I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Isabel reluctantly accepted Arun’s suggestion.

“Just once……”

“Huh?”

“Just this once.”

Arun nodded at her words.

He didn’t reveal his impatience outwardly.

“Alright, I only have one VIP waiting ticket anyway.”

Arun cautiously extended his hand.

“I’ll escort you.”

Isabel carefully placed her hand on top of his.

Through Arun’s hand, his trembling and excitement were transmitted.

It was such a pleasant excitement that it made Isabel’s heart flutter as well.

‘Where are we going that he’s this excited?’

They moved using the TeyIsabel Transfer Gate.

“This is……”

It was definitely a place she had been to before, but it had changed quite a lot.

It was the place where Kim Beolkkul and Michael had competed in sledding a long time ago.

A loud voice echoed, loud enough to shake the entire mountain range.

“Yahoo!!!”

Isabel could easily recognize the owner of the voice.

“Is Michael-oppa here?”

“Yeah. A ski resort was built here.”

It was true.

A ski resort had been built on the barren Elbe Mountains.

This was what was called the Isabel Syndrome, or the Isabel Effect.

“It’s all thanks to Isabel.”

Travel and tourism used to be the exclusive domain of the nobles.

A world of luxury and pleasure that ordinary people couldn’t even dream of.

But now it was different.

As the living standards of the Imperial citizens increased exponentially, numerous industries developed.

“Especially thanks to the TeyIsabel Transfer Gate and the Isabelic System, things like this became possible. Imperial citizens enjoying leisure activities. Even just seven years ago, this would have been unimaginable.”

Arun chuckled.

It was enjoyable to see Isabel looking amazed.

‘Cute.’

Isabel’s appearance, with her eyes wide open as she looked around, was like a baby angel.

At least, that’s how she looked to Arun.

“I’m very proud of my wife.”

“What?”

“What?”

“What did you just say?”

“I said I’m proud of Isabel.”

“Surely……”

Arun tilted his head with an innocent expression.

“Why?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

And he smiled brightly with a harmless face.

It was a refreshing smile, like a romance novel male lead.

Arun kept drawing Isabel into the past.

All of this was done with meticulous calculation.

‘Let’s approach her very gradually.’

Isabel is pushing him away.

Then he just needs to approach her slowly enough that she doesn’t notice.

‘Like getting drenched in the rain without realizing it.’

He wanted to naturally and slowly approach her and seep into her heart.

“Back then, I had so much fun sledding.”

“I was terrified.”

Now there were railings and stairs, but back then it was really the top of a mountain.

“I think I was naive back then.”

“Because you were a honey badger back then.”

“Right.”

『♪♬』

Arun smiled brightly, reminiscing.

Isabel turned her head slightly and said.

“Can you stop displaying those magic letters?”

“Why? Don’t you like them?”

“It’s not that I don’t like them, but…… It’s a bit strange for a grown adult to have those letters floating above their head.”

“Kim Beolkkul’s ego had a huge impact on me. Old habits die hard, as they say. When I’m in a good mood, these things appear. Like Kim Beolkkul’s tail. My feelings keep getting expressed against my will.”

“……”

“But if Isabel really hates it, I’ll try to fix it.”

He didn’t try to show it, but he had a slightly sullen expression.

It felt like Kim Beolkkul when he was scolded.

“Oh, no. It’s not that bad.”

At those words, Arun smiled brightly again.

He hid the fact that this was also a deliberate and strategic approach behind his harmless and beautiful smile.

『♩♬』

『♡』

The ‘♡’ mark disappeared quickly.

It was a short time, but long enough for Isabel to notice.

Everything was meticulously planned.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

There was a legendary sergeant in the Elbe Mountains.

A commoner and a soldier.

A man who rose to the rank of a non-commissioned officer despite not possessing outstanding abilities like Armitel.

His name was Lucain.

About five years ago, Sergeant Lucain was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant for his contribution in creating and distributing the ‘Isabel Anthem’ to the entire army.

The Isabel Anthem was composed and written by Lucain.

He had commissioned famous composers and lyricists to write the ‘Isabel Anthem’, but he wasn’t satisfied with any of them.

He couldn’t feel the sincerity in praising Isabel.

So he devoted himself to studying composing and songwriting day and night, and finally created his own Isabel Anthem.

After being promoted to Master Sergeant, he returned to the Elbe Mountains outpost and is now on guard duty.

‘It used to be a really tough place.’

Heating was out of the question.

Once you entered, you had to be prepared to be separated from your family for life.

But now it was different.

‘There are more shops now.’

Who would have thought there would be so many shops in these rugged mountains?

Moreover, a hotel was built within the ski resort.

It became a place with everything.

‘It’s become a completely different place from when I was on duty.’

He believed that all of this was thanks to Isabel’s noble spirit.

The extent of change in the past 10 years due to Isabel was far greater than the changes that occurred in the past 100 years.

“What? The Princess is coming?”

Master Sergeant Lucain personally visited every outpost to encourage the soldiers.

“Check the broadcasting equipment! Those who haven’t memorized the lyrics yet, make sure you do!”

Isabel arrived.

As always, there was no grand procession.

She was accompanied by Sir Arun, the Deputy Commander of the Black Whale Knights.

Master Sergeant Lucain and numerous border guards at the Elbe Mountains outpost started singing the Isabel Anthem all at once.

The outposts with broadcasting equipment turned up the volume to the maximum, and the soldiers in the outposts without broadcasting equipment sang the Isabel Anthem at the top of their lungs.

Follow the will of the noble Princess!

Learn the spirit of the honorable Princess!

The path that she! Commanded us! To follow!

O! Bey! And! Serve! Walk together!

Isabel, who was immersed in memories with Kim Beolkkul and conversing with Arun, was startled.

“Did I…… mishear?”

At first, she thought it was a military song that was commonly heard at military outposts, so she didn’t pay much attention, but she kept hearing the name ‘Isabel’.

Protect the proud treasure of the Empire!

Serve her, the spring of the Empire!

The one who! Brightly shines! Upon our! Empire!

Al! Ways! Re! Mem! Ber! Isabel!

Gradually, the lyrics began to become clearer.

The ski resort’s magic broadcasting system also started playing the song.

Isabel wanted to hide in embarrassment.

“Ah, Arun. What is this?”

“The Isabel Anthem. It’s the biggest hit song recently.”

“A, a hit?”

“The melody is simple and the lyrics resonate with people, so it’s been explosively popular. It’s probably the most famous military song.”

“Th, that’s a military song?”

Isabel was shocked.

How could such a song be a military song?

But then she saw a group.

“One! Two! One! Two!”

Hundreds of soldiers were running towards them in formation.

Snap! Snap!

They stood in front of Isabel with a disciplined appearance.

“Attention!”

The senior officer who raised his voice was Lucain.

Isabel recognized him too.

“Se, Sergeant Lucain?”

“Salute to the noble spring!”

They were all learning magic, albeit slightly.

“Sa! Lute!”

They shouted at the top of their lungs.

They saluted Isabel with their right hands and waited for a long time.

Arun whispered in Isabel’s ear.

“They won’t lower their hands until you acknowledge their greeting.”

“H, how do I do that?”

“Just smile or wave your hand.”

When she waved her hand, the soldiers finally lowered their hands.

“At ease!”

Lucain approached Isabel.

“Sergeant Lucain, what’s all this about?”

Lucain didn’t bother to mention that he was now a Master Sergeant.

If Isabel said he was a Sergeant, then he was a Sergeant.

“We came running as soon as we heard that the Princess had visited the Elbe Mountains. It is a true honor for all of us to see your noble face!”

“……”

People from the ski resort were also flocking towards them.

“I heard the Spring of the Imperial Family has arrived?”

“What? Princess Isabel?”

“Look over there. Don’t you see a shining pair of man and woman?”

Arun and Isabel had outstanding appearances that stood out even when they were just standing still.

“Le, let’s go too.”

People gathered in front of Isabel.

Even though no one told them to, everyone started cheering.

“Long live the Spring of the Imperial Family!”

When a few people prostrated themselves, the people around them started to prostrate themselves as well.

Isabel couldn’t get used to this situation.

Over a hundred people knelt around Isabel.

Some were shedding tears of joy.

The soldiers also knelt and worshipped Isabel, and then began to sing the Isabel Anthem again at the top of their lungs.

As befitting a mega-hit military song, the common people also sang along to the Isabel Anthem.

‘I, I feel dizzy.’

Arun was the only person she could rely on in this situation.

“Ah, Arun.”

She pretended to pull on Arun’s clothes slightly and stood behind him.

Of course, it was a meaningless act since the Imperial citizens were surrounding them from behind as well, but she felt like she had to do something.

Arun smiled unconsciously.

He loved the feeling of her hand holding onto his clothes.

‘It would have been nice if she had held my hand instead.’

That would have been too greedy.

‘Good, it’s going according to plan.’

It was Arun who had leaked the information to Lucain that he and Isabel would be coming here.

Stimulating emotions through a trip down memory lane.

And designing a hardship（?） through the Isabel Anthem.

Arun was the only person Isabel could rely on here.

Arun very naturally wrapped one arm around Isabel.

It looked more like an act of protecting Isabel than an act of personal desire.

Of course, it was an act of personal desire.

“Is it too overwhelming for you?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Isabel’s ears were bright red.

“We need to move to a different location. Is that okay?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Isabel wanted to escape somehow.

“It can’t be helped.”

Isabel had said ‘just this once’, but this couldn’t be helped.

They decided to move to the next location.

Arun smiled secretly.

Everything was going according to strategist Arun’s plan.