I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 159

Chapter 159

“You’re saying such a person really existed?”

Rovena-eonni continued, as if she had to see it with her own eyes.

“Your Majesty, please let me go with you.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Just because.”

There seemed to be no reason.

Father must have just disliked Rovena-eonni.

“Why? Am I interrupting your date with your daughter……”

I grabbed Father’s hand tightly, unable to hear Rovena-eonni’s words.

There was no particular reason for holding Father’s hand, I just did it.

Because I thought it would be difficult when I get older.

“Father. Wouldn’t it be nice to go with Rovena-eonni?”

“Good.”

I didn’t expect him to allow it so suddenly.

“Without even hearing the reason?”

“Good.”

I tried to persuade him logically, but failed.

I don’t know if I should be happy about this or not.

Still, I did try to bring it up logically.

“There are many people here who don’t know Father’s face, but there’s no one who doesn’t know Rovena-eonni’s face. It will be advantageous and convenient in many ways if we go together. That’s much more efficient. And it’s good for us to be with the most influential person on Sky Island, right?”

Father didn’t seem to think much of my logic.

He just said it was good without even listening properly.

Rovena-eonni laughed in disbelief.

“What’s so good about it?”

“Good.”

“So, what is it? Me accompanying you? Or……”

Rovena-eonni’s gaze fell on my hand.

“Oh, never mind.”

Anyway, we headed to an unknown mountain range, guided by Captain Gailop.

It was a remote place with almost no roads.

You’re telling me people live in a place like this?

Really?

……It was a very remote mountain village, enough to make me say that.

Captain Gailop walked ahead and explained briefly.

“According to the White Whale’s investigation, the village has only been established for about a year. We assume it wasn’t formed naturally.”

“Go on.”

“It has the form of a village, but it would be easier to understand if you think of it as a religious group. It seems they fled into the deep mountains to avoid Duke Rovena’s suppression.”

“My suppression?”

“Yes. They are the followers of the Marian Cult, which was designated as a cult about a year ago. Do you remember?”

“Well, there are so many of those guys. Were they wrongly accused?”

“Not really.”

“Why was it designated as a cult?”

“Well, that is……”

Captain Gailop glanced at me.

He only said that it was a bit too disgusting for a ten-year-old like me to hear.

I don’t know the details, but it must be a really bizarre cult.

Even in 21st century South Korea, where media was so developed, there were cults, but it’s much worse here.

There are cases where people in really remote mountain areas see a mage and think they’re a god.

The gap between the rich and the poor in information in this world is incomparable to Korea.

“It’s fine. I understand even without hearing it.”

Rovena-eonni moved on without listening to the report anymore.

Quite a long time passed.

“We’ll be there soon.”

We arrived at the entrance of the village.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The village we arrived at was a very small one with less than 100 people.

Village square.

There, dozens of people tied up with ropes were shouting.

“You will be punished by heaven!”

“Are you not afraid of God!”

I asked.

“What happened to those people?”

“They resisted so fiercely that we tied them up for now.”

“Why are they resisting like that?”

“Because we arrested their cult leader, Arcmon.”

Rovena-eonni frowned.

“Arcmon, is that the pharmacist I know?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“He’s quite influential. Why is he here? He’s the cult leader?”

“Yes. He addicted the villagers with herbs. And he was playing the role of a cult leader in this small world.”

I looked at the people one by one.

Their eyes were bloodshot and they were shouting, they didn’t look normal.

“The Maria that Your Highness was looking for is there.”

Captain Gailop guided me.

It was a small house made of logs…… no, it was a prison.

Instead of windows, there were iron bars.

The entrance was so small that I could barely get in by bending over.

There was almost no light coming in either.

Even though it was broad daylight, candles were lit inside the house.

‘Is that Maria?’

I saw a woman trembling in the corner.

Her hair was disheveled and she looked filthy.

She was wearing iron restraints on her wrists and ankles.

“Help…… me.”

Maria muttered to herself and then prostrated herself, begging with her hands.

I slowly approached Maria.

“Please, please don’t come. Sa, save me. I, I’m not a devil. I, I’m good.”

“It’s okay. No one’s going to hurt you.”

But Maria couldn’t hear me.

She scratched the wall with her fingernails and shouted, ‘Don’t come! Don’t come! Don’t come!’

She seemed to be in extreme fear, so I couldn’t approach her any further.

We came out of the log house for now.

“I’ll hear the details first, Captain Gailop.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Captain Gailop glanced at Father.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed Father had already received all the reports.

It seemed that something unusual had happened in this village.

“Father. I want to know too. I’m ten years old now.”

“…… ”

In Father’s eyes, I’m still a child, and he didn’t seem to want to tell me about this terrible world.

I had the most powerful card to move Father’s heart at times like these.

“If you keep doing that, I’m going to say that.”

“Say what?”

“I’m saying I’m ten years old.”

“…… ”

“I’m much more of an adult than Father, you know?”

“…… ”

“You know why, right?”

“I don’t want to know.”

Father must have guessed what I meant.

The reason I said I’m more of an adult than Father is because I’ve lived more than half of my life.

Father will probably live to be about 100 years old, and he hasn’t even lived half of that yet.

So, I’m more of an adult…… that was the logic.

I put my hands on my waist.

“Then tell me too. I’m the one who wanted to find Maria. I need to know the situation to decide whether to take Maria or not.”

In the end, Captain Gailop told me everything.

“……So, Maria was brainwashed into thinking she had the blood of a devil in her?”

“That’s right.”

“And she was brainwashed into thinking she would be arrested and killed by the Holy Knights if she went outside?”

“Yes.”

“The people in this village aren’t actually residents, but a kind of watchman to prevent Maria from escaping?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

They said the village was artificially created, but it was practically a prison to confine Maria alone.

“The person who made this is Arcmon, a famous pharmacist on Sky Island?”

“Yes.”

“And he shamelessly came in here and acted like Maria’s only friend, treating her kindly? In fact, he did that to monopolize Maria’s healing power and benefit from it?”

Not only did he brainwash and imprison Maria, but he also deceived and humiliated her.

“Maria lived in fear, thinking the power she had was really the power of a devil. And she felt grateful to Arcmon, who rescued and hid her.”

“That’s all correct.”

As I listened to the story, I felt my mind becoming exhausted.

Even though Captain Gailop was trying his best to soften it for my age.

Such detailed content wasn’t described in the novel.

I think it was probably because it was for all ages.

“Can we move them and Maria to a safe place for now?”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Rovena-eonni grumbled.

“Why is the safe place my house?”

“Is there a safer place on Sky Island?”

“What about the opinion of the homeowner?”

“I heard the homeowner is very generous and has a bountiful heart.”

“Who said that?”

“Me.”

Rovena-eonni sighed deeply.

“No wonder you’re friends with that Viaton guy.”

Rovena-eonni flicked my head very lightly.

“I’m only listening because it’s you. The Duke’s residence isn’t some kind of orphanage.”

“Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh. I’ll get attached.”

She was speaking curtly, but she didn’t seem particularly offended.

It took quite a while to move dozens of people.

Fortunately, there was a section where the TeyIsabel Transfer Gate was installed, so we arrived at the Duke’s residence faster than I thought.

Rovena-eonni said.

“My people will take care of them from here, so let’s send those fierce White Whale friends back to the Imperial Palace.”

“It’s White Whale.”

“Anyway.”

The White Whale Knights saluted Father.

So luxurious, so luxurious.

It’s truly a world of handsome men.

I think I had a slightly pleased expression on my face without realizing it, but I felt the gaze of two men.

It was Father and Arun.

“Why, why?”

“It’s nothing.”

Father seemed somewhat uncomfortable for some reason.

“And what about you, Young Master Arun?”

“Yes?”

“I just saw you looking.”

“I didn’t see anything.”

Young Master Arun seemed a bit more blunt than usual.

Did they fight?

No, they wouldn’t be able to fight in the first place, so hmm, did Father bully him again?

I couldn’t figure out the reason.

And for some reason, the White Whale Knights now have a rule to wear white masks during missions for security.

It’s a bit disappointing, but it can’t be helped if it’s for security.

After a while, it was dinner time.

I was treated to a really well-prepared meal after a long time.

After dinner, we had a simple tea time.

After a little while, Rovena-eonni said.

“You want them to be severely punished?”

“Yes. Very severely.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought the Sunshine Princess I know would understand the villain’s hidden circumstances. Hmm. Very interesting. Shall we hear more from our Spring-nim?”