Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 229

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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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If Duke Zibenstein were earnestly courting Eleanor, those small-time nobles wouldn’t dare make a move. It was a reasonably sound strategy. Had Bruno possessed even a shred of sanity, I would have asked him myself.
The problem was that I had never made such a request to that Duke. The scoop about Mother becoming my stepmother was known only to Eugene, Kanna, Gerth, Titi, and Makina. So who exactly benefited from leaking this information?
“Um, um, um… does that mean I can go home now?”
My gaze naturally fell on Reina Letem. The gorilla had apparently chosen to make a hasty escape from this place.
“Legendary Frost Binding!”
“Skill! Upgrade!”
A gust of salty wind erupted with a whoosh. In the same instant, I lunged forward and threw a punch at Reina.
“You ratted me out, you bastard!”
“Ahhh! How did you know, you bastard!”
The lunatic was practically screaming her guilt from the rooftops. How did I know? Among us, you were the only one capable of scheming to inform Bruno and profit from it.
“Whoa there! Friends should play nicely together!”
Just as I was about to trade blows, my fist swung through empty air. I should have been pummeling Reina, but instead I’d struck nothing, sending my body spinning. Reina had attempted a kick at me but failed, crashing face-first onto the ground.
It seemed Bruno had cast magic. What kind of magic was it? Time stop? Of course—you’re the bastard who killed the previous Emperor, you demon!
“My, my, subduing our mad lady so effortlessly.”
Damn it, this was bad. The fact that Bruno had restrained me so easily seemed to have earned him points with Mother. As proof, she flatly refused the enormous diamond he offered. Normally, Mother would have snatched it up without hesitation, but she wanted to build an honest relationship of trust with him, so she declined the burdensome gift.
“I had it commissioned for Eleanor. Please accept it—there’s no need to feel obligated.”
“Still, it’s too precious to accept on a first meeting. If it’s a gift, then… ah, I know.”
Mother selected some roses from the baskets that had been spread across the train station and gathered them in her arms.
“I’ll take these instead. I do love flowers.”
“Mm.”
Damn it! This is infuriating! Don’t do this! Don’t smile so radiantly, Eleanor Laef! Don’t create this romantic atmosphere with my mother, you insane Duke!
To put an end to this catastrophe, I quickly positioned myself in front of Mother and began shadow boxing frantically. But this Duke bastard cast magic again, slipping past me effortlessly before approaching Mother, where he began fidgeting and twisting his body awkwardly.
“Well, I suppose proposing on a first meeting was rather impolite of me. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to treat you to dinner.”
“Oh, I’d love that. Tell me all about the Capital.”
Nooooooo! I hate this! The world is ending!
Where are you, Reina, you bitch! This is all your fault! How are you going to take responsibility! I grabbed Reina by the collar and shook her violently through the air. Guilty as charged, she flailed about helplessly, her expression one of panic.
“I’m sorry, but even I didn’t expect this situation!”
“Take responsibility! You have to take responsibility!”
“Hahahaha, looks like the Ice Heart is getting a stepdad she doesn’t want. Hahahaha.”
“You bastard!”
“Oof!”
I slammed Reina into the ground with a loud crack, the paving stones caving in beneath her. So you’ve become the kind of being that doesn’t even get a speck of dust on her clothes anymore. Filthy demon.
“Mother, wait—you’re not actually going to see him, right? Not him. He’s not an option.”
“Hehehehehehe.”
It’s over. She’s already in the “what’s wrong with having dinner together” mindset. I changed targets and grabbed Bruno by the collar instead.
“I made a mistake. Don’t do this. My mother is off-limits.”
Show your true colors, Bruno! By the way, where did that “bing-boing” speech habit of yours go!
The man fixed his gaze on Eleanor’s mother, wiped the underside of his nose with a quick swipe, then placed his hand on my shoulder and spouted nonsense.
“Your mother is quite the charming woman, isn’t she?”
“You stop that right now! Stop it immediately!”
“Stop what? What are you talking about?”
Damn it all! Every adult is nothing but a scoundrel! Disgusting! Filthy old fools!
“Since your mother seems pleased, we should congratulate her, Evan.”
“Ah, don’t you know that forbidding something only makes the flames burn brighter?”
You’re only encouraging this because it benefits you more to have me as the Zibenstein heir than as the eldest daughter of House Neftis. Did you think I wouldn’t see through the scheming of these petty nobles?
When I fired these words at Reina Letem and Eugene, they didn’t even bother hiding it and brazenly praised Zibenstein.
“Honestly, I think switching to Zibenstein is better than sticking with House Neftis, which has lost all its influence, my friend!”
“You’ve got to seize the opportunity! This older sister created the perfect stepping stone for you!”
Drop dead, you bastards!
I gave Eugene and Reina Letem each a fair beating and drove a wedge between my mother and Bruno. But the two of them had apparently already made their arrangements, and after settling on a meeting time, they parted on friendly terms.
“The Train Station filled with roses—isn’t that terribly romantic, Miss?”
“That’s all garbage, Mother. What a waste of money.”
“You have no sense of romance, dear.”
That’s how people chasing romance end up starving to death! It’s even in the song lyrics—what happened to that painter who bought a million roses and devoted himself to love? He must have starved to death from poverty!
I shouted myself hoarse, but Mother paid no attention. I’ll tell Thomas everything. When we get home, I’ll tell Thomas all about this.
I left my mother at the Neftis Townhouse and secretly summoned Rael and Titi, ordering them to keep close watch and ensure my mother couldn’t contact the Duke. Then my real younger sibling, Rael, raised his hand eagerly to offer his opinion.
“But sister, isn’t it a well-known rule that opposing and forbidding such meetings only makes the flames burn brighter?”
“I’ll smash that rule to pieces.”
“Understood! You’re amazing as always, sister! So cool!”
Rael opened his notebook and carefully recorded my words along with today’s date. I thought only Father kept a record of my sayings, but you’ve been doing it too, Rael. How irritating.
“Listen, Titi. I am sister’s true blood sibling, connected by genuine kinship. You, a half-sibling, are fundamentally different from birth. Don’t overstep your bounds.”
“Squeeeeak….”
Titi’s eyes asked why Rael had to be so insufferable. He’s always been tactless to everyone except me, Mother, and Father. I signaled to her that I’d give her a bonus later if she could endure it, and Titi grinned and chirped that she wouldn’t overstep. Anyway, these creatures will do anything for money. How easy.
In any case, I could leave the rest to Rael. Having finished my business at the Townhouse, I led my group toward the Academy Magic Department. Since we’d completed this dungeon practical early and returned, let’s quickly report the dungeon byproducts and get some rest.
Following my suggestion, Reina Letem, Eugene, and Kanna made their rounds to the Professor’s office and obtained both practical scores and graduation exam clearance certificates.
Excellent! Now that I’ve passed the graduation exam, I just need to accumulate credits—just credits! And no more academic warnings ever!
“Student Evan Laef.”
Since we’d returned earlier than the other students, I was chatting about what to do with the spare time when the Dormitory Manager came looking for me. Apparently, a professor from the College of Social Sciences in the General Studies Department had visited while I was away….
If it’s a College of Social Sciences professor, is it the Professor of Social Movement? I only enrolled in the Social Movement lecture from that department.
When I asked exactly which professor it was, the Dormitory Manager confirmed it was indeed the Professor of Social Movement. He said he had something to discuss regarding an assignment, so I quickly said goodbye to my friends and rushed to the General Studies Campus.
Far in the distance at the mountain peak stands the Engineering College, and halfway up the slope is the College of Social Sciences. Why is the College of Social Sciences always positioned on the slope? Back when I did delivery part-time work, I’d pondered deeply why universities always placed the same departments in the same locations.
“Did you call for me? I’m here.”
I knocked on the Professor’s office door and heard him say to come in. Inside his office, which was far more cramped than the Magic Department professors’ offices, items were scattered about in disarray. Most of the scattered objects were bundles of newspapers. If you set a fire here, it would burn nicely.
“You came. Evan Laef.”
The Professor spun his rotating chair around with a serious expression and looked at me. This professor looked, how should I put it, exactly like a Social Sciences professor.
A gaunt frame and sharp eyes. His appearance reminded me of those activists from that era who threw Molotov cocktails, and I could almost smell the scent of burning oil-soaked newspaper.
“You know Bruno Kenin, the activist, don’t you?”
Why must I hear the name of Bruno again, even after coming all this way? Moreover, the way this person referred to him not as Duke Zibenstein but as Kenin the Knight suggested he was about to make some troublesome request. Bruno Siebenstein was a duke, but Bruno Kenin was a criminal.
“Since we’re already acquainted, it would be wonderful if you could write and present a report tracking his activities.”
“I refuse.”
“I hear you’re quite close to him. If I may ask for more, I’d be perfectly content with just one book he’s written. Or perhaps a memoir he wrote while imprisoned would be equally satisfying.”
“I said I refuse.”
“Present the report and bring the book, and I’ll give you an A+.”
“Keep your promise.”

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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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