Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 132

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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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With the Young Attendants’ help, I was wrapping bandages around my back when a figure who looked to be around Mark Three from Seian’s childhood appeared and handed me a rolled parchment.
“If you become my person, I’ll give you complete ownership of Ilam. I’ll even build that Train Station you desire so much.”
Insane. This is a title conferment. A baron, yes, but a baron with territory in a key location could rival a count. No, at this level, being a baron would be nothing more than a stepping stone for the next rank advancement.
“I refuse.”
But it wasn’t an appealing offer. I had no particular desire to become nobility. I became the Market Administrator solely because I wanted to attract the Train Station so I could travel comfortably between the Academy and home.
In fact, if they just built the Train Station, I wouldn’t need to be the Market Administrator at all.
“If you refuse, Ilam will no longer be autonomous.”
“I’d prefer it went to a capable nobleman.”
“Have you thought about what will happen to the beastkin you’ve drawn here?”
When Cecilia said that, chills ran down my spine. Beyond the fact that this woman was using beastkin lives as leverage for blackmail, if problems arose with the beastkin gathered at the Integrated Market, it would put Gerth in a difficult position.
It was I who brought Gerth here and put him front and center to draw beastkin to the Integrated Market.
Of course, some came to Ilam independent of Gerth. But Gerth’s influence was significant in allowing beastkin to settle in Ilam with peace of mind. The Market Administrator of Ilam had joined hands with Gerth. Those who knew his true identity trusted him and stayed in Ilam, and even those unaware could have guessed he was affiliated with the Serpent King’s Tower given the immense power he possessed.
After that, Leri and Hubert frequented City Hall so often that, while never formally declared, everyone implicitly accepted that the Integrated Market and the Serpent King’s Tower were in alliance.
But if the Market Administrator who was building a beastkin-friendly city fell from power and a new nobleman took over to persecute or expel beastkin? All the blame would fall on Gerth.
They’d curse endlessly—why did you start this talk of harmony when you know humans are naturally treacherous, you fool of a Serpent King.
In truth, Gerth probably wouldn’t mind the insults, but leaving an impression of betrayal would be fatal. I had already dragged a reluctant Gerth along and performed that whole “we’re actually close” act. Back then, Gerth was about to get angry with me, but various incidents erupted and it all fizzled out. A second betrayal would hurt far more.
I didn’t want to remain such a worthless human in Gerth’s eyes.
“You seem concerned about someone.”
“….”
“Someone among the beastkin, at that.”
Cecilia suddenly leaned her face closer as if to observe me carefully, and I felt my skin crawl. At this rate, she’d really expose everything about me. I was about to say we were done here and leave, but Cecilia spoke like some kind of skilled shaman.
“You’ve left so much behind—a precious beastkin, your mother, Ilam.”
“Isn’t that a bit cowardly?”
“You’re keeping Seian Crowell with you, aren’t you?”
“I don’t harm Seian.”
“I have no intention of harming them either.”
So everything she’d said so far wasn’t about harming Mother and Gerth, but inviting them over for tea or something? The absurdity made me scoff, and Cecilia raised the corners of her mouth ever so slightly, her voice still devoid of warmth.
“I intend to harm you by using them.”
Damn it, this is a complete dead end. The way she mentioned Mother means she’s already located her, and could have her brought in at a moment’s notice. She probably can’t capture Gerth, but if she learns his true identity as the Serpent King, there are multiple ways to exploit that.
First, she could expose that I, the Market Administrator of Ilam, was colluding with demons. Since I’d grown close to Sera, she could easily link Sera to the demons as well. With the Crowell Empire having finished its conquest wars, demons are the only remaining enemy. If word got out that the Third Princess was entangled with demons, her position would crumble catastrophically.
“Give me time. This isn’t something I can decide immediately.”
“That works for me. In the meantime, I’ll bring your mother here with proper courtesy.”
Damn it, is this what the original Northern Grand Duke felt? With Mother held hostage, I couldn’t make a single move. Even if I rushed out to protect her right now, I couldn’t be faster than Cecilia. And even if I protected Mother first, what then? Should I tell her to hide for the rest of her life, out of Cecilia’s sight? Setting aside my reluctance to make Mother suffer, it was realistically impossible.
Of course, if I entrusted Mother’s safety to Gerth and lived under the Serpent King’s Tower’s protection indefinitely, I could guarantee some degree of freedom. But that would be the perfect pretext to start a human-demon war. If it became known that the Demon King was interfering in the imperial succession, people would storm the Serpent King’s Tower.
I had no means of escaping Cecilia’s grasp, and no time to devise countermeasures. Was this an offer I could only swallow?

My status window has been updated. If I do not accept Cecilia’s proposal, death. 5.

While I wrestled with conflicting thoughts, a deadline notification pushed against my back. Until now, the status window had made absurd demands, but for some reason, it had sided with me. That fact unsettled me deeply. What was this damned status window trying to accomplish by attaching me to Cecilia?
“Very well. But I have conditions.”
“Conditions?”
Cecilia tilted her head as if questioning whether I had any right to make demands in this situation, but I was the type to voice my desires as they arose. That principle didn’t change, even when facing Cecilia.
“As you can see, this is how I speak. I won’t accept a title—mingling with nobility at gatherings is exhausting.”
“Then you’ll become my knight and swear your loyalty.”
“I’ll graciously accept a barony instead.”
I’d rather take a beating with champagne bottles from nobles at a banquet than become your knight. When I added this complaint, Cecilia said, “How amusing,” but her expression showed no amusement whatsoever.
“The occasion to introduce you… yes, it should be around the time the farmers of Laga find peace.”
“You already know about that too?”
“Of course. Once the Lord of Laga’s head is severed, I’ll give Laga to you as well.”
She certainly was generous and bold. She truly treated her people well. The problem was that even if they spat out what she offered, she’d pick it back up and shove it into their mouths anyway.
With my clothes fully dressed, I opened my mouth while enduring the throbbing pain in my back.
“You’re granting all my requests right now. Couldn’t you call a healer?”
“Denied.”
“Damn it.”
“My goodness.”
Cecilia made a dry sound of surprise, then muttered that if I kept being so insolent, she’d beat me again. Since I was going to die in pain anyway, a few more wounds wouldn’t make a difference. As I tried to remove my jacket to provoke another beating, Cecilia changed her tune.
“You don’t spare yourself. Then I’ll have Seian called instead.”
“I’ll speak more politely from now on.”
“What a strange child.”
Cecilia stared at me, saying it was truly strange that I avoided others being hurt more than myself being hurt. You’re the strange one for finding that odd. Isn’t it natural that when people around me get beaten because of me, I’d rather take the blows myself?
“I’ll take my leave now. I don’t think there’s anything more to say.”
“Come visit if you’re bored. I’ll prepare refreshments.”
“Counting ants on the street is more entertaining than coming here.”
“How cold.”
Cecilia, speaking without emotion, demanded that I come at once when she called, then summoned the young attendant from before. Young Seian Mark Two, who smiled brightly throughout guiding me, spouted nonsense about making a wise decision and devoting his life to Lady Cecilia with joy.
Everyone living in this palace must be insane.

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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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