Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 155

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

“If it’s Evan Laef, I know well enough. Aren’t you my daughter’s friend?”
“It’s an honor to meet you in such a fine setting.”
When did this woman ever meet me to act so familiar? The first time she’d learned of me—Evan Laef—indirectly was probably when she was putting on a fireworks display with Reina. When I brought up old stories based on that assumption, the woman cursed Reina under her breath and clenched her fists tightly. If I poked at the subject of Reina any further, she’d explode. I should go greet other people instead.
I went where Cecilia told me to go, rested where she told me to rest, conversed when she asked me to converse, and came back to stick myself firmly to Cecilia’s side. She was somewhat surprised by my exemplary bearing as a subordinate and praised me.
“You’re better at this than I expected.”
“Didn’t you say I could do anything if I just kept quiet?”
I’d even brought Duke Zibenstein along as backup for formal speech and kneeling. The Duke, despite his unreliable demeanor, positioned himself at precisely the right angle whenever needed, making it easy for me to maneuver. I never imagined he’d be this helpful.
“Now you’re making me hopeful.”
Cecilia snapped her fan shut and tapped the nearby railing lightly. The nobles, who had been observing the Crown Princess’s every move even while conversing freely, took note that Cecilia had something to say and fell silent.
Her control was impressive. I wondered if Sera could pull off something like this.
“The reason I introduced the Baron to you today is that this child possesses great potential.”
Well, youths are creatures of infinite hope, after all. National treasures, even. But since Cecilia meant something different, the nobles listened intently in silence.
She connected Sera’s declaration of war to the ended conquest campaign and the ceasefire with the Dragon King—how external threats had subsided while internal turmoil was beginning to stir, and how the remaining strength from having no one to fight was spurring Sera on. Saying her older sister needed to step in, Cecilia lifted up a decorative sword.
Could it be… She wasn’t planning to give me secret instructions from behind after all, but rather to make an announcement here in front of everyone that couldn’t be dodged or denied?
“Baron of Ilam, Evan Laef, I command you to subjugate the Serpent King’s Tower.”
Damn it. So she was sacrificing me alone to discipline the nobles and create a rallying point. Whether I succeeded or failed in that subjugation, a young hero was a useful piece to play with. If I succeeded, Cecilia would gain military power and prestige directly. If I died along the way, well, there’d be a reason to gather people with mourning and all that.
But I couldn’t refuse this either. Duke Zibenstein, having judged that he couldn’t escape it either, was standing on the second-floor railing behind Cecilia, positioned perfectly for me to kneel.
I had no choice but to kneel on one knee and accept the decorative sword.
“I accept your command.”
“Your responsibility is quite great.”
And you’ll take no responsibility yourself, just pick and choose from the feast that’s been laid out. The saying goes that the bear performs the tricks while the person earns the money—this situation was exactly that.
I’d received the command, but it wasn’t like I’d die if I didn’t do it within a few days. If I dragged things out and stalled, Sera would probably do something about it. But the question was how long I could stall, and there was also the problem of how to calm the beastkin residing in Ilam once word spread that I’d been given this subjugation order.
It would be nice if Cecilia guaranteed safety for the beastkin in Ilam. But it wouldn’t work on those who’d tried to settle in Ilam just by seeing Gerth.

Your lifeline has been renewed. Failure to destroy Sky Island results in death. D-90.

My head was already pounding with countless worries when a deadline notification suddenly appeared. The timing was so absurd and ridiculous that I felt like I might actually die. While I was agonizing over the Serpent King’s Tower, I received a Quest: Machine King’s Sky Island Collapse.
Ninety days meant I essentially had to deal with the Machine King before the break ended. Did I die if I didn’t kill him? My own death was a serious problem, but eliminating the Machine King—who was close to Gerth—was equally serious. Wouldn’t Gerth be devastated?
“….”
As I pondered this, something nagged at me, so I opened my status window to check the deadline details. It said I would die if I couldn’t collapse Sky Island. There wasn’t a single word about killing the Machine King.
“…?”
Wait? So I just need to collapse Sky Island without killing the Machine King? Why did I automatically assume I had to eliminate him?
Oh, that’s because in the original story, Sera’s group eliminated the Machine King and also took care of the Serpent King’s substitute.
Now that I think about it, in the original story, Sky Island collapsed once they defeated the Machine King. It was probably because the Machine King’s shutdown and Sky Island’s power source were connected.
If there’s a way to collapse Sky Island without eliminating the Machine King, then that’s the choice I should make. I need to consult with the Department Head Professor or Gerth about this. Since they’re both Demon Kings, they probably know each other’s weaknesses too.
I racked my brain for a way to survive while diligently attending to Cecilia. When she asked for something to drink, I brought it. When she asked for food, I brought it. When she demanded a dessert with a crispy exterior, moist interior, and natural sweetness rather than artificial sugar—one that gave you a full feeling after just a little—I got angry and said no such food existed.
Since I was doing everything she asked, she just said whatever came to mind. When I told her such a thing didn’t exist, Cecilia spread her fan to cover her mouth and said it was only funny in words. I was furious, but the Bachelor and young Seian Mark Two looked envious of me. These two’s master-servant relationship is really strange.
“Hey! You come outside!”
“Ow! Duke Neftis is so scary!”
I knew from the moment this guy kept pointing at me at the banquet and calling me his adopted daughter that he’d get slapped by my father.
My father, who couldn’t stand Duke Zibenstein constantly insisting that my perfectly legitimate eldest daughter would become his adopted daughter, brought a decorative gauntlet and struck the “ow” Duke, then challenged him to a duel.
When the Marquis of Ilam said that since he’d never formally adopted anyone, it was free to set his sights on me, my father’s face turned crimson. He looked at me, ground his teeth, and then—unable to openly call his own daughter his own daughter—squeezed his eyes shut and solemnly kept the secret.
“Evan is someone I claimed first!”
Word somehow spread that my father had gone to Integrated Ilam City and staged a hostage situation trying to make the then-Mayor his daughter, and voices supporting my father rose from all around.
“Indeed, Duke Neftis was passionate back when the Marquis of Ilam was the Mayor.”
“It’s shameless to try to jump in line now.”
Then those supporting Zibenstein began to counter.
“Still, adoption isn’t first-come-first-served.”
“The Marquis of Ilam is said to be a promising student of the Academy Magic Department. In that case, he could even aim to become the next Duke Zibenstein.”
“Zibenstein over a washed-up Neftis.”
“You—the one who just said that—come outside!”
That bastard who called Neftis washed-up is dead now. That’s my father’s complex anyway. They say wealth lasts three generations even if a family goes bankrupt, but my father happened to be exactly that third generation, and with the aqueduct appearing when it did, Neftis had declined compared to its former glory.
“Do I need to stop you?”
“There’s no reason to stop me.”
Since I no longer needed to use formal speech with others, I didn’t need Zibenstein either. I’d already exchanged greetings, so couldn’t I just leave now?
“I’m thinking of heading in, but there’s someone waiting for you over there.”
Oh. Isn’t that Professor Ha? Since he wasn’t from an influential family, he must have been pushed to the back when I was making my rounds of greetings. I wasn’t paying attention to anything, but Cecilia was accustomed to these occasions and seemed to have noticed even obscure nobles.
“Once you’ve finished your business, follow the guard.”
Damn, am I being detained starting tonight? I asked if I could still go to school in the morning since I had classes tomorrow, and Cecilia just nodded and turned away. Cecilia’s side was accompanied by the Young Attendant as usual, and the Bachelor remained to explain what I would have to go through from now on.
I apparently just need to complete twenty-four hours of free detention, then formally receive the appointment letter being kept at the Brandenburg Townhouse. What a grand business card. I’m going to become the Supreme Commander of the Serpent King’s Tower Subjugation Army.
“Evan!”
After finishing my conversation with the Bachelor, I ran toward Professor Ha, who was grinning widely. I thought he was going to congratulate me on becoming a Marquis, but instead, Professor Ha said my attitude had been poor this semester too and promptly gave me a tour of Seoul. This forbidden corporal punishment—grabbing both ears tightly and lifting my entire body—where did Professor Ha learn this? It must have been from the Headmaster. I’ll file a complaint at the Dean’s Office later.

◇ ◆ ◇

During my detention, I experienced hell itself. When I entered the Political Prisoner Detention Center, of all places, it had to be in the adjacent room to Duke Zibenstein. In all my years, I’d never met anyone who talked more than my father. That chattering Duke would fall asleep while talking, wake up, and continue his endless prattle without missing a beat.
But that’s all in the past now. During my time at the Academy, I filled every spare moment with activities, and after completing my sentence at the detention center, I finally regained my freedom. That Duke had to stay for four more days, so I managed to avoid overlapping with him—and it was blissfully peaceful. According to the guards, Butler Grandfather never once sent him any food packages, and the Duke apparently wept about it. That news was absolutely delightful.
Eugene and I decided to throw a small celebration to commemorate successfully completing the intensive semester after pushing each other relentlessly. Since the Department Head Professor who attended the seminar was returning today, I’d already scheduled a meeting with him, so we postponed the party. That’s why I’m still staying at the Brandenburg Townhouse.
“Evan! Reina and Kanna are back!”
“Kanna too?”
“Yeah. They’re together at Reina’s place right now.”
So they came together after their demon clan gathering? In that case, I should stop by Count Letem Residence before meeting the Department Head Professor. As I decided to go and told Eugene so, he called out to me, emphasizing that he was free today.

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