Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 91

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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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#Serpent King’s Tower Floor Masters – A Comedy of Silence

Lately, the Floor Masters of Serpent King’s Tower had been suffocating under the weight of unbearable tension. The Serpent King, already notoriously difficult to understand with his cryptic manner of speech, had sealed his lips shut entirely.
He walked in silence with his mouth closed, methodically inspected each floor’s security without uttering a word, expelled intruders in silence, prepared meals without speaking, and ate his meals without saying a single thing.
But that wasn’t all. If he had merely stopped talking, one might assume the Serpent King was simply lost in deep contemplation. Yet the man would suddenly shift from an expressionless face to a furrowed brow, startling the beast-folk staff, or he’d gaze out at the distant mountains beyond the window before abruptly letting out a sharp, “Ha!”—nearly stopping their hearts.
Fearing they’d all develop neuroses and perish from the tension, the executives flocked to Hubert in desperation, begging him to do something, anything. But the snow-white fox youth merely shook his head.
“There is nothing I can do. I can only wait for time to resolve this.”
“But why is he acting like this?! At least tell us the reason!”
“According to White One’s reports, whenever he connects with Evan Laef, there is a different man at her side.”
The executives who understood the situation let out a collective, sympathetic “Oh.”
“And apparently, they are all handsome.”
Several of the executives fell silent.
“She shows no preference for age. Their builds vary too—some lean, others more robust.”
“Does the Serpent Queen have designs on this?”
“Well, think about it. The Serpent Queen is strong, wise, beautiful, and has an excellent temperament. Isn’t it natural that men would follow her?”
“Spider, hush! The ecology of humans differs from ours!”
“What do you mean? If a female has ability, she naturally keeps multiple partners.”
“I’m telling you the ecology is different! Bat, be quiet too!”
The executives began bickering amongst themselves over who was right. It was good that the tower’s environment was improving and the Floor Masters on leave were returning, but with so many gathered, the noise was considerable. Hubert, the fox youth, sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
His father, who was at the very top of this tower turning over frozen earth for farming, certainly had worries aplenty. It was inconceivable that Evan Laef lacked the presence of mind to juggle multiple suitors. If she were the type to conceive such ideas, she would have acquired lovers at every stop and used them as lodging during her travels.
If Leri, who would float face-up even if drowning, had been here, he would have said a word to his father about it. Unfortunately, the man had been conscripted as personnel for the Horse Racing Track opening and was currently assisting Titi.
Since the problem would resolve itself once those two met, Hubert earnestly prayed to the daytime moon that the Horse Racing Track would open quickly.

As the day before the Horse Racing Track’s opening arrived, the executives came out to the entrance of the first floor of Serpent King’s Tower to bid farewell to His Majesty the Serpent King. The man, who had pulled his robe down to below his eyes to avoid frightening innocent humans into unconsciousness, looked utterly suspicious, but the executives were too delighted to point it out.
“I’ll be back soon.”
His Majesty the Serpent King had finally spoken after several days of silence. Moreover, a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. The beasts, thinking they could finally breathe easy, cheered and congratulated Gerth and Evan Laef’s reunion in advance.
Go quickly and clear up the misunderstanding—my heart is pounding so hard I can barely stand it. The executives, unable to reveal their true feelings, simply smiled broadly and waved their hands, but the tactless Tiger Cub earned a beating after suggesting they go mate instead of fighting.
“Fool. Evan Laef is a minor.”
Therefore, mating was impossible. Wasn’t that common sense? Gerth proudly displayed his knowledge and bounded toward the Neighboring District, now renamed Seo Ilram.
It was a distance that would take an hour by carriage, but for Gerth, it was a village he could reach in a light ten-minute run, as if taking a casual stroll.
The last time he’d come here was roughly a hundred years ago. Recalling the prosperity of that era, the man made no effort to hide his joy. It was remarkable enough that she had become the Village Chief of Harbor Town, but now Evan Laef, who governed two villages as their Mayor, filled him with pride.
In truth, from their first meeting, there had been something extraordinary about Evan Laef, who swung her pickaxe with sharp, decisive strikes. The way she wiped away her glistening sweat and split rocks into eight pieces overflowed with vitality and life force.
At that moment, Gerth had sensed it at first glance. This woman could become his life partner, the one who would bear the same burden alongside him until their dying day and together rule the beasts.
However, in such matters, the other person’s wishes were paramount, so the man proceeded with caution. He had been so cautious that they nearly parted ways forever without even visiting each other’s homes, but thanks to one well-raised son, he managed to overcome that crisis.
It was truly a blessing that Evan Laef was magnificent and strong, but because of that, the matter of men endlessly flocking around her was a source of concern.
People shouldn’t stop learning even in old age, and besides, he couldn’t prevent the young Evan Laef from attending the Academy. She deserved to learn what she wished to learn and had the freedom to go where she desired. He understood this painfully well, but he still harbored the impulse to seize her, lock her away, and ensure she never took a single step outside Serpent King’s Tower.
Each time such thoughts arose, he would mutter “bad thoughts, bad thoughts” and physically strike himself, but he still couldn’t abandon the desire to seize her, lock her away, and ensure she never took a single step outside Serpent King’s Tower.
The wicked thought crossed his mind—what if he confined her without her knowing? Wouldn’t that be safe?—and Gerth was about to slap his own cheek when, before he could punish himself, he heard someone cursing at him.
“You lunatic! What if you run into the carriage road?! Do you want to die?!”
At the sharp voice, Gerth flinched and retreated. The Coachman driving the carriage huffed indignantly, and the Carriage Owner tossed him a coin, saying their servant was quick-tempered, before departing.
Since even a single coin was precious, Gerth quickly snatched up the valuable coin and pocketed it. When he raised his head, a six-lane Carriage Exclusive Road stretched before him.
“….”
Had this place always been so… bustling… no, beyond bustling—high-tech…?
“!”
Not only was the road wide, but unfamiliar machines lined it everywhere, and the bewildered Gerth was suddenly startled when he saw streetlights illuminating in sequence along the road, causing him to literally leap into the air.
Climbing into the trees for a better view, he could see streetlights shining all the way to the end of the six-lane road. He had only ever seen such a sight in Bunny Land, the domain of the Machine King.
And what of the hotel where he was supposed to meet her? The massive structure had windows punched through it like a chicken coop. How could something this enormous stand without collapsing? Surely nothing but Serpent King’s Tower, blessed by our Creator Mother, could make such a thing possible?
Had he known that all of this had been created from the treasures of gold and silver that the Lord of Territory, who ruled this place before Evan Laef took office as Mayor, had plundered from Serpent King’s Tower, Gerth would have fainted dead away, far beyond mere shock.

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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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