I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 187
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
In truth, having been given this life, I’ve experienced most of what I dreamed of.
I met a family that loves me more than anyone else, and gained friends like Yuri and Aselia.
Though there’s quite an age difference, Viscount Biatonn, Viscount Teslone, and Teacher Karin were all precious friends to me.
I earned a great deal of money and established foundations, schools, and orphanages.
From someone who only received help, I became someone who could give help to others.
Everything that happened to me feels like a miracle.
“There’s just one thing I want to try.”
That was attending school.
I’ve never experienced elementary school, middle school, or high school—those common institutions.
I could only imagine in my head what school life might be like.
What was an ordinary, natural everyday life for others was a dream and an ideal for me.
‘I thought maybe I could at least attend university classes…’
Of course, I never attended university classes either.
After receiving my acceptance letter to a Korean university, I entered the world of a novel.
“I want to go to university.”
I had less than a year left to live, but this body was remarkably sturdy.
Occasional fevers and dizziness were nothing compared to how things used to be.
“University?”
“Yes.”
Universities exist in this world too.
Most are located in the former Mirotel Magic Federation, now the Magical Kingdom.
Arun didn’t seem pleased.
“Are you saying you want to go as a professor?”
“A professor?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Count Karin said your magical ability far surpasses that of a university professor.”
“Oh, come on.”
The people around me tend to see me better than I actually am.
In Mother and Father’s eyes, I was the most beautiful and brilliant person in the world.
“He said it was true though?”
“He’s just being kind.”
I burst out laughing.
Now that I thought about it, Arun seemed to believe Count Karin’s words without question.
He really does have a tendency to be overly devoted.
He simply believes anything good said about me first.
“Viscount Teslone said the same thing?”
“He’s always generous with his praise toward me.”
Arun hummed and stroked his chin.
“But I evaluate you the same way. As you know, I’m quite skilled at magic myself.”
Unlike the original Arun who was a flawless swordmaster, the current Arun possessed tremendous magical ability as well.
But I grasped one important fact.
“However, I’ve never actually met university professors, have I?”
So an accurate comparison would be difficult.
‘And everyone around me is completely biased in my favor.’
They all seem somewhat mentally compromised.
I understand that well enough.
Since I have less than a year left to live, of course they’d treasure me so dearly.
If I were in their position, I’d probably feel the same way.
Arun hummed and stroked his chin again.
“So you want to go as a student rather than as a professor?”
* * *
Isabel was strict about self-objectivity, but her degree of it was excessive.
To be precise, Isabel had failed at self-objectivity.
This was deeply connected to her environment.
First of all, her magic teacher was Karin.
Karin, who had attained power far exceeding her prime.
Naturally, she possessed magical prowess counted among the finest on the continent.
Some even said she was the closest to Beksah, Biatone’s mother and the Great Sage of the century.
It was the same with Tesleron and Biatone, not just Karin.
Though their fields differed, they stood in a rank similar to Karin’s.
And she had experienced Aselia, the Dragon Lord—though she had her memories erased and returned as an ordinary girl (?)—and the Holy Dragons, and now the dragon Arun stood beside her.
Taken individually, each was an absolute being capable of dominating an era.
And all these absolute beings happened to be by Isabel’s side.
So Isabel’s standards had unconsciously aligned with theirs.
‘I’m not that exceptional after all.’
Karin, now a king, spoke.
“I was surprised to hear that Your Highness wishes to experience university.”
“Karin, you’re the King now. Please speak more comfortably. It would put my mind at ease as well.”
“This place is… not my office.”
Karin had summoned Isabel to her bedroom rather than her office.
In the evening hours after all official duties had ended.
“King Karin of the Mage Kingdom is said to receive the unified support of the kingdom’s people through her outstanding administrative ability and impartiality.”
“…Yes?”
“That’s what Count Biatone said.”
“Those are merely words of encouragement for me.”
Just as Isabel’s standards were wrong, so too were Karin’s.
Isabel used those around her as her standard, while Karin used Isabel as hers.
‘Everything I’ve done is nothing compared to what Your Highness has given to the world.’
All of Karin was Isabel.
She had to scatter the spring that Isabel had gifted her across the world.
I was still far too lacking to share what I had experienced.
“Here, I’ve prepared the letter of recommendation in advance.”
“This is a letter of recommendation?”
“….”
Isabel couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it.
[Before her, even the blade-like winds of the Erbe Mountains would lose their sharpness and chill.
Her breath would melt the harsh northern winds colder than ice, and her smile…omitted… Therefore, I earnestly recommend the enrollment of Princess Isabel, and I have no doubt that it will bring endless glory to your esteemed university.]
“This isn’t a letter of recommendation, it’s….”
How should I even describe this?
I found it difficult to give this letter of recommendation a clear definition.
In some ways, it resembled a panegyric to Isabel, yet it also seemed subtly coercive toward the headmaster of Henkel University.
‘It’s like saying, “You’re not going to take someone this remarkable? You’ll regret it?” ….’
Karin answered.
“It’s the condensed and abbreviated version.”
“…This is?”
“Yes. Take this and go to Henkel University. I’ve already made contact in advance. The letter of recommendation is merely a formality, so you needn’t worry too much about it.”
* * *
A piece of news reached the Department of Magic at Henkel University.
“Reina, did you hear? Princess Isabel is transferring here.”
Though the Narmore Corporation had surpassed them significantly, the financial power of the Rosild Duke’s house remained formidable.
The Rosild Duke’s house was the second-largest patron of Henkel University, and Reina, their only daughter, had enrolled several months ago through a donation admission process.
Reina’s expression twisted in displeasure.
“What are you talking about? It’s not even the enrollment period.”
Henkel University was an institution boasting five hundred years of history.
It maintained strict rules and traditions, placing tremendous importance on discipline.
Throughout its five hundred years, not a single student had ever enrolled outside the designated enrollment period.
The very system of transfer enrollment did not exist in this place.
“What were her entrance exam scores?”
“Apparently, she didn’t even take the entrance exam.”
Reina’s expression grew even more contorted.
“She’s enrolling at Henkel University without taking the entrance exam, outside the enrollment period? Then she must have donated a massive sum?”
“I looked through the announcements, but there was no mention of that.”
By Reina’s standards, that meant she hadn’t donated at all.
If she had, it certainly wouldn’t have been kept secret.
‘Just like Isabel has always done, she must have spread the news far and wide!’
Of course, this was Reina’s misunderstanding.
Isabel rarely spread rumors about herself.
She had given so much that only a tiny fraction of it had become known to the world.
What seemed excessively generous and publicized by Reina’s standards was, in fact, merely a small kindness by Isabel’s standards.
Their measures and capacities were vastly different.
“It’s not formal enrollment—more like a trial experience, I suppose.”
“Ah, so you’re going to play house?”
Reina made no effort to hide her displeasure.
“Some of us are here sacrificing sleep every night, staking our dreams and futures on rigorous study, while someone else just walks in because she’s a Princess? And for fun, no less?”
The scent of alcohol from what Reina had drunk yesterday still clung to her.
“D-do you really need to think of it that way? She’s accomplished so much, and her enrollment would be a source of pride for Henkel University, so wouldn’t special approval have been granted?”
“What? ‘She’?”
Reina’s fists clenched tight.
“Since when did we start dividing students by status?”
“That is… well…”
“You, born of a lowly merchant house, can look me in the eye and speak as my equal only because this is a university. Have you forgotten? Within these classroom walls, we are all equal.”
“…”
Silence descended over the classroom.
No one contradicted Reina’s words.
Reina smiled with satisfaction and looked around.
“When Isabel arrives, don’t even greet her. Don’t speak with her. Understood?”
“…”
“We are intellectuals. We cannot stand idly by while someone treats this sacred university like a pleasure outing. Her vaunted title as Princess means nothing here. This is a university, not the royal palace.”
Not everyone agreed with Reina’s sentiment.
But as Reina said, the Princess wouldn’t be here long.
No exact duration had been set, but at most a few weeks, at most a few months.
Truly, no more than a year at the absolute longest.
With Reina, they would have to spend over four years together, but with Isabel, they would part ways soon enough.
Which side to align with was obvious.
“Understood.”
“…I got it.”
Everyone nodded at Reina’s words.
Reina smiled wickedly once more.
“There’s no need to actively torment her or anything. Just treat her like a ghost. That’s how we, as students, legitimately and gracefully exercise our rights.”
This time, I’ll teach her a proper lesson.
And days later, Isabel enrolled.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Isabel. It’s wonderful to meet you all.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————