Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 133

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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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In the East Wing, only Seian and Kanna remained, and Kanna grabbed my sleeve to apologize.
“I… I wish I could have… been useful.”
“Friendship isn’t measured by usefulness.”
“But still…”
That’s not something you need to worry about. I tapped Kanna’s shoulder encouragingly, but then Seian stepped forward.
“Hey, you. Come here for a second.”
When Seian asked me to come, I had to obey. I told Kanna I’d be right back and followed him eagerly. Seian led me to a secluded corner of the corridor away from the East Wing, and without preamble, he tried to undress me—only to receive a flick on the forehead.
“Ow!”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, but students shouldn’t behave so recklessly at school.”
“Recklessly? What are you talking about! Come on, take it off! Let me see your back!”
“Where did you learn to talk like that? You’re being awfully forward today.”
Asking to see someone’s back was an old euphemism for something else entirely. This mischievous creature never ceased to amaze me. But showing my back today was absolutely out of the question.
“I can’t show my back today. I could show my front instead.”
“What good is seeing your front! You got hit, didn’t you!”
Ah… he went straight for the jugular. So that was the problem? Seian had experienced this more than once, so he’d figure it out quickly enough. The scars he’d seen before were arranged by age—old ones and new ones, quite the collection.
“I did get hurt, that’s true. But it’s nothing you need to worry about.”
“Nothing I need to worry about, my foot!”
Seian tried to undress me again, so I grabbed both his wrists and held firm. The familiar “Ow!” escaped his lips.
“If you keep this up, I’m just leaving!”
“Tch!”
Don’t talk nonsense. I flicked his forehead again, and he clutched it, crying out.
“I was blackmailed over Mother’s safety. Your situation never came up. Cecilia won’t touch you while you’re at the Academy, so enjoy your school days.”
“How can I enjoy school while you’re suffering!”
Ah, Seian—this boy had grown into someone truly thoughtful. Genuinely delighted that he cared so much for me, I grabbed his head and pulled it down, planting a kiss on his crown.
“Smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch.”
“Ahhh! What are you doing! That’s gross!”
Still as temperamental as ever, my dear little dark-furred weasel. I peppered his crown, forehead, and cheeks with kisses before finally releasing him, satisfied.
“W-what are you… what are you doing, you lunatic!”
“I kissed you.”
“Who asked you to! Why did you do that!”
“Because you’re adorable.”
“Ow!”
In any case, there’s nothing for you to worry about. With that said, I went to find Kanna. I’d healed myself with my little weasel, so it was time to return to the dormitory and heal myself with White One.
After seeing Seian and Kanna off in turn, I returned to my room and immediately called out to White One. White One! My beloved White One, are you there? I’ve returned after a long journey!
“White One!”
White One came bounding toward me silently and leaped into my arms, embracing me with all four limbs. The way he clung to me without letting go suggested he was lodging a protest about spending so much time alone and being lonely. I held him like a baby and bounced him gently—donggi-donggi-donggi—and soon his eyes shifted from their usual appearance to Gerth’s eyes.
“Evan. What’s going on here?”
“I’m currently holding White One.”
“Put him down.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I see.”
Accepting that there was no helping it if I refused, Gerth received White One from me. The creature’s smooth, plump body felt cool and pleasant to the touch. Gerth’s bare skin had a similar quality to it.
“Evan. Something serious has happened.”
“What is it?”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
“Come to Ilam.”
“I can’t go during the school term.”
“I see.”
This time he accepted it, though he looked somewhat dejected. We exchanged updates through White One’s communication channel after so long, and Gerth expressed suspicion about how Hubert had been giving him some strange medicine lately. I felt a pang of guilt but pretended not to know anything.
“Ever since I took that medicine, something’s been strange.”
“What’s strange about it?”
“I miss Evan even more.”
“That is serious.”
“My body temperature has risen too.”
“Could it be a cold?”
“There were no signs of that.”
It was natural for body temperature to rise with a vitality tonic, but the fact that he kept wanting to see me was a problem that needed solving. I still had two exams left and couldn’t leave the Academy, so there was only one option remaining.
“Gerth. If you’re not busy, there’s a way for you to come to Crownpolis.”
“!”
In that moment, Gerth’s eyes widened as if he’d had a revelation.
“There was such a way.”
“Wear sunglasses when you come.”
“Understood.”
“If you ask Eugene, you should be able to stay as a guest.”
“You mean that kind-hearted young man.”
Just as I was about to tell him the address of Brandenburg’s Townhouse, Gerth asked me to wait a moment and prepared to write it down.
“Go ahead now.”
Gerth really was brimming with enthusiasm to come to Crownpolis. Seeing how earnestly he wanted to meet me made me grateful. I’d made a good friend.
“I’ll bring many gifts.”
“There’s no need to burden yourself. You can come empty-handed.”
“No. I want to bring something.”
“I’ll accept them gratefully.”
It wouldn’t be proper to keep refusing when he insisted on bringing gifts. When I replied that I’d accept them with thanks, Gerth responded with a hint of laughter in his voice that he’d depart by tomorrow. Gerth really was someone who acted quickly.
“How long will it take once you depart?”
“What’s the distance to the Capital?”
“By carriage it’s a week, but riding hard on horseback would be within five days.”
“Half a day should be sufficient.”
Gerth truly possesses remarkable insight. Still, I’m grateful he doesn’t speak in absolutes like the Department Head Professor does. There’s a human warmth to him.
We continued our conversation until White One grew bored, and once his tail began thumping against the ground, we exchanged our farewells. He seemed reluctant to maintain the communication connection any longer.
“Then I’ll see you then.”
“Right. If you can’t find the address, ask the Capital Guard.”
“Understood.”
I’d need to navigate there without getting lost. Despite my inner worries, White One’s eyes gleamed as he returned, and after disconnecting the communication, he sniffed around before pressing himself firmly against my back, refusing to budge.
My back, which had felt warm from the heat of the wound, cooled pleasantly against him—but it seemed he’d noticed my injury. If White One could tell, Gerth would certainly have noticed as well.
“….”
There’s no helping it. I should visit Cecilia and ask her once more to please summon a healer. Since she enjoys humor, perhaps if I put on some kind of comedic performance, she might reward me by calling a healer.
While I was resting on my side because my back ached, Reina returned home and intrusively questioned why I was lying there so awkwardly.
Everyone around me has unusually sharp instincts, so I should resolve this quickly.

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By the next day, my back throbbed even more intensely, and it had begun to weep. I’d obtained some ointment but left it untreated since no one could apply it for me, and it seems to have worsened. The bandage intervals had shortened, and I was considering calling the Crown Princess Palace urgently when news arrived that Sera and Sunbird had come to the East Wing.
Even if I had to go, I needed to see them first. I also wanted to quickly confess the situation to Sunbird and get his counsel on countermeasures.
Conveniently, both Kanna and Reina were taking the liberal arts course I’d deliberately enrolled Seian in, so we headed to the East Wing together to meet Sera. Eugene happened to have a free period and was apparently loitering in the East Wing.
“Has Cecilia truly lost her mind!”
Upon hearing my situation, Sera smashed the table once again. She raged about how Cecilia could take Mother hostage and threaten me—your sister was the same way in the original work too.
“How could she wear such a vile mask…!”
As Sera continued her fury, she suddenly sensed something amiss and stopped destroying furniture, dragging me outside the door where she whispered to me.
“But. The Duchess Neftis isn’t someone who’d be easily taken hostage. How did she end up being threatened?”
“The one I’m calling Mother right now is the Nanny who raised me.”
The moment Sera heard “Nanny,” she gasped as though her breath had caught, growing even more furious than before.
“That wretch! Is she even human!”
Sera, having been raised delicately herself, must feel closer to the Nanny than to her biological mother.
But Sunbird’s attitude was distinctly strange. He sighed as though my absence represented some great loss. Even if I am the Market’s leader, the Integrated Market is insignificant compared to Letem’s influence or the Brandenburg Territory—so why would he regret it?
“Sera. I have a question.”
“What!”
“Did you tell Sunbird my true identity?”
“Oh.”
She must have. Sera’s movements became like someone who’d stepped up to a podium without a speech. Her head turned stiffly, and her voice came out strained, as though she’d committed a mortal sin.
“I’m sorry. I kept the secret until yesterday, but my Sunbird said I should reveal anything I’m hiding, and so I…!”
“I see.”
“Since I’m the one who actually spoke, blame only me if you must!”
If Sunbird had pressed that hard, there must have been a reason. When Sunbird came on so forcefully, Sera must have felt threatened for her life. In the original work, it was the same when she mentioned his teleportation ability—she’d been cornered on Sky Island then.
“No one else knows besides Sunbird, right?”
“Of course not! And I won’t reveal it in the future! I swear it!”
“Understood.”
“You should understand! Sunbird and I are of one mind, are we not?”
“I understand.”
When someone speaks, listen to them. I grabbed both of Sera’s cheeks and stretched them outward. Her soft, downy cheeks stretched like mochi, perfectly malleable.
“Bwaaaaaaah!”
“You go inside. Call Sunbird for me.”
I spoke to her as though sending a younger sibling on an errand, and Sera answered vigorously that she understood, then sent Sunbird out. Once I shut the door firmly and pulled him into a secluded corner, Sunbird trembled with apprehension.
“What is it, Evan? It feels strange being alone with you like this.”

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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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