I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 163

Chapter 163

‘He’s still a baby dragon…… Isn’t this excessive?’

It seemed even stronger than Kadelina’s childhood, who boasts of being the strongest Black Flame Dragon on Earth.

Realistically, it wasn’t common sense for a baby dragon’s transformed body to have this much power.

It possessed power comparable to an adult dragon, perhaps even greater.

Moreover, it was in a human body.

‘How did this happen?’

Even for Kadelina, it was surprising.

If other dragons found out, they would be extremely wary and fearful.

An immature baby dragon possessing excessive power could once again drive the world to ruin.

It’s because a second Black Flame Dragon could be born.

Originally, it was something to worry about.

However, Kadelina was a little different.

‘Huhu, as expected of my son.’

She became proud.

‘I shouldn’t tell the other adult dragons.’

Ravina（Rovena） would find out someday, but she would pretend she didn’t know then.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Meanwhile, Isabel maintained her composure amidst the scene of clashing magical powers.

The magical power emitted by the two did not affect Isabel.

It was because both Kadelinon and Arun were mindful of Isabel.

Isabel said.

“I guess this is how Sky Island men greet each other. It’s quite rough. If you make a mistake, you won’t even be able to pick up your bones.”

Only then did Kadelinon release the hand he had clasped with Arun.

The earthquake stopped as well.

A lot of time had passed again.

Kadelinon urged Isabel to reconsider several times.

“I don’t know how much lifespan you’ll need. For a great miracle……”

“A great miracle requires a great price. I’ve already heard it 32 times, High Priest Kadelinon-nim.”

“Hmm, hmm, I thought I only said it about 7 times.”

“No. It’s exactly 32 times.”

“You’re strangely firm on that.”

“Numbers don’t lie.”

Isabel didn’t seem to be willing to budge.

At that moment, Arun spoke.

“High Priest-nim. May I have a word with her?”

“Hmm. You?”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead. Try to persuade our daughter-in-law, no, Her Highness.”

Arun momentarily doubted his ears.

‘Daughter-in-law?’

It seemed like she was about to say daughter-in-law.

However, he decided not to react as this could also be another one of his mother’s elaborate traps.

Eventually, Arun was left alone with Isabel.

“Your Highness. I have something earnest to tell you.”

“Yes?”

Isabel became slightly nervous because of the serious atmosphere Arun created.

An awkward silence flowed.

“Young Master Arun. Say something.”

Arun remained silent for a long time again.

How should he say it?

How could he protect Isabel’s 5 years?

No matter how much he thought about it, there was only one way.

“Isabel.”

“Yes?”

Isabel tilted her head.

“I don’t think I ever allowed you to call me by my name.”

Arun closed his mouth.

He started expressing language in a different way instead of speaking.

『Isabel’s time, precious.』

Isabel’s body stiffened.

The letters made of magical power were too familiar.

『Stay with me for a long, long time.』

『Please.』

Isabel couldn’t say anything.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

It was as if time had stopped.

The world around me froze.

‘What?’

At first, I couldn’t understand.

Why did these magical letters smell so familiar?

‘Why?’

Right now, a familiar scent was emanating from Arun’s body.

Honey Badger’s scent, the sweet smell of honey.

‘What is this?’

At first, it was hard to accept the situation.

“What kind of…… joke are you playing, Young Master Arun?”

I was a little angry.

It felt like he was playing a very cruel joke on me.

『Not a joke.』

『Absolutely not.』

Numbers don’t lie, but neither does magic.

I was very sensitive to magic, and I already sensed that this magic was identical to Honey Badger’s.

“Then……”

A few odd things came to mind.

My room is on the 7th floor.

Honey used to knock on the window of that room to come in and also jump out.

It was something Michael did all the time, so I didn’t think much of it, but in hindsight, it was strange.

I also remembered the first time I cast Interpretation Magic on Honey.

『Guardian ♡』

I thought it was strange back then too.

Was Interpretation Magic that advanced?

Thinking about it now, with my magic skills much improved, it was indeed strange.

I couldn’t have used such sophisticated Interpretation Magic with my skills back then.

“How was Honey…… able to steal from the Imperial Palace’s treasure vault?”

『Master Thief, Honey Badger.』

『No, Master Thief Arun.』

I approached Arun as if I was possessed.

“Then, when I hugged you, you shrunk and then grew back to your normal size. When I was cold, you grew bigger and then shrunk again. All those feelings weren’t illusions?”

Arun is a dragon.

According to the novel’s setting, dragons are the originators of magic and transcendental beings proficient in all magic.

If Honey Badger was a dragon’s incarnation, it would explain everything.

“And……”

Actually, there was something that was the strangest.

Right before I lost consciousness at Glass Lake, I felt a strange flow of magic.

It was probably a magic circle similar to a Transfer Gate.

It seemed to be forming at the bottom of the lake.

Deductively, I think Honey Badger popped out from there.

“Was it you, no, Young Master Arun, who used magic to save me at Glass Lake?”

『Confirmed.』

『Absolutely confirmed.』

I don’t know.

This feeling.

I was definitely happy, but for some reason, tears kept flowing.

It was as if I had reunited with a very precious friend, but I also felt incredibly resentful.

“Why?”

I repeatedly hit Arun’s chest as he approached me.

Since Arun was supposedly a very skilled apprentice knight, it wouldn’t hurt even if I hit him.

However, Arun looked very hurt.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I apologize.”

“You were alive, why?”

I truly mourned and cherished Honey for a long time.

It wasn’t that those times felt meaningless, but still, still, you could’ve come a little sooner.

I was so sad.

It felt like I had lost the whole world.

“You could have prevented me from feeling such emotions.”

Before I knew it, I was in Arun’s arms.

In a way, it was more comfortable and warmer than being in my father’s arms.

“I was so heartbroken.”

“……”

“I prayed and hoped to meet you again when I turned twenty.”

“Is that why you’ve grown so much?”

“I don’t know!”

I couldn’t understand my own feelings either.

I was definitely happy.

It was so complicated and profound that it was hard to define specifically.

“……Does Father or older sister Rovena know?”

“They probably do. But for now, it’s a secret.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a baby dragon. If they find out that I’m retaining all my memories…… all my memories will be erased.”

I suddenly snapped to my senses.

Having lost him once, I couldn’t lose him again.

“Even if his appearance has changed a lot, Honey Badger is still Honey Badger.”

“Right.”

“Honey Badger is my most precious friend. I won’t let anyone take him away from me again.”

Arun hugged me tightly.

“Now, I’ll be your guardian.”

Arun’s magical power was conveying his sincerity to me.

His firm determination to protect me.

His fear of losing me.

“So Isabel. Please reconsider. Your one day is like a thousand days to me.”

After those words, we didn’t talk much.

Just feeling each other’s warmth was enough.

That became a significant interaction for us.

Just like it was between Honey Badger and me.

I was glad to see him again, I didn’t want to be separated again, I was thankful he reappeared, but I was also a little resentful.

We shared so many emotions for a very long time.

Strangely, High Priest Kadelinon-nim and older sister Rovena didn’t come in for quite a while.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

I said playfully.

“Yeah. I’m going to use my life to create a miracle.”

“……Please, Isabel.”

“You suffer too, Arun. Feel what it’s like to lose your most precious friend.”

“……”

“No, Arun. I’m sorry.”

For a moment, I saw the saddest face in the world.

Seeing those beautiful eyes filled with tears was almost torture.

“I was just joking, why are you taking it so seriously?”

“How can that be a joke?”

I had many conversations with Arun.

But the conclusion was already set.

“It’s true that each of my days is precious. I plan to spend my remaining days very meaningfully. Giving my best in every moment.”

“……”

“That’s why I have to create a miracle.”

I believe this is how I can do my best.

For the first time, I have a mother and a father.

I have a family, which I thought everyone else had but me.

I also have many citizens of the empire who follow me, calling me sunshine.

“I’ve received so much love since I was born into this world. It’s more than I deserve.”

I want to return that love.

If I can heal Maria, it would be a blessing far greater than the TeyIsabel Transfer Gate.

Through the collaboration of the brilliant chemist Yuri and the successful businessman Narmore, I could provide healing potions to countless people.

“If you’re not powerful or rich, receiving treatment from a priest is just a dream. At the very least, I wish there were no people dying because of poverty.”

It’s a good thing I received a lot of support; otherwise, I would have died early too.

It’s too sad to be unable to receive treatment because of lack of money.

“That’s why I think what I’m trying to do is very valuable.”

“But……”

“Of course, I’ll be leaving sooner.”

But I was originally someone who would leave early.

“People will remember me for that much longer.”

I could see Arun biting his lip tightly.

He still seemed to find it hard to accept.

I understand how he feels.

Conversely, if Honey Badger had made this choice, I would have opposed it with fierce eyes.

The person leaving can just leave, but the person staying behind has to ruminate over the person who left.

“I’m sorry for being a selfish friend.”

“……”

In the end, I made my decision.

High Priest Kadelinon-nim and older sister Rovena also decided to accept my will.

One day later.

I lay down on the altar located in the center of the temple.

“I’m entrusting her to you, Great Sage of Sharp North Wind and Cold Blood Flow, High Priest Kadelinon-nim.”

“……Very well.”

I closed my eyes.

I decided to sleep in case the pain was severe.

It was like sleep anesthesia, but this was older sister Rovena’s magic.

‘Sleepy.’

If possible, I hope my lifespan doesn’t decrease too much.

I hope a great miracle happens with a very small amount of lifespan.

I drifted off to sleep.