I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 56

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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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Kim Beolggwol was an unabashedly affectionate ratel.
[Requesting touch.]
[Pet my belly.]
Isabel burst into delighted laughter and gently rubbed Kim Beolggwol’s belly.
Whether pleased or ticklish, Kim Beolggwol thrashed his four legs aggressively, radiating pure joy.
[Joy]
Whirrrr—
[Extremely joyful ♩♪]
Ah, this is absolutely insane with cuteness.
Isabel stroked Bumblebee’s belly with one hand while covering her mouth with the other.
After their brief reunion(?), Isabel opened her mouth again.
Ahem.
She cleared her throat and steeled herself.
“Kim Beolggwol. Sit up properly.”
Whirrrr?
[?]
She nearly covered her mouth again at that expression, but Isabel restrained herself.
Cute was cute, but discipline had to be administered.
She needed to know when to be firm.
“From now on, absolutely no stealing. That’s wrong. Do you understand?”
[Bring joy to the miser.]
It meant he wanted to bring joy to Isabel.
“But you can’t bring me joy through wrong methods. That’s not right. If you try to bring me joy that way, I won’t be happy at all. Do you understand?”
Kim Beolggwol’s shoulders drooped.
He looked as though he might melt away entirely.
“You did wrong, didn’t you?”
[….]
Though Kim Beolggwol had fought valiantly against five lions, tears glistened in his eyes at Isabel’s rebuke.
“You won’t admit it? Kim Beolggwol, you’re smart. You know what you did was wrong. Are you going to keep making me sad like this? Will you keep embarrassing me, your guardian?”
Plip, plip.
Tears fell from Kim Beolggwol’s eyes in fat droplets. They were quite heavy, as if he were truly sorrowful.
Seeing this, Isabel steeled her wavering heart.
Since she was the one who had given Kim Beolggwol his name, she had to follow through with responsibility.
“Right now, Bumblebee shows no sign of reflection at all. You know you did wrong but won’t admit it. Go over there, face the wall, and put your paws up. Think about what you’ve done with your paws raised.”
Kim Beolggwol shuffled forward with the expression of one who had lost everything, his body limp and melting, and sat facing the wall.
He wiggled his rump as he settled into position and raised his paws.
Watching this, Isabel’s heart ached.
‘Did I go too far?’
Yet Isabel did not know.
Contrary to his most pitifully drooping silhouette, Kim Beolggwol was grinning widely.
A powerful conviction remained embedded in Kim Beolggwol’s mind.
‘The cutest things are the most dangerous.’
I couldn’t recall who had told me this.
Yet it had somehow become my code of conduct.
Kim Beolggwol already knew exactly how my back would appear to Isabel.
I floated an invisible subtitle above my head that no one else could see.
[Kim Beolggwol = Schemer]
After a brief moment, Kim Beolggwol turned around.
[I was wrong.]
[Stealing is bad.]
Kim Beolggwol extended a paw.
Though my fingers weren’t as long as a human’s, I managed to extend my pinky.
[I won’t do it again.]
[Promise.]
“Okay. Promise.”
Isabel and Kim Beolggwol linked their pinkies together.
“Thank you for being honest with me. You’re one brave ratel.”
As Isabel gently stroked Kim Beolggwol’s head, the ratel made a soft chirping sound and hunched its shoulders.
* * *
At that same moment, Marco Yurmiel, the finest gemologist in the Villorian Empire, was once again researching the “betrothal stone.”
“Hmm? Light is leaking out?”
He hadn’t embedded any luminescent material, nor had he infused external mana.
The betrothal stone was emitting light on its own.
“What in the world is this?”
Flowers were blooming across the walls of his workshop.
“Is the legend real?”
There was indeed a legend that when one swore upon the betrothal stone and love blossomed, flowers would bloom profusely.
Though Marco was a direct descendant of Sebastian, who had created the “betrothal stone,” he still didn’t entirely trust the legend.
Yet he couldn’t dismiss it as mere fantasy either.
The evidence was unfolding right before his eyes.
“Not quite in full bloom yet…”
Only a few flowers had opened.
It differed slightly from the legend.
“But what if actual diamonds start sprouting out like this?”
According to the tale, diamonds would gush forth like a spring during a moment of desperate sacrifice for one another.
“No, surely not. What ridiculous nonsense am I even imagining?”
* * *
A month had already passed since my Biological Father moved me and I severely scolded Bumblebee.
‘Time really does fly.’
Each day felt precious and fleeting.
In any case, I gazed at the portable gateway model in my hands and broke into a radiant smile.
“We finally did it!”
“Indeed. We really did.”
“Grandfather Tesleron can smile too?”
“What?”
“I thought you’d contracted an inability to smile, given how you’re always wearing that sour expression.”
Grandfather Tesleron furrowed his brow once more.
“Is there really such a disease in this world?”
“Exactly. Smiling feels good, doesn’t it? Right? And there goes that sour expression again.”
Viscount Tesleron furrowed his brow, yet he couldn’t hide the subtle tremor at the corners of his mouth.
“This is the day you’ve actualized a practical model using the energy transmission method you’ve researched your entire life. You’re allowed to be genuinely happy about it. Hehe.”
“….”
Viscount Tesleron had transformed what existed only in theory into a tangible, functional model.
It would take more time to reach the commercialization stage, but with this, we could significantly enhance the efficiency of existing gateways.
“I should brief Mother and Father about this. Actually, before that, I should practice my presentation with Biatone first.”
I grabbed Viscount Biatone’s sleeve and dragged him along.
“Hurry. Please take a look right away.”
“Your Highness, when did you become so strong?”
Viscount Biatone, who was much taller and stronger than me, was being pulled along by my insistent tugging.
Viscount Biatone smiled brightly at me, and that alone gave me tremendous encouragement.
I explained the gateway model I had created together with Viscount Tesleron.
“…And that’s how we created this advanced form of portable gateway.”
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Biatone simply applauded, as if whatever the outcome was, it was wonderful.
“Bravo! Simply bravo!”
“Come on, teacher. Please evaluate it more rigorously.”
“That was rigorous evaluation. To coax that cantankerous old gentleman into creating something like this—truly, Your Highness is remarkable.”
Grandfather Tesleron, who had been sitting with his legs crossed, furrowed his brow again.
“What?”
“Oh? You heard that? My apologies—that wasn’t meant for your ears.”
Grandfather Tesleron glared at Biatone once, but soon averted his gaze.
It seemed he had learned through experience that engaging with Biatone only exhausted himself.
“Today is a good day. Please don’t fight, you two. If you do, I won’t give you any more candy.”
“….”
“I won’t fight, Your Highness. Let’s make peace, dear Viscount Tesleron!”
In any case, I took this model and headed to Mother’s office with Grandfather Tesleron.
Because Steward Dailsa had given advance notice, Father was also present in Mother’s office.
“I’m so happy to show this to Mother and Father.”
I explained it in the same manner as I had to Viscount Biatone.
“Let’s say this small bead represents a person, and we’ll transport it from this gateway to that gateway. The magical energy used will be substituted by this small mana stone. And voilà. The bead has been transported over there. How we did this was…and that’s how it came to be.”
My biological father, a pure swordmaster, seemed unable to grasp the underlying principles, while my mother appeared to understand to some degree.
Mother asked again.
“While my knowledge of magical engineering is insufficient for perfect comprehension, I understand what you’re ultimately trying to accomplish. So you’re saying you’ve converted the transmission method of mana from direct current to alternating current, and maximized efficiency by utilizing this inverter system you mentioned?”
“Exactly!”
Mother looked at my biological father.
“If it can be commercialized, it seems like remarkable technology. What are your thoughts, Your Majesty?”
“The Empress should attend to the Empress’s duties. I shall handle the Emperor’s work.”
“I understand. I shall trust only you, Your Majesty.”
“And I shall trust only the Empress.”
At that moment, I didn’t fully understand what my biological father meant.
‘The Emperor’s work?’
I wasn’t entirely clear on how the Empress’s duties and the Emperor’s duties were divided.
From what I gathered, my mother handled finances, administration, and diplomatic affairs.
‘But then doesn’t Mother handle everything?’
Yet it couldn’t be that simple either, since my biological father was constantly busy, and Viscount Biatonn, his aide, had quite pronounced dark circles under his eyes.
Mother spoke.
“I’ll provide the budget, so try implementing an actual teleportation gate.”
“Understood! I’ll use the existing teleportation gate and set it up so we can travel to the Erbe Mountains!”
“How long will it take?”
“About a month, I think.”
“Very well. Mother believes in our daughter. I’m certain you’ll do wonderfully.”
That trust directed at me made my heart swell unexpectedly.
As the Empress, she provided budget and various procedures; as my mother, she offered steadfast support and unwavering trust.
“But don’t burden yourself too much. It’s fine even if the results aren’t perfect. To me, every step of your process is precious.”
Mother assured me that she wouldn’t be disappointed in me even if I failed.
Whether I succeeded or failed, her warm and resolute gaze conveyed certainty to me.
The certainty that she would undoubtedly love me as Isabel, love me as my very existence.
A fullness of emotion I had never experienced in my past life filled me completely.
I suddenly embraced my mother.
“My goodness?”
Mother held me and patted my back gently.
I, who had no mother, now had one.
No—it had already been seven years, yet today I was grateful anew.
“I’m so happy to have you, Mother.”
Today too, I had my mother.
“I’m truly a blessed child.”
I wished I could remain seven years old forever.
That’s how I felt.
And a month passed.
The day I would implement an actual teleportation gate and present it to my mother and biological father.
I realized I had made a foolish mistake.

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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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