Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Stranded on a Deserted Island (4)
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"Mm..."
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a dim space, feeling a hard wooden floor beneath me.
I fell asleep...
Before waking, my head had been foggy with a burning fever.
Now, only the hazy daze of just waking up remained.
It seemed my condition had improved quite a bit.
...Where's Emily?
I instinctively looked for her, noticing she wasn't there—the girl who'd been nursing me until just before.
As I shifted my lying body to the side...
"......"
Emily was lying asleep right next to me.
Her steady breathing and gently closed eyes.
Turning toward her, my gaze was captured by Emily's face, facing me as she lay there.
She usually had a prim expression, but with her eyes closed in sleep, she looked soft and cute.
Of course, she felt gentle even when smiling normally.
But seeing her face so defenseless like this gave a different impression.
Unthinkingly, I reached out and gently brushed aside the hair draped over her face.
Her pale skin was now fully revealed.
That night... what was she trying to say?
Gazing at her brought back memories of that tense night.
Her words had been cut off midway by the insect-type monsters.
But the way she'd blushed and looked at me with those earnest eyes...
If it wasn't my imagination, then surely...
Emily... likes me?
I'd never even considered the possibility that Emily liked me.
Sure, even before changing the past, we'd been close, and she'd always been kind to me.
But that didn't mean she wasn't kind to others.
Besides, back then, I was a fat slob and an ugly guy.
Enough to bully...
I hadn't resented her bullying from the start.
I could clearly sense malice directed at me.
Like with Enzo, for example.
He'd smile and talk to me directly, but I could feel the clear malice beneath it.
But not Emily.
Even when bullying and hitting me, there was strangely no malice.
Just a peculiar excitement.
So I harbored no ill feelings toward her.
But still...
The idea that she liked me...
Maybe because my looks changed? Or the event effect?
It might be the monkey stone's event effect.
For instance, my heart raced every time I saw Emily too.
Was she really about to confess back then?
As I gazed at her pretty face, lost in thoughts of that night...
A sudden dizziness hit me.
Still some fever left?
I clutched my head and bowed it at the abrupt vertigo.
And in my view... Emily's chest in her swimsuit.
"......"
I immediately sat up.
Face was one thing—whatever.
It might feel bad, but no guilt.
But sneaking peeks at a sleeping girl's private parts? I couldn't forgive myself.
"...Mm, huh? Ken? You're awake?"
Apparently roused by my movement, Emily sat up too, still half-asleep.
The first thing she did, with her drowsy face...
"Mm... Fever gone now?"
Was place her hand on my forehead to check my temperature.
Still sleepy and she's worrying about me.
That thought made my face heat up, and I heard my heart pounding wildly.
I felt like a middle school girl in the throes of first love.
"...Yeah, still a slight fever. But after some sleep, you feel better, right?"
Emily smiled cutely, pleased at my improved state.
"Thanks. Sorry for dragging you here with me."
I scratched my cheek, thanking her.
I mean, even if sick, she had no reason to nurse me.
At my gratitude, Emily just stared blankly.
Then...
"If you're thankful, lie back down."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me down.
"W-Wait, I'm fine now."
"Still a fever. Rest more."
"A-And your hand..."
"What's wrong with my hand...?"
Emily lay beside me, holding my hand.
Her interlaced fingers warmly enveloped mine, gripping firmly.
A strong will not to let go.
"You grabbed my hand first, Ken..."
Blushing, she glared at me with fierce eyes.
"Me...?"
"Yeah, before falling asleep, you grabbed mine and wouldn't let go."
Come to think of it, maybe.
Lost in thoughts of amnesiac Emily, I'd unconsciously held her hand.
And fell asleep like that...
"So it's all your fault. Got it?"
"......"
I understood perfectly.
I couldn't let go of her hand.
This is dangerous...
And her proactive actions made my heart unable to flee.
My pounding heart forced me to be hyper-aware of Emily.
If this keeps up, I'll...
Already had two girls in my heart.
If I fell for Emily too...
"......"
That far into my thoughts...
I felt no urge to reject her.
Maybe the fox had bewitched me.
Caught in thrilling tension I didn't want to escape, I met Emily's gaze.
She blushed too, looking at me with strange eyes, still holding my hand.
The air in the small hut thickened, like something might happen any second.
"Ken! Emily!"
A female student's voice from outside shattered the tension.
We both startled like we'd rehearsed, released hands, and turned away.
Emily hurriedly stood and greeted her.
"W-What's up? Ken's still sick..."
Mostly recovered, but she blurted it anyway.
But the girl's vibe was off.
"Big trouble! E-Enzo! Enzo's missing!"
At her words, I sat up too and looked at her.
Enzo's gone...?
Clearly dangerous, but...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Enzoo—!"
"Enzo! Where are you?!"
The group scattered to search for the missing guy.
Of course, warned not to go deep into the dangerous night forest.
I grabbed a torch and headed into the woods to look too.
"What happened...?"
Emily naturally stuck with me.
"So dark... won't find him."
The night forest was pitch-black and eerie, so Emily clung to my arm, scared, scanning around.
From my view, Enzo could drop dead for all I cared.
But ignoring a missing person and letting him die? No.
Basic search was the right thing.
The problem was...
"E-Emily. You're too close."
"But it's too dark if we separate..."
Her clinging arm pressed her swimsuit-clad chest blatantly against me.
In this situation... I'm trash...
Someone missing, yet I was aware of Emily.
She must be scared and worried sick.
"......"
Glancing at her, she blushed and leaned her head on my shoulder.
...Emily thinking the same?
Relief that I wasn't the only perv.
Anyway, she never seemed that into Enzo.
"Gone pretty deep."
"Dunno what monsters lurk inside. Stay close, Emily. Don't leave my side."
"Y-Yeah."
Her arm tightened around me.
Not intentional, of course.
The forest depths were genuinely dangerous.
This island has a boss-tier monster too.
A massive bear-like demon beast.
[Raourushi]
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 🧌 Boss Monster Raourushi My enhanced stats from traits could handle it.
But Emily was beside me.
Couldn't use magic, support-type with average physicals.
Night ambush? Might not protect her.
To avoid that, I kept her close.
We ventured deeper for a while.
And then.
Thud.
"...Hold on, Emily. Something soft tripped my foot."
Not wood, dirt, or rock—something distinctly soft.
We tensely lowered the torchlight.
A human leg.
"...Ugh."
Emily covered her mouth, trembling at the sight.
Anyone could see: a corpse.
No upper body.
The men's swim trunks it wore were familiar.
The missing Enzo.
Torn in half by something here.
"Emily, back to the beach now..."
Clearly dangerous. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder to retreat.
Shocked, she followed my lead.
But...
🐻 GROWL! 🐻 [GRRRRR...]
The beast's growl halted us.
Torchlight faintly illuminated a massive form.
Its eyes gleamed, reflecting the flame.
Staring right at us.
Poised to pounce.
"Emily, get back. Dangerous."
"...Be careful, Ken."
She knew my strength from saving her from the albino cyclops before.
Worried but obedient, trusting me.
'Swift Fabrication, Base Sword.'
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Swift Fabrication Lv.? Materializes Base Sword from bone.
I summoned a bone sword in one hand with the familiar skill.
Battle-ready—that instant...
🐻 ROAR! 🐻 [RAAAAAARGH—!!]
The massive beast lunged at unbelievable speed for its size.
Boom!
I barely blocked its swinging arm with my sword.
Too dark...
Torchlight wasn't enough for the night woods.
Even with its bulk, hard to track position and attacks.
...End it in one strike.
If it targeted Emily, I might not react in time.
I assumed iaido stance.
Siegfried-style swordsmanship, unnamed yet.
One of them: Single Sword Strike.
Draw and fell the foe in an instant—one of Siegfried's techniques.
🐻 ROAR! 🐻 [RAAAAAARGH—!]
The enraged beast bellowed hugely.
Warning of imminent attack.
Timing it, I gave no opening...
—Shuuuaaaak!
I whipped out the drawn sword in a flash.
Swoosh...
Torch flickered; I dashed forward.
Siegfried's signature strike smoothly grazed the nape.
So sharp it felt like it missed.
Thud.
The roaring head dropped silently.
Thud!
The headless bulk crashed down.
"Phew... It's over, Emily."
Tension passed, I wiped sweat, picked up the fallen torch, and approached.
Emily smiled in relief.
Then...
Her face froze instantly.
"Ken—! Behind you—!"
Her shout made me whip around.
There: decapitated giant bear rising.
Arm raised at me.
Damn...!!
No time to sword it.
"Emily—!"
I launched toward her.
Whoosh!
Heavy arm sliced air.
I tackled her desperately, rolling on the ground.
This spot put her in range too.
To escape, we rolled...
To the edge: a cliff drop.
"Kyaaaa—!"
"Urgh!"
Swish!
Luckily not sheer—steep slope covered in grass.
Holding Emily, I slid down brushing foliage.
Thud!
"Ow..."
"Ken! You okay—?!"
Landed back-first, so she was unharmed.
Straddling me, she came to, worried.
"Emily... the thing?"
"N-Not following... Looked like death throes..."
She looked up at the cliff top.
The bear seemed finally dead; silence above.
"Ken, hurt bad?"
"Nah, nothing major. ...But."
Not unscathed.
Monkey stone's prank?
Rolling down, I'd twisted an ankle.
And left the torch up top.
Trudging night forest like this? Too risky.
In deep shit...
Stuck here till dawn.