Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 284

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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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In that instant, clarity bloomed from the crown of my head downward, and all of Evan Laef’s afflictions dissolved. Mountains were mountains, water was water.
Fretting over grades was merely attachment to the material world. Without releasing such attachments, enlightenment would never arrive, no matter how many lifetimes one spent in practice.
“Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Form is precisely emptiness, emptiness is precisely form.”
Evan Laef crossed my legs and closed my eyes in stillness.
I had released it. I had truly released it—yet a C grade in Imperial Court Etiquette remained, by any measure, unjust. Buddhist teachings speak of releasing attachment, not of accepting arbitrary punishment. And this, I assure you, is genuine.
Evan had achieved many insights: carnal desires faded, afflictions lifted—yet I could not accept that Imperial Court Etiquette warranted a C. I would hear Professor Ha’s reasoning, and if it held merit, I would accept it. If not, I would demand a correction. This resolve remained unshaken.
“Village Chief, might you know where Professor Ha is located?”
“I might, but why do you wear that serene, benevolent smile as though you’ve attained enlightenment? It’s irritating.”
“Enlightenment? Hardly. I’ve merely shed one affliction that bound me.”
“That’s genuinely worse.”
The Village Chief abandoned his affected cheer and, with a serious expression, inquired of the village’s Information Chief regarding Professor Ha’s whereabouts, then directed me there. I made my way to Professor Ha’s office in the Humanities Department building, to which he had transferred from the Magic Department.

◇ ◆ ◇

After enduring three years in the Magic Department, Professor Ha had finally secured the express lane to advancement through connections with the Department Head Professor and the Academy Headmaster, and returned in triumph. Once a forgettable noble from a minor house with no territory, Professor Ha had achieved the remarkable feat of reforming psychopaths and returned to the Humanities Department.
An office five times larger than before, three teaching assistants instead of one, a secretary managing his schedule, and administrative staff handling miscellaneous duties—treated with the regard of a corporate executive, he reflected on those arduous years and recalled the students he had cherished.
That he had endured three years in the Magic Department owed greatly to Evan Laef and Reina Letem. For Professor Ha, whose constitution rendered him unable to interact with commoners without falling ill, Evan and Reina were an oasis in the desert, rain in drought.
Initially, I had not known that Evan Laef was the Eldest Daughter of the esteemed House Neftis, yet even setting that aside, Evan had proven invaluable.
First, she understood my condition and took care to ensure I was never alone with commoners. She explained to my peers and seniors that I possessed an innate affliction requiring their understanding. Thus, even when I suffered episodes upon contact with commoners, the mages harbored no resentment—they simply pitied my chronic condition and escorted me to the Infirmary.
Evan’s consideration, combined with my own teaching that the afflicted must always be brought to hospital, bore remarkable fruit.
That I could now stand atop the Humanities Department, gazing at the sunset beyond floor-to-ceiling windows while sipping wine, was largely Evan’s doing—for Duke Neftis had generously funneled research grants to ensure his daughter was well cared for.
The donations Duke Neftis poured into the Academy also aided in furnishing my office. When Titi enrolled, Evan had the Training Ground’s grass laid and used the surplus funds to renovate the Magic Department professors’ offices and mine.
In any case, success requires neither effort nor skill—only fortune and connections. Contemplating this fresh realization, Professor Ha received word from his secretary that a student had come to visit. Since the student was Evan Laef, he welcomed her warmly into his office.
“Welcome, Miss Neftis. You seem unusually serene today?”
“I have a matter to discuss, Professor Ha.”
“Ah, please, do tell.”
Professor Ha bowed respectfully, seated Evan on the sofa, and offered tea. I had grown accustomed to Evan’s manner of speech over three years. At first, I found it peculiar, but as she was a distinguished young lady of the great House Neftis, it seemed inevitable.
“Why did I receive a C? I cannot accept this, Professor Ha.”
“I anticipated something along these lines.”
Professor Ha switched instantly into instructor mode. Moments before, he had been a minor noble deferring to a great one, but as professor to student, he was no pushover. He pulled on thin leather gloves with sharp precision, steeling himself, then replied with confidence.
“You are the Eldest Daughter of House Neftis. You moved through the Imperial Palace as though it were your own home. To evaluate a great noble who has practiced Imperial Court Etiquette since childhood against students merely now acquiring such refinement—is that not unfair?”
“They are each one person, and I am one person. There is no unfairness.”
“By that logic, a specialized professor attending undergraduate lectures and receiving top marks would be equivalent. Show some conscience.”
“I ask: what is conscience? What distinguishes a wicked act from a virtuous one?”
“Why has this student’s speech become even more difficult!”
Professor Ha nearly shouted, then recalled that engaging with Evan’s pace meant losing ground entirely. He took a deep breath to regain composure.
“Was there a deficiency in my etiquette?”
“No.”
“Then are others far superior to me?”
“That is also not the case.”
“My superiority over others is the result of my effort. Is it not unjust to fail to acknowledge that effort?”
“Uh, oh, um.”
Professor Ha nearly blurted out exactly that, but he hastily clamped his mouth shut and rolled his eyes. When had Evan suddenly become so articulate? That point gnawed at him.
“Lady Neftis, your eloquence surpasses your usual manner—what have you been consuming?”
“All things are impermanent. Nothing in this world remains unchanged, and I have purged myself of one of my afflictions—desire.”
“Wow.”
There was a reason people called those consumed by lust beasts. Cast off desire, and one truly transforms from beast into human. Professor Ha gained his own enlightenment and reconsidered the grade he had given.
Had Professor Ha truly, purely given Evan a C only because it was unfair to other students? Or had he actually resented Evan Mitchell’s attitude of choosing an easy course to coast through? If so, then wasn’t it Professor Ha himself who had acted unjustly?
Gazing into Evan’s clear, selfless eyes, Professor Ha felt himself being moved. Had Evan come snorting and huffing solely to obtain a better grade, he would never have corrected her score. But this Evan was different. She was questioning whether Professor Ha himself had given the grade according to his conscience.
Professor Ha possessed a conscience. And so his conscience ached. Yes, upon reflection, he had simply resented Evan for rushing in saying “Imperial Court Etiquette—easy money!”
“I acknowledge it. I acknowledge that my evaluation was unjust.”
Professor Ha conscientiously reviewed both the practical and written scores once more. Evaluating Evan relative to other students was indeed unfair. Then, should he not grade from the perspective of an Imperial Court Etiquette specialist?
At last, Professor Ha found his answer. Among beginners, she stood out distinctly, but from an expert’s standpoint, Evan Mitchell still possessed areas of immaturity. Her attitude was flawless, but her manner of speech remained a flaw in an otherwise perfect gem.
Synthesizing everything, Professor Ha’s final grade was an A.
“I shall correct it to an A. Please continue to demonstrate such diligence.”
“A fair score. I myself believe this is appropriate.”
The two, having reached agreement, partook of refreshments, exchanged pleasantries, and parted ways. Evan Mitchell emerged from the Humanities Department building, lifting her head proudly toward the sky.
The grade had been corrected. Though it was a pity to lose the enlightenment she had gained, it was only natural that something obtained so easily would fade just as quickly. As Evan firmly declared her willingness to accept any outcome, a status window descended from the heavens, informing her of the current situation.

Department of Magic, Fourth Year, First Rank: Reina Letem
Department of Magic, Fourth Year, Second Rank: Evan Laef

“?”
Evan tilted her head in confusion. Only one A became an A+, yet she wasn’t first rank? Finding it strange, she summoned her ice wings and flew off with a whoosh to ask the department office assistant about Reina Letem’s grades.
Reina Letem had earned all A+ this semester, she was told.
“Oh…”
So being department first rank was truly difficult to achieve. Evan offered her applause to Reina Letem and to herself from first year, then left the Academy without regret. She had done her best. This too was a result she must accept. All things were impermanent, and form was emptiness and emptiness was form.
“Hehe, Gerth and Seian will be delighted.”
Gerth would be pleased with her good grades. And Seian, who had helped her study, would feel a sense of accomplishment as well. Evan decided that good was good enough and warped to the Serpent King’s Tower.
To see her two husbands’ joyful faces, she would have to study hard going forward. The moment she resolved this, a notification window appeared announcing a new skill.

R) Intellect Lv.1 skill has been created.

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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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