Chapter 51
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Chapter 51
An awkward silence fell over Yuanna's words.
I paused for a moment, turning her question over in my mind, wondering where best to address her misunderstanding.
"It's not about taking the Saint's side or not—the problem is that the Imperial Guard Commander, who has a duty to protect the Crown Prince, has failed to fulfill his responsibilities."
Only after hearing my explanation did Yuanna nod in understanding.
"Ah, I see. I understand now."
Yet she maintained her defiant attitude, crossing her arms and tilting her head to glare at Enoch with a smirk. Then she said something strange.
"Still, Diego is my person. Please don't treat him carelessly."
"Before Diego is your person or not, he is the Imperial Guard Commander of the Langrid Empire."
"But we're not in the Langrid Empire right now."
The sharp clash of wills continued unabated.
"This meeting is certainly proceeding in an entertaining manner."
At that moment, the biscuit prince, who had been observing our meeting from a distance, uttered a single remark.
Perhaps he had belatedly decided to participate in the meeting, for he approached us at a leisurely pace.
"Don't obscure the main point. Stick to the issue at hand. Saint, if you keep shifting focus like this, you'll muddy the atmosphere of the meeting."
Despite Asdal's pointed criticism, Yuanna laughed without batting an eye.
As if to say it mattered not at all.
Then, as if remembering something, she turned back to Enoch.
"Oh, could it be... that there was an escape gate near where I awakened?"
"Hmm. That's certainly possible."
Kaiden nodded as if Yuanna's words held merit.
It was a natural enough deduction, but we had all been focused elsewhere for a moment and hadn't considered it.
"Is the place where you awakened far from here?"
Enoch asked, and Yuanna shook her head with a determined expression.
"It's not far. Since it's dangerous at night, I traveled mainly during daylight hours, and it took about two full days to reach here."
"Then we have our answer."
Kaiden spoke with his chin resting on his hand, shrugging his shoulders.
"What if we organize a reconnaissance party and make the journey there?"
Enoch nodded in agreement with Kaiden's suggestion.
"I'll go with Diego and the Saint."
Wait, that wouldn't do. I couldn't let them leave without me. I had to see the secret of the key with my own eyes.
"I want to go too."
As I raised my hand to speak, Kaiden furrowed his brow and said, "Then I'm going as well."
"Then I'll go too."
As everyone declared their intention to depart, Rujeep glanced at Asdal's expression before hastily shifting his weight.
"Then I shall accompany you as well."
It was clear he had no desire to remain alone with Asdal.
Enoch exhaled a troubled sigh. He rubbed his forehead in irritation and surveyed the group.
"We can't all go. Let me reorganize the party. I, the Saint, and Margaret will go together. The rest of you will guard the Cabin."
"I now understand that the Young Lady has a talent for selecting mushrooms. But that's not all there is to it. Wouldn't it be more helpful to bring Diego rather than the Young Lady?"
My promotion from a mad Young Lady to one who knew how to select mushrooms was welcome enough, yet it brought me no joy whatsoever.
"When it comes to assessing emergencies and responding to them, no one can match Margaret."
Enoch turned to look at me, and naturally, everyone's attention shifted in my direction.
I felt a bit uncomfortable under their gaze and hunched my shoulders.
Why. What.
Enoch interlaced his fingers and continued speaking in a leisurely tone.
"And when it comes to swordplay, I possess skills no less than Diego's. So I believe this group is suitable as a reconnaissance party—does that answer your question?"
Asdal still looked at me with an expression of incomprehension.
In truth, he had maintained that attitude ever since meeting me. Now there seemed to be some goodwill mixed in, and he appeared to have developed some interest in me, yet he still didn't seem to fully trust me.
But when everyone appeared to have no objections to Enoch's argument, Asdal raised both hands in a gesture of resignation. It was a sign saying to do as we pleased.
Thus the new reconnaissance party was formed, and we decided to make thorough preparations and depart four days hence.
* * *
After the meeting concluded, we each attended to our tasks and spent a busy afternoon.
I was shaping leftover bone scraps from butchering game into needles, working them with a stone knife.
"What are you doing? Where did that come from?"
Kaiden, who had returned from a walk, approached me as I sat before the fireplace in the cabin.
"From the last Base Camp—I collected some leftover scraps from butchering game. Just in case."
"What are you making?"
"Trying to make needles. I only have one outfit, and it would be troublesome if it tore."
"As expected of the Island Demon Lord. You're the best."
"Stop spouting that nonsense."
I was in the middle of bickering back and forth with Kaiden when Yuanna came down from the second floor with excitement.
"Flone Young Lady! Young Lady, look at this, look at this!"
She opened her palm to show me. Resting on her hand were two rectangular solid chunks.
"Huh? Could this possibly be...?"
"It looks like soap!"
As Yuanna cried out in excitement, Diego and Rujeep, who had been drinking water in the kitchen, approached us.
"Soap?"
Kaiden picked up one of the solid chunks from Yuanna's palm and sniffed it.
"It doesn't seem to have a scent. Is it really soap?"
Kaiden held the soap right under my nose, so I caught a whiff as well. Indeed, there was no scent.
"It's soap alright. It produces lather."
"Where did this come from?"
At my question, Yuanna pointed upstairs with her finger.
"It was wedged in the gap of the window in the room I use."
Just then, Enoch and Asdal entered the cabin. Seeing us gathered in the middle of the living room, they approached with puzzled expressions.
"Is something the matter?"
At Asdal's question, Yuanna waved the soap.
"We found soap. On the second floor."
"Oh?"
Asdal took the soap from Yuanna's hands, brought it to his nose to catch its scent, and his eyes widened considerably.
"Would it be alright if I used it first? Since you're not answering, I'll take that as permission. I'm in rather urgent need, you see."
Enoch swiftly caught Asdal's wrist just as he was about to dash away with the soap.
"This is something the Saint found, is it not? We haven't even heard her answer yet. You should ask for proper permission first."
Enoch apparently held the belief that whoever found something first became its rightful owner.
It was the same principle by which he didn't covet the flares and incendiary bombs I had discovered. Perhaps this too was a rule we'd developed among ourselves during our time on this Island.
"Tsk, what a shame. Listen here, Half-Emperor. Let go, would you? My wrist bone is about to shatter."
When Asdal held up his wrist to show Enoch, the latter finally released his grip.
I was momentarily startled to see the vivid bruises blooming across Asdal's wrist. He'd merely been grabbed, yet Enoch's grip strength was truly formidable.
"Thank you. But I think it would be better if we all shared this. Should we take turns using it? I'm desperate for a proper wash myself."
Yuanna spoke with a bright, cheerful smile.
Using scented soap in the Jungle could attract insects, but unscented soap should be safe enough.
Truth be told, I too had been longing for a proper bath. The grime was becoming unbearable.
"Hmm. But shouldn't we set a limit on how much we use?"
At my question, Yuanna tilted her head as if questioning the necessity.
"Why be stingy with it? It's consumable anyway."
"But if we use it sparingly, it will last longer."
"We might escape the Island tomorrow anyway, or we could die at any moment."
Ah. I'm the only one who knows there's a way to escape the Island. I can't tell them that, and besides, it would be awkward for me to comment on something Yuanna found.
"Well, the decision is yours to make, Saint."
At my response, Yuanna's face brightened as she glanced back at Asdal and Diego.
"Did you all hear? The Young Lady said I can do as I please. See? The Young Lady approved. Now I'm the leader!"
I couldn't fathom the logic behind this conclusion. The others seemed equally bewildered, and Rujeep was the first to point out the flaw in Yuanna's reasoning.
"By saying that, it rather seems like Flone Young Lady has become the leader instead."
"Wait, I object. I'm not responsible enough to take on such a bothersome role."
Why did they keep trying to assign me positions? I was someone who might have to flee alone at any moment.
Yuanna laughed brightly.
"See? Then there's no one but me."
"Surely the Saint hasn't forgotten that there's a Crown Prince and a Prince here?"
Asdal, who had been quiet until now, asked Yuanna with an expression of utter exasperation.
Hmm. Bringing up matters of rank seemed rather pointless in this situation.
Yuanna stared directly at Asdal.
She said nothing, but after a brief staring contest, Asdal was the first to look away.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org