I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 184
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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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The seven years that Isabel slept.
During those seven years, the world underwent tremendous change.
Scholars unanimously agreed that the changes of those seven years exceeded the changes of five hundred years.
The world had experienced such a massive upheaval.
And among those who experienced even greater transformations, Ron and Arun had undergone the most dramatic changes.
They were each other’s worthy rivals and competitors.
Initially, they clashed blades for three days and nights without rest, and as Arun’s skills grew rapidly, they engaged in combat for thirty consecutive days.
That process caused both Ron and Arun to grow at an accelerated pace.
Exerting profound influence upon one another.
On a certain day after thirty-two days of combat had ended.
Ron, battered and broken, spoke.
“Thief.”
“It is Arun, Your Majesty.”
“Do you know what lies beyond the next realm of swordsmanship?”
Arun fell silent for a moment.
He had a vague sense that another realm existed beyond this.
Yet he could not precisely grasp what it was.
“Have you not already reached the pinnacle of the blade, Your Majesty? Does anything exist beyond that?”
“It does.”
“…Then that must be the realm of enlightenment.”
And a year later.
On a certain day after thirty-eight days of combat had ended.
Ron spoke again.
“You thief.”
“It is Arun, Your Majesty.”
“The next realm undoubtedly exists.”
“What is it?”
“A realm that transcends the blade. It is the domain of the blade that saves lives.”
“How can a blade save lives?”
And when another year had passed, Arun too began to glimpse that path little by little.
Yet it remained only dimly visible, and he could not grasp it with certainty.
Both of them were able to advance to the next stage only after Saint Maria joined Villorian.
“Perhaps I might be of some assistance?”
It was not only Saint Maria’s help that mattered.
Hirden, the dwarf archmage, also came seeking to gift a blade to Villorian.
Hirden, the dwarf archmage, is a character who gifts outstanding weapons to the male protagonist Arun in “After the Vilotian Royal Family Falls.”
He was a supporting character who played a crucial role in toppling the Vilotian Royal Family in the original work.
“Long ago, Biatone once stole something of mine. Princess Isabel came personally to find it and apologize.”
From that point on, Hirden began to harbor goodwill toward Isabel.
Later, as he witnessed the world change and heard the praises of Isabel resound, he said he was deeply moved.
“I wish to leave my final masterpiece in Villorian.”
Saint Maria.
Hirden, the dwarven archmage craftsman.
The two collaborated to forge a new blade.
The sword’s name was ‘Isabel’.
Named after the sole Princess of the Vilotian Empire, that blade was Hirden’s masterwork and his final creation.
“It is an honor to leave behind such a treasure.”
He smiled contentedly and closed his eyes.
Wielding that blade, Ron engaged Arun in a duel.
One day.
Ron pierced Arun’s abdomen.
When the blade ‘Isabel’ penetrated Arun’s abdomen, he felt something strange.
‘It doesn’t hurt?’
Rather, vitality seemed to course through his body.
It was as if Saint Maria’s holy power had taken root within him.
“What does it feel like?”
“There is impact. Had an ordinary knight been struck instead of me, they would have died from the shock.”
“….”
“But afterward, an indescribable energy infused my body with vitality. It’s a sensation of being filled with life force, but I’m not sure how to describe it.”
And several months later.
Ron handed the blade ‘Isabel’ to Arun.
“You too must reach this realm. That blade will guide you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“What?”
Ron was furious from head to toe.
“I’m lending it, not giving it. Return it once you’ve achieved enlightenment.”
From that day forward, approximately seventy-two days of combat ensued, and eventually Arun too was able to enter a new realm.
The two called this realm of the blade the ‘Living Blade’ state.
* * *
Narbidal, the god of death.
A deity that has existed since every moment death occurred.
He spoke through Isabel’s voice.
“Aah.”
The god of death was closer to death than anyone, yet paradoxically also the furthest from it.
“Is this what it feels like to die?”
Isabel—Narbidal—laughed with happiness.
At last, a refreshing sensation as if liberation from everything was washing over him.
Narbidal spoke.
“Could you pierce me a bit more? It’s still not enough.”
“….”
Ron raised his sword once more.
“I cannot bear to see you at peace.”
“Hm?”
“I sympathize with your circumstances.”
Narbidal, who had suffered and longed for death more than anyone, deserved that much.
“But that gives you no right to torment my daughter.”
Ron glared at Narbidal, grinding his fury between his teeth.
Had Narbidal worn a different face, he might have sought the most agonizing way to end him.
But because that face belonged to Isabel, he could not.
“However, if I must erase you for my daughter to live, then so be it.”
He swung his blade again.
This time, imbued with the profound essence of “Living Sword”—a realm no human had ever touched before.
Narbidal squeezed his eyes shut.
“Thank you.”
At the moment when he thought everything had ended.
The sword “Isabel” shattered.
The authority of the God of Death, Narbidal, had finally consumed the sword’s very life force.
“What… what is this?”
Narbidal’s eyes flew open.
He had thought he could finally end everything, that he would finally obtain peaceful rest, yet “Isabel”—the medium of the Living Sword—had broken.
Ron was equally taken aback.
Without the sword “Isabel,” he could not wield the Living Sword’s power.
“Find a way, great human.”
Narbidal was a god.
Though his existence bore deep wounds, he would soon recover.
Such was the authority of divinity.
“Otherwise, you will have no choice but to kill your own daughter with your own hands. I will not abandon my desire for oblivion.”
If he could not erase Narbidal here, the only path left was death while borrowing Isabel’s body.
Dailsa spoke with a worried expression.
“Your Majesty. There must be some way…!”
“I am searching for one.”
He bit his lip.
Narbidal sat down in a cross-legged position.
“Twenty-four hours. In twenty-four hours, I will be able to completely claim this body.”
Originally, it would have been far quicker.
But the Living Sword had wounded Narbidal’s existence, and thanks to that, he had gained twenty-four hours.
“I will not move from this spot, so please, kill me.”
* * *
One of the dragons maintaining the mana barrier approached Aselia.
“Should I address you as Dragon Lord, or as Administrator Aselia?”
“Do as you wish. Actually, never mind. I’ll erase my memories anyway, so just call me Administrator Aselia.”
The dragon was a man with navy hair and pale skin.
His name was Rshwa, and he bore a striking resemblance to Ron.
He was a dragon who had been devoted to training in the Black Sea before answering the Dragon Lord’s summons and joining their ranks.
His current position was First Prince of Villorian.
“Very well, Administrator Aselia.”
Aselia smiled brightly.
“Yes, please go ahead, First Prince.”
“Soon the mana barrier we’ve been maintaining will dissolve as well.”
“You’ve worked hard. Still, your abilities are truly the most outstanding, First Prince. By the way, I never expected you to join us. This is the first time I’ve seen you since the Black Flame Dragon incident.”
Rshwa was a rigid dragon.
The dragons called him the Dragon of Principles.
He was an ancient dragon renowned for never breaking his principles, and when in human form, he lived with meticulous adherence to human ways.
Yet this dragon had abandoned his existing iron rules and answered the Dragon Lord’s command.
“Administrator Aselia activated the Dragon King’s Decree, so I had no choice.”
“Couldn’t ancient dragons ignore the Dragon Lord’s orders?”
“It’s because of my younger brother, who has made a name for himself across the entire continent.”
True to his nature as a dragon of principles, he showed little interest in human affairs.
His sole concern was: “How far can I grow stronger in a human body?”
That’s why he never returned to the imperial court and devoted himself entirely to training.
Emperor Ron knew that Rshwa wasn’t truly his son but a dragon, so he refrained from interfering with him.
Rshwa approached Arun.
“Knight Arun. Compared to my father, how would you assess your own abilities?”
“I believe I’m still somewhat lacking.”
“I see.”
Rshwa burst into laughter.
“In human form, I wanted to feel that limit. I’ve trained relentlessly in the Black Sea, teeming with demonic beasts, and in mysterious forests. I wanted to surpass my father.”
“….”
“Yet I cannot even surpass you. Knight Arun. Is my training method flawed?”
“It is not flawed.”
“Then what is the difference between you and me?”
“The difference between someone who has something precious to protect and someone who does not.”
Arun understands why he has grown stronger.
It was because of Isabel.
Isabel’s very existence was his strength, and her presence had tempered him.
For Isabel, he had grown strong.
“I see.”
Rshwa nodded.
“Looking at you and my younger siblings, it seems that way. You’ve all grown incomprehensibly strong.”
“When you meet Father, you’ll be even more convinced.”
“Father?”
“Your Majesty the Emperor. Since I am betrothed to the Princess, wouldn’t Your Majesty be my father?”
Rshwa let out an amused chuckle and continued speaking.
“I must meet my father.”
“The path will open soon.”
Though Arun spoke with outward composure, his insides were burning with anxiety.
‘His Majesty must have handled everything well, but…’
Still, worry consumed him.
He wanted to meet Isabel even a second sooner.
Aselia spoke.
“The path has opened.”
Arun was about to use teleportation magic immediately, but Aselia stopped him.
“The power of death hasn’t dissipated yet.”
“….”
“It would be better if Maria went first, not Knight Arun.”
Arun wanted to protest, to insist that he go first, but he bit his lip and stepped back.
He respected the Dragon Lord’s judgment.
“Your presence is too overwhelming, Knight Arun. Your will to meet Isabel is far too strong. If you pass through, the path will become blocked again because of your presence.”
First Prince Rshwa lifted Maria into his arms.
“Since my feelings toward Isabel are the weakest and least, it would be the best choice for me to transport the Saint.”
With everyone’s agreement, Rshwa departed first with Maria.
A magic circle materialized beneath his feet.
Soon, Ron, Dailsa, and Isabel came into view.
Isabel sat quietly in a cross-legged position.
“Father, what is the meaning of this?”
Dailsa, rather than Ron, explained the entire situation.
“Then we must find a way to eliminate Narbidal within twenty-four hours.”
“Now it’s seventeen hours.”
After hearing everything, Maria rose from her seat.
And she approached Isabel closely.
“I believe I may know the way.”
At those words, Narbidal slowly opened his eyes.
“You are a Saint.”
“Would you stand for a moment?”
Narbidal obediently rose from his seat.
Maria bowed respectfully, then knelt and pressed her lips to Isabel’s feet.
“You saved me.”
It was Isabel who had brought her out from that small cabin that had been her entire world.
It was Isabel who had shown her the light.
Maria slowly rose and embraced Isabel tenderly.
“Please remember this above all else. That I held the Princess in the highest regard.”
His demeanor was that of a man uttering his final words.
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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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