Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 231

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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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When I expressed my concern, the Professor simply laughed it off with a wave of his hand.
“Such feelings are all temporary. I’ll help guide you through them.”
“Temporary, you say?”
“Love is a season. Friendship is eternal.”
Kanna would absolutely love hearing that. I took another long sip of refreshing peach juice and reconsidered my assessment.
The Department Head Professor is clearly not in his right mind either.
“My dear daughter, my sweet girl, look at this! Isn’t it amazing!”
“I am neither your daughter nor your stepdaughter.”
Still, I examined the sheet music he called amazing. The composition clearly depicted wandering through a wasteland to find a comrade and walk together. I’d anticipated that much, but seeing the overall flow, this was definitely not a song I could handle.
“This piece demands exceptional vocal prowess. I don’t have the confidence to sing it.”
The melody goes up, down, throws in half-beat delays—it requires every vocal acrobatic trick imaginable. And there are no rests here, are there? Where am I supposed to breathe? Is this supposed to kill me mid-performance?
“Why, don’t you have an incredible vocalist in your group?”
“Sera is currently not on speaking terms with us.”
“Oh, kids always fight while growing up! Take these peaches and go make peace!”
“Why would I bring a gift? I should be the one prostrating myself and apologizing to them.”
“How petty of you.”
“As if you’re not petty yourself.”
“I’m not petty! I’m getting along just fine with the daughters of the man who locked me in prison for ten years!”
Could that really be called “getting along”? Wasn’t that more like stirring up both sides and failing at sowing discord? In fact, it wasn’t even a complete failure. Those who had been Sera’s close associates, as well as those who had switched from neutral to Sera’s faction—they all preserved their lives by joining the Oversight Bureau.
If we’re talking about division, it was certainly a success. To use an analogy, what was once a one-party autocracy had split into a two-party system.
Come to think of it, this bastard was getting beaten up here and there while quietly implementing his plans step by step. Right now, he’d established a multi-party framework in one go and was even initiating the separation of powers.
“You killed the Emperor, didn’t you!”
“Kyaaaa♡ Domestic violence!”
Bruno is so infuriating. I’m going to kill him.
As I picked up an ice drill and swung it around trying to eliminate Bruno, the Department Head Professor grabbed my shoulder and pleaded with me to let it slide just this once.
Sigh… I’m only holding back because of the Professor’s face.
“My sweet girl! Why do you listen to Ilyong so well! I’m your father! We can’t both be!”
Whoosh!
Since hitting him with the drill would kill him, I fashioned an ice club instead and beat Bruno with it. I kept striking until the ice shattered and fell away completely, which provided some satisfaction.
“Ugh, domestic violence—I’m reporting this to the authorities.”
“I can report you for treason against the state.”
“Ugh, without any evidence.”
This man has a genius talent for infuriating me! As I picked up the drill again and it whirred to life, the Department Head Professor hoisted me up, told me to cool off and come back later, then threw me out of the Townhouse. As I roared that I’d destroy his entire house, Butler Grandfather appeared and handed me the sheet music and a gift box.
“I’ve placed the sheet music and perfectly ripe peaches inside. Please enjoy them with your friends.”
“That’s the thing—I wasn’t planning to meet with them.”
“You may find the conversation flows more naturally than expected. Have you ever discussed the harm you suffered with them?”
Hmm… I’d scolded Sunbird about it, but I’d never actually talked with Sera about it. Since I’m already facing exile anyway, I might as well fly over and see them.
“Well, the East Wing is worth a visit.”
“As you wish. That’s what befits the foremost lady of House Neftis.”
I pouted at his patronizing tone and accepted the sheet music and peach box. I was genuinely tempted to bring this bastard’s house crashing down, but Butler Grandfather held me back. Consider yourself lucky you found him, you damned Bruno.
“Ptooey! Blegh!”
I expressed my displeasure with my entire body and summoned my ice wings. It had been ages since I last visited the old East Wing.

“Wow…”
The exterior was still shabby. I hesitated before the dilapidated building, then called out, “Come here!” and stepped inside.
The largest room—which served as both the club’s meeting room and lounge—was stacked with documents and letters, where Sunbird and Sera were busily reviewing papers.
“Oh, Evan Mitchell, it’s been a while.”
“Evan! Long time no see! But I’m pretty busy right now!”
Why was he acting so busy? I handed the peach box to Sunbird and asked. Sera explained that she was currently struggling to balance her role as head of the Oversight Bureau with being a student.
“And there’s also the question of which graduate program to pursue. We’re looking for someone who seems most likely to grant a degree.”
“Now that I think about it, if Sera has to pursue a doctorate, are you going to graduate school too?”
“Yes. Shamefully, all these stacked letters are recommendation letters from professors.”
The shadow had vanished from Sunbird’s laughing face. This bastard had it easy now. Sera’s safety was secured, there were no political battles to fight—his meals must taste fresher every day. His stomach must be at peace too.
“Well, I didn’t come here for nothing.”
I climbed onto the club representative’s exclusive luxury desk and looked down at Sera arrogantly.
“Bow your head and apologize. Then I’ll decide whether to forgive you.”
Speaking quietly, Sera unconsciously began to kneel before me, but then something seemed off, and she lifted her head. She must have felt it was unjust.
“Evan! Now that I think about it, I don’t think I actually wronged you!”
“The disappearance of Evan Laef!”
“But didn’t I follow the procedures to restore you as Mitchell Neftis!”
“The Demi-human scandal! You claimed you resolved it without any casualties, but thousands upon thousands of demi-humans nearly perished in the chaos!”
“Demi-humans aren’t Empire citizens! They don’t count as casualties!”
“What kind of audacity is this!”
This was the same as denying rights to foreigners and second-class citizens! I slapped Sera across the face and cursed the royal blood of imperialism.
“But constitutionally—”
“Constitutionally, anyone with an Empire citizen registration certificate is an Empire citizen. What did you plan to do about minorities with clear status!”
“They were a minority, weren’t they!”
“The notion that minorities can be sacrificed for the majority is absolutely tyrannical and contemptible, you bastard!”
I struck Sera again and blocked her counterattack with one hand. When we first met, we were evenly matched, but now there was a vast gap between us. Sera seemed quite shocked by the difference in power—that I could kill her with just one finger.
“You’ve grown strong, Evan!”
“Indeed. While you were playing at politics, I became very strong.”
“Ugh!”
Sera’s expression darkened at the humiliation, but she quickly recovered and made me a proposal.
“Evan. If you don’t mind, could you spar with me when you have time? Even just occasionally when you’re free would be fine!”
“Fine. Then I’ll set this condition.”
Let’s see—there was a book by Bruno that refuted the divine right of kings. For Sera and me to communicate properly, she needed to start with foundational knowledge. I tossed her the book and recommended she read it right here.
“Read with an open mind. Without setting aside your prejudices, this book will be worthless to you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
While Sera adjusted her reading glasses and settled into her book, Sunbird brought out sliced peaches alongside black tea. By the time I’d finished savoring a few bites, Sera had made it through about half the book. Then came a sound I hadn’t heard in ages—the familiar chime of a status notification, followed by bizarre text.

The progression has been slightly altered. Recovering 1,000 experience points.

Wait, hold on—did this happen because I gave Sera that red book? What kind of system gives experience and then takes it back?!

“Huh?! This can’t be happening!”

The progression has been slightly altered. Recovering 10,000 experience points.

My experience points! My precious experience points!
Checking my status window in confusion, I realized the experience that had flowed in like a torrent was now flowing out the same way. So far only my current reserves were being drained, but what happens if I hit zero? Do I go negative? Or stay at zero? Ugh, I should’ve spent all those experience points without hesitation instead of hoarding them. They say hoarding just turns everything to waste!
“Evan!”
“What?”
“If you don’t mind, could I borrow this book? I’ll transcribe it and return it!”
“Just keep it. Keep it forever.”
“I’ll never forget this kindness!”
So Sera’s walking down the red path after all. Bruno must be thrilled to have the Crown Prince on his side now.
This Sera kid’s comprehension when it comes to anything red is remarkable—she’s already reinterpreting our first album’s track “The Rain That Never Ends” as possibly being about workers’ blood, tears, and anguish.
“Sunbird! I’ve made a decision!”
“Yes, what is it, Sera?”
“I’m going to pursue a master’s and doctorate in the Department of Sociology!”
“Ha ha, by all means.”
Sunbird laughed with genuine joy and applauded at her finally deciding on a path. Then, with a remarkably peaceful expression, he brought up that serious topic from before.
“Evan Mitchell. Once Sera’s safety is secured, I promised to tell you everything, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
Surely he wasn’t planning to reveal everything here, in the club room, while casually eating peaches, with absolutely no sense of tension?
As I eyed him suspiciously, the man explained that Cecilia’s softness—which he’d found untrustworthy, horrifying, and dizzying when she came looking for Sera the other day—had tormented him for days, but he’d finally found some peace with it.
“I’m not entirely confident I can tell you everything yet, but I felt this misunderstanding needed to be cleared up.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“I’m not actually a regressor.”

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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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