Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 24

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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 scheme had worked perfectly. I’d deliberately butchered my bangs, anticipating that kind-hearted Evan Laef would intervene and fix them for me. And just as I’d rehearsed, when I subtly revealed that I possessed poison-combination magic, Evan not only befriended me but even put an arm around my shoulder.
My heart felt ready to burst, my shoulders trembled uncontrollably, my mind spun in circles, and though the real Evan differed from what I’d imagined, all my preliminary research had paid off.
For reasons unknown, Evan Laef was collecting toxic plants and building poison resistance. This meant my poison-combination magic would be invaluable to her, making it highly likely she’d approach me with this in mind.
I’d intended to hide my poison-combination magic while attending the Academy, but capturing a friend required the audacity to reveal hidden cards.
Evan Laef fell smoothly into my grasp. Going forward, I’d mix poisons however she wanted while helping her build resistance, subtly blend in brainwashing drugs, and once I’d planted the lifetime-friendship suggestion, the game would be over. Through this, I would secure the perfect friend who would never betray me.
“Hey! I’m the one going to see Evan, so you get lost!”
If only that red-haired noble lady weren’t so repulsive to look at. The plan was flawless. By now, Evan and I should have been laughing together, discussing poisons—but this happened. If only Reina Letem hadn’t recklessly cast magic and picked a fight, forcing things, Evan wouldn’t have collapsed.
Should I just kill that noble lady? If I had my family handle the aftermath, no matter how noble she was, there’d be no risk of exposure. Of course, Reina Letem would become the next House of Letem’s head, so the scandal would be enormous and Father would scold me terribly, but…
“Hey. You there.”
Just as I casually snapped a nearby branch to prepare a Sharpoon spell, and Reina sensed the killing intent and readied her magic, an ordinary person who couldn’t detect any killing intent or hostility appeared and stood between us.
“Where is Evan Laef?”
Who was this bastard, and why were they looking for Evan again? Neither of us wanted more people clinging to Evan, so we prepared to strike—but upon seeing the face, we had no choice but to show respect.
“Your Highness, what brings you here?”
“Oh, the Crown Prince Your Highness…!”
Reina Letem had met Seian Crown Prince before, and Kanna, by necessity of her position, had memorized the face of Seian Crown Prince.
As the subordinates bowed their heads, Seian Crown Prince felt his mood improve considerably for the first time in a while.
“That ill-mannered woman’s punishment has been decided.”
After a battle of wills with the Academy Headmaster, Seian Crown Prince had obtained a thirty-hour in-school service punishment certificate for Evan Laef, which he now presented with immense pride.
“I’m heading to the Library now to borrow books. That woman will have to attend to me.”
What did in-school service have to do with attending the Crown Prince? Reina and Kanna were deeply curious about the connection, but they kept their mouths shut. The other party was royalty. When royalty commands, you obey—there was no other choice.
“Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but Evan is currently unwell and has been moved to the Infirmary. Perhaps we could reschedule?”
“Yes, that’s right! Evan is, um, very sick!”
“Why should I care about that woman’s condition?”
Should I kill this bastard? For the first time, Kanna and I were in complete agreement. His harsh words about Evan irritated us, and watching this so-called Crown Prince—who held no real power despite his royal status—strut about made our fists itch.
“You said the Infirmary? Take me there.”
“Oh my! Your Highness! I would love nothing more! But my family circumstances are such that! If my personal kindness were perceived as a political signal, wouldn’t that be disastrous!”
“Pfft, kekeke.”
House of Letem had supported the Crown Princess since before Reina was born. Most conservative nobility would support the Crown Princess. After all, barring major upheaval, it was certain the Crown Princess would inherit the throne as the next Emperor.
In families with high-tier skills, it was recommended that women inherit the line. To preserve powerful skills needed to maintain current authority, or skills necessary to govern the people, matrilineal succession was most reliable.
There was significant risk of a male heir being cuckolded, and it had been proven genetically that identical-lineage skills manifested at higher rates through the maternal line. This had solidified through over a thousand years of trial and error, and no academic findings had yet overturned it.
To avoid genetic disease and introduce stronger skills, there were cases where royal males inherited, but that happened roughly once every three generations—and the current Emperor is male. The next Emperor must necessarily be female.
This alone drastically lowered Seian Crown Prince’s chances of becoming the next Emperor, and the Crown Princess possesses a Charisma skill. Unless the Crown Princess commits some serious transgression, nothing will change. The conservative faction generally prefers the eldest daughter to inherit without disturbance.
Though the Third Princess surpasses the current Crown Princess in both character and intellect, the Crown Princess will nonetheless remain the Crown Princess, and the throne will pass to the eldest daughter. That’s what being the eldest daughter meant. For the conservative faction, no magic word worked better than “eldest daughter.”
So to those who understood these circumstances, Seian Crown Prince’s desperate scrambling to join the succession struggle seemed nothing but pathetic. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t defeat the eldest daughter.
“Then you with the straight hair. You can guide me, can’t you?”
Though Reina had genuinely tried to provoke him, Seian Crown Prince didn’t even blink and fixed his gaze on Kanna. Such mockery was familiar to me. Ignoring it was nothing, and there was also the calculation of not wanting to antagonize House of Letem.
“Y-yes, this way, Your Highness.”
Why wasn’t she born into the Nobility? Why not into a powerful house at that? Kanna Sabah genuinely lamented the fact. After all, once you cut off the head, everyone bleeds the same—so why did the world insist on maintaining class distinctions? With such absurd reasoning, Kanna philosophized about the sorrows of the commoner while trudging along, guiding the Crown Prince to the Infirmary.
Upon opening the door and stepping inside, she spotted the Department Head Professor dispensing what appeared to be wisdom, while Evan Laef sat diligently transcribing his words.
Evan Laef was kneeling on the bed, meticulously recording the professor’s lecture. I’d never seen Evan in such a posture before—though truthfully, I’d only known her for less than a month. Still, it was a remarkable sight.
Seian, Reina, and Kanna, all startled by Evan’s extraordinarily respectful demeanor, exchanged glances before deciding that striking first was the way to go, and simultaneously opened their mouths.
“Friend! I’ll lend you my camera! Take a picture of me, will you!”
“E-Evan! Evan, I-I think I might need some blood!”
“I shall go to the Library. I permit you to carry books in my stead.”
After Evan finished transcribing the Department Head Professor’s entire lecture, she seemed to understand all three of them speaking simultaneously, glancing between them before finally settling her gaze on Seian.
“I wish to serve as the Crown Prince’s attendant.”
“Hey, you crazy bastard, why!”
“E-Evan, why on earth would you—”
Evan immediately sprang from the bed, eager to serve the Crown Prince, but dizziness overtook her and she collapsed back down with a thud. The Department Head Professor regarded her with pity, gently stroking her head.
“Poor thing… how foolish.”
No wonder rumors of Evan Laef being a blockhead circulated throughout the Administrative Office. The Department Head Professor roused the Infirmary staff, extracted an anemia remedy from them, hastily administered it to Evan, and then released her freely.
As Seian scoffed at Evan’s choice as if it were only natural and turned to leave, Evan scrambled after him on all fours, unwilling to lose sight of the Crown Prince as she crawled out of the Infirmary.
It seemed the anemia was still affecting her ability to hold her head high.
“Should I kill that bastard.”
“W-wait, the Royal Family is… somewhat…”
While the Nobility might be manageable, the Royal Family presented complications. As Kanna hesitated at this assessment, Reina’s expression darkened and she glared at her.
That bastard had essentially just declared that she could kill any noble without consequences.

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Oh my god, I’ve lost it—a library date with Seian!
I crawled on all fours chasing after Seian Crown Prince before gradually rising to my feet like an ape evolving into a modern human.
Ah, the air up here is so refreshing and nice. This anemia medicine really works wonders on my body. I brushed off my hands and stretched my stiff back, then sniffed at the familiar scent.
This herbal medicine smell—I’ve caught it somewhere before.
“Seian Crown Prince.”
“….”
“You smell.”
“….”
No response. Seian Crown Prince seemed intent on ignoring me.
But I refused to back down. I walked ahead of him, turned around, and walked backward to face him. As I stepped backward while looking at him, Seian Crown Prince’s expression twisted. How beautiful. Truly beautiful. How could a person be this beautiful?
“You reek.”
“….”
“You reek, I’m telling you.”
“I live more cleanly than someone like you. Are you trying to insult me?”
“It’s medicine smell.”
When I specified, Seian Crown Prince’s brow furrowed even deeper. How could such a scowl be so beautiful? For Seian, I could tear ten thousand bolts of silk.
“Nonsense.”
“It’s wound medicine smell.”
Oh right, that’s the smell I carried on my back for a while, isn’t it? The Imperial wound salve that worked incredibly well. Where did he get hurt? He looks fine on the surface.
“It’s none of your concern.”
So he was injured after all. A Crown Prince getting hurt badly enough to apply salve—where did that happen? Did he fall somewhere? Did someone trip him? With Seian Crowell as an opponent, it’s possible. He’s nothing but a dog in royal clothing.
“Just borrow the books on this list. Use your name.”
Wait, I was just supposed to carry the luggage, wasn’t I?
As we approached the Academy Library, Seian Crown Prince handed me a note and sat on a bench. I quickly scanned the note, wondering if he found even navigating between bookshelves exhausting, and I understood why he didn’t want to go himself.
“Hmm….”
“What are you looking at? Hurry up and go.”
“The new edition of Criminal Law Overview was just released. Since it’s a revised edition, it’s different from the old one.”
“….”
Criminal Law is a course mages get hammered with from the first semester, so I know it well. There was a good chance the other books Seian Crown Prince was looking for had revised editions too.

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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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