Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 157

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

“Hmm….”
The Department Head Professor, who had been nibbling at the red bean tea, complaining it lacked flavor, took a long pause before answering my question.
“There exists a power source that moves the entire island.”
“Then, where is the power chamber?”
“The Machine King guards it at all times.”
Normally, he carries it dangling inside his enormous eyes, and during combat form, he must hide it somewhere within his body—though the exact location remains unknown. In any case, the Department Head Professor’s point boiled down to this.
“Destroy the Machine King, and the power source is destroyed with him. Then naturally, Sky Island will fall.”
I had gone in circles, wandered aimlessly, and returned to square one. So we must defeat the Machine King after all.
“Department Head Professor!”
Concluding that the Machine King absolutely had to be defeated, I naturally dropped to my knees. I even tried to bow my head to the ground, but it wouldn’t go down. Wait—have I actually grown strong enough to lean against the Department Head Professor?
“Please fight alongside us!”
“Have you lost your mind, student?”
“Isn’t it a teacher’s duty to protect their students?”
“I cannot abandon the natural order of heaven to protect a student.”
“What natural order, when not a drop of blood connects us!”
As I fired back at him point by point, the Common Professor fell into contemplation. This was my moment—I had to convince him quickly.
I gave Reina and Kanna a signal, and they swiftly understood my intent, dropping to their knees beside me.
“Professor! Save us! I’m terminally ill! I only have seventy days left! There’s so much I want to do! I have to inherit the title, find a hundred lovers, and indulge in every pleasure!”
“P-please, y-youth, w-we’re still young, Professor!”
Kanna, you’ve been living with Reina for nearly a month and picked up quite a bit of shamelessness. But the keyword “youth” that Kanna mentioned seemed to strike a chord in the Common Professor’s heart, for he said he couldn’t send young people to their deaths.
If I’d known this would work, I should have claimed I was terminally ill from the start. He really is excellent at counseling.
“I cannot help, but I can observe.”
“Yes! Professor, you’re the best!”
“An emergency escape! We’re getting an emergency escape route?!”
“Th-thank goodness, at least our lives are s-saved.”
Right—the terminal illness only said to destroy Sky Island, not to one-shot kill it. There was no condition against bringing an escort either. This meant I could bring the Professor and retry until the Machine King was defeated.
“To accompany someone to a place as significant as Sky Island, I would need consent from your guardian.”
“M-my guardian is m-myself.”
Kanna said that this break, she would kill her uncle with her own hands and thus take responsibility for herself. The Department Head Professor nodded without changing his expression. On a mission to destroy the Machine King’s power source, killing an uncle was hardly worth mentioning.
“If I say I’m dying, Mother will just pick another heir!”
“Still, bring a consent form.”
“Ugh.”
The Common Professor immediately wrote out a home communication form for Reina and told her to get Count Letem’s signature here. Then he looked at me.
“As for you….”
My mother wouldn’t consent if I told her I was going to destroy Sky Island with the Professor. Should I claim I’m my own guardian like Kanna? While I was thinking this, the Common Professor said something unexpected.
“Should I get consent from Dr. Bruno? Or perhaps, Serpent King Gerth?”
“Gerth is one thing, but why is Dr. Bruno coming up?”
“Isn’t Dr. Bruno a candidate to be your adoptive father? He’d be sad if you died.”
“Don’t bring that up. It’s unpleasant.”
“Dr. Bruno is a decent fellow, though.”
From an omniscient dragon’s perspective, perhaps. But as a human, I couldn’t accept that man. When I made my distaste clear, the Professor appeared wrapped in a trench coat despite the summer heat and spoke briskly.
“Since the distance is considerable, let’s go ask Gerth directly. In the meantime, Reina, obtain the consent form.”
After Common Professor left the office, Reina brushed off her knees and stood, scratching her head vigorously. It seemed I’d have to make the rounds to several places to meet Mother.
“Good grief, how many lovers does that woman have? Who knows which house she’s at now.”
“Unlike you, Mother is doing well.”
“Hey! I’m still young! Wait until I mature and ripen! Then I’ll have a hundred lovers!”
“Fat chance.”
When I gave her a serious look, finding the prospect utterly implausible, Reina tried to hit me. The moment she grabbed my collar, Kanna swiftly drew a hairpin from her skirt pocket and pricked her finger. Reina yelped and jumped back, creating distance between us.
“Just you wait, Evan Laef!”
Why was she taking it out on me when she was the one intimidated by Kanna?
I handed Kanna a tissue to wipe the blood and pulled out my favorite stationery. When Kanna asked what it was, I had to remind my friend of my current position.
“I need to report to Cecilia. I’m her attendant, after all.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And while we’re on the subject, as the leader of the Hashashin, I’d like you to cooperate with Cecilia.”
If you don’t bring her over, Cecilia will wring my neck. When I reminded Kanna of the orders Cecilia had given before, she struck her chest and assured me not to worry.
“Where you go, Evan, is my path too!”
“Thank you. You’re the best friend.”
“Hehe.”
I said the words Kanna loved most and continued writing the letter. Since my return to Ilam during this break would be delayed, I kept the suppression matter brief, requesting written instructions. Then I pulled out another sheet of stationery to write about something important.
“What’s this one about?”
“A suggestion regarding the Bachelor’s attire.”
While wrapping everything tightly was fine, regarding the gloves used—I thought short gloves that showed the wrists would look better. When I saw what Kanna’s uncle wore last time, it looked so stylish and good.
I described those gloves I’d seen during the life-or-death battle, getting enthusiastic about how the white leather gloves that showed the palms and wrists beneath were truly excellent. Though I drew pictures and described them earnestly, Kanna didn’t seem to understand.
“Evan, sometimes you seem to fixate on strange things.”
“Do I? I think everyone, regardless of age or gender, would like these gloves.”
“Hmm… I’m not sure.”
They were simply made short for easy dagger retrieval from the sleeves, so why Kanna thought it had anything to do with being stylish was beyond me. This is why people in the trade are like this.
“You’ll understand when you grow older.”
“But my birthday comes before yours.”
“Regardless, such things exist.”
Now that I think about it, I’d be celebrating my birthday on Sky Island this time. Should I mention not to worry about it?
I was about to broach the subject with Kanna when she giggled and said it was already too late. It seemed she’d brought my birthday gift from the moment we left home. I kept poking her side asking what it was, but Kanna only laughed—giggling and giggling—without answering.
After chatting about what we’d been up to, brewing more red bean tea and sharing it, and even encouraging Reina who returned with the consent form, her clothes half-singed, time flew by.
A little over an hour had passed since the Professor left in his coat. Something fell with a thud from the rooftop, and shortly after, the office door opened.
“Evan! I do not consent!”
I thought it was Common Professor returning, but Gerth appeared wearing an apron.
“Sky Island is not a playground for children.”
“But below it, there is an amusement park.”
“Quite a clever play on words.”
Gerth, genuinely impressed, carefully removed his apron and folded it neatly before setting it on the sofa. His arms had grown considerably during my absence. Where once mechanical limbs extended nearly to his shoulders, now only his forearms remained mechanical.
“Evan. I’ll speak honestly.”
“Then speak honestly.”
Gerth gripped both my shoulders firmly and shared what was on his mind.
“I don’t care if the Machine King shuts down.”
“Oh.”
That was quite the bombshell. I wasn’t the only one shocked by such a statement—Gerth’s right arm transformed into a weapon and attacked both of us. Had the Machine King installed another listening device when it fitted Gerth with that new arm?
“Both demons and humans have only one life.”
Gerth said this while destroying his own right arm. Would he have to live as a one-armed man until his arm fully regrew?
“Gerth. I’ll be honest with you too.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’ve got a death sentence hanging over me.”
Reina, Kanna, and I all do. If we don’t destroy Sky Island within seventy days, we’re dead. Whether we fight or not, we’ll die anyway. When I explained this, Gerth blinked in surprise, his expression shifting.
“That’s why I said it seemed like a selection, old man.”
So what exactly is this selection? It seemed unlikely he’d explain, but I couldn’t help my curiosity. And there was another mystery—why was the Department Head Professor’s coat half-burned away as he entered behind Gerth? Could that coat have been used in the Tenth Realm?
“So the mark is probably… when were the students’ birthdays?”
“Mine is May 5th!”
“M-mine is June 6th…”
“July 7th for me.”
“See?”
See what? Marks? Were marks and selection related? The Department Head Professor and Gerth left me hanging and discussed something only they understood. Since they mentioned the anniversary of when the old woman turned a thousand years old, the years apparently aligned roughly.
“But. Evan is very young and weak.”
“Look properly, old man. This student may be young, but she is certainly not weak.”
At the Common Professor’s remark, Gerth looked at me directly. Then he spoke again.
“Evan is very young and weak.”
“Fine, let’s say she’s young and weak.”
But those two have seventy days left to live. When the Department Head Professor said this, Gerth let out a grunt and closed his eyes. If Gerth ends up catching the Machine King instead of me, that would actually be pretty sweet.

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