Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 302
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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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“Camera! Give me a hundred rolls of film! Video recording equipment too! And rabbit ear headbands—enough for the whole family!”
When I thought about riding the amusement park attractions with everyone, I realized I needed to capture these precious family moments in photographs. Years ago, I’d trembled at the thought of spending a single thousand crowns, but now I’d become the King of Ten Thousand Demons and ruler of the Serpent King’s Court—someone who could casually demand “everything from here to here.” How satisfying.
I was about to take photos of Obero, White One, Hubert, Gerth, Seian, and Cha Cha, loaded down with all my purchases, when the Serpent King’s Tower Officials stopped me.
“Darling, leave this to us. Your mother needs to be in the photos too.”
“But didn’t you come here to enjoy yourselves?”
“We’ll take turns, so it’s fine.”
“I can’t ride spinning attractions anyway because of my hangover.”
“Mino and I used to work here, so we can take our time.”
If they insist that much, I’ll entrust it to them.
I handed the cute rabbit-ear camera to Leri and gave the video recording device to Mino. When people get absorbed in photography, they often end up focusing only on my face, so I needed to remind them to capture the family fairly. When I mentioned this, Wenri—the smartest among them—pointed to my father and younger sibling.
“But those two already brought cameras like cannons. Can’t we just ask them to share their photos?”
“Those two only photograph me and Obero. I need family photos.”
“Ah, so that’s why you bought separate ones.”
Even though I might seem careless with my spending, I actually think things through. I reminded Leri once more to stay focused, then elegantly mounted the carousel. As the music played and the horses and carriages spun around, Obero in the back seat suddenly murmured as if she’d realized something profound.
“We thought we were moving forward, yet we merely circle the same spot endlessly—just like us, trapped in the cycles of suffering.”
Obero, I think you’ve had enough enlightenment for one day.
“Truly, you are Evan’s child.”
What did he just say about me?
Every time we passed where Leri was positioned, I told Obero to strike a pose, but Gerth suddenly made an incomprehensible comment. When Obero showed interest at being compared to me, the man dredged up old memories and displayed his five-hundred-year-old vocabulary.
“Evan once looked at the Roller Coaster and contemplated the cycle of reincarnation.”
“The Roller Coaster! I want to ride it right away!”
“You’re too short to ride it.”
Obero was deeply disappointed. Fearing she’d manipulate her body to increase her height if left alone, Seian and I launched into passionate explanations about how height restrictions at amusement parks weren’t merely about physical stature.
“Listen carefully, Obero. Height restrictions at amusement parks exist purely for safety. It’s not just about whether the safety bar fits your body, but also whether you’re mentally mature enough to understand and follow safety procedures.”
“These experiences are best enjoyed with time and patience. Life is long—if you rush through all the content now, what will you do later when you run out of things to experience? You’re already progressing far too quickly as it is.”
“Whimper.”
Judging from her dejected sound, she seemed to have accepted the explanation. I was grateful that Obero could be persuaded through logic, though the process of convincing her was exhausting. It required being armed with reasoning and delivering eloquent arguments. That’s why Seian and I working together was crucial. When my logic fell short, Seian would back me up, and when his persuasiveness wavered, I’d support him.
“I can shield you with a barrier, so it should be fine to ride once, right?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Cha Cha!”
“A child who hasn’t even turned one absolutely cannot ride a roller coaster!”
“This is the Underworld King’s fault.”
This ten-thousand-year-old child needs to have his own offspring to finally come to his senses. I’d originally provided genetic material when asked—they even took blood samples and hair—so why hadn’t I heard news of an egg yet? I’d been hoping to meet it when Cha Cha arrived, but there was no sign of it. When I brought this up, Cha Cha proudly patted his space suit’s belly section.
“I completed that with the kit Mother sent a while ago.”
Surely he didn’t just stuff it in there carelessly? At my question, fearless Cha Cha made a V-sign with his fingers.
“Of course I made a special pouch for it!”
I immediately stopped the carousel and shouted toward Leri and Wenri.
“A baby carriage!”
Since this was an amusement park, there would definitely be rabbit-eared strollers available for rent. While I procured the equipment, Gerth swiftly stripped the space suit from Cha Cha, who shrieked at the relentless hands.
“Aaaah! Air! I can’t breathe!”
“I know you won’t die without breathing for a week.”
“Lizard older brother is mean!”
“Found the Egg! Wow, this one is still so soft!”
Seian Crowell’s expression darkened as he noted the Egg was far more fragile than when Obero had been one. No matter how capable and intelligent Cha Cha was, he couldn’t compare to Ursula. If the Mother Goddess hadn’t done it directly, there were bound to be flaws.
“Why didn’t Ursula make it directly?”
“Is the Underground the Underworld King’s specialty?”
Ah, that could be it. Thanks to Gerth’s words, I reconsidered the environment where my child with Cha Cha would grow. When I created Obero, I didn’t just toss the Egg—I had a divine form descend to handle it, so the work required delicacy. That divine form might not withstand the Underworld, and it could be a better choice for Cha Cha, who knew the Underworld’s pressure, temperature, and radiation levels inside and out, to create it directly.
“It’s soft here, but in the Underworld, a dinosaur could stomp on it and it wouldn’t crack!”
So it was optimized for the Underworld. More importantly, don’t let a dinosaur step on our child, you lunatic!
“Gerth.”
“I anticipated this.”
“I’ll need more than a month for this stay in the Underworld.”
“I understand.”
Since it was my first time staying there, I’d have to teach this Cha Cha a proper lesson.
I decided to immediately give Cha Cha a tremendous number of flicks to the forehead and hang him upside down on the Gyro Drop as punishment.
“Evan’s Father, you only hate me!”
If I didn’t love you, you’d already be dead.
I saw off Cha Cha as Mino dragged him away, then gently placed the Egg into the stroller Leri had brought. If it inherited its father’s temperament, we’d be in real trouble.
“I’ll take care of the Egg. You and Seian go have fun.”
Gerth said these places were more enjoyable when you visited them young, pushing my back and Seian’s forward. I quietly observed Obero nestled in Hubert’s arms, then quietly looked at Gerth. It was fair to say that Obero’s goodness and docility were achievements accomplished almost entirely through Gerth’s efforts alone.
“Thank you. I love you.”
“I love you too?”
As I gave Gerth a warm embrace filled with gratitude, Seian Crowell acknowledged Gerth’s achievement with a satisfied hum.
“Well, I’m grateful too, at least. If she were mine and his, it’d be obvious.”
“If she came from me and Seian, she’d definitely be stupid and pretty, vain about what she can do, have an inflated ego, be narrow-minded, sensitive, hysterical, blame others easily, boast one moment, then suddenly become dejected when facing reality.”
“Shut up.”
“Right.”
Seian Crowell seemed on the verge of anger, so I closed my mouth. Seian really does have satisfying reactions today. It’s delightful.
“Older brother. Why does Mother enjoy it when Father gets angry?”
“Because she’s a pervert.”
I heard that, Hubert. I’ll give him a punishment that doesn’t hurt but is subtly annoying. As I rubbed the fine fur on his perked-up ears, my son hissed and shuddered.
“Aaaah! That’s subtly annoying!”
He closed his ears, not wanting to experience it twice. How cute.
“Hey Evan! We need to go to the Coffee Cup!”
Right, we were in the middle of a stamp rally. Would we get a commemorative item if we collected them all this time too? Since Sky Island had collapsed, it wouldn’t be a necklace revealing its location.
Examining the rally card closely, the commemorative item was a glowing ornament similar to last time. The ornaments synchronized with each other, and when people who shared one were nearby, it would light up as a symbol of friendship. It seemed like a desirable item since friends, lovers, and families typically came to amusement parks together.
“Oh.”
As I was about to board the Coffee Cup with my son and my friends to move to the next location, I spotted a familiar shop. That shooting game where you win prizes—there was a branch two here as well.
“Kanna.”
“Huh? Y-yes?”
Kanna Sabah was thoroughly enjoying the amusement park today—purple rabbit ears perched on her head, souvenirs dangling from one arm, soft-serve ice cream in hand. I extended my hand toward her and attempted to slip the ring from her pinky finger.
“No, wait, Evan!”
“Take off that 14K ring.”
“N-no! I don’t care if you’re Evan, but not this!”
Kanna panicked, insisting she couldn’t remove the friendship ring we’d sworn to wear forever. Hmm… though I never said I’d take it by force.
I popped open the ring case I’d prepared and showed it to her. This was a one-carat blue diamond ring I’d commissioned from a jeweler classmate of mine. The blue gemstone had deeper violet hues in certain areas, and I thought it would be perfect for us to wear as a matching pair.
“I promised you I’d give you the very best. I said I’d buy you a diamond ring.”
“…! Evan!”
Kanna’s eyes widened as she drew a sharp breath, looking flustered and uncertain.
“The old ring holds precious memories, so it’s better to keep it separately. Considering the sincerity I’ve shown in preparing this, I’d like you to wear the new ring instead.”
“Y-yes, Evan, I… I’ll accept that ring. I’ll wear it every single day!”
Kanna, who had been on the verge of tears, finally let them fall. I gently scolded her for crying on such a beautiful day and wiped her tears away with my handkerchief. As we slipped the rings onto each other’s pinkies, the diamonds seemed to promise that our friendship would endure forever and ever, and it felt wonderful.
“Our friendship will last a lifetime.”
“Y-yes! Best friends forever, E-Evan!”
I held Kanna’s hand tightly as we sang about our eternal, everlasting friendship, when Reina, who had been watching intently, spoke up with a serious expression.
“That’s not friendship.”
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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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