TAVBZ 71

Chapter 71

The monster blocking the space between us collapsed to the ground, and I found myself face-to-face with Enoch.

“Enoch.”

And just as I called his name again, another enormous tarantula emerged behind him.

Enoch immediately whirled around and moved away from me. Damn it.

Ssssk.

Eun-ji slid down from my shoulder and wrapped itself around my forearm. I stared at the creature flicking its tongue at me and suddenly remembered something from the novel.

—All monsters on the island are natural enemies.

Where wolf monsters are found, tarantula monsters do not live, and where tarantulas live, anaconda monsters never stay.

Among them, the anaconda monster is the apex predator of the island. Thus, both wolf monsters and tarantulas avoid even the young of anaconda monsters in fear.

I knew I’d read that somewhere. It was such a passing description that I only now recalled it.

If I could just divert the monsters’ attention a little, maybe I could force Enoch out of there.

I looked down at Eun-ji, staring up at me with its bright little face and pink tongue flicking out.

Was Eun-ji really a baby anaconda? Even if so, there was no way such a tiny thing could take down that massive tarantula.

She’s still just a baby.

After thinking it over for a long moment, I finally decided against using Eun-ji to distract the tarantulas.

Eun-ji tilted her head up at me and puffed out an indignant breath through her nose, as if saying don’t you underestimate me.

So I asked her,

“Can you do it?”

Somehow, with how she’d acted so far, it felt like we could communicate.

Eun-ji nodded vigorously. Then she slid down my body and onto the ground.

Meanwhile, the spiders kept coming, and Kaiden, Asdal, and Diego—standing protectively around me—were growing busier by the second.

I grabbed a flare gun and sprinted after Eun-ji as she hurried across the ground.

Just then, five tarantulas converged on Enoch. Eun-ji slipped gracefully between them and planted herself in front of him, looking around.

The moment she did, the monsters—who had been attacking relentlessly—hesitated.

I rushed into the opening and grabbed Enoch’s arm just as he prepared to charge a monster.

He looked at me in bewilderment. And while he stared, I aimed the flare at the tarantulas and squeezed the trigger.

Bang! Boom!

The flares exploded, ripping the creatures apart. I scooped Eun-ji off the ground.

“Good job. Thank you.”

I let out a sigh and gave her scales a gentle rub.

“I won’t make you do something so dangerous again.”

I’d apparently gotten attached to her. She seemed delighted by my touch, climbing back up my arm to cling to my shoulder.

Leaving Eun-ji where she settled, I tugged Enoch’s arm. He didn’t budge.

“Margaret!”

Kaiden’s strained voice rang beside me. More monsters were gathering.

“It’d be wise to get the Crown Prince out quickly!” Asdal shouted.

Seeing the three men barely holding the creatures back, I looked up at Enoch again. His gaze was unfocused, staring blankly at me.

I cupped his cheeks with both hands and locked eyes with him.

Slowly, I pulled his face closer. My nose nearly touched his.

“Enoch. Snap out of it.”

I spoke each word with force. His golden eyes wavered.

Good sign. At least he wasn’t pushing me away. But he still didn’t look fully conscious.

I repeated myself firmly.

“That’s enough.”

Around us, the three men were practically flying to fend off monsters, but I stayed calm, trying to bring Enoch down from his frenzy.

“You can stop now. That’s enough. Don’t.”

I stared into his eyes, strict and unwavering, trying to command him out of the rampage.

His golden irises shook violently. Slowly, focus returned to them. I drove the final nail in.

“Stop. Enoch.”

His rampages could be useful against monsters, but not for him. He destroyed himself doing it—unable to care about his own body.

I was the only person who could rein him in. And yes, it was exhausting and complicated, but I didn’t hate it. Being needed was… new.

Still, I hope his trauma heals someday.

The sense of being needed was fleeting anyway. And I wasn’t cruel enough to relish someone else’s pain for my own comfort.

“……Margaret.”

His voice echoed faintly in my ear. I looked at him.

His golden eyes were clear now.

“You’re back?”

He blinked wide in surprise. Finally, his mind had returned.

Relief hit me like a wave, and my knees nearly gave out.

If Enoch hadn’t grabbed my arm tightly, I would’ve collapsed embarrassingly to the ground.

“Margaret.”

He said my name softly, studying my face.

His hand brushed my cheek—trembling.

“I told you I can’t be without you. Where were you? You left me.”

His deep voice quivered, his forehead resting on my shoulder.

There was raw suffering in his cracked tone.

“It wasn’t intentional. And I almost died too, you know. So maybe scold less?”

I grumbled. Enoch lifted his head to look at me—only to have guilt wash over his face.

“Only thought of myself. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”

“I survived on my own, didn’t I? I’m fine. And please, worry about your own body before mine, okay?”

He bit his lip and looked away, clearly remembering how he’d lost control—and that I’d brought him back.

“Margaret!”

Kaiden called urgently. I turned.

He, Asdal, and Diego still held the perimeter, cutting down monsters.

“Enoch, we need to leave. We could exterminate them all now, but not today.”

Enoch finally looked around and froze at the sight.

“Where’s the bishop?” I asked.

He frowned and glanced toward a swarm of smaller spiders.

“…Damn it. He kept getting in my way, so I hid him under some rocks.”

I stared at him.

“You mean… over there?”

He nodded once, then picked up his dropped sword. He flicked it; thick green blood splattered to the ground.

“My fault. I’ll retrieve him.”

“I’ll go with you. Allow me, Your Highness,” Diego said, bowing.

“Margaret is…” Enoch hesitated, holding my hand, but Kaiden clamped his hands on my shoulders and grinned.

“I’ll guard Margaret. Don’t fret.”

“And I’m here too,” Asdal added, strolling up far too casually for the moment.

“Margaret, wait here. I’ll be back,” Enoch said.

I nodded.

“Saving the bishop comes first. I’ll stay here—go.”

With a final worried look and a request to guard me, Enoch vanished into the swarm with Diego.

“What’s he asking us for? Acts like Margaret’s already his,” Kaiden muttered, stomping a small spider.

“My thoughts exactly,” Asdal said, slicing another one.

Then thunderous booms shook the air. I looked over just in time to see Diego and Enoch moving so fast they blurred.

Where their blades passed, monsters burst apart midair.

Enoch was monstrous as always, and Diego—youngest commander in history—wasn’t much less terrifying.

The massacre lasted a long while. Then the forest fell silent.

The clearing looked like a hurricane had ripped through it. Corpses everywhere.

So much for “we can’t clear them today.”

Wind blew away the green blood spatter, revealing a boulder beneath which Ruchef had been hidden. A glimmer of watery-blue hair peeked out.

Soon, the battle was truly over.

A pale-faced Ruchef crawled out from under the rock, clutching something in his arms.

“Bishop!”

I ran to him. When he saw me, his face crumpled.

“Lady Flone!”

He threw his arms around me, looking ready to sob.

He squeezed so tightly I could barely breathe. Only when his grip eased could I slip free and scan his face.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

Tears streamed down Ruchef’s delicate eyes as he looked at me.