Limited Extra Time - Chapter 177

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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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—— Page 1 ——

A Doomed Extra’s Time

A long romance fantasy novel by Ja Eun-hyang

Special Side Story, Episode 2

“My, has the Duke already retired for the evening?”

“Yes, Winston. He said he’d rest and see us this evening.”

“It seems the young lady is also quite busy. I suppose I should save my greetings for later.”

Winston exhaled deeply. The elderly physician, his face etched with deeper lines than before, cast a sidelong glance at Peng beside him.

“That is precisely why I suggested we have our conversation a bit later, Peng.”

“You know how much I’ve accumulated over this time. Well, I’ll admit I was a bit overexcited.”

Peng averted his gaze slightly as he spoke.

Whenever Millaiyen became entangled with Serenus, he became far too excessive. For someone managing the Duke’s Household finances, there were many moments when he wanted to bang his head against a brick wall.

Of course, the Duke’s Household was not without funds.

—— Page 2 ——

In truth, financial matters were not the core issue.

The real problem was this: during a meal, if Seren mentioned liking cheese, Millaiyen would suddenly start a dairy operation. And from that moment on, another burden would fall upon my shoulders.

Who would manage that dairy operation? Who would oversee the influx of money and labor, the product sales, and all the accompanying administrative work?

Thinking about it again, my head throbbed.

“Speaking of which, I heard you’ve begun training a disciple.”

“That’s right. I should start preparing for retirement soon. When do you think you’ll consider retiring?”

“I suspect it won’t be long before I follow. I’m far too old now… It’s time for me to rest. I’m thinking of settling in a small Rural Village around next year.”

At Winston’s words, Periel Kalos furrowed his brow slightly.

They had spoken seriously about it not long ago, but still, I found it somewhat regrettable that Winston was leaving for the Rural Village.

“I’ll prepare a house for you in the Capital, so stay, Winston.”

“I wish to live in a quiet place now. These past ten years have been filled with too much, and I’ve lived in constant busyness. This old man thinks he’ll go down to the countryside and perhaps work as a Physician in the Rural Village from time to time.”

At Winston’s words, Periel Kalos closed his mouth. His resolve was so firm that attempting to dissuade him further would be coercion.

Unable to find words, Periel Kalos ultimately fell silent.

“Have you decided where you’ll go?”

“No, I’m thinking I’ll consider it gradually. Though I do have a few places in mind.”

Winston answered Peng’s question calmly.

“I’d like to rest a bit. Would you show me to a Room, Peng?”

—— Page 3 ——

“Of course.”

As evening fell, everyone gathered slowly at the Banquet Hall.

“Winston!”

“My, Miss Seren. How you’ve grown.”

Winston pulled Seren, who came rushing toward me, into his embrace and spoke warmly.

The child showed not a shadow of darkness, evidence of how carefully Millaiyen Pestellio was raising her.

In the half year since I’d last seen her, the child had grown noticeably taller, and Winston burst into hearty laughter.

The more she grew, the more she reminded me of Carina Leopold. And with that came both the lingering sorrow and the bittersweet ache of one person’s absence in this otherwise happy scene.

“Yes, how have you been, Winston?”

“What could trouble an old man like me? I’ve been quite well. I’ve brought a gift. Happy birthday, Miss Seren.”

Winston extended a small wrapped box.

Despite the rather plain packaging, Seren accepted it without hesitation and beamed with delight.

“While organizing recently, I discovered something I’d missed. I had a craftsman fashion it into a bracelet, and I hope you’ll like it.”

As Seren carefully opened the box,

both Millaiyen and Periel’s eyes widened simultaneously.

It was a bracelet crafted from a beautiful gemstone that seemed to contain a galaxy radiating blue light.

“…So it still existed.”

“It appears I forgot about the leftover material from my earlier experiments.”

“Wow, it’s beautiful. Thank you, Winston!”

Seren slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, her smile radiant.

A bracelet made from Haron, something impossible to obtain now—

—— Page 4 ——

a bracelet made from Haron.

Such pure Haron was exceedingly rare. Azi Dahaka had consumed all of it in the past, and only inferior-grade Haron remained in the Northern Territory.

“But what kind of gemstone is this?”

“It’s a gemstone given to those we wish to recover and grow healthy. Winston has given you something truly precious.”

Millaiyen gently caressed the Haron with his fingertips as he answered, then pressed a kiss to the child’s forehead.

Seren’s eyes widened with wonder, and she beamed brightly.

Throughout receiving each gift, Seren’s mouth had been stretched wide in an unending smile.

When Millaiyen finally handed over two brooches that matched the exact color of his eyes, the child’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

It was a lively party. Laughter never ceased. Though modest in scope—not many guests had been invited—the child appeared utterly

delighted.

In one corner of the Banquet Hall, a notebook that now looked slightly worn sat propped against a chair, displayed with reverence.

Millaiyen glanced at the two diaries arranged side by side and smiled gently.

It was in moments like these that Millaiyen often glimpsed Seren’s tenderness. My daughter, who seemed to have inherited Carina Leopold’s kindness in full, never failed to honor her mother at every birthday celebration.

“To Seren’s birthday!”

“To her!”

At Periel’s lead, everyone raised their glasses.

The party continued quite late, stretching toward midnight.

Concerned it would grow too late for Seren’s wellbeing, Millaiyen sent the child upstairs first, then drove out the guests—who were far more intoxicated than the birthday girl herself—from the Banquet Hall.

—— Page 5 ——

“Really, you coddle her far too much, don’t you?”

“It’s not good for her health. Go on now, get some rest yourself.”

I seized Periel by the nape of his neck and threw him out, despite his stubborn resistance.

After instructing the servants to clear the Banquet Hall, I made my way to my own chambers, where the child was waiting.

I knocked lightly and opened the door.

“It’s time for sleep now, Seren.”

“Yes, Father.”

Seren rubbed her eyes as she organized the congratulatory letters from her friends, then tucked her diary into her embrace and wriggled under the blankets.

Millaiyen, who had lit a candle, drew the child into his arms.

The child carefully opened the diary’s pages. Millaiyen, trying not to look, held the candle closer to illuminate the area near the child.

[Hello, Seren.

My beloved daughter. You’ve already turned twelve. Happy twelfth birthday! How is our daughter doing? Mother is doing quite well. Wherever I am, I’m always watching over Seren, so don’t worry about me and live your life with strength.

And it seems you’ve enrolled in the Academy this year. Congratulations on your enrollment, Seren! Have you made many friends? Actually, with you being Seren, I wonder if you’re troubled by having too much popularity?]

Seren read the words slowly, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

There was so much she wanted to tell Mother. She had made many friends and wanted to boast that she’d already made more than ten.

[I’m actually a bit embarrassed, but Mother didn’t make friends as easily as you do. I’m so sorry I can’t see your friends. Tell me later which friends you’ve made—

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please.

You’ve joined the Swordsmanship Club at the Academy, haven’t you? If you’re Seren, you might be training every single day to surpass your father. By now, you must be using a real sword instead of a wooden one.]

Seren’s eyes widened.

Indeed, Seren had deliberated between the Magic Club, the Swordsmanship Club, and the General Studies, then confidently passed the Swordsmanship Club entrance exam.

Of course, being born with Ajidahaka’s magical power, she had considerable talent in magic as well.

But she truly wanted to surpass her father, and wielding her own blade to strike down magical beasts suited her temperament far better than practicing magic, so the child had enrolled in the Swordsmanship Club and was currently growing into an excellent swordmaster.

[My beloved daughter, has your skill improved by leaps and bounds? From age twelve, you can participate in various swordsmanship tournaments.

From what I’ve learned, many tournaments begin in autumn, so try mentioning it to your father.]

Seren’s eyes widened again.

This was something she hadn’t heard from Millaiyen. He was kind and affectionate, but he wasn’t particularly attentive to such details.

The child wiggled her feet buried beneath the blanket and read through the letter slowly, sentence by sentence.

A letter that filled an entire page with meticulous handwriting always made Seren happy.

[When your mother was twelve, she made her debut in society. Perhaps our Seren is beginning to prepare for her own debut as well. Most girls do so between the ages of ten and twelve.

However, if the Academy has been enjoyable and you’ve made many friends, it’s perfectly fine to enter society a few years later.

Just between you and me, Seren, your father will certainly dislike your debut in society.

—— Page 7 ——

Your father loves you so dearly that he probably won’t want you to catch the attention of others.

If you wish to make your debut and your father says such things, tell him confidently: “Mother said I absolutely must make my debut!” He won’t be able to say a word, I’m certain. Of course, even without saying that, if you express your desire, he will eventually allow it.

Society has many peers your age—different friends from those at the Academy. If you wish to make diverse friendships, do make your debut.

Of course, if you’d rather not and prefer to focus on your studies, you may delay it as long as you wish. In truth, wouldn’t your father prefer that? He does have rather childish tendencies, after all.]

Seren giggled softly and glanced at Millaiyen, who sat beside her.

Millaiyen, who had been deliberately avoiding her gaze, turned his head at the sound of her laughter.

“Did Mother say something amusing?”

“Yes!”

“What did she say?”

“Um… it’s a secret. But Father, should I make my debut in society?”

At Seren’s words, Millaiyen stiffened.

She was only twelve years old—why would she be thinking of making her debut in society?

His expression darkened slightly.

His expression grew slightly darker.

‘Did Periel Kalos perhaps blow some strange wind into her?’

If that were the case, I wouldn’t let it slide.

Millaiyen, who had even been contemplating putting Seren to sleep before going to grab Periel Kalos by the collar, looked at Seren again at the bell-like laughter he heard from beside him.

“Isn’t it a bit… early?”

—— Page 8 ——

Of course, Millaiyen’s debut in high society had been at ten years old.

Most people made their debut between ten and twelve years old, after all.

“Mm… really?”

“Yes, typically high society debuts happen around fifteen… or rather, eighteen years old.”

He was blatantly lying.

The problem was that this deception didn’t work at all on Seren, who had just read Carina Leopold’s letter,

but there it was.

Seren giggled and rested her head against Millaiyen’s shoulder.

“I’ll think about it.”

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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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