I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 139

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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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Ron furrowed his brow and stepped outside.
He had no idea how to be a good father.
The best he could manage was to exhaust himself for them and at least be present on their birthdays.
“It must be an important matter.”
Biatone was displeased.
“Your Majesty, why did I have to come out here? Surely you’re not being so petty as to demand I suffer because you’re suffering?”
“….”
“Right, right. Sigh. But tell me, what on earth is this matter that Servant Dailsa needs to hear as well?”
Biatone grumbled while faithfully performing his duties as Ron’s secretary.
The knight of the Black Whale organization opened his mouth carefully.
“Viscount Lancer’s….”
He glanced at Servant Dailsa’s expression.
But he had no choice but to speak.
“He has passed away.”
Biatone’s body went rigid.
Lancer had been assigned the task of tracking Wilhelm in Biatone’s stead.
During that operation, he met with an accident.
Ron also found it difficult to open his mouth.
Dailsa was the first to speak.
“What does it matter?”
“….”
“Today is the Princess’s birthday.”
It was already her ninth birthday.
Twelve more remained.
“If you don’t wish to ruin today, return quietly to your duties and carry on with your work.”
“…I understand.”
The knight who had delivered the report departed.
Dailsa turned his body with an unmoved expression to face the Emperor.
“It’s nothing of consequence.”
“….”
“Had he returned without any gains, I would have handled it myself. If he met with an accident, then there’s something weighing on him. We now have a definite reason to pursue Wilhelm. He left having accomplished something.”
“Dailsa.”
“I am fine.”
Ron pondered for a moment.
For a woman who had lost her husband, she was far too composed and indifferent.
Yet somehow it seemed genuine, which only confused him further.
Biatone stepped forward by one pace.
“Your Majesty, allow me to handle matters here. Won’t you go inside first?”
“….”
“I’m giving you even one more second with the adorable Princess. You know I’d rather not do this either?”
Ron didn’t answer. He turned and walked back to his room.
Left alone, Biatone spoke.
“I won’t offer you sentimental comfort. You were an honorable knight who commanded the Black Whale, after all. I bear some responsibility myself, but I won’t apologize. That would be a disrespect to Viscount Lancer, who faithfully carried out his duty.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Go back to your room and rest. Whether you cry openly, cry quietly, scream at the top of your lungs, sleep as if you’ve given up on everything, or grieve while holding Viscount Lancer’s photograph—do whatever your heart needs.”
Biatone had lost someone precious before.
So he understood how profound that loss truly was.
“But don’t pretend everything is fine, don’t act as though you only care about the Princess.”
“…Did you say pretend?”
“Whether you like it or not, it will eventually reach the Princess’s ears. And then she’ll surely dwell on today. Do you still not know her?”
“…”
“Her only wish is to be remembered by the world as a good person. But what if she learns of today’s situation?”
“…”
“If a wife who has learned of her husband’s death pretends to be happy for the Princess’s own birthday? If she forced herself to smile for the Princess without even a moment to grieve? What do you think the Princess will feel? Don’t make the Princess blame herself.”
“…”
“So go back and rest.”
Dailsa was Biatone’s comrade and friend.
Their personal bond wasn’t particularly deep, but the affection they held for each other was genuine.
Dailsa understood that fact well.
Biatone’s words seemed to consider only the Princess Isabel, but that wasn’t entirely true.
Biatone had given Dailsa a reason to return to his room alone and grieve.
“Thank you.”
“I thought you’d call me unlucky.”
“…”
Dailsa didn’t answer and walked on, with Biatone following behind.
“Why are you following me?”
“You probably don’t want me here, but I’ll stay by your side.”
“I don’t need it.”
“I recently lost my mother too.”
“…”
“I thought it wouldn’t hurt much, but it hurt terribly. It felt like my heart was breaking. I thought I’d collapse completely and never be able to stand again, but having just one person by my side helped me rise again. I learned that, so I should give back.”
“Is that one person the Princess?”
Biatone nodded and spoke.
“Don’t be alone. That’s incredibly hard.”
* * *
Kaman was a man of few words.
He stood in one corner of Isabel’s room, simply watching.
He seemed somewhat like a scarecrow.
Yet his heart was fuller than ever before.
‘I wish every day could be Isabel’s birthday.’
This was the image of family he had dreamed of as a child.
Laughing together over trivial things, remembering small occasions and celebrating them together.
That picture, which he had only dreamed of before abandoning, now unfolded before his eyes.
On the surface he appeared composed, but his heart was soft and vulnerable.
Sermon felt the same way.
Sermon stood beside Kaman and spoke.
“I’m not entirely sure, but I can’t think of a single person I need to kill.”
Usually at least one person comes to mind.
But there was no such person.
Perhaps because of that, my heart felt remarkably at peace today.
“Ahahahahaha!”
Michael seemed to have no thoughts at all.
* * *
Teacher Biatone had organized and planned this party, yet he was nowhere to be seen.
‘I hope nothing serious has happened.’
My biological father laughed lightly, saying it was nothing to worry about.
‘Oh, he laughed!’
It was a truly precious gift to me.
He had only smiled slightly, yet even a thread of anxiety melted away completely.
Grandfather Tesleron stepped forward with a measured pace.
“Ahem, next we shall have the gift presentation ceremony.”
Oh my. Gifts, you say.
There was no need to give such things.
There was no need for such a grand gift presentation ceremony.
Michael poked my shoulder sharply.
“Hey, your expression looks really weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like some dimwitted monster trying to suppress a smile, your mouth corners trembling.”
Michael placed a finger against his own lips and vibrated it rapidly.
In any case, it was quite grand, but there was indeed a gift presentation ceremony.
It had been such a wonderful time overall, but then one person approached me hesitantly.
“Your Highness. This is a gift from Viscount Biatone.”
Then Tesleron coughed loudly.
“Hey! It’s a gift from both Biatone and Karin! Why? Are you too embarrassed to give gifts on a birthday?”
“….”
Karin glanced at Grandfather Tesleron with a resentful expression, then spoke again.
“Yes. It is a gift that Viscount Biatone and I prepared together… however.”
From what I heard, it seemed Karin didn’t think this was a real gift.
Something about needing my magical power.
“You’re giving me a gift, but I have to infuse it with my magical power to complete it? That’s a gift?”
“I, I don’t know…”
Karin’s ears flushed slightly red.
It didn’t quite match her awakened dark nature, but that expression itself was rather endearing.
“I was joking. What should I do?”
Truth be told, my heart had been stolen.
I felt like a toy that runs when you put batteries in it.
A nine-year-old’s heart was like a reed—so easily swayed.
“That is…”
Karin continued to hesitate.
I didn’t know why, but it seemed terribly awkward.
Grandfather Tesleron exclaimed, “Goodness! How frustrating!” and stepped in front of me.
“Do you remember the cloud carpet from before?”
It was rather presumptuous for an Imperial scholar to speak to the Princess that way, but it didn’t matter.
That was the condition for Grandfather Tesleron’s naturalization.
Everyone knew that.
Ah, it seemed General Armitel didn’t know.
He looked displeased, and it seemed he was planning to visit Grandfather Tesleron quietly later, so I decided to pretend I didn’t notice.
“Yes. Though it was terrifying.”
Viscount Biatonn surely knew I was afraid of heights—so why did he do that?
Now that I thought about it, there seemed to be a reason.
“Beyond the clouds, to that far end. It was the widest world we could show you, the broadest vista we could capture with our sight, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose it was.”
“Then recall that. Powerful mana extending beyond the sky to that distant horizon. Cold-attribute mana, and I’d prefer it if there were some kind of impurity mixed in. Though I’m not sure if it’s possible, anyway, could you give it a try?”
“I understand cold-attribute mana, but what kind of impurity are you talking about?”
“What was it again… Karin, what was it?”
Teacher Karin spoke softly.
“Arctic Ice Water, sir.”
“…”
“Do you remember the incantation for Arctic Ice Water?”
Without realizing it, my face flushed bright red.
The incantation I had used back then was actually quite a stretch to call a proper magical chant.
‘Red bean shaved ice, red bean shaved ice, delicious red bean shaved ice, topped with sweet rice cake, condensed milk is the national standard. Arctic red bean shaved ice eaten together with my polar bear friend.’
Back then, I somehow managed to memorize the incantation, but I couldn’t reveal it publicly.
Absolutely not! Never! I’d rather go sledding down the Erbe Mountains!
Everyone would mock me.
As I was making this resolve, Grandfather Tesleron spoke.
“If you memorize that incantation, you might be able to restore Karin’s mana circuits.”
Karin interjected.
“I don’t think this is right. This is for me, not for the Princess. I apologize for the intrusion.”
For some reason, she seemed eager to flee from here.
So I revealed the magical incantation.
“Red bean shaved ice, red bean shaved ice, delicious red bean shaved ice, with injeolmi topping, and condensed milk because that’s the rule. Arctic red bean shaved ice enjoyed with my polar bear friend.”
Mortified beyond measure, I snatched the fragment from her hands and began pouring my mana into it.
The concrete manifestation of an image.
I had made arctic shaved ice with my own hands before, and I had even experienced the sky.
I imagined in my mind a world of ice stretching to the ends of the heavens.
Without realizing it, I was murmuring something.
It sounded like I was reciting an incantation.
‘What am I even saying?’
My head spun.
My consciousness seemed to drift away, as though I were dreaming.
The surroundings suddenly blazed with brightness, and I found myself inside a white cosmos.
“Really now. I can’t stop you, can I?”
Within that white cosmos, a barefoot pretty girl with emerald-colored hair and eyes spoke to me.

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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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