Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 146

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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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“The Crown Princess has quite the perverse streak herself.”
“Don’t insult your liege.”
“But only someone truly perverted would write official documents on such fancy stationery.”
“You started this.”
“I’m a pervert, so it’s fine.”
As I stubbornly clung to my argument, the Bachelor bit down hard on his lips. Without him, I never would have survived under Cecilia. I found myself growing amused.
“Once you finish your visit to your friend’s house, head straight to the Palace. She says she has something to discuss with you.”
“The future master of the Hashashin is cooperative with me. Tell her that the Ismail Territory can be delivered smoothly.”
“Hmm.”
The woman who took my mother hostage and threatened me the moment she took an interest in me. She’d definitely investigate everything about my visit to a friend’s house.
She would have noticed what was happening from my request to issue a baronial certificate in advance and my request for credentials as an official observer from the Imperial Court. If that’s the case, there’s only one thing Cecilia wants from me.
“As expected.”
When I unfolded the pretty stationery, it contained an order to recruit the Hashashin. Once I handle the matter with Kanna’s Uncle, Cecilia will hold my leash and command the Hashashin as well. I’ll need to strengthen security with Sera and Zibenstein.
“But why is the Bachelor doing this kind of menial work? Isn’t this usually the job of those masked people who go to Seian?”
“They all refused to go to you.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?”
“How would I know?”
“Because you’re a pervert.”
“How did you know?”
The Bachelor bit his lips hard again. I found myself delighted. As he clenched his lips, the pale areas where blood couldn’t reach, combined with his expression of displeasure, stirred a sadistic eroticism within me—the kind that wanted to humiliate him.
“Hmm….”
Somehow, I’m becoming more of a pervert with each passing day. Maybe I should distance myself from Eugene.
“Every time you bite your lips, the pale areas and your expression of disgust harmonize perfectly, awakening sadistic fantasies.”
“I’m leaving!”
Don’t go, Bachelor. Let’s talk a bit more. I’m lonely.
I quickly stopped the Bachelor from leaving with words and showed him my business cards one after another. Evan Laef, Village Chief of Ilam; Evan Laef, Merchant of Ilam Market; Evan Laef, Merchant of the Unified Market—my titles changed so rapidly that I hadn’t even used all my cards yet.
“As you can see, my title has changed once again.”
“I see. Now you’ll become the Baron of Ilam Barony.”
“Then I’ll have to order new business cards again.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Can I send the bill to Cecilia?”
The Bachelor sighed deeply and opened his wallet. It seemed he thought that if such a ridiculous request reached his master, it would be problematic.
“Will one million crowns be enough?”
“I want to add embossing. I want to add hot stamping too.”
“Stop it.”
“One million should be sufficient.”
I graciously accepted one million crowns in operational funds from the Bachelor. Combined with my savings, I’d need to set aside funds for bribes and pressure tactics. If I’m going to have a baron’s calling card, it should at least have some decent flair to it.

The final exams went smoothly—straight into disaster. With my consistent attendance, I might just barely avoid academic probation, but if Mother found out, I’d be as good as dead. I’d need to send Titi a letter telling her to burn my transcript if it ever reaches her hands.
Seian kept whining about how uncertain and difficult everything was, yet somehow managed to secure top honors in his year again this semester. Our household’s stubborn one had brains when it came to studying, at least. I felt genuinely proud of Seian.
Eugene and Reina Letem wouldn’t have let anything slip, but word of Cecilia attempting to recruit Hashashin had apparently reached Sera as well. For the sake of security efficiency and protection, Seian and Sera had decided to live together. When I visited their housewarming recently, the residence the Academy had prepared for Sera was thirty times larger and nicer than Seian’s House. A certain dark-furred weasel—complaining about discrimination against the Royal Family—wailed and howled, but everyone ignored it. Since Sera held a different status than Seian, it was only natural for the Academy Headmaster to provide her with a palatial residence.
Ismail Territory wasn’t far from the Capital, yet the landscape was starkly different. Vast desert plains stretched endlessly, and where the sandy sea ended, mountainous terrain began—hardly a place fit for human habitation.
House Neftis was conducting water trade at an oasis near the Capital, and Crownpolis was originally said to be land where not a single drop of water flowed, so it wasn’t strange that this place was desert. But it was barren—devastatingly barren. Where on earth were people supposed to establish their settlements in such conditions?
“C-cable car! Just wait!”
Ah, I see. Halfway up the mountain would be cooler and have springs flowing abundantly. Ismail City, the only city in Ismail Territory that Kanna pointed to, was located in a basin surrounded by mountain ranges. Though it was called a basin, the elevation there was so high that one had to take a cable car to ascend. The cable car station itself was already at an altitude of 1,000 meters.
“Kanna. Didn’t you say your house is at 4,000 meters above sea level?”
“Y-yes! That’s right!”
“Hey, are we all going to be okay with altitude sickness?”
“What should we do? I didn’t prepare any medicine.”
As Eugene expressed his concern, Kanna proudly pounded her chest and launched into praise for Ismail’s miraculous pharmacy.
“D-don’t worry, our family runs a pharmacy, and the m-medicine there is really, really effective!”
“That’s convenient. Could we get enough for three thousand people?”
Just how many standing troops did this bastard Eugene bring along?
Reina Letem and I exchanged startled glances at Eugene, and this damned thick-thighed oaf laughed and said it was just a joke.
“Everyone seemed so tense. I thought I’d say something silly to lighten the mood.”
In reality, he’d assembled a single battalion consisting only of soldiers accustomed to mountainous terrain… wait, a battalion is at least three hundred, isn’t it?
“But you need that many to garrison against a city.”
“Ugh, I give up. Brandenburg scale.”
“Were you bored because you weren’t fighting the Dragon Clan?”
“That’s part of it too.”
Eugene looked embarrassed and sheepish, but I couldn’t fathom how to process a murderer who described a life without blood and slaughter as boring.
We rode the cable car up the mountain and continued climbing endlessly. Despite being called a basin, there were only uphill paths no matter how far we went. There were three more cable car stations before reaching Kanna’s house. Switching cable cars three times, we encountered the Brandenburg Military that Eugene had stationed in advance. They’d already arrived two days prior, thoroughly surveyed the surrounding geography, and had become like native troops—they were even distributing medicine for altitude sickness.
Terrifying, the Brandenburg Military. More than anything else, their environmental adaptability might be the truly frightening aspect of the Brandenburg Military. Originally people who trudged through snowfields, they’d become bandits setting up shop in complete deserts. They were wrapping things like ghutra around their faces. How did they even come up with the idea of riding mountain goats on mountain paths?
“Finally! This is really the last one!”
Was this cable car expedition finally over? The sun had been high in the sky when we arrived at the base of the mountain, but now the moon was beginning to rise. Just walking was exhausting enough. Having lived in a place like this for nearly twenty years, a mere march probably felt like a leisurely stroll.
“Hey, give me some ice.”
“Ugh, am I a refrigerator?”
“You’re basically the same thing. When you go to the Northern Region, I’ll use you as a heater.”
So you did have heating capabilities all along and just didn’t share with us back then?
I recalled trembling and suffering when I went to perform before the Dragon King, and I grabbed Reina Letem by the head and fought with her. Of course, both Reina and I were exhausted, so we only fought briefly before creating ice packs.
“Petite Freezing!”
Everyone removed a layer of clothing and received the crackling ice from me. Only after hugging the ice chunks did their faces relax into comfort.
“Hey, but your skill usage has become similar to mine.”
“I learned from you.”
“Hehehehe.”
Why was this bastard laughing so sinisterly? When I grew irritated and picked a fight with Reina Letem’s expression, the woman grinned mischievously and tried to tease me.
“Ah, why not? Friends tend to resemble each other, you know. I thought maybe we’d developed such a deep bond that we’d become beings who share skills.”
“I see.”
There I go again. There’s no denying that we’re friends, and given my skill’s nature—the ability to mimic other elemental abilities—it makes sense that my skills would resemble hers precisely because we’re friends. If we weren’t friends, I wouldn’t be able to observe her magical skills in such detail.
Finding nothing to contradict, I nodded, and the lustrous sheen drained from Reina Letem’s face as her languid smile faded.
“Hey, deny it. I’m messing with you.”
“But we really are friends.”
“Ugh! Well, yes, but! Argh! This is so frustrating! That’s not what I meant!”
“Reina’s never had friends before. Evan, you should understand.”
“I do understand. She can’t bear this awkward atmosphere because she’s never had friends.”
“Exactly. If she’d just admit she likes it, that would be the end of it.”
“Fine, I’m not playing with you guys anymore!”
Not playing? What’s that supposed to accomplish? You walked that brutal path all day long just to threaten to kill Kanna’s Uncle.
You’ve already become incredibly close friends not just with me, but with Eugene and Kanna too. When I said as much, Reina let out a shriek and clawed at her arms frantically. Perhaps the notion of sharing friendship and bonds was agonizing for someone who’d lived as a loner until now.
“Like a demon writhing in agony after being struck by holy water.”
“That… that expression… I kind of like it, Evan.”
“Love is a heart with sparkling tomorrows shining like stars in eyes burning with passion.”
“Pfft.”
Right, that bastard was indeed a heart of burning love. As the description fit perfectly with the current situation of ruthlessly loving my friends, I burst into laughter, and Eugene and Kanna also suppressed their laughter that threatened to burst forth.
“Just you wait and see!”
What’s she planning to wait and see? Is she going to make new friends and flaunt her bonds with them? But honestly, I wonder if anyone besides us would actually befriend her.

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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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