The Status Effect Count - Chapter 26

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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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The Count with an Abnormal Status 026
“Can’t you just be fooled once?”
Ana slapped the water’s surface with a splash.
She’d known he was suspicious by nature, but she hadn’t expected him to be this stubborn about it.
It had been days since she’d left the hot spring alone.
Ana had made up her mind to use it first herself—a rather bold decision.
“Hmph. The Count might scold me for using it before him.”
The hot spring was a remarkable place.
No one had boiled water or brought anything warm, yet pleasantly hot water bubbled up from the ground on its own.
And that was just the beginning—the water carried the fragrance of healing herbs, and simply soaking her feet made all the fatigue drain from her body.
‘I’d believe it even if someone told me a fairy made this.’
But there were no fairies on the continent. At best, some mage who loved fairies might have created it.
‘The Mage Tower Master said to be in the Capital supposedly crafted a flying golden carriage, didn’t she?’
Though what use a carriage plated in gold could possibly have was beyond her.
Drowsy now, Ana let out a yawn as her muscles relaxed and sleep began to claim her.
“If the Count came here, he’d recover in no time…….”
Ana murmured dreamily to herself.
She hoped he would live a long life. Get married, even. Have little lords and ladies…….
And keep me in his service forever!
If things went just that way, she’d want for nothing more.
Ding—
The familiar sound chimed, but Ana kept her eyes closed, torn in thought.
Should she open them or not?
What was that tray going to tell her this time?
Wouldn’t it be better to ignore it and sink into sweet sleep?
Ana wavered for a moment, but curiosity won out, and she cracked one eye open.
[
A hot spring is just the thing to ease travel fatigue! Let’s check out what the hot spring has to offer.]
[Spend 10 or more minutes in the hot spring (Complete)
Enjoy snacks while relaxing in the hot spring (Complete)
Invite a friend to the hot spring (0/1)]
The words blurred from her drowsy state. Ana rubbed her eyes and slowly scanned them again.
What? Almost everything’s already done?
Of the three tasks, only one remained incomplete.
Yet that one seemed entirely impossible to achieve.
‘Invite a friend to the hot spring?’
The Mansion was already rife with rumors about the secret hot spring. It was well-known to the point that no one was unaware of it.
If she were to bring someone here now, everyone would hear the news and probably want to visit…….
‘Wait—if that happens, would the Count be more likely to stop by?’
Sleep suddenly fled from her mind.
If people who came first actually experienced the benefits firsthand, the Count’s doubts might finally disappear.
The knights who cared for him so deeply might even sacrifice themselves to drag him here!
“Let’s send an invitation!”
The moment Ana cried out, a ding sounded and something popped up.
[You can invite a friend to the Fairy’s Wish by spending Gold.]
[The invited friend will receive a bonus effect.]
[Remaining Gold: 783 Gold]
“Eek!”
Ana let out an involuntary gasp. She had to spend coins to invite a friend?
Her precious salary?
“No, wait a moment…….”
Ana furrowed her brow and looked again carefully. 783 Gold?
That was enough to easily purchase a decent house in the Capital.
There was no way Ana could possess such an amount.
Then that meant…….
Ana’s eyes drifted to the purse displayed in the upper right corner.
Money she’d never been able to touch or use!
“I can spend it here?”
At that moment, the tray began to float temptingly before her.
[≫Invite Friend 10 Gold]
“That’s expensive!”
Ann let out a sharp cry.
Ten Gold—or rather, ten gold coins—was equivalent to a decade of Ann’s salary.
And she was supposed to spend it just to invite a friend?
‘No matter that this money has been sitting untouched until now…!’
[≫ Friend Invitation
10 Gold
First-time limited special: 50% off — 5 Gold]
Fifty percent off?
Ann rushed to tap the invitation option.
A rolled parchment flew up into the air.
[Ann Marita’s Friend List
—Ana ★★
—Raban ★★★
—Sonya ★
……]
These were all familiar names, weren’t they?
For a moment, an uneasy chill ran through her, but she shook her head. If she started questioning this strange tray, there’d be no end to it.
But still.
‘This means I can invite the people listed here.’
Would it send them invitations? Would they somehow know the address without needing to visit the post office?
Ann pictured the magical letters that flew about on their own whim.
Well, if it didn’t do at least that much, the Gold would be wasted.
The parchment unfurled, and there were more names below.
Belentche’s name was there, and so was Hayden’s.
Ann scrolled further down the list.
As she reached the end of the parchment, she found her greatest headache.
[Nadan Preneta ★★★★★★]
“You should have told me such a method existed!”
Ann jumped to her feet and tapped his name.
Why had she suffered all this time?
The sound of coins pouring from the sky echoed. The number beside her balance decreased.
At the same moment, the rolled parchment transformed into an elegant letter, then vanished with a whoosh before her eyes.
Five Gold had vanished in a heartbeat, and though she’d witnessed something remarkable, she felt far more drained than delighted.
“These inconsiderate, bizarre spells.”
She couldn’t say how much anguish she’d endured over this.
Worrying endlessly about how to slip the Count into this spring without drawing suspicion!
Had she known such a method existed, she’d have ventured here long ago.
Ann grumbled inwardly.
“Well, it’s resolved now. That should do it.”
With that major concern gone, Ann decided to return to enjoying her bath.
“I wonder how long the Magical Letter will take.”
Ann munched on cookies, speaking her thoughts aloud.
Given how swiftly it vanished, it should arrive on the Count’s desk by tomorrow at the latest.
Then I’ll feign ignorance and make sure to place it at the very top of his papers.
Ann was making these plans when it happened.
“Huh?”
The air in the spring suddenly stirred.
What was that?
Ann hastily submerged herself in the water and looked around cautiously.
When the spring activated, thick mist accumulated in layers as if sealing off the outside world, making it difficult to see beyond.
Even in this cozy, quiet space where she heard only the sound of flowing water, an inexplicable unease crept over her.
“This won’t do. I should leave now.”
Ann quickly gathered the snacks and utensils she’d been enjoying like a noble and stuffed them all into her Inventory.
“My clothes—where did I put them…?”
But no matter how much she rummaged through her Inventory, her discarded clothes didn’t appear.
This was a problem. She’d stored too much; she couldn’t find them at all!
Had she not put them in here? That couldn’t be right.
Ann searched her memory. She was certain that today, when the Count hadn’t left his room, she’d thought to herself ‘oh, well’ and….
“Oh! I left them over there!”
No matter how extraordinary the possessions one owns, if one cannot break free from old habits, nothing truly changes.
Ana realized, with a sharp mental grimace, that she had left her shoes and clothes neatly folded by the spring’s edge before entering.
The place where she’d left her garments was in the opposite direction entirely. She would have to venture back through this fog to retrieve them.
She should have put them in her Inventory.
Ana swallowed her regret, wrapped herself in a towel, and rose to her feet.
Splash.
……Just now—didn’t she hear something?
Ana turned around.
It sounded like something large had entered the water.
“……A wild animal?”
This region was an unsorted hunting ground where beasts often descended from the mountains.
Though she had never seen them near the spring itself.
‘Animals do frequent the water’s edge often enough.’
Rustle.
Ana flinched at the sound.
Something moved again. This time it was no mistake—she was certain of it.
There was someone here.
By this spring.
Below.
“-”
A voice echoed through the mist, humming and indistinct.
It was unmistakably human—not any animal.
Ana’s breath caught. She hurriedly sank back into the water. The splash rang out loudly.
“Is someone there?”
This time the voice came through somewhat clearer.
Whether it was the thick fog obscuring everything or simply the work of a particularly cruel fairy, the stranger’s voice echoed from a location she could not pinpoint.
It seemed distant one moment, near the next…….
Why now of all times!
‘I absolutely cannot let them see me like this!’

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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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