Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 122

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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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Teleportation was indeed a formidable skill if misused. If I could transport objects other than my own body, I could simply overlap someone’s coordinates with an object’s coordinates and they would die.
Imagining how a single pencil could pierce a heart and end the game, I thanked the heavens a thousand times over that Sunbird was kind-hearted.
“Do you think raising your grades is that easy?!”
At Seian’s frustrated outburst, Reina nodded in agreement. As someone who attended classes diligently and studied hard, she could relate. Sunbird, blessed with an intellect that allowed him to memorize everything he saw and heard in a single exposure, simply couldn’t fathom how much effort ordinary people needed to cram knowledge into their heads.
“And on top of that, a second-year offering to teach a third-year is frankly insulting.”
“Exactly!”
When Seian asked in bewilderment why she was suddenly taking his side, Reina pretended to push up the red glasses she wore while studying and cursed Sunbird.
“I’ve always thought that guy was annoying anyway!”
“Right.”
Though her reasoning was questionable, having someone on his side gave Seian strength. He and Reina joined forces to berate Sunbird.
“How would a genius understand the struggles of ordinary people!”
“When you ask me to teach you, you’ll just say this anyway. How could you not know that?”
“Wow, Your Highness, you’re spot on! I feel like I’ve heard this from him multiple times already! He’s so annoying!”
“Annoying bastard!”
“Ugh! He says I’m annoying! Sunbird’s annoying, he says!”
After misspoke once about offering to teach, Sunbird had been cursed dozens of times and his eyes began to glisten with tears. As Sunbird’s clear voice wavered, Princess Sera stepped forward.
“Stop it, you idiots! Don’t make my Sunbird cry!”
As Sera swung her fist, I quickly moved to block Seian. Catching Sera’s punch with one hand, I tensed my tingling arm and spoke.
“Stop, Your Highness. You can’t resolve verbal attacks with violence.”
“But those guys—!”
“Even if they studied their entire lives, they could never catch up to Sunbird. They act this way because of their inferiority complex. Show some magnanimity.”
Besides, if Sera truly struck Seian, he would die. Violence is only playful when both parties are evenly matched. If Sera used violence against Seian, it would be a crime. As I explained this clearly, Sera withdrew her anger and pouted.
“Still, your words were too harsh. Apologize to Sunbird.”
“I mean it when I say he’s annoying, but I’m sorry.”
“Mm.”
Seian has grown. Though his apology was brief and lacked grace, the fact that he showed an attitude of apologizing to someone surprised me, surprised Sera, and surprised Sunbird.
“Seian. You did very well.”
“I’ve reassessed you, Seian.”
“Out of respect for the Crown Prince, I shall accept your apology.”
As Sunbird quickly wiped away his tears and an awkward atmosphere formed, Seian wanted to flee this place. It seemed like everyone would stand up, applaud, and offer congratulations. On behalf of all the youth in this world, Seian tried to escape, but Sera grabbed his shoulder and forced him back onto the sofa, preventing him from achieving his goal of going home to study.
“Now let’s discuss countermeasures.”
“No, I just need to get a scholarship.”
“So housing and tuition are the immediate problems, right?”
“My grades will improve with studying.”
“How much revenue will the album generate? Is Seian’s share not even enough to cover tuition?”
“Listen to me, you crazy bastards!”
Album production requires planning and production costs, so if the revenue doesn’t cover all of that, there’s no settlement. When Sunbird explained this plainly, the club members except Eugene, who had combat training, offered their opinions.
“The Homeless Settlement doesn’t seem like an appropriate place for Seian to live.”
“If you wish, I could arrange a scholarship under the Letem name.”
“Count Letem’s daughter. You understand this could be seen as an insult to the Imperial Court.”
“I thought as much.”
He couldn’t earn money on his own, and whether considering his pride or his physical condition, he couldn’t live in the Homeless Settlement. With the Imperial Court’s reputation at stake, he couldn’t accept support from the Border Earl or Count Letem either. Faced with this impossible situation and the club members’ groaning, Seian raised his voice once more.
“That’s why! If I study hard and earn a scholarship, that solves everything!”
“Seian. We’re preparing for contingencies.”
Seian continued insisting, so I learned that if he maintained his grades, he could receive a scholarship and continue living in his current residence. But what if unforeseen circumstances caused his scholarship to be cut off and his studies to be interrupted?
I knew from the original story that Seian completed all four years and graduated, but with the original plot shifting and Cecilia now monitoring Seian’s associates, I judged it better to be cautious.
“However, Cecilia has already signed the official documents…”
“That’s just Cecilia’s whim. If she takes another whim, she can fabricate any reason to summon you to the Imperial Palace.”
At Sera’s words, Seian fell silent. Cecilia was certainly capable of such things. Last time, I managed to stop her by using the peace treaty with the Dragon King as an excuse, but she could easily fabricate reasons—claiming the band didn’t need Seian, creating a setting guide to force his withdrawal. There was no limit to her excuses.
“Well, if it comes to that, I’ll take him in myself.”
When the Third Princess shrugged and spoke, everyone except Kanna’s eyes gleamed as they stared at her. Did the Seorita Crown Princess understand the weight of those words, or not? How could she interpret others’ words so expansively while failing to recognize the same potential in her own?
“Your Highness. That matter requires careful consideration.”
“You understand what it means to take in the transparent Crown Prince, don’t you?”
“It could provoke a direct confrontation with Cecilia.”
“Hey, you’re not even nobility—how do you know that?”
Nobility or not, one could easily deduce it from watching Cecilia’s behavior. I said as much, and Kanna, who hadn’t grasped the situation at all, stammered in confusion while I turned to the club members on behalf of the Third Princess.
“W-why would that lead to a c-confrontation with the Crown Princess?”
“Simply put: Seian belongs to Cecilia.”
“Hey!”
“There’s no more accurate way to describe the current situation. At least, that’s what Cecilia believes, and you know it too.”
“Ugh!”
Seian had nothing to say. Cecilia certainly viewed Seian as belonging to her, and no one disagreed. Even the Emperor himself had deferred to Cecilia’s wishes when deciding where Seian would live.
Everything Seian needed to survive required Cecilia’s permission, so it was no exaggeration to call him her possession.
“Sera just declared she would forcibly take what belongs to Cecilia and make it her own. It’s the same as spitting in Cecilia’s face and slapping her across the cheek.”
“Ah, I see.”
“No! I just wanted all the club members to graduate safely and completely!”
“Your Highness, consider your position. The words you speak carry the weight and value of gold.”
“This is the Academy! Before I’m a princess, I’m Sera Crowell!”
“Having identified yourself as Crowell, you are the Third Princess of the Empire!”
At Sunbird’s cry, Sera’s eyes widened. She looked shocked, as if she never expected such words from someone she cherished and loved. Sera, her eyes reflecting each person in turn, opened her mouth.
“All of you—Sunbird and the rest—you only see me as a princess, don’t you?”
“That’s not what I meant. I simply wanted you to understand that your words carry such weight.”
“Honestly, we can’t separate Sera from the princess.”
“Reina!”
I pressed my forehead. Reina was pretending to be oblivious while saying something that showed she understood everything perfectly.
As someone who had sided with the Third Princess, Reina was waiting for the right moment for the princess to clarify her position. Her mother, Count Letem, was a prominent conservative, which meant she held a significant position in Crown Princess Cecilia’s faction.
Just as Reina thought and acted as the heir of Letem rather than merely as Reina, Sera, bearing the Crowell name, had a duty to think and act as a princess. Regardless of their youth and student status, as long as they carried their family names, they needed to take responsibility for their words and actions.
No matter how much Sera personally insisted on sponsoring Seian, that funding ultimately came from Imperial Court coffers. Once Imperial money moved, it ceased to be a private matter.
“Ah, friendship is wonderful, isn’t it? Of course, I would have been your friend even if you were just Sera. But you are Crowell, are you not?”
Reina made her position crystal clear: renounce the Third Princess title and the right of succession, or don’t speak of yourself as merely Sera. At those words, Sera bit down hard on her lower lip.
“So if I renounce my right to succession, then I can become a true friend?”
“Wait! What about protecting the Invisible Crown Prince? If Your Highness is no longer Your Highness, that invisible prince will have to crawl back into Cecilia’s den!”
“…!”
With Reina pushing this hard, there was no turning back now. Princess Sera would soon be forced to make one of two choices.
“Heed Letem’s words. Let’s go.”
After Sunbird bowed to the mages and Seian before departing, Reina’s eyes gleamed and she broke into a sly grin. Evan, who had caught on that this woman deliberately provoked Princess Sera, jabbed her in the ribs with her elbow and asked what she was thinking.
“Oh, it’s just that our lady is being so noisy.”
“If she’s noisy, why don’t you simply fulfill your duty as a conservative elder?”
“Then where’s the fun in that?”

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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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