Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 129

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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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“I was only trying to attract the Train Station. Things are going to get busier from here on out.”
“So your responsibilities have grown heavier? If we ever need to evacuate Sera, we’d have to go to the Eastern Region, wouldn’t we?”
“I’m counting on significant support from Letem and Brandenburg.”
“When I go home during this break, I’ll ask Father if I can inherit my title early.”
Since things have come to this, I’ll need to ask my father for help too. Once Laga is developed, we’ll need to proceed with land reclamation projects. We’ll have to relocate farmers, and there’s so much to do during the break.
As Eugene and I discussed the upcoming tasks smoothly, Reina scratched her head vigorously and let out an exasperated sigh.
“At the next Imperial Palace banquet, I should clarify my position as well.”
So she’s finally decided to take on more than just a supporting role. Eugene and I found her admirable and chuckled, patting the Female Informant on the shoulder.
“Hey, commoner. What are those three talking about?”
“Um, well… I’m not entirely sure…?”
While we were building genuine bonds of friendship, Kanna and Seian Crowell still couldn’t understand our conversation.

◇ ◆ ◇

The moment we were shown into the reception room of the Third Princess Palace, we witnessed Sera kneeling and weeping. In contrast, Dr. Bruno of House Zibenstein was trying to lift her up with exasperated gestures, while the current Department Head Professor was grinning as though he found the whole situation delightful.
“Please, just this once—cancel it! Let’s pretend this never happened!”
“My goodness, Your Highness. This isn’t a musical performance that can simply be called off. It’s beyond my control now.”
“Surely Zibenstein can manage this!”
“Oh my, does the Duke think he’s the Emperor? You’d have to control the entire press.”
So this is what Dr. Bruno is really like…
As Dr. Bruno of House Zibenstein playfully batted his eyes with exaggerated sighs, I felt the urge to strike him.
“Oh, you’ve arrived.”
Upon noticing us, the Common Professor gestured dismissively at the Imperial Palace attendants with his chin, ordering them to bring fresh fruit juice for the children. It was strange that he was giving orders, but it was even stranger that the attendants were actually complying.
“E-Evan! Evan Laef!”
As I’ve been saying all along, people shouldn’t call me like I’m some magical character. I don’t have a four-dimensional pocket or doors that lead anywhere. It means there’s nothing I can do.
“Just cancel it! Please convince them for me.”
“Then why did you say thank you in the first place?”
“Saying thank you when you receive a gift is basic courtesy!”
“Taking responsibility for what you’ve said is also part of courtesy.”
“Nooooo!”
In any case, since no one else of appropriate rank was available, Sera pushed my back forcefully, insisting I do something about it. Did this girl even have a shred of intention to keep my identity as Duke Neftis hidden?
“Ah, so you’re the one who inherited my guitar. I recognized you at first glance.”
Recognized me at first glance? How exactly had the Department Head Professor introduced me?
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the professor, but the man showed no sign of guilt, merely waving his hand dismissively. That scheming, portly middle-aged professor. If he thought a pretty smile would soften my mood, he’d miscalculated.
“I am not a member of the Nobility. I speak only as Sera’s friend.”
But the Former Dean isn’t portly. I won’t be kind to him either.
“Don’t use Sera for your personal purposes.”
“I’m sorry, but children shouldn’t meddle in such matters. Focus on your studies instead.”
“Then allow me to speak as the Market of Ilram.”
“Weren’t you just bringing up your friend?”
“I am Sera’s friend, but I am also the Market of the Integrated Market. I can change my demeanor as needed.”
“Child. What exactly is this purpose you speak of that I harbor? I cannot fathom why you despise me so. It breaks my heart—I feel tears welling up.”
“To incite democratic autonomous communities and overthrow the Empire.”
“….”
“….”
As I answered point-blank, Dr. Bruno pressed his lips into a thin line, feigned a smile, then sought out the Common Professor. He muttered loud enough for all to hear, asking how much those kids actually knew. The Common Professor, delighted that his friend had emerged from the bread, chuckled heartily and brought up our old exploits.
“There was an intruder in one of the dungeons you created. It seems those children wandered in by mistake and burned it down on their way out.”
“What! My books?!”
“Calm yourself. That’s why you scattered manuscript copies in multiple locations.”
No wonder the Academy had looked so uneven—there must have been several such dungeons. If tunnels had been dug beneath an already-constructed Academy, the Common Dean must have lent a hand.
In any case, Duke Zibenstein, now understanding the full story, relaxed his expression and shrugged his shoulders.
“As a Market, you’d understand better than nobility. You must recognize the value of my books?”
“I do. The protection of workers’ rights is important. Thanks to your ideas, I made good use of them on my path to becoming Market.”
“Then—”
“But the Market is also part of the established order.”
It wasn’t born from genuine understanding of others’ suffering or sincere compassion. I used it because it served my interests. Becoming Market required the support of workers most easily, and accepting demihumans as citizens was necessary to expand the working population.
I’ve mentioned this before in Laga, but if I’d merely wanted to help them, I would have become a philanthropist, not a Market. Your ideology aligned conveniently with my interests, so I exploited it.
Modern society operates the same way. When competition is needed, capitalist logic is deployed; when welfare is needed, socialist logic is borrowed.
You must move by lending your strength according to the times, not participate in imperial succession struggles, seizing Sera by the head and shaking her around. All you’ll become is a dictator hiding behind egalitarian ideals.
I spoke without pause, giving my opponent no chance to interject. The man’s expression grew slightly irritated before he gripped my shoulder firmly.
“Do you know how people are treated in war? Do you know how the manufactured goods you use so comfortably are made? Children not even five years old are working twenty hours a day.”
“I don’t. I was raised privileged. And if such victims exist, regulate and resolve it in your own territory.”
“Sealing off just my territory won’t solve anything!”
“Repeat what you said at the beginning.”
I struck away Dr. Bruno Zibenstein’s hand from my shoulder. I used a superhuman skill to do it, so it must have hurt considerably.
“Don’t use Sera for your personal agenda.”
“Look at that?”
As Bruno’s eyes widened, the Common Professor laughed and tapped his friend’s shoulder.
“You took a hit there.”
“Did you teach your student well?”
“I never taught her anything. She was like this from the start.”
“What does she eat to refute me at such a tender age?”
Damn it—was that act of anger just a performance? I got worked up for nothing.
“Did you see how fiercely that little one glared? My heart was racing a bit.”
“Dating Evan as a student at your age would be a crime.”
“I want to adopt her as a daughter.”
“There are probably many people already after her.”
Dr. Bruno was being absurdly cute, patting the Common Professor’s forearm repeatedly. How irritating. Grumbling about who else could possibly be after me besides himself, the Common Professor—who surprisingly had a thorough grasp of my personal details—rattled off a list of family names.
“Well, the surrounding powers like Letem, Brandenburg, and Crowell are apparently sending love calls from both Cecilia and Sera’s camps. And I heard House Neftis visited during the last break.”
“Excuse me, Professor. I’m in an absolutely terrible mood right now—where on earth did you find all this out?”
“Professor Ha mentioned it over drinks.”
There’s no helping it when it comes to Professor Ha. That man had his fingers in high society, so he was bound to be well-informed. He probably dug deeper out of personal interest too. In any case, I was relieved that the Common Professor hadn’t conducted a personal background investigation on me.
“Izzaneer, izzaner izzaneer.”
“How annoying. Don’t come near me.”
Dr. Bruno, who had been scribbling something with paper and pen since earlier, approached me bashfully, so I cursed at him first. With an “aing,” he twisted his legs together and spread his chest wide, whistling cheerfully. The middle-aged man with the monocle lowered his eyes bashfully, his face flushing red, before holding out the paper to me.
“Would you… accept it?”
“Guided Ice Binding!”
“Skill! Petit Blaze! Hey, you bastard, are you insane?! This is the Imperial Palace!”
Yeah, he’s crazy, but he started it!
As I gathered seawater using House Neftis’s heirloom for my next spell, Kanna, Eugene, and Seian all rushed at me, embracing me tightly and patting my back.
“Evan. Calm down. You must calm down.”
“E-Evan, b-be good. Shh, be good.”
“Hey, if you cause trouble here, it’ll be a disaster! Yes, a handkerchief! I’ll give you mine!”
I’ll gratefully accept that.
I took Seian’s handkerchief and stuffed it against my nose, breathing deeply. Phew, the cheap fabric softener scent that Seian always exudes helps calm my nerves.
“That person is definitely strange, but you’re not exactly innocent yourself, you know?”
Don’t lump me in the same category as that pervert. As I glared silently, Seian apologized sincerely, saying his words had been harsh. My Seian has grown so much—he even knows how to apologize properly now.
With that in mind, I decided to read the paper that Duke Zibenstein had offered. As I unfolded it, there was elegant handwriting that read “Adoption Agreement.”
“Reina.”
“Huh?”
“Burn it with Blaze.”
“Friend, does it really have to be Blaze?”
There’s also Petit Blaze—couldn’t we use that instead? As Reina made that suggestion, I showed her the adoption agreement. Reina folded the paper into an airplane neatly, opened the window, and sent it flying before immediately using the Blaze skill.
“This calls for it. A Blaze moment.”
“Aing, why whyyy! Zibenstein is a good territory! If you inherit diligence, Evan, then over generations, you could even support Lady Sera!”
“I decline. I am not diligent.”
For a moment, the club members stared at me with strange expressions, but it wasn’t important.

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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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