Limited Extra Time - Chapter 69

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

—— Page 1 ——

Thanks to sleep, the pain seemed to have vanished. I could only manage reflexive groans; my breathing remained labored. Millaiyen watched the stone Haron that she gripped so desperately in her hand. ‘…What on earth was I so worked up about?’

After expressing such violent fury with my entire being for the first time in ages, the aftereffects still lingered. The sensation felt disorienting. To expend emotions like this—not for myself or my Territory, but for another person. It was extraordinarily rare for me.

“Millaiyen, I suspect that stone called Haron might actually be effective against the Artist’s Curse.” Periel Kalos, who had been contemplating something intently while stroking his chin in the silence, was the first to speak.

Millaiyen’s face twisted as he turned his gaze toward Periel Kalos with a look that asked if he was spouting nonsense. “Wasn’t it said to be incurable?”

“Incurable, yes.” Periel Kalos’s lips trembled slightly before he closed his mouth and shook his head. He opened his mouth again slowly. “…It was incurable. Until now.”

The Artist’s Curse cannot be healed.

There was no way to slow its progression, no treatment to alleviate symptoms or ease suffering. That had always been the case.

“It seems a method might be emerging.” The reason I’d spent all day and night obsessing over Haron was because the stone was peculiar. When I concentrated my thoughts and played the wooden flute, the stone resonated. “Do you know why I asked you for the Basement?”

“Because of that wretched habit of yours.”

“Wretched… Can’t you speak more carefully? In front of Carina Leopold, you act like some beast with its tail between its legs.”

Periel Kalos answered Millaiyen’s sharp words with equal sharpness. As Millaiyen’s brow furrowed deeply, Periel Kalos let out a scoff. ‘What on earth does he see in her?’ Nothing but pure affectation. A personality wreck—I simply cannot fathom what could possibly be appealing about

—— Page 2 ——

such a person.

Mental discipline. A far more refined habit than crudely swinging a sword about.

How amusing. Playing a wooden flute and squeaking away—that’s what’s truly peculiar.

Ha. Will you two continue quarreling?

Unable to bear it any longer, Winston stepped in with a good-natured laugh to mediate.

Periel Kalos and Millaiyen’s gazes landed on Winston before drifting away like a sigh.

So, what exactly is that flute supposed to do?

Millaiyen Pestellio was the first to back down.

Periel Kalos’s eyes widened. Ordinarily, this was a man who would have kept his head held high until the very end.

He had never been one to retreat first and pose a question.

When I played the flute, that stone called Haron resonated with it.

Resonated?

Yes, as if it were somehow canceling out my power.

Periel Kalos answered with narrowed eyes.

The small stone, humming in resonance with the flute’s melody, actually nullified the sound waves the moment they reached me.

After conducting several experiments, what I discovered was simple.

Haron cannot be touched by miraculous power. Yet it resonates with the sound that produces miracles.

From this, I suspect that perhaps this resonating force cancels out the miracle itself.

Cancels it out?

Yes. If I can somehow utilize this, it might possibly prove beneficial for the artist’s affliction.

So “might possibly” means you have no definitive answer.

This is my first time encountering something like this. I didn’t even know such a material existed in the first place. If something like this had been found, it should have been reported. What have you been doing?

At Periel Kalos’s rebuke, Millaiyen Pestellio’s expression darkened. As if reporting it would have made any difference—what would a stone accomplish?

Besides, there were no artists in the Northern Territory. All that existed were the rough and crude inhabitants of the Northern Territory’s domain.

How could I have known the properties of Haron when I didn’t even properly understand the artist’s affliction?

Your Northern Territory especially needs to learn refinement as a necessity.

Nonsense.

Millaiyen Pestellio, his expression darkening, cut through the conversation with finality.

In any case, can you obtain more of this?

It’s a stone that rarely drops from monsters. You can only acquire it by going on subjugation expeditions.

Millaiyen Pestellio lowered his gaze toward the reclining Carina Leopold as he spoke.

He carefully extended his hand and gently brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen across her face.

How much can you gather?

Well, this year is uncertain. There are too many variables.

The greatest variable is Herta’s presence. With such a sharp mind attached to the operation, it feels less like facing individual creatures and more like confronting an entire army.

Millaiyen Pestellio pressed his fingers to his forehead and exhaled a short breath.

I’ll gather as much as I can.

Not “gather as much as I can”—you must bring them back if you want to save her.

—— Page 3 ——

“…”

Millaiyen Pestellio’s gaze shifted sharply toward Periel Kalos.

Though meeting those piercing eyes, Periel Kalos steadily held that dangerous gaze without flinching.

“You…”

“It’s for Carina Leopold.”

Millaiyen Pestellio turned his attention back to Carina Leopold.

She breathed more easily than before, though her breathing was still labored, yet her brow remained furrowed in discomfort.

“At least there’s some consolation in the fact that this stone is slowing the progression of her illness somewhat.”

“…Now that I think about it.”

Millaiyen Pestellio murmured something low, as though a thought had just occurred to him.

He gestured with his hand toward the Maidservant standing behind him.

“Bring what I told you to set aside when I returned earlier.”

“Yes.”

The Maidservant, having received Millaiyen Pestellio’s command, hurried out of the Reception Room.

Soon, within less than 10 minutes, what the Maidservant brought back in her arms was wrapped in cloth about the size of an adult man’s fist.

The pristine white cloth, soaked in blood, was stained in places and hardly pleasant to behold.

Millaiyen Pestellio took it from the Maidservant’s hands and unwrapped the cloth.

“There is one more. I obtained it during the subjugation expedition this time.”

“It’s substantial.”

“If needed, I’ll give it, but I intend to give half to her.”

At Millaiyen Pestellio’s words, Periel Kalos narrowed his eyes. That blind concern somehow grated on him.

Concern from someone who slaughters life without a second thought.

Before Periel Kalos could respond, Millaiyen Pestellio drew his sword and lightly split Haron in half.

Periel Kalos, who had been watching with his chin resting on his hand and narrowed eyes, opened his mouth.

“You seem worried about her.”

“Don’t ask the obvious.”

“Fascinating. You were always the type who didn’t care what happened to people outside your interest. You even found your fiancée bothersome.”

At Periel Kalos’s words, Millaiyen Pestellio fell silent.

Yet I found myself troubled. My eyes kept drifting toward him. When he was out of sight, I imagined him trembling somewhere in the darkness.

The thought of it soured my mood.

“I despise watching someone die before my eyes.”

Hearing Millaiyen Pestellio’s blunt voice, Periel Kalos let out a hollow laugh.

“There will be a banquet soon. A celebration held before the subjugation campaign, to wish for victory. Once it concludes, I’ll be away from the Manor to oversee the campaign.”

“She’ll be well cared for, so don’t worry yourself.”

At Periel Kalos’s knowing smile, his lips pressed shut.

I had intended to object anyway, but I couldn’t fathom what filled me with such bitter irritation.

Millaiyen Pestellio turned his head away.

For just a moment, I genuinely wanted to strike his face.

“Shall we have a drink together for old times’ sake?”

At Periel Kalos’s suggestion, glancing at Carina Leopold—

—— Page 4 ——

Millaiyen Pestellio answered by drawing her into his arms instead.

Drink alone.

With that curt reply, he swept Carina Leopold away from the Reception Room, cradling her against him.

The severed half of Haron naturally rested in her embrace.

Excellent! Finally, it’s complete!

Carina Leopold carefully carried the enormous canvas out of the Studio, taking pains not to smudge the paint.

Rarely did such unbridled joy ring through her voice.

Miss, you seem to be in quite high spirits.

Ah, Peng. Do you happen to know where Periel is?

Duke Kalos is in the Reception Room with the master.

Thank you.

Carina Leopold offered a faint smile, nodded, and hurried forward with quick, eager steps.

She was so flushed with excitement that it would have been difficult for her to offer any words of assistance.

Ten days had passed since Millaiyen Pestellio discovered her sudden pain, and she had been methodically moving toward her next objective.

And after ten days of failure, she had finally succeeded.

Periel!

Carina Leopold burst through the door without bothering to knock, then realized her mistake and her eyes widened with embarrassment.

It appeared he was in the midst of a serious conversation with Millaiyen Pestellio.

Carina?

It was Millaiyen Pestellio who answered.

Carina Leopold’s face flushed crimson as she bit her lip and gave a small nod.

She felt a little embarrassed showing her painting in front of Millaiyen Pestellio.

What is it, Carina?

Ah, I finally succeeded. Do you think this will do?

Carina Leopold lowered her head and stepped toward Periel Kalos.

Periel Kalos’s eyes widened as he examined the painting, and he smiled brightly while nodding. Carina Leopold smiled back at his satisfied expression.

This is excellent. This will certainly work.

That’s fortunate. So I should paint it this way, then?

I’ll need to borrow some of Carina’s power for this task.

That’s no trouble at all.

Watching Periel Kalos and Carina Leopold chatter away, exchanging this and that, Millaiyen Pestellio rested his arm on the armrest and propped his chin against it.

My hands are practically boiling—is that how I’d describe it?

I find the situation unfolding before me utterly displeasing.

…What is there to be so delighted about?

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