Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 99

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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 99. The Maximum Speed of a Shuttlecock at Its Peak Is 330 km/h (1)
“Summon those Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials! Assemble the Astiages experts!”
“No, Your Highness. It would be faster to ask them directly. If necessary, we can always shift responsibility to Astiages.”
Ah, truly the Chief Chamberlain. An absolute master of etiquette in the Imperial State. And I must say, the part about not having to bear responsibility myself is most appealing.
“Shifting responsibility is rather important.”
“It’s best to clarify the locus of responsibility beforehand.”
“In truth, diplomacy is essentially about responsibility—who bears it and who doesn’t.”
We unified our position and drafted a diplomatic document to send to Astiages. The gist was this: Media’s sole legitimate heir had been rendered unable to walk due to a curse’s backlash. However, she could run or travel using mobility devices. In such circumstances, was it proper etiquette to meet the Emperor in a wheelchair, or was it more appropriate to meet him while wearing inline skates—a mobility device?
When we provided detailed descriptions of the inline skates’ appearance, the Astiages delegation requested time and deferred their response.
And remarkably, a full week passed before their reply arrived. Apparently, throughout that entire week, Astiages’ officials and nobility had been tearing their hair out debating which option was more proper. This was such an unprecedented controversy that the imperial historians recorded it in the annals, and they even created a separate section in the protocols regarding conduct before the Emperor.
After all, whether one meets one’s own emperor while seated or while making that *clickety-clack* sound is indeed a matter of considerable importance.
In any case, the conclusion that came back was a request that she wear the inline skates but must not make that *clickety-clack* sound. Astiages, having exhausted their deliberations, had essentially shifted the responsibility back to us, which made me laugh a little.
But since this wasn’t impossible, I accepted their request. Croa would simply stand still, and if I entered simultaneously while pulling her along, it didn’t seem like there would be much noise.

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Morning dawned on the day we were to depart for the Empire. Just thinking about boarding the airship made me dizzy already. At first, I was delighted about traveling in such a luxury conveyance, but now… Have I grown accustomed to extravagance? Hmph, I’m becoming a perfectly typical member of the imperial family.
“Nooooo! I want to go too! Please let me come with you!”
Shirley threw a tantrum insisting she would go to the Empire with us, but the Prisoner was no easy mark either and refused to relent. When Father sternly told her this wasn’t a pleasure trip, Shirley picked up her lyre—a sort of miniature harp—and produced a beautiful melodic sound with a strum.
“I’ll fall behind in my studies!”
Shirley, wailing that she’d fall behind without studying topology, plucked her lyre while mounting a unicycle and zoomed off.
Hmm… That girl Shirley, I’m relieved she won’t be studying.
Father said he had many errands to attend to today and couldn’t see us off at the airfield, so he only came as far as the Princess Palace. There, he handed me what looked like a sports bag.
“What is this?”
“When you meet with them, there will come a time when you need it.”
“Huh?”
Father, are you truly some strategist out of legend who summons the southeast wind?
I asked if I could peek inside beforehand, and when he said it was fine, I looked—and found the badminton set we usually played with.
“You want me to play badminton there?”
“There will be an occasion for it.”
Well, if Father says so, then so it is. I didn’t press the matter further and summoned Emily to pack it along with the other luggage.
“This time, don’t get lost. Whenever you go anywhere, make sure you travel with Choco, the Chief Chamberlain, or at the very least Croa.”
“Yes, yes! How many times are you going to say it?”
“Until you’re brainwashed into compliance.”
“That’s actually terrifying!”
Normally, people don’t state such intentions so bluntly! Stupid Father, stupid Father—I was cursing him when Father casually ignored me and distributed firearms to the Chief Chamberlain, Choco, and Croa.
“Release the safety and pull the trigger, and a net fires out.”
“That will prove quite useful.”
“I made something practical for Chiron’s standards.”
“Though ideally, we won’t need to use it…”
Wait… Is that a capture gun for me? Prisoner, what exactly do you think I am?
Father issued shoulder holsters to everyone, and the Chief Chamberlain and Croa swiftly equipped themselves with guns. Choco carved out space along her sword belt and hung a gun holster there, letting it dangle.
“Then I’ll be on my way, sir!”
“If something strange happens like last time, you’re dead.”
“Ooh, so you’re confident you can kill me.”
“I learned from Pisha.”
Father smiled at me with a grin, then gave Choco the same treatment.
“If there’s an explosion, one shot for you, one shot for me.”
“Ah, understood! I won’t let my guard down this time, sir!”
Choco cursed that if Father kept being this overprotective, the Princess would grow up hating the sight of him. At that, Father drew a large-caliber revolver with a barrel exceeding ten inches.
One shot from that thing would obliterate her head. Even if she deflected the bullet with her sword, the explosion would be fatal. So Choco quickly scooped me up and jumped into the car.
“Let’s go! I’ll take full responsibility for Pisha’s safety, sir!”
Right, I trust your abilities. I led the delegation heading to the Astyages Empire toward the airfield. This time, I’d prepared sleeping pills along with motion sickness medication. After taking the drugs, I slept like the dead and managed to arrive at Ecbatana, the capital of the Astyages Empire.
“Ugh. Uuugh.”
“Try to compose yourself. You took medicine, yet you’re still like this?”
“Would you like to visit the control room right now?”
Croa offered kindly, but I shook my head and took deep breaths. It wasn’t as though I hadn’t tested this on a civilian airship before.
“Civilian airships are, ugh, I get motion sickness there too, ugh.”
“What could possibly be the difference?”
“Maybe military vessels are faster?”
“Did Lorowi’s fleet do something to it?”
The unexpected remark made Croa, me, the Chief Chamberlain, and Choco all stare at her. Under everyone’s gaze, Choco felt a bit awkward but shared her thoughts.
“Well, when I rode the airship with that grandmother, I was fine. So I wondered if she did some kind of brainwashing to make you feel stable on military vessels.”
“That’s a plausible theory.”
“That old woman could do anything.”
The Chief Chamberlain pressed me with questions about whether anything unusual happened or if Lorowi had given me anything strange to eat when we traveled by ship together. I thought hard, then retched up stomach acid.
“Let’s go outside and settle your stomach.”
“Pisha, hang in there! We’re almost at landing!”
Right, that’s encouraging. I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed repeatedly to keep my ears from popping.
I don’t even remember leaving the airfield or heading to the Imperial Palace—I was just dragged along. But after resting in bed for an hour, I came to my senses and could see through the floor-to-ceiling windows a crowd of cats meowing outside.
“The cats in this neighborhood are still adorable.”
“Those must be the long-haired cats you mentioned, Pisha! They’re so cute!”
Hmm, now that I think about it, was this Croa’s first time seeing long-haired cats? He looked just like we did when we first arrived here. The Chief Chamberlain, Choco, and I felt warm watching Croa’s delight.
“Regarding official business, Media’s Regent and Count German will be arriving tomorrow to handle it. You and Prince Croa shouldn’t have much to do besides greetings.”
Oh, I see. Besides, what good would it do for a ten-year-old to come and prattle on about diplomatic efforts and strengthening future goodwill? It would just be ridiculous.
“But why haven’t you unpacked your luggage?”
“Ah, well, you see.”
The Chief Chamberlain relayed a message she’d received from the Astyages Palace staff. She said it would be much more comfortable than staying here, and her face was full of smiles.
“Nanakda, the Fifth Prince of Astyages, has requested to serve you. You’ll be able to see that illegitimate child you like too!”
“Yaaaay! Hisperon!”
Wonderful! The best! I can meet Hisperon every time I come to Astyages—the Empire is the greatest! At this rate, I could come every day!
“Whooooosh!”
But this time I hadn’t prepared any gift at all, and I was panicking about what to do. Should I rush out to buy something even now? As I wrestled with the dilemma, I grabbed my golden hair, which was disheveled and tangled.
“Wishing for your safe return, I should at least cut off my hair!”
“Please stop, that’s grotesque!”
“It’s burdensome for the recipient, Pisha!”
“Hahahaha! Ahahaha!”
Choco, with her cheerfulness maxed out at 10, was still laughing at me like I was some kind of clown.

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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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