I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 52

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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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Leaving the hollow-eyed child behind, we entered an alley.
It was quite run-down, and not a single person passed through it.
“Ow!”
Startled by my cry, my brother hastily released his grip.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Look, my wrist is all red.”
By now, my brother knows he is different from other people in many ways. Yet despite this, there are still moments when he makes such mistakes.
My brother scratched his head apologetically, then stood before the wall and asked me.
“Should I stand facing the wall and reflect?”
….
His dignity as a prince was nowhere to be found, but his sincerity came through clearly.
I let out a light sigh and delivered yet another lecture I had given countless times before.
“I have the body of a Villorian, so I can handle this much, but if you grabbed an ordinary person’s wrist like that, it would be serious.”
“I don’t grab other kids’ wrists.”
Seeing my mood lighten, my brother grinned widely again.
He was still just an eleven-year-old boy.
Ah, he shouldn’t be this cute. If I let it slide like this, he’ll make another mistake.
Ah….
In the end, I found myself smiling back as I looked at my brother’s smile.
My brother seemed to remember something and said “Ah!” before speaking to me.
“You shouldn’t feel sorry for that kid.”
“Pardon?”
“His name is Ali. He’s shy and hard to get close to, but we exchange nods with each other.”
My brother told me about Ali.
He said his mother and father had passed away, and he lives with his uncle.
He said Ali shines shoes for people heading to work in the morning and earns money working at a sewing factory in the evening.
“He’s someone who does his best at what he does. Right now, he’s just taking a break, spacing out for a moment.”
….
“So don’t pity him. Don’t look at him with sympathy. That’s an insult to Ali.”
It was something I hadn’t expected to hear.
I had simply looked at his appearance and thought he was pitiful, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“Why do you come here every day, Brother?”
“I’m a prince, aren’t I?”
“What does that have to do with it?”
“Because I’m a prince, I need to befriend the common people.”
….
“We ride the rocket swing together too. Shining shoes is fun.”
“You… shined shoes?”
“Yeah. Ali wasn’t feeling well last time, so I did it for him.”
I stared at my brother for a long moment.
Behind those innocent eyes, I could glimpse a genuine love for her people.
Though her methods were somewhat unconventional, her heart was authentic.
As I continued staring, my brother seemed a bit flustered.
“What, what? Did I do something wrong again? Should I face the wall?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then why are you staring at me like that?”
“Just… I found it cute.”
At those words, my brother laughed with a cheerful “hehe.”
“You’ve got good taste.”
Michael eagerly took the lead and began walking.
Following my brother’s guidance, I arrived at a dilapidated house.
“The, the door is broken?”
“Yeah. That’s why cold wind seeps in during winter.”
“There, there, there’s a spider.”
“Hello there, spider friend?”
It wasn’t just spiders.
‘Ugh, gasp! That’s a beehive, isn’t it?’
Bees buzzed as they flew around the ceiling.
There was also a massive beehive on the wall.
‘Why are the bees so large?’
Exaggerating only slightly, they were as big as sparrows.
At least, that’s how they appeared to me.
‘There’s no doubt about it. This place must have wasps too.’
I couldn’t bring myself to speak their true name, fearing they might appear.
Thinking of those terrifying wasps, I swallowed hard.
My skin crawled and my hair stood on end.
I pressed myself firmly against my brother’s back.
“Brother, you can’t leave me behind.”
“Don’t worry. Your brother won’t abandon you.”
Though he was reckless, today he was utterly reassuring.
Gripping my brother’s collar tightly, I carefully moved forward.
“Nar, this is my younger sibling. Say hello.”
Narmore was sprawled flat on the ground.
He had considerably more flesh on him than I expected.
Narmore turned his head only slightly, as if moving were terribly bothersome.
His body made a creaking sound as he shifted.
“Yeah. Hello? I’m Nar.”
Narmore greeted me perfunctorily and closed his eyes again.
“Hello, I’m Isabel.”
“Yeah.”
Narmore spoke incredibly slowly.
It took him about three seconds just to say “yes.”
As if suddenly remembering something, he spoke.
“Michael and Isabel? Your parents must be huge fans of the Imperial Family.”
“I told you I’m Prince Michael.”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it. You’re the prince. And she’s the princess.”
I spoke.
“Brother Narmore, you were recently cast out and rejected by Rosilde, weren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m extremely interested in your business venture.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. But I need to take a nap. Could you leave?”
“I believe it’s next-generation technology that could completely revolutionize the existing currency system.”
“I think so too.”
Narmore’s attitude was indifferent, as if everything in the world was a nuisance to him.
“Let me help you.”
“That’s quite an impressive offer.”
“I’ll pay 50 million Luden as an advance. Start your research right away. I can support you with up to 100 million Luden annually.”
“Tsk. You’ve got quite the generous spirit. Alright, alright, I understand, but let’s talk about this later. I really need my nap right now.”
Narmore turned over and lay down.
Feeling a bit stubborn, I crouched down in front of Narmore’s face.
“Brother, look at me for a moment.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
Narmore didn’t even open his eyes.
I used my fingers to pry open Narmore’s eyes.
“Doesn’t my face look familiar? My face has been in the news quite a lot recently.”
“…You do look a bit like someone I know.”
“Is that person’s name Isabel?”
“Yeah. Isabel.”
Narmore’s eyes widened slightly.
A moment of denial washed over him.
“Surely not…?”
“You knew our brother isn’t ordinary, didn’t you? His strength is absolutely overwhelming.”
“That’s… right?”
Narmore bolted upright from his seat.
“No, that can’t be! So you’re saying you’re the princess? Or rather, Your Highness the Princess? And you’re really the prince?”
* * *
Narmore was greatly flustered, but ultimately he accepted the fact that Michael and Isabel were members of the Imperial Family.
‘Insane!’
The fact that the Princess herself had come to offer sponsorship was equally astonishing.
Yet Narmore had no desire to live earnestly anymore.
He had already burned everything to ash.
‘What does it matter if they’re a prince and princess?’
He decided to simply pretend not to acknowledge them. If he admitted they were royalty, he had a feeling he’d get dragged into troublesome affairs.
“I’ve seen all sorts of strange people. I’m not interested. Get lost.”
“There’s 50 million Ludens here.”
Isabel suddenly handed over a leather pouch filled with gold coins.
“I said I’m not interested.”
“Just check it first.”
“No, I’m not interested.”
Isabel stood up from her seat. Then she removed her hairpin and handed it to Narmore.
“If you show this to the Captain of the Kirren Guard at the Outer Castle, they’ll escort you directly to the Imperial Palace. I’ll be waiting for you at the Arena Palace in the Imperial Palace.”
“I said I’m not interested.”
“There’s someone called Yuri at the Imperial Palace—an exceptionally talented pastry chef.”
“Of course there would be.”
“This is just a sample.”
Isabel pulled out a piece of dalgona wrapped in plastic from her pocket.
“Try it. This is how you eat it.”
Munch!
She popped a piece of dalgona into her mouth and savored it.
Mmm, so delicious! I’m so happy every time I eat it!
That happiness transmitted to Narmore as well.
“It’s made by melting sugar. It’s really, truly so delicious that I’m overflowing with happiness.”
Her expression brimming with such joy was almost wondrous, and Narmore suddenly felt curiosity stirring within him.
It was an irresistible temptation.
Isabel smiled inwardly.
[Name: Narmore (Nar)]
[Characteristic: After money, what he loves most is sugar and flour. Sweets and bread are his driving force.]
It was a strategy based on the setting guide.
“Y-you made this by melting sugar?”
“Would you like to try some?”
As if bewitched, he placed a piece of dalgona into his mouth.
In that instant, a bittersweet sweetness spread across his tongue, tickling his entire body.
It was a taste he had never experienced before.
Was this heaven, or was heaven this place?
“It’s a menu developed by Yuri, but honestly, the Imperial Palace has many things far more delicious than this.”
“There’s something more delicious than this?”
“Of course. There’s something called a cropple—a bread that’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, incredibly delicious. When you sprinkle it with sweet honey and powdered sugar, and eat it with the pastry chef’s special milk cream, it’s so delicious you can’t even imagine.”
Gulp.
Narmore swallowed hard.
In the end, I was defeated.
“W-well, I suppose I’ll go just this once.”
* * *
Three days later, Narmore visited the Imperial Palace.
Even so, with three days having passed, Narmore had regained some semblance of reason.
“Your Highness. Why do you think so highly of me? What made you trust me enough to hand over fifty million Ludens? Why have you gone to such lengths to summon me to the Arena Palace?”
The journey here had been shocking in itself.
The notoriously strict Captain of the Kirren Guard, Kiruen, had personally treated him as a VIP.
The Captain of the Outer Palace Guard had escorted him all the way to the Arena Palace, and because of this, Narmore remained bewildered.
He could not fathom why the Princess would show him such consideration.
“Anyone who is sincere about desserts cannot be a bad person.”
“That may be true, but… no, I’m being serious right now.”
“You can speak comfortably like before.”
“B-but you are the Princess…”
“We’re in private.”
“Right. I understand.”
Isabel smiled brightly.
With a warmth like sunlight, she whispered an irresistible temptation.
“First, try this croffle. Let’s talk after you taste it.”
“…”
“It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
Narmore could not even respond.
Following the dalgona, a tsunami of croffles engulfed him.
Yuri’s special croffles shook and crumbled his reason once more.
Watching Narmore’s body and heart turn to putty after tasting the croffles, Isabel broached the main subject.
“I have a great interest in ‘Nar Coin.'”
The other world’s version of Bitcoin.
Narmore was the founder of Nar Coin.

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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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