I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 193

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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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Arun spoke.
“First, I extend my gratitude to all of you for answering my summons.”
More than ten men and women gathered in the Partemon Temple, the largest temple on the continent.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Acting Lord of Dragons, entrusted with full authority by the Dragon Lord. Currently, I live as a human named Arun.”
Several dragons frowned.
“Another Dragon Lord’s decree after just one year.”
“When did the Dragon Lord’s decrees become so reckless?”
The dragons who had fought alongside me against Wilhelm remained silent, while those who had not been present at the time expressed their discontent.
“Moreover, I find it hard to believe that the Acting Lord of Dragons is not even a mature dragon yet.”
“What could the Dragon Lord possibly be thinking, entrusting authority to such a young dragon?”
Arun did not particularly react to the dragons voicing their complaints.
“As I mentioned a year ago, I require dragon hearts. From those who willingly provide them, I intend to request approximately ten percent. As you all know, a ten percent donation is a level that can naturally heal itself with merely fifty years of sleep.”
“We know? How would we know that?”
“I never imagined a dragon would demand dragon hearts so brazenly.”
“I came out of curiosity to see what kind of dragon makes such disrespectful demands to us. I sense no respect for mature dragons in your words. Much like a certain black-haired dragon.”
A certain black-haired dragon.
Naturally, this referred to the Black Flame Dragon, Kadelina, who had driven the world to the brink of destruction.
The dragons were reluctant to mention Kadelina’s name directly.
They were a generation that had vividly experienced the nightmare of five hundred years ago.
For dragons, five hundred years was not so distant a past, and the memories of five hundred years ago remained vivid.
“Ah, I neglected my introduction. I am the son of the Black Flame Dragon of Final Extinction, Destruction, and Transparency.”
“….”
“….”
Silence settled.
“Furthermore, I am stronger now than the Black Flame Dragon was during her rampant period. This is something the mature dragons who stood with me last year also acknowledge.”
Even among dragons indifferent to worldly affairs, the incident involving Wilhelm was quite famous.
It was not merely a matter concerning humans, but one involving the “God of Death.”
Several dragons nodded.
“I vouch for it.”
“I witnessed it myself.”
“I have no choice but to acknowledge it.”
Arun spoke again.
“Those willing to voluntarily surrender their hearts, please stand to my left. Those who still cannot bring themselves to give up their hearts, please stand to my right.”
Some stood to the left.
Others stood to the right.
“I will give you one final opportunity to change your minds.”
There was no change.
And among the dragons that day, a beating incident that would become legend occurred.
Perhaps something even more terrible than the Black Flame Dragon crisis.
* * *
Eight mature dragons lay sprawled across the ground.
The Partemon Temple, which had boasted the largest scale on the Continent, vanished without a trace.
This place was now nothing but flat land.
“S-stop! This is a shameless trampling of dragon rights!”
A colossal dragon with azure scales and sapphire eyes lay prostrate on the ground, gasping for breath.
Arun, in human form, spoke.
“And?”
Arun was in no position to be choosy about the circumstances.
He was prepared to stand against every dragon if it meant saving Isabel.
“Do you think your actions will be tolerated?”
“I’m stronger.”
They all fell silent like stones.
Not a single dragon remained unscathed.
“Those who voluntarily contributed will lose approximately ten percent. And from those who made involuntary contributions, I’ll be taking roughly fifteen percent.”
The dragons wanted to cry out.
Did the term “involuntary contribution” even make sense?
Could those words possibly coexist?
Yet they could not speak.
Though dragons were inherently indifferent to death, Arun’s violence transcended it.
His brutality surpassed even that of a Blackflame Dragon, striking terror into the hearts of creatures who had known no fear.
“Do not worry. My mother had half her heart removed, yet she still lives well.”
“I heard she was sleeping.”
“She’ll awaken in about five hundred years.”
“….”
For the first time in their existence, the dragons suffered the indignity of having their mana forcibly extracted.
The dragons, having resumed human form, concentrated their mana in their palms.
Colorful mana converged, forming small spheres.
Arun accepted them with words of gratitude, carefully cradling each sphere against his chest.
“I will use these precious hearts you’ve so generously donated for a meaningful purpose. Thank you.”
Arun’s form vanished.
The dragons collapsed to the ground in defeat.
“…Where did such a mutation come from.”
“The worst dragon I’ve ever encountered.”
“Know what’s more terrifying?”
“….”
“We don’t even dare think of revenge.”
“He subdued us in human form.”
A dragon’s true form is far stronger than its human shape.
Though the human form consumes mana excessively and is inefficient, in terms of pure power, the true form is naturally far superior.
“The emergence of a Radiant Dragon.”
“If only it had gone mad in a sensible way.”
The moment the Mad Dragon appeared, surpassing the Black Flame Dragon, the worst dragon in history.
* * *
Arun gazed down at the glass chamber where Kadelina slept.
Kadelina was in a deep slumber.
“Mother. I’ve come to say goodbye.”
Of course, there was no response.
“I received donations of hearts equivalent to 1.5 from about ten dragons. According to research conducted with the Imperial Palace staff, it seems one complete dragon heart should be enough to save Isabel.”
Kadelina’s expression remained serene.
“However, a great deal of magical power will be lost during the heart transplantation process. Truthfully, I wanted to extract one dragon’s heart completely intact.”
A single complete heart would be far more advantageous than fragmented dragon hearts combined together.
“But if I did that, I don’t think Isabel would be happy.”
So I gathered several fragmented hearts and merged them into one.
The efficiency dropped significantly, but it couldn’t be helped.
“To merge the energies of these fragmented hearts into one, I’ll need another immense power.”
I would use my own heart for that.
From the other dragons, I received magical power equivalent to roughly 10 to 15 percent at most.
“Like Mother did, I’ll likely have to extract nearly half of my heart.”
I thought that would be the safe range.
“However, unlike Mother, I don’t intend to fall into a long slumber. Because Isabel won’t exist in that world.”
So instead of sleeping to recover my body, I wanted to choose a life with Isabel.
“A hundred days with Isabel are more precious to me than a thousand days without her. That’s why I came to say goodbye one last time.”
Kadelina remained asleep.
This would probably be the last time I saw Mother.
“Thank you for everything, and I loved you.”
Arun bowed deeply.
Arun left, and shortly after, Kadelina, with her eyes still closed, murmured.
“That brat saying ‘I love you’—it’s damn hard to listen to.”
The lid of the glass chamber opened.
Kadelina descended to the ground.
The sensation of her toes touching the earth felt strangely refreshing.
“He’s truly my son.”
Arun had just said it.
That a hundred days with Isabel were better than a thousand without her.
It was the same for Kadelina.
A lifetime with Arun was better than eternal life without him.
“Perhaps I should go enjoy one last game myself.”
* * *
Yellow flags hung in every house throughout the Imperial Territory.
From the mansions of high-ranking nobility to the slums in the corners of alleys.
Yellow flags symbolizing and honoring Isabel rippled like waves in the wind.
Isabel’s twentieth birthday was drawing near—just three days away.
Hymns celebrating Isabel echoed through the streets, and countless people emerged to offer prayers at the Temple.
“Please, do not take Princess Isabel from us.”
“Let her radiant light touch the Empire for many years to come.”
Rumors spread that the collective prayers of so many had completely shattered the Partemon Temple.
The prevailing belief was that the Divine, moved by the people’s devotion, had answered their pleas.
“This land still needs the Princess.”
“Let the Empire’s spring not depart from our realm.”
It was not only at the Temple.
In meadows, by riverbanks, in plazas, across the flatlands.
Wherever people could gather, they assembled in small groups to offer their prayers.
The Capital City of the Empire.
A vast plaza originally known by the name Marcelri.
Now it was called Sunlight Plaza instead of Marcelri.
Countless people gathered here, waving yellow flags and singing hymns in Isabel’s honor.
Many also crowded Montmartre Hill, which overlooked the plaza, and the banks of the Serin River that flowed around it.
As throngs gathered to celebrate Isabel, a single carriage entered Sunlight Plaza.
Despite the vast multitude, the path for the carriage remained pristinely clear.
Everyone maintained order, displaying the maturity of conscientious citizens.
Inside the carriage rode Viscount Biatonn and Isabel.
“There are so many people who are not prepared to let Isabel go.”
“…I have prepared myself to leave.”
I could feel death approaching in real time.
I had felt it many times in my past life, so it was not unfamiliar.
As if he had not heard Isabel’s words, Viscount Biatonn smiled gently.
“This is your first speech today, so don’t be too nervous. Next time, you’ll be able to speak much more eloquently.”
There won’t be a next time, Viscount Biatonn.
Isabel did not voice those words.
“I’m nervous.”
“It’s alright if you make mistakes. It’s fine.”
“But I feel good about this.”
So many people had gathered here for Isabel.
‘What am I saying.’
The convergence of so many hearts devoted to a single person was truly exhilarating.
‘This is the last time. Let me leave behind the words I want to say.’
I stepped lightly onto the prepared podium.
Though my breath grew short and dizziness threatened after merely that short walk, I showed no sign of it.
The yellow waves rippled in the wind, and the moment Isabel appeared, a solemn silence descended heavily upon the crowd as if by agreement.
“Beloved citizens of the Empire, I am Isabel.”
Isabel’s final speech began.

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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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