I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 126
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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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“I never had a single friend my own age. But then I made one. Her name is Yuri. She’s my closest friend. She’s so incredibly precious to me.”
Yuri, standing behind Isabel, found her mood lifting without even realizing it.
Sunlight streaming through the window happened to illuminate her, warming both body and soul.
‘Me too. The Princess is precious to me as well.’
She spoke only with the shape of her lips, making no sound.
Isabel wouldn’t hear it, but for now, that was enough.
Meanwhile, a brief back-and-forth unfolded between Isabel and Aselia.
“How could I possibly accept something so precious?”
“Because it’s precious, I want to give it to someone precious.”
Isabel finally spoke.
“As Princess, I command it. Accept it.”
“…I shall obey your command.”
“I’m not giving you poison or anything. Why do you look so gloomy?”
“It’s just that…”
“You feel apologetic?”
“Yes, I feel apologetic.”
Isabel spoke at the exact same moment as Aselia.
Aselia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“How did you…”
“How did you…”
Even that was identical.
Aselia blinked rapidly.
It felt as though Isabel had peered directly into her mind.
“In moments like this, you should say thank you, not I’m sorry.”
“…Thank you.”
“Good. Try it on now. I hope it suits you well.”
Finally, Aselia hesitated before placing the wig on her head with trembling hands.
It was far higher quality than the one General Armitel had made, whose aesthetic sense was rather lacking.
Yuri, who had crafted the wig herself, found her palms growing damp with anticipation.
Apart from a certain jealousy she felt toward Aselia, Yuri also hoped the wig would suit her beautifully.
Seeing Aselia in the wig, an exclamation escaped Yuri’s lips.
‘It looks wonderful on her!’
But that wasn’t the end of it.
‘Something’s strange…’
As someone who wasn’t a Mage, Yuri found it difficult to comprehend what was happening.
‘Why is the hair…?’
The color was changing from the roots.
Though she couldn’t quite understand it, it appeared as though Isabel’s hair and Aselia’s hair were blending together.
Like watercolors mixing.
Just when she thought the roots were staining black, a shimmering spectrum of mysterious light began to form.
A soft glow seeped out, and her hair color transformed completely.
Isabel gasped without thinking.
“Beautiful.”
I had placed a wig on her, yet real hair had materialized.
There was no time to logically interpret this bizarre phenomenon.
That emerald hue that had suddenly appeared was truly lovely.
「Arun would often let out a deep sigh—ah—without realizing it.」
Isabel did the same.
A sigh escaped me without thinking.
Merely changing her hair color had transformed Aselia’s entire presence so dramatically.
Her eyes remained black, but her hair was unmistakably the “emerald-hued locks” described in the novel.
Isabel received a profound shock.
‘She clearly resembled me so much before….’
Only her hair had changed.
‘Yet she’s become so beautiful.’
Her skin was still dull and her complexion remained poor.
Despite this, she appeared far more beautiful.
‘Even though she looks so similar to my old face.’
I began to wonder if I had simply misremembered my own appearance.
Ultimately, Isabel arrived at one conclusion.
I was beautiful too—I simply never loved myself for it.
Meanwhile, Aselia gently ran her fingers through her hair.
“What is happening?”
Armitel was equally startled.
“Princess, what on earth is this phenomenon…!”
“I’m not entirely sure either. Something seems to have occurred during the process of copying and applying the magical formula….”
Perhaps there had been some minor mistake.
For now, I couldn’t determine what it was.
Especially since all the existing formulas inscribed on ‘Libel’—the only clue that might have helped identify the cause—had been completely destroyed.
“I’m not sure, but it’s beautiful. The hair color change is a bit concerning, but… I hope Ria likes it. What do you think?”
Aselia threw off her blanket and rose from the bed.
Though the same age as Isabel, she was far shorter and more frail.
Aselia approached Isabel and suddenly embraced her tightly.
“How could I possibly dislike it?”
“Uh, huh?”
Like Kim Beolggol, Aselia buried her face against Isabel’s chest.
“May I love you?”
“….”
“No, I will love you. Please let me love you. Thank you, Princess. I feel as though I’ve been given the world as a gift.”
The way she spoke with such sincerity, each word deliberate and clear, was utterly endearing.
Perhaps because her hair color had changed, she felt distinctly different from my former self.
It was as if I had gained a cute younger sister.
Isabel recalled a fact she had forgotten.
‘That’s right. Aselia was the original heroine.’
And not just any heroine—the famous sunshine heroine.
That sunshine heroine was nestled in Isabel’s embrace.
She looked just like a hamster.
‘Ah… I actually liked the sunshine heroine.’
Kim Beolggol crossed his arms and snorted.
[Somewhat threatening.]
[Correcting.]
[Decidedly threatening.]
* * *
Recently, the Magical Federation had been closely monitoring the movements of the Villorian Sword Empire.
The Magical Federation was expanding its power by increasing the number of “Founding Mages” from the original five to a full twelve. (One of them, Wilhelm, was currently missing, making the practical number eleven.)
Kriass, one of the elder Founding Mages, received welcome news.
“So Biatone isn’t at the Princess’s side right now.”
Kriass was a Founding Mage who had attended the recent Sky Island public debate as a VIP and mediator on behalf of the Magical Federation.
At that time, Kriass had probed Biatone, attempting to discern Villorian’s true intentions.
However, since the opponent was who he was, there had been little gain.
‘Still detestable, that Biatone.’
‘Still aged, Lord Kriass.’
‘It’s remarkable your tongue wasn’t severed after studying magic under Duke Robena.’
‘My tongue happens to be quite sturdy.’
It was practically that sort of exchange.
‘Is the use of the Teisabel Teleportation Gate Villorian’s will or the Duke’s will?’
When he asked, he received only the absurd answer that it was the Princess’s will.
Though there was little concrete gain, one thing became clear.
The Villorian imperial family was undoubtedly scheming something sinister using the Princess.
Those who had shown no interest in public opinion campaigns were now participating in them, building the Princess’s image as a beacon of sunshine.
Those who had not actively engaged in politics were now pouring effort into it, infiltrating the daily lives of countless people through instant noodles and the Teisabel Teleportation Gate.
From the Magical Federation’s perspective, this was something to be extremely wary of.
“Are you certain? Biatone truly isn’t at her side?”
“Yes, that is correct. I have confirmed it multiple times.”
“Where has he gone?”
“Recently, he has been frequenting Barcalt Lake.”
“All the way to that distant place?”
“It appears he is making active use of the Teisabel Teleportation Gate.”
“Is there any chance Beksah might directly intervene in the world?”
“I believe there is none. She realized the power she possesses is far too immense and chose seclusion of her own accord. Did she not publicly declare she would not exert influence upon the world? I do not believe she will break that principle.”
Beksah, Biatone’s mother.
She was a prodigy of unparalleled genius, the kind that appeared once in a thousand years, if ever.
If Beksah—the Transcendent Mage who reigned supreme over all Transcendent Mages—were to aid Biatone, matters would become exceedingly troublesome.
No, troublesome wasn’t the right word. It would become dangerous.
“Rest assured. Beksah has barely encountered Biatone over the past several decades. They might as well be strangers. There is no reason she would lend her strength to Villorian now.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Isabel had dealt a tremendous humiliation to the Magical Federation and the Culinary Association at the conference.
It was tantamount to insulting every Transcendent Mage leading the Magical Federation.
“What was that place called? Calpora? What about her escort?”
“A mid-ranking general is accompanying her, managed under strict confidentiality. He is of commoner origin, and his name is Armitel. He is presumed to be the chief administrator of the Jirdel Base Camp.”
“That much is manageable. I hear Calpora harbors some truly vicious murderers, and wretched residents who hide them. Let me see where we’ve pinpointed their location… roughly around here, I’d estimate.”
He pointed to a section of the map.
It was the location where General Armitel’s residence stood.
“….”
Of course, there were no vicious murderers or residents hiding them.
But if they didn’t exist, they could be created.
“Select a few from the underground prison and send them. And issue a Level 3 Buster.”
“L-Level 3, sir?”
‘Buster’ meant indiscriminate bombardment.
Unleashing widespread magical artillery across a broad area.
That was a Buster.
Divided into five total tiers, a Level 3 Buster was of the caliber used in small-scale wars.
It was also the maximum intensity Buster that could be deployed without a formal declaration of war.
Many innocent lives would be sacrificed.
“L-Level 3 Buster, correct?”
“Yes. Only that intensity will ensure no incriminating evidence remains. Move quickly. Before Biatone returns.”
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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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