I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 106

Chapter 106

“Who is it?!”

Man Kalf turned around and jumped to his feet.

There was no one behind him, but a voice echoed.

“You made countless contributions to the Empire, but all you received in return was ‘You’re just a commoner’.”

“Reveal yourself.”

“The Imperial officials argued they couldn’t give the rank of Brigadier General to a commoner like you. They were furious, saying how could someone with such vulgar blood control the knights of noble families? Of course, there were no medals to be awarded to you. No matter how great your achievements, you could hardly expect a medal. Yet, the Princess receives medals simply for being born a Princess and even gains the privilege of freely visiting all the garrisons.”

A black energy seeped out from Man Kalf’s shadow, enveloping his body.

The unidentified voice whispered in his ear.

“Go. Go and take revenge on the Imperial Family who trampled on your honor and pride.”

As the unknown magical power seeped into Man Kalf’s body, the focus in his eyes disappeared.

“……Revenge…!”

“There would be no sweeter revenge than harming Isabel. Go and elevate the name of the great Man Kalf.”

The voice scattered in the wind.

“Remember. The noble name of the one who commanded you is Wilhelm Dema Laktian.”

Man Kalf started walking, his sword in hand.

He encountered soldiers on night patrol from time to time.

Sergeant Lucain was among them.

“Attention. Salute.”

The patrol unit members who encountered Man Kalf saluted, but he ignored them and walked past.

One of the patrol unit members asked.

“Hey guys. Isn’t this a little strange?”

“Has it been just a day or two since the commanders acted strange?”

“No, but still, something feels… Did he drink or something?”

“Don’t make eye contact. He’ll definitely make us pull weeds again.”

Sergeant Lucain tilted his head as he watched Brigadier General Man Kalf walk away.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly, but something felt off.

While on patrol, they reported to the 3rd Prince, Kaman, who was in charge of the night patrol in this area today.

“There’s nothing particularly strange… but Brigadier General Man Kalf was acting a bit odd.”

“What was odd?”

“He seemed drunk. His gait was a bit strange too. And…”

Lucain hesitated, stammering.

“Speak clearly.”

“It might be excessive worry, but it seemed like he was walking towards where Her Highness the Princess is staying.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Man Kalf stood in front of the tent where Princess Isabel was staying.

“Loyalty.”

Two soldiers standing guard in front of the tent saluted.

“I have business with the Princess.”

“At this…… time?”

“Did I ask you to question me?”

The soldier straightened his back and stood at attention.

“No, sir.”

“Move aside.”

“……”

For a soldier, the chain of command is life itself.

The soldiers had neither the power nor the authority to stop Man Kalf.

Before the soldier could say anything, Man Kalf strode forward.

“Until I give the order, don’t let anyone in here.”

“Yes, sir.”

In this base camp, Man Kalf is second in command.

Even Prince Kamanzo was of lower rank than Man Kalf within these walls.

The soldiers whispered amongst themselves.

“Is this alright?”

“What are you going to do if it’s not? What power do we have?”

“That’s true.”

“Should we at least report it, just in case?”

“That report will eventually go to Brigadier General Man Kalf, right? What’s the point?”

“Th-that’s true.”

“At times like these, it’s best to just stay quiet. Don’t make a fuss, just stay put.”

Man Kalf walked into the tent.

The inside of the tent was quite spacious, so it took a while to reach Isabel’s bedroom area.

Srng━━

A clear sword sound echoed.

Brigadier General Man Kalf’s right hand held his beloved sword, ‘Red Moon,’ with its crimson blade.

━━Kill her.

It was as if someone was whispering.

That voice made Man Kalf move.

Step by step.

He walked towards Isabel’s bed.

Far away, he could see two small feet peeking out from under the blanket.

‘There she is.’

Man Kalf walked towards it.

He stood in front of Isabel and raised his sword.

Man Kalf grinned.

‘Easy.’

To think killing would be this easy.

However, he couldn’t move any further. He felt a cold chill on the back of his neck.

A small voice whispered in his ear.

“Shut up. If that child wakes up, I’ll slit your artery.”

Someone was holding a dagger to the back of Man Kalf’s neck from behind.

Man Kalf’s sharp Ki sense felt a murderous intent.

‘A woman?’

Within this base camp, there was only one woman who could completely deceive his Ki sense and get behind him.

But it wasn’t her voice.

“Who are you?”

“Who cares? Put your sword down and put your hands up.”

Man Kalf, completely caught off guard, obediently followed her words.

“Follow me.”

She forcefully walked out with Man Kalf.

The soldiers’ eyes widened.

“B-Brigadier General!”

“Brigadier General!”

The woman holding a dagger to Man Kalf’s neck, Kiruen, said.

“You all shut up too.”

Now that they were far from Isabel, Kiruen released her Ki.

The soldiers felt extreme fear from the Ki emitted by a martial artist of Kiruen’s caliber.

Nevertheless, one of the soldiers mustered up the courage to speak.

“Wh-what are you doing? Do you know who he is?”

“A would-be murderer, that’s who.”

Kiruen, who had succinctly summarized Man Kalf, said,

“This man tried to assassinate a member of the Imperial Family. I have arrested him in the act, so I will be escorting him to the Imperial Palace.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes, a misunderstanding. Why would I have any reason to assassinate Her Highness?”

Man Kalf was quite calm. This made the soldiers waver as well.

“Th-that’s right. It must be a misunderstanding.”

“Why would Brigadier General Man Kalf do something so reckless?”

A commotion broke out.

Before long, soldiers and knights began to gather one by one.

In their eyes, Kiruen seemed stranger than Man Kalf.

Because within the base camp, she was threatening the second-in-command of the base camp with a sword to his neck.

“Let’s put the sword down and talk for now.”

“I said I arrested him in the act.”

Man Kalf sighed and said,

“Do you have any evidence?”

“Your sword that you dropped in the tent is the evidence.”

“That sword’s name is Red Moon. It’s a sword I cherish. I heard that the Princess is learning swordsmanship, so I visited the tent to gift her my sword.”

“At this late hour, unofficially?”

“If I had presented the sword with a grand ceremony, my intention of a pure gift would be diluted and it would only be interpreted politically. I just wanted to gift my beloved sword to the Princess without anyone knowing.”

Kiruen was momentarily speechless.

She wanted to swing the dagger in her hand right away, but there were too many eyes watching.

‘I should have just hit him first, as is my nature.’

As expected, one should live according to their nature.

It felt like she had run into a roadblock because she was being considerate of Isabel, trying not to show too violent a side, and attempting to resolve the situation rationally and maturely.

“Hey! You’re making a mistake right now. Please release the Brigadier General immediately.”

“Yeah, I made a mistake. I should have just slapped him.”

But at that moment, a man appeared, pushing through the gathered crowd.

His position was Chief Aide to the Emperor.

It was Viaton, a man with the second-highest authority after the Emperor, serving as the Emperor’s direct aide.

He approached with a bright smile.

“Now, Brigadier General Man Kalf.”

“Oh, Sir Viaton. Someone has appeared who can clear up this misunderstanding.”

Man Kalf turned his head to check Kiruen’s face.

Kiruen’s face was hardened.

Seeing that face, Man Kalf became emboldened.

“So it was you, that crazy woman who was kicked out for assaulting a superior. How can you survive in this harsh world with such a mindset? Sir Viaton, please clear up this misunderstanding.”

Kiruen stared at Viaton with a hardened expression.

A very long time ago, so long ago that she could hardly remember, Kiruen was Viaton’s friend and lover.

That’s why Kiruen knew what that bright expression on Viaton’s face meant.

Viaton was curling one corner of his lips and giving a refreshing smile.

That was the expression Viaton made when he was truly angry.

“Misunderstanding? Sure.”

Viaton approached Kiruen and held out his palm.

“Sir Kiruen. Hand over the dagger.”

“……What if I don’t want to?”

“You’ll have to give it to me even if you don’t want to.”

Viaton’s eyes were narrowed.

It was the former Sword Demon that Kiruen knew.

“……”

Viaton smiled brightly.

Kiruen asked with her eyes.

‘Is it okay?’

Viaton nodded once.

It was as if she could hear the hallucination, ‘Don’t worry, I won’t kill him now.’

Eventually, Viaton received the dagger from Kiruen.

Man Kalf became even more emboldened.

“Hahaha! It seems the misunderstanding is finally being cleared up!”

But then Viaton swung the dagger.

Except for Kiruen, almost no one could read his movements.

Viaton’s swordsmanship was even mystical.

The cold and sharp blade drew a strange trajectory in the air, and at the same time, Man Kalf’s top was torn to shreds and fluttered in the wind.

“Wh-what are you doing, Sir Viaton!”

Viaton’s gaze landed on Man Kalf’s shoulder.

Finding the strange pattern on his shoulder, Viaton grinned and said,

“Hey.”

“……Are you perhaps addressing me?”

“Say ‘Wilhelm, you son of a bitch.'”

Man Kalf couldn’t say anything.

Meanwhile, Viaton carefully examined the skull-like pattern on Man Kalf’s shoulder.

‘It’s the same as with the One-eyed Giant.’

No wonder it smelled strangely similar to that time.

It seemed Man Kalf had probably fallen for some trick of Wilhelm’s.

Viaton bent down and whispered in Man Kalf’s ear.

“Wilhelm. I will definitely find you.”

It wasn’t a message for Man Kalf.

It was a warning to Wilhelm, who was beyond Man Kalf, and likely mentally connected to him.

Cold sweat dripped down Man Kalf’s back.

But at that moment, a voice was heard.

“What’s going on?”

Isabel, in her pajamas, was walking out, rubbing one eye.

While hugging the honey badger like a doll.

“Unni? Sir Viaton?”

And then, something strange happened.

Brigadier General Man Kalf’s body stretched out like a shadow and reached towards Isabel.

It looked like an evil spirit.

Kiruen screamed.

“Your Highness!”