Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 235
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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 235. What? So Suddenly? (5)
“Yes!”
“Hmph!”
Here you are, busy people, yet when did you procure the himatión—the traditional garment of our nation and neighboring lands—and appear wearing it? That’s something worn only at major national ceremonies or during Halloween in the old days, so it should be difficult to find nowadays. Did you tear down some curtains? For something like that, the way it drapes is far too refined. To fall so elegantly, there must be precise tailoring involved. Are you certain that’s genuine traditional attire?
“No, where on earth did you even get clothes that even Kisomalos wears…?”
“I cannot approve of this marriage! Not until dirt enters my eyes!”
Would it work if I brought dirt and scattered it? I’m tempted to try once, but I’m terrified that if I did, Croa might suggest we call off the wedding entirely.
My circumstances have already been fully revealed, but that doesn’t mean I can use my life as a hostage and act boldly—both Croa and Shirley would be angry with me.
I was about to just accept my role as a criminal, kneel down, and beg desperately, but surprisingly, Nanakda approached first, swaying gracefully toward Croa and Shirley, thrusting a fruit basket at them.
“Brother, Sister, anger isn’t good for your health. Please try these Southern specialty fruits I’ve personally procured.”
“Ah, no, why would we be your brother and sister?!”
Croa flinched at Nanakda doing something he’d never done before. The two of them had come fully prepared to fight, but Nanakda’s deferential approach seemed to have startled them.
“Did you not form a connection with the Princess before the two of you did? It’s only natural that I regard you as brother and sister.”
Is that Nanakda’s original character? What’s he scheming? Are you going to assassinate Croa and Shirley the moment they let their guard down? I’m watching you.
“Well, Pisha’s situation is urgent too, and if that fellow understands his place…”
“Don’t soften your resolve, Count Achilles! That fellow definitely has ulterior motives!”
So Croa has dealt with Nanakda enough to understand his nature. Shirley seemed already half-won over, eagerly plucking the fruit Nanakda peeled for her. I’d never seen this fruit before either. Could eating too much of it actually be fatal?
“Wow, what an interesting taste. It’s sweet, but how should I describe it—it tastes like cosmetics in your mouth.”
See, cosmetics mean artificial flavoring. Is there some strange drug mixed in? Croa and I continued to suspect, but Nanakda peeled a fruit and put it in his own mouth to demonstrate that the fruit was harmless.
“In the old days, preservation methods were crude and there was no transportation technology, so this fruit couldn’t be eaten on the Central Continent. My company has recently begun trading it as a new commodity. It’s said that all the legendary beauties of the Southern Region favored lychee.”
Oh, really? Usually such oral traditions have reversed causality. Perhaps eating lychee is good for beauty, so everyone who ate it became known as beauties?
Once I’d confirmed the fruit was safe, I opened my mouth wide with an “Aah” and asked for one too. Then Nanakda handed the sliced lychee to Shirley and wore a somewhat meek and touching expression.
“Isn’t the Princess asking me to feed her? Such spoiled behavior should be indulged by Sister.”
“Huh? Well, it is my job to knowingly play along with such things.”
When I deliberately yielded the task of feeding me fruit, Shirley straightened up with a pleased expression and forcefully demanded that I open my mouth properly to receive it.
What is this? Why has the atmosphere become so warm and harmonious? I’m uncomfortable. How does Nanakda seem to know everything about how the harem operates?
“Mmm… delicious.”
This is very sweet and tasty. As Shirley said, it has a distinctive fragrance, but once you grow accustomed to it, you can enjoy this aroma too. It’s like holding a bouquet of flowers with various fragrances full in your mouth.
“Now, Brother, you too. Isn’t it adorable, like a puppy, the way the Princess feeds you and you accept it well?”
“What, this person is annoying!”
I understand the sentiment, but don’t say it so openly, Croa. Nanakda might feel hurt hearing it. I hinted this to him, but strangely, even after I said it, something felt odd. Didn’t I just sound like an Emperor with a harem? The atmosphere is turning strange, and I feel like I’m being swept along with it.
“Hehe, would my heart be hurt by such a thing? It’s also my duty to serve Brother and Sister.”
“Mmm… munch munch munch munch.”
Ah, it’s him! He’s the culprit! Nanakda being strange is making everyone else strange too! Now that I think about it, we on the Central Continent never had the opportunity to witness the existence of harems due to our culture and sensibilities, but didn’t Nanakda grow up frequently observing harem hierarchy culture?
“Nanakda! Hey, don’t spread Astiages culture to our country!”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“What you’re doing right now! The way you’re being coy with Shirley and Croa!”
“Isn’t that how people who arrive late usually act?”
That’s exactly the point—that’s not a culture we have on the Central Continent! Normally it’s one man, one woman, so there’s no concept of arriving late or arriving early!
Shirley is unique as my life partner, Croa is unique as my spouse, and you are unique as my religious companion. I explained that the very concept of who arrived first doesn’t exist, but Nanakda still wore a puzzled expression.
“So… that means I’m third, doesn’t it?”
“No, that’s not it! If we’re counting like that, Shirley would be first!”
“Wow! I like this system. I’ll take first place.”
“Shut up, Sheryl Achilles!”
Do you understand what’s happening right now? I’m literally preventing an assassination attempt on myself. Do you know why she’s cheerfully announcing she’s third? Because she’s planning to eliminate the first and second.
“Listen carefully, Nanakda. You are not a third consort. You are my one and only religious consort.”
“But it seems like my brother and sister don’t see it that way…”
“No. Shirley and Croa have always kept their distance from each other—there’s never been any hierarchy between them. You’re the only one confused here.”
“Pisha, it seems like he’s ready to prostrate himself. Perhaps we should just let him…”
“Don’t interfere, Croa! You don’t understand anything!”
I know Nanakda better than anyone. Well, perhaps not better than Hisperon, but I certainly know him better than anyone else.
Croa and Shirley haven’t grasped it yet, but I know his true nature well. Do you really think someone who plans to lie meekly at the bottom of the harem would brainwash me or orchestrate an assassination of the King of Media? Absolutely not. He’s already plotting his ascent while playing the part of the humble servant.
“Hmm.”
As I desperately tried to convince him, Nanakda’s grinning expression vanished. The man who had been quietly eyeing me, Croa, and Shirley grew slightly suspicious and slowly pushed the gift he’d prepared behind his back.
“So there really is no hierarchy?”
“Y-yes! Shirley and Croa, tell him quickly. Is there any superiority between you two? Your titles may differ, but your positions and treatment are the same, aren’t they?”
“Well, that’s true…”
“But that’s because we made an agreement between ourselves…”
“Wow, wonderful! So if Nanakda becomes a religious consort too, he’ll enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as Croa and Shirley, right? Oh, that’s right! Since I have so many family lines to inherit, the more children the better!”
If each child inherits just one ancestral deity, I need at least six more under Leon. There are already verbal agreements for Marichi, Listo, Lorowi, and Media—and since I’m Kisomalos, descendants of Kisomalos are naturally necessary. To inherit Netcha’s line, I’ll need to take a disciple as well.
Honestly, this is good news for Croa and Shirley too. Try raising three children alone—your back will break.
“Hmm, I’m still suspicious… but since I’m already making concessions, I’ll make even more.”
“We’re the ones making huge concessions! If Pisha’s life weren’t being held hostage, we wouldn’t need Grant’s power at all!”
Ah, so you’ve heard the news too? No wonder they came dressed like in-laws. That’s an outfit that could only come from viewing Nanakda as my betrothed.
“Kisomalos said that the greater the people one forms bonds with, the stronger one’s divine power becomes, right? Don’t worry—Grant is already a high-tier deity, and it seems he’ll soon ascend to supreme-tier.”
Wow, the Dharma Religion’s expansion is incredibly fast, isn’t it? The speed of divine ascension is almost abnormal, so it seems Nanakda might be overexerting himself…
“…Hm?”
That strange unease I felt before has returned. I’ve actually been troubled by this for a while now… Kisomalos said that predetermined futures cannot be altered, which is why he must return as a high-tier deity.
But before my regression, the divine ranks of my close associates’ ancestral deities weren’t nearly this high. Is it really okay for them to become so overpowered?
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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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