Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 252
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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! Wake up!”
The Mother Goddess had summoned me to meet her, and Iyongi supposedly knew where she was. By any means necessary, I had to rouse this woman from her slumber.
I stomped on Procula Neftis’s fingernails and threw a tantrum, which startled Evan’s Father awake from his light doze, and he came rushing over.
“My beautiful daughter! What’s wrong! Don’t wake your mother or she’ll be upset!”
“If we fight now, I’ll win.”
“Is that so! Father is delighted!”
Pick a side—mine or hers. When I said this, Evan’s Father got upset, saying how could he possibly choose to support only one between the most beautiful adult and the most beautiful minor.
I’m curious what he’ll say when I come of age in a month.
“Apet, is there no way to wake her immediately?”
“Creating vitality from nothing isn’t my specialty, you see.”
The old man explained that his expertise lay in restoring optimal condition, reattaching severed limbs, or recovering what was already there—not creating anew. He suggested relying on medicine instead and sought out Serpent King’s Tower Officials.
Now that I think about it, Gerth, Leri, and Wenri all had veterinary credentials. Looking more carefully, I could see an IV line inserted near her hind legs. Being a dragon, the volume was enormous. This would cost a fortune.
“I’ll stay here. You go to school. You need to graduate anyway.”
“This woman isn’t the problem, but I’m worried about Cha Cha.”
“That’s what a husband is for in times like these. Consult with him about it.”
That’s true. Dividing responsibility is the very purpose of the marriage contract. Taking the old man’s words to heart, I sought out Gerth.
Gerth must have anticipated my arrival, for he was waiting with refreshments already prepared.
“Have some.”
“Thank you.”
The omija tea my husband made is always refreshing and delightful no matter when I drink it. I popped a yakgwa into my mouth and explained everything that had happened so far—discovering the mana amplifier, using my own mana to repair the Barrier Wall, Cha Cha’s lifespan.
After I poured out everything Gerth needed to know, the man quietly stood up, cupped my face in both hands, and pressed firmly. My mouth became pursed like a crucian carp’s, and I cried out in pain, begging forgiveness.
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
“Forcing my mana into the amplifier and coughing up blood.”
“If you knew, why did you do it?”
“Because I was certain I wouldn’t die.”
“You didn’t die, but your body was damaged.”
“Wouldn’t you have made the same choice?”
“You should have called me.”
“I’d rather do it myself than watch you suffer.”
“I feel the same way.”
“I suppose you do.”
Do all Demon Kings take logic classes or something? The Department Head Professor is the same way—their reasoning is flawless. The thought that Gerth would rather do it himself than watch me bleed is something he’s equally capable of. Living truly is difficult.
“My thinking was hasty, but I don’t believe I was wrong.”
“I understand your heart as well.”
Gerth must have been capable of empathy, for he didn’t make me a crucian carp again. But the scolding continued.
“From now on, if anything threatens to damage your body, consult with me first.”
“I’ll try to think about it positively.”
“Don’t just think about it. Talk it over with me.”
“Hmm….”
After a long moment of deliberation, I answered that I’d try to think more positively about it, and Gerth immediately moved to turn me into a carp again.
I couldn’t fall for the same trick twice, so I crossed both arms to block Gerth’s attack. Then Gerth moved like a serpent, slipping between my arms and aiming for my throat. I tightened my grip on Gerth’s wrists with both hands. With one arm sealed, Gerth swung their free arm to attack me, so I pushed open both palms against Gerth’s chest. Gerth tumbled backward over the sofa, hid their body, and in an instant launched a divine form attack from the right. I quickly reached out to grab at least Gerth’s clothing, and at that moment, the door burst open with a bang.
“Stop fighting! Just stop!”
Hubert shrieked that he knew how terrible it was for a child’s mental health when his parents fought. That opinion was correct. Gerth and I, guilty before Hubert, quietly folded our hands and begged forgiveness.
“I’m sorry. Evan’s reaction speed is just so good.”
“When you reach Gerth’s and my level, it’s hard to find an opponent who matches our skill. I hope our son understands.”
“Quite right.”
Besides, Hubert surely knew this wasn’t real fighting. I tried to persuade him quietly, but my son insisted it wasn’t his concern and continued to be angry.
“I don’t care about your intentions! I felt threatened! It’s scary when you two fight!”
“I’m sorry you felt that way.”
“If that’s how you felt, then I suppose I was wrong too.”
“Please be more careful going forward!”
Goodness, do all creatures born as demons learn from the same logic academy? Hubert’s reasoning was airtight too.
We put candy in Hubert’s mouth, soothed him well, promised never to fight again, and sent him outside. I thought once he grew up there’d be nothing left to care for, but somehow children are always difficult to raise.
“Parenting is difficult.”
“It tends to be that way.”
“You suffered alone for the past hundred years.”
“I appreciate you acknowledging that.”
We embraced deeply as a gesture of reconciliation and separated sharply. I knew that if we held each other any longer, Gerth would start biting my head.
“Evan. I hope this month passes quickly.”
“I’m incredibly looking forward to it too!”
The moment July seventh arrives, I’m going to drink, smoke heavily, and engage in power mating. As I grew excited and snorted through my nose, Gerth poured me another glass of sikhye, telling me to calm down.
“Iyongi’s condition has improved greatly. Leri and Wenri share my assessment.”
“As I mentioned before, we need to ask about the Mother Goddess’s whereabouts. I hope she awakens soon.”
“I can’t guarantee when she’ll awaken.”
With Procula’s attending physician and Apet joining in, there should be progress. The problem is we don’t know when that will be. She needs to awaken before my deadline ends.
“Will you come right when break starts?”
“I should spread word that I’m staying here. When I disappeared for a few days before, it caused quite a commotion.”
“That’s only reasonable.”
But Gerth, knowing they’d worry too, asked me to contact them if I’d be late, and told me to leave the matters concerning Cha Cha and the Panda Butler to them. With Gerth stepping up, they’d keep Cha Cha safe by the collar if necessary until I returned. I felt reassured.
“I should go now. To Cha Cha, I…, ah yes, please tell them this.”
I don’t know how much time is left in your life, but I promise I’ll be with you for every remaining day.
Since Cha Cha was sleeping now, I asked Gerth to relay the message when they woke up, and Gerth tilted their head in confusion.
“Evan. Your words sound like a confession.”
“What kind of confession are you talking about?”
“A love confession.”
“It’s not a love confession.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Satisfied with my explanation, Gerth opened the window and saw me off. I waved goodbye to him, then summoned my ice wings and soared into the sky with a whoosh. Fortunately, the wind was blowing westward, and I arrived at Crownpolis faster than I’d anticipated.
“Hmm…”
I’d been about to head straight to the Academy Dormitory, but I changed course toward the Neftis Townhouse instead. There was still time before curfew, and I wanted to test something about the Division skill.
◇ ◆ ◇
The Neftis Townhouse was now mine, courtesy of Cecilia, but my room maintained the same layout as my previous home. According to what I’d heard, Rael had devoted meticulous care to ensuring that every detail—from the arrangement of furniture to the overall design—would allow me to return and use it comfortably whenever I wished.
I lavished praise on my younger sibling, declared that I didn’t need dinner, and shut myself in my room. When I opened Evan Laef’s status window, a skill called “Division (Sharing)” caught my eye.
This Division skill carried a dual meaning, which was why it had the parenthetical note. When I split the Machine King’s power into two parts, the first meaning was division in the sense of separation, and the second meaning was division in the sense of sharing that power for use alongside the Machine King.
This is quite an enigmatic skill. It felt like a skill name deliberately planted to suggest I should divide my mana into portions for all of humanity and distribute it.
“Skill. Division.”
I’d never paid it much attention before, but once I became aware of the skill’s applications and began contemplating it, various uses came to mind. One of them was what I was about to test right now.
When I possessed “The Twilight’s Repentance,” Mitchell Neftis’s memories had merged with mine. It’s standard procedure for character memories to flow into the possessor during book possession. But why had I immediately suspected that the memories had mingled because of the “Fusion” technique I discovered in my status window?
There were several strange points. It was a fundamental question, but why was my status window divided into two? Why hadn’t I known that my status window contained a concealment skill? Why couldn’t I use the Fusion skill of my own volition?
Could it be that Mitchell’s consciousness was operating separately without my knowledge? To unravel that mystery, I decided to divide the consciousness of Evan Laef and Mitchell Neftis.
Division is a skill that Evan Laef possesses. In theory, Mitchell Neftis cannot intervene intentionally.
I concentrated on using the skill, and as a result, I succeeded. Standing before my eyes was Mitchell Neftis, wearing a form identical to my own.
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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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