Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 65

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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 65. There are as many ways to deceive as there are glittering stars in the night sky, and now that I think about it, how romantic (7)
“Tsk, truly worthy of Kisomalos.”
Even if he seems foolish most of the time, when he acts, he acts decisively. Simply by intervening in the Achilles Family’s affairs, I’m gaining several advantages.
Fundamentally speaking, it’s thanks to Kisomalos that I was able to regress and rewrite my life. Even if he’s foolish, he takes proper care of at least one descendant. Though the problem is he’s quite foolish.
“Well then, with a clear conscience, shall I go inspect the Fiefdom?”
“I shall guide you, my lord!”
I toured the Fiefdom under Edison’s guidance and exchanged pleasant conversation with the people. They all wore health bracelets, but aside from that, they were ordinary folk you’d find anywhere. To think Edison tried to strip these people bare and flee—he’s truly a bastard. Even if I employ Edison, I must never forget that he’s a bastard.
After conversing with the people and finishing a meal at an ordinary Dining Hall within the Fiefdom, I returned to the Count’s Mansion and rested deeply. With my tasks completed, I was planning to return to the Imperial Palace soon.

✦ ✦ ✦
“Child of Kisomalos, child of Kisomalos, open your eyes.”
“Mmm….”
I was sleeping soundly as usual when I felt an unfamiliar divine power. The surroundings were dim, yet the figure before me shone brightly—it had the same atmosphere as when Kisomalos came to see me.
“Open your eyes. This time I’ve used my divine power to express my gratitude.”
“Huh?”
Opening my eyes from the dream, I could see a handsome man radiating a powerful divine presence. He had the same hair color as Shirley, and a jewel of identical color embedded in the same spot on his forehead as hers, making his identity easy to discern.
“Lord Achilles? Are you Lord Achilles?”
“Indeed. I am Achilles, the divine spirit who protects the Achilles Family.”
“Huh?!”
A divine spirit? I’ve never heard of a spirit without even the divine power of a lower-tier god emanating such formidable divine force.
Normally, appearing in dreams to convey messages or deliver divine oracles begins at the lower-tier god stage. As I found this strange, Achilles let out a scoff and mentioned our ancestor god’s name.
“Whatever Kisomalos can do, naturally I can do as well.”
“How is that possible?”
“There’s a meta reason for it. You don’t need to know.”
I see. If it’s a meta reason, there’s nothing to be done about it. I don’t quite understand the precise meaning, but I’ve heard that families becoming inexplicably close or hostile to one another also occurs due to meta reasons.
In any case, my counterpart is the powerfully divine Lord Achilles, so I should make a good impression. I promptly knelt and adopted an attentive posture.
“But shouldn’t you be visiting Shirley? Why me specifically?”
“That one is utterly unreasonable, so I’m at a loss.”
“I see….”
I understand well enough. Shirley does have aspects where common sense doesn’t apply. As I expressed sympathy with Lord Achilles, the man’s face brightened with emotion and he began recounting old matters.
“Richelieu was originally the legitimate heir I had chosen. I even created the mark upon her forehead and sent her into the world, but the previous legitimate heir was such a wounded child that it came to naught.”
According to Lord Achilles, the current Count Achilles’s concentration of support on his eldest son stemmed from a succession dispute that had occurred long ago. The eldest son, who is the current Count Achilles, had been designated as the legitimate heir, but his younger siblings refused to accept this and attempted rebellion, only to be executed.
To prevent a repeat of that tragedy, the Count declared he would unconditionally pass the title to his eldest son and sent Shirley away.
“I see….”
But what does any of that have to do with appearing in my dream? When I brought up the practical connection, Lord Achilles praised me, saying I was annoyingly just like Kisomalos, and continued.
“From my perspective, Shirley continuing the line and producing heirs is impossible at this point.”
Isn’t that giving up too quickly? Shirley is only ten years old. There’s no telling what kind of person she’ll meet in the future, and if fate permits, she could adopt children. I spoke earnestly, but Lord Achilles answered firmly that such a thing would never happen.
“So here’s the thing.”
“Yes?”
“I’d like you to take responsibility and marry Shirley.”
“Pardon?”
Me? Marriage? With Shirley? Nothing but questions tumbled from my lips into the empty air, and Count Achilles responded with utmost seriousness, spouting sophistry.
“Listen well. True love can only exist between man and man, or woman and woman.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Love between men and women can never overcome the wall that comes from gender differences. Only those of the same sex can truly understand each other. That’s what Patroclus and I were.”
“Who is Patroclus?”
“Such things exist. It’s a meta matter.”
Another meta matter. If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do about it, but must I really marry Shirley right now? I don’t know what will happen in the future.
The future is unwritten, and our lives are shrouded in uncertainty. I attempted a philosophical counterargument, but Count Achilles would not yield.
“Rather, let me ask you this. Do you believe there exists a madman in this world who would marry into Shirley’s family and build a household with her?”
“That is…”
I cannot be certain about the future. But I am certain that no such madman exists. My experience living with Shirley all this time and the statistical data speak clearly to that.
“Right? Even you must admit there’s no such person, yes?”
“Even so, I can’t exactly take on that responsibility…”
“I’m not asking you to love her immediately. Simply marry her for now. Then adopt a child and continue the line.”
If we’re speaking of a strategic partnership, I suppose I could consider it. As I stood there with my arms crossed in contemplation, Count Achilles’s form suddenly began to glow and shatter into fragments.
“The divine power I’ve expended allows me to communicate only this far. I shall visit again.”
“Again?”
Must I endure this unproductive debate once more? Shirley was certainly peculiar, but to think the household spirit was equally strange. I’ve truly fallen in with an odd crowd.
“Well then, do take care of yourself.”
Still, he is a spirit of considerable rank, so I must observe proper courtesy. I saw Count Achilles off and stood alone in the empty space, closing my eyes tightly.
If Kisomalos’s divine authority were restored, I could block such spam spirits before they arrived. I resolved to reclaim Kisomalos’s divine authority as swiftly as possible and returned to my blissful sleep.

✦ ✦ ✦
Upon my return to the Imperial Palace, I found myself imprisoned in a cage of praise. Emily and her entourage lauded my accomplishments as truly magnificent, the Chief Chamberlain expressed relief that I wouldn’t follow in Helbatro’s footsteps, the Emperor—my father—offered his commendation, he even reduced the Princess Palace’s debts as a gesture of celebration, and I barely managed to dissuade him from commissioning a statue of Vishnabel drafting contracts to commemorate the occasion.
This Prisoner certainly has an obsession with contracts, I tell you. Had I accomplished something merely competent, he would have offered standard praise, but look at him now—attempting to erect a statue simply because I’ve secured a contract.
The Prisoner even entrusted me with designing the emblem for the newly established Air Force. True, I was the one who proposed creating the Air Force in the first place, but such matters are typically handled directly by the Emperor himself, so the weight of this responsibility sits heavy on my shoulders.
“Any symbol will do. Let Princess Vishnabel choose.”
Before the generals of the Military Ministry, my father displayed several design proposals. He assured me that if I desired something not among the options, he would have it created, so I spoke freely of my preference.
“The Hercules beetle.”
“….”
“The Hercules beetle.”
“…Why?”
Who knows? I’m not entirely certain, but doesn’t the Hercules beetle seem perfect as the Air Force’s symbol? It flies through the heavens, and it possesses formidable armor plating.
“The name ‘Hercules’ has such a magnificent ring to it, doesn’t it? It sounds incredibly powerful.”
“Hmm….”
The Prisoner nodded as though my reasoning held merit, then fell into contemplative silence. Finally, he spoke.
“Indeed. Hercules certainly carries a powerful resonance.”
“Exactly.”
Hercules is simply supreme, after all—it’s something the gods often say, though I sense a certain meta-textual destiny in it.
“The emblem of the Kisomalos Air Force shall be, by the Princess’s preference, the Hercules beetle.”

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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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