I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 170
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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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Chapter 170
25. Homeward
The Diego brothers departed the military encampment before we did.
They said they would head toward the Southern Coast to find Alea Island rather than the Capital, where they would rendezvous with the Reconnaissance Team that Enoch had dispatched.
I heard that Diego and Yuanna had engaged in a lengthy conversation before his departure, complete with heated exchanges.
However, neither of them spoke a word about it, so I couldn’t discern what they had discussed.
‘Did Diego make a confession?’
While lost in such musings, Kaiden’s voice reached my ears.
“The carriage seems rather cramped. Surely Margaret finds it uncomfortable.”
He grumbled while shooting a pointed look at Enoch, who sat across from him. It appeared Enoch, who had initially planned to travel on horseback, had decided to join us in the carriage instead.
“I thought you two would enjoy some intimate time together.”
Kaiden, sitting with his arms crossed and tilted at an angle, looked thoroughly delinquent. I observed him quietly.
Eyes like rubies burning crimson, silver hair beautiful as moonlight. He was like a singular work of art woven from sharpness and vibrancy.
His impression leaned toward flamboyance rather than restraint, making even the smallest gesture appear remarkably dynamic.
He was a man in perfect contrast to Enoch, whose features were composed of thick, rough lines yet emanated a solid, serene presence.
Moreover, as both a Mage and possessor of Monstrous Strength, his build was no less impressive than Enoch’s. Observing the adequate musculature visible between his collar, I nodded to myself. Yes, the carriage would indeed be cramped for him.
Enoch ignored him for a time without responding, but as Kaiden’s complaints persisted, he finally said,
“Margaret, as Lord suggests, the carriage does seem rather tight. Perhaps you should sit here.”
He patted his thigh invitingly.
Kaiden shot up indignantly, struck his head against the carriage ceiling, and let out a pained groan. I answered Enoch with cool composure.
“That’s quite alright. I’m already embarrassed enough being cramped in a carriage with two men. If any strange rumors spread from here, what would I do?”
“Margaret, what are you saying? You actually disliked being with us?”
Kaiden crumpled his expression and asked sharply.
“No, that’s not what I meant. We’re not on an island anymore. I must consider my social standing.”
“Social standing? Hah….”
He loosened the button at his throat, which had been constricting him, and ran his fingers along his collarbone while fixing me with a glare. His low, gravelly voice cracked hoarsely, as though he had endured much hardship.
“Why? Are you worried rumors will prevent you from marrying? I actually like it. Then you’ll have to live with me for the rest of your life.”
“Lord. I suggest you stop.”
“Stop? Aren’t you pleased that I’ve voiced what you wished to say? Besides, I have no intention of sharing Margaret’s affection.”
Golden eyes radiating an overwhelming pressure and crimson eyes emanating an eerie atmosphere clashed uneasily.
“Wait, I never said I would divide my affection between you two.”
Kaiden’s red eyes swept across my face calmly, as though searching for my true intent. His gaze glinted dangerously.
But I had merely spoken the truth. I had never made such a statement.
“Margaret, I’m obsessive. I’m possessive too. You don’t think that’s the case with him?”
Kaiden gestured toward Enoch and spoke, his brow furrowing with irritation.
“But I’ll endure it. If you dislike it, I’ll endure it for now. However, if you try to distance yourself after we return to the Empire, I won’t stand for it.”
Unfortunately, I could not reassure Kaiden by promising to remain close to them. That would be an impossible vow.
For now, there was much work to be done, and I would need to see them regularly, but inevitably, distance would grow between us.
We each had our own homes and our own lives. We could not remain inseparably bound as we had been on the island.
‘Could he actually cause a scene?’ I wondered, but Kaiden seemed like the sort of man who would commit reckless acts without hesitation, so I found myself momentarily troubled.
But before I could even respond, my body was lifted. Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid pulled me toward him and seated me where he had been sitting, then took his place beside Kaiden.
The sight of two large men sitting side by side in the cramped carriage was rather peculiar. Just watching them made me feel suffocated and uncomfortable.
“Damn it, this is too cramped! Won’t you move over?”
Kaiden growled, but Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid paid him no mind.
At that moment, Eun-ji, who had been sleeping in my Dress Pocket, poked his head out and bared his fangs at Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and Kaiden.
Screech!
Annoyed, Eun-ji crawled out of the pocket and coiled himself on my lap, settling in. His face was full of displeasure at having his sleep disturbed.
The two men, receiving Eun-ji’s glare, finally fell silent, embarrassed.
I decided to ignore them and opened the carriage Window to admire the scenery outside.
‘…The weather is lovely.’
Only two days remained until we reached the Langrid Empire, but finding a Village for the Military Unit to stay in proved difficult.
In the end, we would have to Camping again tonight.
While the Knights set up the Camping site, I tried to shake off the clingy Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid and Kaiden and take a walk with Eun-ji.
However, this too became difficult when Noel and Hyzen followed along, and I turned back to regard them with resentment, narrowing the space between my eyebrows.
“Why do you keep following me? Please stop apologizing now.”
At my question, Noel and Hyzen exchanged uncomfortable glances, gauging the situation.
“Your Highness Crown Prince has commanded us to Escort the Young Lady.”
An order from Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid. Knowing how absolute the Crown Prince’s commands were to the Knights, I cleanly abandoned any attempt to tell them I didn’t need an Escort.
On Alea Island, I had always solved problems alone. Rather than receiving help, I was the one giving it.
Now, being treated as a delicate Noble Lady and receiving such strict protection felt terribly strange.
But once I returned to the Empire, this kind of Escort would become my daily life, so I truly needed to adapt now.
‘I am a refined Noble Lady. A refined Noble Lady.’
Now I no longer had to do fishy Fish Processing, nor did I need to conduct Reconnaissance for fear of Magical Beasts or Wild Beasts appearing, nor did I have to go out and gather food myself.
I sighed and pulled out a Flare from my Dress Pocket, checking the Cylinder.
I had filled it with Ammunition, but not many spare Ammunition remained. There seemed to be a few Flame Bombs left as well, but since I wouldn’t need them anymore, perhaps I should give them to Kaiden.
As I continued walking forward, Noel and Hyzen warned me.
“This is an area where Magical Beasts frequently appear, so you must be careful.”
Ah, I had planned to hunt just two Magical Beasts as food for Eun-ji. But since I understood Noel and Hyzen’s concern, I reluctantly decided to turn back.
‘I’m sorry, Eun-ji. Your sister couldn’t secure your meal.’
Eun-ji, hanging from my forearm, also seemed quite disappointed, licking his tongue and glancing back behind me repeatedly.
Just as I gave up on Magical Beast Hunting and put the Flare back in my pocket.
Rustle.
From somewhere, the sound of grass being trampled reached my ears. A desolate feeling crept up my back. Eun-ji, hanging from my forearm, quickly raised his head and looked around nervously.
“What was that sound?”
Startled, I quickly pulled the Flare from my pocket again. Noel and Hyzen drew their Swords and took a protective stance, assuming an Alert State.
Aaaahhh!
Boom—boom!
Screams erupted from afar. After exchanging glances with the two Knights, I quickly ran toward the main camp.
And the scene I witnessed there was nothing short of hellish.
The main camp had descended into Chaos as everyone fought against strange Magical Beasts of unknown origin. I stood momentarily stunned by the unexpected sight.
A Knight nearby spotted us and rushed over to warn of the danger.
“Young Lady, please escape this place at once—!? Cough!”
Something pierced through the Knight’s abdomen right before my eyes. I watched as it penetrated his body—a long, black leg-like appendage covered in eerie, bristling fur.
“Ugh… R-run…! Aaaahhh!”
Whatever had impaled the Knight lifted him high into the air. Only then did I recognize what it was.
It was unmistakably the massive Tarantula Magical Beast I’d seen on Alea Island.
“Damn it, what in the world is this…!”
Hyzen and Noel drew their Swords and simultaneously positioned themselves in front of me. The Tarantula Magical Beast spun the Knight with fine Spider Web before driving its sharp leg down into his abdomen with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed directly toward us.
I wiped the blood from my face with the back of my hand. Horrible memories from the Island flooded back automatically, and my hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
Screeeech—! Eun-ji, hanging from my forearm, reacted sharply.
While other Knights rushed in to engage the Tarantula Magical Beast, I spotted more Magical Beasts pouring from the distant Forest.
Magical Beasts naturally come in all shapes and sizes. However, those I’d seen on Alea Island had evolved one stage further, becoming grotesquely alien-like, and the ones surging toward us now resembled them.
‘Surely not. Alea Island exploded, didn’t it…?’
Could the side effects of Magical Beast Evolution have spread like a virus all the way to the Inland?
Moreover, the movement patterns of the approaching Magical Beasts were oddly erratic. Normally, when Magical Beasts move in groups, they follow a certain Pattern, but these showed no such coordination.
I turned back to Noel and Hyzen in alarm.
“The Magical Beasts’ movements are too scattered. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
“Indeed it does. It’s as if they’re being drawn here by something.”
Still, I could see Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s Knights maintaining their formation under his command.
After watching Kaiden deploy defensive and offensive Magic Circles in alternation, I shared my Mana with Eun-ji. I couldn’t just stand here trembling like a fool.
I’d thought I’d never need to fire a Flare again after escaping Alea Island. Why is my life always so arduous?
“Huh? Young Lady!”
As I climbed onto Eun-ji’s head after she enlarged her build, Noel and Hyzen looked startled. I extended my hand toward them.
“Will you come with me? We need to help.”
The Knights quickly regained their composure and climbed onto Eun-ji’s body one after another. Eun-ji expanded her form even larger and surged forward into the heart of battle.
Sharing my Mana with Eun-ji was already draining my Vitality rapidly. This time, I’d need to feed the Magical Beast well. Eun-ji seemed delighted as well.
Screeeech!
Eun-ji let out a piercing cry as her true form emerged. Her massive serpentine Torso tore through the sky as it descended.
The Magical Beasts faltered at the sight of her overwhelming presence.
While Eun-ji swept through the Campsite, devouring only the Magical Beasts, I loaded a Flare and pulled the Trigger toward where the creatures clustered together.
Red Smoke vanished among the writhing mass of Magical Beasts, then erupted into a massive Fireworks display seconds later.
Boom! Crash—!
Watching the Magical Beasts scatter and rain down from the sky like precipitation, the Knights turned to look at me.
But I had no time to acknowledge their astonishment.
Suddenly, a thick Tree Branch shot up from the ground and climbed along Eun-ji’s Tail.
‘Damn it, what is this now!’
A grotesque Tree Branch-shaped Magical Beast emerged and struck me, Noel, and Hyzen in succession, hurling us toward the Floor.
Fortunately, Kaiden spotted me from a distance and swiftly deployed a Magic Circle, allowing us to land safely without injury.
But the real problem was Eun-ji.
The Magical Beast had driven a Tree Branch directly into Eun-ji’s Torso.
Argh!
Eun-ji thrashed about, letting out a agonized scream.
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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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