TAVBZ 106

Chapter 106

Priests wearing robes emblazoned with the Vatican emblem surrounded Kaiden.

They held open, worn books and muttered something incessantly.

At that moment, the door to the basement opened, and someone entered. In young Kaiden’s view, an elderly priest, who looked considerably aged, appeared.

Judging by the most ornate clothing among them, Kaiden thought it might be the archbishop—or even the pope.

“Well? Do you think he’ll get along with Lord Zenath?”

At the old man’s words, one of the priests surrounding young Kaiden replied.

“Yes. His magical power seems comparable to Lord Zenath’s, so their compatibility should be perfect.”

“Hmm. The agreement with the Rohade family is complete. If he gets involved with Lord Zenath, that side will gain flexibility as well.”

“If he grows like this, he will be perfect. We should include him on the final test subject list.”

“Yes, I’ll make the list with great care. Since this plan is extensive, this will be the final experiment. Prepare the report and submit it.”

The old man, satisfied, lightly tapped the priest on the shoulder and glanced at young Kaiden.

The old man’s blue eyes met Kaiden’s red ones.

The instant their eyes met, Kaiden was suddenly pulled out of his memory.

Gasp.

His chest felt tight, and he struggled to breathe. As he panted, the woman sitting atop the magic circle slowly lifted her head.

Even amidst the painful struggle for breath, Kaiden frowned as his gaze met her red eyes. Her face was oddly familiar.

“Who… is she?”

At that moment, the woman spoke.

Do.
Mang.
Cheo.

Simultaneously, the door behind him swung wide open. Something unseen grabbed the back of Kaiden’s neck, and he was dragged straight out.

In an instant, he was pulled into the third-floor corridor and thrown out the window. His powerless body plummeted from the height of the third floor.

“Damn it, XX!”

Just before hitting the ground, someone yanked him sharply. Twisting midair, Kaiden rolled across the floor.

“Damn it.”

Coughing and staggering through the dust, he looked up to find someone standing before him.

A boy with short hair brushing his neck stood there.

Silver hair, red eyes—again, a familiar appearance.

The boy stared at Kaiden expressionlessly and spoke.

“I was curious… we finally meet.”

Despite being a boy, his face bore the weight of long years lived. He clasped his hands behind his back and slowly approached Kaiden.

“But… the time isn’t right yet.”

Then he placed his finger on Kaiden’s forehead.

“You should go now.”

The boy pushed Kaiden’s forehead, and once again, thick fog enveloped him. Along with the cabin, the boy vanished without a trace.

After Margaret, Enock, and Kaiden disappeared one by one, Yuanna fell into complete delirium.

She collapsed to the ground, crying uncontrollably, unable to regain her composure.

“Everyone… if they die… if they die again…!”

She muttered incomprehensible words, then grabbed the key in her hand and wailed.

It was clear she was not in a sound state of mind.

Yuanna remained like that until nightfall, only finally calming down as darkness fell.

But from that point on, she was completely different—like someone who had regained lost memories and awakened to something incredible.

“Still strange.”

Asdal observed her closely.

In truth, Asdal’s previous favorable treatment of her wasn’t solely because of an unusual sense of guilt comparable to Diego’s.

“There’s some secret here… yet I still don’t know what it is.”

Now, it seemed it wasn’t just his intuition being sensitive.

At that moment, a growling sound came from his stomach. He was extremely hungry.

“I miss Miss Flone very much.”

Asdal sighed with a worn expression. Yuanna, sitting quietly beside him, nodded in agreement.

“Yes… I miss her very much too.”

After staring blankly for some time, Yuanna finally responded to Asdal’s words as usual.

“Are they alright?”

At his question, she looked at him curiously.

“I didn’t know the saintess liked them so much.”

“Even if someone she dislikes fell into the river, normally she’d be shocked in a situation like this.”

“That’s true.”

Asdal, finding no further words, fell silent. He wanted to ask her something, but he had no idea where to begin. So, in the end, he said nothing.

“Do you think the three are alive?”

“They will be.”

“You’re certain?”

“I won’t believe it until I see with my own eyes that they’re dead.”

Yuanna’s eyes widened in realization at Asdal’s words. Regardless, he gestured toward her.

“First, let’s check the map again. We should confirm which direction to go.”

Yuanna, still looking extremely tired, reluctantly took the map from her pocket as Asdal gestured firmly.

Asdal spread the map on the ground. They needed to find the only route to the northern island.

“It’s best to follow the river eastward.”

While planning, Yuanna spoke.

“I’m hungry, Your Grace. Could we catch a bird?”

“…The saintess should start earning her meals now.”

“If we can have bird meat for dinner, I’ll start paying for my meals from tomorrow.”

Yuanna smiled casually, as if she hadn’t just cried, speaking with her usual nonchalant charm. Of course, the smile didn’t affect Asdal.

“Stop messing around and get up. Let’s gather some fruit. Neither of us can handle animals anyway.”

Finally, Yuanna rose with a resigned expression, muttering as she glanced at the river.

“I hope we can catch some fish at least.”

Asdal deeply regretted ignoring Margaret’s earlier advice to learn fishing.

“I should have learned back then.”

It was a very belated regret—but they were still on the southern island, before encountering evolved monsters, so it was a minor concern.

Asdal realized he wouldn’t have the luxury to regret later, after reaching the northern island and facing new monsters.

I stood before the Central River (as we decided to call the river running through the island’s center) and surveyed the terrain to determine our location.

“We don’t seem to have moved far… this seems near where I woke up.”

At my words, Enock glanced at me warily.

“Can you find the cabin? It’s best to search around that area.”

“Hmm… we kept going north along the riverbank.”

“Then let’s head that way first. There are no high mountains, so we shouldn’t get lost.”

I nodded and followed him in the direction where Zenath’s cabin was likely to be.

Once in the forest, we encountered thick fog again.

“Enock.”

I called to the uneasy Enock walking ahead. He turned to me, puzzled.

“It’s better if we hold hands. We shouldn’t get separated like with Kaiden.”

I reached out, and Enock slowly took my hand.

Just holding hands, I felt an inexplicable sense of relief and security through our touch.

“Thank you.”

Enock didn’t reply verbally, only gave a faint, quiet smile.

As we were about to enter the fog again, a familiar voice rang out.

“Margaret?”

“Kaiden?!”

I looked around in surprise.

Through the fog, I thought I saw silver hair. When I regained focus, I realized I was in someone’s arms.

“Margaret.”

It was Kaiden’s voice.

Naturally, my hand slipped from Enock’s, but instead of being angry, he silently stepped back, giving space for Kaiden and me.

“Kaiden.”

I gently patted his back. His body trembled—a reaction uncharacteristic of him.

“You’re safe… thank goodness… thank goodness…”

He kept murmuring the same words, holding me tightly as if he couldn’t breathe.

“I really thought I’d go insane, not knowing what happened to you…”

Kaiden hugged me again, pressing his cheek against my neck, still anxious and unsettled.

“Are you alright? Where have you been?”

After a long moment, he lifted his head and looked at me with moist eyes.

“After His Highness disappeared, I… I was in the fog the whole time.”

He hugged me once more.

“I missed you, Margaret.”

Hearing the emotion in his voice, I gently patted him until he calmed down.