Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 33

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Third Princess was determined to recruit me into the Club by any means necessary. She had already written my name on the membership form, pressed my blood-stained hand onto it as a seal, and declared there was no taking it back.
At that same moment, the shrill ringing in my ears ceased. Since the countdown wasn’t continuing, it seemed I wouldn’t meet an untimely death in three seconds after all.
“My apologies. The Third Princess can be rather forceful.”
“I can see that.”
“B-but she’s a good person!”
That’s only because you have eyes for the Third Princess, you little Sunbird.
I accepted the handkerchief Sunbird offered with gratitude and bowed my head. I hastily wiped the blood flowing from my eyes, nose, and mouth, and bowed again, promising to return the handkerchief after having it laundered. But then I suddenly realized I was bowing, and an uncomfortable sensation rippled through my entire body.
“No, no, it’s fine. Please keep the handkerchief. It’s just cheap cloth anyway.”
The Third Princess’s Sunbird could use teleportation magic, but he was always treated as a reserve and never participated in combat. Whenever monsters attacked or imperial assassins infiltrated, the Third Princess always protected Sunbird.
I glanced slightly toward Princess Sera. My head refused to lower, no matter what. At least for now, the Third Princess was weaker than Reina Letem.
But toward this Sunbird with brown hair and green eyes—an impression as ordinary as they come—my head bowed smoothly.
“….”
What is this bastard doing?
I brushed past Sunbird and made a proposal to Princess Sera. This arrangement wouldn’t be worth my while. If Club activities reduced my time seeing Seian Crowell, wouldn’t I be the only one losing out?
“Princess Sera. But I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Enroll Seian Crowell as a Club member.”
“Seian Crowell?”
Who is that? As if asking that very question, Princess Sera’s pupils wavered. Sunbird quickly whispered Seian Crowell’s identity into her ear. Though I heard every word—so much for whispering.
“Prince Seian Crowell, Your Highness. He is one year your senior.”
“Oh, oh my! He attends here?!”
Princess Sera, you truly are someone who sees only what’s directly in front of you.
“That’s easy enough!”
The Third Princess puffed out her chest, crossed her arms, and gave me permission to follow her. She said we would head to Seian Crowell’s residence immediately.

“Come here this instant!”
Princess Sera stood with her arms crossed, her voice commanding, yet the private residence bearing the nameplate “Seian Crowell” remained utterly silent.
Without an exchange permit, entry had been impossible, so this was my first time in this area. The neighborhood sprawled before me reeking of wealth—each mansion seemingly designed by a different architect, their styles spanning both Eastern and Western aesthetics. I deliberately pretended not to notice the avant-garde structure nearby bearing the nameplate “Common Professor.”
“Come here this instant!”
“Um, Princess Sera. It seems the Prince might be away.”
“No, he’s here. He’s always like this.”
Ah, true to family form—the Princess knew Seian’s habits well. He was a master of barricading himself in his room. Antisocial, preferring indoor activities, the very epitome of a homebody. Even if she couldn’t remember his name, she certainly remembered his nature.
“Hyah!”
“Your Highness. Doors are meant to be opened, not destroyed.”
“I know!”
Possessing strength that rivaled even Reina Letem, Sera Crowell kicked the gate clean off its hinges and stormed inside. The moment she obliterated the entrance as thoroughly as the gate, Seian let out a hysterical shriek.
Truly, the Princess lived up to her “no-nonsense” reputation. Whatever she deemed right, she pursued without hesitation, earning her that nickname among the club members. While this created countless enemies and could paint her as a nuisance, her sense of justice aligned remarkably with societal norms—and she possessed the strength to enforce it. Many members sympathized with her.
Of course, no character was universally beloved. Some despised her as selfish and troublesome. But I quite liked her. She was one of the rare few who treated Seian with genuine sincerity.
“Sera Crowell! What are you doing!”
“Seian Crowell! Join my club!”
“What do you mean, what am I doing!”
Ha, how adorable. Look at him throwing a tantrum because she won’t listen—absolutely precious. And Seian, being petty as ever, retrieved an abacus and began calculating the cost of the destroyed gate and entrance, demanding payment with an indignant shout.
“Hyah!”
“I’ll bill you for the abacus too, you bastard!”
“Fine!”
The Princess was refreshingly bold. She trampled the broken abacus to pieces while repeatedly insisting he join the club, join the club.
“You arbitrarily changed the name of the social gathering established by the Imperial House. Now you want to drag me in when we barely see each other once a year? What’s your scheme?”
“I don’t know! As far as I remember, the last time I saw you was ten years ago!”
“We see each other at the New Year’s breakfast! The New Year’s breakfast!”
“I don’t remember!”
“Aaaah! Aaaah!”
Seian’s irritation had reached peak levels—truly endearing. I cradled White One and showed him Seian’s adorable tantrum, cooing about how cute it was. White One stared at Seian, then at me, and released a sigh-like sound through his slightly open mouth.
“Excuse me, please calm down. Both of you.”
“How dare a commoner interfere!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Sunbird stepped between them, and Seian, true to form, lashed out at him—but the Princess’s eyes suddenly blazed. Oh no, this could turn violent. He had to touch Sunbird of all people.
While I watched from a safe distance, the Princess unexpectedly raised her hand toward me. Thinking she meant to slap my cheek, I accepted the blow—a sharp crack rang out.
“Watch your tongue, Seian. Aten is not common. You were born into the Imperial House by mere fortune, yet your arrogant behavior has displeased me since ten years ago.”
“That’s… what does that have to do with hitting this woman?”
“Aten is someone precious to me. So I’ll embarrass someone precious to you as well.”
“Precious, my foot!”
When the Princess struck me again, Seian’s face twisted in fury as he grabbed her wrist.
“Stop. I’ll apologize to… Aten, or whoever. You don’t understand how irritating that woman is.”
“Then prove your sincerity—join the club!”
“I’ll only add my name! Just my name!”
Seian sighed heavily as he wrote his name on the membership form, and the Princess, clutching the application with satisfaction, bowed deeply to me in apology.
“I’m sorry! I hit you, the ace of the Club, just to get Seian Crowell’s application for membership.”
“Since when was I the ace of the Club?”
“So you hit me back!”
The Third Princess really doesn’t listen to anyone. Now I understood the feelings of Sunbird, who took antacids once a day.
I set White One down and rolled my shoulders. I’m the type who hits back when asked to hit.
“I’m very strong.”
“So am I!”
“It’s going to hurt a lot.”
“I’m prepared! Besides, you were ambushed without warning, so you’ve suffered additional emotional trauma! Hit me until your heart is satisfied!”
Since I’ve been hit twice, I’ll just hit her twice.
I swung my arm and struck the Third Princess’s cheek. Her head snapped to the side, her lip split open, and blood streamed down.
“Your Highness!”
“Hey, you need to hold back!”
“But she told me to hit her with full force.”
As Seian Crowell grabbed my collar, I savored this moment of contact to the fullest, watching Princess Sera stagger and turn her head back with admiring eyes.
“One more left. Evan Laef.”
“Fine.”
Now that’s our stubborn Princess.
I landed another satisfying blow to the Princess’s cheek, and we both released our pent-up feelings. With one hit on each cheek, Princess Sera’s swollen face looked as cute as a goldfish.
“Then I’ll go visit the other people I’ve marked. You two, have a good time together.”
“Understood.”
“You’re all crazy bastards!”

◇ ◆ ◇

I was thrown out.
Sera called over a passing staff member and instructed them to add the cost of repairing Seian Crowell’s front gate and entrance door to her account. I then parted ways with the Third Princess and Sunbird to take White One for a walk.
I was still sulking over being expelled from Seian Crowell’s house when a familiar voice emerged from White One’s mouth.
“Evan Laef. It’s been a while.”
“Gerth!”
So White One really did gain random communication abilities. Gerth and I exchanged greetings and caught up on how we’d been living.
I proudly told him I’d enrolled in the Academy Magic Department and scored first place on the midterm exam, while Gerth said the Beast King’s Tower remodeling was complete and insisted I visit during the break.
He mentioned the sewage had been cleaned out and the interior design had changed dramatically, so I’d be shocked. I promised I’d definitely go and even nagged Titi a bit about giving me too much pocket money.
“Wait. Evan. Walk fifty meters in the two o’clock direction.”
“Why?”
“I think I know someone there.”
An acquaintance of the Serpent King? What kind of person could that be? An adventurer who’d climbed all the way to the top and lived to tell about it?
“Evan. Here.”
Gerth stopped me in front of that avant-garde house I’d seen earlier. The nameplate read “Common Professor”—a place I’d desperately wanted to avoid.
“Ring the doorbell, Evan.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————