I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 79

“Why didn’t you show up earlier?”

I asked Ahin, who was being overly dramatic. The boy tilted his small head, indicating he didn’t understand what I meant.

“Why didn’t you come when Muros called for you?”

“Ah—that?”

Ahin’s eyes curved into a smile.

“Mujamujah found out about you.”

“Mujah-what?”

“Mujamujah, of course.”

His small finger pointed toward Muros.

“…What an incredibly profound nickname. Anyway, why does that matter?”

“I worked so hard to keep your half-blood status a secret from everyone. If Mujamujah went back and spilled the beans, Mimi would definitely come after you! And I want to play with you!”

The angelic face pouted, almost as if throwing a tantrum. That’s when I was sure—this Ahin boy was not sane.

“You don’t seem like a wizard… Are you even human?”

“Ahin is just Ahin!”

“Did you create this space? Where are my companions?”

“Yup! I made this place! I didn’t want your friends interrupting us!”

“Where are they?”

“Hmm~ I don’t know. But let’s play instead! I’ve been looking forward to this moment for so long!”

I frowned at his smiling face. I didn’t have time to waste playing with a child.

“I don’t play with kids.”

“Huh?”

His youthful face froze in apparent shock.

“Liar! You were playing with that baby just fine earlier! You were even telling fun stories in that restaurant!”

“I never played with a baby—”

“The black-haired one with sparkly eyes!”

“You mean Melaine?”

“Yeah! You had no problem playing with that baby, but you won’t play with me? I’m way more grown up than him!”

He puffed out his cheeks, looking unmistakably like a child.

Like a bolt of lightning, a realization struck me.

Incredible magical skills, an angelic face, yet a bizarre mental state. And the comment about calling Melaine a baby? It all clicked.

My expression twisted.

‘He’s probably a dragon, too.’

I silently prayed for no more dragons in my life, but deep down, I knew this was probably correct.

Even as I frowned, Ahin continued talking, oblivious.

“So it’s okay if I’m an adult, right?”

“No. Not even a little. Go back.”

With a mischievous smile, Ahin snapped his fingers. A light breeze swept around us before gathering toward him, swirling like a small hurricane.

What happened next was astonishing.

When the wind dissipated, the boy was gone. In his place stood a tall, slim man with long limbs. It was as if the boy had grown up in an instant.

The innocence of the child was gone. His crescent-shaped eyes curved into a sly smile directed at me.

“Is this better?”

His crimson lips exuded a subtle sensuality as he asked.

I neither panicked nor showed surprise, staring silently at Ahin’s face. His elegant features slightly frowned at my reaction.

“You don’t like this either?”

Frankly, his appearance didn’t matter to me.

If we ended up fighting, I’d prefer him as an adult rather than a child. But that wasn’t what bothered me.

‘There’s no way a human can change their appearance so freely…’

His brilliant golden hair and molten gold eyes made it painfully obvious what he was.

I muttered gloomily, “He’s a gold dragon, no doubt about it.”

I held back the curse that threatened to follow.

Meanwhile, Ahin’s face turned to one of pure shock.

“What?! How did you know?!”

His wide golden eyes blinked rapidly as they shifted into their natural reptilian shape.

“See? I knew this would happen…”

I silently begged for no more dragons to appear in my life.

“This is insane! How did you figure it out?!”

Though his appearance had matured, his personality hadn’t. He stomped his feet in frustration, acting more like a child than ever.

“Enough. Where are my companions?”

“You’re amazing! How did you know I’m a gold dragon?!”

“……”

A wave of exhaustion washed over me.

***

Melaine frowned as he stared at the massive black sphere in front of him.

No matter what he tried, he couldn’t break the sphere. Magic, even a sword imbued with aura, failed to make a dent.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely hopeless. If Melaine and Schrein combined their strength and launched a full-scale attack, they might be able to shatter it. The problem was Lindel and the Count, who were inside.

Without knowing what was happening within, they couldn’t risk a blind assault that might harm Lindel or the Count.

‘I have to figure something out.’

Beside him, Schrein and Ascal wore similar expressions of frustration.

Then Schrein, still gazing at the black sphere, spoke in a calm tone.

“You’re a dragon, aren’t you?”

At the casual remark, Ascal’s expression froze. His wide-eyed shock reminded Melaine of Lindel.

Ignoring Ascal’s reaction, Melaine answered, “…Yes.”

“I had a feeling something was off. The difference between Yurcilla and Lute didn’t quite add up. Seeing you use magic confirmed it.”

“A dragon?”

Ascal’s eyes wavered, but only for a moment. He quickly turned toward Melaine, his attitude shifting to one of hostility. It looked as though he might grab Melaine by the collar at any moment.

That, too, was reminiscent of Lindel. Though they didn’t resemble each other in appearance, small actions revealed their familial connection.

“What were you thinking, approaching my sister?”

“Didn’t you dislike Lindel?”

“I don’t know what you know about her, but if you had any ulterior motives—!”

“That’s enough, Ascal!”

“Schrein, sir!”

Schrein intervened, stopping Ascal’s outburst.

“It seems Lindel already knows you’re a dragon. She appears to trust you.”

“That’s…”

“Let me ask just one thing. As a dragon, you must have realized what Lindel was. Did you tell her?”

“I didn’t have to. She already knew.”

Schrein’s eyes deepened.

He murmured softly, “So that’s why she suddenly wanted to come here.”

When Lindel had resolutely insisted on confronting her father, Schrein had suspected as much.

Ah, this child has learned everything.

Schrein had long known that Lindel was a half-blood. From the beginning, his reason for coming to Bodebachne’s territory wasn’t rest but Lindel herself.

“Protect my daughter.”

Even though she couldn’t wield mana, the young Lindel couldn’t completely hide her nature. Desperate to protect his child, the Count had sought Schrein’s help.

“She’s a strong girl. Not many can remain composed after learning such truths.”

The two men had worried about how the child would react to the revelation.

That worry, it seemed, had been unnecessary.

Lindel remained as steadfast as ever. It was as if she wouldn’t let something like this diminish her.

“His Majesty hasn’t said much, so I don’t know her exact condition. Is Lindel’s current state because she’s a half-blood?”

“No. Quite the opposite. If she were an ordinary human, she wouldn’t have survived. It’s because she’s a half-blood that she’s made it this far.”

“…I see.”

Schrein gripped his sword once more. The blade, gleaming sharply, caught the light as it cut through the air.

“We can’t afford to wait any longer. We’ll have to force this sphere open.”

“Wouldn’t that endanger the two inside?”

“Don’t worry, Ascal. It’s Lindel we’re talking about.”

After a moment of hesitation, Ascal nodded and stepped back.

His sister was strong.

“It’d be better for me to handle this than to pit magic against magic. When the sphere shatters, clear a path.”

“I’ll take care of whoever created this sphere. They’ll pay for messing with Lindel.”

“Save some for me.”

The two men’s eyes gleamed with determination.

Schrein aimed his sword at the sphere. The crimson aura that emanated from the blade signaled the beginning of their assault.

But just then…

“What the—!”

The black sphere began to vibrate.

“It’s cracking!”

“Lindel!”

The sphere, which had been shaking violently enough to make the ground tremble, started to crack. Through the widening gaps, Lindel’s aura could be felt. But there was something else mixed with it.

A strange energy accompanied her aura. It was a force unfamiliar yet recognizable—beautiful and warm, like its owner.

Mana, presumed to be Lindel’s, mingled with her aura, seeping through the cracks in the sphere.

“Lindel!”

At the sound of someone calling her name, the black sphere shattered completely.

***

“Your Majesty! A sudden surge of powerful mana has been detected in the territory of Bodebachne!”

Cryan burst into the office, shouting before even offering his greeting.

But there was no response.

He frantically looked around the room. Unlike the desk cluttered with documents, Sionel was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is—Your Majesty?”

As he took his first step into the inner chamber, he found the Emperor.

Sionel lay collapsed beside his chair, drenched in cold sweat.

“Someone, call for a priest! Immediately!”

Cryan shouted toward the door as he cradled Sionel’s body. Just then, Cassius, who had come to see the Emperor for the same reason, entered and was equally shocked at the sight.

From behind him came an unfamiliar voice.

“Move aside.”

“Hasina?”

The final visitor to see Sionel was Hasina. Her face bore its usual serene expression, yet her lips, typically curved into a gentle smile, were set in a grim line.

“I’ll take care of this. Please lay His Majesty here.”

“Ah, understood!”

They placed Sionel’s body on a wide sofa, and Hasina approached him.

“Please step back for a moment.”

“But—”

“His Majesty will be fine.”

Her resolute gaze moved between Cryan and Cassius. Though she was a frail woman with only her divine power, the two men felt as though they were facing an immense wall.

“The situation in Bodebachne will also be resolved.”

With those words, she withdrew her gaze.

Only then, released from the oppressive atmosphere, did the two men step back, exchanging grim looks as they watched Hahina’s back.

“You’re in the way.”

“…Understood.”

Cassius reluctantly led Cryan out of the room.

Once they were gone, Hasina turned her attention to Sionel. Her sky-blue eyes trailed over his sweat-soaked face before settling on his chest.

When she reached out, Sionel groaned softly. Even so, she didn’t pull back.

A shimmer appeared over his heart—a white scale.

It was someone’s ‘reverse scale.’

“So it has come to this. I don’t understand why you always make such choices.”

Her bitter voice lingered as she closed her eyes tightly.