Limited Extra Time - Chapter 173

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

—— Page 1 ——

From that day forward, the three of us barely parted ways. Millaiyen made a conscious effort not to leave her side unless absolutely necessary, and even then, he often found reasons to postpone such matters. Seren, meanwhile, clung to her like a leech, perpetually attached to her presence.

Today was like any other day. As we prepared to share our evening meal together in the room as always, Ajidahaka made his appearance. Now appearing entirely human, he wore a light tunic and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. His expression bore a relaxed smile—far more at ease than before. He had spent considerable time with Seren and lived a mortal’s life. As Ajidahaka approached the dining table, he released a soft, deflating laugh.

—— Page 2 ——

That.

“I suppose it’s time for me to head to the Mountain Range. The moment has come. I must prepare for my long slumber.”

“…You’re leaving?”

At Carina’s anxious expression, Ajidahaka deliberately broadened his smile.

He nodded heartily.

“Yes, I apologize for not being able to stay with you until the very end. My true form will soon awaken, so I must return to the Mountain Range. Living a mortal’s life was truly enjoyable.”

With only a finite span of years, I found myself giving my all in each moment. Even when it was troublesome, I moved for Seren’s sake, and despite my weariness, I wandered from place to place.

I blinked slowly.

Seren, who had been listening to the conversation, suddenly popped his face out from Carina’s embrace. The child’s cheeks were still round and endearing. Ajidahaka gently tickled the boy’s cheek with his fingertip.

“Aji! Where are you going?”

“To take a long nap, little one.”

“Oh! Sleepyhead, when will you come back?”

Ajidahaka naturally scooped Seren into his arms and answered. The child settled comfortably as if accustomed to it, nestling his face against Ajidahaka’s shoulder.

“Well… our sleep lasts so long that there’s a high chance our granddaughter will become a grandmother before we wake again.”

“Huh! A grandmother?”

“That’s right—quite the sleepyhead, aren’t I?”

“But… Seren wanted to see Aji…”

Ajidahaka smiled silently.

It would be difficult for one living a mortal’s life to accept death. As he grew older, he would come to understand it slowly in time. There was no need to thrust such sorrow upon the child now.

“I will take a long sleep in the Mountain Range, so if you wish to see me, come to the Mountain Range. Of course, I won’t be able to answer since I’ll be sleeping

—— Page 3 ——

but that’s how it will be.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Seren blinked his eyes and smiled brightly.

Watching the child’s beautiful smile, Ajidahaka’s expression twisted slightly. He found himself wishing for more time, though he had grown so weary of that tedious existence.

He found his own desires somewhat amusing.

‘Just because I lived like a mortal doesn’t mean I wish to become one.’

I never knew that merely six years of life would be remembered so vividly.

Ajidahaka pressed his lips to Seren’s forehead and slowly caressed the child’s hair. Crimson mana seeped into the child’s brow.

“Serenus, I wish for you to always be happy.”

Though the mana had grown faint, its warmth caused Seren’s eyes to widen. The child’s lips trembled as he nodded.

“Sleep well too, Aji!”

“…Yes.”

Though the time was brief, I had taught him the fundamentals of sharing mana. As he grew, he would learn and apply it himself, growing swiftly.

Ajidahaka held the child’s body tightly once more before setting him down on the Bed. After finishing his farewell with Seren, he turned his head toward Carina Leopold.

“…This time, may you have… pleasant dreams.”

“Yes, you’ve endured much as well.”

Ajidahaka gently tousled Carina’s hair.

He exchanged a light nod with Millaiyen before gradually fading from sight.

As his form vanished in an instant, Millaiyen slowly lowered his head.

He had returned to the Mountain Range. That meant he had come to realize his own body had reached its limit.

—— Page 4 ——

And his limit was, quite literally… Carina’s limit.

The three of them sat in silence after finishing their meal. Carina blinked slowly.

Time was slipping away. I had no time left. It truly meant there was no time to delay any longer.

After gathering her thoughts, she offered a faint smile.

“Millaiyen, would you sleep in a different room with Seren tonight?”

“…Why?”

“I’m sorry, but I have something I need to do today. Just for one night, please.”

“….”

Millaiyen gazed at her with anxious eyes. Carina shook her head. Not yet.

It was not yet the end. Seeing her gaze, Millaiyen clenched his fists and nodded.

For a long time, he had refused to be apart from her, uneasy at even a moment’s separation. Yet if she needed time, he could not deny it to her.

She was someone worthy of spending time for, entirely for his own sake.

Seren fought against the overwhelming drowsiness, rubbing his eyes repeatedly. Millaiyen rose from his seat, cradling Seren in his arms.

“If anything happens, call me right away. I’ll be in the room next door.”

“Understood.”

Millaiyen forced a smile as he gazed at Carina, whose frame had grown noticeably thinner than before.

Carina gently pressed her lips to Millaiyen’s cheek as he bowed his head, then smiled back at him.

“I love you, Millaiyen.”

“Yes. I love you too, Carina.”

These confessions of love, uttered ceaselessly day after day, still made my heart tremble every time I heard them.

Knowing that an end was coming, I gave my all.

And limits always arrive when least expected.

Carina watched Millaiyen turn and leave the room with agonizingly slow steps, then retrieved two notebooks hidden beneath the bedside table.

—— Page 5 ——

The notebooks, which until recently had barely filled half their pages, were now nearly complete.

Carina slowly uncorked the ink bottle and began to write.

Unaware of the night passing, the dawn approaching, the sun slowly rising, and morning breaking, she filled every page until the end, then carefully arranged both notebooks side by side on the desk.

Despite having stayed awake all night, her body felt light and refreshed. Carina slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again.

The sky was dazzling, and the cascading light shone with unusual brilliance today.

She changed her clothes and left the room.

When she carefully turned the doorknob to the adjacent room, she saw Seren sleeping peacefully, unaware of the world, and Millaiyen resting his head uncomfortably against the desk, his eyes closed as if he too had lost sleep to worry.

“Millaiyen.”

“Mm… Carina?”

My eyes flew open at the sound of her drowsy voice, surprise flickering across my gaze. Carina smiled quietly.

She pressed her lips to my cheek, her eyes crinkling at the corners with warmth.

“Good morning.”

“Your body… are you alright? Can you get up?”

“Yes, I feel quite well today.”

Carina nodded lightly and turned her body toward Seren.

She gently poked the child’s cheek.

“Mmm…”

Watching Seren squirm petulantly, Carina smiled and pressed a kiss to the child’s forehead.

“Seren, shall we go on an outing today?”

“Mmm…? An… outing…?”

The words tumbled out drowsy and slurred, barely intelligible, and Carina

—— Page 6 ——

nodded her head.

“Yes, an outing. Shall we pack a lunch and go with Mommy and Daddy?”

At those words, Seren’s eyes snapped wide open.

The child’s face brightened instantly as she bolted upright. Still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Seren nodded eagerly.

“An outing! Seren’s going!”

“Carina, don’t push yourself too hard…”

“I’m truly fine today. My body feels so light.”

At Carina’s words, Millaiyen’s breath caught.

Her skin remained pallid and her frame still frail. It was inconceivable that her body could have recovered overnight, and yet she seemed utterly untroubled.

Understanding what it all meant, he clenched his teeth and nodded slowly.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“That’s… truly a relief.”

“I’ll wash up and change clothes in the room next to Seren’s today, so you should hurry and bathe as well.”

“…All right.”

Millaiyen turned away with difficulty. Once inside the bathroom, he locked the door and slowly collapsed.

He pressed his eye sockets hard, desperately hoping the tears that burned his eyes would not fall.

The end was approaching.

The end he had so desperately wished to avoid… was finally, inexorably drawing near.

No one had told him, yet somehow he knew. He slowly pressed his forehead against the bathroom wall.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Like a woodpecker, he struck his head against the floor repeatedly while seated, before slowly rising.

The reflection in the mirror was that of an unfamiliar

—— Page 7 ——

man.

He slowly washed his face with cold water. Pulling his lips upward and moving his facial muscles, he practiced the most natural smile he could muster.

It was another thirty minutes before he finally moved away from the mirror.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————