I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 36

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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 immediately burrowed into Isabel’s bed.
Isabel’s bed was far more comfortable than the one enchanted with durability magic.
The ratel’s instincts surged to life.
Burrow in.
Burrow in.
Burrow in.
Kim Beolggwol burrowed with all his might.
[♩♪]
Kim Beolggwol was happiest when nestled in Isabel’s arms.
Isabel’s laughter echoed through the room.
“When did you get here? Oh, oh my, that tickles!”
And he was even happier hearing Isabel’s laughter.
Whirr whirr.
Kim Beolggwol made a special sound he only produced for Isabel, snuggling deeper into her embrace.
Isabel held Kim Beolggwol tightly in return.
Isabel loved sleeping while holding Kim Beolggwol.
Simply having someone beside her provided immense comfort.
In the past, she had always slept alone.
Except for the occasional visits from her nurses, she was always alone.
So nights had felt terribly lonely then, but that was no longer the case.
Kim Beolggwol offered something to her.
“Hm? What is that?”
Even in this darkness, something glimmering with light seemed far from ordinary.
“What is this?”
Isabel cast an interpretation spell on Kim Beolggwol.
Magical letters materialized above Kim Beolggwol’s head.
[Found it outside.]
“You found this outside?”
[For Isabel.]
“You’re giving it to me?”
[Transferring ownership.]
“Why are you giving it to me?”
[Beautiful.]
“You thought of me because it’s beautiful?”
[Affirmative.]
Isabel broke into a radiant smile.
He brought it because it was pretty.
“Is there another ratel in the world as romantic as this one?”
Kim Beolggwol wore a confident expression.
He had established his sense of self.
[Call me. Romantic Kim Beolggwol.]
Isabel embraced Kim Beolggwol affectionately, pleased with her cleverness.
Magical characters materialized above Kim Beolggwol’s head.
However, those characters were invisible to Isabel’s eyes, so she couldn’t read them.
[Jewel=Engagement Gift.]
It was a ‘dragon word’—an incantation invisible to human eyes.
The dragon word materialized breathlessly, then vanished.
[Claim Complete.]
[Contract Established.]
[Withdrawal Impossible.]
[Absolute Contract.]
Kim Beolggwol herself wasn’t aware that she had generated magical language through the dragon word.
Kim Beolggwol simply enjoyed Isabel’s warmth, and Isabel simply enjoyed Kim Beolggwol’s warmth.
As always, the two embraced tightly as morning arrived.
And the next day.
When Dailsa visited Isabel’s Room, she froze in place.
“Your Highness?”
Flowers bloomed abundantly throughout Isabel’s Room.
* * *
Isabel was even more startled than Dailsa was.
‘I did have a dream of playing with Bumblebee in the Flower Garden.’
That dream remained vivid.
In the dream, Isabel had placed a flower crown on Bumblebee’s head, and Bumblebee had created one and placed it on Isabel’s head as well.
“Steward, how did this happen?”
There was no soil here. Yet flowers bloomed profusely across the walls.
The Steward couldn’t answer.
‘Is this the same phenomenon as the Underground Freezer incident?’
Those flowers weren’t real flowers.
Though they appeared like real flowers, they were a form of magical manifestation.
Mana had coalesced to create substance.
‘Her Highness didn’t deliberately create this.’
The Steward believed Isabel’s subconscious—her boundless latent power—had stirred unknowingly, producing this miraculous phenomenon.
‘It must be a phenomenon caused by Her Highness’s genius.’
In truth, it was a collaboration between the engagement stone and the dragon word contract, but Dailsa failed to discern such details.
Dailsa spoke.
“Beautiful flowers indeed. However, since they’re magical manifestations, they won’t persist for long.”
“Why did this happen?”
“I’m not entirely certain. There is a similar legend, though.”
It’s because of Her Highness’s genius.
He deliberately concealed that truth.
‘The Princess is so considerate that it borders on excessive.’
That’s why I didn’t mention the Underground Freezer incident either.
It wasn’t Isabel’s intention, but when external mana—specifically Isabel’s ice-attribute mana—invaded the Underground Freezer, it caused some complications.
This situation is no different.
‘The walls will need repairs too.’
If that happened, the considerate Isabel would feel apologetic.
Dailsa didn’t want to burden Isabel’s heart.
‘It’s Karin’s and Tesleron’s responsibility to nurture and manage the Princess’s genius.’
They would handle everything related to Isabel’s exceptional talents.
My role as Steward was simply to show consideration for Isabel.
In a way that wouldn’t weigh on her heart.
So I decided to simply share an old, fanciful legend instead.
“A legend?”
“Yes. It’s said that when the royal families of Villorian proposed to someone, they used a treasure called the Proposal Stone. There’s a legend that if you swear upon it and love blossoms, flowers bloom abundantly.”
“What a romantic legend!”
Isabel clasped her hands together as if in prayer.
Flowers blooming when love blossoms.
For a six-year-old, it was an utterly captivating and fascinating story.
“Then did Father propose to Mother with that treasure?”
“No. That treasure was lost two hundred years ago.”
“Why?”
“There are many theories, but….”
There was one particularly compelling explanation.
“There’s a theory that it was stolen by a legendary evil dragon. The dragon called itself by the name of the Black Flame Dragon of Final Termination, Destruction, and Transparency.”
“Final… what did you say?”
“Usually people just call it the Black Flame Dragon or something like that.”
Suddenly, Dailsa noticed a red jewel placed on the nightstand beside the bed.
“What is that?”
“Bumblebee found it outside, apparently.”
“….”
According to records, the treasure that disappeared two hundred years ago was also in the form of a ‘red jewel.’
‘Surely not.’
How could a Ratel possibly find a treasure that vanished two hundred years ago?
This phenomenon today must simply be a result of Isabel’s genius.
That’s what Dailsa thought.
Isabel spoke with a bright smile.
“Is this valuable?”
“Since an animal found it, it probably isn’t worth much… but perhaps I should have it appraised anyway?”
“Would you do that for me?”
In truth, Isabel had no intention of selling this beautiful stone.
However, since Kim Beolggwol kept insisting on “selling it,” I decided to have the stone appraised at least once.
Isabel and Dailsa both thought it was just an ordinary stone.
Several days passed.
* * *
Isabel departed for the Mirotell Magic Federation to participate in the Olympiad.
In the meantime, Dailsa sought out Marco Yurmiel, the Empire’s finest appraiser.
She wanted to commission him to appraise the crimson jewel that Isabel had entrusted to her.
Marco delivered his appraisal results.
“N-Remarkably, it is genuine. Without question, this is a crimson jewel crafted by the master artisan Sebastian himself.”
“Please verify once more.”
“I have already verified it multiple times. I am of his bloodline. The special smelting method our family employs has also been confirmed. It matches exactly with the crimson jewels documented in our family records.”
Marco handed over a book as if he had anticipated Dailsa’s reaction.
It contained relatively detailed information about the crimson jewel.
Within it also existed Sebastian’s evaluation of the “Crimson Tear.”
He could not contain his excitement and spoke rapidly.
“Though it was created under the coercion and duress of the Black Flame Dragon, ironically, he stated it was the greatest masterpiece he had ever left behind.”
“Coercion and duress… you say?”
Dailsa tilted her head in confusion.
According to the ancient text, it clearly stated [through amicable conversation and mutual agreement], yet Marco had read it as “coercion and duress.”
“Ah. It is something like a cipher that only our family can decipher. Please pay it no mind, haha! In any case, this is undoubtedly genuine. To encounter this treasure again. I am truly delighted.”
“Is it expensive?”
“Within the limits of what I can offer, I will provide whatever you desire.”
Dailsa pondered for a moment.
“I will return tomorrow.”
“…Yes?”
It was not Dailsa who was in a hurry, but Marco.
Though he tried his best not to show it, Marco was desperate.
Dailsa was the Empire’s Steward and read such signs with remarkable precision.
‘I cannot simply hand over this treasure for money.’
Isabel did not understand the value of this treasure.
It was a treasure that the master artisan Sebastian, from two hundred years ago, had evaluated as his greatest masterpiece.
It was not merely a matter of money.
Dailsa decided to obtain the maximum effect at the minimum cost.
The next day.
Dailsa spoke.
“Let us arrange it as a loan.”
“…Yes?”
“The ownership belongs to Princess Isabel.”
“B-But….”
“If you refuse, then so be it.”
Dailsa mercilessly reclaimed the jewels.
“Wait, just a moment!”
“In exchange, the rental fee is 100 million Ludens per year. It’s a pittance compared to the treasure’s true value.”
In the Empire, the benchmark for high income was typically an annual salary of 100 million Ludens.
“1, 100 million Ludens per year?”
“I don’t believe it’s an amount that would burden the Empire’s finest appraiser.”
Dailsa, with the eye of a Steward, had calculated the precise sum.
An amount Marco couldn’t abandon, yet one that was far from negligible.
The Steward of the Empire’s judgment was impeccable.
Marco found himself caught in tremendous conflict.
Dailsa spoke with an unflustered expression.
“This opportunity comes only once.”
Years later, the incident that would birth the catchphrase “the Steward stewarded.”
That famous “the Steward stewarded incident” had begun.

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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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