Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 229

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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 229. Since It Exists for Good Reason, Let’s Stop Overthinking It (1)
At my threat to punch holes through every fiefdom, the Anti-Kisomalos Faction members hastily retreated, saying they’d withdraw for today. No matter how much financial support Nanakda provided, money couldn’t buy the technological prowess to withstand a massive bomb like that.
Excluding Lorowi, which had devoted itself solely to warfare throughout its family’s existence, no fiefdom possessed military force capable of opposing the state. Even that sole exception, Lorowi, was completely destroyed when Yupi Grandmother kidnapped me.
“Your Majesty, thanks to you we’ve averted the crisis, but….”
Ismenios, who had even prepared for a prolonged siege, offered me his gratitude. Yet upon seeing the sea beyond still billowing with smoke and the coastal town below devastated by the tsunami, he covered his face with his hands.
“Next time, I would appreciate it if you refrained from employing such methods.”
“Why? Houses can be repaired, there were no casualties—it was an extremely peaceful approach.”
“Where is the peace in this?! Where exactly?!”
Still, one civil war gone wrong and tens of thousands die. If Croa borrows Kisomalos’s strength, it validates the accusations of him being a puppet king, so he won’t be able to request aid. Then it becomes a prolonged conflict and more people perish. Young people who should be engaging in society get conscripted entirely, making the people’s lives even more desolate. By this standard, it’s a complete victory. A perfect clear.
As I explained this confidently, Grandfather shook his head, saying he understood perfectly well.
“I understand. This method certainly caused the least damage. I was impressed. However, doesn’t the Princess still bear the stigma?”
What, he was only worried about that? But wouldn’t Grandfather, who has lived far longer, understand this better than I would?
“Ismenios, you should know this already… people don’t die from being insulted.”
“I know, I understand. But please comprehend that there are those who find it difficult to accept the Princess enduring such humiliation.”
Grandfather said that Father, Croa, the Chief Chamberlain, my Aunt, and everyone around me would all be worried about me. This Grandfather… seems to have grown quite fond of me, despite having met only a few times.
“I’ll do my best to suppress the rumors for now. Stop deliberately inviting ridicule upon yourself.”
After leaving those words, Grandfather departed, saying he needed to oversee the restoration of the Coastal Town. Come to think of it, the entire coastline here must have been swept clean—shouldn’t Croa go check on the breakwater?
“Croa, shouldn’t you be getting to work?”
“No, ma’am. Since I came out to play with Pisha anyway, I’ll postpone work for now.”
Oh, so he’ll show me the destroyed coastal village?
I accepted his escort and wandered through the village ravaged by the tsunami. Buildings were half-destroyed, not a soul in sight—it was utterly apocalyptic and killed the mood.
“Choco, look at this! There’s an octopus on the road, an octopus!”
“Octopus is delicious. Shall I prepare it as sashimi?”
“Won’t raw octopus be tough?”
“Well, there have been people who choked to death on live octopus, haven’t there?”
She was trying to feed me something that could cause asphyxiation? I glared at Choco and, taking on the appearance of a villainess in pink fur, picked up a large basket.
“This is a goldmine, a real goldmine. We’ll gather abalone and octopus, and tonight Father and I will have a drink together.”
“That’s right, Pisha is an adult now, isn’t she?”
“You’re finally going to do what you used to talk about—drinking a cup with fresh mackerel sashimi and singing?”
“Yes!”
I’ve been waiting for this day! Just as Father mentioned long ago, I’ll have fresh mackerel sashimi with a cup of sake and drink together. Since we’re already gathering seafood, octopus sashimi and boiled octopus would taste wonderful too.
“Oh, then, should I head back to Kisomalos for today?”
“That won’t do. You still have duties to fulfill in Media, Croa.”
There’s disaster recovery to oversee, punishments to mete out to those who attempted to incite civil war, and awards or medals to present to Ismenios for encouragement. Most importantly, if I follow you around right now, the people of Media won’t speak kindly of me.
“Besides, this is something I promised Father, so I want to do it together with him.”
“Sigh.”
Croa looked disappointed, but said that since Father was involved, it couldn’t be helped and wished me an intimate time together. Hmm… it’s been a while since I’ve had a drink, and I plan to let loose and run wild, so it probably won’t be particularly intimate.
“Come to think of it, doesn’t Choco drink?”
She was also the greatest contributor during the conquest of Loruruje Fortress, so it would be nice to drink together. Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen Choco drink alcohol. Father loves both alcohol and tobacco so much. Oh, that’s right—I’ve never seen Choco smoke either!
What’s this? How does such a person exist?
“No, I can drink it, but….”
Choco furrowed her brow, reflecting on the history up to this point, and spoke the honest truth.
“I just fall asleep.”
“Oh….”
“And if I smoke, my mind becomes completely foggy.”
“That’s strange….”
Is her body so healthy that medication works incredibly well? Or does she have absolutely no ability to break down toxins? No, thinking about Choco’s nature, it doesn’t feel like that either. If it’s neither of those, then what’s left….
“Could her body be judging it as poison and triggering a rejection response?”
“Ah, that does seem like a possibility.”
Croa, who had been pondering this with me, cast his vote toward the rejection response theory since my reasoning seemed sound. Still, since I’m becoming an adult and drinking to celebrate, my guardian should join me too.
“Even if you do fall asleep, just have one glass.”
“I’ll do my best, then.”
How exciting! This is my first drink in fifteen years, alcohol! I contacted Father to clear my schedule in advance, and I had fresh seafood from Media transferred to tanks. And since I had a feeling Aunt would definitely try to join in, I preemptively exercised my right to refuse her attendance. On a good day like this, I couldn’t possibly handle Aunt’s drunken antics while having my earlobes mercilessly pinched.

✦ ✦ ✦
Fortunately, the Emperor managed to find time to rest within two days, and the creatures in the tanks were eating well and living vibrantly. Since they taste better when they’re dead than when used as sashimi while alive, I had them fed krill shrimp until they were full. Of course, mackerel die as soon as they leave the water, so I’d be eating ones procured the same day.
“How thrilling♫ Clear rice wine♪ Mackerel sashimi and clear rice wine♪”
Fresh mackerel sashimi as a side dish—something I couldn’t have even dreamed of before regression. Back then, we were in conflict with Media, so seafood supply was difficult, and besides, Kisomalos is inland, so fresh seafood had distribution challenges.
Now I’m trading smoothly with Media, and transportation technology has advanced tremendously since then, so I could even enjoy mackerel caught the same day at the Imperial Palace. Father apparently set aside fresh mackerel sashimi for today without eating it beforehand, which makes it even more special. Come to think of it, the mackerel sashimi Father has eaten so far must have been aged, so while the flavor was deep, the texture wasn’t great. Today, the three of us—Father, Choco, and I—should eat our fill of crispy, tender mackerel sashimi.
“But… why specifically here?”
I had the palace attendants leave so we could enjoy ourselves together, and as Choco worked according to my instructions, she voiced her complaint.
Why here of all places for a drinking session? Well… this is also where Croa stayed, and within the Imperial Palace, there’s no better place to reminisce about Loruruje Fortress than here.
“If it’s the Northern Tower, I’m absolutely sick of it!”
“There’s nothing to be done about it. Choco will just have to bear with it.”
“Living comfortably and now making all sorts of fuss.”
“Ah, I hate high places! All I remember from here is being suspended by rope!”
Well, who asked you to hang from a rope in the first place? Father and I made fun of Choco, then placed a heaping pile of mackerel sashimi right in the center of the table and took our seats.
Beyond the window bars, a round moon was visible, and I’d put on a record with atmospheric music, making it a perfect night for a first drink.
“Here you go.”
“Hehe.”
I accepted the drink Father poured for me with a smile, and I poured some into Father’s glass as well. Pouring your own first drink is bad luck.
“Now, Choco too.”
“Couldn’t I just drink water instead?”
“Come on, just accept it then.”
I poured a glass for Choco as well and raised my cup. My, living this long, I never thought the day would come when the three of us would drink together like this. I’m glad I survived, struggling and persevering through all those hardships.
“Before the toast, shouldn’t the main character say something?”
I was about to say cheers right away, but Father asked me to give a toast. Hmm, I don’t have anything prepared. What should I say? For Kisomalos? No, right now I don’t feel like toasting for that golden sheep bastard.
Hmm… okay, let’s go with this.
“To my endless glory!”
I declared confidently, raising my glass, and Father chuckled softly as he raised his as well.
“For the eternal glory of Her Highness, the Princess.”
“For the magnificent Pisha!”
The three of us clinked our glasses together and drained them in one swift motion.
“Ahh!” The exclamation escaped naturally.

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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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