I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 58

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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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Yuli, a journalist for “Whispers,” the continent’s leading news outlet, received a proposal that made her ears perk up while simultaneously leaving her at a loss.
‘The Vilotian Emperor sent me a letter…’
The Vilotian Emperor had singled her out by name.
The request was to conduct coverage related to the “Teisabel” Gate, which was currently setting the continent ablaze.
‘Why me?’
She had asked Isabel, who had topped the Olympiad last time, a few interview questions.
Isabel had answered with a composure unbecoming of someone with limited time.
That was all.
The editor-in-chief of Whispers spoke to Yuli.
“In any case, you need to be careful with your conduct. Don’t forget that our primary sponsor is the Mirotell Magic Federation and our secondary sponsor is the Magic Tower. You can’t afford to get on the bad side of mages. Understand?”
That statement essentially meant to conduct coverage unfavorably toward Villorian.
“…Yes.”
Among journalists, there was an unspoken rule: if forced to choose between a swordmaster and a mage, always choose the mage.
‘It’s fine to get on the bad side of swordmasters, but never mages.’
Otherwise, life itself becomes exhausting.
Not everyone was like this, but most swordmasters had clear-cut principles about relationships.
They typically prioritized greater causes and honor over personal feelings.
Mages, on the other hand, often put emotions and personal interests first.
That’s why making an enemy of a mage was far more terrifying than making an enemy of a swordmaster.
Swordmasters are frightening once and then it’s over, but mages torment you so relentlessly you’d rather be dead.
“I think you understand this well, Yuli.”
“Yes. With swordmasters, you only need to watch out for their swords, but with mages, you need to watch out for everything except their swords.”
“Don’t go igniting some sense of journalistic duty or the people’s right to know or whatever. That’ll cause problems for all of us. Got it?”
“I understand already, senior. You worry so much. I know how precious my livelihood is.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
Yuli headed toward the Vilotian Imperial Palace alone.
As she conducted her investigation, something strange began to unfold.
It started with Luluka, the midwife of Princess Isabel.
Early morning. The place where she met Luluka was in front of the “Teisabel Transportation Gate” leading to the Erbe Mountains.
Luluka spoke.
“Yes. I volunteered directly.”
People say the Emperor is safe because he possesses “Villorian’s body.”
Ordinary people insisted they would be different.
That’s why Luluka volunteered.
“As you know, I don’t possess any special body, nor can I handle mana—I’m just an ordinary person. I’ll prove the safety of the Teisabel Transportation Gate.”
“Was there any external pressure from the Imperial Palace, or subtle inducements?”
Yuli needed to write the article unfavorably toward the Imperial Palace.
So she continued to guide her questions in that direction.
“Not at all. This is one hundred percent my own will. The Princess doesn’t even know I volunteered.”
“The Princess doesn’t know that her midwife volunteered?”
“Yes. I applied without the Princess knowing.”
“Why did you make such a choice? Didn’t you think it was dangerous?”
“It was a necessary step to prove the safety of the Taisabel Transportation Gate.”
In the end, Luluka entrusted herself to the Transportation Gate, traveled to the Erbe Mountains, and returned.
“Here. I brought back snow that had accumulated in the Erbe Mountains.”
With that, Luluka proved the safety of the Taisabel Transportation Gate.
But Luluka was only the beginning.
Yuli was able to meet another volunteer.
“You’re… that Yuri who ranked first in the 14th Olympiad?”
“It seems you know of me.”
“I remembered because your name is similar to mine.”
After exchanging brief greetings, Yuri spoke.
“I want to volunteer not as the Princess’s attendant, but as her friend.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m making it clear that there was no external pressure or command. I simply want to help the Princess.”
“Wouldn’t that be because you received help from the Princess?”
She had received help from the Princess. So she came forward to repay that debt of gratitude.
That explanation was the most plausible and would be “unfavorable” to Villorian.
“I can’t say that’s not true. But I believe in the Princess. The world she dreams of is truly beautiful.”
In the end, Yuri also personally proved the safety of the Taisabel Transportation Gate.
But it didn’t end there.
“I never expected the Empress herself to demonstrate it.”
“The waters below can only be clear if the waters above are clear. How can the people of the Empire show faith if those in power don’t set an example themselves?”
After Luluka and Yuri, even Serna participated.
Yuli felt a headache coming on.
‘They’re all being far too favorable toward Princess Isabel.’
It was difficult to write in a way unfavorable to Villorian.
Still, there was one thing she could at least latch onto.
‘They’re all people with deep connections to Princess Isabel.’
In the end, they were all on Isabel’s side.
An expression like “the fairness is questionable” could certainly be included.
She continued her interview.
Next was Isabel herself who volunteered directly.
“It’s been a while, Reporter Yuli.”
“Do you remember me?”
“Yes. You’re the reporter who asked me such necessary questions.”
Yuli was honestly a bit surprised.
There had been many reporters at that press conference, and Isabel had answered countless questions.
She hadn’t expected Isabel to remember her among all of them.
“Actually, I’m the one who asked my Biological Father to call you, Reporter Yuli.”
“Pardon?”
“Yuli seems like a good person.”
I remembered Yuli’s appearance clearly.
‘I want to create a stone that releases cool breezes in summer. My friend suffers terribly from the heat. And I’d like to make mango smoothies so cold they make your head tingle in summer, and share them with everyone. I also want to create a magical device that transforms peaches into peach jelly in an instant.’
When I said that, Yuli’s eyes were dreaming of something.
At least in that moment, Yuli was my passionate admirer and someone who shared the same dreams as me.
It was only a brief moment, but it was certainly true.
‘I just wanted to become someone’s gift as well.’
To my words, Yuli wiped away tears with a handkerchief and spoke.
‘Your Highness, you truly have a warm heart. I never knew you possessed such compassion for the poor whom you’ve never met. It’s truly moving.’
I remembered Yuli like that, and so I had requested her to be called.
Yuli felt an inexplicable tickle in her heart.
“Thank you for remembering me and calling for me.”
In the end, I directly proved the safety of the Teisabel Transportation Gate once more.
By that point, Yuli felt something was amiss.
Things she had known all along but refused to acknowledge now filled her mind completely.
‘Wasn’t it supposed to be safe all along?’
She was not an expert.
So she had no choice but to trust the words of the expert mages and magical engineers.
When authoritative scholars said ‘that is excessively dangerous,’ she had no choice but to believe them outright.
‘So it’s now certain that the Mirotell Magic Federation and the mages, including the Magic Tower, don’t want this kind of public technology to spread.’
The Teisabel Transportation Gate that Yuli saw was safe.
The people of the Vilotian Empire—no, the people around Princess Isabel—were proving it with their own bodies right now.
The next day, Prince Michael volunteered.
“The Prince is volunteering as well?”
“Yeah. I like the Erbe Mountains. Haven’t been able to go lately though.”
“But the Prince’s volunteering won’t be particularly helpful. You have such a ridiculously… no, such an incredibly sturdy body.”
“Hehe, it doesn’t matter.”
Michael had no particular thoughts today either. He used the Transportation Gate to play around cheerfully in the Erbe Mountains and returned.
Either way, he too proved its safety.
And even Karin, my magic instructor, volunteered.
Yuli spoke carefully.
“Knight Karin. Regardless, aren’t you someone who must eventually return to the Mirotell Magic Federation? You are Knight Wilhelm’s….”
Yuli suddenly closed her mouth. Wilhelm was currently missing.
Publicly, Wilhelm was a wonderful adoptive father, and that’s what Yuli understood as well.
“Ah, I apologize. I spoke out of turn….”
“I merely wish to demonstrate something more advanced as a mage.”
“But wouldn’t this perhaps be an act of betraying the mages?”
“To turn away from advanced technology is to betray magic itself. I may betray the mages, but I will not betray magic.”
Karin disappeared through the Transportation Gate.
Yuli’s mind grew increasingly complicated.
‘Karin is genuinely a promising talent. She’ll hold important positions in Mirotell in the future. So why?’
Such a person had stepped forward for truth. She had thrown away her guaranteed future to reveal the truth.
Yuli couldn’t comprehend it.
‘Why would she go to such lengths?’
The Princess would die anyway once she turned twenty-one. There was no guaranteed future to be had.
So why had Karin chosen to do this?
‘Is there something I’m not seeing?’
Was there something more important than a guaranteed future, than securing one’s livelihood?
‘Why can’t I see it?’
No. She decided to be more honest with herself. It wasn’t that she couldn’t see it—she simply wasn’t looking.
‘When did I stop looking?’
In her younger days, before now. There was a time when truth had been visible to her.
There had been youthful days when she ran tirelessly to reveal the truth.
‘Why don’t I see the truth now? When did it start? Why?’
Small flames began to kindle within her heart.
And then, days later, she experienced the most astonishing thing during her investigation.
Countless people emerged through the Taysabel Transportation Gate.
“W-w-who are you people?”

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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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