longer than expected.
“Oh no… oh no… oh no…”
And if the person who sent the telegram was definitely Nanac, then he wouldn’t be joking about Hisperon’s death. But if this little one had the leisure to send a telegram, shouldn’t he be asking me for protection? I could certainly take Nanac in, so where in the world is he wandering around doing who knows what instead of coming to the Imperial Kingdom?
“Oh no… oh no… oh no…”
“Princess, please take heart.”
“Princess, have some refreshments at least. You haven’t eaten anything.”
“Oh no… oh no… oh no…”
How could I think of eating when Hisperon is gone, you little ones?
I can’t keep grieving like this forever. I feel like I should do something for Hisperon’s sake, but this helplessness is paralyzing me.
As I felt tears welling up again and considered going back to sleep, my door creaked open and Father strode in with confidence.
“Isn’t there something the Princess must do for Hisperon? Get up and stop wallowing.”
“Sniff… something I must do?”
Apparently Father was tired of watching me moan and groan, so he came with a concrete plan already in mind. The moment Father opened his mouth, energy surged through my entire body, and my fury toward Astiages erupted.
“We need to protect Hisperon’s residence first. The Astiages Royal Family won’t leave his assets untouched.”
“Argh! Curse that damned Emperor!”
He ground that child down on the battlefield, sucked him dry, and then cast him aside like a worn-out tool?! I won’t stand for it! And as Father said, right now I had to protect Hisperon’s birthplace!

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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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