Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 148

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“W-while we wait, should we play a game or something?”
A game sounded fine to me—it could help us forget the mansion’s oppressive atmosphere and strengthen our bonds—so I welcomed the idea. But Kanna arrived carrying dozens of cursed dolls and large needles.
“W-whoever gets caught h-has to go to the attic and c-come back.”
How is anyone even supposed to get caught with this? And you think this mansion is a horror house too, don’t you? Why is the penalty going to the attic and back? What exactly are you hiding up there, you pride of the Assassination Family?
We passively refused, but Kanna was so eager that we had no choice but to start the cursed doll needle-stabbing game. The method by which the doll would reveal who had to visit the attic was remarkably simple. When Reina Letem stabbed a needle into it, the doll released a strange odor and let out a piercing shriek.

◇ ◆ ◇

Kanna’s Uncle was waiting in the living room, which had a sofa and fireplace. Kanna’s Mother, who came to inform us, had bandages wrapped tightly around her arm, but I decided not to pry into what had caused such injuries. It’s rude to become deeply involved in others’ family affairs. Though it seemed I’d already meddled quite a bit, I didn’t want to sink any deeper into that quagmire.
We ushered a tense Kanna into the living room. Since Reina Letem’s condition after visiting the attic seemed dire, I slapped her cheeks several times, but the Female Informant merely muttered with a vacant expression that poison had entered her ears. Had she encountered Hamlet’s father’s ghost or something?
“Oh, so you’re Kanna’s friends?”
The man who laughed heartily about why we’d come all this way to celebrate that girl’s birthday took a swig of alcohol. Though he’d just arrived, he said urgent business required him to leave again and pressed Kanna’s Uncle to state his purpose quickly. Eugene spoke up calmly.
“This urgent business—might it concern the soldiers stationed below the mountain?”
“What? How did you know that?”
Eugene smiled as if his suspicion had been confirmed, then explained to reassure Kanna’s Uncle. Of course, to the listener, it sounded more like a threat.
“Don’t be concerned. They are Brandenburg Military. My private soldiers.”
At the weighty voice of the future Grand Duke of the Northern Region, the man drinking alcohol’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Brandenburg? You? Impersonating them gets you sent to prison, kid.”
The man glanced at Kanna, then scoffed and relaxed his expression. Though he didn’t believe it, the fact that he felt reassured upon seeing Kanna seemed to wound Eugene’s pride, so he deliberately pulled out a gleaming Brandenburg payment card and business card.
“I’m confident I could leave prison quickly. Because it’s Brandenburg.”
“….”
Even so, as the head of the Assassination Family, the man had discerning eyes and recognized that the card was genuine Brandenburg. Alternating his gaze between Kanna and Eugene, he quickly rose from his seat and began fawning.
“Young Master of Brandenburg, what brings you to these parts….”
How pathetic. The head of the Assassination Family, and he’s absolutely pathetic. If you’re going to be pompous, follow through completely. Meanwhile, the man carefully pocketed Eugene’s business card and warned him not to bring soldiers all the way to Ismail City. The Hashashin is a profession recognized by the state, and Sabah has completed legitimate business registration and pays taxes diligently—he said this while looking at Kanna as if asking if I was serious.
“O-our family business is l-legal!”
Kanna boasted tremendously, saying her grandfather had obtained this result by currying favor with the Emperor at the time. So the Hashashin was legal… Legal assassins seemed strange somehow. So if you place an order here, do they issue a cash receipt too?
“Your father is talking with a guest, so don’t interrupt.”
Kanna’s Mother pinched Kanna for interjecting. Kanna didn’t even cry out in pain, apparently accustomed to it. I’ll remember this woman later.
“We came to observe the birth of the next generation Hashashin master. We’ve heard much of the Hashashin’s reputation, and since I’m somewhat frail, I brought soldiers along as a precaution.”
Eugene laughed, saying he’d moved with a truly small force since there were fewer than a thousand. While I couldn’t linguistically agree that Eugene was frail, from an animalistic perspective, if he were frail, I would strongly agree. A bird’s chest is usually muscle. Even a sparrow, when it puffs out its chest, becomes incredibly full and robust.
Hmm… Eugene’s chest is certainly full and robust.
“Evan Laef.”
“Hmm?”
“Could you stop staring at someone else’s chest like that?”
“I wasn’t staring that intently.”
“Should I tell Gerth?”
“I was staring. What of it?”
“That’s why, for Gerth’s sake, it’s not good to take interest in another person’s chest, is it…?”
“Gerth isn’t so narrow-minded.”
“Fine… I concede. Look all you want.”
“Thank you.”
But I can’t spend all day staring at Eugene’s chest either. I have work to do.
“A change in representatives? That’s a joke in poor taste.”
“It’s no joke.”
It was my turn to step forward. I produced the baron’s certificate and official observer credentials I’d received from Cecilia, presenting them like a royal pass.
“I am Evan Laef, master of the Integrated Market Barony. Kanna Sabah has challenged the legitimacy of the current family head, and I’ve come for official observation with Crown Princess Cecilia’s permission.”
At the mention of Crown Princess Cecilia’s authority, Kanna’s Uncle immediately dropped to his knees. Ah, power is wonderful. This was the moment I felt vindicated for switching my allegiance to Cecilia.
“However, I inherited the position of acting family head through legitimate means. The claim of illegitimacy is merely Kanna’s one-sided assertion.”
“I heard the one designated as the next family head was Kanna’s younger sibling. You were planning to pass the position to your own child, weren’t you?”
“That’s absurd. I was planning to step down once Caladea came of age.”
“That doesn’t matter. What’s important is that Kanna has formally challenged you to a duel.”
“Kanna!”
The woman slapped Kanna’s cheek with her bandaged hand. The sharp crack suggested it hurt terribly. Why didn’t Kanna dodge?
“This… this is… the last time… so…”
As I looked at her with concern, Kanna spoke as if to comfort me. So she was willing to take a slap to ease her mother’s anger. How admirable.
I was thinking how Kanna’s kindness was her greatest weakness when the man hurled something sharp at me. With the Piercing Immunity skill, I wouldn’t suffer fatal wounds anyway, but I was considering a defensive move when Kanna simultaneously threw a dagger to block his attack.
“Don’t get cocky, you noble brats. Do you think you’ll leave here alive?”
Still, he had enough skill to serve as acting head of an Assassination Family. It seemed he’d decided that since we looked like genuine Imperial observers, he might as well kill us all and wash his hands of it. His judgment was sound, but his failure to defeat Kanna’s Father in the family head contest clearly showed his lack of true ability.
“You’re the one being cocky.”
I used Free Freezing to drive ice pillars deep into the ground at Kanna’s Uncle and her mother’s feet. Seeing their faces go pale, I knew they wouldn’t be confident dodging if those pillars fell on their heads.
“If you won’t fight fairly, I came here prepared to wipe out this entire family line.”
Of course, Kanna was the exception. With that intention, I gave her a meaningful look, and she seemed to understand perfectly, nodding with confidence.
“We’re busy too, so let’s get this over with quickly. Where should we do this? Outside, or should I burn this place down for you?”
Reina laughed wickedly as she spoke of creating a stage befitting a life-or-death battle, looking genuinely villainous. Reina was a good kid at heart, but her delinquent nature was the problem.
“Sir, we’re giving you a chance. If you win, Kanna will accept the result.”
Outside, the Brandenburg Military had set up camp to suppress the Hashashin, and inside the house, three mages and the second-year Battle Department’s top student stood watching, calling for a life-or-death duel. The man, who had been passively enduring everything, finally accepted Kanna’s challenge.
“Come to the underground.”
An Assassination Family would naturally have a separate training ground prepared. We descended into the underground following the man, and Eugene grinned as he assessed the current situation.
“This is too easy. Sometimes a war like this doesn’t seem so bad.”
Friend, this isn’t war—it’s coercion through overwhelming numbers. One battalion of elite soldiers who survived fighting dragons regularly would be enough to occupy all of Ismail Territory, not just the Hashashin. Though truthfully, the Hashashin is essentially Ismail’s only real military force.
“Don’t expect to survive this, Kanna.”
What’s this, does he think he’ll win? Reina and I exchanged knowing smirks, aware of Kanna’s true power, but Eugene, unaware of just how much of a monster Kanna was, looked somewhat anxious. And surprisingly, Kanna herself was trembling slightly.
I couldn’t know the full story, but it was clear that whatever she’d endured from her uncle in the past had made her lose confidence. I squeezed Kanna’s hand firmly.
“Don’t worry. If you fight at your normal level, this is a battle you’ll win.”
“Really… truly… do you… think so?”
“Of course. You’re a monster, after all.”
Overshadowed by Reina with her flashy abilities like flames and superhuman strength, you might not seem it, but objectively speaking, you’re plenty monstrous. Especially against living creatures with blood and flesh—you’re practically undefeated.
“B-but, Uncle, I have a resistance to poison too…”
“Even without that, you’re a monster. There aren’t many people in this world who throw knives to paint flower pictures.”
And your skill at approaching without a sound and piercing the carotid artery is absolutely exquisite. One of Eugene’s classmates sparred with you during practical training and developed such trauma that he spent three nights plagued by nightmares. Have confidence in yourself, pride of the Assassination Family.
“B-but still…”
But this and that—hurry up and kill your Uncle, then get back here, you purple bob-cut!

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————