I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 173

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Isabel reluctantly accepted Arun’s proposal.
“Just once….”
“Hmm?”
“Only this one time.”
Arun nodded at her words.
He did not let his eagerness show on the surface.
“Understood. Besides, there’s only one VIP waiting pass anyway.”
Arun carefully extended his hand.
“I’ll escort you.”
Isabel carefully placed her hand over his.
Through Arun’s hand, his trembling and excitement were transmitted to her.
It was such a pleasant thrill that it made Isabel’s heart flutter as well.
‘Why am I getting so excited about this?’
They traveled using the Teisabel Teleportation Gate.
“This place….”
It was definitely somewhere she had been before, but it had changed considerably.
It was the place where Kim Beolggwol and Michael had competed with sledges long ago.
A booming voice echoed so loudly that the entire mountain range resonated.
“Kee-yah-hoo!!!”
Isabel had no difficulty recognizing the owner of that voice.
“Brother Michael is here?”
“Yes. A ski resort opened here.”
It was true.
A ski resort had been built in the Erbe Mountains, which had once been barren terrain.
This was what was called the Isabel Syndrome, or the Isabel Effect.
“It’s all thanks to Isabel, after all.”
Travel and tourism had been the exclusive domain of the nobility.
A world of luxury and indulgence that commoners could never even dream of.
But now things were different.
As the living standards of the Empire’s people rose exponentially, numerous industries flourished.
“Especially thanks to the Teisabel Teleportation Gate and the Isabellic System, all of this became possible. Empire citizens enjoying leisure activities? Seven years ago, something like this would have been unimaginable.”
Arun laughed lightly.
He enjoyed watching Isabel’s amazed expression.
‘How adorable.’
The sight of Isabel with her eyes wide open, looking around at her surroundings, was like that of a baby angel.
At least, that was how Arun saw her.
“I am very proud of my wife.”
“What?”
“What?”
“What did you just say?”
“Didn’t Isabel say she was proud of me?”
“Surely….”
Arun tilted his head with an innocent expression.
“Why?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
And he smiled brightly with a harmless face.
It was the refreshing smile befitting a male lead in a romance novel.
Arun kept drawing Isabel into memories.
All of this was executed within meticulous calculation.
‘I’ll approach her very gradually.’
Isabel was pushing me away.
Then I just needed to approach slowly enough that Isabel wouldn’t notice.
‘Like getting drenched by drizzle without realizing it.’
I wanted to approach naturally and slowly, seeping into Isabel’s heart.
“I had so much fun sledding back then.”
“I was terrified?”
Now there are railings and stairs, but back then it was truly the mountain peak.
“I think I was reckless back then.”
“That’s because I was a Ratel back then.”
“Right.”
[♪♬]
Arun laughed brightly, reminiscing about the memories.
Isabel turned her head slightly and spoke.
“Could you stop displaying those magical characters?”
“Why? Do you find them unpleasant?”
“It’s not that I find them unpleasant, but… still, it’s a bit strange for a grown adult to display such characters above their head.”
“Kim Beolkkot’s sense of self had such a huge influence on me. They say old habits die hard. Without realizing it, when I feel good, these appear. Like Kim Beolkkot’s tail. My heart expresses itself against my will.”
“….”
“But if Isabel really dislikes it, I’ll try to fix it.”
His expression became slightly dejected, though he tried not to show it.
It felt like Kim Beolkkot when scolded.
“Ah, no. It’s not that serious.”
At those words, Arun smiled brightly again.
He concealed the fact that this too was a deliberately calculated and strategic approach beneath his harmless and beautiful smile.
[♩♬]
[♡]
The [♡] mark disappeared quickly.
It was a brief moment, but long enough for Isabel to notice.
Everything had been meticulously planned.
* * *
In the Erbe Mountains, there was a legendary Captain.
A commoner and soldier by origin.
A man who rose to the rank of non-commissioned officer despite lacking the exceptional abilities of someone like Armitel.
His name was Lucain.
About five years ago, Captain Lucain created the “Hymn of Isabel” and distributed it throughout the entire army, earning recognition that led to his remarkable promotion all the way to Sergeant Major.
The Hymn of Isabel was composed and written by Lucain himself.
He had commissioned the piece from famous composers and lyricists, but nothing satisfied him.
He couldn’t feel the genuine reverence for Isabel in their work.
So he devoted himself day and night to studying composition and songwriting, eventually creating his own Hymn of Isabel.
After his promotion to Sergeant Major, he returned to the Erbe Mountains outpost and continues his guard duty there.
‘It used to be such a harsh place.’
Heating was unimaginable.
Once you entered, you had to be prepared for permanent separation from your family.
But now it was different.
‘There are so many shops now.’
Who would have thought shops would flourish in this treacherous mountain range?
Moreover, a hotel has even been built within the ski resort.
It had become a place with everything.
‘It’s become a completely different place from when I served here.’
He believed all of this was thanks to Isabel’s noble spirit.
The scope of change brought about by Isabel over the past decade far exceeded the changes that had occurred over the previous hundred years.
“What? The Princess is coming?”
Sergeant Major Lucain personally visited every outpost to encourage the soldiers.
“Check the broadcast equipment! Those who haven’t properly memorized the lyrics—make sure you learn them thoroughly!”
Isabel had arrived.
As always, there was no grand procession.
She came with Arun, the commander of the Black Whale unit.
Sergeant Major Lucain and countless sentries of the Erbe Mountains outpost began singing the Hymn of Isabel all at once.
The outposts with broadcast equipment turned the volume to maximum, while soldiers at outposts without equipment sang the Hymn of Isabel with all their might.
Noble—follow the Princess’s will!
Virtuous—learn the Princess’s spirit!
That path—she—commands—us—to!
Walk—it—together—with—purpose!
Isabel, lost in memories with Beolkkot and recalling various moments while conversing with Arun, was startled.
“Did I… mishear that?”
At first, she thought it was just a military song ordinarily heard at guard outposts and paid no attention, but somehow she kept hearing the name “Isabel” over and over.
Protect—the Empire’s—precious treasure!
Serve—that one—who became the Empire’s spring!
Our—Empire—she—warmly—illuminates!
Always—remember—Isabel!
The lyrics gradually became clearer to my ears.
The ski resort’s magical broadcast system was even playing this song.
Isabel wanted to hide from embarrassment.
“Ah, Arun. What is this?”
“The Isabel Anthem. It’s the most popular song that’s hit recently.”
“H-hit? It became a hit?”
“The melody is simple and the lyrics touch people’s hearts, so it became explosively popular. It might be the most famous military song out there.”
“Y-you’re saying that’s a military song?”
Isabel was deeply shocked.
How could such a song possibly be a military anthem?
Then I saw a group approaching.
“One! Two! One! Two!”
Hundreds of soldiers were running toward us in perfect formation.
Snap! Snap!
They stood before Isabel with disciplined precision.
“All units, attention!”
The senior officer raising his voice was named Lucain.
Isabel recognized Lucain as well.
“C-Captain Lucain?”
“Salute to the noble spring!”
They were all cultivating magical power, however faintly.
“Go! Salute!”
They shouted with all their might.
They held their right hands raised in salute to Isabel and waited.
Arun whispered into Isabel’s ear.
“You need to acknowledge their greeting so they can lower their hands.”
“H-how do I do that?”
“Just smile or wave your hand once.”
When I waved my hand, the soldiers finally lowered theirs.
“All units, at ease!”
Lucain approached Isabel.
“Captain Lucain, what is all this?”
Lucain didn’t bother mentioning that he was her superior now.
If Isabel said it was so, then it was.
“We heard that Your Highness had discovered the Erbe Mountains and rushed here. To see Your Highness’s noble countenance in person is a true honor for all of us!”
“….”
The people at the ski resort were also gathering toward us.
“Is it true the Imperial spring has arrived?”
“What? Princess Isabel?”
“Look over there. Don’t you see that radiant couple?”
Arun and Isabel possessed striking appearances that stood out even in stillness.
“W-we should go too.”
People crowded around Isabel.
Without anyone commanding it, everyone began cheering.
“Long live the Princess of the Empire!”
As several people knelt, those around them began to follow suit.
Isabel found herself unprepared for this situation.
Over hundreds of people surrounded her, kneeling in reverence.
Some shed tears of joy.
The soldiers likewise knelt and paid homage to Isabel, then began singing the Isabel Anthem with fervent voices.
As befitted a massively popular military song, the common people also joined in singing the Isabel Anthem.
‘D-dizzy…’
Arun was the only person she could rely on in moments like this.
“A-Arun.”
She gently tugged at his sleeve and positioned herself behind him.
Of course, with Empire citizens surrounding them from behind as well, the gesture held little practical meaning, but it felt necessary nonetheless.
Arun smiled unknowingly.
The feeling of her hand grasping his sleeve was wonderful.
‘If only she would hold my hand instead.’
That would have been asking for too much.
‘Good, everything is proceeding according to plan.’
It was Arun who had leaked to Captain Lucain that he and Isabel would come here.
Stimulating her emotions through nostalgic memories.
And orchestrating this trial(?) through the Isabel Anthem.
Here, Arun was the only person she could depend on.
Arun naturally drew Isabel into an embrace with one arm.
It appeared more like an act of protection than anything self-serving.
Though of course, it was self-serving.
“Is it too overwhelming?”
“Y-yes.”
Isabel’s ears had turned bright red.
“We should move elsewhere. Is that alright?”
“Y-yes.”
Isabel wanted to escape by any means necessary.
“There’s no helping it.”
Isabel had said “just this once,” but this was unavoidable.
They decided to move to the next location.
Arun smiled secretly.
Everything unfolded exactly as the strategist Arun had planned.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————