Chapter 93
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Chapter 93
"Will everyone be able to cross?"
No one answered my question. Silence fell over the group.
Kaiden, who had stepped forward to examine the Suspension Bridge, studied it intently.
"Doesn't the condition look worse than when we came here a few days ago?"
He directed the question at Diego and Yuanna. They both nodded gravely in response.
"You're right. There were definitely no signs of it breaking, but it's as if someone crossed the bridge after we passed through...."
Yuanna spoke with a puzzled expression, her words laden with meaning.
Asdal approached Kaiden and examined the bridge alongside him before speaking.
"There really might be kidnappers after all. If they've imprisoned us here for experimentation as Flone Young Lady suggested, and they're observing us on this Island, that would explain it."
"But it's still just speculation. To resolve our doubts, we should probably head to the location marked with a star."
As I was giving that response to Asdal's words, Kaiden opened his mouth with an uneasy expression.
"Wait, observing...?"
"What is it?"
At my question, Kaiden, who had been running his hand through his hair in thought, glanced at me. His expression was deeply troubled.
"When I came out here to scout a few days ago, I saw a Monster watching me."
"What do you mean?"
Enoch's expression grew serious, and he crossed his arms, turning to face Kaiden. Yuanna and Diego also looked at him in confusion.
"I didn't see anything?"
"Remember that first night we discovered the Simple Cabin? I went out separately to find food."
At Kaiden's response to Yuanna's puzzled question, she nodded with a small exclamation of understanding.
"I kept feeling eyes on me from somewhere. So I looked around, and in the darkness, I saw eyes gleaming like—!"
Kaiden folded and unfolded his hands in front of his face, making a sparkling gesture.
"It looked like a wolf-type Monster. Usually those creatures attack us on sight, right? But this one just stared at me for a while and then left. It was like it was watching what I was doing."
"A scout? Could it have been gathering intelligence on us before attacking?"
I let out a hollow laugh and spoke as if joking. Yet, surprisingly, everyone was listening to my words with complete seriousness.
"It doesn't seem to have that level of intelligence on its own, but if someone is controlling those creatures, it's certainly possible."
Enoch answered quietly. Then Asdal, who had been silent, continued as if sighing.
"Whether it's experimentation or something else, it seems almost certain that someone is on this Island watching us."
"The location marked with a star on the map seems suspicious."
"Well, there really might be kidnappers there."
Yuanna agreed when I responded to Asdal's words.
And we fell silent for a moment. Each of us was lost in thought.
After the heavy silence, Yuanna broke the tension.
"Well, we have to cross the bridge anyway. Who should go first?"
At Yuanna's question, Enoch drew his sword from its sheath.
"Asdal and I will provide cover from here. You go ahead and cross."
"What? No, I don't like that. I want to cross first."
Asdal turned to Enoch with a bewildered expression. Of course, Enoch didn't respond.
Then Asdal sighed and drew the arrows he had slung across his shoulder.
"Right, the Half-Emperor handles close range, and I'll manage distance. The balance works perfectly."
Asdal grumbled but obediently followed Enoch's instructions. Looking at him, Asdal genuinely seemed to care for Enoch.
That's when Kaiden asked me.
"Margaret, can't you use your mana yet? It would be great if I could warp everyone."
Unfortunately, the mana I'd expended moments ago hadn't fully recovered yet.
"I need more time to recover."
Everyone's faces fell, as if they'd been secretly hoping for a positive answer.
Kaiden took his stance and stepped onto the Suspension Bridge.
"Well, there's no helping it. Then, shall I go first? Margaret, follow right behind me. Give me the Silver Earthworm—I'll take him across first."
He turned to me and extended his hand. I handed Silver Earthworm over to him. Silver Earthworm glanced at me nervously before settling obediently around Kaiden's arm.
Kaiden set off immediately and crossed the bridge safely.
Though it looked somewhat unstable, it seemed capable of supporting one person at a time.
"Margaret."
Just as I was about to follow Kaiden across the bridge, Enoch called to me. I turned around with a puzzled expression.
Enoch had drawn close and gazed down at me intently.
"...Be careful. I'll follow right after."
His words made me smile softly.
"You're speaking as if we're parting forever—how unsettling. I'll wait for you on the other side, so hurry and follow."
He nodded slowly, then gently stroked my hair. It felt like it had been ages since we'd shared a moment alone like this.
Yet here we were, having such a conversation right when everyone's attention was fixed on us.
"Flone Young Lady, if you're not going to leave, I'll cross first."
Unable to bear it any longer, Rujeep grumbled and passed me, beginning to cross the bridge. I felt embarrassed and took a step back.
Enoch carefully grasped my hand and drew me close. He pressed a kiss to the back of my hand, then softly placed his lips against my wrist.
"Do you remember when I promised to protect you? My heart hasn't changed. I'll cross shortly, so wait for me on the other side."
Speaking with a composed expression, he slowly lowered his hand and caressed my cheek. It was a simple gesture, yet it made me tense.
"Understood. Your Highness, please cross safely. Don't get hurt."
My cheeks felt warm, but not wanting to show it, I spoke to him as calmly as I could manage.
He gazed at my flushed face for a moment, then nodded.
"Enough now. Let's finally depart."
Asdal appeared between us, separating our moment. Enoch obediently stepped away from me.
I glanced back at Kaiden, Rujeep, and Diego, who had already crossed, then stepped onto the Suspension Bridge.
The bridge seemed to sway far more unstably than before. It felt dangerously precarious, as though it might snap at any moment.
Even moving with deliberate slowness, I heard the ropes creak and snap—crack, crack—with each step.
"This really is unsettling...."
About a third of the way across, I stopped. The bridge was swaying too violently side to side.
"Flone Young Lady!"
Yuanna's cry reached me. I turned slowly to look back at her.
And then I saw it—Asdal and Enoch, still on the Southern Island, were facing an enormous horde of Orangutan Monsters.
Some of the creatures were attempting to cross the bridge.
"Run, Young Lady!"
Yuanna cried out to me in shock.
Two of the Orangutan Monsters managed to climb onto the Bridge. I watched as one of them crossing the Bridge plummeted into the River.
'Damn it, damn it!'
Only when the Bridge tilted halfway did I belatedly grasp the situation and lunge forward. That cursed Orangutan Monster was causing the Bridge to collapse entirely.
The Northern Island where Kaiden and the rest of the group stood was right before my eyes.
'Just a little further and I'll make it...!'
As always, my ill premonitions never failed me, and misfortune invariably began with me. In the end, I never reached the Northern Island and plunged straight into the River.
What happened after that, I could not recall with any clarity.
I drifted along the turbulent current for what felt like an eternity, swallowing water in great gulps. I could only vaguely remember someone pulling me from the water afterward.
And then my vision faded to complete darkness.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org