Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 94

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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 agreed to the plan of increasing the demi-human population on opening day.”
“Ugh, I thought you were just some naive fool who couldn’t see past your own nose.”
“I suppose you were hoping I’d stumble spectacularly.”
“Wouldn’t it have been magnificent if His Majesty appeared out of nowhere and saved the day?”
“I apologize for disappointing you.”
“Disappointing? You’re actually kind of scary, you know that?”
Was I planning to put Gerth in my debt by keeping silent? It had always struck me as odd that despite knowing Gerth’s influence, he raised no objections when I insisted on entering the opening ceremony alongside him.
Just as in the original novel, the revelation of the Serpent King’s Tower master’s true identity was a recent event for humans. That’s why they believed the Serpent King was a white fox demi-human.
But what about the demi-humans? They lived longer than humans, and even if only a select few knew Gerth’s true identity, the massive issue of his friendliness toward humans would spread like wildfire through demi-human communities.
The Unified Racecourse, where Serpent King Gerth guaranteed safety. Wasn’t it far more appealing to live in than the Capital, where one could only register? From a ruler’s perspective, population meant power. The more working-age people, the better—that was obvious.
“You should have told me beforehand. His Majesty must be furious.”
“Leri. Gerth isn’t a fool.”
If I’d told him beforehand, he would have refused—that much was certain. Gerth understood his own influence well, and he knew exactly what it meant to stand before humans and demi-humans at my side. So I had no choice but to keep it hidden. Since Gerth wasn’t a fool, I wasn’t about to throw away a usable card like an idiot.
“Well.”
So that’s why he’d gone home in a huff. The moment I let it show that I’d only just realized it, Leri grinned and suggested I figure out how to grovel properly. Leri certainly had me beat when it came to understanding human psychology.
“Why are you talking so much! Hurry up and order food, you brat! I’m starving!”
Did Reina blow all her money on horse racing? She’d been in a foul mood since earlier. I’d asked if she’d lost everything at the races, and she’d snapped that five thousand had vanished into thin air today, which meant she’d have to ask Mother for an advance on her allowance again. So I graciously decided to buy her dinner. Thank you for being our city’s precious cash cow, you fool.
“Hey, didn’t Evan place any bets?”
“I had something to do in the middle.”
“I, I lost about a thousand too.”
That’s right, Kanna, eat plenty. I smiled brightly and recommended the most expensive menu item, and Kanna giggled, suggesting we share the food once it arrived. Unlike that brat Reina, Kanna had a kind heart. She was truly my closest friend.
“C-closest friend…!”
As Kanna tapped the table excitedly, Reina mocked her with that sharp tongue of hers, telling her to shut up, you crazy assassin. Kanna protested that she wasn’t an assassin and started brandishing her blade.
I called over a waiter to take everyone’s orders and turned to Menhil.
“So. What’s your business with Titi?”
“That bastard broke the village barrier!”
That much I already knew. But there was no point in me being the only one who knew—everyone here needed to hear it. Depending on the circumstances, having more people on my side would be advantageous.
“Take responsibility, you idiot! Because of you, every stray dog and cow is wandering into the village!”
“Eeeek! How is that my fault!”
“Because you broke the barrier!”
“Who told you it would break so easily!”
“What the—!”
Titi, you really have a gift for getting under people’s skin. I savored the sight of Titi being grabbed by the collar and shaken like a rag doll, using it as an appetizer while I posed my question.
“How exactly do you plan to take responsibility?”
“Obviously, this idiot has to rebuild the barrier!”
“Go rebuild it.”
“Eeeeeek! Are you telling me to go die, you bastard!”
Why would rebuilding the barrier mean death? When I asked out of curiosity, Titi sealed her lips shut, while Menhil confidently explained the method for reconstructing the barrier.
“You can remake the barrier through human sacrifice.”
The moment those words left his mouth, I glanced at Leri. Since this was a Demi-human Village, he was likely a subordinate of the Serpent King, wasn’t he? If so, the one receiving this price would most probably be Gerth, the Serpent King.
“Oh honey! Our lord isn’t such a savage!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You just did it with your eyes!”
I’d been caught. But there was nothing I could do about it. Since this involved the Demi-human Village, I had no choice but to suspect the Serpent King.
“Gods aren’t omnipotent. Could this simply be superstition?”
“The one receiving the offering is the Underworld King.”
Why would they offer tribute to the Underworld King when the Serpent King was right here? The absurdity of it made me look at Leri, and he shook his head vigorously, insisting he knew nothing about this matter.
“Why would they even ask the Underworld King for help? That’s why all these terrifying stories about human sacrifice came up. If only they’d spoken to our lord.”
“The Village Chief said they had requested protection from the Serpent King at the time, but were refused.”
“That can’t be right. Our lord would never do such a thing.”
I agreed with that assessment. Gerth wouldn’t turn away a demi-human in difficult circumstances. As I nodded in agreement with Leri’s words, Menhil elaborated on the old story, saying he’d only heard it from the Village Chief.
“He apparently told them there was no need to build a village—they could just come live in the Tower instead.”
“I see.”
“That makes sense.”
From Gerth’s perspective, it was unreasonable, and from the village’s perspective, they wanted to maintain their autonomy. There was nothing to be done about that.
“They ignored our request but made deals with humans, that damned Serpent King!”
“You woman! Don’t curse our lord!”
“What, you want to fight?!”
Calm down and eat. As food was being served, I suggested we have a meal, and Reina began eating with combative intensity while Eugene beside her ate with equal vigor, refusing to lose her food.
I ate a little from my plate, then had a spoonful of the bird’s nest soup Kanna offered me before making a proposal to Menhil.
“If you want protection, we can dispatch some of the Security Force from Ilam. The entire Unified Racecourse will become a safe place for demi-humans, so dangerous individuals won’t be able to infiltrate. Wouldn’t that work?”
“A small force won’t cut it—the village has grown. Nothing is as reliable as a barrier.”
For a Demi-human Village Friendly to Humans, they were remarkably closed-off. In the original story, when Titi died and awakened in rage, wasn’t the direction actually different? Anger over a precious resource meant as a living sacrifice to the barrier dying on its own?
“Then let me try a few things before sacrificing Titi. After that, do whatever you want with this bird—roast it or fry it.”
“Squawk! Sister!”
“My dear, it’s nice to see you doing your best to save your sister.”
“How is that doing my best, squawk!”
“This bird pretends not to care, but really cherishes her sister.”
“Y-yes. Cherishing one’s sibling… Evan is also… cool.”
“Evan, I’ve reconsidered my opinion of you.”
“You’re all insane! Squawk!”
You’re quite something yourself, constantly throwing in your two cents. Don’t you ever get tired?
Unlike my friends, who cherish even a beast they’re seeing for the first time as if it were their own sibling, the bear demi-human Menhil didn’t view my actions positively. As if to say struggle all you want since you’ll die anyway, the woman let out a scoff and laid down conditions.
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but if we can resolve this without anyone dying, that would be good. However, only you and Titi are allowed to enter the village.”
Menhil seemed to intend it as a threat, but it posed absolutely no threat to me. And everyone around me was well aware that this threat posed no threat to me.
“Oh, this person has courage.”
“Then we’ll wait at the Hotel, Evan.”
Reina applauded while Eugene urged me to hurry and finish. Since I couldn’t leave Kanna alone, I was about to tell her to go with Reina and Eugene and wait at the Hotel, but this prodigy of the Assassination Family flashed a brilliant business smile, opened her eyes wide, and declared to Menhil.
“If Evan doesn’t return within a day, I’ll poison the water source in that village so nothing grows there for a hundred years.”
Kanna, you speak clearly even when you’re calm, though you also speak fluently when excited. I’ve learned two new things about my friend today. It’s been a meaningful day.
“Hey, what kind of threat is this!”
“I, I’ve never threatened anyone, I’m just scared, of, of Evan.”
Kanna wrapped her arm around mine as if hiding. Scared? Kanna, you’re not very good at lying. This is as expected, so it’s not surprising.
“Then Leri, finish up the City Hall work, and the rest of you wait at the Hotel. I’ll go to the Demi-human Village with Titi.”
Once I organized the situation clearly, everyone agreed, though only Titi trembled with anxiety and kept asking if it was really right to go with the intention of saving herself.
Since you’re Mother’s daughter, would I be going to kill you instead of save you? She was spouting such nonsense that I didn’t bother answering, and Titi wailed pitifully like a sparrow being carried away.

◇ ◆ ◇

“….”
“….”
“….”
We stood in the Barren Field. This was because Menhil had guided us to the Barren Field.
“This isn’t a village, is it?”
“Of course not! You can’t keep something this unsettling inside the village!”
It’s certainly uncomfortable to keep an altar for live sacrifices within the village. Still, isn’t this too much? There wasn’t even a speck of life visible, only grotesquely grown trees surrounded the area, and a single well stood alone in the middle of the Barren Field.
It looks like Sadako might crawl out from there. Terrifying.
“Could there have been a barrier here?”
“There was.”
“Titi, you were playing here when the barrier broke?”
“Yes, chirp.”
“Don’t you have any common sense?”
“Why, chirp! It’s nice and cool even in summer!”
That’s not cool, that’s eerie. Anyway, I can’t tell if this one has a thick skin or just lacks intelligence.
“I brought supplies expecting some kind of ritual.”
“Were all the supplies ritual food? No wonder it smelled delicious.”
Well, not exactly.
I stroked the horse that didn’t want to get close to the well, calming it down, and quickly unloaded the luggage. If I try everything and it doesn’t work, I’ll have no choice but to grab Titi and run. If Menhil catches me, well, I’ll just leave Titi behind and run.
“What’s the procedure for activating the barrier?”
“Wait, I brought the manual from the Village Chief.”
Menhil pulled out a product manual from his back pocket. It looked exactly like an appliance instruction manual. It even had a rough schematic diagram, and it emphasized how easy it was to disassemble and wash—truly like an appliance manual. But if it can be washed, why has the well been left in such a state?

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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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