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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please ‌‌‌‌read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 22
* * *
The ‌‌Cave served as our temporary base camp.
It wasn't comfortable enough for a prolonged stay, so we had no choice but to search for better shelter. That's why we regularly scouted the area around the Cave.
I explored with Enoch, gathering information about rescue options and escape routes. And I secretly searched for a Cabin and Bunker without Enoch knowing.
Kaiden said he'd leave once his wounds healed, but even after they improved, he didn't leave the Cave.
At first, Enoch drove him out of the Cave. But Kaiden wasn't the type ‌‌to retreat so easily. He stubbornly stood guard at the entrance and stayed awake ‌‌‌‌for two entire nights.
I couldn't fathom why he'd suddenly changed his mind about leaving.
Eventually, Enoch had no choice but to let him back inside. On ‌‌‌‌nights when Monsters roamed, ‌we couldn't risk having someone reeking of human scent standing at the entrance—we had no idea what disaster might befall him.
Though he hadn't shown any ‌‌‌particularly problematic behavior yet, he was clearly not a normal person, so Enoch stayed glued to my side, never knowing when he might do something insane.
After several days of this ‌exhaustion, ‌‌‌‌both Enoch and I reached the point ‌where we simply ignored Kaiden when he approached, saying nothing.
"You're more diligent than I expected. What kind of noble wakes up at dawn?"
Kaiden, who had been ‌‌‌‌‌‌observing me as I moved ‌about busily from early morning, made a comment.
I was ‌in the middle of transferring purified water ‌‌‌‌into a coconut bowl ‌‌‌to distribute, and I glanced at him.
He was right—I moved about with remarkable diligence.
Every morning, I'd wake up and first head to the Valley to purify water and collect fruit. I often went hunting as well.
Enoch and I took turns going to the Seashore to fish, though Enoch always handled the fire-making.
This meant my caloric expenditure was enormous, requiring me to gather proportionally more food, but there was nothing ‌‌‌‌to be done about it.
"If we're going to relocate the base camp, I need to prepare thoroughly."
I replied while pouring the purified water into the bamboo tube Enoch had cut for me. This bamboo tube served as a ‌‌‌tumbler.
I then wove the bamboo tube together with long, sturdy bramble stems to fashion it like a crossbody bag, which I slung diagonally across my shoulder.
"You're moving your shelter? Why?"
"There aren't many places to gather food here, and the environment isn't comfortable."
As I said this, I adjusted my flat ‌‌‌‌‌shoes and put them back on.
"Where are you going?"
"To scout the area."
More precisely, I was going Mountain climbing. My final ‌‌expedition. If I didn't find a Cabin or Bunker this time, I was genuinely planning to leave this region.
I hoped we'd be lucky enough to find some clue about the Island's secrets.
Enoch had just left for his morning hunt, so it was perfect timing for me to go Mountain climbing alone.
"Then rest here."
"Huh? Wait, I'll just—!"
Kaiden tried to follow me out but let out a long groan as pain ‌‌‌‌shot through his wound, and he collapsed back onto his spot.
I waved at him with ease before leaving the Cave with a light heart.
Now that I'd adapted somewhat to the Island, even Enoch, who had been overprotective, let me wander about until sunset. His excessive protection seemed overbearing, but being able to move about alone was something, at least.
It had been nearly three weeks since we arrived on the Island, yet ‌the information we'd gathered was virtually nonexistent.
I stood midway up the Mountain, took a deep breath, and looked down below. Even from ‌‌‌this height, I could survey parts of the Island. If I climbed a bit higher, I could see much farther.
The Cave where Enoch and I had been staying didn't seem far from the Beach when viewed from up here.
Indeed, being so close to the Beach made it easy to make quick fishing trips.
If it had been a Cave deep in the Mountains, that would have been dangerous ‌‌in its own way. This Island was overrun with Monsters and wild beasts.
I opened the lid of the bamboo tube I was carrying and drank the water I'd stored inside.
I had pushed Margaret's body far too hard lately, and the exhaustion was overwhelming. Starting tomorrow, I would need to incorporate some physical conditioning into my routine.
When I eventually returned to the Floné Mansion, Margaret's mother would likely clutch the back of her head and faint upon seeing the muscle definition I'd developed, but there was no helping it. Survival demanded sacrifice.
After climbing the Mountain for what felt like another hour, I finally reached the summit.
I wiped the sweat beading on my forehead with the back of my hand and ‌collapsed onto the ground for a moment. My breathing came in ragged gasps, and I feared I might hyperventilate. I drained the bamboo canister of water I'd brought in one desperate gulp.
Useless worries about whether I might actually die here flickered ‌‌‌through ‌‌‌‌my mind, yet the sense of accomplishment was extraordinary.
"I don't understand why I keep seeking fulfillment on this Isolated Island like some madwoman."
The sun was steadily descending. As I began my descent, anxiety crept in—the sun would set before I reached the ‌‌‌bottom. I forced myself upright and ‌‌‌‌quickly surveyed the surroundings.
Viewing the Island again, it was indeed vast and expansive. I found myself thinking it must be roughly the size of Jeju Island.
"Damn it, how am I supposed to find a Cabin and Bunker in this enormous place?"
No matter how thoroughly I searched, I couldn't spot any structure resembling a Cabin.
Still, I had developed a sense of where the Cabin might be located. The original story mentioned it was in the Mountains near the Cliff, and I could see several Cliffs that matched the ‌‌‌descriptions from the novel.
I carefully mapped out the path to the next Mountain in my mind. Then I committed the ‌‌location of the River and the Cliffs to memory before preparing to descend.
After stretching, just as I was about to leave, something red caught under my foot.
"What is this?"
Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a rod at ‌‌all—it resembled a gun. Covered in dirt, it gleamed with a curious reddish hue, so I picked it up.
"No matter how I look at it, it resembles a gun."
As I examined the object, I noticed engraved lettering on its side. I brushed away the dirt with my hand and read the inscription.
Alea
"Alea? What does that mean?"
Was it the manufacturer's name?
Yet the engraving was too ‌‌‌‌deliberate—carved as if with a blade—suggesting it might be someone's name rather than ‌‌‌‌a company designation.
The design resembled a revolver, though simpler and more compact than any I'd seen.
'I've never encountered a red revolver before....'
"But why on earth is this here?"
I knew modern items existed on this Island. ‌‌But did the original story have objects scattered about ‌‌so carelessly?
I checked the revolver's cylinder. All six chambers were loaded with ammunition.
Upon closer examination, the finish on both the interior and exterior was rough. It looked as though someone had modified it.
"Did someone named Alea ‌‌‌customize this?"
With a puzzled expression, I continued inspecting the revolver when I discovered a pouch beneath ‌my feet. It was heavy with ammunition—likely rounds ‌‌‌‌‌for this ‌‌‌red revolver.
"My goodness, this is absolutely incredible."
I couldn't leave anything to chance, so I carefully placed the ammunition ‌‌pouch into the ‌‌‌pocket of my dress.
"But does this thing actually work?"
It looked ‌‌‌ancient enough that I had doubts. A non-functional revolver would be nothing more than an ornamental piece of junk.
'But ‌‌it could be a real gun.... If it is, that's problematic since I have very little shooting experience.'
I'd ‌‌‌‌only been to a shooting range once in my entire life.
Still, to be safe, I tore a small strip from the hem of my dress for sound dampening. I ‌‌‌poured a bit of the remaining water from the bamboo canister onto it, then stuffed the moistened ‌‌‌‌cloth into both ears.
I then took my stance, checked the cylinder to ensure it was loaded, and pulled back the hammer.
"Will this actually work?"
With a tentative heart, I aimed toward ‌‌‌a distant point and squeezed the trigger.
But no matter how hard I pulled the trigger, the revolver refused to fire. Had it simply deteriorated with age?
"No wonder it looked so worn."
I'd been pulling ‌‌‌the trigger haphazardly, and without thinking, I fired it toward the sky.
That's when red smoke ‌‌‌‌erupted from the device and shot upward.
...?
Wait, why did it suddenly go off like that?
Seeing ‌‌the red smoke, I realized it wasn't a gun at all—it was a flare.
I stared blankly at the sky as the red smoke burst into brilliant sparks, painting the heavens in light.
...??????
Hold on, not even ‌a flare—was this a firework? What the hell is this thing?
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The sun was just beginning ‌‌to set, and seeing those fireworks, the Monsters would surely come swarming.
"Damn it!"
Understanding the situation, I began running like a madman.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support ‌‌‌our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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