I’ll Steal Everything and Escape - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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17.
June. Recalling that disaster of a time, Elodie gave a small shudder.
“Well, I won’t be there anyway.”
For the time being, there’s nothing to worry about. Just keep it up until autumn comes, as much as…
“Shall we go harvest the garden plot!”
Her violet eyes lit up.
Food supplies! When you’re stranded, food is the most important thing of all. And that’s not all. The thief, barely a month into this, was still run off her feet.
“There’s still more to get from the Lava Basin. Aside from you, there are three more of them.”
“Hic.”
Red, having overeaten the fruit, let out a little hiccup. As a yellow ember crackled and spat from his mouth, Elodie’s
memory
was kindled. Robert’s eyes, like yellow embers that had flared up and scattered.
[Ha-ha! How could we be this lucky? Surely the heavens are on our side!]
[Yes, indeed! Your Highness is writing a legend that will be known far and wide!]
The voices of the excited prince and Tristan drifted in.
[So cute! I, I’m going to raise him.]
[He’s still a hatchling, so taming him won’t be hard. Bring him back to the Imperial Family and everyone will faint in shock.]
Robert, insisting that the creature would become a symbol of the Imperial Family, carried Red around constantly, and Silvia held him whenever Robert didn’t. But.
Elodie looked down at Red, who seemed a little plumper than before, and smiled wryly.
“Our Red. Did you eat a lot?”
“Peep!”
Such times did not last long.
It was a harsh island, too harsh to look after a wobbly baby dragon as well.
[We don’t even have enough food for ourselves, and you insist on giving it meat?]
[It’s too hot here. Elodie, can’t you take him around with you for a while?]
[When exactly is he going to use magic?]
The baby dragon, already weakened when they found him, did not grow quickly. The Red they had once coddled and carried in their arms gradually became a burden. And as always, it was the errand-runner who ended up looking after the burden.
By the time Red could at least flutter about, spitting out a little fire, things had changed.
[Oh, you’re back?]
[…….]
[Where’s Red?]
Robert’s party, the ones who had taken Red along, returned in a wretched state. Red did not come back.
[What? Are you blaming me now? Everyone was busy running away!]
[It’s not that I’m blaming you. It’s only that Red’s wing was torn during the fight…….]
[My mana ran dry! What am I supposed to do when you all keep coming back hurt? Do you have any idea how heavy Red has gotten?]
Red did not come back. Elodie, who had always taken charge of Red’s meals and care, could only sit there dazed, watching her comrades fight.
They say dragons live forever. Even as countless generations of humans come and go, they are said to survive and drift through the world. So why couldn’t Red?
‘It was all our fault.’
A small red dragon filled Elodie’s eyes. A warm, soft creature that could still fit entirely in one arm.
“Peep, peep!”
“Yes, yes. Which one should we go get first?”
“Peep!”
Dragons really do grow fast. Our Red, you’re even good at answering. Elodie’s lips curled up bashfully.
“Do you want a belt or a bag, Red?”
The baby dragon’s head tilted to one side. Maybe words like that are still too hard for him. Elodie wiped his muzzle as she spoke.
“If you’re going to travel with me, a bag might be better. The one you have now is a bit small.”
Good. I’ve settled on the next goal.
“Then shall we start getting ready? We’ll catch a little rabbit or a rat for you to eat, too!”
“Peep!”
Red wagged his tail as if overjoyed. Elodie bit her lip at the squirming against her chest.
“Once we’re out, we’ll eat lots of good things, okay? There’s so much tasty stuff outside, you know. Raw meat and fruit are nice, but since you’re a dragon, you’ll have plenty of chances to try other things. Right?”
Ah. I see. Elodie came face to face with a feeling she hadn’t noticed until now.
‘I was lonely. From my previous life, all the way up to now.’
The only creature she had to share her heart with was a little dragon who listened to her muttering to herself. Elodie chuckled softly and tucked Red neatly into her bag.
“Shall we set off, then?”
Red poked his head up over the edge of the bag and huffed out a puff of breath.
Really, let’s make sure we get out of here together.
* * *
To Clarisa Pontaine.
Hello, Mother. It’s Elodie.
You’re writing a letter in someone else’s diary. I’m sorry. This is the only way I can leave a record, since the only paper I have is a useless map of the Belloa region.
It’s been forty days since we were shipwrecked on this island.
Today was a rough one. Red and I went out to gather an elixir herb nearby, and of all things, we ran into a giant cobra. The one Prince Robert named the Hell Serpent. It’s a vicious beast that’s never been recorded anywhere in the Empire. You’ll be surprised, but there isn’t just one or two of those monsters around here.
I nearly died for real. I barely drew its attention with an Ice Wall and managed to run. In the Lava Basin, Ice Freezing Magic loses about half its effect, so if I’d been a few seconds slower… Just thinking about it makes my head spin.
Still, you should praise me. I managed to get an elixir precious enough for Prince
to eat
. You know the herb Black Canary, right? The one that’s said to cure nearly every illness. That little plant was growing right here in this scorching land. I’ll be sure to take it when I’m sick later, it’ll surely help. I plucked every last one and stored them away. Looks like the Ice Freezing Magic was worth it after all, since I was practicing for moments like this.
steal
.
Ah, I’ll wrap things up for today. Red keeps tugging at my clothes, begging for food. Oh, and who Red is, you ask.
* * *
To Lucas Pontaine.
Hi, Dad.
Now that I think about it, I’ve only ever written letters to Mom. I wonder if you’ll feel a little left out.
Today I had some business in the Southeast Jungle.
Stefan
found something rather suspicious out there. I saw it once before, a little grave-like mound. If it’s a real grave, I’m sorry, but if there’s anything to be gained from it, shouldn’t we dig? Given my situation…
Anyway, I got a new bag from that little grave. It has Subspace capabilities, so it’s a Magic Tool that can hold far more. It seems this place has all sorts of mysterious equipment buried in various spots. I plan to look for more of these from now on.
What good luck! I can finally harvest the sweet potatoes I planted in the vegetable patch!
Father, please don’t worry too much. I’m not starving, and I’m managing to survive just fine.
I… I’ll definitely get out of here. I’m looking for the best way to escape.
You two must be waiting together, cozy and comfortable. I’ll just give Red his snack and be right back.
* * *
Dear Lady Clarisa Pontaine, how are you doing? I’m still alive.
It’s been two months already since the fall. Day sixty. I’ve eaten a few herbs in the meantime, and I’ve gotten much stronger. You’ll be astonished when you see me again. My body feels light, and using magic has become much easier. I think I could lift you up with no trouble at all now, Mom.
…Hmm. Holding a pen again after so long feels a bit awkward. Today I’d like to complain a little. Something rather troublesome happened.
There’s a classmate named Kamil Beltier, and he’s
crazy
a strange one…
* * *
Elodie was crawling along the ground at that moment.
“Ugh… ugh… ugh.”
Of all times, of all things.
A Rank 1 Monster by the Empire’s codex. The roar of an Alkair echoed from somewhere close. She’d only ventured toward the center for a brief moment to look for a Magic Tool, and now she was in this state. Even with the elixir she’d taken, something like that was beyond her.
“I shouldn’t have tried taking the shortcut.”
Elodie gritted her teeth and stretched out her arm, inching forward.
‘…There should be something useful along this shortcut.’
Ah.
The tension drained from her jaw. What surfaced for a thief facing a troublesome situation was a very small
memory
.
‘That guy was definitely over this way before the Regression.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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