Chapter 92
Chapter 92
…Huh?
…Why was I here?
I was sure there had been some reason…
My memory, my memory wouldn’t come back…
My head hurt.
“Hey, Van! Try eating this!”
What Ivaki held was a fish he had just caught. It was as thick as an adult’s forearm, but its appearance was highly suspicious. Its body was blue, but its back glowed in a fluorescent color.
“No thanks. I’d rather starve.”
“What?! Are you doubting our tribe’s hunting skills?!”
Beside us, Nia quietly laughed.
“Ivaki, that fish looks poisonous. That fluorescent color on its back is a kind of warning coloration.”
“What?!”
Ivaki hurriedly threw the fish away. The moment it hit the sandy beach, the surrounding sand began to melt.
“As expected, it was poisonous.”
“No, more importantly… you were holding that with your bare hands just now?!”
Bestia clicked her tongue.
“This is why people call you a barbarian.”
“What did you say?! You little—!”
Ryeong cut in with a blank expression.
“Please refrain from fighting. Now is the time for cooperation.”
That was true. We had already been stranded on this island for three days. Our ship had been destroyed in a storm, and fortunately everyone had managed to swim here safely, but… the real problem started now.
Saladin looked around and spoke.
“First, we should build a shelter. Monsters will come out at night.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Nia nodded.
“How about the cave we saw nearby? If we block the entrance well…”
Bestia shook her head.
“No. That cave already has an owner. I sensed magical energy earlier.”
Ryeong gripped her sword tightly.
“Then we remove the owner.”
“Wait, wait.”
I hurriedly added,
“There’s no need to go that far, right? It would probably be safer to build a temporary shelter out of wood instead.”
Ivaki jumped to his feet.
“Alright! Then I’ll chop the trees!”
Nia said,
“Wait, shouldn’t we draw up a blueprint first? If we just start cutting trees without a plan…”
“I’ll draw it.”
Bestia began sketching something in the sand with her staff.
“If it’s about this size, all of us should fit.”
Saladin looked over her shoulder and said,
“It would be better to place the entrance facing east. From what I saw earlier, the monsters mostly come from the western forest.”
I let out a small laugh without thinking.
Ivaki asked,
“What’s so funny?”
“No, it’s just… it’s a bit funny that we’re doing this.”
Bestia tilted her head.
“What’s funny about it?”
“Yeah… We’re a party created to kill the Demon King… but right now we’re on a deserted island playing house-building. That’s what made me laugh.”
For a moment, silence passed—then everyone burst out laughing at the same time. Even Ryeong, who always wore a blank expression, gave a small smile.
Ivaki clutched his stomach as he laughed.
“Haha! That’s true! Demon King, we’re sorry, but we’re a bit busy right now! We’ve got to build a house, catch fish…”
Nia said playfully,
“At this rate, won’t the Demon King get tired of waiting and just retire?”
Still drawing on the sand, Bestia said,
“Then our adventure story would become ‘The Great Hero Party’s Deserted Island Survival Log,’ right?”
Saladin smiled as well.
“That wouldn’t be so bad.”
Under the sky as the sun began to set, we each took on our roles and started moving.
Ivaki and Saladin went to cut trees, Ryeong and Nia kept watch of the surroundings, and Bestia continued drawing the blueprint.
I went to gather firewood to start a campfire.
“Van.”
While I was gathering firewood, Ryeong approached me.
“Yeah?”
“Please be careful. There are monsters in the forest.”
“Got it. You’re always this worried, huh.”
Ryeong replied with a blank expression.
“That is because you often do dangerous things.”
That made me chuckle.
“So that’s why you’re always staying by my side?”
“……”
Instead of answering, Ryeong turned her head away.
By the time the sun had completely set, our temporary shelter was finished. It was crude, but it seemed like it could last us at least one night.
We all gathered around the campfire. Ivaki grilled fish (proper ones this time), and there were fruits that Bestia and Nia had found in the forest.
Ivaki proudly handed out the fish.
“Alright, everyone, eat up!”
Bestia spoke with surprised eyes.
“Huh? It’s surprisingly tasty?”
“Haha! Of course! It’s something our tribe prides itself on!”
Nia smiled as she asked,
“Ivaki, you really get excited whenever your tribe comes up.”
“Well, obviously! The warriors of my tribe are—”
Bestia let out a sigh.
“Here we go again.”
As the night grew deeper, the stories continued.
Stories about Ivaki’s tribe, Bestia’s mistakes during magic lessons, Nia’s life at the temple.
Even Ryeong, who was usually quiet, occasionally added a word or two.
Saladin simply watched us with a quiet smile.
Nia asked,
“What is it?”
“No… I just think this is nice.”
“This?”
“Being like this… all together.”
For a moment, everyone stopped talking and looked at each other. The campfire warmly illuminated our faces.
Bestia spoke.
“You’re right.”
“It feels nice being together like this.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Yeah.”
“After we defeat the Demon King… will we be able to gather like this again?”
Ivaki shouted loudly.
“Of course! I’ll invite all of you to my tribe then! So look forward to it!”
Bestia laughed and shook her head.
“No thanks. You want me to hang out with barbarians again?”
“What did you say?!”
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Ryeong had a faint smile on her face.
That night, we slept comfortably for the first time in a while.
Even though it was a hard wooden floor, for some reason it felt cozier than ever.
The next day.
We decided to build a proper shelter instead of a temporary one.
Ivaki dropped the logs he had cut onto the ground and shouted,
“Alright, now we’re really starting to build a house!”
His shoulders were drenched in sweat, but his face was still full of energy.
“Wait a moment.”
Bestia raised her hand.
“We need to work on the foundation first. If we build it like this, monsters might crawl in from underneath at night.”
“Ah, right!”
Ivaki scratched his head.
“As expected, the little one is smart.”
“Little one?! I’m already an adult!”
Nia continued with a gentle smile,
“Then we should compact the ground first and lay sturdy wood on top of it.”
Ryeong stepped forward with a blank expression.
Her sword flashed.
“I will assist.”
“Wait, Ryeong.”
I asked with a bewildered expression,
“You’re not… planning to dig the ground with your sword, are you?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Won’t your sword get damaged…?”
“It’s fine. This is not a sword that would break from something like this.”
Saladin shrugged.
“Well, it sounds like a good idea. With Ryeong’s swordsmanship, she can level the ground evenly.”
And just like that, our real house-building began.
While Ryeong and Saladin leveled the ground, Ivaki kept carrying logs. Nia and Bestia used magic to refine and process the wood.
I just ran around here and there, helping with odd jobs.
“Hey, Van!”
Ivaki shouted.
“You carry some logs too, you bastard! Times like this are when you build muscle through strength training!”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already done enough work.”
“What?! All you’ve been doing is wandering around—”
Nia cut in.
“Ivaki.”
“Hm?”
“Van is doing the most important job right now.”
“What is it?”
“He’s watching over all of us and keeping guard so that danger doesn’t approach.”
Ivaki thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Ah… I see! As expected of Van! Always thinking one step ahead! Impressive.”
In reality, I had just been resting because I was exhausted, but thanks to Nia’s consideration, I ended up with a pretty convincing excuse.
Thanks, Nia.
“Alright, shall we set up the pillars now?”
Bestia raised her staff. With her magic, the logs began to take their places one by one.
I couldn’t help but admire it.
“Wow, Bestia. That’s amazing.”
“Of course! I’m a genius mage!”
“Don’t brag, shorty.”
“Did you just call me short again?!”
At that moment, Ryeong’s expression suddenly hardened.
“Everyone, stay alert. Something is coming.”
We immediately took our battle stances. After fighting together so many times, we didn’t need words. Each of us already knew our position.
A grotesque cry echoed from the forest.
Nia spoke,
“Monsters. And fairly large ones…”
Saladin asked,
“How many?”
“Ten… no, about fifteen?”
Ivaki burst into laughter.
“Haha! That’s it? I’ll take them all down myself!”
Ryeong spoke in a cold voice.
“Ivaki. If you rush in alone again, you will get hurt.”
“Alright, alright! Ah, right. You should try smiling more too. Always that blank face—”
Ryeong’s gaze turned cold.
“My apologies, but I am smiling right now.”
“Where?!”
Bestia sighed.
“Can you both be quiet? The enemy is coming.”
I looked at everyone and smiled. Even in a situation like this, the way they joked and teased each other felt strangely comforting.
The monsters revealed themselves. As expected, they resembled giant wolves.
Under the moonlight, their eyes glowed red.
“Well, we’ll just do this like usual, right?”
Saladin drew his sword.
Nia answered,
“I’ll stay back and prepare healing magic.”
“Bestia, you provide ranged support.”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
“Ivaki and Ryeong…”
Ryeong spoke,
“I will take the flank with Ivaki.”
“Good! Finally, something fun!”
I stood beside Saladin.
“What about me?”
“You… just do what you always do. Your style.”
As usual.
Right, as usual, I took the vanguard.
And so, the battle began.
Under the moonlight, our coordination was perfect.
Saladin’s sword shone as it absorbed mana, and Bestia’s fireballs painted the night sky. Ivaki swung his massive fists wildly, smashing the monsters apart, while Ryeong perfectly covered every opening.
Nia continuously used healing and protective magic, boosting the team’s morale.
As for me… I simply fought in my own way.
Most of the magic I used was basic, but it was enough.
‘They seem like mutant monsters, but not dangerous enough to be a real threat.’
The battle ended faster than expected.
Covered head to toe in blood, Ivaki proudly shouted,
“Haha! That was a piece of cake!”
Bestia said,
“It wasn’t thanks to you, it was thanks to Ryeong.”
“You would’ve gotten hurt again if she wasn’t there.”
“What did you say?!”
Nia smiled and said,
“Alright, alright. Shall we continue building the house now?”
As the night grew deeper, our shelter gradually began to take shape.
Ryeong approached me.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Hm? No, I’m fine.”
“You must not lie.”
“Haha… as expected, I can’t fool you.”
With her usual blank expression, Ryeong grabbed my shoulder.
“Please rest. I will work in your place.”
“No, Ryeong. I can do it—”
“Van.”
She called my name, something she rarely did.
“If you collapse, everyone will worry.”
At those words, a warmth spread through part of my chest. Ryeong was always like this. On the outside, she seemed expressionless and cold, but in truth, she worried about all of us more than anyone else.
“Alright. I’ll rest for a bit. Thanks.”
I sat down on the sandy beach and watched my companions working.
Saladin carried on with his tasks in silence.
He was always composed, a model for all of us. He was the kind of person who made it obvious why he had become a hero.
Bestia grumbled, yet carried out her role perfectly.
Ivaki, despite his rough words and actions, had a warm heart.
Nia always cared for and looked after everyone.
And Ryeong.
She always stayed by my side.
With companions like these, it felt like we could overcome any hardship.
‘We will definitely… be able to defeat the Demon King.’
Back then, I believed that.
Purely, deeply believed it.
I believed in them, and I believed in our friendship.