Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 201

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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 201. Embracing Light and Shadow (2)
“So you’re saying that Medeia and Media are the same person, and the slightly younger one is a separate fragment from the original body?”
I looked toward Kisomalos to gather more information, but this utterly useless intermediate deity was wrapping himself in light and attempting to ascend to the Heavenly Realm.
“Wait just a moment! Lower deities can’t remain in the Mortal Realm without reason! Let me find a way to descend like Kirke did and come back…!”
Before Kisomalos could even finish his sentence, he vanished into the Heavenly Realm. Back when he was a minor spirit, they said he’d get beaten to death if he went to the Heavenly Realm, but now that he’s an intermediate deity, I suppose he won’t have to worry about getting thrashed.
“There’s no point discussing this among ourselves. I think we should report this to Kirke.”
“What about that woman? From what I’ve seen, she looks like she’ll destroy the Maze to find Jason.”
“That’s also something we’ll need to consult with Kirke about, isn’t it?”
In the end, everything would have to be discussed with Kirke. Before entering the Maze, I’d set up a relay station and was about to send a telegram to call for an airship when Ariadne, the Maze’s administrator, came rushing over.
“How could you not come out for an entire month! I barely managed to stop Emperor Kisomalos from firing missiles at this place!”
Huh? We hadn’t wandered around for a month. I hadn’t been counting days precisely, but we’d slept six nights, so we were only there for about a week, weren’t we?
“You said time doesn’t matter in the Maze, but it seems time flows differently inside it.”
“That’s right. The designers who entered before us had a time difference of about two days.”
“Huh? Designers?”
Ariadne had mentioned that the designers entered about a year ago for the Maze investigation. Ah, thinking about it that way, they probably experienced about two months subjectively inside the Maze. Considering the time spent wandering and investigating, this seems more realistic. That place isn’t somewhere you’d want to spend a year voluntarily.
“There’s only one designer. Daedalus entered alone.”
“….”
“….”
“….”
Then what were those two sets of footprints we saw? One of them even made incredibly long jumps occasionally. Like they were flying.
“Could it be a gho….”
“No!”
“Ghosts don’t leave footprints! Absolutely not!”
Nanakda and I covered Croa’s mouth to prevent him from mentioning ghosts. Ha, what ghosts in this day and age. That poltergeist we saw back then—that’s explainable through quantum fluctuations. If you match the frequency right, vibrations can shatter glass, right? It’s the same thing.
“Let’s just get on the airship and go home!”
“Because of you all, there’s a military garrison stationed in front of your house! Please leave quickly!”
Father must have made a fuss again. My family is all good people, but they’re overly sensitive about me going missing. Of course, I did disappear in a pretty dramatic way.
“Oh! Pisha!”
“Choco?!”
Was Choco among the stationed troops? More importantly, why was she covered in wounds? Had bombs been dropped here?
Seeing Choco’s own blood smeared all over her body—not someone else’s blood, but hers—for the first time, Croa, Nanakda, and I were all shocked and rushed to surround her.
“What on earth happened to you?!”
“Did you block a missile with your bare body? Where was it fired from? Should we prepare Media for deployment?”
“What’s this? Didn’t you say you could kill a thousand people alone? Was that a lie?”
Though healing wasn’t Grant’s specialty, Nanakda said he could treat minor abrasions and used divine power. While he couldn’t heal the deeper wounds, I could see the numerous small cuts that looked quite painful gradually disappearing. I’d seen Nanakda use this technique at the temple to remove tattoos. So it could be used this way too.
“Well, waiting around here was getting boring, so I thought I’d enter the Labyrinth once.”
“What? We went through a creepy experience, but generally it’s supposed to be a Maze with slightly stronger monsters. What exactly did you fight?”
Did some mythological monster emerge? Or perhaps because of Netcha, a Southern Region yokai appeared? I waited eagerly to hear what monster Choco had fought, but she frowned deeply and spoke in a lamenting tone.
“A version of myself about ten years older appeared.”
“….”
“Ugh… I simply couldn’t overcome her.”
What’s with this subtle self-praise? Even if I stripped every creature in the Mortal Realm bare, the only being stronger than Choco would be Choco from the future? From the Princess’s perspective, it’s certainly something to be grateful for—having such formidable military strength in our nation—but still.
“Listen carefully, Choco. When I return home, I’ll issue you a healing spirit stone.”
“Oh, yes, thank you?”
“And I’ll have you suspended from the Northern Tower.”
“What?! Why?!”
Her smug expression from moments ago had irritated me just enough. I explained her punishment with deliberate kindness and issued a withdrawal order to the stationed forces.
“Leave only a liaison officer and withdraw!”
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief!”
Since there’s no telling what Medeia might do, it’s best to keep monitoring Crete Island. I gave Ariadne a rough account of what transpired inside the Labyrinth and advised her to steel herself mentally, then launched the airship.
Time to go home! Time for home-cooked meals! I’m sick of grilled vegetables and jerky!

✦ ✦ ✦
After landing at the Kisomalos Airfield and taking a limousine directly to the Princess Palace, I noticed Father and the Chief Chamberlain, among many others, had come to greet us. But something felt distinctly off about the atmosphere. They were all smiling brightly, yet their faces bore an expression of deep irritation as they glared at us.
“Welcome home safely. Princess of Kisomalos. King of Media. Cult Leader of the Grant Church.”
Father, why are you calling us by our titles? Come to think of it, our lineup really is impressive. A cult leader, a king, and me as Princess—I’m the weakest link here, aren’t I?
“However, since you’ve far exceeded your curfew, I shall impose a punishment.”
“Wait, since when do I even have a curfew?!”
“I’m an adult! Adults shouldn’t have curfews, should they?!”
“Am I being punished too? What authority does the Kisomalos Emperor have over me?”
Croa and I had somewhat anticipated this situation, but Nanakda, experiencing Father’s tyranny for the first time, was absolutely indignant. When Nanakda protested that he wasn’t even a citizen of the Imperial State and had no reason to obey the Emperor’s orders, five of his subordinates stepped forward.
“The five highest executives of the Religious Order have consented.”
“It’s a delegation of punitive authority.”
“We figured we’d never be able to handle that guy on our own.”
“When it comes to tormenting people, the Kisomalos Emperor truly is the best.”
“Hang in there, Nanakda!”
Father had already won over their guardians too. He confidently unrolled a decree and detailed my punishment.
“The Princess of Kisomalos shall go on a one-hour drive with her life companion, Count Sheryl Achilles.”
“Nooooooo! I don’t want to!”
Just ten minutes in Shirley’s car drains all the blood from my body, and he wants me to endure an hour?! I’d rather study! I’ll listen attentively to lectures on Southern Region history and etiquette without dozing off!
“And you, Choco.”
“What?! Why me again!”
“You’ll be suspended from the Northern Tower for one hour.”
“Why do you keep picking on me like this!”
“This is at the Princess’s request.”
Right, I had sent a telegram when we landed asking them to prepare for Choco’s suspension. I closed my eyes, pretending not to hear Choco calling out my name in resentment. I’m sorry, Choco.
“And the King of Media and the Cult Leader of the Dharma Religion shall do couple’s yoga for one hour.”
“Aaaaah! I hate this!”
“Just kill me instead!”
Wow, they really must hate this. Just imagining doing it with my Aunt gives me chills down my spine—what must they be feeling? A drive with Shirley would be a hundred times better.
“A drive should be manageable. I’ll be back soon!”
“Pisha!”
“Hey! Try to keep your father from coming along!”
Sigh, as if that father of mine would listen to me. He’s already moved the sofa into position with eager anticipation, spreading a yoga mat across the floor. What can you do?
“Well, Nanakda, it seems you need to loosen up that stiff body of yours first.”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
So it was Teacher Lee orchestrating this couples’ yoga session. I left Nanakda behind, his legs being forcibly split as his entire body crackled and popped with each stretch, and took the passenger seat in the car Shirley was driving.
When we reunited an hour later, we all looked deathly pale.

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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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