I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 157

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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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When Kim Beolggol first appeared in the imperial palace.
The “Haeil,” which had been silent for some time, let out a resonant cry—uwoong.
Haeil was the great sword that symbolized Villorian.
This blade was an imperial treasure passed down from the First Emperor, and it possessed a special ability.
‘A dragon, then.’
In truth, the real name of “Haeil” was “The Black Flame Dragon Sword of Final Ending, Destruction, and Transparency.”
It was said that the First Emperor received this sword as a gift from Kadelina, the worst black dragon in history.
This blade contained the power to discern dragons.
Moreover, it possessed the nature of emitting a specific magical wavelength when encountering a particular dragon, which revealed that Kim Beolggol and Arun were the same entity.
According to records, when Kadelina gifted this sword to the First Emperor, she warned him, “Don’t recklessly challenge dragons.”
In any case, thanks to Haeil, I had easily discerned Kim Beolggol’s true identity, so I wasn’t particularly surprised when he ransacked the imperial treasury.
‘Back then, I forgave him generously. And every day since, I have exercised patience watching him.’
Even when he clung to Isabel in his form as Kim Beolggol, I simply let it be.
Though he was male, he was still in an animal’s shape, and since Isabel adored Kim Beolggol so much, I endured it despite my displeasure.
‘But now he appears again?’
And as a strikingly handsome boy with only a two-year age difference from Isabel, no less.
At this point, his intentions could only be seen as extremely disrespectful.
Yet there was something strange about it.
‘He should be a young dragon.’
The records passed down exclusively to emperors contained relatively detailed descriptions of dragon habits and ecology.
At the author’s name on the very last page was written “Kadelina, the Strongest Black Flame Dragon on Earth.”
‘Then shouldn’t Kim Beolggol have no memories at all?’
Yet somehow, I kept seeing him overlap with Kim Beolggol.
Now “Arun’s” personality seemed quite different from Kim Beolggol’s, but as time passed, their personalities seemed to blend together more and more.
As a result, he gave off the distinct impression of “Biatone pretending to be normal.”
Ron wanted to say it.
‘That bastard is a dragon. And a male one at that.’
According to the records, dragons did not possess gender.
By human standards it was strange, but they could freely choose to take a male form if they wished or a female form if they preferred, and live accordingly.
It was said to be a racial characteristic of theirs, and they selected based on their own preferences.
‘Nonsense.’
Looking at Arun, I could see that was a lie.
Kim Beolggol and Arun were perfect males.
Isabel spoke.
“Prince Arun is Duke Robena’s hidden son, isn’t he?”
“And?”
“He has a noble status, but he’s been diligently training after joining the Black Whale for his cultivation.”
“And?”
“He seems like a philanderer.”
At those words, Ron couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.
It was a most desirable answer.
“Precisely.”
Arun felt deeply wronged.
“I find that difficult to accept.”
However, Ron cut off Arun’s chance to say more.
“Keep your distance from him. He’s no weakling, so there’s no need to take sides.”
“But compared to Father, he is the weaker one, isn’t he? Isn’t that right?”
Ron saw Isabel’s bright, sparkling eyes.
She looked just like his youngest daughter, who believed her father was the strongest in the world.
No. That one is a dragon. I couldn’t say such a thing.
“…That’s true.”
“You should know how to show mercy to the weak. How uncomfortable must Prince Arun be feeling?”
“Isabel. That one’s true identity is actually….”
Ron closed his mouth.
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
‘If I reveal the fact that he is Kim Beolggwol….’
Suddenly, images of Kim Beolggwol nestling naturally into Isabel’s arms came to mind.
In the fantasy, Kim Beolggwol had Arun’s face.
Ohohoho! Ahahaha! A panoramic fantasy of a flower field filled with laughter unfolded.
Ron nearly cried out.
‘Absolutely not! That will never happen!’
In the fantasy, Arun was placing a beautiful flower crown on that smug face and offering Isabel a ring.
Isabel asked again.
“What is it actually?”
“Actually, he’s a philanderer.”
“You already said that. You were trying to say something else, weren’t you?”
“No. I was just emphasizing that he’s a philanderer.”
“That’s not it. I’m sure it’s not. I know Father well.”
“Really, it’s not. I swear.”
Isabel was about to ask, “Can you swear on Mother?” but stopped herself.
‘Father gets a sickness where he can’t lie if he swears on Mother….’
One shouldn’t hold a patient’s illness hostage.
That would be sad.
Isabel continued speaking.
“Father. Do you know what the two worst things in the world are?”
“What are they?”
“One is leaving your words unfinished.”
“….”
“And the other is….”
Isabel closed her mouth.
* * *
Two days had passed since I arrived at Sky Island.
Based on the clues from the novel, I investigated the “unicorn-shaped mountain range” and discovered that the range was literally called the Unicorn Mountains.
We searched for the “jar-shaped village” within the Unicorn Mountains.
There were as many as seven such villages, and they were geographically far apart, so it seemed it would take quite a long time.
Another day passed, and we made camp halfway up the mountain range.
Crackle, crackle—the campfire blazed to life, and I sat down beside my Biological Father.
‘This is nice.’
Sitting beside my Biological Father, gazing into the flames.
It was a time I couldn’t have dreamed of before the possession, and a time I couldn’t have imagined even after it.
My Biological Father, who had once spoken harsh words calling me a useless child, now gently stayed by my side.
Arun seemed to know that I loved this time very much, so he excused himself to fetch water.
“What is your purpose?”
“I just want to be with you like this, Father….”
“Your eyes are wavering.”
“….”
“I believe you said with your own mouth that lying is wrong.”
“Hehe. I’ve been caught.”
Now that I thought about it, there were probably very few people who could laugh like this after lying to the Emperor and even getting caught.
It wasn’t a big deal, but it felt somehow special.
‘But how do I explain this?’
That I’m going to find Saint Maria.
This is something I couldn’t explain if I hadn’t read the novel.
But it seemed like it would be okay.
My Biological Father would understand my words, even if they weren’t entirely logical.
“I had a dream.”
“A dream?”
“There seems to be someone who can heal Brother Sermon. I’ve had the same dream more than ten times.”
When the name Sermon came up, my Biological Father flinched.
After a moment passed, my Biological Father asked.
“Do you hate Sermon?”
“I hated him terribly at first. Perhaps I… needed someone to hate.”
“….”
“But now I don’t hate him at all.”
I didn’t have time left to live in hatred—less than ten years remained.
Time was flowing by faster with each passing day.
“So? You’re wandering around here because of such a dream?”
“That’s part of it. And I’m also on a date with you, Father.”
“….”
“If it’s too much trouble, please tell me.”
“Don’t worry about being a burden to others. Just think about what would make you happier and more joyful.”
“But what if I become very selfish and wicked? What if everyone comes to hate me?”
I had done nothing wrong and was simply ill, yet it seemed like thousands of people hated me and cursed my name.
Since it was on the internet, I couldn’t count exactly, but that’s how it felt.
I didn’t know other people, yet they knew me and despised me—that terror consumed me.
I was truly afraid of that.
“I’m here.”
“Pardon?”
“I wish you were more selfish.”
It was a plain, clumsy thing to say, but it meant everything to me.
I felt certain that no matter what wrong I did, he would always be on my side.
“It means you can complain more, throw tantrums, and act selfishly if you want.”
“But I’m not a young child anymore.”
Even though I was only ten years old, I looked like a middle schooler or older.
In this world, that was practically an adult.
“In my eyes, you’re a child. Even when you’re twenty-two, you’ll still be a child to me.”
“….”
I rested my head on Father’s shoulder and watched the crackling campfire.
I had seen something like this on television once.
An eighty-year-old mother reminding her fifty-year-old son to drive safely.
They said that in a parent’s eyes, their children remain children no matter how old they grow.
Realizing this was what a parent truly was, my heart swelled with warmth.
“I love Father so much. What should I do?”
“….”
A pleasant, refreshing sensation was conveyed through his magical power.
“Does Father hate Brother Sermon?”
“…No, not that.”
“Then?”
“I simply think he’s pathetic.”
By Father’s standards, a ‘young man of the imperial family’ should never fall for such tricks.
“Your standards seem excessively harsh, don’t they?”
“Harsh? Back in my day….”
Father stopped mid-sentence.
‘Is it because of parenting education?’
Father had been studying parenting lately.
It seemed he had learned to avoid saying “back in my day” as much as possible from that education.
“Of course, Father’s time was far harsher. That’s how you became Emperor, and because you were that way, the Villorian Empire could become this strong.”
Father had five siblings, but now he was alone.
I didn’t ask what that process had been like.
“Receiving Father’s love is so sweet and makes me so happy.”
“….”
“How much?” she asked.
“How much?” he repeated.
“Enough that I no longer wish to die.”
“….”
“But I suspect the same is true for my other brothers.”
As for my eldest brother, who speaks of surpassing Father and devotes himself entirely to training between the “Red Forest” and the “Black Whale,” I cannot claim to know his heart well.
From what I’ve heard, he’s nearly a perfect prince, but since I haven’t seen him myself, I’ll set that aside for now.
The three brothers I’ve met and experienced directly all carry deep wounds in their own ways.
Sermon, Kaman, and Michael—all of them.
“You must know well about Sermon and Kaman, but have you ever considered why Michael became so thoughtless?”
“I’m not sure.”
“It seems he doesn’t want to think about anything. Perhaps he wishes to remain an innocent young child, blissfully unaware? According to history, quite many children like this have appeared, haven’t they?”
“….”
“And according to the records, such children usually died young. That’s probably because they grew into adulthood and learned far too much. They wanted to remain as children to escape the wounds in their hearts, but once they matured, they could no longer bear the pain, don’t you think?”
“That’s pathetically weak talk.”
“There you go again with such harsh words.”
Our backgrounds were simply too different, so our conversation didn’t seem to be connecting properly.
Father seemed to have a strong standard of what a prince should be.
“I possess the strongest power among all emperors throughout history.”
Why was he suddenly boasting about his strength out of nowhere?
I loved Father dearly, but conversations with him sometimes left me bewildered when the context suddenly broke.
Just then, I heard Arun’s voice from behind.
“Therefore, my sons can afford to be somewhat weak, since I am strong. There is no need for them to desperately strengthen themselves for the Empire as before. So, interpreting your words to mean that I will try to share love with them as well—does that work?”
Wow, it can be interpreted that way? It actually works like that?
I turned to look behind me.
‘Huh?’
Something felt off.
‘What is it?’
Why?
The shape of the shadow was strange.
The campfire still burned brightly.
The firelight cast a shadow on Arun, but the shape of that shadow was very peculiar.

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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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