Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 170

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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 heard that Sera was traveling with Sunbird, and according to my informant, it seemed their destination was Ilam. Ilam was safe, and thinking they were probably on a date made me yearn for Seian all the more. He was probably holed up in his room at the Imperial Palace right now, trembling over the commotion that had erupted. I should have taken him along and given him some breathing room.
Since it came to mind, I should send him a telegram to let him know I’m doing well.
I stopped by the post office in a nearby village and requested a telegram be sent to Seian at the Imperial Palace. The message was simple: I’m doing well. The hamburger at the station restaurant across from Capital-Ilam Line Station 7 was delicious.
Since I’d be seeing Reina and Eugene anyway, I sent word that we should all go together next time, then dusted off my hands and switched to rapid flight mode. On the way to Ilam, I spotted Serpent King’s Tower and drew closer, where I encountered Gerth and Hubert harvesting barley on the rooftop.
“Mother! Mother! Over here! Mother!”
I wasn’t their mother, but I was happy to see them, so I descended first. As I changed direction and landed at the very top of Serpent King’s Tower, Gerth scooped me up joyfully and spun me around.
“Shouldn’t you be at the Academy?”
“I took a leave of absence due to circumstances.”
Those circumstances had become incredibly complicated. When I said as much, Gerth simply acknowledged it and set me down. The spinning had been fun at first, but after about a hundred and thirty rotations, I felt dizzy.
“Mother! What’s that! Wow! That’s amazing!”
“I’m dizzy. Stop shaking me. If you stay still, I’ll give you wings too.”
After closing my eyes briefly to steady myself, I used Free Freezing to attach wings to Hubert’s back as well. Since I wasn’t accustomed to attaching them to someone else’s body, there were accidents at first—like crashing Hubert into the ground—but after several failures, I managed to get him flying freely.
“Wow! Father! Look! I’m flying!”
He was excited. Watching Hubert laugh with delight, I first asked about Leri’s whereabouts to get a sense of what was happening in Ilam. Since I’d entrusted the management of the territory entirely to Gram and Leri, if Sera had caused any trouble here, they would definitely know something about it.
“Leri went to borrow farming equipment from Makina.”
That meant he’d return if I waited. Well, while waiting, I might as well keep having Hubert practice flying.
I had Hubert go wherever he wanted to go, and spin whenever he wanted to spin. Raising a child is exhausting. Gerth must have endured this grueling labor alone for a hundred years. I respect that.

Your Fate has been updated. Death if you fail to conquer Serpent King’s Tower. D-30.

A bolt from the blue while I was spending a peaceful moment with Gerth. Was I the only one receiving a time limit this time? Did Reina and Kanna get the same thing? Since I happened to be alone, there was no way to confirm immediately. This was maddening.
“Gerth. I have something I want to ask.”
“Ask away.”
But I could ask Gerth right now. Just like with Sky Island, I sought his advice.
“How can I conquer Serpent King’s Tower?”
“Defeat me.”
“I see.”
That would be difficult. Besides, the criteria for “defeat” was vague to begin with. But life has always been about challenges. I decided to give it a try.
“I’ll defeat you tonight.”
As I spoke firmly to Gerth, my eyes met those of Leri, who was arriving with the farming equipment. The man looked back and forth between Gerth and me, then spoke in an oddly strained voice.
“Oh my…”
Leri set down the farming equipment and stepped backward. My bold declaration to defeat Gerth spread through the tower in an instant.

“Well… I had a hunch it would be something like this.”
When Wenri, who had been drinking on the Floor Master’s level, came scrambling up, I was devouring the strong miso barley rice that Gerth had prepared, while Leri was weeping about being betrayed.
This transformation is wonderful. Even when I eat voraciously, the food goes down smoothly and digests perfectly, so I can truly indulge in endless eating. If I’m not thinking about food, I don’t even get hungry after fasting for a day—it’s quite remarkable.
“But you said tonight you’d knock down the Serpent King! I heard it clearly!”
“I said I’d defeat him, not knock him down.”
“That’s the same thing!”
Rumors spread throughout Serpent King’s Tower that I was going to have a confrontation with Gerth, and each Floor Master came all the way to the top floor, asked me detailed questions about the situation, left disappointed after drinking a glass of cold water, and repeated this cycle. Though Tiger Man Magania was delighted, asking if I could actually fight him.
“Gerth. Must I also fight Magania?”
Wasn’t I only supposed to defeat Gerth?
When I asked Gerth, who was bringing cold soup, the man gave an explanation that was surprisingly clear and immediate.
“You must earn the recognition of the Floor Masters to fight me.”
“I see.”
“That’s what it means to conquer the Tower.”
Ah, so that’s how it works. It’s like needing the directors’ stamps before the approval documents go up to the president, isn’t it? Serpent King’s Tower is a company. I’d actually been sensing its corporate nature all along.
“Then it’s impossible to defeat Gerth tonight.”
“You’ll run out of time.”
Then there’s no help for it. I decided to postpone knocking Gerth down and asked for another bowl of cold soup instead. Since I’ve come this far, I’ll evade the deadline by burning down Gerth’s house if necessary. Besides, I only have a month left anyway.
“Leri.”
Now that I think about it, there was a reason I was looking for Leri in the first place. I asked him if there had been any unusual incidents in Ilam recently. I was concerned about the situation with the beastkin, and I thought if Sera had made a fuss about it, Leri would have heard. The man casually mentioned Sera and Sunbird’s whereabouts.
“Your friends said to call them when you arrived. It was definitely Sera and Apet… those people came when the Horse Racing Track opened, right?”
Leri has a good memory. Anyway, “call us when you arrive”… so they knew I was coming? Why did they wait on purpose? It’s almost like they’re hoping I’ll take them with me.
I was quite curious about their true intentions, but I decided not to think about it. I should just do what Cecilia tells me to do. Living a life following others’ orders is far too comfortable and pleasant.
“Evan. Would you like some refreshing plum tea?”
“I want plum tea!”
Yes! Plum tea! Plum tea! Refreshing plum tea!
I loved Gerth so much that I clung to his shoulders, whooping with joy. Gerth didn’t seem to mind me hanging from him, and he made his way to the earthenware jar where plum extract was stored, dangling me along. Now that I look at it, I don’t see a single screw missing from Gerth’s right hand—it seems his arm has fully regenerated. When we fight this time, I’ll be facing a complete Gerth.
“Oh! White One!”
“!”
On the way to the jar, I encountered White One on a stroll and had an emotional reunion. It had been so long since we’d seen each other that we hugged and rolled around joyfully, covering my clothes in dust. I was relieved he was doing well. Most importantly, I was so glad he was healthy. The last time I saw him, he was languishing with illness, and it had weighed on my heart.
“Is White One completely better now?”
“He is healthy. However, Makina said we must monitor his prognosis.”
So he still needs to recuperate in Serpent King’s Tower. The thought of parting with White One again made me sad, so I hugged him tightly and rubbed my face against his. White One still felt cool and refreshing, carrying Gerth’s scent. Touching him made me feel good.
“Can’t I take White One with me once I finish my business here? I want to show him the Imperial Palace too.”
“I will ask Makina.”
Since they’re both cold-blooded creatures, Cecilia would surely like White One too. The Bachelor would probably be startled, but I was certain Cecilia would appreciate White One in her composed way. I had that feeling. The two of them would get along well.
As I carried White One around, Gerth scooped out a generous portion of plum extract and transferred it with ice. Wenri, now that he was up here anyway, had the drink poured down his throat to sober him up, and he faced the hardships of living in this world with a much clearer expression.
He’s still drowning his intelligence in alcohol. Poor sheep beastkin. In comparison, I was grateful to be dull-witted. The duller one is, the easier and more comfortable life becomes. Even if the body isn’t comfortable, isn’t it better than having a troubled mind?
That night, for the first time in a long while, Mother, Thomas, Titi, and I all had a meal together in Serpent King’s Tower. Mother, whom I hadn’t seen in so long, made a fuss saying my original face had returned and that this was a disaster, while Gerth interjected that my face looked the same before and now, only to get beaten by Mother.

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The next day, I stopped by the Lord’s Territory administrative office to encourage Gram, the acting baron, when Sera came to find me of her own accord. Apparently some official document had arrived—Gram kept pestering me from behind, asking if I needed to report to the Crown Princess about it.
“Evan! Evan, you’re here, aren’t you! My Sunbird is in terrible trouble! Evan!”
Sera burst through the door, kicking it half off its hinges, and rushed toward me with the Sunbird hoisted high in both arms. The Sunbird had curled itself into a tight ball, yet his expression seemed oddly serene—probably because he’d been transported like this more than once or twice before.
“My Sunbird, my precious Sunbird!”
“Please, calm yourself, Third Princess.”
The Sunbird tried to comfort the nearly tearful Sera. But listening to what came next, I wondered if his consolation was going in the wrong direction entirely.
“My Sunbird is terminally ill!”
“Haha, indeed it is.”
Ah… was this the same situation as when Reina, Kanna, and I went to Sky Island? But why does this bird seem so lacking in urgency? Suspicious, I pulled out the Sera tracking assistance kit that Cecilia had prepared for me. The moment I withdrew the heavy shackles, Sera placed the Sunbird gently on the plush sofa and stretched both arms toward me.
“Save my Sunbird! If you can just resolve the Sunbird’s terminal condition, I will go to Cecilia of my own accord!”

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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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