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Chapter 100
A rising sense of fear made my lips go dry.
But still, what if I just sat there like an idiot and the door closed on me? That always happens in horror movies!
I hurriedly got up from my seat and ran out of the room.
Thankfully, the door hadn’t closed behind me, so I wasn’t trapped. But I did catch sight of the black cloak disappearing into the fourth room.
Damn it. I actually found myself wishing that Zenas would hurry back to the cabin.
“That… it’s like it’s inviting me into that room…”
Could it be that I might find something like the notebook I picked up in the second room again? Something that might bring me closer to the secrets of this island.
Yes. To survive even a little longer, I had to be brave.
I steeled myself and passed the third room, stopping in front of the door to the fourth. It was the room at the very end of the third floor. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.
But there was no ghostly presence as I feared. The room was surprisingly tidy—bed, desk, and wardrobe. Its layout was similar to the second room.
Unlike the second room, which seemed abandoned for a long time, this one looked as though someone had been living there recently, with everyday items scattered across the desk.
I calmly began searching the room.
“Doesn’t look like much.”
Then I noticed something written on the desk drawer. On the first drawer, in the Imperial language, was the word “Modification.”
Modification?
I tilted my head, opening the drawer. Inside was a flare gun that looked just like a red revolver.
“Huh? This… is the same as mine?”
Even the side of the flare had ‘Alea’ written on it, just like mine.
There was also an ammo pouch, and it held more rounds than the one I had.
I took my waterlogged flare from my crossbody bag and subtly swapped it with the one in the drawer. Then I also took the larger ammo pouch and put it in my bag.
“Did the owner of this room modify it themselves?”
Judging from the word ‘Modification’ and the unusual design of the flare, that seemed likely.
The second drawer was labeled “Essentials.” I opened it and took out a lighter. I put my soaked Zippo in the drawer and put the new lighter into my bag.
“Could all these things belong to Zenas?”
If so, should I return them?
Morally, that would be the right thing to do. But in a life-or-death situation, it wasn’t an easy choice. I swallowed dryly, unsure of what to do.
Just as my hesitation grew, I remembered what the notebook’s owner had written: survival isn’t as important as not losing yourself.
‘I should put them back…’
“Right. That’s mine.”
“Aaah!”
A sudden voice behind me made me jump and fall flat on the floor.
Turning around, Zenas was leaning against the doorway, staring at me with his expressionless face.
“Oh… when did you get here?”
The handsome boy, standing casually with his arms crossed, replied calmly:
“Just now.”
I watched as Zenas slowly scanned the room and spoke.
“…I was just curious. Sorry for coming in without permission.”
He probably didn’t know I’d picked up the diary in the next room, so I didn’t mention it.
“Respect my privacy.”
Zenas’s voice had a hint of annoyance. For someone usually so emotionless to say that… he must be really mad.
He walked slowly into the room, hands behind his back. I stepped back warily, bumping into the desk. There was nowhere else to retreat.
Zenas came closer and gestured toward the flare in my hand.
“Take it.”
“Did you modify this flare?”
“Yeah. Not modified… I made it.”
His explanation made sense. Whether you try to make a flare gun out of a revolver or a revolver out of a flare gun, modifying it would be difficult. Saying he made it from scratch seemed reasonable.
“Not bad, huh?”
Zenas tilted his head slightly, pointing to the flare in my hand.
Then I remembered that I had found this flare on top of the mountain.
Why was it there? And not just that…
I showed him the word Alea engraved on the side of the flare.
“Did you engrave this yourself too?”
“Yeah.”
“What does it mean?”
“You know.”
“I don’t.”
I feigned ignorance. Zenas nodded, as if understanding.
“Oh… it’s not from this language. Alea is the name of the island.”
Even though he wasn’t from Earth, he could read English.
‘That doesn’t make sense. How would someone from the Kingdom of Ingram know English…? This is weird.’
Could it be that among the countless modern items on this island, there were also books? If so, he might have spent a thousand years on this island learning other languages.
“The island’s name? What do you mean it’s not from this language?”
I pretended not to know, and Zenas tilted his head, thinking, then said:
“I don’t know the details either. My sister named it.”
“You had a sister?”
I asked, surprised, remembering that he had said everyone who came with him had died. Ah, then his sister wasn’t around anymore…
Contrary to my worries, Zenas nodded as if it were no big deal.
“Yeah. Anata studied the language.”
“What country’s language is that?”
His sister’s name was apparently Anata. I asked casually to test him, but he just shrugged.
“Ask Anata.”
“Your sister? She’s here…?”
“Ah…”
Zenas finally looked slightly flustered at my question. Seeing a hint of expression on his doll-like face made him look truly like a young boy.
“Right… she’s not here.”
He muttered bitterly, clearly still unable to forget his sister. I had no idea how long she had lived, but if he had been left alone after being with her, it made sense.
Had the kidnapper just been abducting people while leaving the island unattended for a thousand years?
“Then I don’t know.”
“That’s such an irresponsible answer. If you make me curious, you have to take responsibility.”
“I don’t know.”
Zenas shook his head and fell silent, as if telling me not to ask further.
Damn, what is this? He solves only half my curiosity and drives me crazy.
Still, one relief was that Zenas didn’t seem to notice that Korean me had possessed Margaret’s body.
‘I should consult Enoch and Kaiden about this soon.’
“Oh, and…”
Suddenly, Zenas hurried to the desk and rummaged through the bottom drawer, which I hadn’t opened. He took out a telescope and handed it to me.
“This is a gift.”
I accepted it politely, staring at it in my hand before quietly asking:
“You said you wouldn’t come with me. So why are you taking such good care of me?”
Zenas tilted his head.
“I want Meg to survive.”
“Why?”
“Because it was sad seeing everyone die so easily.”
His words were meaningful. I wanted to understand them, but his expressionless face gave nothing away.
“Zenas, someone like you should have figured out a way to escape. I don’t understand why you haven’t.”
Surely a genius mage like Zenas could have escaped after all the doors had opened over a thousand years.
“Because I can’t. And I like it here.”
“Here? What’s good about it? It’s dangerous.”
“Exactly why it’s fun.”
Fun, because of the monsters on this crazy island? Outwardly normal, but clearly not sane. Of course, living here a thousand years, no one could stay sane.
“You know monsters roam this island, right?”
Zenas looked up thoughtfully at the ceiling, then finally answered:
“They weren’t here from the beginning.”
“…What?”
What now? How can there always be new layers to this story like peeling an onion?
“At first, they were all ordinary creatures. But they gradually evolved.”
“The monsters?”
“So that’s why they were based on ordinary creatures. And the evolution is ongoing.”
“They only appear from dusk till night. Do you know why?”
“At first, it wasn’t like that.”
“Wasn’t like that?”
“They only appeared at dawn, then at night, and now at dusk. But who knows, as they get stronger and more immune to sunlight, they might appear during the day too.”
If Zenas was right, we now had to worry about monsters even during the day. Terrifying.
Then Zenas suddenly propped his chin on his hand and stared at me intently.
“And there’s something unexpected…”
His red eyes scanned my face like an inspection—eerily thorough.
“They seem to like Meg.”
Goosebumps ran all over me.
‘Why would monsters like me? And how do you know that?’
I swallowed the questions threatening to escape my throat. Zenas didn’t seem to care about my reaction and continued:
“And it seems someone in your group can use magic.”
Was he referring to Enoch using magic against the monsters in front of the cabin? That was me sharing magic with him, so he didn’t know it was actually me using it. Zenas muttered, looking deep in thought.
“I wonder how that person could use the controlled magic with this body.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’ve been watching through the monsters’ eyes. It’s hard to control, and there’s no offensive power without magic, but that’s possible.”
“What? The monsters’ eyes?”
I suddenly remembered what Kaiden had said—that the wolf-type monster had been watching him.
Could it be… he really had been observing us through the monsters’ eyes?
“You’ve been watching us all along? Why?”
“Not all the time. Only when I’m bored. And if there’s someone around, it’s only natural to watch, isn’t it?”
Zenas’s response left me speechless.
“Jenni—no, Zenas. Can you just tell me everything at once? Why do you tease me like this, giving answers bit by bit?”
I sighed and continued:
“Why only watch? You could have come to us if you knew we were here. And you don’t have magic, so how did you borrow the monsters’ eyes? Have you been controlling their evolution?”
Zenas smiled, seemingly amused.
“I’m telling you because Meg looks interesting. Normally, I’m not this kind.”
Interesting?
I was speechless. Zenas stared at me, then said again:
“Strangely, you’re the only one who’s changed. I don’t know why.”
He looked at me with an unreadable expression, then glanced at the open door before looking back at me.
“But, Margaret,”
He called my name in a low voice, then asked:
“Have you seen everything?”
“…Huh? What?”
“The cabin. Have you looked around?”
“…No?”
I had a bad feeling, so I immediately denied it. Zenas suddenly burst out laughing, as if I was doing something very funny.
After laughing for a while, he stopped and looked at me.
“No ‘no.’ You’re on the third floor right now.”
I held my breath. Zenas’s red eyes pierced me.
“I told you not to come up.”
As his words ended, a chilling sensation ran down my spine. An overwhelmingly oppressive atmosphere made my hairs stand on end.
A large shadow now lay at my feet, appearing outside the window behind me.
Zenas, facing me, looked over my shoulder and smiled, stepping back.
“I’m not helping. This is your fault.”
“What the hell…!”
Clang!
Before I could even finish my sentence, the sound of breaking glass rang out. Something long and thick slithered in, wrapping around my waist. A mysterious monster.
I looked at Zenas in shock. He shrugged and waved at me. At the same time, I was instantly dragged out the window.
“Ahhh! Damn monster! We’re on the third floor!”
And it was outside the third floor…
