Chapter 137

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Chapter 137 22. The Mother of Monsters The Cave was deeper than I had anticipated. After venturing far into its depths without glimpsing an end, I halted my steps. Glancing back at my companions, their exhaustion was unmistakable. Margaret, who had been following silently behind me, turned to Kaiden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍‌‌⁠​‍‌‌​⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠​⁠⁠‍​‍​⁠‍‍with a question.

"Kaiden, remember when Diego and you disappeared during the night watch? You used magic to pinpoint your location back then. Can't you do that now?"

"Back then, I could narrow down the general location, but the situation is different now. Tracking magic over such a vast area loses accuracy and wastes mana—it's worse than useless."

At Kaiden's response, Margaret's face fell and she fell silent.

"Let's rest for a moment."

I spoke, having overheard their exchange. Everyone nodded in agreement, and we soon settled in the middle of the Cave, sitting together to catch our breath. As I drank water from a bamboo container, I observed Kaiden sitting across from me. He had taken the novel "More Important Than Survival" from Margaret and was reading it. Having read it myself this morning, I anticipated his reaction. Profanity would likely come first.

"What the hell is this nonsense?"

As expected. Kaiden's brow furrowed in displeasure.

"The Holy Maiden and us...? Does this even make sense...?"

"Can you even see the letters in this darkness?"

At Margaret's retort, Kaiden replied with shameless audacity.

"My eyesight's excellent. But Margaret, you didn't actually believe the contents of this novel, did you?"

With my arms crossed, leaning against the Cave wall, I turned my gaze toward Margaret, who sat across from Kaiden. I too was curious about her response. Even in the darkness, Margaret's face was visibly flushed crimson. She then denied Kaiden's suspicion while stammering incoherently. I asked Margaret a question.

"Didn't you say this novel was a book adapted by the sorceress Anata to seduce you? If that's the case, then ultimately your tastes are..."

"No! No! That's not it!"

Margaret sprang to her feet with a yelp. Beside her, Silver Earthworm, who had been dozing with its tail curled, jolted awake and bounced frantically. Margaret's reaction was endearing, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍‌‌⁠​‍‌‌​⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠​⁠⁠‍​‍​⁠‍‍but the content itself was admittedly distasteful. I could tell how much she had sanitized the story when she first told us about it. Of course, aside from some rather sensual episodes, the narrative itself was quite captivating. It made sense why Margaret had initially considered leaving alone.

"Should I encounter that sorceress Anata, I shall lodge a formal protest. How dare she harbor such irreverent imaginings about a priestess who serves the divine."

As Rujeep spoke in protest, Margaret, having composed herself somewhat, sat down with an embarrassed expression and scratched her cheek.

"Ah, perhaps that was Anata's preference? The more depraved, the more..."

Realizing her slip, Margaret trailed off. Kaiden, still holding the book, burst into raucous laughter.

"Pfahahaha! Pfahaha! So it was your taste after all! What do you mean 'no'! Hahahaha! Margaret, you're too adorable!"

"L-Let's continue, shall we? We've rested enough."

Margaret hastily picked up the firefly lantern and stood. She added something as if a thought had occurred to her.

"I was told it's a record notebook based on actual events. The contents written there should be largely accurate."

"Wait, so you're saying I actually killed you here? Don't lie to me."

Kaiden rose to his feet, following Margaret, and asked. His expression was one of disbelief, as if he were denying reality itself. However, Margaret simply pressed her lips together firmly, disappointing his hopes. Kaiden's face grew increasingly grim.

"That's impossible. It can't be. Margaret, you know, right? I couldn't possibly..."

"...Why dredge up the past? We can't even verify if it's true. What matters is now. I trust ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍‌‌⁠​‍‌‌​⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠​⁠⁠‍​‍​⁠‍‍who you are now."

Kaiden's face showed shock at Margaret's refusal to deny it. Her words about believing now seemed to offer him little comfort. Rujeep, who had appeared indifferent to the stunned Kaiden, finally spoke up.

"To be honest, I still can't genuinely believe that another world exists beyond this one. I understand that the strange objects we've found here belong to that world, but... understanding something intellectually and accepting it are two different things, aren't they?"

Margaret nodded in agreement at Rujeep's words, her expression showing comprehension.

"I haven't fully accepted it myself, so I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you all."

Margaret's bitter expression pierced directly into Enoch's chest. Whenever she displayed resignation unlike her usual self, he grew anxious. It felt as though she might abandon everything and leave at any moment.

"We've rested enough, so let's depart now."

We had far to go. As she said, we needed to hurry. Setting aside unnecessary talk, everyone agreed and rose to their feet, tidying up their belongings. Thus we ventured deeper into the Cave. We encountered quite a few Crossroads, and each time, firefly-like winged insects took it upon themselves to guide our path.

"Is it safe to go this deep? It'll be difficult to find our way back."

Kaiden, who was following from the rear, muttered to himself. Enoch gazed at Margaret's profile. She was lost in thought, her face tense. She seemed so focused that she hadn't even heard Kaiden's complaint. What could she be thinking about so intently? At times like this, Margaret didn't feel like someone in the same space as him. Ever since hearing that she had lived a different life in another world, she felt even more distant and unreachable. 'If the Island is destroyed and you must choose between the two worlds, which one would you select, Young Lady?' Margaret had not answered Rujeep's question, her face troubled. If, after escaping the Island, she truly wished to return to the other world... Enoch's brow furrowed. It was a possibility he didn't want to consider. He had no intention of letting her go so easily.

"There's no path."

At that moment, Margaret's troubled voice reached him. Enoch stopped in his tracks. Just as she said, the path ended before a Cliff. The depths below were so vast that no bottom was visible. Whether there had once been a Bridge connecting to the path on the other side, only wooden pillars and ropes tied between them remained as evidence of its former existence. Margaret turned to look at Kaiden again and asked.

"Can't we cross using magic?"

"Magic isn't omnipotent, as I've said, so it would be difficult."

Rujeep answered in Kaiden's stead. At that, Kaiden glared at him with displeasure.

"I only meant we should refrain from using magic inside the Cave. If we use it carelessly and the Cave collapses, what then?"

"So the conclusion is that we can't use magic? For someone claiming to be a great mage, you certainly have many restrictions."

At Rujeep's retort, Kaiden finally lost his temper.

"You useless fool, who are you to say that?"

Rujeep fell silent, apparently having nothing to say in response to Kaiden's question.

"Yes, well... You're right. That's not something I should say."

He then pathetically admitted his own uselessness with pitiful resignation.

"And while we're on the subject, is this magic I'm casting with my own mana? It's Margaret's mana. Do you think just anyone can use magic by borrowing someone else's power? If I squandered magic like that, what would happen to Margaret's stamina? We need to be moderate about this, moderate!"

At Kaiden's outburst, Rujeep stepped back in alarm. Eventually, Margaret stepped in to calm him down.

"I'm fine. If I get tired, I can just ask Enoch to carry me."

Margaret turned to Enoch with a questioning gleam in her eyes and smiled beautifully. Enoch reflexively frowned. That smile was terribly harmful to his heart. Kaiden, who had been fuming just moments before, alternated his gaze between Enoch and Margaret, then spoke with an expression of utter defeat.

"What are you talking about? I can carry you too."

"If I let you carry me, you'll probably do something weird."

But Margaret was resolute. Enoch felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction wash over him at her words. He had never entertained the notion of sharing Margaret with another ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌‍‍‌‌⁠​‍‌‌​⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠​⁠⁠‍​‍​⁠‍‍man. Once we escape this island, then....

"I agree with that assessment. The Crown Prince would be preferable to Rodban."

"What? Why is my reputation like this?"

"I don't believe you're asking out of genuine ignorance. Perhaps you should examine your conscience."

"Shut it, you pest."

As the quarrel between Kaiden and Rujeep dragged on, Margaret finally redirected her attention. She turned to the Silver Earthworm, which had been lying quietly on the ground, and asked.

"Is there another way back?"

At her question, the Silver Earthworm merely tilted its head with an innocent expression, as if it didn't know. Margaret sighed in resignation and pointed to the bag Kaiden was carrying.

"I'll take out the rope."

She retrieved the rope Kaiden had prepared and began tying knots. Not only Enoch, but Kaiden and Rujeep as well watched her intently to see what she was doing.

"We need to cross this, after all."

"You're going to cross with that?"

Margaret pointed to a thick wooden post firmly embedded in the ground.

"Fortunately, one of the bridge ropes connecting to the other side remains unbroken, so it would be best to hang from it and traverse. Do you have a better method?"

At her question about whether there was a better method, the three men fell silent and closed their mouths. With an expression suggesting she had anticipated this, Margaret turned to Kaiden and asked.

"If you can't use magic to transport everyone across, could you at least cast a spell to prevent the knots on the bridge rope from coming undone?"

Kaiden nodded.

"That much is easy."

As Kaiden answered, Margaret finished tying the knot she had been working on. Her skillful handling of the situation struck Enoch as remarkably fresh and new. He had always thought it strange for a noblewoman to possess such capabilities. Considering how much the Duke Flone cherished his daughter, the excuse that she had learned such techniques through the Flone Family's education was utterly implausible. Margaret tied the knot she had created to the bridge rope connecting to the other side, then turned back to explain to them.

"I'll tie this knot I made around your waist. It's there to prevent you from falling if you misstep. Usually during military obstacle course training..., ah, you wouldn't know what obstacle course training is. Well.... You know barbecue skewers, right? You just hang and move like that."

"Flone Young Lady, I have a question."

Rujeep, who had been listening to Margaret's explanation with admiration, spoke up.

"Yes?"

"What exactly did you do in that other world?"

At Rujeep's innocent question, Margaret's face flushed crimson once more. Even that sight seemed so endearing and lovely to him that Enoch was reminded once again of how utterly devoted he was to her. What could he do about it? The fact that Margaret was adorable was an undeniable truth, beyond his control.

"Well.... I was just an ordinary person."

Margaret averted her gaze with a flustered expression. Watching her, Enoch became certain. 'She was far from ordinary in that world too.' I knew it would be like this. Margaret was special, after all. She must have been quite the remarkable figure in that other world as well.

"Th-that's enough."

Margaret glanced around cautiously before rising from her seat.

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