I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 159

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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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“So someone like that actually existed?”
Duke Robena continued speaking as if she needed to confirm it with her own eyes.
“Your Majesty, let me come along with you as well?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Just because.”
There seemed to be no real reason.
My Biological Father clearly just didn’t like Duke Robena.
“Why? I’m not interfering with your date with your daughter….”
Without hearing Duke Robena’s words, I grasped my Biological Father’s hand firmly.
There was no particularly special reason for holding his hand—I simply did it.
I had a feeling it would become difficult once I grew older.
“Father, wouldn’t it be better if you went with Duke Robena?”
“Fine.”
I hadn’t expected him to agree so suddenly.
“Without even hearing my reasons?”
“Fine.”
My attempt at logical persuasion had failed.
I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased about this or not.
Still, I decided to broach the subject logically first.
“Many people here don’t know your face, but there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know Duke Robena’s. Going together would be advantageous and convenient in many ways. It would be far more efficient. Being with the person who wields the greatest influence on Heavenly Island would benefit us too, wouldn’t it?”
My Biological Father didn’t seem to consider my logic particularly important.
He didn’t even listen properly and just said it was fine.
Duke Robena laughed in disbelief.
“What’s so fine about it?”
“It’s fine.”
“So what is it? That I’m accompanying you? Or…”
Duke Robena’s gaze fell upon my hand.
“Never mind. Let’s not talk about it.”
In any case, we set out toward an unnamed mountain range under Count Gailrop’s guidance.
It was such a remote place that there was barely a path to speak of.
People actually live in a place like this?
Really?
…It was exactly the kind of isolated mountain village one might describe that way.
Count Gailrop walked ahead and offered some explanation.
“According to the White Whale’s investigation, the village has existed for only about a year. It doesn’t appear to be a naturally formed settlement.”
“Continue.”
“While it takes the form of a village, it would be easier to understand it as a single religious organization. It appears they fled deep into the mountains to escape Duke Robena’s persecution.”
“My persecution?”
“Yes. They are followers of the Marian Church, which you designated as heretical about a year ago. Do you remember?”
“Well, there are so many of those types around. Was she wrongly accused?”
“That’s not the case.”
“Then why did you classify them as a cult?”
“That is…”
Count Gailrop glanced at my expression.
He simply said there was content somewhat distasteful for a ten-year-old like me to hear.
I’m not entirely sure, but it must be a truly bizarre cult.
Even in 21st century South Korea where media was so developed, cults existed, but they’re far worse here.
People in truly remote mountain villages sometimes mistake Mages for gods.
This World has an information gap incomparable to South Korea.
“Never mind. I understand without hearing more.”
Robena continued walking without listening to further reports.
Quite a long time passed.
“We’ll arrive soon.”
We reached the village Entrance.
* * *
The village we arrived at was a very small one with a population under one hundred.
The village square.
Dozens of people bound with rope were shouting wildly there.
“You will receive divine punishment!”
“Do you not fear god!”
I asked.
“What happened to those people?”
“They resisted so fiercely that we bound them for now.”
“Why are they resisting like that?”
“Because we arrested their cult leader, Akmon.”
Robena frowned.
“Akmon? The medicinal herb merchant I know?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“He’s quite influential. Why is he here? He’s the cult leader?”
“Yes. He addicted the residents with herbal drugs and was acting as their cult leader in this small place.”
I examined the people one by one.
Their eyes were bloodshot and wild, and they didn’t appear normal.
“Maria, whom the Princess was looking for, is over there.”
Count Gailrop guided me.
A small house made of logs… or rather, a prison.
Iron bars hung where windows should have been.
The entrance was so small I could barely squeeze through by bending my waist.
Almost no light entered.
Even in broad daylight, candles were lit inside the house.
‘Is that Maria?’
I saw a woman trembling in the corner.
Her hair was disheveled and her appearance was filthy.
Shackles made of iron bound her wrists and ankles.
“Please… save me.”
Maria muttered to herself before prostrating on the ground, her hands clasped in desperate supplication.
I approached Maria slowly.
“Please, please don’t come closer. S-save me. I’m not a demon. I’m a good person.”
“It’s alright. No one will hurt you.”
But Maria didn’t hear my words.
She clawed at the wall with her fingernails, screaming “Don’t come! Don’t come! Don’t come!”
She was gripped by such extreme terror that I couldn’t bring myself to approach any further.
We stepped outside the log cabin.
“Let me hear the details, Count Gailrop.”
* * *
Count Gailrop glanced at my Biological Father.
From the atmosphere, it seemed my Biological Father had already received a full report.
It appeared something unusual had occurred in this village.
“Father. I want to know too. I’m already ten years old.”
“….”
In my Biological Father’s eyes, I was still a young child, and he didn’t want to expose me to this cruel world.
At times like this, I possessed the most powerful card to move my Biological Father’s heart.
“If you keep doing this, I’ll say that thing.”
“What thing?”
“That I’m ten years old?”
“….”
“Because I’m far more mature than you, Father?”
“….”
“Do you know why?”
“I don’t want to know.”
My Biological Father had certainly deduced what I meant.
When I said I was more mature than him, it was because I had lived more than half of my previous life.
My Biological Father would probably live to about a hundred years old, and he hadn’t even lived half his life yet.
Therefore, I was the more mature one… or so the logic went.
I placed my hands on my hips.
“Then tell me too. I’m the one who wanted to find Maria in the first place. I need to know the situation to decide whether to take her or not.”
Eventually, Count Gailrop told me everything.
“…So Maria was brainwashed into believing demon blood flows through her veins?”
“That is correct.”
“And she was also brainwashed into believing she would be arrested and killed by the Holy Knights if she left?”
“Yes.”
“The people in this village aren’t actually residents—they’re a kind of sentries keeping watch to prevent Maria from escaping.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
So the artificially constructed village was essentially a prison designed solely to confine Maria.
“The person who created this is someone called Akmon, a famous medicinal merchant from Sky Island.”
“Yes.”
“And he brazenly came here and treated Maria kindly, pretending to be her only ally? When in reality, he did it all to monopolize her healing power and profit from it alone?”
Not content with brainwashing and imprisoning Maria, he also deceived and exploited her.
“Maria lived in fear, believing the power she possessed was truly demonic. All while feeling grateful to Akmon for saving and hiding her.”
“All of it is true.”
As I listened to this account, my mind felt utterly drained.
Count Gailrop was probably softening the details as much as possible to match my age anyway.
The novel hadn’t contained such detailed information.
It was probably because it was rated for all ages.
“Can we move them and Maria to a safe place?”
* * *
Robena grumbled.
“Why does our house have to be the safe place?”
“Is there anywhere safer on Sky Island?”
“What about the homeowner’s opinion?”
“That homeowner possesses a remarkably generous and abundant heart, or so I’ve heard.”
“Who said that?”
“I did.”
Robena let out a long sigh.
“I told you, you’re not friends with Biatone for nothing.”
Robena flicked my forehead lightly with a soft tap.
“I’m only going along with this because it’s you. The Duke’s residence isn’t some orphanage.”
“Hehe.”
“Don’t laugh. You’re getting on my nerves.”
Though she spoke curtly, she didn’t seem particularly upset.
Moving dozens of people took considerable time.
Fortunately, there was a section where the Isabel transit gateway was installed, so we arrived at the Duke’s residence faster than expected.
Robena spoke.
“From here on, our people will manage things, so why don’t we send those fierce White Whale knights back to the Imperial Palace?”
“It’s White Whale.”
“Whatever.”
The White Whale knights saluted my Biological Father.
Such extravagance, truly extravagant.
What a world of beautiful faces this was.
Without realizing it, my expression had become somewhat pleased, and I felt the gazes of two men upon me.
It was my Biological Father and Arun.
“Why, why is that?”
“It’s nothing.”
My Biological Father seemed somewhat uncomfortable for reasons I couldn’t quite place.
“What about Prince Arun?”
“Yes?”
“I just saw him a moment ago.”
“I didn’t see anything.”
Prince Arun appeared somewhat more taciturn than usual.
Had they quarreled?
No, a quarrel wouldn’t really be possible between them in the first place—had my Biological Father been harassing him again?
I couldn’t discern the reason.
And for reasons equally unclear, the White Whale Knights had established a new regulation: they would wear white masks during missions for security purposes.
It was somewhat disappointing, but for the sake of security, it was unavoidable.
After some time had passed, dinner arrived.
For the first time in ages, I was served an exceptionally lavish spread.
After the meal concluded, we enjoyed a brief tea service.
After a short while, Duke Robena spoke.
“You’re asking for severe punishment?”
“Yes. Truly, extremely severe.”
“How unexpected. I thought the Sunshine Princess I knew would understand the hidden circumstances of even a villain. Hmm. How intriguing. Shall we hear more about our Spring’s story?”

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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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