Chapter 130
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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 130
* * *
Asdal's eyes fluttered open, his body aching from the rough jostling. A brilliant blue sky swam across his vision.
Screeeech—
Screeeech—
His body lurched and swayed with each movement.
When he tried to shift his weight too quickly, a sharp groan of pain escaped his lips.
The pain along his ribs was excruciating. It felt as though bone had fractured.
"Oh? You're awake?"
Yuanna's voice came from above his head. She was dragging him across an enormous leaf, transporting him as they moved.
"Phew. I thought I'd die from exhaustion."
Asdal felt both grateful and apologetic toward her, and he struggled to push himself upright.
"Don't strain yourself. I ate all of your meal anyway, so I figured that's why you collapsed so weakly."
Yuanna sighed and held him back.
Asdal felt shame wash over him, and his face flushed.
"I'm grateful for your help. And for saving me."
"Well, you should be thankful for being saved. You now owe me your life twice over."
"I will repay this debt without fail."
At his resolute answer, Yuanna smiled.
"Yes. I'm counting on it."
Asdal turned his head to examine the area where pain radiated. It wasn't his spine that had fractured, but rather a bone in his upper abdomen.
'Wasn't it ribs that Flone Young Lady mentioned?'
Margaret had suffered the same injury before. At the time, she had said that the waist needed to be protected with something firm.
Since Asdal was wearing indoor clothes rather than his uniform, he had no jacket firm enough to support his waist like a brace.
'When ribs are broken, it's actually better to walk a lot rather than rest. Don't worry.'
Those were Margaret's words, spoken to Enoch when he had tried to delay their schedule out of consideration for her.
"Oh? Why are you getting up?"
Yuanna grunted as she dragged the leaf he'd been lying on, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Asdal brushed himself off and stood, turning to face her. Then pain surged through him, and his brow furrowed.
"The symptoms are the same as when Flone Young Lady was injured before. The location of the injury is similar too. Back then, she said walking was actually beneficial."
Yuanna's face lit with understanding, and she let out an exclamation. Her expression grew serious as she rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought.
"Flone Young Lady really does know so much."
Asdal wholeheartedly agreed with her murmur.
"I wonder if she's truly the Young Lady I knew. It's as though she's been hiding her real self all this time."
Yuanna's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
"We really should meet Flone Young Lady soon."
Asdal entirely concurred with her sentiment.
Surviving on this Island without Margaret seemed impossible. Had it not been for her aid, he might have met death long ago.
Yet how had he treated her all this time? Had he not constantly doubted and pressured her? Looking back on those days, he had no right to complain even if Margaret wished to flee because she could no longer bear his company.
Asdal exhaled a quiet sigh. It was all karma of his own making—there was nothing to be done about it.
Even if Margaret, whom I meet again, expresses anger and contempt, I must bear it. Even if I could turn back time, I would have been someone who doubted her.
Asdal moved his body with utmost caution, scanning his surroundings.
"Did we cross over to the North Island?"
"Yes, we just crossed over."
At Yuanna's words, Asdal only then noticed that the long path visible behind his back was the sole bridge connecting the North Island and South Island.
Then Yuanna pulled out a map from her pocket and unfolded it, examining the terrain.
"Hmm. It looks like there are supplies nearby. Should we gather them and move westward? It's quite close from here."
Asdal examined the map following Yuanna's gaze. Just as she said, the word "supplies" was marked on the eastern side of the North Island.
The location was very close to where they stood, so it didn't seem difficult to stop by in terms of their route.
They had found supplies before on the South Island as well. However, there were almost no items they knew how to use, let alone items whose purpose they understood.
Moreover, when they encountered the Swamp at that time, they had to abandon all the items they had gathered.
"To escape, it seems important to gather as many supplies as possible. I wish we could find weapons."
Hearing Yuanna mutter to herself, Asdal stared intently at her face.
"You speak as though you know the method of escape."
At Asdal's words, Yuanna lifted her head. She gazed at him quietly with a thoughtful expression, then answered matter-of-factly.
"I know there's an exit at the Brat's Cabin. We need weapons to get there."
"The Brat's Cabin?"
At Yuanna's answer, Asdal narrowed his brow.
Again. She speaks in riddles once more.
Asdal gazed at her bright face with a troubled expression for a moment. Then he carefully broached the subject.
"I've wanted to ask the Holy Maiden something for a while now...."
"Ask away."
Yuanna answered readily with a shrug of her shoulders. Her expression suggested she would answer anything at all.
Asdal decided to ask everything he had been curious about all this time.
"I want to know the reason your attitude suddenly changed. Don't say it didn't. It changed abruptly after Flone Young Lady fell into the River."
"...."
"You remembered something, didn't you? What exactly do you know...."
That was when it happened.
Guoooooo—
A strange cry echoed from a distant place.
Asdal and Yuanna, who had been looking at the map, simultaneously lifted their heads.
It was midday, with a mercilessly scorching sun blazing overhead.
They were already aware that the Monster's behavioral patterns were changing. Monsters were appearing even in broad daylight.
But the strange cry that reached their ears now was a bizarre sound they had never heard on the South Island.
Yuanna's face grew progressively pale. Her body rigid, she turned her head to look at Asdal.
"Good heavens.... I had forgotten. M-Monsters evolve...."
"What do you mean?"
"Originally, Monsters only appeared in the dead of night."
"What?"
"And just before time was turned back, they began appearing once the sunset started."
Asdal furrowed his brow, utterly bewildered by what she was saying. Turning back time? What in the world did that mean?
Yet Yuanna seemed in no state to offer a detailed explanation. She continued muttering to herself.
"That's not all. She said its form would change too."
So who said that?
Asdal had countless questions, but Yuanna seized his arm with trembling hands and pulled him forward so urgently that he couldn't press further.
"Your Highness. That sound—it came from a Monster. We need to flee."
Yet they hadn't gone far before encountering the very pack of Monsters in question.
The creatures bore forms so grotesque that their true nature defied comprehension.
'One mountain after another.'
Asdal muttered the idiomatic expression Margaret often used, running a rough hand through his hair. This time, survival might truly be beyond reach.
* * *
I regained consciousness upon a plush bed.
I had no idea how much time had passed. My mind felt remarkably clear, and a refreshing sensation washed over me.
As I shifted my body, I realized my movements felt somewhat constrained.
"Mm."
A low, drowsy murmur reached my ears.
Only then did my eyes snap open. My vision filled with sculpted muscle and soft, bare skin.
Gasp.
I thought I must have been dreaming the night before.
But it wasn't a dream.
Wait... it wasn't a dream?
I bolted upright. On the bed beside me lay Kaiden and Enoch, both shirtless and fast asleep.
I had no idea how Enoch and Kaiden had discovered and entered the Bunker. I glanced around, but neither Rujeep nor Diego was visible.
The two men remained oblivious to my movements, sleeping soundly. It seemed they were as exhausted as I had been.
It had been nearly half a year since I'd last slept in a proper bed.
Kaiden was one thing, but this was the first time I'd seen Enoch sleep so deeply. Since arriving on the Island, I'd rarely witnessed him truly rest, yet here he lay, unaware that I'd awakened.
I gazed at his peaceful face with closed eyes, then carefully brushed aside the strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead. With my thumb, I gently traced his brow.
How could skin be so impossibly smooth?
I slowly lowered my hand, trailing across the bridge of his nose, and paused at his soft lips.
Suddenly, the memory of last night's kiss flooded back, and I hastily withdrew my hand.
Mm.
At that moment, a large hand reached around from behind me, settling against my abdomen. Kaiden had stretched an arm in his sleep and embraced me.
I turned to glance at him. Even in sleep, he was beautiful—truly angelic, with his pristine silver hair and delicate features.
'But didn't Kaiden have immunity to poison?'
From what I remembered of last night, he too appeared to be poisoned.
I recalled hearing that only the low body temperature of someone unaffected by poison could neutralize the toxic substance from the Tentationem flower...
Given that even the immune Kaiden had succumbed to poisoning, it seemed this was no ordinary intoxication.
Then, remembering the passionate kiss we'd shared, I buried my face in my hands. My first kiss ever, and it had to happen while I was out of my mind! How unfair!
'Damn Jenath.'
Had it not been for the Tentationem, I could have held onto him. The memory surfaced that these flowers were planted by Jenath, so even Anata dared not touch them.
I had to admit that a poison this potent—one capable of inducing such a powerful addictive effect—would make approaching the door no simple task. And besides, it wasn't as though the door would simply open at my command.
I gently removed Kaiden's arm from around my waist and rose from the bed with a hazy mind.
Having expended so much energy the previous night, my entire body felt drained of strength.
I had no idea how things had come to this, but the state of my clothes was utterly deplorable.
My white t-shirt was stretched out and torn in numerous places, making it look quite unsightly. Perhaps because it had been ruined by the toxic gas, it felt uncomfortable against my skin.
In one corner of the room, clothes were haphazardly draped over a rack.
'Perfect.'
Before the men could wake, I quickly selected a top from the hanging garments that I could wear. Since only a crop top was suitable this time, I reluctantly put on a white short-sleeved crop top.
Fortunately, there was a jacket available, so I was able to throw a black flight jacket over the crop top. As for pants, only jeans hung on the rack, so I decided to simply keep wearing the cargo pants I already had on.
Just then, Silver Earthworm, who had been curled up sleeping on the floor carpet, opened its eyes. Startled upon seeing me, it bounced excitedly around its spot and began circling me in an agitated manner.
I smiled and gently stroked its scales before turning my gaze to the men sleeping on the bed.
At that moment, Enoch was stirring on the bed and beginning to sit up. Kaiden was still lost in slumber.
"Margaret...?"
His voice was deep and low, still heavy with sleep.
Enoch sat perched on the edge of the bed and performed a dry wash of his face. Then, running his hand along his jaw, he raised his eyebrows and looked at me.
"Why are you already awake?"
Fresh from sleep, his eyes carried a drowsy haze.
With his upper garment removed, he exuded a rather sensual atmosphere.
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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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