Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 87

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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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“Brandenburg never forgets a kindness. When the time comes, we shall fall together, Your Highness.”
“No, no, Eugene! We don’t fall together! If anything, we’re bound by a shared destiny to live together, aren’t we!”
I’d warned him about this from the moment I went to negotiate the ceasefire—that forming ties with the Northern Region would startle the Crown Princess. Whenever it happened, it was only a matter of timing accelerating the inevitable explosion.
Now that I thought about it, I’d wondered why that petty status window hadn’t given me a branching point when the Dragon King arrived at the Academy early, but it seemed the advance notice had been for this reason.
The Crown Princess and Third Princess were heading for a direct collision, and the original plot had shifted far beyond recognition. As Evan Laef individually, I couldn’t have started anything with the Crown Princess anyway, but as the manager of the Unified Racecourse, now was the time to decide. If I wanted to secure my position, it had to be the Third Princess.
“If you trust me, I’ll work like an ox to build up the Unified Racecourse. I’ll place the Empire’s Eastern Region in your hands, Your Highness.”
“Don’t place it! I don’t need it!”
“Well, if the Northern and Eastern Regions fall into Your Highness’s hands, I suppose Letem will have to add his spoon to the pot as well.”
“Don’t add it!”
I kept telling her—her fate was to do politics. She should accept her destiny and fight the Crown Princess. Win, and make sure Seian Crowell never sets foot in the political arena again. People’s hearts burst from this kind of thing.
While I was enjoying myself poking Princess Sera and watching her delightful reactions, the Sunbird, who’d dashed off saying he’d bring all the newspaper articles, had already returned. From the Empire’s three major newspapers to the most trivial gossip rags, he’d swept them all up—quite the collection.
“Later, let’s roast sweet potatoes and chestnuts with these.”
“I’m in.”
“Then I’ll get some cheese from the Department Head Professor.”
Once dining hall service ended, I’d invite Seian Crowell to the club building for a sweet potato fondue party. We laughed and watched how far the incident Princess Sera had sparked had rippled. While the newspapers used measured language, the gossip columns had already treated Cecilia and Sera’s conflict as fact, even publishing analyses of the Third Princess’s chances of victory. This was how minor media outlets survived.
“Cough.”
Among those gossip columns, there was one article that didn’t focus on what everyone else was talking about—the princess. Instead, it had zeroed in on something else. Apparently, because the Dragon King had been insisting to Evan Laef that he give Seian Crowell to him, some outlet had written that the Crown Prince harbored a secret lover.
“….”
The fortunate part was that such an article existed only in this gossip rag in my hands. I pretended not to notice and quickly tucked the paper away.

After dining hall service ended, I roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts in front of the East Building as planned. I got scolded by the night security guard for playing with fire on school grounds, but it would become a cherished memory of youth.

The next day, something rather peculiar occurred. A person appeared, trailing behind me as I stalked Seian Crowell, following his every step. They didn’t seem inclined to cause harm to either of us, but the sight of them lugging around that enormous camera was thoroughly irksome. Had they truly believed they wouldn’t be discovered?
“Hey!”
Of course, I wasn’t following Seian Crowell in secret, so being caught posed no problem whatsoever.
I had carefully saved the Academy’s stipend for maintaining appearances, and with good fortune smiling upon me today, I was in excellent spirits as I escorted Seian Crowell—who was merrily heading toward the Public Sauna with money and a bathing bag in hand—to the entrance before heading off dutifully to work at the Construction Site. There was nothing to feel guilty about.
“How far are you planning to follow us? How far!”
“Ahhhhh! My sincerest apologies!”
Unlike my composed self, the person who had been engaged in this questionable pursuit finally revealed themselves, their feet giving out beneath them. Seian Crowell was startled and nearly dropped his bathing bag, but I swiftly caught it and peered inside. Nothing but cheap products. For the sake of Seian Crowell’s lustrous hair, I would need to purchase expensive shampoo soon. And conditioner as well.
“What are you snooping through now!”
“Using such products will make your hair dry and brittle.”
“You’re insufferable!”
“Your beautiful hair is the pride of the Imperial Court. I wish to protect it.”
“Please, just be quiet!”
Seian Crowell nagged at me, asking if I would die if I simply closed my mouth and apologized, but the man with the camera began snapping photos of us. His intentions seemed far from noble, so I quickly seized his camera and hurled it to the ground.
“Ahhhhh! That was one of only two cameras our company owns!”
“How unfortunate.”
“You broke it!”
“Then you should have kept it safe.”
“You owe us compensation!”
“I am a pauper. Seian Crowell is also a pauper.”
“Who are you calling a pauper!”
Watching Seian Crowell bristle indignantly at the jab, I hastened our pace. I needed to get him to the sauna quickly and then head to the Construction Site. At this rate, I would be late.
“Wait, that person looks like they’re about to cry. We should resolve this.”
“They brought it upon themselves.”
“That’s precisely why you’re ostracized.”
No matter who you are, Seian Crowell, if you keep bringing up that band premise, I will grow angry. When I spoke in a low voice, Seian Crowell laughed with amusement, saying he never thought the day would come when he could tease me.
Seian Crowell’s playful laughter was endearing. My heart felt full. This time, I would let it slide.
“I was supposed to capture this and break an exclusive story!”
An exclusive? Given that he was carrying a camera and the way he spoke, he seemed unmistakably like a journalist. When I asked where he was from, the man quickly handed me his business card.
“I’m Alfred from Today’s Issue. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
As I accepted the business card from the man who bowed respectfully at an angle, something came to mind. I retrieved a tabloid from my pocket—an article I had kept as a memento from yesterday. The fact that I had hidden it away secretly to avoid ridicule from others was merely a bonus.
“So you’re one of those trying to break a scandal about Seian Crowell’s romantic involvement.”
“Ah! You’ve seen our article!”
“W-what is this!”
He seemed like he might snatch it away. I deliberately let him take the tabloid, then waited for Seian Crowell to willingly return it to me.
“Who is dating whom!”
But Seian Crowell tore the paper to shreds and declared he would scatter it to the heavens. No matter who you are, Seian Crowell, I cannot forgive this. I seized the man’s body and applied a cobra twist hold.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Seian Crowell’s beautiful cry pierced the sky. I released the hold just before his breath gave out and brushed off my hands. Seian Crowell with tears streaming down his face was lovely. Exquisite. I wanted to lick those tears away. He would be furious if I said it. But I should say it anyway.
“Seian. I want to lick your tears.”
“You pervert!”
Seian hastily wiped away his tears, visibly upset. Yet I felt a swell of pride.
“By the way, there are copies stacked in that extra edition office, so feel free to pick them up whenever you have time.”
“Thank you. I’ll stop by soon.”
Perfect. I’d need to grab two copies—one for scrapbooking and one to slip under the glass on my desk.
“Ah… so, the two of you aren’t dating, then?”
“Are you insane?!”
I naturally ignored Crowell’s Crown Prince as he shrieked indignantly. The journalist turned their gaze toward me, waiting for an answer. It would be best to cut through any future misunderstandings with a clear statement.
“Seian and I are not dating. The probability of us ever dating is essentially zero.”
Seian, who had been making a racket moments before, snapped his mouth shut and stared at me with wide, bewildered eyes.
“What the Dragon King mentioned comes from the lore in Band Dekarucha’s official setting book. It’ll be released to the public eventually, so you can verify it then.”
“Ah, I see… so the Dragon King was just overly invested?”
“That would be disrespectful to the demon race fans. His enthusiasm for supporting us was simply… excessive.”
“Then what exactly is the relationship between you two…?”
“We know each other’s faces and names, nothing more.”
“Hmm…”
Normally, a statement like that would deter most people from pursuing the story further. But this was a journalist. I needed to drive the point home. I was about to steer the conversation toward something far more valuable.
“Besides, no one wants to read gossip about some obscure Crown Prince’s love life. You’d make far more sales running a story about how the Third Princess regularly uses Brotenshain writing instruments.”
“Well, that’s… wait, is that actually true?!”
“It is. Princess Sera owns three of Brotenshain’s patented 0.5-millimeter ballpoint pens. They write beautifully with an exceptionally smooth feel.”
“Thank you so much! I need to go write this article right away!”
“Mention that you got the interview from Evan Laef of the Academy Magic Department. If sales go up, Brotenshain might throw something my way.”
“I’ll definitely include it!”
With that, I’d successfully disposed of the journalist. Now it was time to see Seian off.
I glanced around to follow Seian, but the man had already vanished to the far end of the alley. I sprinted after him and caught up to his back, but he didn’t even mutter a word of disgust at me. Without saying anything at all, he simply entered the Public Sauna.
I lingered beneath the sauna’s outer wall for a while before heading to the Construction Site to avoid being late. I knew Seian could be temperamental, but today he was particularly strange.

◇ ◆ ◇

The final exams were a disaster. It was inevitable, really. Since the second semester started, all I could remember was practicing for the festival, doing manual labor, and serving food in the Dining Hall. It would have been strange if my grades had actually improved.
Of course, Sunbird managed to maintain his grades despite everything, which earned him the collective ire of the group.
Reina, Eugene, and I had coordinated to give him a good whack each, but the Third Princess stepped in and stopped us before we could follow through.
“Everyone, stop joking around! We have a lot to do during this break!”
I felt the same way. I needed to return to Ilam and develop the Village, and I had to prepare for the Horse Racing Track’s opening. Before the Third Princess could say anything, I quickly beat her to it. But Sera slammed the table, insisting there was something far more pressing than all of that.

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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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