I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 106

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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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“Who goes there!”
Man Karp spun around and shot to his feet.
No one stood behind him, yet a voice echoed through the air.
“You have rendered countless services to the Empire, and yet all that returns to you is ‘how dare a commoner presume.'”
“Reveal yourself.”
“The Royal Family’s bureaucrats claimed they could not grant you the rank of brigadier general. They ranted and raved about how one of common blood could never command the knights of noble houses. Naturally, you were never awarded any commendations. No matter how extraordinary your achievements, commendations remain beyond your reach. Yet the Princess—she receives commendations simply for being born a Princess, and has even obtained the privilege to move freely through all garrison posts.”
Black energy seeped from Man Karp’s shadow, coiling around his body.
An unidentifiable voice whispered into his ear.
“Go. Seek vengeance against the Royal Family who trampled your honor and pride.”
As mysterious magical power seeped into Man Karp’s body, his eyes lost all focus.
“…Ven…geance…!”
“There is no sweeter revenge than harming Isabel. Go forth and elevate the great name of Man Karp.”
The voice scattered upon the wind.
“Remember. The noble name of the one who commands you is Wilhelm de Mara Lactian.”
Man Karp began walking, sword in hand.
He encountered soldiers conducting night patrols along the way.
Captain Lucain was among them.
“Attention. Salute.”
The patrol members saluted Man Karp, but he passed through them without acknowledgment.
One of the patrol members spoke up.
“Hey, doesn’t something seem off?”
“When aren’t the commanders acting strange?”
“Still, something felt… did he drink?”
“Don’t make eye contact. He’ll definitely order us to pull weeds again.”
Captain Lucain watched the receding figure of Brigadier General Man Karp with a tilted head.
It was difficult to articulate exactly what, but something was decidedly wrong.
During their patrol, they reported their observations to the Third Prince Kaman, who oversaw night patrol duties in this sector.
“Nothing particularly alarming, but… Brigadier General Man Karp seemed somewhat odd.”
“What was odd about him?”
“He appeared intoxicated. His gait was strange. And….”
Lucain hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
“Speak plainly.”
“It may be excessive concern, but he appeared to be walking toward where the Princess is staying.”
* * *
Man Karp stood before the barracks where Princess Isabel was lodged.
“At your service.”
Two soldiers standing guard at the barracks entrance saluted.
“I have business with the Princess.”
“At this… hour?”
“Did I ask you to question me?”
The soldier straightened his posture and stood at attention.
“No, sir.”
“Step aside.”
…
In the military, hierarchy is everything.
The soldiers lacked both the strength and authority to stand against Man Karp.
Before the soldier could even speak, Man Karp strode forward with long, purposeful steps.
“Until I give further orders, let no one inside.”
“Yes, understood.”
Within this Base Camp, Man Karp was second-in-command.
Even Kaman, though a prince, held lower authority than Man Karp in this place.
The soldiers whispered among themselves.
“Is this really okay?”
“If it’s not okay, what can we do? What power do we have?”
“That’s true enough.”
“Should we file a report just in case?”
“That report would just go up to Brigadier Man Karp anyway. What’s the point?”
“Y-yeah, that’s right.”
“In situations like this, it’s best to stay quiet. Let’s just keep our heads down.”
Man Karp walked into the barracks.
The interior was spacious enough that reaching Isabel’s sleeping quarters required a considerable walk.
Shing—
A clear blade sang through the air.
In Brigadier Man Karp’s right hand gleamed his beloved sword, “Crimson Moon,” its blade stained red.
—Kill her.
It sounded like someone was whispering.
That voice drove Man Karp forward.
Thud, thud.
He walked toward Isabel’s bed.
In the distance, two small feet peeked out from beneath the blanket.
‘There.’
Man Karp moved toward them.
He stood before Isabel and raised his blade.
Man Karp grinned wickedly.
‘How easy.’
He never imagined killing could be this simple.
Yet he could move no further. A chill ran down the back of his neck.
A small voice whispered near his ear.
“Keep your mouth shut. If that child wakes up, I’ll slit your carotid artery.”
Someone stood behind Man Karp, pressing a dagger against the nape of his neck.
I sensed a chilling killing intent emanating from Man Karp’s sharp aura.
‘A woman?’
Within this Base Camp, there was only one woman capable of completely masking her aura and catching him from behind.
But this wasn’t her voice.
“Who are you?”
“Does it matter? Drop the sword and raise both hands.”
With his back completely compromised, Man Karp obediently complied with her command.
“Come with me.”
She applied pressure as she walked Man Karp outside.
The soldiers’ eyes widened.
“M-Major!”
“Major!”
Kiruen, the woman holding a short sword to Man Karp’s throat, spoke.
“All of you, keep your mouths shut.”
Once she’d put sufficient distance between herself and Isabel, Kiruen released her aura.
The soldiers felt overwhelming terror from the aura of a martial master of Kiruen’s caliber deliberately unleashing her power.
Despite this, one soldier found the courage to speak.
“W-what are you doing? Do you know who this man is?”
“A would-be assassin, you bastard.”
Kiruen stated the matter plainly and concisely.
“This man attempted to assassinate a member of the Royal Family. I’ve apprehended him as a caught criminal and will transport him to the Royal Palace.”
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes, a misunderstanding. What possible reason would I have to assassinate the Princess?”
Man Karp remained remarkably composed, and the soldiers grew unsettled.
“R-right. It must be a misunderstanding.”
“Why would Major Man Karp commit such a reckless act?”
A commotion erupted.
Soldiers and knights began gathering one by one around the scene.
To their eyes, Kiruen appeared far more suspicious than Man Karp.
Within the Base Camp, she was holding a sword to the throat of the second-in-command and threatening him.
“Let’s talk about this after you lower that sword.”
“I told you, I’ve apprehended a caught criminal.”
Man Karp exhaled a long sigh and spoke.
“Do you have proof?”
“The sword you dropped in the barracks is your proof.”
“That sword is called the Crimson Moon. It’s a blade I treasure dearly. I heard the Princess was learning swordplay, so I visited the barracks to gift her my sword.”
“At this late hour, informally?”
“If I presented the sword with great ceremony and fanfare, my pure intention would be diluted and interpreted merely as political maneuvering. I simply wished to gift my beloved blade to the Princess without anyone knowing.”
Kiruen found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
I wanted nothing more than to draw the short blade in my hand and strike immediately, but there were far too many eyes watching.
‘I should have just beaten him senseless from the start, the way my nature demands.’
People truly do live according to their disposition.
I’d been trying to spare Isabel’s sensibilities, avoiding any display of brutality, attempting to resolve matters rationally and maturely—only to find myself at an impasse.
“Listen! You’re making a grave mistake. Release Brigadier General immediately.”
“A mistake, yes. I should have just beaten him without hesitation.”
Then, a man emerged from the gathered crowd, parting through them.
His title was Imperial Chief Advisor.
As the Emperor’s direct aide, he was Viscount Biatonn—a figure wielding authority second only to the Emperor himself.
He approached with a radiant smile.
“Well, Brigadier General Man Karp.”
“Ah, Viscount Biatonn. It seems someone has arrived to clear up this misunderstanding.”
Man Karp turned his head to examine Kiruen’s face.
Her expression had grown rigid and tense.
Seeing that face, Man Karp’s confidence surged even higher.
“So you’re that mad woman who was discharged for assaulting a superior officer. How do you expect to survive in this harsh world with such a mind? Viscount Biatonn, would you kindly clear up this misunderstanding?”
Kiruen stared at Biatonn with a hardened expression.
Long ago, so distant that memories had faded, Kiruen had been Biatonn’s friend and lover.
That was why she understood what that radiant expression of his truly meant.
Biatonn’s lips curved upward in a bright, crystalline smile.
This was the expression he wore when he was genuinely angry.
“A misunderstanding? Very well.”
Biatonn approached Kiruen closely and extended his palm.
“Kiruen. Hand over the short blade to me.”
“…What if I refuse?”
“You’ll have to give it regardless.”
Biatonn’s eyes had narrowed to slits.
He was the former Sword Demon that Kiruen knew all too well.
…
Biatonn smiled faintly.
Kiruen questioned him with her gaze.
‘Is this alright?’
Biatonn nodded once.
It felt as though she could hear his unspoken words: ‘Don’t worry, I won’t kill him this time.’
In the end, Biatonn received the short blade from Kiruen.
Man Karp’s confidence soared even higher.
“Hahaha! At last the misunderstanding is being resolved!”
Then Biatonn swung the short blade.
Apart from Kiruen, scarcely anyone present could read his movements.
Biatonn’s swordsmanship was nothing short of miraculous.
A cold, razor-sharp blade traced an eerie arc through the air, and in that same instant, Man Karp’s upper garment was shredded to tatters, fluttering in the wind.
“What—what are you doing, Viscount Biatonn!”
Biatone’s gaze fell upon Man Karp’s shoulder.
Upon discovering the strange marking on the shoulder, Biatone grinned wickedly and spoke.
“You.”
“…Did you just call out to me?”
“Wilhelm, you bastard, show yourself.”
Man Karp could not utter a single word.
Meanwhile, Biatone examined the skull-like marking etched upon Man Karp’s shoulder with intense scrutiny.
‘It’s the same as with the One-Eyed Giant.’
Somehow, the scent was strangely similar to that time.
Man Karp appeared to have fallen into some scheme of Wilhelm’s.
Biatone leaned forward and whispered into Man Karp’s ear.
“Wilhelm. I will find you, no matter what.”
It was not a statement meant for Man Karp.
It was a warning directed at Wilhelm, who existed beyond Man Karp, spiritually connected to him.
Cold sweat streamed down Man Karp’s back.
But then, a voice was heard.
“Is something wrong?”
Isabel, dressed in nightclothes, walked out while rubbing one eye.
She held Beolkkot the badger clutched tightly like a doll.
“Sister? Viscount Biatonn?”
And in that instant, something extraordinary occurred.
Man Karp’s body stretched like a shadow—elongating and extending toward Isabel.
His form resembled that of an evil spirit.
Kiruen screamed.
“Princess!”

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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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