I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 196

Chapter 196

Over there in the left corner.

Mom is changing into a red dress.

A little to the right of that.

Dad is crying and calling my name.

And a little to the right of that.

Sermon came into view.

‘Why are they all hiding alone in such a dark space?’

Outside, the festival is in full swing, people are rejoicing, but our family is struggling, drowning in a swamp of sorrow.

Sermon-oppa was sitting reclined on the sofa.

The ominous red glow that had shone so sharply was gone.

He was staring blankly out the window.

“It’s boring.”

Just like Sermon when he was a doll.

He looked like someone whose emotions had been completely worn away.

“Should I kill?”

I couldn’t tell what he was talking about killing.

Sermon’s eyes were utterly empty.

“Or…… should I die?”

I was startled.

A rope was prepared on Sermon’s desk.

That rope was undoubtedly the one used to hang serious criminals.

“I want to see Isabel soon.”

Sermon continued to mutter with a bored expression.

“I think I might be able to see her if I die.”

I shouted that he shouldn’t.

No matter how much I shouted, my voice didn’t reach Sermon.

I covered my face and crouched down.

“Why is he doing that?”

“It must be because you’re that precious to him.”

“Since I’m gone, he should do his best to live for my sake. That would make me happy.”

“Don’t try to fathom the pain of those left behind.”

“……”

“Perhaps they bear an even heavier burden than the one who died.”

The people I love were suffering so much.

More than I could bear.

“Look at that child. Isn’t he acting the way you wanted him to?”

Before I knew it, Sermon-oppa’s image had also shifted slightly to the left.

And to the right of that, I saw a knight on a white horse.

Even though he was completely covered in solid armor and a helmet, I could tell who he was at once.

“Kaman-oppa?”

It was Kaman.

Kaman was heading somewhere with a large number of knights.

“The Empire is engrossed in the festival. But someone has to fight fiercely. Because peace is built on strength.”

Kaman went on a monster subjugation expedition, leading as many as seven knight units.

He had repeatedly expressed his determination to wipe out the monsters, and the knights followed him.

“How is it? Looks good, right?”

“……No.”

The Kaman I know doesn’t actually like monster subjugation or swordsmanship that much.

He just did it because he had to, or because he had to learn it.

He devoted himself to swordsmanship because he wanted to be a good son.

I could tell.

‘That’s…… him running away.’

He’s running away from a reality without me.

I had a bad feeling that if I left him like that, he would go crazy over monster subjugation and battles.

He was going crazy in a different way than Sermon-oppa.

‘Why is everyone doing this?’

My death was predetermined anyway.

Everyone knew my end.

Then why can’t everyone accept my death?

“If it’s like this……”

“……”

“If it’s like this, I can’t leave with peace of mind.”

I’ve been constantly preparing and bracing myself for the end too.

Because I wanted to leave on good terms.

Because I wanted to leave as happily as possible.

I’ve been brainwashing myself every day, steeling my resolve.

“If it’s like this……”

“……”

If it’s like this, I’ll break down.

I can’t leave.

“Then would you like to see that child?”

Kaman’s image moved to the left, and another person’s image began to appear.

A vigorous voice was heard.

“Uhahahaha! I’m excited!”

This time, it was Michael.

Michael was running around the mountain in a rather embarrassing outfit.

He was wearing a makeshift leather outfit, but it was a bit ambiguous to call it clothes, and it would be better to consider it rags.

“That place is called ‘Rainy Mountain’.”

I’ve heard of it too.

A mountain where it rains 365 days a year.

It’s a place where humans are reluctant to enter because of the many dangerous monsters.

“I have no thoughts!”

Michael shouted as he ran through the mountains.

Looking closely, his feet were bleeding.

“Because I have no thoughts!”

I couldn’t tell how long he had been running.

I could only feel that he had been running for a very long time.

“It’s so much fun! I’m happy! I’m thrilled! I’m exhilarated!”

He splashed through the puddles of water on the ground, climbed trees, and hopped between rocks.

Eventually, Michael entered a cave.

Exhausted, he leaned against the wall and sat down.

“It’s fun. Hehe.”

He laughed, “Hehe,” for a long time.

“It’s fun. Running in the rain is the best.”

Muttering like that, Michael pulled his knees to his chest and squatted down.

“……It’s not fun.”

He buried his face.

“It’s not fun at all.”

Michael’s body began to tremble.

“It’s not exciting at all.”

I bit my lip hard.

It was like seeing the childhood Michael again.

A child who refused to grow up because he didn’t want to become an adult.

That child was right in front of my eyes.

Michael took out a tattered flower crown from his pocket.

“Huh? Isabel?”

There was no one at the entrance of the cave, but Michael seemed to be seeing a hallucination.

Steam was rising from Michael’s body.

“The flower crown is so worn out, isn’t it? Let’s make a new one together. I’m good at making them now. Want to see?”

In the cave where there were no flowers.

Michael started digging into the cave wall with his hands.

“I’ll make you a pretty flower crown.”

Blood welled up on Michael’s fingers too.

Tears streamed down Michael’s cheeks.

“So wait right here. Don’t go.”

At some point, I was crying while watching Michael too.

The burden left on those left behind was heavier than I had imagined.

Michael’s image shrunk and moved to the left.

Another person’s image appeared.

It was Yuri, sitting in a chair.

“Yurimore Bakery will be closing.”

She faced opposition from many staff members.

But Yuri’s will was firm.

“The reason for me to make delicious desserts has disappeared.”

Yuri’s hair, which had always been neat and tidy as my maid, was tangled.

Her clothes were also unkempt.

Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim tidied up Yuri’s clothes.

“Yuri. You are a maid of the Arena Palace. Behave yourself.”

Even as she said that, Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim had her buttons misaligned.

“If I behave myself? Will Her Highness return?”

Yuri, who had never defied Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim before, raised her voice.

Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim, who valued discipline, didn’t scold Yuri but gently hugged her.

“Parting is always difficult, no matter when you experience it. I can’t get used to it even though it’s my second time.”

She hugged Yuri and patted her back.

Yuri cried in Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim’s arms as if the world was collapsing, and tears were also streaming down Chief Attendant Dailtha-nim’s cheeks.

Nanny Ruruka, who was watching from behind a pillar, also started sobbing.

Nanny was holding the blue dress I used to enjoy wearing tightly in her arms.

That image moved to the left, and Narmore’s image appeared.

Narmore was sprawled on the bed, still in the same state as when he was rolling around in the slums.

“It’s bothersome.”

He was supposed to approve some documents, but he didn’t even do that.

“It’s a pain.”

It was as if he had lost all motivation in life.

Someone who looked like a secretary hurriedly approached and talked at length about work, but Narmore waved his hand.

“It’s bothersome. Do whatever you want.”

“Mr. President, do you not realize how much Narmore Corporation loses per day if you act like this?”

“What’s the point of all that? It’s a pain, so do as you please.”

“Mr. President!”

“Or you can have it all.”

“……”

“It’s bothersome, so get out.”

Narmore pulled the blanket over his head.

No motivation could be found in Narmore.

On the other hand, Asellia was the opposite.

She was buried in work, not sleeping and only working.

“Lia. You haven’t slept a wink, and you haven’t eaten a single meal. You’ll get sick.”

“What if I get sick?”

Lieutenant General Armitel looked at Asellia with a worried face.

“What else is there to do but die?”

“Lia. Please. Have at least a spoonful of soup.”

“Leave it there. I’ll eat it later.”

“Lia. Why are you doing this to yourself?”

As if annoyed, Asellia glanced at Lieutenant General Armitel and took something out of the drawer.

It was the wig I had cut my hair and given her as a gift.

“On this day, I gained my most precious friend.”

She hugged the wig as if handling something very precious and put it on her head.

“That precious friend wants a beautiful world. For that to happen, I have to work harder……”

Asellia’s neck seemed to snap as she spoke, and her body fell backward.

“Lia!”

Asellia fainted.

It seemed to be the result of working without eating, drinking, or sleeping.

Blood was coming from Lia’s nose.

‘It hurts.’

It hurt so much I felt like I was going crazy.

“What are you thinking?”

“It hurts so much I feel like I’m going to die.”

“You’re already dead.”

“I want to go back and hug each and every one of them. I want to tell them I’m okay. So I want to tell them it’s all okay. I want to comfort them. I want everyone to stop crying.”

“Do you want to go back?”

It was such an obvious question.

More than ever, more than any other moment, life was precious and valuable.

I had to be there for those who were struggling so much.

More than ever, a strong desire for life burned brightly within me.

“Do you want to live?”

I bit my lip and nodded.

Even though I knew I was dead.

Even though I knew I couldn’t live.

Nevertheless, I wanted to live.

More desperately than ever.

“Perhaps now is the time, my son.”

At that moment.

As a magic circle formed above my head, someone’s figure popped out.