Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 135

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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 went to the main gate of the Imperial Palace and told the Village Guard I wanted to meet Cecile Crown Princess, only to be turned away. The second time I entered, I presented my card and said I was the Market Director of the Integrated Market and had come to meet Cecile Crown Princess—and was turned away again.
Left with no choice, I used Guided Freezing to demolish the Village Guard Rest Room, which triggered an alarm. Not long after, a Bachelor arrived on horseback to collect me.
“Do you have some kind of disease where you die if you don’t cause a commotion wherever you go?”
“You’re wearing your uniform today.”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
“The way you’re bundled up so tightly looks neat and ascetic—it stirs twisted desires in people.”
“I said I don’t want to hear it.”
“And those prominent wrist bones are incredibly sexy.”
“Shut up!”
There was something oddly satisfying about teasing the Bachelor. After our conversation ended, I savored that fulfilling feeling before stating my business. When I said I wanted to meet Cecilia, he told me the Crown Princess was busy and had no time to see someone like me.
“Just pass along the message. My back is killing me—have a healer called so I can receive treatment.”
“She won’t permit it. Go home.”
“Seian was applying medicine to my back and the atmosphere got strange—we almost kissed.”
“Wait.”
I knew mentioning the possibility of tasting Seian would provoke some reaction. The Bachelor hurried off on horseback, so I entered the half-destroyed Village Guard Rest Room and settled comfortably onto a sofa. A few guards lingered around me, but strangely, none of them spoke to me.
I had no choice but to say something. Lately, it felt like I only met people without manners.
“When a guest arrives, bring refreshments!”
Just as it was in Laga, when a guest comes, isn’t it proper etiquette to serve at least some broth? I barked orders for pastries and tea, then leisurely ate what was brought while waiting for the Bachelor. Surprisingly, he made me wait for two hours.
“The hospitality here is terrible. How can you make a guest wait for two hours?”
“You’re not a guest—you’re Her Highness’s retainer.”
“That was a joke.”
“If you joke like that in front of Her Highness, your head will roll.”
“Want to bet?”
“Please don’t do that.”
The Bachelor clenched his fists, clearly restraining the urge to hit me. Thanks to that, his veins bulged and his wrist bones became even more prominent. It was incredibly sexy. He’d get angry if I said so. I decided to say it anyway.
“The way your veins are popping out from tensing up right now is incredibly sexy.”
“Her Highness has forbidden summoning a healer immediately.”
It seems he’s decided to ignore me. What a shame.
“If not immediately, then later is allowed?”
“If you complete one task, you may seek out a healer.”
“Is it an Imperial healer? Free of charge?”
“She didn’t mention such terms. If you want one, I’ll pay from my own pocket.”
“Your Crown Princess is so stingy.”
“You’re also Her Highness’s retainer.”
My new superior is so stingy. I continued grumbling, but the Bachelor completely ignored me and arranged a carriage. During the ride, he wanted to discuss the job, but the carriage we were riding in gleamed jet black. What exactly is black to the Crowell Imperial Family? If you paint it in such a glossy black and add gold trim, does it feel like riding in a Rolls-Royce?
The ride was certainly smoother than other carriages. There was a comfort to it that didn’t sway, as if specially crafted springs were installed beneath the cushions.
“From now on, go to the Zibenstein Townhouse and make it hail for one hour.”
“So this isn’t work—it’s a test of my abilities.”
“You’re quicker to catch on than I expected. I want to see your maximum capacity, so keep going until you’re exhausted.”
“Are you saying I seem oblivious?”
“At least, that’s how it appeared to me.”
That’s shocking. Does he really see me on the same level as Reina Letem? When I voiced this thought, the Bachelor delivered an even more shocking response.
“Isn’t Reina Letem known for being quick to understand?”
Damn that cunning fox of high society. His image management is impeccable—meanwhile, the red gorilla usually just scratches his rear and makes primitive noises.
“It must be inconvenient to attack someone you were allied with so recently.”
“Don’t worry. I’d destroy buildings if ordered to.”
When I suggested that collapsing a building would actually be easier than an hour of hail and asked why that wasn’t an option, the Bachelor looked at me with distaste, remarking that mages certainly had unique philosophies. But I was just stating facts—why did he find it so strange?
“His Majesty said causing strange phenomena would be sufficient.”
“Sounds like you’re off to cause some trouble.”
He was probably asking what I was doing regarding another incident. When I sarcastically noted that he must have been busy all day, the Bachelor’s eyes took on the look of an Examiner as he spoke.
“Your intuition is unnecessarily sharp.”
“Is that a deduction?”
“It is.”
“Couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut and not upset you even if I notice?”
“You’d never manage to stay silent.”
“How did you know?”
I laughed and admitted he was right, and the Bachelor clenched his fist again. I wanted to press my fingers against those bulging veins on the back of his hand.
“Stop thinking perverted thoughts and get to work.”
“How did you know?”
“….”
He was deliberately ignoring me. With no choice, I opened the carriage window and created a mass of seawater using House Neftis’s heirloom. Using this location as the starting point, I launched chunks of ice toward the sky above the Zibenstein Townhouse. This way, it would look like naturally occurring hail, and I wouldn’t need to expend much effort using my skill.
It seemed my stamina for using skills had increased considerably from attending the Academy and training with Gerth. I launched small ice chunks for about an hour without any sign of exhaustion.
“Impressive.”
“It’s been… quite eventful recently.”
Just thinking about it exhausts me. The Department Head Professor came personally to teach the Practical Magic course instead of the regular professor, Gerth forced me to exercise claiming it was for a 3-to-500 ratio, and when I brought my friend from the military, he made me do forced marches and sit-ups with him.
Truly, I’ve been through so much.
“Is life always this difficult?”
“It tends to be, yes.”
The Bachelor nodded as if he’d experienced hardship too, when someone knocked on the carriage door and brought in a parfait piled high with cookies, ice cream, whipped cream, and strawberries.
“This is a gift from our Duke over there for Evan Laef.”
A butler-like grandfather pointed out the window, and Bruno Siebenstein—who’d apparently been watching the whole time—was waving at me. I was going to ignore him if he just waved, but after waving, he blew hearts, threw kisses, and showered me with every kind of affection, so I used ice magic to shatter every window in Bruno’s room.
“Send the window repair bill to Cecilia Crowell.”
“Very well.”
I was grateful the grandfather understood. Butler Grandfather was clicking his tongue, saying he’d always known that fool would get hit for being such a pest.

◇ ◆ ◇

Yesterday, I successfully unleashed hail without incident and was able to show my back wounds to a healer at the National Treatment Center. While not as skilled as the Imperial Court’s healers, the wounds had closed enough that I no longer needed to apply medicine. Though my back remained somewhat tender and stung occasionally, so I had to continue wrapping bandages around it.
The Bachelor was quite disappointed that he couldn’t witness my original output. Even after unleashing hail for over an hour without tiring, he explained he couldn’t observe me because he had to attend to the next task commanded by Cecilia. He seemed genuinely regretful about missing it.
I myself hadn’t realized I could endure this much. My physical strength was at its peak. It was the nourishment of mental fortitude. The Department Head Professor’s words had proven correct.
Though my body had become noticeably leaner compared to the break period, my weight hadn’t changed drastically. My strength remained the same. How should I describe it—my muscles stayed intact, but the volume decreased, making my body incredibly dense and compact. It seemed to be an effect of the superhuman skill, but regardless, being able to put my weight behind my attacks was an absolute advantage.
After conducting joint training with the Combat Techniques Department during the afternoon practical combat class, Eugene approached and informed me that someone had come to the house. I was glad I’d tipped Eugene off about Gerth’s arrival yesterday when I stopped by the ruffian’s den on the way back to the Dormitory. According to Eugene’s account, Gerth had arrived at the Brandenburg Townhouse with a note containing the address, and had gone directly to the Security Force demanding they guide him there, resulting in him being questioned at the checkpoint.
“Oh, and he said Kanna should come too.”
“Kanna?”
“He said he had something to give her.”
“Understood.”
It seemed Gerth had brought gifts for Kanna as well among the presents he was carrying. I responded cheerfully in acknowledgment and called for Kanna. After thanking the special instructor we’d invited for today’s lessons, we decided to shower quickly and head to the Brandenburg Townhouse.
As a side note, Eugene was walking and chatting with us when he naturally wandered into the women’s shower room, let out a scream, and fled.

The Brandenburg Townhouse still boasted its dignified charm, and the staff were courteous. The moment I appeared, they announced loudly that the benefactor of the territory had arrived, and guided us to a luxurious reception room, mentioning that my friend was waiting.
As I entered the room, Gerth sprang up from his chair without even setting down his bundle, which he was carrying on his back.
“Evan!”
“Gerth. It’s been a while.”
“I missed you! Evan!”
His reaction was more intense than when we communicated through White One. Did Gerth struggle much on the journey here? Why is he so disheveled?
As Gerth came toward me with his bundle on his back, I embraced him and patted his lower back. After hugging for about fifteen minutes, Eugene suggested it might be good if we separated now.
“We just embraced.”
“About fifteen minutes have passed, Gerth.”
“I couldn’t have imagined it.”
Gerth, who briefly wondered if his watch was broken, finally felt reassured after seeing me, and he pulled his bundle toward us.
“This is my own reinterpretation of Mother’s special sauce.”
Gerth handed me a small ceramic jar. When I opened it, I found something red and thick inside with a pungent aroma. Seeing small intestines mixed in as well, it appeared to be a type of fish sauce.

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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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