Limited Extra Time - Chapter 99

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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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She pinched her cheek lightly, and the sharp sting that followed made her release it immediately. At least this wasn’t a dream.

Hugging the pillow to her chest, she exhaled a long, weary sigh. I couldn’t fathom what kind of relationship this was.

‘An incomplete Fiancé relationship, perhaps.’

If she were to judge coldly and objectively, they hadn’t broken off the engagement yet, so perhaps things were acceptable up to this point?

Though she couldn’t quite grasp what their relationship truly was, each day had been filled with happiness.

Something had shifted ever since that day when Millaiyen suddenly seemed different and came to find her.

He had become far more tender than usual, and the time he spent by her side had increased. No matter how she tried to stifle her whimpers in the early dawn, he would notice quickly and pull her into his embrace.

‘He couldn’t have heard, could he?’

If something had changed that day, there must have been a reason for it, yet nothing came readily to mind.

What surfaced in her thoughts was the secret she had been sharing with him just before Millaiyen arrived,

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and the fact that Millaiyen had sensed her emotions.

Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen Periel Kalos since then.

Carina Leopold’s expression grew peculiar.

Periel Kalos was someone who would normally visit once a day. Yet thinking back, she hadn’t encountered him at all since that time. Carina Leopold tilted her head in contemplation.

Perhaps she would see him soon enough.

This was her second long journey. Of course, it wasn’t to a distant place, and it was closer to an expedition than a true journey.

She slowly rose from the bed.

Carina Leopold dressed in the Northern Territory attire that Millaiyen had prepared for her.

Clothes that allowed for ease of movement were not skirts or dresses, but trousers.

With a thick coat made of beast fur draped over it, my body appeared twice as voluminous as usual.

It was warm, but…?

No matter how I looked at it, I resembled a bear…

No, a bear it was.

To be precise, a gaunt bear that hadn’t eaten properly.

From any angle, it posed no threat whatsoever.

Yes, a bear doll—but one that was decidedly not cute.

In any case, it was a form I absolutely did not wish to show Millaiyen. Who would want to become a scrawny bear in front of someone they cherished?

Something about this felt genuinely strange.

No, not at all! This is such a fine garment. My family runs a Clothing Shop, so I know—it’s among the very finest. The color is a bit drab, perhaps, but the insulation is unparalleled, and it won’t get wet even in rain.

At Carina Leopold’s words, the Maidservant standing beside her spoke up eagerly. She had been gleaming with excitement ever since she began dressing her in these clothes.

Is it truly such a fine garment?

Yes, it’s made from the hide of a Magical Beast called Jibri—

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—and it’s difficult to obtain and complex to craft. In the Northern Territory, it’s the finest clothing available.

…I see.

I had simply thought it a crude garment made from beast hide.

It was true that it was certainly warm and neither particularly heavy nor cumbersome. The only concern was how drab the color appeared.

Despite its lightness, it was remarkably sturdy and durable—so much so that, I’m told, a well-made garment of this kind can even deflect arrows—

He said he’d give it to me.

…If it has that level of functionality, wouldn’t it be better to use it as armor instead?

With something this light, making armor from it would be far more practical, or so I thought.

It seemed too precious to wear as everyday clothing.

Well, as I mentioned, it’s difficult to obtain, so using it as ordinary armor isn’t feasible. From what I understand, the master obtained it himself by hunting and skinning a—

creature, then took it from the leather warehouse.

…The master himself?

Yes, and besides, no matter how excellent it is, it offers no protection against sorcery.

I see…

I never imagined the leather came from a Magical Beast that Millaiyen had hunted personally.

I felt a twinge of embarrassment at having voiced such complaints. It was a gift from him directly—refusing to wear it would only disappoint him.

In any case, thank you.

Not at all. Please return safely.

The Maidservant smiled warmly as she spoke.

I returned her smile gently and stepped out of the room. I carefully smoothed the soft, fluffy fur coat I was wearing.

I had never known such a remarkable leather existed.

Beyond the Northern Territory, hardly anyone uses Magical Beast materials anyway.

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In the Southern Territory, they sometimes even compare Northerners to barbarians.

‘Really, I’d love to tell them that’s absolutely not the case.’

In some ways, those from the Northern Territory possessed far superior qualities compared to those from the Southern Territory.

Their refreshing candor and the equality they showed regardless of gender—these were admirable traits.

With such thoughts, I made my way downstairs. Halfway down the staircase, I caught sight of Periel Kalos in his robe.

My eyes widened in surprise, and I quickened my pace down the remaining steps.

“Periel!”

“Ah, Carina Leopold.”

“I haven’t seen you in days. What have you been—”

My eyes flew wide open.

Unlike Periel Kalos, whose expression brightened at the sight of me, I found myself unable to muster even a smile. I hurried toward him and carefully placed my hand against his cheek.

“Good heavens, what on earth happened to you?”

His face was a sickly shade of purple and blue.

His lips were split, his cheeks and eyes swollen with deep bruises, and his face and hands were covered in lacerations.

“It’s nothing serious.”

“Nothing serious? Who on earth struck you?”

“I wasn’t struck.”

“Anyone can see you were beaten.”

“….”

At my words, Periel Kalos fell silent.

How many people in this manor possessed the strength to strike him? Yet admitting he’d been helplessly battered by a wild beast would wound his pride far too deeply.

“…Surely Millaiyen didn’t do this?”

“….”

“You hit him.”

At her confident words, Periel Kalos fell silent.

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“I trusted you. Even so, I trusted you enough to summon you here. And yet… you dared to toy with me using her very life.”

“What would you have me do? She didn’t tell you. Perhaps you should blame yourself for failing to earn her trust.”

“Insolent bastard!”

A heavy, dull crack echoed through the air, and my head snapped to the side.

Periel Kalos blinked slowly, emerging from his reverie.

It was somewhat irritating, but I considered the anger justified. The problem was that I hadn’t managed a proper counterattack.

‘Brute strength alone.’

I had never won through sheer force before, but being struck like this left a bitter taste.

Turning my head away, I exhaled a low sigh and spoke.

“We simply had a disagreement. Our temperaments never aligned well, even back at the Academy.”

“No….”

What kind of fight was this, clawing at each other like children?

His hair remained neat, but anyone could see his face was thoroughly beaten.

My expression darkened. So that was why he’d been wearing his robe pulled up.

By contrast, Millaiyen had looked perfectly fine this morning.

Whenever the fight had occurred, it was clear that Periel Kalos had taken the brunt of it.

‘…Millaiyen had a few scrapes on his cheek as well.’

Once I applied the potion I’d made, they healed quickly. He said it was fine, but my own peace of mind demanded I tend to them.

‘I never imagined he’d fought with Periel Kalos.’

The more serious matter lay before me. I withdrew a potion from my embrace and

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held it out.

I placed it in Periel Kalos’s hand.

I’d brought several sheets of paper with potion formulas drawn on them. One I kept in my embrace for emergencies.

Fortunately, these trousers had an abundance of pockets. They were Northern Territory hunting attire, or so I’d been told.

“What is this?”

“It’s a potion. It heals wounds. You can drink it or apply it. Looking at your face, drinking it would be better.”

Periel Kalos examined the crimson potion from every angle.

It was a remarkably mystical-looking potion. The bottle, barely the size of my fist, contained a liquid that was neither cloudy nor impure—quite refined in quality.

“…Where did you obtain this?”

“I should mention—I had Millaiyen’s permission.”

Periel Kalos’s eyes narrowed.

I flinched, my body trembling as I averted my gaze, but I couldn’t bear the silence and carefully opened my mouth.

“…Though I may have been somewhat forceful about it.”

“Refrain from using it if possible.”

“I’m doing my best to avoid it.”

But when it came to Millaiyen’s affairs, I honestly couldn’t muster the confidence to hold back.

I wanted him to remain safe and unharmed, even if it meant my own lifespan diminished slightly.

‘If I told him, he would surely be furious.’

Periel Kalos uncapped the vial and took a single sip.

The raw wounds that had marred his face began to heal with remarkable speed. In less than a minute, his complexion had returned to flawless.

‘The pain has vanished as well.’

Even the burning ache that had plagued his ribs had dissipated entirely.

The more I came to know her, the more extraordinary she became. Whether in the moment her brush touched canvas, or when that landscape reached completion, or when it

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transformed into a miracle unfolding before my eyes….

I could not forget the thrill of watching that azure sea turn to liquid gold.

Her paintings felt like a sin to leave buried. I wished I could turn back time and rescue that younger version of her from that house. I knew that reversing time was impossible, yet knowing this did nothing to diminish the regret that consumed me.

“Carina Leopold, I wish we had met a little sooner. These days, I find myself dwelling on that regret constantly.”

Her eyes widened at the weight of remorse in his quiet voice.

A smile graced her lips. Meeting his gaze, she opened her mouth to speak.

“Periel Kalos, for me, this feels like a dream. If I hadn’t found the courage back then…, I would surely still be trapped in that manor.”

“….”

“So I’m grateful to have met you now, even if it’s late. If I had remained there, we might never have crossed paths at all.”

“…That too is thanks to Millaiyen’s words, it seems.”

Periel Kalos murmured softly.

Before I could even respond, he turned away.

Bewilderment flickered across my face. As I stood motionless, Periel Kalos, who had been walking ahead, turned with a smile.

“Come along now, Carina.”

“Ah, yes!”

He appeared perfectly fine.

‘…Was that just my imagination?’

I quickened my pace, resuming my steps.

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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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