Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Companions
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Grace flopped down onto the sofa upon returning home.
A lot had happened that day.
She had nearly died to a monster, but Un-ho had saved her life. And she had recruited him, a powerfully superpowered individual.
It had felt a bit impulsive at the time, but even now, she thought it was a good call.
Considering his astonishing abilities, supply runs would become far smoother than before.
Un-ho's welcome party had wrapped up on a positive note.
People's reactions to his recruitment weren't bad either.
For those worn out from long years on the island, the arrival of a new face like Un-ho had served to freshen up the stagnant atmosphere.
-Knock. Knock.
Grace heard the knock and opened the front door.
There stood Philip.
"Philip, what's up?"
It was too late for casual business.
Philip hesitated for a moment, then scratched his head sheepishly and spoke.
"Um...... Did you think about that thing we talked about before?"
His words jogged her memory of his earlier confession.
She had tried to turn him down then, but he had asked her to take some time and think it over slowly.
"Sorry, Philip. I'm still not there yet."
Grace caught the subtle stiffening of his expression, but she felt there was no helping it.
Objectively speaking, Philip was a decent guy.
He was on the younger side even among this group of survivors and was fairly popular with the women.
But to Grace, Philip didn't feel like a man.
They had been friends since childhood.
Their parents had been close, so they often played together.
They had spent too much time together.
To Grace, Philip felt more like family than a romantic interest. He had confessed during their school days too. She had turned him down then, and afterward, he had dated other women.
'I thought he had moved on......'
Yet here he was, making a move again after arriving on the island.
People's hearts could change, but Grace's feelings hadn't shifted much since back then.
"Maybe......"
"Hm?"
Philip hesitated, lips twitching as if debating whether to speak.
".......Sorry, that was pointless talk."
"It's fine."
"......Well, I'll head out then......"
"Okay."
Philip flashed a slightly bitter smile and turned to walk away.
Grace had lived a life detached from ordinary people ever since her father passed.
'Romance, huh......'
There were couples even within the camp.
For some fleeting moment, she couldn't say why, but the image of Un-ho—the rugged man who had saved her, reeking of masculine scent—flashed in her mind.
Her face felt a little warm.
"......"
The next day.
An unwelcome face came to visit me.
It was Philip.
"I'm here to discuss the supply schedule. Superpowered folks head out in rotations."
"Got it."
It was about what I had expected.
From what I saw yesterday, it looked like one superpowered person went out with a regular or two to fetch supplies.
And my choice was set.
"I'd like my supply day to be with Grace."
Philip's face soured immediately at my request.
"Supplies aren't for satisfying your selfish desires."
"As long as the job gets done well, what's the problem?"
"Hah...... You're so full of yourself. You think I'll just grant that?"
"You don't even have the authority to decide that, do you? And I'm a superpowered one. Can't I make a suggestion like that? I'm not refusing to go, and I don't think it's an unreasonable ask."
"......"
From what I could tell, Grace, Philip, and the two sheriffs pretty much ran the group.
Richard had powers too, so he had some say, but he didn't seem heavily involved in stuff like this.
"Go ask Grace. If she flat-out refuses, I'll reconsider."
With that, Philip stopped pushing and turned away.
He'd probably head to Grace.
If my guess was right, she wouldn't refuse to go with me.
Having heard Park Un-ho's "suggestion," Philip went to find Grace.
He didn't think Grace would accept Un-ho's demand. But things unfolded differently than expected.
".......You're going to accept that guy's request?"
"Yeah, especially after what happened this time...... One superpowered person alone isn't safe enough. Just like Un-ho said, let's go in pairs from now on."
"......"
Philip fell silent, at a loss for words at Grace's stance.
"I'll pair with him. We can bring back more supplies per trip and stretch the intervals."
Grace knew Un-ho had the miraculous superpowered ability to store items.
But no one else did.
Un-ho wanted to keep his ability secret.
If he paired with someone else, he might not be able to use it freely.
Grace judged that teaming with her would let him leverage it to secure a hefty haul of supplies.
Philip's mouth opened as if to protest, but he ended up closing it with a defeated look.
I spent a week idling around on the island.
In that time, I got somewhat acquainted with the islanders...... especially working to bond with Grace and Carrie.
Philip shot me wary glances, but I ignored him.
Life on the island wasn't exactly thrilling.
But for me, it was a rare break.
Getting here, aside from sleep and eats, I'd been flying around nonstop with Kkamang in a pretty bleak routine.
Boredom on the island didn't apply to me.
Unlike others, I had plenty to enjoy.
I took it easy with some long-overdue gaming and movies.
As I lounged about.
The golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty sheriff came calling.
It was Grace.
"A date?"
Grace looked baffled, then chuckled softly.
"Yeah, a supply date."
Grace and I had gotten chummy enough to joke around by now.
Today was my supply run day.
In the end, things went my way—I'd be going with Grace.
We arrived at the pier together.
Carrie was waiting with a beaming smile.
Grace blinked in surprise at the sight.
"Where are Matthew and Humphrey...... Carrie, you're coming?"
"I'm on support duty today!"
"Did...... Philip know about this?"
"Philip's not my dad...... Un-ho said it's fine."
She'd just come without telling.
Why would I turn down a cute beauty tagging along?
Grace glanced at me.
"Her safety's on me."
"Un-ho's the best!"
Carrie hugged my arm and bounced excitedly.
Her soft chest pressed pleasantly against my forearm.
"Haa...... Philip's gonna lose it."
Grace rubbed her temple like it was a headache.
The opposite of her, I felt good picturing Philip throwing a fit over this.
Supply run with two beauties.
Not a bad setup.
That was when it happened.
"Carrie!"
A sharp male shout.
An unwelcome voice.
A sheriff was sprinting toward us from afar.
"Tch! Quick on the uptake."
Carrie clicked her tongue at the sight of Philip's face.
"Carrie, what the hell are you doing!"
Philip yelled as he closed in.
"What? Heading out for supplies."
Philip eyed me and Carrie back and forth.
Carrie was still clinging to my arm.
His face twisted at the sight, eyes flashing with anger.
He forcibly pried us apart.
"Wh-what are you doing...... Philip."
"Carrie, stay away from him."
Carrie's face darkened at his words.
"Haa...... Philip...... Seriously? Now you're meddling in my relationships too?"
"What?"
Philip's expression soured at his little sister's fierce pushback.
"I get you've kept me from going outside for my safety—fine, a hundred times over. But touching my personal relationships? Isn't that going too far? You think I'm a kid?"
"Th-that's......"
Philip was speechless.
'Nice one, Carrie. You've got this. Time to break free from that siscon.'
I cheered her on silently.
"Both of you, stop. Philip, I get you want to protect her, but she's an adult. You went too far this time."
Grace stepped in to mediate the escalating siblings, siding with Carrie.
"Yeah, you were harsh, Philip. Apologize to Carrie."
I slyly threw in my two cents.
"......"
Philip ground his teeth and glared daggers at me.
Maybe trying to intimidate me, but it didn't faze me one bit.
In the end, Philip decided to tag along with us.
Whether out of worry for his sister or for Grace, who knew.
Carrie handled the yacht driving.
Asked her, and she said she'd learned before the world went to hell.
Her face lit up with excitement.
Thrilled to be heading off-island after so long, probably.
We docked the boat at the camp pier across the water and were about to switch to the pickup truck.
That's when Philip started acting weird.
He agonized over taking the front or the back.
Carrie was driving, and Grace had already hopped in the back seat.
I could practically read his mind—he didn't want me sitting next to either of them. It was pretty hilarious.
'Jeez, what a clown. Acts like sitting next to me would knock her up.'
Siscon plus unrequited love.
His behavior was straight-up pathological.
Philip wasn't in his right mind from jealousy.
His choice? Front seat in the end.
Prioritizing family over his crush, you could say.