Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 70

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

After a moment’s hesitation, I answered that it wasn’t, and Reina promptly buried her head into the bed as if to say, “Why would you even need to think about that?”
“Your friend still loves that 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 curriculum yet, I’m managing well enough. Speaking of which, there was something I wanted to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“How do we stop the war?”
“That’s a vague question.”
“How do we stop the war between the Dragon Tribe and humans occurring 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 simply how it is. The Dragon King is considerably younger compared to the Serpent King, after all. He’s practically the same age as his own son, even.
“But Gerth, humans are far younger than the Dragon King.”
White One’s mouth fell open again in astonishment. It was adorable.
“I hadn’t considered that.”
“Is there no peaceful way? At minimum, a ceasefire for the duration of my classmate’s four years at the Academy would suffice, even if he doesn’t withdraw.”
“What?! Eugene withdrew?!”
Reina made a fuss upon hearing this news for the first time. I merely told her it was a possibility and waited for Gerth’s response.
“The Dragon King, if that’s the case…”
“Yes.”
“He’s easily swayed by the mood around him.”
“Mm…”
Well, that would make sense. The man turns crimson all over just from reading a single book.
“He’s also easily moved emotionally.”
“Hmm…”
“Being the youngest, he’s easily manipulated. There’s a certain naïveté to him.”
Should I compose a letter appealing to his sense of humanity? This seemed like genuinely useful information, so I was mulling it over when Reina leaned toward my ear and asked if Gerth had become some sort of Dragon Tribe researcher. He was similar enough—at least among those I knew, he understood the Dragon King better than anyone. When I confirmed this, Reina suggested that if we ever learned of the Dragon Tribe’s weaknesses, we should tell Eugene. What a loyal creature. Because you’re like this, I’m still carrying you along. In other words, I’m ready to discard you whenever I please.
“That was helpful, Gerth. Oh, and I became a Mayor this time.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“What about training?”
At Gerth’s sudden question, I didn’t answer. Instead, I scooped up White One and shook him vigorously. Mentally chanting “cut the connection, cut the connection,” White One’s eyes shifted from their usual bright, reptilian gleam back to normal, and he slapped me across the face.
“Ow!”
I gained three scratches on my face, but I’d achieved my purpose. Now that I thought about it, I’d forgotten that I had a grand plan to achieve the 3-to-500 milestone.
“…”
“….”
I’ll have to work hard starting tomorrow.
I decided to procrastinate on everything I could and carefully placed one million crowns into a white envelope. Once I spent this, I’d be back to living like a pauper tomorrow. I really hoped I could undergo some kind of human experiment or whatever and receive a monetary reward soon.
“Hey, are you really going to keep wearing that?”
“Just until autumn ends.”
“I see….”
“Winter’s too cold to wear it.”
“Fine, just drop it.”
Speak more politely, you girl who only knows how to talk.

◇ ◆ ◇

“Evan, are you really going to be able to carry this?”
“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 got a pass to leave and pulled the hand cart. From the School Main Gate all the way to the Spice Merchant’s house, everyone noticed it 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.
“I’ll wobble going down the stairs, so I’ll need your support.”
“Be careful, you’ll get hurt! Don’t get hurt!”
“It’s fine. If anything gets damaged, it’s 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 alone, yet I’ve troubled you.”
“Ah, this? It’s not that it was hard—I was just nervous!”
So this is what they call 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 the precision of a merchant, then said something unbecoming of one.
“I’ve done maintenance on it already. If you ever need tuning, just put it under my name.”
“That’s not necessary. I can cover that myself.”
“Listen when an adult speaks!”
“Understood. Thank you.”
I shook his hand with gratitude and pulled the hand cart. It wasn’t heavy, but I had to focus intently to keep the piano from swaying as I transported it.

On the way back, I dragged my cargo through the cheers of the Market Street crowd. When I boarded the regular ferry to the Academy, the Ship Captain grumbled with concern that I was quite the handful, and the Security Guards marveled at my impressive strength. It was all skill-based, which was embarrassing. I needed to train harder and become a woman who could lift three hundred kilograms.
As I approached the Club Room, I heard Seian Crowell’s protests and the delighted laughter of the other members. They were pushing him into the club building with his eyes covered, apparently preparing a surprise party, and my timing seemed perfect. If I’d arrived earlier, my gift’s size would have given it away.
“What?! What on earth is this?! If you’re pranking me again, I’m getting angry!”
I positioned the hand truck neatly 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 influence, and when Reina removed her hands from Seian Crowell’s eyes, I could see the foolish expression on his face.
“…What is this?”
“Happy birthday, Seian Crowell!”
“You’re the first one to throw a party for him!”
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Happy birthday, Your Highness 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 spouted harsh words with his mouth, but his lips curved upward toward the sky. I deliberately didn’t point this out, but since Reina always stepped forward in situations where everyone else held back, she caught the brunt of his complaints.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. Though modest, 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 each handed over watches, perfumes, and presents, Seian Crowell, who had lost his mother to a fire and had never been celebrated on his birthday even once, forced himself to laugh loudly and used exaggerated expressions to keep from crying.
He rattled off twenty-seven different tsundere remarks—saying it was an honor for the Empire’s only Crown Prince to receive genuine gifts, nitpicking that Reina’s present 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 plenty and was already so happy he might die, so there was no need for me to bother with a gift, I pointed to the hand truck outside the window.
“….”
Seian Crowell saw the enormous object tied to the hand truck with rope, set down all the gifts he’d received in both hands onto the table, came back to the window to look at the object, and still not believing it, he rubbed his eyes and looked at the hand truck again.
Then, with a pale face, he looked at me as if displeased.
“Are you a stalker?”
“I’m not.”
I simply happen to have memorized all your movements from the novel. That doesn’t make me a stalker.
In childhood, I learned piano from my mother and played quite well, but after the Empress Palace burned down, I never went near a piano again. Though there were days I wanted to play, the abandoned Crown Prince Palace had no such luxuries, and later, after the Third Princess renounced her claim to the throne and gained a patron, the first thing purchased with the Crown Prince Palace’s increased budget was a black grand piano. Knowing the history of how I only played when stressed, on rainy days, on gloomy days, and on September ninth—my mother’s death anniversary—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! Unbelievable! That 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.”
“What, 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. As 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?
“Your Highness, if you don’t let go, I think she’s going to kill me.”
“Then die.”
“What the—?”
“What the—?! That’s treason against the Royal Family!”
Why were they so comfortable with each other? It made me jealous. As I ground my teeth and glared at them, Reina panicked and shoved Seian Crowell toward me.
I caught Seian Crowell as he stumbled forward and spoke my true feelings aloud.
“Seian Crowell.”
“W-what, what?”
“I want us to be the kind of people who exchange 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 my hobbies that even Sera doesn’t know about?”

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