Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 81

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

Caw! Caaaaw!
The raven had been crying since morning, and now it cried in the afternoon as well. Its shadow was remarkably large for a bird in flight, which struck me as odd, so I looked up to find a raven with a face flying above me.
Caw!
Since it was a messenger raven from the Serpent King’s Tower, I waved my hand at it, and the raven dropped a letter down to me before circling overhead and departing.
“Messenger birds in this day and age—how curious.”
It wasn’t a pigeon but a raven, though the meaning came through just the same, so I decided not to quibble over the details.
This letter was surely from Hubert. Since Princess Sera was involved in the matter as well, I wiped the sweat from my brow and unfolded the letter without stopping the approaching princess.

To Evan, not Mother: I asked around, and the success rate is 49%. It’s better than doing nothing, so I’ll go on ahead and wait for you.

The way he said he’d go first meant he was using my excuse to enjoy a vacation in the middle of things. It seemed this festival had taught Hubert the pleasures of shirking his duties.
“What do you mean? A 49 percent success rate?”
“A friend of mine who lives in Ilam. The 49 percent refers to the success rate of a plan to stop the Dragon King’s advance southward.”
“What?!”
The princess gasped. If the story was true, my friend who devised this strategy would become a war hero of the Empire, and she said she would go immediately to see His Majesty and issue a conscription order.
“Calm yourself. According to my friend’s plan, what we need to stop the Dragon King isn’t an army—it’s us.”
“Us?”
“And it won’t permanently prevent the invasion either. We have roughly three years before the deadline.”
“I see… But even three years would bring peace, and that’s a good thing. Brandenburg could also prepare itself in that time.”
In any case, as a princess of the realm, Sera had stumbled upon quite the opportunity, and she seemed lost in thought. That dark-eyed bean of a girl, muttering about the merits and demerits of success, then asked me about the true nature of the plan.
“First, I must ask for your understanding. This will require a great deal of money.”
“How much do we need?”
“As much as we spent during the festival.”
“His Majesty will gladly provide that much in military funds.”
“And if we fail, there’s a risk that we all die.”
“My life belongs to the Empire! If it’s for the Empire’s sake, my life is no sacrifice at all!”
At the stalwart princess’s words, Sunbird reluctantly offered his life as well, while Reina said she couldn’t sacrifice her life and would flee if things became dangerous, asking for understanding on that point.
These opportunistic upper-class types.
“So, Evan. What’s the method?”
“We hold a concert.”
“Where?”
“Ten kilometers north of Brandenburg Castle.”
“That’s a battlefield where the Border Earl’s army and the Dragon Tribe frequently clash.”
“Precisely.”
“You’re holding a concert on a battlefield?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Third Princess remained silent.
“….”
Sunbird also said nothing.
“You’re insane.”
Reina spoke her mind without hesitation.
“Listen carefully. It’s not as absurd as it sounds.”
“If it’s not absurd, then it must be complete nonsense.”
“Reina, stop talking or I’ll die.”
“Rrrreeeina, ssssstop ttttalking orrrr I’ll diiiiie~.”
Since Reina mimicked my words with an irritated expression, I chased after that bird for a while, determined to catch and kill her. But due to the difference in physical ability, no matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t catch Reina. So I picked up a rock and used my Accuracy skill to strike her head. Reina, wrapped in bandages across her entire body, collapsed with a groan.
“Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you’d listen to what I have to say. The person who came up with this plan is likely the one in the Empire who knows the most about the Dragon King’s ecology.”
“We have such talent in our country?”
“We do. It’s just that since they’re a demi-human, we haven’t made an official announcement in human society.”
Truth be told, being the Serpent King’s deputy is the bigger issue—I can’t appear before humans. Since there’s a Demi-human Village Friendly to Humans near Ilam where I live, Sera was at least willing to accept that part.
“They’ve observed the Dragon King for longer than we’ve been alive. First, let me tell you information that humans don’t know.”
As I was about to reveal the Dragon King’s secret private life, Sera gulped and swallowed hard, while Reina was still unconscious. I squatted down on the ground and drew the shape of a dragon with a twig. As I sketched, both Third Princess and Sunbird crouched down to follow along.
“Actually, the Dragon King is a golden dragon.”
“What! It’s common knowledge that the Dragon King is a red dragon!”
Though I hadn’t seen the Dragon King directly, there were records of Red Dragon invasions whenever reports came in, so Sera objected. But I shook my head and revealed the sad truth.
“The Dragon King was originally a Gold Dragon, but whether through magic or simply physical dyeing, he appears as a red dragon. The reason is.”
“The reason?”
I drew a book with the twig.
“He was inspired after reading a long fantasy novel about a Red Dragon going on adventures in the human world.”
“….”
“….”
“What does that have to do with this plan?”
“It means he’s easily influenced by his surroundings, readily swept up in the atmosphere, and moved to tears just as quickly.”
“I see. Like….”
A child, essentially. Gerth treats the Dragon King like a son, and views his attacks on human cities as nothing more than childish pranks. The Dragon King’s mental age can be estimated at around his teens at best.
“We’re members who gathered regardless of social status. In that respect, we’ve already won him over.”
Commoners, nobility, and royalty calling each other friends without hesitation. This is guaranteed to work 100% because the book the Dragon King read featured scenes of humans and dragons being friends.
“And we’re Academy students. Students in uniforms performing in a band? At this point, he’s completely hooked.”
“Why…, why would he be hooked?”
“I don’t know. That’s what the Dragon King ecology specialist said.”
“The Dragon King is truly an incomprehensible creature.”
“And a student group with professional-level skill? That scores high points, apparently. Moreover, if one of them faces a personal crisis and has to leave the band? He’s already completely invested, they say.”
“Then the maximum three years you mentioned earlier….”
“Exactly. It’s Eugene’s enrollment period.”
Princess Sera pressed her forehead, clearly exasperated.
“We can’t report this to His Majesty. We won’t be getting military funds.”
“Is that so?”
“But I’ll throw a tantrum and get an advance on my allowance.”
“Sera is quite the spoiled one, isn’t she?”
If throwing a tantrum meant Father would hand over allowance money, didn’t that mean he’d been doing it all along? At my observation that Sera was a spoiled brat, Sunbird laughed heartily, while Third Princess’s face flushed red as she protested and pummeled me repeatedly. I thought my ribs might crack.
“Third Princess Sera. If you hit someone with all your strength, they’ll die.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
Bruises would probably bloom in about an hour. Third Princess apologized hastily, then after a moment of contemplation, she stood up abruptly and declared something rather magnificent.
“Even if there’s only a 1 percent chance, we have to go. Eugene is our companion!”
“Ooh!”
“A splendid decision, Your Highness.”
In truth, the probability of success wasn’t 1 percent but 49 percent, and even that was something Hubert, who’d gone to the Northern Region first, was planning to inflate dramatically. He’d said he’d show every possible medium of music subduing war and fill the love and peace sentiment to its absolute limit.
“Hey there, students! Stop slacking and get to work!”
But before we could execute our grand plan, we had to labor at the Construction Site. At the call of the construction supervisor, we each went to our assigned tasks, and before working, I nudged Reina awake with my foot and headed toward the Kitchen area.
Reina, who’d been knocked unconscious by a stone, groggily got up and went to melt glass.

◇ ◆ ◇

Before undertaking our grand endeavor, each of us did our utmost in our respective positions. Third Princess Sera didn’t forget to visit the Emperor’s Audience Chamber daily and throw tantrums on the marble floor demanding money, while Sunbird continuously rejected love calls asking if he’d release a record.
This was partly because a princess couldn’t be bound by private enterprise contracts, and partly because it was Third Princess’s conviction that only with all members—Eugene, Seian, and everyone else—could the song be truly complete.
Reina earnestly explored ways she could survive alone. When I told her to go fetch our friend and sacrifice herself gloriously, she said our situations were different. Sunbird and I were commoners, and Third Princess was the third daughter so it was fine, but she was the eldest daughter and had to carry on the family line.
For reference, I was collecting donations by ringing a hand bell I’d borrowed from the school store. I went around with a collection box, shouting slogans about bringing Eugene back from the harsh Northern Region and helping the school graduate safely, and through some synergy between rumors that our club was plotting something and the Combat Techniques Department’s desire to get their first-year boss back, a considerable sum had accumulated.
I would use this money well for train fare to the Northern Region. I’d use it for lodging, food, and snacks. And if money remained, I’d use it for living expenses. Since my actions themselves were to prevent Eugene’s withdrawal, I hadn’t lied. Therefore, this money was legitimately earned by me.
“Ahahaha! Ahahahahaha!”
I held the bundle of money that had gathered so easily in both hands and laughed heartily. If Eugene had been in the General Department instead of Combat Techniques, I would’ve collected ten times this amount. Half of that department was nobility with completely warped financial sense.
But excessive greed invites disaster. If someone reported the unlicensed collection box to the school, there was a risk of losing all the money I’d gathered. It would be better to cut ties here.
I filled my previously starving wallet until it was plump and requested a meeting with the Department Head Professor at the cafeteria. When I explained Eugene’s rescue plan—or rather, Hubert’s plan—and asked if there was a chance of success, the man excused himself saying he’d step outside for a moment, then went out of the temporary building and laughed so hard his belly shook before returning as if nothing had happened.

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