Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 242

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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 242. Procrastination is One of the Best Coping Strategies (2)
“Descendant, descendant, come here for a moment.”
Oh, Kisomalos! You’re coming to rescue me from this awkward situation! That thought flashed through my mind, but within three seconds it dissolved into suspicion. This ancestral deity wasn’t the type to be so perceptive and considerate, was he? He must have something seriously important to discuss.
I crouched in a corner, leaning in to hear what the golden sheep had to say. The golden sheep whispered softly, and sure enough, it was something infuriating.
“You burned through your divine power earlier, and right now your divine rank feels like that of a mid-tier deity.”
“No! There’s only a year left until the contract date! What do I do if my divine rank drops instead of rising!”
“That’s why I told you not to use alchemy!”
“But I had to save Father!”
As I grabbed the golden sheep by the wool and we started wrestling with a loud screech, people rushed over and separated us. My whispered conversation must have been completely audible to Choco, who then spread the word to everyone around us. Really, with Choco there, everything was going to come out anyway—why did we even bother whispering?
“Netcha has no interest in divine rank, so if it’s truly urgent, she’ll lend you her divine power even if her rank drops. Don’t fight over something so trivial.”
“Choco…!”
There’s truly no one like our Choco, is there? And Netcha too. How can a deity with such powerful divine energy exist without any greed? Most deities seem to be bound together by lust for power and desire for fame.
Is it because she originally came from the Immortals? Because she cultivated the Way until death? Thinking about this temperament, I should choose a child to become my sword technique disciple and inherit Netcha’s name—someone who is prepared to cultivate the Way.
This is the beauty of adoption. With children I give birth to, it’s uncertain whether they’re qualified to inherit the Kisomalos name or if they’ll grow up to my satisfaction. But with adoption, they say you feel it the moment you see them—this is the one. More precisely, it’s Netcha who gives me divine guidance to take that child and raise them.
This is why adoption has been considered sacred since ancient times. Even when an ancestral deity selects their first descendant, the term “adoption” is sometimes used.
“For now, let’s lay Father back down on the bed in his room. And we need to silence the palace attendants.”
I only informed those who absolutely had to know that Father wasn’t breathing—Croa, Shirley, Head Attendant Grandmother, and Aunt Kazelnu. To everyone else, I announced that Father had gone on a distant journey.
Many people found it strange that he would suddenly leave on a journey so soon after I inherited the throne, but when I added this one detail, everyone immediately understood.
“He said he was going somewhere he could smoke to his heart’s content, and that I should be thorough about filming his home videos in the meantime.”
The ministers of the Imperial Palace, as well as Larima, Edison, Genie Teacher, and even Ismenios from Media—everyone nodded at this excuse. Just how desperately did Father want to smoke? Everyone around him knows he’s obsessed with cigarettes.
“Still, please tell the Former Emperor that there will be tribulations this year, so he should return quickly. The journey back will likely be quite perilous.”
By the way, does Genie Teacher really have divination abilities? How do her predictions come true so perfectly? I almost asked Genie Teacher how Father could return, but I held back—spreading unnecessary rumors wouldn’t be good—and focused on my duties.
Father sleeping like a dead mouse was a problem, but that damned golden sheep, now reduced to a mid-tier deity, was also a problem. I feel like I’ve already done my best, so what more am I supposed to do to raise the divine rank!
I let out a primal scream and tore up the mandatory national education legislation bill that Marshmallow had submitted.
How many times do I have to say it! Does learning a few letters make the sewing machines run faster for the people!
“Your Majesty, this is a document you created during your time as Princess.”
“That was when I was brainwashed! A brainwashed Pisha isn’t Pisha!”
Marshmallow says strange things even though he knows my situation perfectly. But the man seemed to have made some great resolve, and he faced me with an expression that said he wouldn’t back down.
“This bill isn’t simply for improving the education level of the people.”
“If mandatory education isn’t for improving education levels, then what—are they going to teach people how to operate sewing machines and fix conveyor belts at school?”
The more I spoke, the more Marshmallow’s face showed he was about to turn away and give up. He seemed to lament how I was once a kind young princess who actually cared about the kingdom and its people, and now look at me. He showed me statistics from the materials he’d brought.
“Look, here. I’ve compiled the relationship between education level and average employment age.”
“Huh?”
Looking at the data, I saw statistics showing that people without education began working at very young ages—around five or six years old.
Wait… In Kisomalos, child labor under fifteen years of age is treated as abuse and is punishable. They’re committing such violations so openly?
“If we enforce mandatory education, we can prevent the exploitation of child labor.”
“Hmm, but… this costs a lot of money. We’d have to build schools first, wouldn’t we?”
“We can use up all of my older brother’s slush funds!”
“Okay, approved!”
As long as it’s not my money being spent, I’m fine with it! Go ahead and do whatever you need to!
I stamped the Emperor’s seal with a satisfying flourish and arranged for the bill to be sent to the Aristocratic Assembly and State Council. Honestly, if you were going to cover the expenses, you should have said so from the start. I was worried I’d have to dip into my personal funds or raid the national treasury.
As I chuckled and praised Marshmallow for doing such wonderful work for the kingdom, the round, fluffy man furrowed his brow and cursed at me.
“Your Majesty, you certainly weren’t like this when you were younger.”
“…What do you mean? I think I’ve always been this way.”
“No, Your Majesty. You changed drastically after being influenced by the Former Emperor.”
Hmph, is that so? Marshmallow was clearly trying to scold me, but somehow I didn’t feel offended. Rather, hmm, was it a compliment? Hehe, he’s saying I’m like Father?
As I grinned widely, Marshmallow said he couldn’t stand watching me like this and stormed out. Hmm, if anyone’s personality has changed a lot, it’s more like Marshmallow. Was he always the type to speak so harshly and critically to me like that? I don’t think so…
“Hmm…”
That fellow has been hanging around with his Prison cellmates frequently lately, and something feels off about it. I should either keep him under surveillance or throw him back in Prison before he causes trouble. Even if the national structure and international order change someday, I have no intention of climbing the Guillotine Platform while I’m still alive.
“Oh! Your Majesty the Emperor, still busy, I see?”
“Nanakda!”
Busy? You’re busier than I am!
I asked Choco to whip up two refreshing cups of chocolate milk that she’d made herself, and guided Nanakda to the sofa.
In preparation for Grant’s divine status potentially declining, Nanakda has apparently distributed power among five subordinates and established branch temples of the Golden Temple in different regions. Four of those five subordinates are set to become deputy cult leaders in distant areas, so it seems they won’t be able to gather easily in the future… which is a bit disappointing. I used to enjoy how lively the Princess Palace was back then.
“The way we’re praising each other for being busy sounds just like the conversations of corrupt, aging authority figures.”
And why isn’t Kirpan going far away and is instead sticking to Nanakda’s side? When I voiced my complaint about the most annoying one remaining, Nanakda also expressed his resentment toward Grant.
“He insists that this fellow must be kept around. As his successor, I have no choice but to follow his wishes.”
I suppose a leader does need at least one trusted aide who speaks blunt truths. I understand that, but I can’t help finding Kirpan irritating.
“When you create new rules for the Mortal Realm, how much will the divine status drop? And what wish are you going to make?”
I poked Nanakda in the ribs, asking if we could share some spoilers between us, and the man eagerly explained the new Mortal Realm rules with a delighted expression.
“He said he decided on this back when Grant made me his successor.”
“Yes?”
“He’s going to create a rule that opens the door for people of renown from the Mortal Realm to also possess divine or spiritual status.”
“Oh!”
So people who left their names in Mortal Realm history could also become ancestral deities? Wait, does that mean… could I see Hisperon again?!
“Hisperon. So Hisperon could also become someone’s ancestral deity?!”
“Well, if luck is on his side, that could happen.”
“Wow!”
I rejoiced with Nanakda, but then my thoughts turned to the prerequisite conditions necessary for these new rules to take effect.
If people already dead in the Mortal Realm could resume activity as spirits or deities, what state would they be in and where would they remain before becoming spirits or deities? They couldn’t just appear out of nowhere, after all.

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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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