Since I’m a Time-Limited Princess Who Has No Tomorrow - Chapter 149

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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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Chapter 149
I had never wielded this concept myself, but I could roughly grasp how this power would function.
‘I’ve watched Mother and Father punish sinners countless times.’
This differed from my old divine retribution, which activated indiscriminately whenever someone tried to harm me. My parents’ power worked by drawing forth the karmic debts recorded by the Celestial Deities and erasing them.
‘The reason erasing karma becomes punishment is because the price of deletion falls entirely upon the sinner.’
When a god forgives human sin, the god bears the cost themselves, leaving humans unharmed. But when the price of erasing a Celestial Deity’s karmic debt is thrust directly onto a human, what they could have offset through merit accumulated over their remaining lifetime—or divided across future rebirths—must be paid all at once.
A god can choose ‘where’ to exact the price when erasing karma. If designated upon the flesh, one experiences agony or becomes crippled; if upon the soul, one endures misfortune so devastating it tears the spirit asunder.
‘The intensity and nature of the price are determined naturally by what karma is being erased.’
In essence, judgment is the power to instantly realize the principle of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’
‘Karmic retribution. You reap what you sow the moment you sow it.’
It proves ineffective against corrupted things that exist outside providence, yet it is undeniably an immensely potent authority.
‘That said, the concept I’m drawing forth and wielding through this human shaman’s body probably won’t manifest at that level of power. What I can manage with my current divine energy is….’
Perhaps merely causing the tongue to ache or become paralyzed if one sins with it?
‘Let me experiment.’
The instructors were engaged in serious discussion about the spy. The Crown Prince stood among them.
I slipped away quietly and sent a spiritual message.
[Gwang-chul.]
[Yes, Princess! I’m sorry! Please spare me! I really thought all those assassins were here―]
[Enough excuses. Return to bracelet form.]
[I’m not a bracelet… Ah, no. I’m less than a bracelet! I’ll go right now!]
Gwang-chul transformed into a small dragon and fluttered over, wrapping around my wrist. I draped a soft, earthy-golden divine energy over him.
[Huh? What is this? Are you going to strike me with divine power? I did do something wrong, but….]
[Gwang-chul, be honest. You were lazy and only half-watched the assassins, didn’t you?]
[No! I really watched carefully! It wasn’t intentional—it was a genuine mistake! They trained the same way, so their auras all felt similar, and I really couldn’t tell….]
Odd. I expected some reaction when the judgment divine energy touched him, but Gwang-chul showed no sign of distress.
Was judgment’s effect different from what I assumed? Or was he telling the truth right now? Not actually being careless? Though that would be a problem in itself….
[If I’d known those things would harm you, I wouldn’t have stayed here watching—I would’ve returned immediately. Better yet, I wouldn’t have left your side in the first place….]
I gazed down at Gwang-chul as he muttered indignantly, then posed another question.
[Do you understand that you made a mistake?]
[Of course I do….]
[…What kind of Black Phoenix do you think An-si is?]
[A blood phoenix whose fists fly before words—no, wait! A k-kind and merciful Black Phoenix, I think, huh? Eek, eek-eek-eek?]
Gwang-chul made a strange noise mid-sentence and whimpered.
[My tongue suddenly won’t move and it stings! Ow-ow-ow… Did you do this, Princess?]
[But you’re speaking fine? It really won’t move?]
[This isn’t spoken language—it’s a spiritual message! Ugh, ugh! Is this because of your divine power?]
[Exactly. It’s divine power that punishes those who commit sins.]
The effect manifested as expected—the tongue becomes paralyzed and painful when one lies.
‘I’ve gained a simpler method than the Three-Time Messengers, which require me to implant and extract them directly.’
The Three-Time Messengers would be better for intensive interrogation or surveillance of a single person, but ‘judgment’ would prove invaluable for identifying liars among so many people.
So Gwang-chul wasn’t shirking his duties after all. Though it seems An-si will have much to teach him going forward.
As I withdrew my divine energy and examined my wrist, Gwang-chul was opening and closing his mouth, checking the state of his tongue.
[Ah, I can move again. Princess, if I’ve been punished enough, are you forgiving me now?]
[No, I’m leaving the rest to An-si.]
[What? Please, Princess! Spare me anything but that!]
[Then should I send you to the Dragon King instead?]
[…I apologize. I’ll stay silent.]
I tucked the now-quiet Gwang-chul neatly into my sleeve and approached where the instructors had gathered. The Crown Prince reacted with a worried expression.
“My Lady, are you perhaps fatigued?”
“No, I believe I may be able to identify the spy.”
“Pardon?”
“All the instructors are here now, correct? And the assistants…?”
Princess Onseol answered.
“We sent the assistants to gather the scattered students, Crown Princess. We cannot continue the examination as things stand.”
Ah, so this has now become something beyond Seongsul Academy’s internal affairs. Within the academy, the instructors treated me strictly as a student, but now they’re addressing me as the Crown Princess—a clear shift.
I nodded and posed my question.
“Instructors, do you happen to know what abilities the Xuezu possess as divine-blooded beings?”
“…?”
Everyone looked puzzled at my abrupt statement. I continued calmly.
“The Xuezu can distinguish lies.”
“…!”
Their eyes widened.
I decided to use the Xuezu as a pretext rather than claim this as a divine ability—it would seem far too suspicious. If I attributed it to divine power, I’d already revealed healing, winged garments, and the ability to perceive qi flow. Most divine powers are limited to domains under that deity’s purview. Revealing more would raise too many questions.
‘I’m using my Xuezu heritage again. Though to be fair, it’s half true.’
The Xuezu truly can distinguish lies by scent. That’s why Seol Deung-hwa believed me immediately when we first met.
‘This explanation is far more convenient than claiming Princess Cheonmyeong granted me a revelation. And I can use it again in the future.’
“…I suffered a severe illness once. It was the Xuezu’s growth pains, and some of you may remember it?”
The Crown Prince, Ki Ho-cheol, and Princess Onseol all nodded. They knew about when I nearly died and claimed it was Xuezu growth pains.
Later, through Seok-juk, I learned from Seol Deung-hwa that the Xuezu actually do experience something like growth pains when abilities manifest. Though my collapse had entirely different symptoms, it served well enough as a cover story.
“Once the Xuezu pass through that period, they manifest the ability to distinguish lies. Some even awaken more exceptional abilities. As a half-blood, my abilities didn’t manifest properly…but after becoming a Shaman, they’ve gradually begun to emerge.”
Princess Onseol interjected with a surprised expression.
“After becoming a Shaman…it seems your divine-blood was stimulated by accepting divine power as a Shaman, causing your latent abilities to awaken belatedly. There are precedents for such cases.”
Wait, there really are such cases? My improvisation fit perfectly by sheer luck. Excellent.
I quickly nodded.
“Yes, that seems to be it. So unlike other Xuezu, I cannot easily distinguish lies, but if someone lies while holding my hand, it becomes apparent.”
“Apparent? In what manner?”
“Would you like to test it?”
I extended my hand, infusing it with the divine power of judgment—carefully, not as intensely as I had with Gwang-chul.
Princess Onseol took my hand and asked.
“How should we proceed?”
“Try telling me any lie you wish.”
“Hmm… I am a man, ugh.”
Princess Onseol clapped her hand over her mouth mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock.
“Ah… ah….”
“Your tongue will tingle and become immobilized.”
I released her hand and stepped back.
“You should be fine now.”
“My tongue—ah, it’s moving again. It felt paralyzed just moments ago… truly a remarkable ability.”
Princess Onseol marveled, touching the corners of her mouth. I swept my gaze across all the instructors.
“So everyone, shake hands with me one by one. If you answer honestly, nothing will happen to you.”
The moment I finished speaking, someone suddenly moved.
It was the Medical Instructor who had been treating the Cheongzuk Class Assistant. He grabbed the assistant’s forearm and demanded, “What are you trying to pull from your pocket?”
“Damn it!”
“Everyone, look at this!”
The Medical Instructor forcibly wrenched the assistant’s arm and snatched what he was holding. It was a talisman.
“A teleportation talisman! This wretch is a spy! He was about to flee before being exposed—!”
As the Medical Instructor held the talisman aloft and cried out, Ki Ho-cheol moved swiftly.
But the Cheongzuk Class Assistant was faster. He immediately bit down on something in his mouth, then collapsed sideways. Dark blood streamed from his lips.
“How unfortunate.”
Ki Ho-cheol gazed down at the self-terminated assistant and sighed. The Medical Instructor, flustered, checked the assistant’s pulse and shook his head.
“He’s dead.”
“Good heavens.”
“Too late.”
The instructors shook their heads. I stared intently at the dead Cheongzuk Class Assistant and the Medical Instructor beside him.
‘Something feels off.’
I approached the Medical Instructor and extended my hand.
“Wait a moment, please.”
“Instructor, may I see that talisman?”
“Of course. Here it is.”
I grasped the Medical Instructor’s hand as he handed me the talisman and posed my question.
“You’re a spy too, aren’t you?”
“Are you a spy too?”

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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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