Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 20

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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 silver lining was that Magic Department students could cover four years of tuition and dormitory fees with the initial enrollment deposit of one hundred million. Mages truly had it made. Of course, if I failed to graduate within four years, I’d have to pay additional tuition and live in the Homeless Settlement, but—
I resolved that no matter what happened, I would not end up destitute.
With that determination firmly planted in my heart, I discovered a peculiar sign on my way back to the Magic Department grounds.
“….”
At the fork in the road, the left path led to the Combat Techniques Department, but it bore a large X mark with “Thug’s Den” scrawled beneath it. The right path toward the Magic Department had its letters carved and twisted to read “Mage’s Lair.”
So the two departments really did have a traditionally poor relationship. This was straight from the original work. I felt a strange sense of pilgrimage wash over me—like I was visiting a sacred site. I wanted to take a photograph here. Reina was wealthy; surely she had a Polaroid camera. I’d have to ask when I got back.
My mood lifted, and I skipped along the Magic Department campus, humming cheerfully. Near the fountain I’d destroyed during my fight with Reina, I spotted familiar faces walking past.
A man with impeccably pressed clothes, not a single wrinkle, hurried along in quick steps, trailed by a girl with a gloomy expression. I watched the scene for a moment, then recalled the original narrative.
Ah, so that’s the stalker.
The incident that sparked Heinrich’s outburst against commoners began with a female student’s obsessive stalking. After enduring it for so long, the professor finally exploded, declaring that you lowborn wretches are filthy and repugnant, venting all his accumulated resentment at a welcome gathering attended by both students and faculty.
Afterward, other twisted students harassed the professor. He took his own life, and the stalking girl withdrew from the Academy not long after.
The simplest way to change this progression would be to eliminate the professor. Then he wouldn’t commit suicide, and the female student wouldn’t withdraw.
But if I chose that path…, ultimately, someone still dies, doesn’t it? Even if the stalker girl doesn’t withdraw, changing the trajectory of an extra character appearing as a side plot in Heinrich’s arc wouldn’t seem to alter the overall progression.
That’s because even when I saved Titi, the progression barely changed—the system window had said so. And when the Serpent King even requested a mating exchange, it said the progression changed only slightly.
Without some groundbreaking change, no points would be awarded. So there was no need to go through unnecessary trouble. For now, it would be better to focus on reducing the professor’s stress.
“Skill. Ice Javelin.”
I hurled a massive ice spear between the long-banged female student and the professor, then approached. As the spear flew past, the wind pressure sent her long purple hair flying, revealing her bare face for a moment. A long scar ran from her forehead down to her nose.
I see. So that’s why she was hiding her vision. If sacrificing her sight was a fashion choice, I’d definitely be laughing about it with Reina under the covers later. Childhood mistakes had a way of becoming lifelong shame, after all.
“Don’t do things people hate.”
“No, student, it’s not particularly something I dislike….”
“Professor, just live according to your flawed nature. Otherwise you’ll get sick.”
“Student, you do realize I’m an etiquette professor, yes?”
“If you reflect personal life in grades, I’ll kill you.”
Me. Magic Department. Offensive specialization. Ice Javelin. Academy. Extraterritorial authority.
As I strung together the key phrases, the professor’s expression hardened, and he offered some parting advice about hoping I’d gain something from his lectures before departing.
I turned back to the female student and emphasized once more.
“Don’t do things people hate.”
“Ah, no, I, I….”
“And a scar like this is nothing on a pretty face.”
I brushed her bangs aside and traced the scar with my finger. The girl flinched and pulled away from me, and only then did I realize my mistake.
“Sorry. My family has been obsessed with beautiful people for generations.”
“Uh, um, eh? Yes?”
“Now you understand. You can’t do things people hate.”
The Duke and I both lose our minds over beautiful faces. Maybe that’s why Mitchell fell deeper for Seian Crown Prince. He was the most beautiful among the royal family, after all.
Honestly, if I’m being completely frank with myself, the reason I can’t resist Reina despite her being infuriating is largely because of her face.
Just looking at her face makes my anger melt away. Damn that incomparably beautiful woman.
Since I’d finished what I came to do, I headed back. When I returned to my room in the Dormitory, Reina was sitting on my bed, crunching on snacks. I could see crumbs scattered across the sheets. I bonked her head repeatedly with a pillow.

◇ ◆ ◇

The first Practical Combat lesson descended into chaos when Reina and the other offensive mages lost control, forcing the class to be suspended. Four students, including Reina, faced disciplinary action.
Reina now sat confined to the Dormitory outside of class hours, weeping bitterly on her bed.
While the others wreaked havoc, I maintained composure at a distance—deflecting incoming stones and fireballs with magic, batting them away with barriers—and apparently this caught the attention of the Professor of Practical Combat and the Department Head Professor, who summoned me asking if I’d consider becoming the first-year representative of the Magic Department.
I told them I’d rather die.
After multiple refusals, they persisted so relentlessly that I finally said I’d accept the position if I could kill everyone else and become the sole first-year student. The Professor of Practical Combat then sighed, “I see you’re just another mage with no way around it,” and dismissed me.
Thus liberated from both Reina’s drama and the burden of class representative, I swept the Campus Grounds freely.
The Work-Study Department tried to assign me administrative duties, assuming mages were naturally intelligent, but I insisted I was hopelessly dim-witted and ended up with Campus Grounds cleaning instead.
Most Academic Department students came from the Nobility with comfortable finances, and mages were creatures who never checked school bulletin boards, so only Combat Techniques Department students applied for work-study positions.
Lacking clerical staff, they’d tried to use me despite being a mage, but when I claimed I couldn’t even calculate a cylinder’s volume using integration, they all hastily distanced themselves, bewildered at just how dense I truly was.
Being dense had its advantages. If I was going to be dense, I might as well commit to it completely. That way everyone would give up on me.
I hummed cheerfully while sweeping, subtly maneuvering toward the Academic Department area. Perhaps—just perhaps—I might catch a glimpse of Seian Crown Prince.
What were the odds that on my first day of work, his free period would coincidentally overlap with mine? And in the Academy Common Grounds, that dangerous zone? Surely I wasn’t expecting to actually encounter Seian there, right? Right?
“Oh my☆”
Whaaaaaat—could it be that the angel of the morning star has finally descended from heaven to grace the mortal realm? ☆0<?
Seian Crown Prince stood with his tall, elegant frame, sweeping his long ebony hair back as he read. His refined expression mirrored that fateful day perfectly.
I'd assumed he'd avoid the Academy for a while after the shock I'd given him, but here he was, deliberately putting on a brave face, puffing himself up like a long-tailed weasel standing before a predator. How admirable, my favorite.
Like a lovestruck girl, I hid behind a tree and stole glances at Seian. I couldn't risk him discovering I was Mitchell, so I had to watch from the shadows.
I would simply watch. That was my resolve.
"Oh my☆"
Ugh, but the wind wasn't cooperating~~~.
A mischievous breeze played tricks on the baby angel Seian, sending his bookmark fluttering toward me. As he reached to catch it, his gaze traveled slowly from my feet up to my face, and the Crown Prince stared directly at me before speaking flatly.
"Hey, you there."
"…."
"You, over there."
It seemed he hadn't discovered I was Mitchell, but now that he didn't recognize me, I felt oddly disappointed. We'd even reached my bed together. Well, almost.
Opening my mouth would only produce crude remarks, so I shrugged my shoulders like a foreigner and said, "Huh?" Seian asked me to pick up the bookmark, and I readily retrieved it, moving toward the bench when I noticed the sign nearby and stopped.
"You come here."
"What?"
"I cannot go there."
Three more steps and I'd be on Academic Department grounds. I still hadn't received an exchange permit as a mage, and though no one was around, if that foul-tempered Seian later discovered I was a mage and reported me to a professor, I'd face demerits regardless.
"Do you know who I am—Seian Crowell?"
"I can tell by looking."
"And yet you refuse to obey my command?"
Kyaaaaa, look at him—his face flushed red because a commoner won't bend to his will! So adorable!
Royalty typically entered the Academy with at least one attendant. Of course, the Third Princess, confident in her abilities and disdaining unnecessary encumbrances, had declined the Headmaster's offer and wandered about freely, but Seian was different.
He truly had nothing—the Emperor wouldn't spare anyone for him, and the Headmaster, knowing the circumstances, didn't press the matter.
Unlike the Third Princess, who could shatter boulders with her bare fists, this frail boy walked alone without guard or servant, which surely gave the Nobility plenty to gossip about behind his back.
Ah, that's right! So that's why you ran all the way out here where there's no one around! Hahahaha! Look at you fleeing because you can't stand hearing yourself insulted—not by your tail, but by running away! You're absolutely adorable!
"You insignificant wretch, you dare—!"
Seian Crowell, bundled tight with inferiority, apparently decided I was mocking him. He stormed forward with a huff and swung his palm at my face. The sharp crack echoed loudly as my head snapped to the side, and I felt the struck area tingle and swell.
"…."
Oh, oh no, oh my goodness! It doesn't hurt at all—he's so adorable! Do you even have any strength, you long-tailed weasel, or are you just a weakling?
The ticklish sensation was like being scratched by a kitten. Faced with how frail, powerless, and foolish Seian was, I couldn't resist the urge to devour him from head to toe. Tears welled up in my eyes.
He's too adorable. So adorable I might die. Seian, you're too adorable—what am I supposed to do?

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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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