Chapter 87
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Chapter 87
"It looks like a map of the Island."
At Diego's words, Yuanna nodded and unfurled the cloth expansively.
A River flowed through the center of a large Island, and from the River as a reference point, a star marking was drawn in the northwestern corner. Moreover, scattered across the Island were words written in the Langrid Empire's script reading "supplies."
"What does this star marking mean? And supplies? What is this?"
At Yuanna's question, neither Kaiden nor Diego could make sense of it, so they shook their heads. She scanned the map carefully once more, murmuring to herself.
"Hmm... if this really is a map of the Island, it seems we've found something quite significant. Supplies, though—I can't fathom what they're meant to supply."
Kaiden, standing beside her and studying the map intently, tilted his head in puzzlement.
"Who on earth made a map like this?"
"That's what I'm wondering. Could it be the same person who built the Cabin? Someone may have lived on this Island once, or perhaps still does... or alternatively, it could be whoever brought us here."
Yuanna's deduction seemed plausible, and Kaiden nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Could all three be true?"
Then he withdrew the map Margaret had drawn for him from his pocket.
"What is that?"
"Ah, a map Margaret drew for me."
He answered Diego's question offhandedly while comparing it to the map in Yuanna's hands.
"Huh, she drew it quite similarly, didn't she?"
Margaret had said she drew it from the Mountain Peak after observing the landscape directly, and the terrain was remarkably similar to the map we'd just found.
Of course, unlike this map with its various symbols marked upon it, Margaret's contained no information beyond the topography itself.
"Someone must have dropped the key and map here, wouldn't you say?"
Yuanna withdrew the key from her pocket and stared at it intently, lost in thought.
"When you first awakened here, do you remember anything else?"
At Kaiden's question, she shook her head.
"No. I simply woke up and discovered the key lying at my bedside."
"It doesn't particularly look like a significant location. There's nothing special about it."
There weren't even any signs of attack by Monsters. It didn't appear as though someone had fled in panic and accidentally dropped it.
Kaiden circled slowly around Yuanna, racking his brain, but no answer came to him.
"Isn't that a Bridge? It doesn't seem far from here."
Diego, who had been examining the map Yuanna found, spoke to them with a puzzled expression.
Kaiden and Yuanna, who had been lost in thought while looking at different sections, gathered before the map in Diego's hands.
Just as he said, there was a marking on the map indicating a Bridge connecting the South Island and North Island.
"Ah, you're right. I was so focused on the supply markings that I missed this."
As Yuanna murmured this, Diego pointed eastward and asked a question.
"Holy Maiden, do you see that over there?"
Following Yuanna's gaze, Kaiden also turned his head in the direction Diego indicated. Though quite distant, something resembling a Bridge spanning across the River came faintly into view.
"It looks like a Bridge crossing over to the North Island?"
They all began walking slowly toward the Bridge.
"I wonder who built that Bridge. Could it be the same person who constructed the Cabin?"
At Diego's question, both Kaiden and Yuanna shrugged simultaneously.
"Looking at the map, this seems to be exactly the midpoint. To cross to the North Island, you'd have to go all the way to the eastern end, so I suspect they built the Bridge here for that reason."
Kaiden agreed with Yuanna's words.
"I think so too. What could be on the North Island? There must have been a reason we had to go there."
"There was a location marked as 'supplies' on the North Island. The star marking was there too. Perhaps that's the reason?"
As Kaiden listened to Yuanna's explanation, he examined the Bridge carefully and turned to Diego.
"Want to cross it?"
"The width is narrow, so it seems we'll have to cross one at a time."
"So Diego, why don't you go first and check it out?"
"Am I your test subject?"
"I hate the word experiment. That's not what this is."
"Regardless, I decline."
Diego refused flatly without a hint of hesitation, then closed his mouth.
Kaiden studied his face quietly, interlaced his fingers behind his head, and sighed.
"Ugh, you're no fun—unlike the Bishop."
At Kaiden's muttering, Diego looked at him with disgust.
"Are you a deviant?"
"You're right that I'm no fun, but why are you calling me a deviant?"
"Because you seem to enjoy tormenting people, which is why I called you a deviant."
"Oh. That's quite an amusing way to put it."
"See? You are a deviant."
"What? Are you my doctor? I'm not a deviant—I'm a madman."
Diego cast another contemptuous glance at Kaiden, who then burst into genuine, wild laughter.
As Diego's face flushed with irritation and his hand moved toward his sword hilt, Yuanna clapped her hands to redirect their attention.
"I don't think crossing the Bridge right now is a good idea. We're already much later than the date we planned to return, aren't we?"
Both men nodded in agreement at Yuanna's question.
The Bridge looked extremely old and unstable, and its width was so narrow that only one person could barely pass through. If they attempted to cross carelessly, they might not even be able to inform the group waiting at the Cabin before meeting their end.
"Then it would be best to first inform the others waiting at the Cabin of this discovery and return together."
At Diego's suggestion, Yuanna gave a thumbs up.
"Exactly."
Kaiden followed Yuanna's lead and gave Diego a double thumbs up.
"Good thinking."
Before departing for the Cabin, Kaiden cautioned Yuanna and Diego.
"The Tentatiomen flowers might reproduce and multiply again as we pass through, you know? They breed frantically when they touch human body heat. So it's best to run all the way to the Cabin while avoiding contact with them as much as possible."
Yuanna and Diego nodded vigorously with determined expressions.
They ran throughout the afternoon, encountering the Tentatiomen flowers several times and facing critical moments, but fortunately emerged unscathed.
At night, they climbed onto a massive tree branch, secured themselves to it, and slept.
After enduring those grueling two days, the group finally returned to the Cabin.
* * *
Enoch was preparing dinner, and Rujeep was taking his evening rest.
Silver Earthworm opened its eyes occasionally, but after eating the Tentatiomen, it had done nothing but sleep.
I lay curled up in front of the Fireplace, gently patting Silver Earthworm as it slept soundly. Silver Earthworm had grown considerably since eating the Tentatiomen.
It had grown so thick and elongated that it could wrap around my entire arm with room to spare.
'Has some of the cuteness faded?'
I stared intently at the sleeping Silver Earthworm. Even in slumber, it seemed to enjoy my gentle patting, its tail swishing back and forth contentedly.
'It's still cute, though.'
A smile spread across my lips. In that moment, Asdal slowly approached me.
"Young Lady, lend me your hand for a moment. I'd like to use my Mana Eye."
"Your Mana Eye? Why?"
"Something feels ominous."
Ominous? What could possibly feel ominous?
Even without actively using his Mana Eye, Asdal seemed to sense things through his five senses alone. If he felt something was amiss, then perhaps something truly was happening.
I obediently extended my ring-adorned hand toward him. As he grasped it, his blue eyes shimmered with an emerald glow.
I could distinctly feel the flow of mana slipping through my fingertips as I effortlessly channeled it into Asdal. Then, abruptly, he turned to look at me.
"Once the others arrive, we should organize our affairs and depart immediately."
"Why? What did you see?"
"The movements of the monsters seem unusual. It's as if they're all converging on this very cabin."
"But they can't enter the cabin anyway, can they?"
There's a barrier surrounding the cabin, after all.
"Still, my instincts are deeply unsettled. Since we'll need to leave the cabin eventually to uncover the Island's secrets, it would be wise to make preparations now."
Asdal was right. I couldn't spend my entire life in this cabin. I had already decided to explore the entire Island.
I nodded in agreement and lifted my head.
"If the mana flow you've observed suggests as much, then you're likely correct. We should prepare to leave once the scouts return."
Enoch, who had finished preparing the meal, spoke while wiping a stone knife clean with a dry cloth. His words reflected unwavering trust in Asdal's abilities.
In any case, we ultimately agreed to abandon the cabin and hastily gathered our necessary belongings.
'Kaiden needs to return safely soon.'
Once Kaiden arrived, I wanted to test the mana synergy with him as well. Since he was a mage who wielded mana itself, perhaps the synergy would be even greater?
While I was still contemplating Kaiden, his voice arrived with uncanny timing.
"Hm? Everyone seems quite leisurely."
I hastily turned my head toward the source of the voice. Kaiden, Yuanna, and Diego were entering through the cabin door in succession.
"You're safe!"
I jumped to my feet and rushed toward them. I checked Kaiden's condition first, then examined Yuanna and Diego as well.
Fortunately, none of them appeared to be injured.
"Is everyone alright?"
At my question, Kaiden's face twisted into a savage scowl as if he were chewing on something bitter.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org