Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 221

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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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“Hey, hey, wait a moment! Ugh!”
Since I’d gone to the trouble of dressing up nicely, I couldn’t let him get dirty. I scooped Seian Crowell into my arms and bounded toward the Strawberry Farm with exaggerated hops. He let out a shriek and clung tightly to my neck.
Now that we had money, it seemed he’d upgraded to premium shampoo. His hair smelled absolutely divine. I buried my face against his ear and inhaled deeply, savoring the scent.
“Seian Crowell. Did you change your shampoo?”
“!”
Seian Crowell seized my twin braids in both hands and yanked them furiously. It hurt. Stop it. Even though I’m a master of swordsmanship, I have no resistance to hair-pulling. When someone pulls your hair, your scalp screams.
But I also knew that when Seian Crowell vented his frustration on me this way, his anger dissolved. I endured it until he tired himself out, then borrowed work clothes and boots for a smooth farm experience.
“Hey! Are you seriously asking me to wear something like this?!”
Since my school uniform was designed for ease of movement anyway, I figured I didn’t need full work clothes. I borrowed a pair of work pants and slipped them under my skirt. Seian Crowell, who’d been grumbling, suddenly fell silent before resuming his complaints.
“Ahhhhh! You! What is that in front of everyone?! It’s hideous! And if people see that, what were you thinking?!”
“That? You mean my underwear?”
“Yes! That!”
“It doesn’t bother me if people see. Want a look?”
“I don’t need one?!”
Why not? I’d deliberately chosen something pretty for today’s date. Silver silk—incredibly comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. It matched the front-hook bra I was wearing underneath.
I’d kept three pairs of cheap cotton underwear worth ten Bay Crowns each, but these felt completely different. I’d recommended he admire them, but Seian Crowell cursed me for being insane, snatched the work clothes, and disappeared into the changing room. Not long after, Seian Crowell Farm Edition emerged, proudly displaying his work outfit.
“You look amazing, Seian Crowell! Like a prince of the farm!”
“I’m actually the Crown Prince, you lunatic…”
We hadn’t even started picking strawberries yet, and Seian Crowell already looked exhausted. More importantly, when Cecilia ascends, won’t you become the Imperial Prince rather than the Crown Prince? Though honestly, Crown Prince suits Seian Crowell better. It fits him perfectly. Does Cecilia have no plans to adopt Seian Crowell?
“Come on, Seian Crowell! They say you can eat the strawberries you pick right there!”
“Why did I ever agree to meet someone like you…”
I encouraged Seian Crowell and grabbed a basket, rapidly plucking strawberries. I washed a plump one carefully and popped it into the unenthusiastic Seian Crowell’s mouth. His eyes widened as he chewed the flesh thoughtfully.
“Want another?”
He didn’t answer, but his eyes betrayed his desire for more. I selected another ripe one and slipped it into his mouth. As Seian Crowell savored the taste, he crouched down in the strawberry field and quietly began picking.
“Hey, this one tastes a little different from the ones you gave me.”
“I have a skill that enhances the quality of collected items. What you picked yourself won’t taste as good as mine.”
“Hmm…”
After picking enthusiastically for a while, Seian Crowell flopped down on the ground. Was he already bored? I was about to suggest he sit on that bench while I picked only the delicious ones for him, when he suddenly sighed.
“You’ve got it easy. Useful skills just keep appearing for you.”
Coming on a date just to make passive-aggressive comments—how adorable. I gamble with my life to gain experience points, so there’s nothing for me to envy. Honestly, looking at skill ranks and growth rates, Reina Letem was the one with a broken character sheet.
“Life is best lived smoothly and peacefully.”
“You can say that because you have good skills. A mage and a Duke’s daughter, living life on easy mode.”
“Anyone who lives life easy doesn’t get executed for touching you once.”
“Hey! You started that!”
“If I’d actually assaulted you and been executed, I wouldn’t have regretted it.”
“Ugh!”
As I grumbled, Seian Crowell’s face flushed crimson. He shot to his feet and pointed an accusatory finger at me.
“Just finish what you were saying! Then you won’t have any regrets!”
“Mmm.”
Here? In the open like this? Such a bold move? When I whistled, all the elderly visitors at the Strawberry Farm whistled along to cheer Seian on. So they’d been listening to our entire conversation while pretending not to care. Well, it made sense—we were the only young people visiting today.
“Wait, wait—I didn’t mean we’d do it here!”
“Of course not. So this is how we’re ending our date today? I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Eat plenty of strawberries. You’ll need the energy for tonight.”
“Ahhh!”
Now that I thought about it, strawberries were in season, but so were mulberries. Weren’t mulberries supposed to be good for stamina?
The thought struck me, so I fed all the strawberries I’d picked to Seian and moved to gather mulberries instead. I picked them frantically and fed them to him just as eagerly. By the time we headed off to go horseback riding, Seian’s lips were stained purple.
“Ugh. My stomach feels off.”
“Don’t throw up—digest them. They’re good for stamina.”
“That’s exactly what I meant! …Forget it.”
Seian, having given up on having any serious conversation with me, rode off magnificently on horseback in his work clothes. He’d grown up without a single Imperial benefit, yet somehow he’d learned to ride properly. He sat the horse with practiced ease.
Speaking of serious conversations… what serious topic had Seian and I discussed? Could it have been about skills? If so, I’d just thought of someone who could advise us. I grabbed the reins and urged my horse closer to Seian.
“Does the General Department have any Priesthood support?”
“Nothing like that. Only the Combat Techniques Department and the Department of Magic get special treatment.”
“I know an excellent Priesthood member. Want to meet them today?”
“Huh?”
This wouldn’t deviate from a typical date itinerary either. Going to see a fortune teller while on a date was fairly common.
I suggested we go right away while the thought was fresh, and Seian grimaced, asking if I was going to do that teleportation thing again.
“If you want to save time, teleportation is the best option.”
The day was short. We had so much to do, and we needed to make progress quickly. When I insisted firmly, Seian surrendered helplessly, leaning his body against mine with a forlorn expression. Something felt sticky.

◇ ◆ ◇

Upon arriving at the new Neftis Townhouse, I asked Evan’s Siblings where Apet was, and they said that grandfather was at Zibenstein’s place. So I went there by carriage to the Zibenstein Townhouse, and Bruno came bursting out asking if I’d brought my adopted daughter and son-in-law. I promptly threw him into an ice prison and tossed him into the pond. Butler Grandfather was incredibly proud of me.
“Oh my, it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the former madam.”
“It has indeed been a while, my former husband.”
The fair-haired beautiful young elder, whose height barely reached my waist, led us to his room and offered tea while asking our business. When Seian Crowell answered that he was troubled about his skill development path, Apet chuckled and nodded, saying it was a worry befitting a young person.
“Here now, lift the hand with the chip implanted. Let me consult with the Mother Goddess.”
See? This is exactly what I mean about priests—they’re just shamans. Apet placed his hand over Seian Crowell’s and murmured an incantation, activating his skill. A brilliant light emanated from the elder for a moment, and soon the Starving Child wore an expression of deep regret while watching Seian Crowell’s reaction carefully.
“Ahhh, you see… I do wish the young friend could hear this without getting hurt.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Seian Crowell was already wounded. Though he hadn’t expected much from the start, tears began to streak his cheeks, and Apet offered unexpected words.
“The thing is, there is one nullification ability among skills with great growth potential, but… even being generous with the assessment, it’s only at the Super Rare tier…”
“Whoa! Super Rare?!”
Color returned to Seian Crowell’s face, which had been on the verge of tears. Seeing him brighten considerably and even smile, Apet wore a puzzled expression.
“You seem to like it more than expected?”
“My expectations were low. You, with your abundance of Legendary skills, will never understand in your lifetime.”
“Heh heh, well, I’ve simply accumulated much experience from living long.”
In any case, I’m glad Seian Crowell’s mood improved. He complains about lacking talent and skills, but nullification is such a valuable ability. In fiction, isn’t it the kind of talent that protagonists and major characters typically possess? That one who breaks illusions certainly gained explosive popularity.
“In any case, nullification is the only truly useful skill you have, but if you apply yourself diligently, good things will come.”
Though Apet’s words were somewhat discouraging, Seian Crowell steadfastly rejoiced in his growth potential. Since he’d consumed a Hasuo before and raised his rank, he’d surely boast about his skill all through dinner.
“Shall I examine the former madam as well?”
“If you have that much free time, I won’t stop you.”
“This one’s got no manners whatsoever.”
Apet, who’d just insulted me, told me to place my hand with the biochip on the table. I folded both hands neatly and placed them down, only to be told not to joke around. But I have two status windows. If he’s going to look, he needs to see both.
“How is it you have two status windows?”
“There are certain circumstances.”
I am Evan, and I am Mitchell, and I am Evan Mitchell. Strictly speaking, I have three status windows, but since the King of Ten Thousand Demons Evan Mitchell status window doesn’t contain much of note, two should suffice.
“Let me see then.”
Another brilliant light emanated from the elder and then faded. Apet pondered the results alone before offering yet another unexpected assessment.
“You would do well to focus more on division skills and gathering skills.”
“Not magic?”
“Such things won’t help you in the slightest in your life.”
Isn’t being strong just good? Besides, what is a division skill? Is he talking about ‘Share’? Though I did internally scream “divide, divide!” when sharing Makina’s power before.
Though I wasn’t entirely convinced, I answered that I’d keep it in mind when distributing experience points in the future, and we left the Zibenstein Townhouse. Then Seian Crowell started humming about a fancy restaurant, so after changing clothes, we decided to visit the hotel restaurant operated by Letem.
If we eat here and head to our room, the schedule will work out perfectly. With that plan in mind, I coolly paid for a one-night stay in the suite room.

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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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