Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 73

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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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“Sunbird isn’t participating?”
Was he planning to be a manager instead? But something told me the Third Princess wouldn’t have allowed that, so I pressed for details. The man’s face flushed shyly as he opened his mouth.
“I… well… I haven’t learned anything…”
“My Sunbird plays the most important role in the band!”
Seeing the Third Princess champion him so enthusiastically, I figured he must be playing the castanets.
“He’s on triangle!”
Ah, I’d completely forgotten about the triangle. The triangle is important, though. There are times when the triangle player becomes absolutely crucial in an orchestra.
“I apologize. I’m completely ignorant—I can’t even read sheet music…”
“Don’t worry about it. Commoners are too busy making ends meet to have time for music lessons. Evan’s just unusual.”
Reina made a rather tactless bourgeois remark. I wanted to punch her, but Sunbird just laughed it off good-naturedly. He’s got a good heart.
“Maybe I’ll learn drums while we’re at it? Seems cool.”
“In that case, since my role during ensemble performance would be similar, I’d prefer bass.”
With their declarations, the Third Princess quickly assigned names, and a surprisingly legitimate band composition took shape. How was it that whenever we gathered, we could form something like this? I could only describe it as the whimsy of fate.
“So we’ve all chosen our instruments, and now comes the most important task!”
The most important task was probably the Third Princess using her wealth to hire private instructors for each of us, and naturally she’d buy guitars for practice with her own money. Sitting quietly in anticipation, the excited Third Princess suddenly struck the blackboard with chalk and spoke cheerfully.
“We need to come up with a band name!”
Yes, I had a premonition this would be a completely pointless discussion.
“Me! Me! Pick me! I want chaos in the name! Chaos! Destruction! Pandemonium!”
And I’d also predicted that Reina would chatter away excitedly.
“I would prefer the word ‘destiny’ to be included. That theme has been trending among musicians lately.”
But I didn’t expect Eugene to be this proactive.
“What about Lunatic? The sound of it is quite beautiful.”
Sunbird, you were going to take it even further. The audacity of suggesting “lunatic” because it sounds pretty is remarkable.
“I like Sera and the Children!”
“I dislike it.”
“I don’t like it.”
“I don’t think that works, Your Highness.”
“It’s absolutely dreadful. Your naming sense is terrible, Princess Sera.”
Sera, who had been so confident, grew dejected under everyone’s criticism, and the blackboard became increasingly chaotic.
Destiny, Chaos, Lunatic. At this table where everyone had only their own personality and opinions, Sera still did her best as the club president.
As if struck by inspiration, Sera circled each word and cheerfully suggested combining everyone’s ideas.
“Destiny Chaos Lunatic Child! Shortened to Dekarucha—how about that!”
I was about to voice my opinion that it was, frankly, a bit insane for the Third Princess to suggest, but the reaction was surprisingly positive.
“Actually, that’s not bad? Kind of cool?”
“I think it’s good too.”
“Then shall we go with Dekarucha?”
And so the band’s name became Dekarucha.
Damn Dekarucha.

◇ ◆ ◇

With our festival participation strategy settled, I decided to indulge in some solitude. Truth be told, whether we won the popularity award or the grand prize hardly concerned me. Princess Sera would inevitably lavish money on the stage setup anyway—something no ordinary noble could afford. If all else failed, she’d simply leverage Imperial Court influence or bribery to ensure we took home an award.
Sera was the most enthusiastic about club activities, so all I needed to do was practice guitar diligently.
“Is the Department Head’s Office this way? Indeed, it’s in the deepest recesses of this den! Quite ominous!”
Why was this bastard following me around?
The Sunbird clinging to Sera’s side bowed apologetically, but having my personal time ruined, I was in a foul mood. The conversation I was about to have with the Department Head wasn’t something I could share with the Imperial succession candidate, and after wrapping things up quickly, I’d need to track down Seian.
I was a busy person.
“Don’t scowl like that, Evan. I’ll simply extract what I need from the Common Professor and withdraw quietly.”
“Extract?”
“The former Dean of the Magic Department apparently had songwriting and composition as hobbies! Some of his works have even been adapted into folk songs.”
“Ah.”
The person who created that magical cardio exercise song? That was certainly catchy. Addictive, even. I’d assumed we’d just perform some popular tune, but it seemed Sera intended to bring unreleased compositions to our Dekarucha. The Third Princess was truly serious about having fun.
“I’ve only heard one of his songs, but it was excellent.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
If our paths happened to overlap, there was nothing I could do about it. Had Sera followed me out of boredom, I would have given her a taste of my knuckles.
“The Department Head’s Office is this way.”
“Right. Thank you. Say! Do you have a moment? I’m going in!”
So the Third Princess could enter a professor’s office without even knocking. Good bloodlines certainly made life convenient.
Inside the lavishly appointed Department Head’s Office, the Common Professor was elegantly flipping through a cookbook. Because this man studied so diligently, the Student Cafeteria had become a battlefield. Had the Professor’s food been even slightly less delicious, we would have been sucking honey from comfortable positions.
“Aren’t you the Third Princess of Crowell? What brings you here?”
“I want to obtain songs from Bruno Kenin, the former Dean!”
“Bruno? He’s in the Imperial Prison.”
“I know you’re his close friend! I’d like you to give them to me on his behalf!”
Sera was bold, and the Department Head looked troubled. The man had created that magical cardio exercise song, after all. Most of its lyrics criticized imperialism, and since it had been adapted into folk songs, the other compositions undoubtedly contained equally dangerous ideologies.
“For anyone else, perhaps, but for the Third Princess of the Empire to take Bruno’s compositions… Bruno would be quite displeased. I’m sorry, but I cannot hand them over.”
“I didn’t come as the Third Princess! I came as Sera—the vocalist and leader of the band Dekarucha!”
“Oh…”
The Department Head studied Sera as if looking at a madwoman, then turned his gaze to me. His expression clearly asked me to explain what this lunatic was babbling about.
“I came for different reasons, but I’ll explain.”
“Please do.”
“The three of us, Reina, Eugene from the Battle Department, and Crown Prince Seian all belong to the same club.
“Mm.”
“We’re all troublemakers.”
“That certainly appears to be the case.”
“We all have disciplinary points, and the Student Council sent an official notice that if we don’t win the popularity award at the festival, the club will be disbanded.”
“What kind of club is it?”
“The What Should We Do Next Club.”
“It’s not like anything would be lost if he just disappeared, is it?”
“I share that sentiment, but keeping a stubborn fool locked away is for the greater good.”
“Fair enough.”
One way or another, we’d formed a band under the pretense of winning a popularity award, and Princess Sera was throwing a fit about wanting to perform Dr. Bruno’s composition. When I relayed this to the Department Head Professor, he opened a double bookshelf and pulled out sheet music and a vinyl record.
“I’ll permit it, provided you don’t change the lyrics.”
“Thank you! I’ll repay this kindness without fail!”
“Then why don’t you release Dr. Bruno for me?”
“I’m sorry. Freeing someone who committed treason is beyond my authority.”
“In that case, there’s a dish I’d like to experiment with—could you procure the ingredients for me?”
“I’ll make certain to obtain whatever materials grow in the Southern Jungle!”
And so the deal was struck. Our band would be practicing that song from now on.
“Dr. Bruno defined this music’s genre as visual rock.”
“I absolutely love it!”
“The attached file contains a detailed worldbuilding for the song—refer to it.”
“I really, truly love it!”
This is bad. I’m going to have to practice guitar playing and makeup techniques intensively. From the way Sera was humming, this seems to be the kind of song with a devastatingly fatal atmosphere, and even if I objected, Reina and Eugene would enthusiastically support it. Damn it. Being a minority is tough everywhere.
“You mentioned having another matter to discuss?”
After seeing Sera off as she waved her hands and left, I nodded toward the Department Head Professor. It was an extremely important matter.
“I’d like to know how demons can pass through the Capital’s barrier.”
“Are you planning to lead a beast legion and invade the Crowell Empire?”
“Hubert and Leri are coming to the school festival during the autumn break.”
“….”
“Hubert is Gerth’s son, and Leri is a Floor Master of Serpent King’s Tower.”
“I’m aware.”
So he already knew. There was no need for further explanation then.
“I’ve been wanting to ask for a while now. What’s your relationship with the Serpent King?”
“What sort of relationship do you have with Gerth, Professor?”
“I’ve simply known him for a long time.”
“I’ve known him for about half a year.”
“You haven’t known each other long then.”
“That’s correct.”
“It would be faster to ask Hubert directly.”
So is he going to tell me or not? If those two cause an alarm on their way into the Capital, that’s a disaster—not for Hubert and Leri, but for the Capital’s defense forces.
“It’s difficult to explain in writing or words. I’ll go there directly and show you.”
“There’s no railway laid between here and Ilam.”
“I travel in a straight line, so it’s fast.”
Straight line? What does that mean? Even cutting directly across, it should take several days, right? Since I haven’t heard a return notification, he doesn’t seem to be from Serpent King’s Tower.

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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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