I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit - Chapter 85

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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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My Biological Father spoke in a somewhat uncomfortable tone.
“Is being held by Viscount Biatonn really that delightful?”
“Yes! Incredibly so!”
“Why is that?”
It felt like I was doing a role-play with my Biological Father, which was tremendously enjoyable.
My body perceived this situation like a game of house.
Creating memories with my Biological Father made my heart flutter and my mind grow warm and fuzzy.
“It’s because I really love being held, you see.”
“….”
“It’s normally a secret, but I’m only telling the Gatekeeper about it.”
I absolutely adored being held.
More precisely, I loved being in the embrace of a ‘protector.’
Since I had no memories of ever being under a protector’s shelter, it seemed to be something I’d never experienced in my past life.
“Your Highness the Princess is only seven years old. Isn’t she past the age of acting spoiled like a young child?”
“Gatekeeper. If you wag your tongue carelessly, I’ll cut it off—no, rather, let us become friends who share meaningful exchanges.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Don’t speak informally to me, Gatekeeper.”
Viscount Biatonn kept emphasizing by adding ‘Gatekeeper’ to the end of every sentence.
Viscount Biatonn was undoubtedly committed to this game of house.
Both of them were truly immersed in this situation.
Biatone spoke again.
“Why do you think that’s fortunate, Gatekeeper?”
Huh? What is he talking about now?
“Why are you relieved that she’s not an overly precocious child at an age when she should be allowed to act spoiled, Gatekeeper? Answer me, Gatekeeper! Why are you happy about that, Gatekeeper! You certainly are a meddlesome one, Gatekeeper! For a mere Gatekeeper, Gatekeeper!”
Now that I thought about it, he had a point.
I did my best to participate in my Biological Father and Viscount Biatonn’s role-play(?).
“How presumptuous! Gatekeeper!”
It felt like playing house, and it was fun. Viscount Biatonn seemed to be enjoying himself too.
“I’m the only one who will hold the Princess, Gatekeeper! You can’t hold her, can you, Gatekeeper?”
“Kyahahaha!”
Before I knew it, laughter burst out of me again.
“This person is absolutely lovely, Gatekeeper! Have you ever seen a Princess so adorable and endearing, Gatekeeper!”
He was laying it on so thick that I became embarrassed and shy, wanting to hide.
I burrowed into Viscount Biatonn’s chest and hid my face.
Whoosh!
Some kind of wind stirred.
‘What was that?’
Viscount Biatonn’s waist bent backward.
Wow. How interesting. It was like watching acrobatics.
“Kyahahaha!”
I laughed again.
It felt like that thing parents do—lifting their children up high and setting them down, that kind of play.
“How dare you, Gatekeeper! To draw your blade against me, who is like the f.a.t.h.e.r of the Princess… Huh? Where did he go?”
My biological father had vanished.
I still couldn’t figure out why he’d played the role of the Gatekeeper.
‘Well, as long as we all enjoyed ourselves together, that’s what matters!’
* * *
Ron had disappeared somewhere, and Biatone stood holding the Princess with the smile of a victor.
Isabel had fallen asleep cradled in Biatone’s arms.
To be precise, it was closer to unconsciousness.
Her young body and mind had endured far too much, and once the tension released, she’d succumbed to sleep like someone seized by sudden drowsiness.
Duke Robena of the North let out a sigh.
“You and His Majesty are still the same even after ten years.”
“You mean I’m still handsome, yes?”
“It’s a miracle you’re still alive.”
The Elder Priest leaning against the wall—Kadelina—interjected.
“Don’t say it like that.”
Having regained her identity as a priest, she had recovered her formal tone of voice.
“Why not?”
“It just bothers me.”
Just go ahead and advertise that you’re actually a dragon, advertise it. Ugh.
Robena let out a deep sigh.
If left alone, she’d probably cause a commotion saying “I’m actually a Black Flame Dragon!” so Robena decided to let it slide.
Robena approached Biatone.
Biatone, cradling Isabel carefully, stepped back two paces.
“Why are you running away?”
“I’m worried you might harm the Princess.”
“Why would I harm a mere child?”
“After you made such a fuss about taking five years from a child who only has fourteen years left.”
“Well, that’s…”
He glanced toward the Elder Priest Kadelina.
Robena had devised this scheme to find out what Isabel truly thought of Arun.
The Elder Priest was shaking her head frantically.
‘Right. I’m a bad dragon, so what.’
Rumors about Duke Robena of the North were already rampant anyway.
Adding one more thing wouldn’t make it any worse.
“Quiet. Take this one.”
Robena grabbed Kim Beolkkot by the scruff of the neck and hurled him—whoosh!
It seemed like a careless throw, but she had actually controlled it precisely with her magical power.
Kim Beolkkot’s body landed with a soft thud on Biatone’s shoulder.
Kim Beolkkot showed no intimidation whatsoever, even facing Robena with her overwhelming power.
[Perfect landing.]
[I didn’t lose.]
I glared at Robena with a provocative gaze.
It was a look that seemed to assert, ‘It wasn’t because you threw me so gracefully—I landed beautifully on my own.’
Seeing this, the Elder Priest couldn’t hide a satisfied smile, while Biatone’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re controlling it so carefully? Master, you’re not usually that gentle, are you?”
“….”
“When did you ever act so ruthlessly, saying things like ‘if it bites a person, it must die’ or ‘a worthless creature’?”
Arun’s mother—or rather, the black flame dragon, the current Elder Priest—tilted her head.
She asked with an odd smile.
“Did the Duke of the North speak so coldly?”
“That, well….”
Biatone giggled with laughter.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Master flustered, so I’m excited.”
“Disciple, do you know that fact?”
“Is it just my imagination that you’re trying to change the subject?”
I didn’t know why she suddenly wanted to change the subject.
All I could tell was that my master Robena was quite concerned about this Elder Priest.
The reason didn’t really matter.
What mattered was only the fact that Robena was wary of the Elder Priest.
What mattered was that I’d found a slight weakness in Robena, someone whose weaknesses were rarely visible.
“It’s related to Isabel.”
“Please bestow your precious teachings upon your disciple.”
Robena clenched her fist tightly, then released it.
Seeing Kadelina snorting hot breath with a rumbling sound, changing the subject was now the priority.
“You felt something strange from the One-Eyed Giant last time, right? You said you caught the scent of someone named Wilhelm from there.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I’m not sure if that fellow was involved, but in any case, it seems something artificial was definitely involved.”
It was far stronger than a typical One-Eyed Giant and had high magical resistance as well.
It was a magical beast synthesized with something artificial.
“I discovered a peculiar incantation on the giant’s corpse.”
“A peculiar incantation?”
I hesitated whether to tell or not.
Ravina, the dragon of wisdom, preferred to refrain from interfering too much in human affairs.
But then I caught sight of Isabel’s small back as she fell into sleep.
I tried to convince myself.
‘Not cute at all.’
Not cute.
Not cute.
She wasn’t cute at all.
Whatever dream she was having, she suddenly started sleep-talking about wanting to drink red bean shaved ice.
‘I did like cute things, didn’t I.’
I finally opened my mouth.
“Right. That skull pattern on the shoulder you discovered—it was a magical inscription. But it seems to be oddly targeting Isabel.”
“Pardon?”
“Has this fellow Wilhelm ever met Isabel?”
Biatone was convinced that Wilhelm was the culprit behind the past kidnapping attempt.
“Yes, probably.”
“Perhaps the One-Eyed Giant’s appearance here wasn’t mere coincidence.”
Biatone’s expression grew serious.
It was a grave demeanor of Biatone that Robena had rarely witnessed.
“You said Isabel used a tremendous amount of magic here?”
“Yes. She was quite dedicated to volunteer work.”
“I think I caught the scent of it.”
“Caught the scent?”
“It feels like Isabel is the target. Were there any strange occurrences related to Isabel?”
Now that I thought about it, there were indeed some odd things.
‘Demons appeared simultaneously from all four directions—north, south, east, and west. And their charging direction was all….’
I had only thought they were heading toward the castle. But hearing Robena’s words and reconsidering, they had all rushed toward the Royal Palace.
In other words, ‘where Isabel was.’
‘And one more thing.’
Biatone had arrived at the Northern Fortress Wall first, and only afterward did Isabel appear.
“I remember the One-Eyed Giant became even more ferocious once the Princess revealed herself. The One-Eyed Giant is originally a mindless, purely physical-type demon.”
That’s why we could hold it back to some extent with the fortress wall. It was the type that would charge stupidly at the wall.
But that day was different.
‘Sometimes when he gets annoyed, he jumps up like that and swings his club.’
I thought it was just out of anger, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
It might have been an action targeting Isabel.
“So it leaped when the Princess appeared. It might not have been coincidence.”
“I’d bet my younger sister it wasn’t coincidence.”
“So you’re saying Wilhelm might be targeting the Princess, Master?”
“Perhaps.”
Above Kim Beolkkot’s head, seven exclamation marks appeared as he heard all of this.
They were red exclamation marks.
A sign of great anger.
[Protect Isabel no matter what.]
He snorted indignantly.
The ratel had no memory of Arun whatsoever, yet despite this, he spoke instinctively.
[Tell Mother everything.]
[My mother is the best.]
The Elder Priest’s face, which had been about to bristle at the mention of ‘betting on my younger sister,’ lost its indignation and bloomed with pride instead.
He murmured to himself, ‘Indeed, Mother truly is magnificent.’
And several days passed.

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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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