I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 176

—————

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

—————

Arun retrieved a single rose intricately crafted from crimson gemstones from his breast pocket.
Along with a small ring box.
“You have to get engaged to me.”
On the surface, he wore an apologetic expression.
“I have no choice. Even if you disliked it, Isabel cannot refuse.”
Of course, there was no way she would dislike it.
But he didn’t say that.
Though he hadn’t told Isabel yet, Arun could also read his counterpart’s emotions through mana.
While indifferent to other things, Arun was extraordinarily sensitive to Isabel, and after seven years of devoted care and constant companionship by her side, it had become possible for him.
At least, that was true when it came to Isabel.
‘Isabel likes me too.’
If he hadn’t been able to read this feeling, he would have been far more impatient.
Even knowing her heart, he remained in a state of urgency.
That was how his feelings toward Isabel were.
Even knowing her heart, he wanted confirmation, and he kept growing restless.
“What on earth are you talking about? An engagement?”
Arun knocked the sense right out of Isabel with the word “engagement,” then with graceful(?) hand movements, he slipped the ring onto her fourth finger.
His movements were quite practiced, making it extraordinarily natural.
Isabel was so flustered that she didn’t even realize Arun was doing it.
“You have no choice, Isabel.”
“Explain it to me so I can understand.”
“Actually, there was much discussion between us about whether I should tell you this or not. But in the end, since it concerns you, I concluded that you should know as well.”
Arun and Isabel talked for quite a long time.
“…So, in the end, Wilhelm will want my body?”
“Yes. According to them, it’s something called a descent vessel. If it weren’t for Captain Beksah’s sacrifice, I might not have known until the very last moment.”
They summon Narbidal, the god of death.
If Narbidal cannot be summoned, they descend even a portion of that divine power.
And they use that power to dominate the world.
‘The story of 【The Villainess Dies Within the Time Limit】 didn’t have content this deep.’
This wasn’t a romantic fantasy—it was the kind of scale you’d only see in pure fantasy.
Summoning a god to dominate the world.
‘Wilhelm and the Magic Federation probably had the same goal in the novel too.’
But she pondered a bit on why such content never appeared in the novel.
‘I think it’s because I’ve changed.’
According to what she was told, the conditions for a descent vessel included “a sensitivity to mana and an enormous mana vessel capable of accommodating tremendous mana.”
‘The Isabel in the novel never learned magic and only caused trouble, so Wilhelm wouldn’t have known I possessed such power.’
That might be why she never became Wilhelm’s target.
Or perhaps Wilhelm was eliminated by Karin, who awakened as the final mastermind before he could accomplish something.
“…So in the end, we have to get engaged.”
“I understand that danger has come to me. I understand it’s also a great threat to the world. But what does that have to do with our engagement?”
“If you need round-the-clock protection.”
Isabel tilted her head in confusion.
“Protection?”
“But anyone can’t just be attached to you for twenty-four hours. There’s no justification for it.”
“….”
“Truth is, I wanted to marry you, but His Majesty opposed it so strongly that I had no choice.”
“…So you’re saying you’ll get engaged to me just to provide twenty-four-hour protection?”
“Yeah. I really had no other option.”
“For someone who says they had no choice, you look awfully pleased about it.”
To Isabel, the protection excuse seemed transparent at best.
She couldn’t help but think he could simply protect her without resorting to an engagement.
“Why can’t you just stay by my side for twenty-four hours and protect me?”
“Then wouldn’t nasty rumors spread about you? People love digging into others’ private lives and gossiping about them. Sure, bad rumors would spread about me too, but the Ratel doesn’t care about such things. But you’re different, Isabel.”
Arun knows Isabel.
Isabel is someone who cares about others’ gazes.
Because of her extraordinary past life, she’s perhaps far more sensitive to others’ attention than ordinary people.
Arun acknowledges and accepts that.
“I know you’re sensitive to others’ attention.”
“….”
“I won’t tell you not to worry about it or to be indifferent. I’ll accept you as you are, the Isabel I love.”
“W-what did you just say…?”
“Hmm? What?”
“Just now….”
“That I’ll accept you as you are?”
“Before that.”
“That I won’t tell you to be indifferent. That it’s okay to be sensitive.”
“No, after that.”
“What?”
Arun tilted his head in confusion.
Isabel deliberately furrowed her brow.
“Are you messing with me?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Give me your hand.”
Arun promptly extended his hand at her words.
She grasped his hand.
Isabel sensed through her mana.
‘He really is being sincere? He’s not teasing me?’
By holding his hand, she could tell.
Arun truly had no memory of saying the word ‘love.’
It seemed his genuine feelings had emerged instinctively, like breathing itself.
Of course, that too was part of Arun’s scheme.
Arun had been deceiving his mother Kadelina since his earliest childhood.
The practice from those days had become ingrained in his very being.
Though only briefly, he had even fooled his mother, Kadelina the Ancient Dragon.
Deceiving Isabel was hardly a difficult task.
Arun smiled to himself.
‘Make it seem like I’m making an aggressive charge, while steadily soaking her heart like a gentle rain.’
He decided to keep tapping at her heart.
Until Isabel opened the doors of her heart completely.
* * *
Warning sirens began to sound throughout the Mage Federation.
It started from the Soreum region, which bordered the Vilotian Empire.
A small village in Soreum burned, and many people died.
The Mage Federation announced that it was the work of Vilotian Knights.
Vilotian immediately issued a rebuttal statement, but the Mage Federation continued to point to the swordmasters as the perpetrators.
“The Mage Federation can no longer overlook Vilotian’s atrocities. They sell demon food for massive profits, shatter the traditions of peace and balance maintained for 500 years, and constantly encroach upon magical authority. And through this attack on Soreum, they have undoubtedly revealed their true, filthy nature.”
The Mage Federation launched a massive propaganda campaign, declaring they would not let this matter slide.
Countless people within the Mage Federation grew indignant, boiling with the desire to teach those swordmasters a lesson immediately.
As a result, Serna, who could be called the administrative head of the Vilotian Empire, became extremely busy.
Moreover, Chief Advisor Biatone also rushed about breathlessly.
Serna spoke.
“Aselia, I’m asking for your help. I need to make a trip to Zirdel this time. I’m grateful that I can leave with confidence in you.”
And Biatone also spoke.
“Administrator Aselia. Could you handle this matter? I need to be dispatched to Soreum right now to collect evidence. I’m leaving this in your capable hands, Administrator Aselia.”
Aselia’s desk was piled high with all manner of documents.
Though her superior, her sister Armitel, was present, Armitel’s abilities fell significantly short compared to Aselia’s.
Armitel was more of a soldier than an administrator.
Aselia’s already gaunt complexion grew even worse.
‘I used to enjoy my work.’
No matter how much she worked, it never ended.
She had loved her work so much, and she had found happiness in the sense of accomplishment from completing tasks.
But that was only possible within the limits of what she could handle.
She was not granted the luxury of rest time.
The only time she managed to spare was for brief conversations with Isabel.
“You look very tired.”
“No, I’m not. Congratulations on your engagement.”
Rumors had already spread throughout the Imperial Palace.
The news that Arun and Isabel had become engaged.
Even specific talk of holding an engagement ceremony in the not-too-distant future was circulating.
“Th-thank you. It happened so suddenly that I’m not sure I deserve congratulations.”
“If it pleases you, Princess, I’d be delighted to celebrate with you.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Upon closer inspection, the original heroine Asellia showed not the slightest interest in the original protagonist Arun.
She had completely forgotten about him and was consumed entirely by her work.
“Isn’t it exhausting?”
“…”
Under normal circumstances, I would have said it wasn’t exhausting and that I enjoyed it, but I couldn’t bring myself to say that.
Over the past week, I hadn’t slept more than three hours.
It was practically beyond what human endurance could sustain.
“When I saw Ria before, I was truly delighted too.”
“You were delighted?”
“Yes, because she seemed to genuinely enjoy her work. It was as if she had a joyful hobby, and that made me so happy.”
“…”
“But now it seems that hobby has truly become work.”
Isabel’s expression darkened.
“There’s nothing more cruel and sorrowful than when your most beloved hobby becomes work.”
“…”
At those words, I suddenly came to my senses.
“Thanks to what you said, Princess, I’ve realized something.”
“What?”
“As Asellia, I’ve lost the most joyful thing in the world.”
A hobby must be manageable to remain a hobby; once it exceeds that threshold, it ceases to be one.
“I live as Asellia because I want to enjoy myself.”
“…”
Isabel was momentarily at a loss for words.
An invisible magical field was trembling violently.
Being sensitive to magical energy, Isabel perceived Asellia as enormously vast.
‘Is that… dragon’s mana?’
Somehow, Asellia had changed greatly.
“I need to stop holding back.”
Asellia rose from her seat and gently kissed the back of Isabel’s hand.
“I truly cherish you, Princess.”
“I care for you too, Ria. It’s just a shame we don’t have much time to spend together these days.”
“I suppose I need to reclaim that time.”
After exchanging farewells with a kiss to her hand, Asellia turned and began walking toward somewhere.
From her body, a pure white light invisible to the naked eye was seeping out.
And before long, her form vanished.
“So everyone gathered here.”
Ravina, the Dragon of Wisdom, opened her eyes wide.
“Y-you are?”
The seven sacred dragons gathered to prevent a second Black Flame Dragon catastrophe rose to their feet in unison.
The dragon of dragons.
Born of the most noble bloodline, wielding power and authority closest to the divine—it was undoubtedly the Dragon Lord.
Long ago, it was the Dragon Lord who had subdued the raging Black Flame Dragon.
“Y-Your Majesty, the Dragon Lord!”
“My Lord!”
The lord of dragons.
Aisylla the White Dragon.

—————

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

—————