Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 69

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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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After I hesitated briefly before answering no, Reina Letem buried her head in the bed as if it wasn’t worth worrying about.
“Your friend still loves the bed, I see.”
“She doesn’t leave it once classes end, I’m telling you.”
“Are you enjoying attending school these days?”
“Since I haven’t started the main courses yet, I’m getting through it comfortably. Now that I think about it, there’s something I wanted to ask.”
“What is it?”
“How do we prevent war?”
“That’s a vague question.”
“How do we prevent the war between the Dragon Tribe and humans happening in Brandenburg Territory?”
“Humans would need to abandon the Northern Region.”
“Why should humans be the ones to give it up?”
“The Dragon King is still young and doesn’t know how to compromise.”
From Gerth’s perspective, that’s how it goes. Compared to the Serpent King, the Dragon King is considerably younger. He’s practically the age of his own son, after all.
“But Gerth, humans are far younger than the Dragon King.”
White One’s mouth fell open again in shock. It was adorable.
“I never thought of that.”
“Isn’t there a peaceful way? If nothing else, even a ceasefire while my schoolmate completes all four years at the Academy without withdrawing would be good.”
“What?! Eugene is withdrawing?!”
Reina Letem made a fuss upon hearing this news for the first time. I only told her it was a possibility and waited for Gerth’s answer.
“If it’s the Dragon King….”
“Yeah.”
“He gets swept up in the mood easily.”
“Yeah….”
That’s true enough. The man turns crimson red over a single book.
“He’s easily moved by emotion.”
“Hmm….”
“Being the youngest, he gets swayed easily. He has a naive side.”
Should I write a letter appealing to his sense of humanity? This seemed like genuinely useful information, so I was pondering it when Reina Letem asked in my ear if Gerth had become a Dragon Tribe researcher or something. Pretty much. At least among those I knew, he was the one who understood the Dragon King best. When I said as much, Reina Letem suggested we tell Eugene if we ever learn about Dragon Tribe weaknesses. What a loyal bastard. Because you’re like this, I’m still carrying you. In other words, I’m ready to drop you anytime.
“That helped, Gerth. Oh right, I became a Mayor this time.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Training?”
At Gerth’s sudden question, I didn’t answer. Instead, I scooped up White One and shook him vigorously. Mentally chanting disconnect, disconnect, White One’s eyes returned to their usual bright lizard gleam before he slapped me across the face.
“Ow!”
I got three scratches on my face, but I achieved my purpose. Now that I think about it, I’d forgotten I had a grand plan to achieve 3 out of 500.
“….”
“….”
I’ll have to work hard starting tomorrow.
I decided to procrastinate on everything I could and carefully placed one million crowns into the white envelope. Once I spent this, I’d be back to living like a pauper starting tomorrow. I really hoped I could undergo some human experiment or whatever and receive a bonus payment soon.
“Hey, are you really going to keep wearing that?”
“Just until autumn ends.”
“I see….”
“It’ll be too cold in winter to wear it.”
“Fine, let’s drop it.”
Watch your tone, girl—you’re the only one talking like that.

◇ ◆ ◇

“Evan, are you really sure you can carry that?”
“It’s fine. Just help me balance it a bit.”
I prepared to hoist the piano onto my back and asked the Spice Merchant to help me only until I found my balance.
The moment weekend morning calisthenics ended, I cut a pass and started pulling the hand cart. From the School Main Gate all the way to the Spice Merchant’s house, everyone noticed today was moving day and cheered me on.
“Heave-ho! Be careful, student! Heave-ho!”
“Hnngh!”
With the Spice Merchant’s help, I straightened my bent knees.
“It’ll sway going down the stairs, so I’ll need your support.”
“Oh be careful, you’ll get hurt! You’ll get hurt!”
“It’s fine. If anything gets damaged, it’ll be the piano.”
Wielding my superhuman strength, I carefully descended the stairs with the upright piano on my back. Once I reached the entrance and loaded the piano onto the hand cart, I could see the Spice Merchant drenched in sweat.
“I’m sorry. This was my job to do alone, yet I’ve troubled you.”
“Ah, this? It’s not that it was hard—I was just nervous the whole time!”
So that’s what they call a cold sweat.
In any case, I thanked the Spice Merchant and handed over the white envelope I’d prepared. He counted the money inside with a merchant’s precision, then said something rather unmerchant-like to me.
“I’ve done maintenance on it, but if you need tuning for any reason, just let me know.”
“It’s fine. I can cover that expense myself.”
“Now listen here! When an adult speaks, you listen!”
“Understood. Thank you.”
I shook his hand with gratitude and pulled the hand cart. It wasn’t heavy, but I had to focus carefully to keep the piano from swaying as I moved it.

On the way back, I dragged the cart under the cheers of the Market Street folk. When I boarded the regular ferry to the Academy, the Ship Captain grumbled with worried affection that I was quite the handful, and the Security Guards marveled at my incredible strength. It was all thanks to skills, which was embarrassing. I needed to train harder and become a woman who could lift three times five hundred.
As I approached the Club Room, I heard Seian Crowell’s protests and the joyful laughter of the other members. They were pushing him into the club building with his eyes covered, apparently preparing a surprise party. My timing seemed perfect—if I’d arrived earlier, my gift’s size might have given it away.
“What?! What on earth is this?! If you’re pranking me again, I’m getting angry!”
I carefully positioned the cart in front of the building and quickly climbed the stairs to join the club members. The club room had been transformed into a dazzling party venue through the Third Princess’s wealth and authority. When Reina Letem removed her hands from Seian Crowell’s eyes, I could see the man’s dumbfounded expression.
“…What is this?”
“Happy birthday, Seian Crowell!”
“You’re the first to throw a party for him!”
“Congratulations, Crown Prince.”
“Happy birthday, Seian Crowell.”
As I offered my congratulations last, Seian Crowell’s face flushed red, and he freely wagged his mouth again.
“Hey, hey! Did you think I’d be happy about this?!”
“You look happy.”
“I’m not happy at all?!”
“You seem so delighted it’s embarrassing.”
“Ugh!”
Seian Crowell spoke harshly with his mouth, but the corners of his lips pointed skyward. I deliberately didn’t point this out, but since Reina Letem was the only one who didn’t hold back in a place where everyone else was reserved, she received curses from Seian Crowell.
“Crown Prince. Though humble, this is a gift.”
“The transparent Crown Prince should give something he could never obtain in a lifetime.”
A birthday should certainly have gifts. As the club members handed over watches, perfumes, and presents one by one, Seian Crowell, who had lost his mother to fire and had never been celebrated for his birth even once, laughed loudly and used exaggerated expressions to keep from crying.
He spouted twenty-seven varieties of tsundere remarks—saying it was an honor for the Empire’s only Crown Prince to receive genuine goods, nitpicking that Reina Letem’s gift didn’t look as expensive as expected—before finally approaching me.
“Don’t you have anything?”
“I do.”
“Don’t strain yourself. Everyone knows you’re poor.”
To Seian Crowell, who unpleasantly said he’d already received enough and didn’t need me to prepare a gift since he was already so happy he might die, I pointed to the cart outside the window.
“….”
Seian Crowell saw the enormous object tied to the cart with rope, placed the gifts he’d received in both hands on the table, came back to the window to look at the object, and still not believing it, rubbed his eyes and looked at the cart again.
Then, with a pale face, he looked at me as if displeased.
“Are you a stalker?”
“I’m not.”
I simply memorized all your movements from the novel. That doesn’t make me a stalker.
He learned piano from his mother in childhood and played quite well, but after the Empress Palace burned, he never went near a piano again. Though there were days he wanted to play, the abandoned Crown Prince Palace couldn’t possibly have such luxuries. Later, after the Third Princess renounced her succession rights and gained a patron, the first thing purchased with the Crown Prince Palace’s expanded budget was a black grand piano. Since I knew the history of how he only played piano on stressful days, rainy days, gloomy days, and on September ninth—his mother’s death anniversary—melancholic and immersed, I had no choice but to select this as a gift.
I am absolutely not a stalker.
“….”
Wow! Amazing! Seian Crowell’s mother’s death anniversary and Seian Crowell’s birthday are the same date!
Amazing! Incredible! To think the author hid such a secret! The author is a genius! This is perfect! This is the kind of foreshadowing that works! I think I like Seian Crowell even more right now!
“Seian Crowell.”
“Why, why are you such a stalker.”
“I like you a little more than I did just now.”
Seian Crowell took a step back from me. When I stepped forward, he retreated another step. When I approached again, he hid behind Reina Letem.
Why did this bastard have to hide behind Reina Letem of all people? Does he have a death wish?
“Transparent Crown Prince, if you don’t let go, I think she’s going to kill me.”
“Then die.”
“What the hell?”
“What the hell?! That’s disrespecting the Royal Family!”
Why are they so comfortable with each other? It made me jealous. As I ground my teeth and glared at them, Reina Letem flinched and shoved Seian Crowell toward me.
I caught the stumbling Seian Crowell and poured out my true feelings without hesitation.
“Seian Crowell.”
“What, what?”
“I want us to be the kind of people who trade insults with each other.”
“Are you a pervert?”
“I’m neither a stalker nor a pervert.”
“If you’re not a stalker, how would you know about my hobbies that even Sera doesn’t know about?”

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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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