I’ll Steal Everything and Escape - Chapter 19

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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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19.
Days Until Death, D-445
Even so, today won’t be the day. Elodie checked her surroundings thoroughly before setting out, then placed her feet down carefully. He hadn’t been seen for several days, so he must have moved on. By the timing, he was already past the point of leaving.
‘And thanks to that, I can’t even find a magic tool.’
The thief furrowed his brow and steeled himself once more.
“We’re going farther out today, so you’d better stay close, right?”
“Squeak!”
They had walked for about thirty minutes when the corners of Elodie’s mouth dropped. Her violet eyes caught the gruesome remains of demonic beasts: an Alkair, a Giant Grizzly, and even a herd of orcs nearby. Like bloody footprints, they traced his route exactly. This was the trail Kamil had left behind.
“…Seriously, that’s absurd.”
Every path he took, he tore through the monsters and moved on. Those eyes, devoid of feeling, which might or might not hold any thought beyond battle. Elodie pressed hard against the base of her sternum as she recalled her memories of Kamil Beltier.
memory
Her chest felt tight. Everything seemed hopeless.
It was stifling. It was bleak.
Only then did she begin to grasp what Robert and Louise must have felt. The helplessness that lingered after fighting Kamil. That overwhelming strength. Before the regression, she had hardly ever experienced his power firsthand.
‘…He’s just too strong.’
Kamil was strong. Stronger than Elodie now, stronger than Robert, stronger than Louise… stronger than anyone. And yet, a man like that.
[What’s that lying over there?]
[That’s… isn’t it Kamil Beltier’s belongings?]
[Elodie. Is it really you?]
“…Yes. I’m certain.”
Kamil dies one year after falling onto this island. To be precise, 296 days from now.
Even someone that strong ends up dying. Unable to endure this island in the end. Elodie thumped her tightly constricted chest with her fist.
“I have to get stronger. I have to get stronger.”
I must become stronger than Kamil. Only then will my odds of escape…
‘Wait, what?’
A flicker of realization crossed her violet eyes.
“Hold on.”
Elodie blinked rapidly. Her memories rolled back like a film reel.
[Tch.]
[Pathetic.]
[I challenge you to a duel.]
[Move aside.]
[Was it you who fell from the sky?]
A way to raise my odds of escape. I think I’ve found one.
* * *
Marcel caught his ragged breath. His soles felt like they might burst, but he couldn’t stop.
“Grrrrr…”
A massive wolf shaking silver mane from its coat. Five Quinowolves had them surrounded.
“Marcel, fall back.”
“But, Amelie…”
It had been roughly two months since Marcel and Amelie fell onto this island. No, maybe even longer.
[Aaaaargh!]
[W-where is this place? Gnome, help us!]
If not for Amelie, who commanded the Earth Spirit, Marcel would have been crushed flat as a pancake. They barely landed on the soft sand conjured by Gnome. And then…
[Where on earth are we?]
[Belia? Belloa? Probably somewhere like that.]
Until now, they had been wandering through this vast, sprawling forest.
‘But I suppose our luck runs out here.’
The Quinowolf’s thick forepaws raked the ground. Amelie was drained of mana, having fought a Troll the day before.
“Marcel, dodge!”
“Gulp.”
His bracelet shattered in an instant. The defensive magic stored in the magic tool was completely spent. Marcel despaired.
‘To be helpless like this…’
Marcel’s Bloodline Magic was Crafting. He had inherited his grandmother’s magic, but had no talent for combat. Thanks to Amelie, he had survived these two months. Should he think of that time as a bonus?
“Kwoooh!”
“Marcel!”
Amelie clenched her teeth and thrust out her hand. The Earth Spirit’s weakness was that its defense was high but its offense was low. For now, she had their legs pinned down, but swift and sturdy creatures like Quinowolves were, unfortunately…
“Cough! Gah!”
The spirit that had been holding a leg vanished like smoke at the touch of silver fangs.
Thud!
A wolf sank its teeth into Marcel’s shoddy shield, as if it had been waiting for exactly this moment.
“Grrk.”
The color drained from his face. He hadn’t gathered enough materials, so the durability was poor. At this rate, if it kept up, he would really—
“Gah!”
There wasn’t even time to think. His body was lifted along with the shield. Tossed back and forth, Marcel—
“Yelp! Eeeek!”
His wheat-colored hair, damp with sweat, lifted, and he beheld a sight that stole his breath.
“Krwaaaaah!”
Dozens of Ice Spears hung in the sky. Clear, sharp streaks of mana poured down all at once. Both Marcel and Amelie stared up at the scene, mouths hanging open.
‘The amount of mana…’
The spears raced toward the monsters and pierced their hides with a piercing hiss. Wolves that had not so much as flinched at Amelie’s attacks began to fall, one after another.
“Who on earth…?”
Rustle.
A small figure emerged from between the trees. Golden hair bright as sunlight. Mysterious eyes.
“Phew. Are you two all right?”
Marcel and Amelie. Day 80 of being stranded.
The two students fell in love at the same moment.
* * *
Two pairs of bright, wide eyes gazed up at Elodie.
‘…This is a bit overwhelming.’
Elodie Pontaine scratched her ear, which was somehow turning red, and looked the two of them over carefully.
Honey-thick golden hair, and eyes as black as a doll’s.
“Hello, Senior! I’m Amelie Bernard!”
And then…
“Oh, uh. M-me, I’m…”
Wheat-colored hair like a field of grain, and green eyes.
“I’m Marcel Beltier. Thank you for saving us.”
Elodie met his gaze with a complicated expression. Marcel Beltier. The only younger brother of Kamil Beltier.
‘So he really fell down here too.’
All the time I spent searching for a week was worth it. Elodie wiped the sweat from her brow, thinking of the Quinowolves she had barely managed to deal with.
‘The most certain way to raise our chances of escape.’
Keep the strongest human alive. And then, bring them over to my side.
The green eyes facing hers blinked innocently.
“Did you happen to see my older brother?”
“Kamil is alive.”
And if that guy is looking for you, you won’t be able to wander around carelessly.
Her violet eyes blinked rapidly. It was as if paint had been smeared over her vision.
Eighty days ago, on the day the accident happened.
The Academy’s official training had always been safe. Dungeons of moderate difficulty. A professor accompanying them. Besides, the Warp Device at the Academy had never once malfunctioned.
[I’ve never seen this many of us go together. Isn’t this a total elite gathering?]
Silvia chirped cheerfully as she spoke to her. Louise frowned.
[Pointless. This is going to be too easy.]
[Come on. It’d be nice to finish quickly. Once we’re done, let’s all go out together.]
A blue glow rippled beneath their chins. Elodie felt a faint sense of unease.
Did the Magic Circle always look like this?
[Wait, no! Cancel it right now!]
A scream rang out from somewhere far off. The Magic Circle flared with light. Over the massive Warp Device, crackling text rapidly surfaced.
-Warning. Coordinate lock failed
-Warning. Protective barrier output abnormal
-Auxiliary barrier deactivated
-Restart failed
[What is this…]
Being swallowed by the light took no time at all. Hurried footsteps came rushing closer. And then the world turned upside down. Gravity vanished, and her body floated up with a lurch.
Someone let out a scream, and someone else cast a spell. She tried to take in everything she could see, but what reflected in her trembling eyes was only—
[Gah.]
The professor in charge, whose neck was being snapped by some unidentified giant bird.
“I’m relieved to hear Brother is safe!”
“Senior! Did you come looking for us?”
Their bubbly, chirping voices seemed distant. Her head throbbed.
“You two fell down here too, of all places? What on earth happened? Only the seven of us were supposed to be going to the dungeon.”
“…That magic circle was flashing, and I was just so worried about Brother.”
“I was actually planning to follow you quietly! I’m sorry, Senior!”
Elodie’s lips trembled as a lump rose in her throat. So the corpse she had found before the regression really belonged to these kids. She remembered the footsteps running toward her, but she had assumed they were Academy staff. That was until the day she thought back to Kamil’s death, when a strange memory brushed across her mind.
[‘Among the juniors who came to watch the Warp Device that day, there was definitely…’]
Eighteen people had gathered at the training grounds. At the very front of them stood Marcel.

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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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