Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 293

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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 coronation ceremony was held with great splendor. Dignitaries from every nation attended without exception, and I endured four grueling hours from the initial waiting period to the actual crowning. I waited an eternity, yet when it came time to listen to Cecilia speak and actually place the crown upon my head, it took less than ten minutes.
The coronation’s greatest spectacle was undoubtedly myself becoming Ilam’s first Queen, though Bruno’s abdication from his dukedom to become Prime Minister of Ilam also garnered considerable attention.
Currently, Apet serves as the interim Duke of Zibenstein, and she is expected to ascend to the ducal throne through a formal vote in due course. Among the Seven Houses, there is no one else of her caliber. It would be difficult to find anyone matching her in reputation, accomplishment, or experience.
At this rate, unless Apet voluntarily relinquishes the dukedom, will she hold the position of Duke of Zibenstein forever? She doesn’t age or die, after all.
“Ugh, ugh, this old body is falling apart.”
Hearing her complain just five days into her interim dukedom suggests she’ll gladly hand it off the moment a successor appears.
Apet and I were currently attending a wedding hosted by the Mecala Estate. That hamster-like little Countess’s Daughter actually managed to land Gram of Green and make it to the altar?
The Mecala Estate isn’t particularly influential, but thanks to their connection through Seian’s engagement, many prominent figures graced the occasion. First, the current Emperor of Crowell—Seian’s sister—sent congratulatory wreaths and gifts. And I, now Seian’s wife and Queen of Ilam, attended in person. With my presence, Letem came, Neftis came, Zibenstein came. Numerous other high-ranking officials and newspaper representatives also attended in force.
With so many political and business figures gathered in one place, the Countess didn’t miss the opportunity. The wedding itself had concluded long ago, yet Count Mecala had been prattling on about unveiling some revolutionary farming technique and securing investment in automation equipment.
But it truly was groundbreaking. By achieving complete agricultural automation using Machina the Mechanical King’s technology, production would increase exponentially, and crops could be contracted by the hectare and supplied to other regions.
Eugene would be thrilled to hear about this. If we coordinate well with the dragons, we could transport massive quantities of goods swiftly. Isn’t this exactly the technology the Northern Region needs?
For Eugene, who was currently protesting outside the Department Head Professor’s Official Residence, I carefully secured the informational materials the Mecala Estate had prepared. For now, I would submit an investment application on my behalf and then inform Eugene.
Boom!
What was that sound? Something collapsed with such force that the ground trembled, and the guests evacuated outside thinking it was an earthquake.
“My dear! I’ll look after the people, so if the building collapses, I’m counting on you!”
“Understood. Reina, you stay with me too.”
“Yes, of course!”
Reina and I positioned ourselves to destroy the ceiling with magic if it collapsed, while Apet made sure every last guest was safely outside before calling us.
“Both of you, come out! I don’t think this is actually an earthquake?”
I hovered in the air using my ice wings and surveyed the surroundings in all directions. Smoke was rising from the Imperial Hunting Grounds in the distance—the location of the Serpent King’s Tower.
“What is that?”
“Something strange… it looks like something flew there?”
“In any case, accidents never cease around my wife.”
I’m exhausted living like this too. In any case, it looks like our house was damaged, so I should probably go check on it.
“Who’s coming with me?”
“Me!”
“There might be injured people, so I should go as well.”
Don’t blame me for causing accidents when you two are absolutely delighted to get caught up in them. I grabbed Apet and Reina by the hand and flew toward our house.
I flew as fast as I could, but the situation seemed to have already concluded. I heard something like Cha Cha’s voice laughing somewhere, and then a rocket engine erupted from the object embedded in the Serpent King’s Tower with a thunderous roar, launching it skyward with a piercing whine.
“A rocket arm?”
“The design is rather dated.”
“It’s from our generation’s aesthetic.”
So Apet was from the era of super-alloy giant robots. Machina’s refined machinery is wonderful, but there’s something romantic about iron arms and iron legs.
“Waaah! Hey! Why did you take so long to get here!”
As the dust settled, Seian appeared through the hole left by the rocket arm. Why is he crying?
“I’m sorry, Evan. It’s my fault.”
Why was Gerth apologizing? Now that I thought about it, it was strange to see Gerth and Seian together. Something serious must have happened….
“….”
I had a suspicion about what might have occurred, so I glanced around. Seian was crying, Gerth was pleading, and Hubert was sighing. When these three gathered, there was one thing that should have been present—but wasn’t.
“Where’s Egg?!”
“Well, you see…, the Underworld King….”
So Hubert calls Cha Cha “uncle.” That made sense—he was like an uncle to him, after all.
“He told me to choose between Mother and Egg, and then he bit me!”
So that’s why everyone looked so gloomy. If Cha Cha had come after so long, he should have visited me first. Why did he suddenly run off with Egg? I didn’t remember doing anything to upset him. As I stood there bewildered, Gerth fidgeted despite his confident expression.
I’d never seen Gerth like this before. It was rather endearing.
“You said it was your fault earlier. What happened?”
“Well…, that is.”
His face remained composed, but his body betrayed his nervousness. When I told him it was fine to speak freely, Gerth took a deep breath and recounted events from a year ago.
“Starting last year, the Underworld King attempted to negotiate with me.”
“What kind of negotiation?”
“He proposed that we not interfere with each other’s affairs, in exchange for Evan spending half a year living in the Underworld.”
“That’s quite a long time.”
“Indeed. The duration was too long, and the Underworld King has no relation to Evan whatsoever. I refused.”
“Is that when the rocket arm came flying?”
“No. In the next negotiation, he reduced the period to a quarter. He asked for Evan to spend just one winter season there.”
“Oh…, and then?”
“I refused.”
“What happened next?”
“In the following negotiation, he asked for only two months of the year.”
“Did you refuse?”
“I did.”
Cha Cha must have been furious. When I asked if that’s when the rocket arm came, Gerth shook his head once more.
“It was after I refused his request for Evan to spend just one month there each year.”
“Gerth, you went too far.”
“I did not go too far.”
“No, I think you did.”
“However, Evan and Cha Cha are merely others to me.”
Ah…, I see…? We’re currently not even recognized as being in a relationship by His Majesty the Serpent King, are we?
There was also the promise we made when we kissed while watching the sunrise in the universe last time, and I gently tried to assert that I wanted this relationship to be officially recognized, but both Gerth and Seian widened their eyes.
“I clearly said only up to lemon pie.”
“Hey! You can’t just keep adding people like that—two becomes three, three becomes four, five! That’s what happened with our Second Sister!”
Ah, you mean the Second Princess who was executed for her promiscuous relations with men. I had nothing to say about that, but still—Cha Cha said he liked me, so what could I do!
“I promised to take responsibility. Even if we can’t marry, becoming family, getting recognition…, couldn’t we somehow…,”
manage it,
I was thinking….
”
“I can’t accept this.”
“I can’t either! Do you have any idea how insufferable he gets when you’re not around?!”
That’s exactly what makes him charming! When I started appealing to Seian Crowell about the radioactive pomegranate’s toxic allure, he smacked me across the face.
“Just you dare bring him here! I’m taking the child with me!”
“But Egg was already kidnapped?”
“Does your child only have one egg?!”
Seian Crowell, who had been pressing me, came over holding Hubert’s hand tightly. When did those two become so affectionate without my knowing?
“So, Uncle, you’re saying I’m your child?”
“Why wouldn’t you be! If he’s your child, you’re my child too!”
“Sob! Uncle!”
Did they grow close while taking care of Egg together? Why is this so touching?
“What a mess.”
Apet, who had been quietly observing the situation, made a comment. Then he pointed to the flight cloud trail left by the rocket arm.
“Aren’t you going to chase after it? If you leave it like that, it’ll disappear?”
Right, there was that problem. I loaded everyone into a large box, lifted it with a flourish, and took flight on ice wings. Seian Crowell let out a terrified scream at first, but thanks to Hubert helping him find his balance, he was soon screaming with the excitement of riding an amusement park attraction.
“Evan! I can see it!”
For how quickly the rocket arm had flown, the main body hadn’t gotten very far. In the distance, a massive black robot about eighteen meters tall was trudging along, and in the cockpit mounted on its head sat the mad scientist Cha Cha.
“Wow! A steel fortress soaring into the sky!”
“Super robot! Amazing! Super robot!”
Seeing the enormous robot, Apet and I let out cheers of wonder. Neither Apet nor I had ever imagined we’d witness something like this in our lifetimes. It’s a huge robot! A huge robot is valuable simply for being huge!
“Wow! Wow wow!”
“Woooow!”
I started from the robot’s feet and flew upward, examining every detail. It was magnificent. It was incredible. The giant robot was absolutely incredible.
“Evan! This is no time for sightseeing!”
Right, I snapped back to attention and called out to Cha Cha. He cracked open the cockpit, saw me, then huffed indignantly and stomped his foot on the ground.

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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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