I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 128

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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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Serna gripped Ron’s hand tightly.
“Calm yourself. Come now, take a deep breath with me. In through your nose—out through your mouth—”
Though he teetered on the brink of losing his reason to fury, Ron obediently followed Serna’s breathing rhythm, his breath gradually steadying.
The armrests of the chair Ron had been sitting in—made of metal—were completely shattered.
Ron’s office was saturated with killing intent.
Yet that murderous aura peculiarly avoided Serna’s vicinity as it radiated outward.
Ron, afflicted with the incurable condition of being unable to direct his anger at his wife no matter how furious he became, took deep breaths to calm his mind.
“Serna, are you not angry?”
Serna’s eyes fell upon the back of Ron’s hand.
The veins stood out far more prominently than usual.
When Ron was truly enraged, his hands became like this—a secret only Serna knew.
Serna squeezed the hand she held with renewed force.
“I’m angry. Truly, I’m furious beyond measure. They crossed the line.”
“It seems we have been far too enamored with peace all this time, Serna.”
“But Kriass is already dead. There is no longer a target upon which to direct our anger.”
“Serna, do you truly believe this was Kriass’s act alone?”
Serna was not without anger.
In fact, she was even more furious than Ron.
Which was precisely why she insisted they prepare all the more thoroughly.
“I don’t believe it was his act alone either. The Mage Federation’s influence surely played a role. However, they have firmly declared it a personal transgression by Kriass. They even said they would gift all of Kriass’s assets to us as an apology. If we declare war here, it is we who will appear foolish. We lack justification, and more critically, our people are far too frightened. Regardless of the facts, we are fearsome and barbaric sword demons, while the Mage Federation are gentle and wise people of wisdom.”
“Who thinks such a thing?”
“Most do. Villorian has paid no mind to politics or media for five hundred years. Image-making is something only cowards and petty people concern themselves with, they say.”
Yet the fact that Villorian had endured for five hundred years was itself proof of how formidable their swordsmanship truly was.
“If this was the Federation’s will, we must investigate with greater precision and subtlety.”
“….”
“No. In truth, whether this was their will or not is irrelevant.”
“What do you mean?”
“Regardless of the facts, I have no intention of letting them off lightly.”
I already know that Isabel possesses exceptional magical talent.
I know this will continue to displease the Mage Federation.
Even without this incident, Isabel and the Federation were bound to clash repeatedly.
Of course, if the Federation was behind this incident, I would exact vengeance all the more ruthlessly.
“I have resolved to bring them to their knees. Our daughter’s time is not long. Even filled only with happiness and joy, it is far too brief.”
“….”
“I wish to give our daughter a happier world. I intend to show Isabel’s enemies exactly who her mother is.”
Ron gazed upon Serna.
Within Serna burned a flame colder than ice, raging fiercely.
Though her manner of anger differed from Ron’s, Serna was undoubtedly enraged.
“Leave it to me. Slowly, gradually, but with absolute precision, I will prepare.”
Serna bit her lip.
Mother carried an enormous weight of guilt in her heart like a lump of iron—guilt toward her children that never truly faded.
The Empire’s affairs consumed her so completely.
She had scarcely spent any time with her children, always citing her busy schedule as an excuse.
Though she had earned the epithet “the Benevolent Sovereign” and become a wonderful mother to the Empire’s people, she had failed to be a good mother to her own children.
That guilt had always weighed heavily upon Serna’s heart.
And now, such a calamity had befallen them.
With her remorse toward her children compounding her fury, her anger became utterly uncontrollable.
Ron, reading the depths of Serna’s heart, nodded solemnly.
This time, Ron squeezed Serna’s hand with all his strength.
“Serna, I believe in you.”
“Thank you.”
“And should the day ever come, command me with your will. I shall become your mightiest blade.”
Serna smiled softly.
It was indeed a warm smile befitting the Benevolent Sovereign.
“When that day comes, I ask only that you dance with your sword.”
Father’s sword dance.
* * *
The bombardment of Calphoa Village left countless wounds upon its residents.
The Mage Federation issued a sweeping apology at the federation level and pledged to confiscate all of Kriass’s assets and donate them to the Imperial House.
Furthermore, the Mage Federation stepped forward actively to aid in Calphoa’s disaster recovery and paid the bereaved families an astronomical sum in compensation.
Officially, it was announced as “a misunderstanding and hasty mistake born of Kriass’s misguided sense of justice.”
Two days after the assault, Isabel finally regained consciousness.
“Your Highness?”
Someone suddenly embraced Isabel tightly.
Though his frame was far larger than hers, in this moment it seemed smaller.
“I thought I was losing you again.”
“I…”
Isabel pushed away from Biatone’s embrace.
“Please, Teacher. Let me go.”
“…”
Biatone withdrew, his expression as though he had lost the entire world.
“Does my body smell so unpleasant to you?”
He had rushed here the moment he heard the news.
There had been no time to bathe or apply any fragrance.
“It’s not that, Teacher. Your emotions are overwhelming me—it’s too much to bear right now.”
Biatone had said “again.”
That immense despair—the fear of losing someone precious a second time—had transmitted directly into Isabel’s heart, and it was more than her newly awakened mind could endure.
“It’s not because of any smell from me, is it?”
“No. Never!”
For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, Biatone always carried a refreshing fragrance about him.
It was quite an impressive back, and I found myself wanting to bury my nose in it and breathe in its scent.
‘But she’d hate that if I actually did it, wouldn’t she?’
I decided to restrain myself.
Biatone responded.
“…I understand. Then I shall wait a moment.”
Biatone had already regained his composure.
And he heard the full account from Armitel and Isabel.
“So, to summarize—you cannot be certain of the exact circumstances, but when you came to your senses, Kriass was already collapsed, correct?”
“Yes. When I checked, he had already stopped breathing. And as you know….”
We could not properly collect evidence.
The moment the Investigator hastily dispatched from the Empire touched Kriass’s body, it vanished like smoke.
“You confirmed with certainty that he had stopped breathing?”
“From what I observed, yes. However, given that the opponent was a Mage of the Creation tier, he may have left behind some other trick.”
Thus, like Wilhelm, Kriass was also classified as missing.
Biatone searched the scene for any other clues that might exist.
There were some rather useless testimonies.
[I protected Isabel.]
“Right. Let’s say you protected her, Kim Weakbones.”
[Not weakbones.]
[Am real king.]
[I defeated him.]
“According to General Armitel’s account, you fainted the moment Kriass appeared?”
The Ratel, sensing Kriass’s overwhelming presence, had bristled its fur and bared its teeth, but it was crushed by the killing intent emanating from the Creation Mage and lost consciousness.
In this battle, Kim Beolkkot’s presence had been extremely minimal.
“Or how about we call you Kim Fainter? Since you passed out right away?”
[Lies!]
[Kim Beolkkot did not faint!]
Grrrrr!
Kim Beolkkot curled back his lips and growled at Biatone.
On the surface, that was true, but internally, Kim Beolkkot’s heart was conflicted.
He kept hearing what seemed like phantom voices.
-You saw it too, didn’t you? That terrifying creature?
Kim Beolkkot answered internally.
When the mysterious voice reached him, Kim Beolkkot became capable of higher-dimensional thought and conversation.
-The Ratel does not fear.
-That dragon violated the laws of its race. That power was certainly the power of a dragon, a power that should not be used while in human form.
-Kim Beolkkot does not understand. What are you talking about?
-Remember. How that dragon drew upon and used its true power during play. If that dragon could do it, then so can we.
Kim Beolkkot closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.
He wasn’t sure why, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
—If we cannot discover that method, we will lose Isabel. Someday, we will have to part from her.
Kim Beolkkot sprang to his feet.
[I don’t want to.]
Tears like chicken droppings streamed down Kim Beolkkot’s eyes.
Parting from Isabel? That was far too horrible to bear.
Kim Beolkkot dashed toward Aselia lying on the bed and bounded onto her belly.
[Teach me.]
Startled, Isabel rushed over and lifted Kim Beolkkot up.
“Kim Beolkkot! Ria is a patient. You must be more careful.”
[Teach me!]
A subtle blankness had crept into Kim Beolkkot’s eyes, though Isabel failed to notice it.
Biatone alone detected that subtle shift.
Yet Biatone remained silent, merely watching Kim Beolkkot, as Isabel asked again.
“Teach you what?”
[How to do bad things!]
Only after speaking did Kim Beolkkot suddenly regain clarity.
Kim Beolkkot had no memory whatsoever of what he had just said.

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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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