I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 185

Chapter 185

For Maria, a small cabin was her whole world.

That dark place where iron bars covered the windows instead of glass.

Outside of it, monsters who treated her like a monster were everywhere.

She couldn’t take a single step outside the cabin.

Because only there could she find a comfortable space to rest.

And she had a father.

She didn’t remember when he became her father.

Some things, when she tried to recall them, her head ached, and she couldn’t remember anything.

But that didn’t matter.

‘I hope Dad comes soon.’

Once or twice a month.

The day her father came to see her.

He would examine her body and draw blood.

She didn’t know exactly what ‘Dad’ was doing.

But it was certainly a blessing to have someone by her side.

“Please don’t go. I’m scared.”

Usually, he would spend a night and then leave again, and every time, Maria would beg and plead.

Because she was afraid of being alone again after he left.

She begged him not to leave her alone.

That was the entirety of the world she had lived in.

But one day, light began to seep into that dark cabin.

Maria was even afraid of the light.

Because that light, too, would surely point fingers at her and call her a devil.

The power she possessed was undoubtedly the power of a devil.

But it wasn’t.

The light wasn’t dark.

The spring, which had always been cold, had become warm.

The ability she possessed was not the power of a devil, and her ‘Dad’ was not her father.

He was just a merchant busy making money by violating her human rights.

Maria, who had regained the light and spring, hugged Isabel tightly.

“Your Highness became my light.”

She felt like singing Isabel’s praises if she could.

“And you became my first spring.”

She stepped out of that cramped and small cabin into a world filled with spring.

Now, no one saw her as a monster.

Many people called her a saint and liked her.

She was happy about that.

Isabel, whose body was possessed by Narvidal, heard that voice.

And she asked Narvidal.

‘Narvidal, please hug Maria.’

Hearing the inner voice, Narvidal raised her arms and gently hugged Maria.

Tears welled up in Maria’s eyes.

‘What is Maria trying to do?’

Perhaps due to the power of death, Narvidal couldn’t feel Maria’s heart at all.

Narvidal told her.

‘She’s trying to kill me with the power she possesses…… No.’

Narvidal thought it was slightly different.

‘She’s trying to save you.’

Isabel would live if Narvidal perished.

The power Maria possessed was the power of life.

Only that power could guide Narvidal to her rest.

Maria continued speaking.

“And I will not forget that spring.”

It was the sunlight that first reached out to her.

It was the first life she encountered.

“I take back what I said. Please don’t remember me.”

Please remember. That I admired Your Highness.

She hoped Isabel wouldn’t remember those words.

‘I will face a joyful death here. But I’m worried about Your Highness, who will live on.’

To destroy Narvidal, she too had to sacrifice her life.

‘Because that will torment Your Highness.’

Because that’s the kind of person she is.

Because she’s someone who doesn’t overlook even a small thorn stuck in someone else’s finger.

She said again with emphasis.

“I didn’t choose this path for Your Highness. This is a choice for myself. I think I’ll live if I do this.”

She couldn’t bear to see the setting of the sun that had saved her.

She had no shame to live alone in a world without spring.

So she decided to give her life and save Isabel.

“I’ll say it again. This is for me. So please don’t be heartbroken. Because that would be an insult to my death.”

Even though I will die, I hope Your Highness will live.

Someone, another Maria, needs Your Highness.

Your Highness will reach out to someone and become another spring.

‘Only I will remember Your Highness.’

And then she unleashed all the power she possessed.

This power she knew as the devil’s power.

This power she had cursed herself for having.

She was so glad she had this power.

She confessed her admiration one last time.

“You were my queen.”

A massive curtain of light unfolded, enveloping Isabel and Maria’s bodies.

It was a vast and bright light that humanity had never seen before.

The miraculous power that human eyes could neither see nor comprehend unfolded.

A warm and gentle energy.

The light of a miracle that could not be artificially created filled the space.

Isabel raised her head and muttered softly.

“Is this the potential of humanity?”

She felt like she could understand the Dragon Monarch’s words now.

She felt a sense of peace gradually washing over her.

“I have caused you much trouble.”

She thought there would be no other way but to die by borrowing Isabel’s body.

Even the god that existed from the beginning judged so.

But that judgment was wrong.

“You are leading me in ways I never imagined.”

This wasn’t simply the power of that human alone.

Narvidal, who needed death, didn’t change her plan until the very last moment.

Because she believed that only the end using Isabel’s body could bring her death.

But the dragons and many humans she met immediately after her descent.

They brought the situation to this point.

After that, Ron’s sword created a miracle, significantly weakening Narvidal’s power.

“Is it a miracle created by the gathering of individual hearts?”

Maria’s holy power was added to that, and a miracle happened.

The light of that miracle was so full of life that it seemed to completely erase the power of death.

Narvidal thought she could finally reach her end.

“One…… It’s a little lacking.”

But it wasn’t that easy.

‘Is it not enough after all?’

Narvidal smiled bitterly.

“It’s still lacking.”

Humanity’s potential was close to infinite, but it couldn’t surpass a god in the end.

The curtain of light that Maria had unfolded gradually faded.

Maria began to age rapidly.

She was being consumed by the power of death.

Narvidal said with a sad expression.

“Can the miracle of humans not dethrone a god after all?”

Narvidal still hadn’t perished.

Maria collapsed.

Her hair had turned white, and her face was full of wrinkles.

Maria’s sacrifice alone couldn’t kill Narvidal.

Narvidal was disappointed.

‘This is the end.’

She had placed high expectations on humans, but it seemed to have failed in the end.

If she didn’t completely perish, she would eventually be resurrected.

It seemed like the only option left was to perish by borrowing Isabel’s body.

But that wasn’t the end.

“One…… You are exceeding my expectations once again.”

Narvidal looked down at the sword piercing her chest.

It was Arun’s sword.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Ron stared blankly ahead.

He was so focused on Isabel that he hadn’t even noticed Arun’s appearance.

Arun rushed forward and stabbed Isabel with his sword.

And Ron had a realization.

‘Arun…… has surpassed me.’

He couldn’t help but acknowledge it.

Ron could only perform the Life Sword technique with the sword crafted by Maria and the master magic engineer.

But Arun used the Life Sword without the help of such a weapon.

With the consecutive miracles, Narvidal finally sensed her own demise.

“Humans.”

“……”

“It’s a shame that I won’t be able to see the world you will build.”

For the first time, Narvidal felt that death was a shame.

They made her feel that way.

She became interested in their figures, constantly pioneering the impossible with human bodies.

“I cheer for your lives, the world you will build, your miracles. May all the coming springs be warm.”

Five-colored, dazzling dust rose above Isabel’s body.

The God of Death, Narvidal, completely perished, and Isabel lost consciousness and collapsed.

Arun lifted Isabel into his arms.

“Isabel!”

Ron rushed over.

“She’s alright. Her breathing is normal. She just fainted.”

“……”

“She needs to rest, so I’ll hold her.”

“……”

“I’m absolutely not saying I want to hold her out of my own desire. It’s for Her Highness’s stability.”

Ron gritted his teeth.

“It seems the thief has made up his mind.”

Ron frowned, then knelt and bowed to Maria.

Then he said.

“I will not pity you. As you said, that would be an insult to your death.”

Although the life had drained from her face and her heart no longer beat, Maria was smiling.

“However, I express my respect for your death.”

Ron seemed to understand Maria’s heart.

If Ron were Maria, he would have made the same choice.

With a joyful heart.

Ron lifted Maria’s body into his arms.

“I will not forget your sacrifice. I, the Imperial citizens, will remember you. And as the Emperor of the Empire, no, as Isabel’s father, I express my deepest gratitude and respect to you.”

Then he shifted his gaze to Arun.

“Check Isabel’s wrist.”

He thought that since Narvidal was gone, the Mark of Narvidal should also be gone.

Isabel’s body was limp.

Arun examined Isabel’s right wrist.

“……Your Majesty.”

Arun frowned.

“Don’t say any more. I can see it clearly with my own eyes.”

“……”

Ron could see it too.

The Mark of Narvidal still remained.

Although the hearts of many people had gathered and succeeded in destroying the God of Death, the seeds of death that the God of Death had sown did not disappear.

The Mark of Narvidal was still driving Isabel’s life to the edge of a cliff.