I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Viaton bit his lip.

Yes, even a 3-year-old has a childhood. Even a baby has an even younger babyhood.

It was as if he was looking at a baby who thinks it’s grown up now.

The child’s cheeks were peach-colored.

Love sprang up abundantly.

“So cute……”

I almost bit her.

He almost said those words.

He actually almost bit that plump, sausage-like arm, *chomp*!

However, as a trained swordsman, Viaton, whose self-control was incomparable to ordinary people, was able to suppress that fierce urge.

‘Whew, that was really dangerous.’

No matter how cute she was, he prided himself on knowing where to draw the line.

Biting the Princess’s arm was crossing the line.

He muttered very softly.

“Sigh, what if she gets a boyfriend later?”

Former Sword Demon.

He, who prided himself on knowing his boundaries, curled up the corners of his mouth.

“I can just kill him.”

His muttering was very quiet, and Isabel couldn’t hear it properly.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Viaton headed to the Emperor’s office with the drawing Isabel had made.

“This is an abstract painting of His Majesty.”

Ron received the drawing.

“Have you come to throw trash at me?”

“You’re accumulating regrets again.”

“What?”

“You clearly just called this a piece of trash. This magnificent painting!”

“It looks like a painting that those morons who claim to be artists drew halfheartedly for a few silver coins.”

It was a remark aimed at Viaton.

Ron had drawn and brought paintings several times before, claiming they were abstract representations of Viaton.

Of course, Viaton was a man with a deep appreciation for art and was quite skilled.

However, as far as Ron was concerned, he didn’t care about such facts.

“I didn’t draw this one.”

“Then who did?”

“A three-year-old child drew it. But there are some very peculiar things about this painting.”

“……”

“Look. The eyes are sharper, and the lips are smoother, right? The nose seems a bit higher than in reality.”

“……”

“Moreover, the skin texture is incredibly smooth, and it exudes an aura of handsomeness……”

Ron, who had been listening silently, couldn’t hide his bewilderment and asked.

“Didn’t you say it was an abstract painting?”

The explanation was too detailed.

The eyes are sharper, the lips are smoother, the nose is higher.

That couldn’t be true.

Because this was an abstract painting.

It seemed that only Viaton could see it that way.

“Above all, the eyes are so clear. The His Majesty I know has fierce and desolate eyes…… Ouch!”

*Swish*━━-

Ron’s sharp blade cut through the front of Viaton’s uniform.

“I bought this with my salary! It’s expensive!”

“Did anyone ask?”

“It’s not easy to say ‘I didn’t ask, so stick your tongue out’ with such dignity!”

Ron was indeed the Emperor of the Sword Empire.

His swordsmanship was graceful and clean. Sheathing his sword with restrained movements, he spoke in an elegant manner.

“Quickly say what you have to say and get out.”

“That three-year-old child is Her Highness the Princess.”

“What?”

Ron’s gaze turned back to the drawing.

Viaton’s light green eyes were filled with seriousness.

“What surprised me the most was Her Highness’s observation skills. She hasn’t met His Majesty many times, and the time spent together hasn’t been that long……”

“……”

“Such deep observation must stem from sincere affection. It’s filled with warm feelings and love for His Majesty. This isn’t learned; it’s an innate talent.”

So, you’re saying you read all that from this abstract painting……

It was an abstract painting, after all.

It was well-drawn for a three-year-old, but it was impossible for such an evaluation to come out of it.

‘I guess what’s invisible to my eyes is visible to yours.’

Do you have some kind of superpower?

He wanted to ask that, but he didn’t bother to question it since they were good things anyway.

“His Majesty must be very pleased.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Because Her Highness likes you so much without you having to put in any effort. I heard she told you she loves you last time?”

Ron made a dumbfounded expression.

“Are you that envious?”

“If I’m not envious, am I a dung beetle, not a human?”

“Dung beetle out of the blue?”

“No, it’s just so unfair.”

“So, what is?”

Ron responded quite faithfully and sincerely to Viaton’s complaints.

It also meant that Ron was in a very good mood.

Since Viaton said, ‘The painting is filled with sincere affection,’ Ron’s mood had been quite good.

Although Ron himself wasn’t aware of it.

“Even when I spent all my salary and threatened…… no, asked a top chef to make treasure jelly, I’ve never heard the words ‘I love you.’ In fact, she just says I’m being extorted.”

“The words and actions of the Princess’s educational instructor are extremely vulgar.”

“You’re nitpicking my way of speaking again.”

“This is the Imperial Palace. Maintain some dignity.”

Who was it that told me to get out, Viaton wanted to argue, but he didn’t.

Ron stared at Viaton for a while and then let out a deep sigh.

“So? What do you really want to say?”

“I’m so envious I could die.”

Although there was no one around, Ron lowered his voice.

Just as Viaton knew Ron well, Ron knew Viaton too well.

“Don’t beat around the bush and speak quickly.”

“I don’t quite understand what you’re……”

“Before I kill you.”

“Since Your Majesty speaks so earnestly, I have no choice.”

Viaton cleared his throat and spoke.

“It seems Her Highness possesses immense talent and aptitude for magic engineering. Following the innate chanting, she has such precise observation skills and dexterity.”

Magic engineering is the study of applying magic to solve engineering problems.

It was also the foundation of modern-day technology.

“As Your Majesty knows, talent for magic engineering is largely divided into three categories. One is the innate ability to understand magic and affinity for mana. This has already been proven by Her Highness’s innate chanting and mana resonance.”

“……”

“The ability to create magic circles and magic engineering blueprints based on keen observation skills. Basic dexterity is essential for that. That has also been proven by this drawing.”

And the last one.

“Mathematical talent is the most important.”

“For example?”

“The talent to understand the concept of jelly numbers and perform addition and subtraction mentally at the age of three.”

Even though no one had taught her, the Princess had a clear understanding of numbers.

“She accurately calculated the number of jellies and extorted…… no, requested them.”

“……”

“Considering various factors, it seems Her Highness has been bestowed with an innate magical talent.”

In the original story, Isabel had never learned magic.

She only committed evil deeds, disheartened by the fact that she would die at 21.

“If Your Majesty permits, I will look for a competent magic teacher.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Three months later, Isabel had a new teacher.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Karin, a 1st Class Mage from the Mirotel Magic Federation.”

Isabel started hiccuping.

She wanted to scream.

‘Why is the final villain appearing here?!’

This wasn’t part of the original story.

Karin, a 1st Class Mage from the Mirotel Magic Federation.

In the original story, she was a mage with great ambition.

‘A psychopathic dark mage!’

She was also someone who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary to achieve her goals.

‘And yet, a very intelligent and cunning woman.’

She betrayed her master and ascended to the position of ‘Creation Mage,’ the leader of the Magic Federation. She was so meticulous and methodical that she even deceived her master flawlessly.

Having seized control of the Mirotel Magic Federation, she desired to establish a vast empire that would rule the entire continent.

In the process, she clashed with the male protagonist, Arun, who became the Emperor of the Sword Empire.

‘But Arun is the male lead……’

No matter how powerful the villain, they could never defeat the protagonist.

After being defeated by Arun several times, she resorted to underhanded tactics and cursed the female lead with the ‘Curse of Narvidal.’

The female lead, who had been suffering from the curse, left a will to Arun and closed her eyes.

The chapter ended right there.

‘At that time, everyone thought the female lead was dead and criticized it for being an anticlimactic ending.’

But then came another twist.

‘Who would have thought that not only was it not an anticlimactic ending, but the female lead was a dragon?’

For reference, dragons in this world were known as the originators of magic and the creators of all magic.

The only beings capable of nullifying the Mark of Narvidal and the Curse of Narvidal.

There was no way a mere human mage’s curse could affect them.

The female lead, who had sealed her own memories, awakened her dragon self based on the crisis of death.

Afterward, the story goes that Arun and the female lead showed all sorts of affection and lived happily ever after……

‘In other words…… a villain who can stand up to the strongest male lead and the even stronger female lead dragon, right?’

The prologue hasn’t even begun yet.

It will be another 18 years before this story truly begins.

It was unclear why the final villain of had already appeared when the terminally ill villainess was only 3 years old.

My body trembled uncontrollably against my will.

With just these clues, the final villain would notice something strange about me.

“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?”

“W-Well……”

I wanted to calm down, but I couldn’t.

Having a child’s body was so inconvenient at times like these.

‘What should I do?’

The greatest trial of my three-year-old life had arrived.