Chapter 85
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Chapter 85
* * *
Yuanna and Diego barely regained consciousness.
But the real problem was the crimson flowers' chilling reproductive ability.
As they prepared themselves and prepared to set out again, the red flowers multiplied behind them like footprints pressed into snow, following in their wake.
"This is rather frightening."
Yuanna glanced back at the crimson flowers, her expression uneasy.
"Don't speak—just hold your nose firmly shut."
At Kaiden's words, she nodded and immediately pinched her nose closed.
But then something bizarre occurred.
The group was moving in order—Kaiden, Yuanna, then Diego—when suddenly the flowers bloomed at a terrifying speed, bypassing Diego entirely and pursuing Yuanna's ankles.
Roots wrapped around her ankle, and as stems sprouted, crimson flowers bloomed upon her skin.
"Kyaaah! What is this! No!"
"Just—please, stay still for a moment!"
Diego reached to tear the flowers from her ankle but inhaled their fragrance and fell victim to intoxication once more.
Kaiden seized Yuanna's ankle and barely managed to strip away the flowers, but by then she too had succumbed to the poison.
"Damn it, what in the world is this!"
Remarkably, the crimson flowers ceased their proliferation the moment both fell under the toxin's spell.
It was as though someone watched them, orchestrating the situation itself.
Moreover, their condition this time differed somewhat from the previous night.
Diego's eyes had lost all focus, his consciousness adrift, while Yuanna had descended into panic.
Kaiden hoisted both Diego and Yuanna onto his shoulders—one in each arm—and fled the Flower Field. True to form, the crimson flowers did not pursue, as if their work was done.
"Ahhh. Ahhhhhhh."
Yuanna, dangling upside down across his right shoulder, tore at her hair and released strange, anguished moans.
"What's wrong? Endure it."
Kaiden ran in panic. Diego's complete lack of response deeply unsettled him. And then, at last, an enormous River came into view.
He sensed that even these crimson flowers would not pursue them onto such a Gravel Beach.
Kaiden set both of them down upon the Gravel Beach.
Diego seemed relatively unaffected, having inhaled less of the fragrance—his reason remained intact. The moment he touched ground, he seized Kaiden's wrist.
"It appears that contact with another person is the only way to ease my breathing."
Though Kaiden understood his words, he had no desire to share body heat with him and shook off his grip.
But Diego grasped his wrist again, his eyes pleading as he shook his head.
"I beg you... Rodban. Save me."
"This is maddening."
Kaiden regarded Diego with displeasure before checking on Yuanna's condition. Her situation appeared far more grave.
"Listen, Holy Maiden. Are you alright?"
Kaiden finally yielded one arm to Diego and crouched before Yuanna, who sat collapsed on the ground.
She reached out eagerly, placing both hands against his cheeks.
Then she caressed them gently, tenderly, as though touching a lost lover.
"...Stop. ...Please... stop."
She was muttering something rapidly, as if entranced by some invisible force.
Kaiden brushed her hand away with an irritated expression and, furrowing his brow, leaned in to listen.
"What?"
"...Don't. Don't. Don't!"
"Oh hell, you scared me!"
"Holy Maiden."
Diego, who had been listening, startled and released Kaiden's hand, rushing toward Yuanna to grip her shoulders.
"Holy Maiden! Come to your senses!"
"Aaaahhh!"
Yuanna hunched her shoulders, clamped her hands over her ears, and let out a piercing scream. Diego stumbled backward in alarm.
"Don't. Don't die. I don't want to live alone..."
She wailed and cried out, her voice breaking. Even Kaiden stood frozen, staring at her in shock.
Yuanna appeared to be experiencing hallucinations. Somehow, something had touched upon her deep trauma.
"Ah, could it be that flower from earlier? Tentationem?"
At Kaiden's murmur, Diego turned to him with an urgent expression.
"What is Tentationem? Do you know this flower? Please, do something about the Holy Maiden!"
"It's a flower developed by the Rohade Family. Since all flowers look similar, it's difficult to distinguish, but judging by the symptoms, it seems to match. However, it's a flower that shouldn't bloom naturally..."
"Is there a cure?!"
Kaiden shook his head at Diego's question.
"To create an antidote, we'd need equipment. We can't make it here. However, if physical contact is maintained, the symptoms will disappear after a certain amount of time."
The moment Kaiden finished speaking, Diego seized Yuanna's hand. But soon his face fell as he looked up at Kaiden.
"What? Why?"
Kaiden asked, arms crossed, and Diego sighed before rising to his feet.
"Since I'm an addict myself, it seems to have no effect. When I held Rodban's hand, my mind felt clear, but I feel nothing like that now."
True to Diego's words, Yuanna continued to cry and suffer.
Kaiden bit his lower lip for a moment. He knew the solution was to offer his own body, but his heart wouldn't move toward it.
"Rodban."
Diego sighed and knelt on one knee before him, lowering his head.
"I beg you. Please hold our hands."
If I just close my eyes and give myself to them, things will be easier going forward. That way, I'll have something to say to Margaret too.
After a moment of deliberation, Kaiden ultimately decided to lend them both his hands.
* * *
I soaked whetstones in a large wicker basket and peered outside the Cabin through the crack of the open door.
"They've passed the scheduled return date by quite a bit, haven't they? Do you think something happened? Should we go check on them?"
I asked Enoch, who sat quietly beside me, watching.
Yuanna's group, who said they could return within five days at the latest, had been silent for a week now.
"They are quite late."
Enoch answered in a perfunctory tone, then stroked my head.
"Don't worry. Diego's skills speak for themselves, and Rodban possesses considerable strength as well."
Besides, Yuanna is no ordinary person either. I nodded in agreement with Enoch's words and lifted the whetstone from the water, setting it on the floor.
I spread cloth on the ground, secured the whetstone so it wouldn't shift, and extended my hand toward Enoch.
"Give me your sword, please."
I spoke while looking at the sword tucked at Enoch's waist. Though he tilted his head with a puzzled expression, he readily handed it over to me.
I sprinkled water on the whetstone once more, then pressed the blade down with my left hand while maintaining a consistent angle with my right as I sharpened it.
At that moment, Rujeep and Asdal returned from scouting outside the cabin and gathered around me with fascination.
"Good heavens, Flone Young Lady could work at a blacksmith once we escape the Island."
Here we go again.
Asdal rested his chin in his hand with an amused expression and watched what I was doing.
"Telling a noble young lady to work at a blacksmith—what kind of disrespectful remark is that?"
Rujeep rebuked him after hearing Asdal's words. Then Asdal pointed at me with an exasperated expression.
"What, can't I even joke? Working at a blacksmith is a noble contribution to the nation in its own way."
It was sophistry, but Rujeep seemed to have nothing to counter with, so he simply stared at me before closing his mouth. Asdal shook his head back and forth.
"Anyway, both this one and that one are completely smitten with Flone Young Lady."
"Watch your tongue."
Enoch's voice was dangerously low. It meant he was thoroughly angry.
"That's what I'm saying. I'm holding a sword right now, you know? You're not supposed to provoke someone with a blade in hand. Watch your words, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
I sharpened the blade keenly and held the sword up toward Asdal.
Asdal stepped back with his hands clasped behind him and spoke with a laugh.
"Flone Young Lady, don't misunderstand. That was clearly a compliment."
"I know it wasn't a compliment."
"So I have no allies after all."
When I spoke coldly, Asdal pretended to wipe away tears that weren't falling. Didn't he ever get tired of always starting trouble first and then backing down?
In any case, I sharpened Enoch's dull blade until it was keen, then sharpened the wooden and stone swords as well before tidying up.
* * *
Yuanna and Diego regained consciousness around the time the sun reached its zenith.
In the scorching midday heat, Diego, the first to awaken, threw Kaiden's arm aside and bolted upright.
"When did you kneel and beg, and now you don't even appreciate the favor?"
Kaiden spoke with exasperation, and Diego calmly replied while adjusting his clothes.
"I was grateful for you lending me your hand."
It was a bland expression of gratitude delivered with a completely ungrateful expression.
And at that moment, Yuanna also regained consciousness and startled, brushing Kaiden's arm away.
"These people...."
Kaiden suppressed his rising anger and glared at Yuanna instead.
She looked around bewilderedly, clearly confused about what was happening.
"What is this situation?"
"You don't remember?"
Diego approached her and examined her complexion. Kaiden, for his part, rubbed his furrowed brow with a weary expression.
After hearing the situation explained by Diego, Yuanna's face went deathly pale.
"Did I... say anything strange?"
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org