Chapter 285: The Art of Freezing Time (Part 3)
“…Insane. Amazing.”
Lloyd muttered unwittingly.
It was an involuntary response.
Understandably so.
Time, as a concept.
The grand, unyielding flow of the world that moves equally for everyone.
The fact that he had become somewhat able to mold it to his will was staggering.
If the description of the skill option before his eyes was indeed true, it meant he had truly gained the ability to influence the flow of time.
‘So, does this mean I’m manifesting the power of the Winter Heart embedded in my Mana Heart? And that’s how I’m able to freeze the flow of time in the world?’
The thought seemed almost too audacious.
It felt almost too divine or transcendent.
‘But I shouldn’t get carried away.’
Lloyd quickly regained his composure.
He didn’t recklessly rejoice.
Nor did he become drunk on joy.
Instead, he reviewed the option’s details with a colder mindset, scrutinizing and pondering every aspect, doubting it.
‘It’s too good to be true. This kind of power seems unbelievable.’
After all, overly sweet deals often come with traps.
There are no free lunches in the world.
Nor does anyone hand out benefits for free.
If someone dangles a honey-coated litmus paper in front of you, it’s wise to first suspect that person might be a swindler.
That was Lloyd’s philosophy.
It was also the secret to his survival so far.
This moment was no exception.
‘So far, the system messages haven’t deceived me. But this option seems too good to be true. So, I have to doubt it. Check and confirm.’
Therefore, it wasn’t a time for joy.
He needed to organize his thoughts first.
‘In summary, it’s about freezing the world’s time, stopping it, while being able to designate a certain area as an exception to the freeze. Within this unfrozen area, time flows normally, but aging does not occur.’
The more he considered it, the more incredible the option seemed.
Of course, it wasn’t without restrictions.
‘Once activated, the option can only be maintained for a year. It’s impossible to change the unfrozen area until the option is deactivated. And the moment I leave the unfrozen area, the option is canceled. Moreover, it’s not something that can be activated at any time. It requires a whopping 3,000 RP to activate once.’
Lloyd checked his current RP.
‘Um… 2,665. Slightly short.’
He was eager to activate the option right away to test it.
Unfortunately, he was a bit short on RP.
‘I’ll have to grind for RP soon.’
He wondered if there was anyone or anything that could quickly raise his favorability, or a pretext?
If he had the time, he was determined to gather more than 3,000 RP.
‘If this option works as described, nothing could be better for me.’
His heart thumped with excitement.
Even as he reminded himself not to get carried away, he couldn’t help it.
The truth was, it was inevitable.
The option to freeze time.
The potential ways to leverage this to his advantage were endless.
‘If I use it immediately for the tasks at hand, it could be incredibly useful for finding the materials for the Jewel of Truth, Aotearoa, and for progressing with the construction. I don’t have much time left. That’s why I’ve been somewhat anxious lately.’
Suddenly, the future he glimpsed through the ending spoiler came to mind.
The onset of the phenomenon of fate restoration also flashed through his thoughts.
That damned event was only about two and a half years away.
Yet, he had too much to do before then.
That was the problem.
The source of his anxiety.
‘I have to find all the core materials for the Jewel of Truth within two and a half years. How long that search will take, I don’t know. And after finding them? Construct the jewel. After construction? I’ll have to find a way to prevent the fate restoration phenomenon and seek answers.’
But would finding the answer be the end?
Unlikely.
‘Once I have the answer, I’ll have to exhaust myself in implementing it.’
What the answer might be, he didn’t yet know.
But it seemed it wouldn’t be easy.
How much time it would take was also unknown.
But thinking of having only two and a half years left, he often woke up gasping for air at night.
‘And then, this jackpot option appeared. During the process of finding the core materials for the Jewel of Truth, and throughout the construction process. Each time I need to work, I can designate the construction site as an unfrozen area and freeze time. Then, regardless of how many months or even if it takes within a year, it wouldn’t matter. Time won’t pass.’
This seemed like a huge time saver.
‘And if, after all the effort, it seems we can’t stop the fate restoration phenomenon? As a last resort, albeit extreme, I could make the Frontera territory an unfrozen area and freeze time there. Inside, we’d gain an additional year to come up with a plan while the world outside remains frozen.’
It was an extreme measure but seemed viable as a last-ditch effort.
‘Anyway, just having this option is incredibly useful.’
Lloyd resolved more firmly than ever to collect RP diligently, fiercely, even more cunningly.
Then, unexpectedly, a voice pierced his eardrums.
“Are you alright?”
“…Eh?”
Lloyd snapped out of his thoughts.
He looked up.
A silhouette was looking down at him, backlit by the sunlight.
Wavy, short hair.
A bitter smile on the lips.
“Your Majesty?”
Three steps ahead.
Queen Alicia was smiling strangely, having approached at some point.
Lloyd quickly knelt on one knee, showing his respect.
“Long live the Queen. I, Lloyd Frontera, the eldest son of the Count of Frontera, humbly greet Your Majesty, the rightful ruler of this land……”
“Enough with the formalities in such a situation. I was inquiring about your well-being.”
“Ah? As you can see, I am in good health, Your Majesty.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd nodded quickly.
Then he felt awkward.
‘Oh no. I haven’t thought of an excuse yet.’
He had accidentally absorbed the Heart of Winter.
A treasure he had politically indebted himself to borrow from the queen.
Not just any treasure, but a divine artifact of the royal family.
And now, it seemed he had defaulted on it.
Yet, he hadn’t thought of an appropriate excuse for this situation.
Distracted by the newly acquired ‘Time Freeze’ option.
Considering its effects and pondering its applications.
Despite resolving not to get carried away, he inadvertently did.
Failing to prepare an excuse for this crucial matter.
But, unexpectedly, he found himself face-to-face with the queen far too soon!
‘What should I say?’
Lloyd’s mind raced.
He recalled the events that had unfolded at the site today.
The various circumstances he had witnessed during the incident.
The actions he had taken, the processes, the outcomes.
Predicting the queen’s response and the social repercussions.
Combining all these elements, he concocted a narrative, assembling an excuse.
He was about to unleash it, slick and crafty, when the queen’s question came first.
“The Heart of Winter has already been lost, hasn’t it?”
“Ah, yes. About that, Your Majesty……”
“It’s alright. I have already grasped the situation and came here to face you.”
“……”
Lloyd looked at the queen.
It was difficult to read her expression and gaze accurately.
There was a strange nuance in her tone and demeanor.
Could it be that the queen was angry?
‘If I were in her shoes, I’d be angry too if I lent something important and it got damaged.’
Should he just apologize profusely and beg for forgiveness?
Perhaps that would be better for their relationship.
But then, unexpectedly, the queen said something surprising.
“I’ve heard it. A guard you saved told me. When you opened the door to the coolant injection room, you already saw that something had gone wrong inside. Two royal magicians were bloodied, one stabbed and the other the stabber.”
“……”
“Perhaps the Heart of Winter’s rampage was caused by the magicians’ strife. Although further investigation is still needed, that testimony alone allows us to surmise that you are not directly responsible for this incident.”
“……”
“Moreover, I’ve been informed. That you, at the risk of your own life, saved my magicians and guards. That you voluntarily stepped forward to save the workers left inside. How could I simply blame you for this incident?”
“Um, Your Majesty, if I may be so bold……”
“Speak.”
“Why are you defending me to such an extent?”
“Are you curious?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd asked sincerely.
The queen’s reaction and attitude, openly defending him, were unexpected.
In response to his question, the queen smiled again.
“I’m not hastily defending or advocating for you. I’m merely informing.”
“For what purpose, Your Majesty?”
“Consider it a template for the statements you might use to defend yourself when faced with the nobility’s scrutiny.”
The queen’s teasing smile became slightly more secretive.
“After all, an incident occurred at your site today, resulting in the loss of a royal divine artifact, the Heart of Winter. This matter is, irrespective of my personal feelings, quite serious and significant, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“That’s why. The nobility, who unanimously agreed to the use of the Heart of Winter, will inevitably make a big deal out of this. They will likely submit a bill of indictment and a charge sheet for your trial in the near future.”
“A bill of indictment, a charge sheet, Your Majesty?”
“Yes.”
The queen nodded.
“Since you are a hero in my eyes. Thus, you possess immunity. The nobility cannot judge or sentence you. That authority rests solely with me. So, they will request that I put you on trial.”
“Ah.”
So that’s what it was.
‘Pretty much what I expected.’
Lloyd inwardly shrugged.
The queen continued.
“I, too, cannot refuse the nobility’s request. There’s no justification for refusal. In fact, I should be the one outraged, putting you on trial.”
“But why are you……”
“Defending you? Do you wish to ask?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I find you to be pleasing.”
“…Pardon?”
He looked up, startled.
The queen’s eyes, smiling softly at him, seemed to twinkle with mischief.
“An artifact that’s been troublesome to use for hundreds of years, compared to a being like you who can provide useful assistance for decades, is far more valuable to me. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Um, if you put it so blatantly that you intend to use me……”
“This is an investment in talent. Is it not?”
“Indeed not, Your Majesty.”
“Tsk. How can one refuse so blatantly and coldly.”
“It’s not a refusal, but a plea born of humble gratitude.”
Lloyd genuinely bowed his head.
On one hand, he felt sorry, and on the other, thankful.
‘This means she’ll openly shield me in the future. Frankly, considering the loss of a royal artifact, she’s being remarkably lenient.’
The queen was no ordinary person.
Instead, she planned to use him, to exploit him more effectively.
Her candid and somewhat blatant expression of this intent was also notable.
On one level, that ambition was entirely understandable.
‘After all, the queen has supported me significantly up until now. When I rapidly charged my mana during the assassination attempt, she didn’t scold me. Since the Monster Domino refugee crisis, she’s been generously providing support. And besides, she’s given me all sorts of special treatment and favors.’
Considering it, the queen before him.
She was the person who had provided the most support in surviving the harsh trials up to this day.
Of course, that didn’t mean he intended to become the queen’s servant so easily.
‘I’ve also done quite a bit for the queen.’
Just as much as he had received in terms of help and support.
He had also given back a lot.
That was enough.
So, he would gladly accept this help.
He could repay her later.
“Your grace is overwhelming.”
Lloyd expressed his gratitude sincerely.
He was also internally thankful that everyone was safe today.
Now, it was time to focus on the aftermath of the accident.
♣
Days passed.
Since then, the site of the accident was swiftly cleaned up.
Fortunately, the tunnels that had already been dug suffered almost no damage.
The ground, previously frozen through the freezing method, remained unchanged.
Given the overwhelming cold released, the rest of the construction seemed feasible before the ground completely thawed.
However, another issue prevented Lloyd from resuming construction.
The nobility issued a condemnation of Lloyd.
They submitted a charge sheet for a trial to determine responsibility for the loss of the royal artifact.
‘Just as the queen said.’
What followed also went according to the queen’s predictions.
The queen accepted the nobility’s charge sheet.
A trial date was announced.
In the meantime, Lloyd took a rare break.
And just like that, several more days swiftly passed.
Finally, the day of the trial presided over by the queen arrived.
“Are you ready, Lord Lloyd? We must depart now to arrive at the trial on time.”
“Oh, just a moment.”
On the morning of the trial.
Lloyd faced the mirror.
Responding leisurely to Harvey’s urging.
“Just wait a bit. Let me finish the warm-up I was doing.”
“Warm-up?”
“Tongue exercises.”
In a courtroom battle, a sharp wit is your weapon.
Smirking at the mirror, Lloyd moistened his tongue, ready for the fray.
