How to Save a Time-Limited Heroine

“I greet you, Count Hebron.”

Marquis Grovin, who resembled a goblin, offered a polite greeting with a flourish.

Deltain responded indifferently.

“Yeah.”

“How did you like the gift I sent?”

“The magic herb was fine.”

“The item you were looking for….”

“Oh.”

Deltain looked up. A somewhat unpleasant expression appeared on his face.

“Are you spying on me?”

Marquis Grovin’s body froze at the cold, cutting tone.

It was the reaction Deltain had intended.

‘That should be enough for now.’

The flow of funds among the aristocratic faction was suspicious. Ishmark was sharpening his blade for it. And today’s gathering was meant to show Ishmark’s strength to them.

… Deltain had no interest in such matters.

What mattered to him was clearing the DLC, and his current attitude was simply to ensure a smooth process.

Deltain was a perfectionist. He was a man who rarely left anything out of his control.

So, he tightened the leash again, ensuring that the golden goblin who had been offering tributes wouldn’t entertain foolish thoughts.

“… my apologies.”

Marquis Grovin bowed his head. Cold sweat was dripping down the back of his neck.

A superhuman, one who couldn’t be touched even if the entire empire rose against him.

This was a wall too great to confront with the title of marquis and as the leader of the aristocratic faction.

“I hope you’ll understand that I simply wish to assist you, Count.”

The smile on Marquis Grovin’s face was almost servile.

Only then did Deltain ease off.

“I’m not asking for much. Just that we keep our relationship as distant neighbors.”

Deltain said as he put down his drink.

“I’ve never picked a fight first, have I?”

His words were blunt and lacked any refinement. There was no pretense of hiding a dagger within his words. This was confidence and pride as a strong man.

Indeed, Deltain hadn’t bothered to think of manners that suited a pig.

Snap.

When Deltain snapped his fingers, a transparent barrier formed around the two of them. Even Agnes could no longer hear their conversation.

“I don’t care what you guys are up to.”

Only then did Deltain reveal what he knew.

“I’ll even turn a blind eye to you organizing a rebellion.”

“…!”

Marquis Grovin’s eyes widened in shock. His face showed disbelief.

“What do you….?”

“I know you’re not really planning to start a rebellion. You just want to destabilize Ishmark’s rule.”

“… I don’t understand what you’re saying, Count.”

“Fine, keep pretending you don’t know. I’ll pretend not to know as well. Go ahead with your arson and terrorism, just leave me out of it.”

Marquis Grovin’s fingers trembled. The thought that crossed his mind at that moment was only one.

‘Where?’

Where had the information leaked from? And how much had leaked?

The army he was organizing was a secret known only to a very few within the faction.

How could Deltain Hebron have discovered this information…?

“Don’t strain your brain. I just know.”

Deltain scoffed.

“Why would you think I couldn’t come up with the same ideas you did?”

His relaxed demeanor only made the situation feel more terrifying.

Marquis Grovin’s smile began to crack.

He replayed the situation in his mind.

Collecting the information.

Deltain Hebron had snapped his fingers. It was after that when the critical information was revealed.

It was probably a sound-blocking spell. As evidence, Princess Levadine was glaring at Deltain Hebron in dissatisfaction.

‘The claim that he won’t interfere is true.’

In that case, what was the correct attitude to take now?

Marquis Grovin knew the answer.

“… thank you for your consideration.”

A lion did not concern itself with the affairs of rabbits. This was something Marquis Grovin’s father, the previous head of the family, had told him when he was very young.

Marquis Grovin was a man quick to understand his position. He knew he could never become a lion. So, he aimed to become the strongest rabbit.

To achieve that, this was the right stance to take. He did not want the lion to turn its gaze toward the rabbit’s society.

A look of satisfaction appeared on Deltain’s face.

Snap.

He snapped his fingers again.

“I received the gift. Thank you.”

“I’ll bring something more satisfying next time.”

“Then how about searching the desert?”

“… there are many beautiful treasures in the desert.”

Marquis Grovin straightened his posture.

The smile that had been there when he first approached had returned to his face.

“Enjoy the banquet.”

“Sure.”

Marquis Grovin left.

Only then did Agnes ask Deltain.

“What were you talking about so secretly?”

“Business.”

“Did he beg you to take care of him?”

“No, he was begging me not to discard him.”

“Whoa, losers really are pathetic.”

Agnes giggled.

Deltain took another sip of his drink.

‘The business is more or less done.’

There might be a gap between Ishmark’s intentions and his actions… but so what? What mattered to Deltain was securing more materials for the DLC.

Chambler’s Dream (Complete)
Heart of Gaias (Complete)
Token of Endless Winter (Incomplete)
Jewel of the Deep Sea (Complete)
Breath of the Scorched Land (Incomplete)
Gluttony of Rofalgar (Incomplete)
Blessing of the Giant (Incomplete)
Purity of Ergoragia (Incomplete)
Seed of the Magic Flower Actrias (Incomplete)

Only three items had the mark on the interface.

Deltaine had assigned Marquis Grovin to obtain .

‘There’s only one desert in the south, so he’ll bring something back.’

Now, it was just a matter of leisurely sipping his drink and heading back to the mansion.

As Deltain was mulling this over.

“Deltain.”

“What?”

“Isn’t His Majesty coming?”

“He will. Once everyone’s a little tipsy and starts dancing.”

“He usually doesn’t arrive this late, though.”

“He’s just making an entrance.”

Every move Ishmark made was meticulously calculated.

As with the recent dinner with Deltain, he arrived today with a clear purpose.

“Still… considering how late he is, he must be planning something.”

“Aren’t you worried?”

“About what?”

“He invited you, then ditched you.”

“Not even a little bit. And ditching the emperor? That’s insulting the imperial family.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“I can say whatever I want. I’m the one who put Ishmark on the throne.”

“For someone who says that you sure talk quietly.”

“I’m just respecting authority. I don’t like it when the authority I created is undermined.”

Agnes blinked, reflecting on Deltain’s words.

Then, she smiled and replied.

“So, I’m special to you, huh? Since you share all this with me.”

Pause.

Deltain froze. It wasn’t out of anger or embarrassment, as usual.

‘… did I?’

Deltain realized that he had just shared something with Agnes that he shouldn’t have.

He turned his gaze toward Agnes.

“You’re slow to catch on.”

She was smirking arrogantly, as if to say, “See, I told you.”

“You’ll confess any day now.”

Deltain let out a dry laugh.

“… no, thanks to you, I’ll never have to.”

Deltain admitted quietly. He had just made a mistake—one that might have led to failure.

“It seems I’ve gone soft. I’ve grown attached to my patient.”

“I think it’s more than just physical attachment.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Did you know? Once you recognize love, it only accelerates.”

“That’s why I’m saying there’s nothing to recognize.”

“I can’t wait to see how you confess.”

Agnes burst into laughter.

There was no one around them, so their conversation didn’t leak out, but those who glanced at her from afar were at a loss, seeing her laughing.

“By the way, what are you going to say when you ask me to dance?”

“I’m not asking you to dance. And by the way, you can’t dance. Just because you can walk now doesn’t mean you can dance. You’re still too weak to even run.”

“Really? I don’t think that’s quite right.”

“Daily movements are within the range that the supporter can cover.”

At this, Agnes pouted her lower lip.

It was yet another expression designed to irritate Deltain.

“… if we remove the magic flower, we’ll consider other treatment methods.”

“Yeah, until then, I’ll just be satisfied with rolling around in bed.”

Pfft!

Deltain spat out the drink he was sipping. He even coughed a bit.

His expression was one of utter disbelief.

Deltain looked at Agnes with a deeply furrowed brow.

“… crazy bitch.”

“Lack of exercise is a serious problem. I think you, as my healer, should solve that.”

“Where did you even get that idea?”

“A novel Elina gave me. .”

“Do you really want to be friends with someone like that?”

Agnes’ expression faltered for a brief moment at that remark.

But it was just for a moment. She quickly regained her composure and smiled gently.

“… well, we’re young.”

A cryptic response.

Deltain looked at Agnes with a mixture of exasperation, but she only shrugged.

He looked around for Ishmark.

In truth, the reason he hadn’t left yet was that Ishmark hadn’t arrived.

Since he had been invited to this banquet by the emperor, it was crucial to speak with him before leaving.

This was a stipulation of the contract Deltain had with Ishmark and had to be upheld.

About ten minutes passed.

[His Majesty the Emperor is entering!]

At those words, the orchestra began to play powerfully.

Deltain’s gaze turned towards the main entrance of the banquet hall.

It opened, revealing a man walking in.

“His Majesty looks really young.”

“Keeping that appearance costs about a year’s worth of taxes from a small estate.”

“Whoa.”

His radiant white hair flowed down like silk, with a golden crown atop his head. More noticeable than that, however, was his well-built physique, evident even through his clothes, and the masculine charm that his features exuded.

Emperor Ishmark von Lebroch entered the banquet hall with a leisurely stride.

The nobles parted before him, bowing their heads as he passed.

The silence that followed was a testament to the immense authority Ishmark wielded.

The emperor of a prosperous era—some might be dissatisfied with Ishmark’s reign, but in terms of the empire’s prosperity, he had outshone any of his predecessors.

This scene was proof of that.

Eventually, Ishmark took his seat at the head of the banquet hall.

At that moment, his eyes met Deltain’s.

Ishmark greeted him with a smile and raised his hand.

The music from the orchestra abruptly stopped.

‘How annoyingly dramatic.’

Deltain watched Ishmark’s antics with a bored expression.

“Thank you all for attending today’s banquet. As you know, this banquet is to honor the imperial swords and the great wizard who handled the recent incident so admirably.”

All eyes in the hall turned to Deltain.

Deltain’s expression grew sullen, and Agnes’s smile became even more artificial.

“Let us first give them a round of applause.”

Clap. Clap.

Ishmark began clapping at a measured pace, and the gathered nobles followed suit.

Though each clap wasn’t loud on its own, together, the sound resonated throughout the banquet hall.

“Whoaa~”

Amidst this, Agnes even cheered, seemingly delighted with Deltain’s displeased expression.

Deltain glanced at her for a moment before standing up and bowing to Ishmark.

“Your Majesty’s grace is immeasurable.”

A ridiculous farce.

Considering he had defeated Gaias just last month, this was the second time this month that something like this had happened.

It was quite an irritating situation for Deltain, but for Ishmark, it was a moment of pleasure.

After all, he had just made his relationship with Deltain public to everyone.

But a line must be drawn.

Having already reaped all the benefits he could from praising Deltain, Ishmark didn’t push for more.

“Thank you, Count, for always protecting the empire.”

As he said this, Ishmark’s gaze swept across the banquet hall.

His piercing eyes cut through the silence.

Now that they were getting to the main point, this act created a sense of tension.

Ishmark’s gaze stopped on Marquis Grovin.

Deltain watched the situation quietly.

Though he knew Ishmark planned to make a move today, he wasn’t sure exactly how, so he felt a twinge of curiosity.

Then Ishmark’s lips moved.

“There was a moment of crisis. Due to unexpected intruders, demons hiding in plain sight, this incident occurred. Fortunately, we overcame it, but….”

The nobles, with their heads bowed, listened intently to the emperor’s words.

Marquis Grovin remained unfazed despite the piercing gaze directed at him.

“… I can’t help but feel that the crisis isn’t over.”

A smile played on Ishmark’s lips.

“Don’t you agree? Demons dwell in the hearts of humans. Couldn’t there still be a demon lurking within our very capital, one we haven’t yet eradicated?”

His next words were shocking.

“For example, like the demon of chaos that drove the late emperor to take his own life three years ago.”

Marquis Grovin’s expression froze.

Deltain’s eyebrows shot up.

‘A demon….’

Deltain finally understood Ishmark’s intention.

It was a rather drastic move.