I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 165

Chapter 165

When Ron and Arun’s sparring session ended, Rovena summoned Arun.

Arun entered Rovena’s room, wiping his sweat-drenched body with a towel.

“Did you call for me, Mother?”

“Your top?”

“It’s all torn up, so I threw it away. I came right up because you said it was urgent.”

It had already been 7 years since Isabel fell asleep.

Arun, who was twelve years old, was now a full-fledged adult.

“Wear your clothes. There are many people in Sky Island who are lovesick.”

“I’ll be careful.”

It wasn’t a joke, Rovena was also a little worried.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most of the employees in the Grand Duke’s residence were in love with Arun.

Whenever three people gathered, they were busy talking about Arun.

The main topic was that his appearance was beyond beautiful, it was enchanting, and rumors were circulating that he might be an angel who descended from the sky.

“An artificial creation sculpted with all the heart of a sculptor who has reached the rank of master. Or perhaps, the incarnation of the God of Beauty, descended in human form.”

“Yes?”

“……That’s what many people are saying.”

Arun chuckled.

“Don’t people usually enjoy such idle talk? I learned that gossiping is a very healthy hobby.”

“It’s not at that level though.”

Rovena sighed slightly and brought up the main topic.

“How long are you going to hide it from me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Kim Beolkkul.”

“……I don’t know what you mean.”

Rovena sighed once more.

Rovena put aside all her dignity as the Grand Duke and started speaking comfortably.

“You’re really stubborn.”

“Yes?”

“Your real mother has been asleep for 500 years, and you haven’t looked for her once?”

“……”

“Baby dragons instinctively visit their mother’s lair from time to time. You did that too when you were Kim Beolkkul.”

“Isn’t my mother my mother? Why are you saying that……?”

“Why don’t you look for your real mother? It’s an instinct?”

“Because my real mother is right in front of me. What are you talking about, Mother?”

“You’re overdoing it.”

“……”

“Your conviction not to be caught is so strong that you’re overdoing it. That’s what’s suspicious.”

“……”

Arun felt his head go blank for the first time in a long time.

It felt like the Dragon of Wisdom, Ravina, was seeing right through him.

Further lies were meaningless.

“Since when did you know?”

“From the beginning.”

“……”

“Arun.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“It’s already like this, so why don’t you just call me aunt, like humans do?”

“……”

“Do you think Kadelina didn’t know?”

Arun’s eyes widened.

“Mother……”

“She knew. From beginning to end. She noticed it before I did. From the time you were Kim Beolkkul.”

Arun was speechless.

It seemed that the openings Kadelina had occasionally shown were not traps.

She had acknowledged Kim Beolkkul’s memories and spoke comfortably.

“But why are you telling me this now?”

“Because you’ve become too abnormally strong.”

“Yes?”

“It’s impossible to erase all your memories now and raise you like ordinary baby dragons. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s better to open everything up, acknowledge you as you are, and raise you that way.”

“……”

“If you live hiding too much, you’ll get sick. It’ll be a big problem if a young individual like you, who has gained such tremendous power, gets sick. We almost got destroyed in the past because of that.”

“In the past too?”

“Yes, there was a certain fool who fell in love with a human. Saying that cuteness is the best. Anyway, when the ancient dragons tried to forcibly erase his memories, a huge fight broke out and they almost destroyed the entire continent.”

“……There was such a thing.”

“Well, that’s a story of the past, so let’s put it behind us.”

Rovena began to talk about the things she had learned while observing Arun.

“You and Ron have become too strong. You’ve far surpassed human standards and have begun to encroach on the realm of dragons. No, you’re stronger than most dragons. I knew that humans had great potential, but this is the first time I’ve seen this.”

“……”

“So I’ve come to a conclusion. This is also one of the many miracles that Isabel has caused.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Seven years have passed since Isabel fell asleep.

During those seven years, humanity experienced a technological revolution unlike any seen before.

It all began with the “Isabel Potion,” named after Isabel herself.

“Have you heard of the Isabel Potion?”

“Is there anyone foolish enough not to know about it?”

Countless people who couldn’t afford treatment before were given new lives thanks to the Isabel Potion.

It brought hope to countless people across the continent and led to overwhelming support and trust in the Bilotian Imperial Family.

“They say there’s no place on the continent where Princess Isabel’s sunshine doesn’t reach.”

“Isn’t that all thanks to the TeyIsabel Transfer Gates located all over the continent?”

“My mother used to have to walk for six hours to go to the market, but now it only takes 10 minutes! Who knew technological advancement could be so dazzling?”

The Isabel Potion was supplied throughout the continent via the TeyIsabel Transfer Gates.

Its impact wasn’t limited to just healing the sick.

“Did you see the newsletter? They say they’ve reclaimed the impregnable, unexplored Girmel Plains?”

“Is that true?”

It was a land now abandoned, overrun by monsters.

Records indicated it was once the continent’s most fertile farmland.

The Isabel Potion played a crucial role in maximizing the Imperial Family’s military power.

Potions were distributed to individual soldiers, significantly boosting their combat strength.

They were in the process of reclaiming numerous lands that had been lost to monsters, including the Girmel Plains.

“Not just the Girmel Plains, you know that Namon Plain we acquired a year ago?”

“I know, my friend migrated there.”

“They say it’s an incredibly bountiful harvest. It seems the Isabel Potion has a tremendous effect on plants as well.”

The Namon Plain was an agricultural district under special management by the Imperial Family.

They introduced new farming techniques utilizing the Isabel Potion, resulting in a bumper crop.

Its success in the Namon Plain led to the spread of Isabel Potion-based farming methods worldwide.

“At this rate, they say at least no one will starve to death anymore. Could we have even dreamed of this just seven years ago?”

Food became abundant, solving the problem of survival.

This meant humanity had more leisure time.

Travel had already become possible thanks to the TeyIsabel Transfer Gates, and countless people broadened their horizons by experiencing new cultures and worlds.

Humanities, as well as arts and philosophy, began to develop rapidly.

Voices praising Isabel erupted across the continent.

“Will I ever have the chance to meet Princess Isabel in my lifetime?”

“She’s someone who doesn’t waste a single second for the peace and stability of the continent, you know.”

“So?”

“How much of a waste would it be if she had to spare even a second to meet someone like you?”

He readily agreed.

“Well, that’s true.”

“It’s said that she hasn’t even appeared in social circles, even though it’s so common. She must be devoting herself to research for the citizens of the Empire.”

And Isabel was the CEO of Narmore Corporation.

The trust in the Imperial Family and Isabel was almost limitless.

Currency was synonymous with credit, and accordingly, Isabel Coin began to function as the key currency.

The Rossild Dukedom, once a representative of financial power, had completely lost its former status.

“But if this happens, doesn’t it mean that both of the Empire’s two Grand Dukedoms have gone completely bankrupt?”

“It doesn’t matter at all. Don’t you read the newsletters?”

The role once played by the Rossild Dukedom was now replaced by Narmore Corporation.

And the role played by the Bladock Dukedom was taken over by the Second Prince, Sermon.

“You still don’t know the name of the special forces unit led by Prince Sermon?”

“Special forces unit?”

Sermon, known as the strongest shadow in history, surpassing the martial prowess of all previous Dukes of Bladock, was now operating in the light rather than the shadows.

“You don’t know about FMS?”

“FMS?”

“It stands for ‘For My Sister.’ It’s the most powerful shadow unit in the history of the Empire.”

The Bilotian Empire had become stronger than ever before in its history.

“But…… with things like this, will the Magic Federation just stand by and watch?”

“What are they going to do if they don’t stand by?”

Culture, economy, arts, and more.

Even with dazzling advancements in various fields, they would be useless without the power to protect them.

Pride welled up in the eyes of the man speaking.

“We have His Majesty, the Emperor, who possesses the greatest power in history, and the strongest shadow unit. We’ve also secured the strongest financial power in history. The most powerful magic swordsman is the Chief Aide, and Sir Arun, the youngest Deputy Commander of the Black Whale Knights, is said to have already reached a level comparable to His Majesty. All the princes are called the strongest in history. We’ve got ‘strongest in history’ piled on top of ‘strongest in history’ on top of ‘strongest in history,’ so what’s there to worry about?”

Each and every one of them would have had the power to become Emperor if they had been born in a different era.

Ron, Viaton, and Arun.

Each was worthy of being called the absolute ruler of an era.

Even excluding the First Prince, who had no external activities but was known to be perfect in everything, the remaining three were more than qualified to hold the title of “strongest in history.”

Normally, this would lead to a war of succession, but this time was different.

“They say the brotherly bond is strong.”

“Is that even possible?”

“How would I know?”

It was all thanks to their younger sister, Isabel.

The princes thought, ‘Isabel wouldn’t want us to fight.’

If we fight, Isabel will wake up later.

So, instead of war, they chose coexistence, each in their own domain.

“Furthermore, I heard that the once-famous Commander of the Black Whale Knights has fully recovered. Her name was…… Lady Dailtha, wasn’t it? They say her skills are no less than Sir Viaton’s.”

As many as four absolute rulers, each capable of dominating an era, were gathered in one era, united in purpose.

Grand Duke Rovena also maintained a strong alliance with the Imperial Family.

Magic research, led by Teyselon, Karin, and Viaton, also progressed rapidly. （Viaton’s mother, Beksa’s legacy, contributed to this dazzling development.）

All these factors combined, leading Bilotian to an unprecedented golden age.

It all happened in just seven years.

And it was all called the “Isabel Syndrome.”

Narmore, CEO of Narmore Corporation and one of the key figures in the Isabel Syndrome, sought out Emperor Ron.

“Your Majesty, I have something urgent to tell you.”

“I’m busy.”

“It’s something Princess Isabel would be pleased about.”

“That sounds interesting.”

Narmore Corporation was about to initiate another revolution.

“I will explain what we’ve tentatively named ‘Isabelic.'”

It was something that didn’t even appear in the original novel, until the very end.