Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 310

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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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“At my age, being with you is absolutely blissful.”

Crownpolis remained as vibrant as ever. Today especially, with the Academy’s founding anniversary celebration, the streets teemed with students. I found myself in one of the trendiest spots lately—a hip Seongguk-style religious cafe nestled somewhere around Cridan Street—waiting for my appointment.
The place had a Seongguk temple concept, complete with murals of familiar figures scattered throughout. There was even a mural of that middle-aged woman obsessed with Apet, known as the Current King. And Apet, the legendary immortal saint who existed only in legend, was immortalized in stained glass.
“Oh, how embarrassing! How mortifying!”
That’s exactly why I’d deliberately summoned Apet here. I took a refreshing sip of peach juice and watched as Apet—still youthful in appearance—approached, threading past several passages praising Apet the boy.
“My former spouse!”
Having left Apet Gospel Chapter 1, Verse 12 behind, the legally-aged boy Apet greeted me warmly as he climbed to the second floor. I sprang to my feet and called back, “Oh my! Boss Apet!” The elderly boy broke into a broad grin and clasped my hand.
“Delighted to see you! So glad!”
“Delighted indeed! So glad!”
After we’d performed an old-fashioned comedy routine together, Apet chuckled and patted my lower back affectionately.
“This is why I love you, my former spouse. Who else would I perform a 130-year-old joke with?”
“Actually, that gag was trendy 10,000 years ago too.”
Trends do come full circle. I replied cheerfully and ordered a beverage for Apet. I appreciated that this place hadn’t yet been invaded by the scourge of kiosks. Cha Cha’s Underworld had already fallen to that eyesore.
“Let me be direct.”
“Come now, we haven’t seen each other in ages. Let’s catch up a bit first, won’t you? Don’t be so cold.”
“I want to talk about Cha Cha!”
“I said I’d tell you about myself first!”
The old man suddenly grew irritated and pulled out a pipe tobacco set from his pocket. He certainly abused his body, recovering to his prime with a single skill activation.
“Have some consideration for non-smokers, would you?”
“I’ll restore your body to how it was a day ago.”
“Ugh.”
Since Apet specialized in healing people, I had no real counter. As I pouted in displeasure, the old man deliberately blew smoke in my direction.
“Cough.”
“Didn’t you agree not to do that with the starving child? You said you were upset after seeing the broadcast.”
“Because I think I shouldn’t, I want to even more!”
“I’m telling you, forcing it won’t work, right?”
“Of course not!”
Such things must be done with the other person’s consent. That’s obvious. Confident in my answer, Apet let out a long sigh.
“Well. Seeing you like this again, the child seems fine enough.”
“I’m always fine.”
“A truly fine person wouldn’t usually have their eyes clouded by lust, would they?”
“Why not?”
Cha Cha is cute, after all. Handsome in a somewhat cunning way. Actually cunning, and he appeals to his own cuteness quite often. When I boasted about my third husband as a high-demand commodity, Apet frowned and looked at me as though I were repulsive.
“My former spouse, how could you possibly want to do that with a child who, just a few years ago, barely reached your waist?”
“Cha Cha was already ten thousand years old back then!”
“Yeah… you’re that kind of guy.”
Apet had long since crossed into adulthood in terms of age, and her appearance had matured accordingly. When I carefully stated the facts, the old woman who had been pressing her temples suddenly flared up in anger.
“Listen here. Look at me.”
“I’m looking.”
“Cha Cha and that starving child looked similar in appearance. Yet you still feel that way?”
“The past is the past because it’s the past. Cha Cha has grown.”
“Sophistry!”
“Agh!”
The spry old woman grabbed the table and flipped it over. I crouched down like a victim of domestic violence, whimpering as I gathered up the broken cups.
“Sir! You’ll hurt yourself. Let me clean this up!”
“Don’t worry. Something like this can’t wound me.”
I deliberately squeezed glass shards in my hand and kneaded them to make a point. The server marveled at the sight, brought over a burlap sack, and simply asked for help disposing of the debris.
“I’ll cover the broken dishes. We can add it to the bill later.”
“Yes, I’ll move you to another table.”
We’d had a nice spot by the window, but because of the old woman, we were moved to a seat in front of the restroom. When I complained about this, Apet threatened me with displeasure.
“Want me to tell the Serpent King everything you’ve said so far?”
“I was wrong.”
“People, you know. I made time because you said you needed to talk, and all you do is ramble about what happens under the blankets.”
“I was completely in the wrong.”
I couldn’t kneel, but I could do a handstand as an apology. When I asked if I should stand on my hands to show contrition, Apet waved me off, saying it was enough.
“Anyway, back to the main point. Why are you suddenly saying you want to do it? Nothing’s happened until now.”
“Well, it’s just… Cha Cha said it feels good to be loved, and he said kissing was okay, but…”
“Hmm, he said it was okay…”
“He just kissed me and left! I’m already revved up now!”
“Hmmm…”
Apet looked at me like I was some kind of beast. But I had to finish saying what I wanted to say.
“I mean, if we didn’t do anything from the start, that’d be one thing! But stopping in the middle is torture! I want to do more!”
“Why don’t you go find another lover or something?”
“I have to spend a month in the Underworld! How could I?”
“What a headache.”
Apet lit another cigarette in our new spot and blew a donut-shaped ring of smoke.
“Oh, a smoke donut. I’ve been curious how to do that since way back.”
“Oh, this? You move your tongue like… this way and that way.”
“What’s ‘this way and that way’?”
“Hey, girl, hold on a second.”
The old woman went to the restroom and washed her hands thoroughly, then returned to the table, grabbed my chin, and opened my mouth. Then she pressed down on my tongue with her fingers and told me to try moving as if I were closing my throat.
“Ehhh? Ehh?”
“You’re such a blockhead—you really can’t understand anything.”
“Gack.”
Nausea rose in my throat, so I bit down on Apet’s small hand. The old woman recoiled in disgust while letting out a sound like a crow being torn apart.
“Hey! Heeeelp!”
The raven’s cry sounded remarkably similar to Seian’s scream. I’d have called it a raven with a lovely voice, but surprisingly, Seian came thundering up the staircase and made a desperate effort to tear Apet and me apart.
“Hey! What on earth! You, you married woman! In broad daylight, in a place like this!”
“Whaaaat?(Why here?)”
Even though I’d spoken clearly enough that he shouldn’t have misunderstood, Seian—powered by the force of love itself—flushed crimson and whispered something peculiar directly into my ear.
“Hey, you shouldn’t, do indecent things.”
“Huh?”
“What are you saying! That’s slander against my honor!”
Apet hastily withdrew her hand and, claiming she’d been subjected to a filthy misunderstanding, went to the restroom to wash up. Well, old man. I know how to take emotional wounds too.
“Anyway, it’s a misunderstanding, Seian. The old man and I didn’t do anything indecent.”
“But the Academy students are spreading rumors that you’re cheating on your husband here…”
“In my entire life, the only men I’ve known are Gerth, you, and Cha Cha!”
“Honestly, that’s already quite a lot, isn’t it?”
Seian grumbled and flopped down in the seat beside me, ordering a coffee. What a cute fellow. Did he really come running all this way just because of a rumor that I was cheating? Tonight, I won’t let him sleep.
“So if it’s not cheating, why did you meet with that starving child? You even snuck out.”
“I didn’t sneak out. I reported it to Kanna.”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking—why did you report your schedule to that gloomy woman instead of me!”
“Kanna’s scary when she gets angry!”
The other day, Cecilia threw an unscheduled party, so I hastily attended. She lectured me so harshly about unauthorized absence. When I explained it was official business, she forgave me.
“….”
But why did I even apologize back then? Whether I go into the cardboard box dormitory in the Homeless Settlement or not—isn’t that my choice?
“You’re supposed to graduate this year, aren’t you? You’re actually attending classes without skipping, right?”
“Ugh!”
What a nag!
When I made a gesture of covering my ears, Seian delightedly launched into a lecture. Apet, who emerged from the restroom and was drying her hands, glanced around tactfully and kindly brought the conversation around to a different topic.
“Well then, shall we talk about that next time? You seem busy with your husband here anyway.”
“What. So it’s not cheating after all? Is there some reason I shouldn’t hear?”

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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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