Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 92

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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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“You there, ahead. If you’re going in, do it quickly.”
“Must be some country bumpkin. Watch your head doesn’t get knocked off.”
I’d certainly committed the rudeness of lingering at the entrance for far too long, but I was in a foul mood. It was true that I’d come from the countryside, yet that very fact irritated me further. I couldn’t fathom why hearing nothing but the truth should sour my disposition so thoroughly.
As the Serpent King—sovereign of all beasts and demi-humans—I felt my shoulders draw inward as I stepped into the lobby. The ceiling soared impossibly high, and chandeliers scattered across every surface blazed so brilliantly I feared my eyes might burn away. For reasons unclear, glittering nuggets of gold adorned the walls here and there, while the floor had been polished with such fervent dedication that its reflective gleam threatened to induce vertigo.
“Good day. What brings you to our establishment?”
Before I could even reach the front desk, a hotel attendant and security guard approached. They harbored no genuine courtesy—merely assessing my shabby appearance and preparing to eject me as a beggar. Surely the city had driven all vagrants into the slums before opening the Horse Racing Track, yet here I stood, a spectacle of poor judgment.
“I’ve come to meet Evan.”
“Ah! The Mayor mentioned you would be arriving. This way, please.”
The moment Evan’s name escaped my lips, their treatment transformed entirely. The staff member who’d inquired about my luggage now informed me that the Mayor occupied the suite and would personally escort me there, pressing a button set into the wall.
This contraption existed in the Serpent King’s Tower as well—an elevator, they called it. A box that rose through pulleys when you pressed a number, delivering you conveniently to your desired floor. It hadn’t always been there; the Machine King had installed it during his visits, complaining that climbing to the top grew tedious.
Humans these days all use such devices. Marveling at modern humanity’s technological prowess, I observed the attendant’s movements as we approached the suite occupying half of one floor. The staff member chimed the bell and respectfully announced the Mayor’s guest, and moments later, the door opened.
“Gerth. It’s been so long. Thank you for coming all this way.”
I broke into a radiant smile. Seeing Evan brought joy, relief, reassurance, and a profound sense of security. I’d endured so much sorrow, and now a torrent of emotions overwhelmed me—I opened my mouth so wide in laughter that I wondered if I’d ever exercised my facial muscles with such intensity.
“It’s been too long. Since you invited me, coming was only natural.”
“Come in. This is your first time meeting Reina and Eugene in person, isn’t it?”
I supposed that was true for Reina, but was that fleshy man really here? My mood soured instantly, though I concealed it. On this fine day, I had no wish to burden Evan with my concerns.
“Wow! You’re the Evan I’ve only heard about!”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m Eugene Brandenburg.”
Reina wore nothing but a bathrobe, while Eugene had wrapped himself entirely in pajamas, yet I frowned upon seeing him. Look at that—these young people today showed no shame, parading about before others in garments that clung obscenely to their thighs and buttocks.
With him dressed like that, how could Evan’s gaze help but drift in his direction? I felt the urge to lecture them, but Hubert’s earlier counsel came to mind, and I pressed my lips firmly shut.
Hubert had said that with young people these days, it was best simply to accept their ways and not resist. Viewing it as their own form of self-expression, I recalled another piece of advice my son had imparted and hastily opened my mouth.
If I was concerned about the men surrounding Evan, I should establish dominance and make clear that Evan’s future was already determined.
“I am Gerth.”
I removed my hood and widened my eyes. For an ordinary human, this gaze alone could render them unconscious. With the added intensity I channeled into my stare, the effect would be magnified. Intimidation through a piercing look was the most effective method. Yet the two before me merely flinched momentarily, their composure unshaken.
“Wow! You’re incredibly handsome!”
“Evan certainly has many demi-human friends.”
Among humans, those with exceptional courage or overwhelming presence could withstand such a gaze. Evan’s mother had endured it through her fear resistance skill, though such cases were rare. Evan’s friends proved their mettle—their mental fortitude was remarkably robust. Impressed by this, I continued my intimidation in a considerably gentler tone.
“Evan and I are destined to mate.”
“….”
“….”
Reina and Eugene, encountering the word “mate”—a term they’d scarcely encounter in their lives—fell silent in contemplation before arriving at a most aristocratic conclusion, then proceeded to jab Evan repeatedly in the ribs.
“Wait, you’re what? You’re becoming a noble? And you’ve already secured a lover? Already? Evan, you bastard? And here I am without even a boyfriend?”
“Sorry, but if you meet my fiancée later, could you not mention the lover thing? She might get anxious.”
Separately, Eugene and Reina felt they’d met someone wonderful and genuinely congratulated Evan. Nobles keeping one or two or three or four or five lovers was hardly scandalous. Rather, it demonstrated the wealth and charm to maintain such arrangements, inspiring envy.
“It’s not confirmed yet.”
Evan hastily offered an excuse, but Eugene and Reina whistled and applauded, dancing about in jubilation. And I, learning this unexpected fact, regarded Eugene with renewed scrutiny.
“You have a fiancée?”
“Ah, yes. With my childhood friend back in my Hometown.”
“Cherish that bond.”
“Will do.”
Gerth’s mood brightened considerably. Those baggy trousers clinging to him might have their own story. He was tempted to buy him a new pair of properly-fitting pants. So he mustered the courage to ask.
“Eugene. Are you so strapped for coin that you can’t afford new trousers?”
“Pffahahaha! Hey! You said you liked them! Just wear a robe over it!”
“There’s nothing in my size!”
Ah, so that was the story. Indeed, Evan’s friend Eugene possessed a frame far more robust than the human standard—his weight made finding fitting trousers impossible. Gerth chastised himself for nearly despising an innocent person based on misunderstanding, when the poor fellow was already burdened by his own discomfort.
“If we find an open shop, I’ll buy you clothes.”
“Since we’re here with nothing better to do anyway, let’s go shopping!”
Reina Letem, who had expected a backwater village but found the infrastructure surprisingly well-maintained, praised the Unified Racecourse city and led the group out to the shopping district with Evan—the city’s mayor—at the front.
In the Fountain Plaza along the way stood a statue of Evan Laef pointing toward tomorrow, and when Reina saw the Unified Racecourse’s civil servants and Security Force saluting it, she laughed like a dog and mocked it as fascism before getting beaten by Evan.
Watching her vibrant spirit, Gerth thought it had been the right decision not to lock Evan away in the Tower. Evan was most beautiful walking freely beneath the open sky.
“Gerth. If you don’t mind, I’d like to buy you new clothes.”
Gerth would stand beside me at tomorrow’s Horse Racing Track opening, and as a rather symbolic figure, I wanted to dress him in something beautiful. Getting him out of that suspicious-looking robe would require sunglasses too.
“There’s no need, Evan. I can pay for my own clothes.”
“No. I want to buy them for you.”
Gerth felt like he was receiving filial piety—and he didn’t like it. He would have been delighted if it were Hubert showing such kindness, but when Evan did it, the feeling was oddly unpleasant. The reason eluded him.
“On the way here, Evan already robbed a mountain bandit, so don’t worry! And if someone’s your lover, you just say thank you and accept it in these situations! Got it!”
“I’ve also learned that’s the proper courtesy to show a lover.”
“I see.”
Swayed by the forceful arguments of two high-ranking nobles, Gerth’s mood brightened dramatically. If it was love rather than filial duty, he welcomed it wholeheartedly.
The four of them ventured out before sunset and ransacked the shops. Eugene bought pajamas that actually fit his frame, and Gerth managed to purchase a well-tailored formal suit despite it being ready-made. With dot-pattern sunglasses added, the suspicious aura shifted to a different flavor of demi-human, but he could still cut an impressive figure with his impressive height and sturdy build.
Reina browsed jewelry shops and clothing stores, complained that this was indeed a backwater village with nothing worth buying, and got hit by Evan again.
After that, they shared dinner together, bought a board game that was apparently popular with children these days, and played late into the night, giggling the whole time.
Playing with children for so long made Gerth feel rejuvenated. Evan’s friends were wholesome in how they enjoyed themselves, which endeared them to him all the more. It seemed natural that with Evan being so upright and virtuous, good-hearted children would naturally gather around her.
On that first day I met Evan, I was so glad I went far out to feed the wandering albatross. Gerth fell asleep in good spirits, and the next morning he woke to move busily about with Evan and her companions.

On the opening day of the Horse Racing Track, Evan Laef had much to accomplish as the mayor. Once Evan finished his preparations and ascended the platform, with Reina and Eugene stepping back, Gerth attempted to move aside as well—but Evan grasped his hand and pulled him up onto the stage alongside him.
Observing the tens of thousands of people gathered at the Horse Racing Track, Gerth sensed that something was unfolding in an unusual manner.
“Evan. I’m not late, am I?”
“Of course not.”
The man and woman who arrived moments later possessed the distinctive ash-gray hair and ash-gray eyes that symbolized the Crowell Empire’s Imperial Court. The one with longer hair glared at Gerth with such intensity that her teeth ground audibly. It was then that Gerth felt a definite premonition that something was decidedly amiss.
“Gerth. Princess Sera.”
As Evan extended his hand to Sera and pulled her onto the platform, cheers erupted. Gerth even heard what sounded like bestial cries, and upon closer inspection, he realized that approximately one-third of the crowd gathered at the Horse Racing Track consisted of demi-humans. It was at this moment that Gerth became absolutely certain something was wrong.
“I extend my gratitude to all who have participated in the opening ceremony of the Unified Racecourse, which shall become the new symbol of our Unified Racecourse.”
Standing before the microphone, Evan spoke with measured composure, then turned toward Gerth with a gentle smile as he continued his address. This smile directed at the Serpent King was part of the plan.
“As I have announced, our Unified Racecourse is oriented toward becoming a demi-human-friendly city.”
Though his face was partially obscured by sunglasses, many of the demi-humans gathered here and those from the Demi-human Village Friendly to Humans recognized Gerth’s presence. Some knew him as the true Serpent King, others as the hidden master of Serpent King’s Tower, and still others as the father of the running Serpent King—but regardless, the fact that Evan and Gerth stood side by side, hand in hand, would exert tremendous influence over the demi-human population.
“The Unified Racecourse welcomes the residence and labor of demi-humans. City Hall is assisting demi-humans with registration in the same manner as Crownpolis. Moreover—”
Just before Evan uttered his decisive words, Gerth understood the truth: he was being used.
“On the day we attract the Train Station, I promise that all train lines bound for the Unified Racecourse will permit demi-human boarding.”
Evan grasped both Gerth’s and Sera’s hands and lifted them high into the air. At this triumphant gesture, the demi-humans erupted in cheers.
While Evan waved with a political smile, Gerth stood dazed. Had he truly been used? Surely Evan hadn’t approached him from the very beginning with this objective in mind. He knew it was impossible, yet Gerth could not help but entertain such dark thoughts.
There would have been an opportunity to speak. If Evan had asked whether he could accompany him to such an event, Gerth would have acted with caution. No matter how he maintained relations with certain humans, demi-humans were fundamentally enemies of mankind. Beasts often preyed upon humans, and humans were obsessed with subjugating demi-humans and magical beasts.
“Evan. A moment.”
This required a lengthy conversation. And it required a scolding. Regardless of the fact that he had delegated the role of Serpent King to his son, less than fifty years had passed. Among the demi-humans, those who had lived long enough knew of Gerth’s existence as the Serpent King. This could not be overlooked, and if it was done in ignorance, he would need to issue a stern warning to prevent such actions in the future.

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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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