Limited Extra Time - Chapter 102

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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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Beyond that, there was also the desire to travel together.

I wanted to dine with him at an elegant restaurant.

One day I wanted to spend money freely and lavishly, to order different varieties of cake and taste just a bite of each.

I wanted to hike to the mountain’s peak and there

set up an easel to paint the landscape.

I wanted to raise a pet, and truthfully, I wanted to marry as well. I wanted to have children.

‘A child who resembles Millaiyen would be absolutely adorable.’

So if I were to bear a child….

I wanted to give them the love I never received in abundance.

The love I was denied, I wished to bestow upon my child without reservation. I hoped that child would grow up completely opposite to

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me.

I wanted to build a family surrounding myself and try cooking at least once.

I wanted to bake cookies and travel to the Northern Territory. I wanted to see the Sea I had never witnessed. I wanted to visit the Coastal Town.

There were so many things I wanted to do.

So many that my notebook was bursting at the seams.

Following Millaiyen’s words to place no restrictions,

desires came flooding forth like a broken dam, swelling in my mind.

The stack of papers was so full it was difficult to hold in my arms. Writing it all down made me appear utterly consumed by greed.

Carina Leopold closed her mouth without a word. It was too embarrassing to speak of, and even if she did, these were things that could never come to pass.

‘Among them, the one thing I most wanted to do….’

There was only one.

To say that I love you, that I loved you, that I had loved you.

Even now, before leaving, before death itself—I simply wanted to convey those words just once.

Though I knew I would have to keep this secret for the rest of my life, I couldn’t erase that desire even as I closed the notebook.

“It’s nothing much.”

After a long pause, Carina Leopold shook her head and spoke.

Crossing things off one by one had been enjoyable.

But what remained now were mostly things I couldn’t accomplish in whatever time was left. Desires that had only

grown endlessly without restraint.

“Tell me.”

“I’d rather not. It was just something I did for fun anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. I’m sure I’ll get to everything eventually.”

Her bright smile twisted something bitter inside me.

When?

When exactly would that be?

When, precisely, is this “eventually” you speak of?

Knowing full well the time allotted to you,

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how can you wear such an unbothered expression?

My insides felt like they were turning inside out.

My mouth tasted bitter. My face contorted involuntarily and refused to relax.

I wanted to scream at him to stop smiling, to cry instead—because if he wept, I could at least hold him and soothe his pain.

“Everything seems fine to you, doesn’t it?”

Then what wasn’t fine?

How was I supposed to support someone who could smile even with death staring them in the face?

It felt as though I was only now realizing how utterly insignificant and useless I truly was.

“…Millaiyen?”

“Let’s go inside.”

He turned his body without a word.

He walked in silence, but sensing that Carina wasn’t following, he stopped again. He tilted his head slightly.

“Come on, Carina. Hurry.”

“Yes, of course.”

Millaiyen extended his hand in invitation, his expression twisted as though he might cry at any moment.

Carina quickened her pace toward him. As she naturally placed her hand into his outstretched palm, he grasped it firmly.

He exhaled at the touch of her cold hand. Millaiyen drew her into his embrace.

“Oh! I can still walk…”

“Your hands are freezing. You should have brought gloves. Tsk, I didn’t think of it either.”

Having grown accustomed to a life without such luxuries, I had nearly forgotten that gloves even existed.

He held her with one arm while his other hand covered both of her hands with his own.

“Your hands are cold.”

“Are they?”

Carina Leopold tilted her head, turning her hands this way and that to examine them.

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They didn’t feel particularly cold to me, but they were certainly cooler than Millaiyen’s. I furrowed my brow in bewilderment.

“Millaiyen’s hands are quite warm.”

“It’s your hands that are cold.”

“Hmm….”

At Millaiyen’s observation, I rolled my eyes before breaking into a smile and pretended not to hear, burrowing into his embrace instead.

Warm and solid.

I loved his tenderness. So much so that even knowing I shouldn’t, I wanted to keep leaning on him.

“Have you ever been to the Forbidden Forest before?”

“Never. It smells absolutely wonderful. It’s filled with the scent of grass, trees, and earth.”

This unique fragrance was unlike anything I’d ever encountered. Simply closing my eyes conjured vivid images of the forest in my mind.

How to move my hands, what brushstrokes to use to bring out the colors—the composition was already painting itself in my imagination.

Ah, I wanted to paint.

At the thought that bloomed in my mind, my fingers began to twitch restlessly.

All the while I was nestled in Millaiyen’s arms as we ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest, my mind swam with nothing but such imaginings.

“Your painting supplies will arrive with the Support Unit. Even if you want to paint, wait just a little longer.”

“…What? How did you….”

“Your thoughts are written all over your face.”

Millaiyen chuckled softly, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered.

Rather than heading directly to the Encampment, he was taking a leisurely detour.

The Encampment likely still reeked of blood, and things probably weren’t fully organized yet.

‘We arrived earlier than expected.’

It seemed better to arrive a bit later than the anticipated time. Before she could catch sight of anything still in disarray—

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and be startled by it.

What if she had some kind of episode?

Of course, Millaiyen hadn’t given it a thought.

He had forgotten that he’d already shown her his combat form and the raw hides of Magical Beasts hanging in their original state.

“One of my bucket list items is to see Millaiyen happy.”

“…My happiness?”

“Yes, and if possible, I’d like to see you married with children.”

“…Married to whom?”

At Millaiyen’s low voice, Carina Leopold forced herself to ignore the bitter taste in her mouth and maintained an expression of indifference.

As casual as possible, as though she didn’t care in the slightest.

“Who knows? Perhaps someone will come along who captivates you completely.”

“…”

It felt as though someone were tearing her heart from her chest.

I couldn’t fathom what was going through her mind, or why she would say such things.

Since it concerned her, surely she must be saying it for my own good.

Yet there was no way to prevent the churning sensation in my chest.

“Since you keep pretending not to understand, I’ll say it clearly.”

“What?”

“I love you.”

Millaiyen, who had ventured deep into the Forbidden Forest, halted his steps as he spoke.

He carefully set Carina Leopold down and met her gaze. She stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock, her breath held.

“Not someone else—you, Carina Leopold. I love you.”

Millaiyen’s crimson eyes fixed directly upon Carina Leopold’s azure gaze. She remained motionless, unable to tear her eyes away from his.

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What was he saying right now?

What was he saying right now?

“I have no desire to love another, nor any intention to marry anyone else.”

“…Are you feeling unwell?”

Carina Leopold examined him with concern. What kind of bolt from the blue was this?

He couldn’t possibly be unaware that I had brought up the typhoon. He must have understood why I mentioned it.

“Of course, I do have some affection for Millaiyen, but that’s all it is.”

“…”

“…It’s rather impertinent of me, considering we’ve agreed to break off the engagement. I fear I’ve been too casual and disrespectful.”

She spoke softly, her gaze lowered.

If I lifted my eyes, he would surely notice how my pupils trembled. Wasn’t my voice wavering?

I desperately hoped my emotional turmoil remained hidden.

“And right now, it seems you’re pitying me because I’m unwell. It’s possible to mistake pity for love. I told you—I’m going to leave.”

“….”

Silence enveloped everything around us.

Millaiyen didn’t answer, and I waited for his response. I couldn’t lift my head.

What should I say? I needed to wear a cold expression

and push him away instead.

I thought of it as pain I would carry alone. Foolishly, I kept widening the distance between us.

“Carina Leopold.”

“…Yes.”

“I wish for you to live.”

“…!”

My eyes trembled helplessly. More violently than a ship battered by rough waves. My body shook

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like an aspen tree, and my face contorted in disbelief.

“I wish for you to live and remain by my side.”

“…How?”

My voice trembled violently. All my pretense crumbled away. Everything went dark before my eyes.

How did you know that? How could you possibly… know? Her eyes posed the question in silent desperation.

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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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