Chapter 145
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Chapter 145
At my words, Yuanna turned to look at me. Kaiden, who had been lost in thought, added his own observation.
"Jenath's Cabin works by sealing Anata to use magic, but once outside the Cabin, Jenath can't use magic either, right?"
Yuanna nodded in agreement at Kaiden's words. Seeing her affirmation, Kaiden opened his mouth again.
"Then we need to lure Jenath outside."
He was right. Jenath's magical power was also restricted outside the Cabin. Moreover, since he appeared as a young boy, if we all worked together to drag him out, subduing him would be simple.
"I think we should split into teams. One team to lure that damned brat out and buy time, and another to break Anata's seal and bring her with us."
Everyone agreed with Enoch's proposal.
So Yuanna, Silver Earthworm, and I would enter the Cabin, while the rest would draw Jenath out. That was our first plan.
Without the success of the first plan, realizing the second plan—escaping the Island—would be entirely impossible.
We had almost no information about how to escape the Island or how to confront Jenath, so we needed to obtain clues through Anata.
Therefore, we absolutely had to succeed with the first plan.
"But how do we break Anata's seal?"
"Hmm..."
At my question, Yuanna also didn't seem to know, glancing around with an awkward expression. Kaiden, who was organizing his belongings and packing his supplies, casually added a remark.
"If all else fails, just destroy the Cabin."
Destroy that enormous Cabin...? But wouldn't Anata get hurt in the process?
Kaiden laughed, apparently noticing my expression.
"I'm just speaking hypothetically. Ask Anata. She seems like she'd know anything."
"Right, well. We don't have any other options anyway, so let's figure out the method as we go."
At Yuanna's words, I nodded and gazed worriedly at Rujeep, who still hadn't awakened.
Would he be alright?
* * *
Jenath smiled as he observed Margaret's group inside the Cabin through the eyes of a raven Monster.
"It looks like they're coming this way. Should I go greet them?"
Jenath brought a chair beside Anata and sat down, muttering to himself. Anata frowned irritably.
Of course, Jenath, who gave no consideration whatsoever to Anata's feelings, continued speaking with a smile.
"Come to think of it, this isn't so bad either. Thanks to opening the regression gate, our descendant is alive."
Jenath had become unusually talkative recently. Anata frowned at his words.
The descendant he spoke of was also Anata's descendant. He must be referring to Kaiden Blake Rohade.
"In the last cycle, our descendant died, so I gave up on taking over his body. But this time he's become useful and returned."
Jenath stroked his small chin with his tiny hand, his expression thoughtful as he fell silent.
"My expectations are high since this is the final one. If I sweep everything away in one go and leave only the Holy Maiden, it should work."
"You're ending The Experiment in one go?"
"Yes. We've waited long enough. Anata, the Holy Maiden will become Alea, right? The seventh lucky number that escapes the dice game is Alea. If she survives to the end, she'll have to take her own life again. That's pitiful."
"How would you know who survives to the end?"
Anata answered irritably.
"I'm just making a prediction. The priests always survived to the end. Those blessed by the gods, born with fortune."
Jenath slowly rose from his seat. Then, opening the door to the Room of Rest, he glanced back at Anata.
"You said Yuanna is a Holy Maiden who appeared for the first time in a hundred years, so she must have received tremendous divine blessing. I'm looking forward to it."
And so, having said only what he needed to say until the very end, he vanished. Left alone in the room, Anata bit her lip hard.
'Damn it, what on earth is he thinking?'
* * *
Our greatest concern was Rujeep. Even when Kaiden cast healing magic using my mana, he did not awaken.
"His breathing is perfectly steady though..."
Yuanna gazed at Rujeep, who was slung across Kaiden's shoulder, her expression clouded with worry.
"Let's wait a bit longer. He's still safe, after all."
I nodded at her words. Then I glanced at the bag she was carrying.
She had emptied the Supply Depot of everything useful, and there was more than I'd expected. Asdal's crossbow was there, along with two new swords and illumination rounds as well.
Yuanna noticed me looking at her bag and smiled at me.
"By the way, Young Lady. We're partners now, right?"
"We are?"
I asked her back in confusion.
Kaiden, who had been walking ahead, furrowed his brow and turned to look at us.
"Hey, Holy Maiden. Stop being clingy with Margaret."
When Kaiden says something like this, Rujeep should chime in at this point and tell him to mind his own business...
"That's not something you should be saying, is it, Rodban?"
At that moment, Asdal's voice came from behind, filling the void Rujeep had left. Kaiden's face went pale as if he'd been struck by lightning, and he turned to look at me.
"What do you mean...! Margaret, was I being clingy with you?"
I burst out laughing at Kaiden's urgent pressing. Here we go again.
At first it was annoying, but now it seemed rather endearing. The way he looked at me with those bright, hopeful eyes was quite cute.
I quietly admired Kaiden's handsome face, then looked at Rujeep sleeping peacefully against his shoulder. Only then did I remember what Rujeep had asked me to tell Kaiden.
"Oh, the Bishop asked me to tell you something."
"Huh? What is it?"
Kaiden tilted his head with a puzzled expression. I hesitated for a moment, my lips moving slightly. My heart ached for some reason.
"That you're... useful too."
Upon hearing those words, Kaiden seemed quite flustered. It was the first time I'd seen him make such an expression.
"Geez... you're making me look like a petty person..."
Kaiden muttered with a deflated expression, his words trailing off. He still couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"Could it be that the Bishop won't awaken until we extract the mass of vengeful spirits?"
Diego asked quietly as he walked, listening to our conversation.
Hearing those words made me a little anxious. What if that's really the case?
"Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll look after him."
Kaiden patted my head reassuringly as if he understood everything in my heart.
"We'll camp here tonight. We should reach the Cabin by tomorrow."
Enoch, who was walking at the front, spoke while looking at the map.
We decided to make our sleeping quarters in the Tree. Monsters still hadn't completely disappeared.
We split into pairs of two and climbed the Tree. I formed a team with Yuanna, who was the same gender as me.
Tomorrow, I would truly meet Jenath and rescue Anata...
If the plan succeeds, will I be able to return?
Something felt off.
'Can we really pull this off?'
I secured myself firmly against the wooden pillar and lifted my head, catching Yuanna's gaze as she smiled softly at me. I stared back at her face distantly.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn't asked her that question yet—about how her soul was bound to the Island and couldn't escape.
"Is there something on your mind?"
She smiled with an unhurried, composed expression. Even in any situation, she remained unwavering and steadfast—truly admirable.
Perhaps that's why the image of her crying before the regression, which I'd seen in the Bunker, felt more genuine now. I felt a twinge of guilt for all the days I'd harbored suspicion toward her.
If I truly was Margaret, I shouldn't have doubted her.
"Is it really true that the Holy Maiden can't escape?"
"Ah...."
At my question, she sighed as though faced with a difficult inquiry.
"Unfortunately, that's how it's become."
Was there truly no way? Truly none at all?
"If it were Anata.... Wouldn't she possibly know a way...?"
At my question, Yuanna nodded as though it were of little consequence. Yet she seemed to be forcing out an answer simply because I'd asked, with no real hope behind it.
She leaned her back against the wooden pillar and gazed up at the sky with a distant expression. After remaining lost in thought for a while, choosing her words carefully, she finally turned to me and spoke.
"Since she constructed this Island and designed the system called 'Alea,' she might know something. But at least, among the information she shared with me, there was nothing of that sort."
Her words startled me. This was something I hadn't known.
"Anata created the Island? Not Jenath?"
"Jenath was the one who planned and conducted The Experiment. He's truly the greatest mastermind behind this entire Experiment."
Of course. Damn Jenath.
God, I'd kill that bastard and go to heaven.
As I was grinding my teeth at Jenath, Yuanna asked me something.
"When we leave this Island, how much time do you think will have passed?"
How much time would have elapsed? That was something I was curious about too.
"Wouldn't time have passed proportionally to the time we spent on this Island?"
"Perhaps they're waging war. With all the key figures from each nation gone, it would be stranger if nothing happened and everything remained intact."
War, then.
I had to live as Margaret again now. So I needed to adapt to that world's people, but if war had broken out....
My head was beginning to ache terribly.
"I don't know everything either. I had no choice but to listen to and believe only what Anata told me."
Yuanna, who had been watching me quietly, spoke to me gently. As if to say she couldn't provide answers to every question.
She was right. She was a victim of The Experiment too—how could she blindly trust what the perpetrator told her?
Just then, I heard Diego and Kaiden arguing in the nearby tree.
"Damn it! I'm telling you, I can't see Margaret from here!"
"Hasn't Rodban already secured most of the positions? This is an unfair arrangement. I shall move to that side."
Kaiden kept asking Diego to give up his spot, and as a result, Diego had lost his position and was venting his frustration in an uncharacteristic manner.
My face was hidden behind leaves and branches, so I couldn't see Kaiden's face, but that seemed to be the source of this quarrel.
Sigh... How embarrassing. What foolishness....
I shook my head at Kaiden, and seeing my reaction, Yuanna asked me something.
"Margaret, which of those two men do you fancy?"
"...Pardon? Between Kaiden and Diego?"
Startled by her question, I reflexively countered before glancing toward Kaiden and Diego. Then Yuanna waved her hand dismissively, correcting herself.
"Oh, not Diego. Between Rodban and the Crown Prince. I'm asking which man you prefer, Margaret."
"I... what?"
---------------
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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