Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 93

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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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Death if I don’t escape to the Surface World within 24 hours

I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet both Gerth and Seian were upset with me.
Gerth had seemed in good spirits earlier, but later he’d told me we needed to have a serious talk in a tone cold enough to freeze water, then returned to Beast King’s Tower. Seian woke up in the Rest Room and immediately started bellowing about how a minor couldn’t possibly be a lover, as if the very idea was absurd.
I countered his argument. Whether someone was a minor had nothing to do with having a lover. I insisted that even minors could engage in intimate relations without issue if they practiced proper contraception or planned their pregnancies carefully. Seian responded by hurling every object within reach, forcing me to flee the Rest Room.
“You’ve had quite the ordeal, Evan.”
“Yeah.”
Sera was waiting outside the door—she’d brought Seian here. I acknowledged her sympathetic comment, and she cleared her throat before speaking. It seemed she’d skipped watching the horse races to wait for me because she had something to discuss.
“Evan. I don’t disapprove of keeping a lover either. It’s an amusement the nobility often indulge in.”
The moment Sera finished speaking, Sunbird fixed her with such an intense glare that she cleared her throat loudly again and got to the real purpose of her visit.
“But if you wish to be involved with the Royal Family, that’s another matter entirely. It’s only proper to end any existing relationship first.”
Sera rambled on about the proper etiquette toward the Royal Family and how the Royal Family themselves recommended keeping only one relationship at a time to avoid burdening their partners. I answered her firmly.
“I have no desire to be involved with the Royal Family.”
“Oh…”
“Are you serious?”
Sunbird’s pupils dilated as if struck by an earthquake, and I felt mine might do the same. Why would I get involved with the Royal Family? Surely they weren’t planning to hand me over to Cecilia? The sense of danger made my hand instinctively reach for the pistol hidden inside my formal wear.
“If you bastards sell me out to Cecilia, I’ll kill you, no matter how much we’re friends.”
“Calm down, Evan. We would never do such a thing.”
“Then why did you follow her around saying it was good!”
“When did I ever follow Cecilia around!”
“Not her!”
Not Cecilia? I’d never followed Sera around either, had I?
“I meant Prince Seian.”
“Ah.”
Sunbird sighed deeply and reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out the antacid he usually took. Had anyone but Sera ever made him need this before? I felt oddly proud.
“Of course I like Seian. He’s my absolute favorite.”
“But you have no intention of dating him?”
“Why would I need to date him?”
No matter how much someone’s your favorite, would you really want to date them as a person-to-person relationship if their personality was completely broken? I’d seen some truly strange people in my time.
When I made a gesture expressing my disgust, Sunbird reacted with shock and anger.
“I never knew you were like this, Evan! I’ll take Prince Seian back with me!”
“Why the rush? The break is long. You could stay a bit longer.”
“That’s enough!”
What? Gerth already left, and now you two are leaving right after arriving? What am I supposed to do with Reina for the remaining days?
Sunbird, still fuming, dragged Seian out of the Rest Room and loudly announced they were returning to the Palace. Seian looked bewildered, and I tried to stop them, but Sera blocked my path and spoke urgently.
“Don’t interfere, Evan. If you do, it’ll only get more complicated.”
“Why?”
“Because you speak like a complete fool!”
“Is that so?”
“Leave this to us. I’ll contact you again later.”
Though reluctant, even Princess Sera found it difficult to oppose Sunbird’s wishes. I accepted this gracefully and suggested she take a ship on the return journey—after all, retracing the same path would grow tedious. Even if it took longer, the sea breeze and new vistas would make the journey worthwhile.
“Thank you. We’ll head to East List Harbor then.”
“Very well. Travel safely.”
Respecting Sera’s request not to see her off, I merely waved before heading toward the broadcast booth. The main races should be finished by now, so I’d ask the announcer to help me find Reina Letem and Eugene. The remaining guests deserved to enjoy themselves too. While I was at it, I’d show them Gerth’s House.
“E-Evan!”
At the familiar voice, I turned to see the petite Kanna bouncing excitedly in the stands. Right, I had invited her too. I tapped on the glass window to signal her into the corridor, then embraced her warmly once she entered the restricted area.
“Thank you for coming. I couldn’t have managed without you.”
“Huh? W-what?!”
Even with Eugene present, the thought of managing Reina Letem alone gave me a headache I didn’t previously have. I was immensely grateful another brake had arrived.
Perhaps sensing my overwhelming joy, Kanna struggled to respond, so I assured her there was no pressure—my gratitude was simply genuine. She then volunteered information I hadn’t even asked for.
“Ah, ah! I-I’m happy too! So happy I took a hundred photos during your speech earlier!”
“What a waste of film.”
“It wasn’t a waste!”
Kanna, you don’t stammer when you’re excited, do you? In any case, I’d forgotten about her, so meeting her here was fortunate. I’d nearly left without seeing her at all.
Of course, since Kanna knew about Gerth’s House, she would have waited there if she’d intended to find me.
“Tiiiiiti!”
“Squeeeeeak!”
As Kanna and I held hands, skipping along to request the broadcast, an enormous woman came crashing through a firewall with her bare hands, clearing a path. That wall was installed as a fire barrier—but there was no fire now, so why was it lowered? And why was this woman destroying it?
“You there, large woman. Stop.”
“Huh?! Who the hell are you?!”
“Forgive my late introduction. I am Evan Laef, Mayor of the Unified Racecourse.”
“Ah, o-oh.”
As I extended my hand with a respectful greeting, the woman ceased her destruction and grasped my hand firmly. People truly understand sincerity when it’s offered genuinely.
“That firewall is a valuable asset of this city. Why are you destroying it?”
“Well, it’s because that bastard Titi—!”
The hand I held felt oddly soft and squishy. Looking down, I realized her hand had transformed into a bear’s paw. A demi-human, then. She’d apparently reshaped parts of her body to break through the wall.
“….”
A female bear demi-human connected to Titi? That could only be Menhil—one of the original story’s major characters.
“I am Menhil, representative from the Demi-human Village Friendly to Humans! Hand over Titi!”
Indeed, it was Menhil. Meeting someone who’d played such a crucial role in defeating Hubert filled me with profound emotion. Now that I thought about it, Menhil had traveled all the way to the Imperial Capital searching for Titi. Her concern was entirely understandable.
“Rest assured, Menhil. Titi is living safely now.”
“How would that be any of my concern?! More importantly, she broke the village barrier and has been living high on the hog here!”
“Squeeeeeak!”
Hmm… the facts seem quite different from what I understood.
Hadn’t Menhil gone searching for Titi out of concern? She’d even awakened in her fury over Titi’s death. You wouldn’t go that far unless you were quite close…
“Weren’t you close with Titi?”
“We got along fine! Past tense!”
I see. So things have changed now. In any case, as Titi’s older sister and as the Mayor of the Unified Racecourse, I couldn’t simply stand by and ignore this situation.
“Titi is currently under my protection. We need to have a conversation.”
“Squeeeak! Sister!”
Titi let out what seemed to be an emotional cry. But this was a premature judgment on my part.
“After I hear the circumstances, I’ll decide whether to hand over this brat or not.”
“Squeeeak!”
“You know how she is—your younger sister knows her temperament well too. There’s nothing to be done about it.”
So Leri was on the other side of the wall too. Come to think of it, I’d heard Leri’s voice during the horse racing broadcast earlier. He could have fought with Menhil, but he’d lowered the firewall to avoid causing a commotion.
“Thank you, Leri. I’ll repay you later.”
“My, what are you saying? There’s no need for such formality between us.”
No, I’d received far too much help from Leri leading up to the Horse Racing Track’s opening. While I was at the Academy, he’d practically shouldered all the work. Since I couldn’t simply dispense the city’s funds as I pleased, I’d need to arrange something substantial for him.
“Then let’s go. Haven’t you had lunch yet?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. I came running straight after the race ended.”
It would be best to discuss this at the restaurant. I had someone reserve the Dining Hall and used the broadcast to locate Eugene and Reina. As we moved to our seats, Titi clung to Leri, trembling with delight.

◇ ◆ ◇

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
I’d expected the question to come from Menhil, who’d come looking for Titi, but the bear demi-human was simply staring intently at his menu. Instead, it was Leri, the horse demi-human, who spoke first.
“What do you mean?”
“Playing innocent, are we? You know, normally when people just see a demi-human walking down the street, they throw a fit demanding the beast be driven out. You’re aware of that, aren’t you?”
That had been mentioned in the original work, and I’d inferred it from the anecdote about how Hubert couldn’t board the train with his fox tail. That’s precisely why I’d recruited people from the areas near Ilam and those residing in the Capital for the Horse Racing Track’s opening. In the Capital of Crownpolis, it was taken for granted that demi-humans registered as residents and participated as members of the city, and since there were many demi-humans in Ilam, everyone was accustomed to them.

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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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