SAE 17

Chapter 17

Félix regained consciousness only after quite a long time had passed.

“Ugh… is it morning…?”

Morning? Where in the world would morning be in a place like this?

There’s no way to tell when the sun sets or when a full day goes by.

“Are you feeling okay?”

He was someone who’d passed out after fighting monsters nonstop. I couldn’t bring myself to scold him as coldly as I usually did.

When Félix nodded, saying he was fine, I handed him a mushroom.

“Hungry? Eat.”

“Thanks. You’re the best, Rosette…”

For a brief moment, Félix gazed at me with teary gratitude—then immediately stuffed the mushroom into his mouth and tore through it like a starving beast.

Seeing him eat so well, it looked like he really had recovered.

Once his stomach was full, he finally had the presence of mind to look around—and when he did, his eyes widened.

“What? Those guys still haven’t made it to the next island?”

“You didn’t sleep that long.”

“No, but still…”

He seemed shocked that Leonard and his team were still fighting in the river.

Félix stared, mouth hanging open, unable to take his eyes off Leonard and the others struggling to cross.

Did he still have lingering attachment to them?

I wondered for a moment but stood up without a word.

I was going to tell Isael that Félix had woken up safely.

This island had a desert-like terrain.

So even from a distance, I could clearly see Isael swinging his sword.

I walked toward him, stepping on dry, powdery sand. Every step sank deep, making the walk more difficult than it looked.

“Isael, training hard?”

“Ah.”

Isael froze the moment he saw me, then tossed his sword onto the ground.

He hurriedly grabbed the shirt he’d left lying near his feet and put it on.

“Why did you come?”

“…You’re talking like I came somewhere I’m not allowed to be?”

“No, that’s not—no, forget it.”

Isael ruffled his hair roughly with one hand and suddenly stared off into the distance, like he wanted to look anywhere but at me.

As though avoiding my eyes…

Staring at his profile, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Does he think I’m some kind of pervert?

Sure, it was a nice view.

While waiting for Félix to wake up, I had watched Isael train from afar with a very satisfied nod more than once.

But I’m not a pervert. Really.

I was just pleased by how hard he was training.

“Ahem. Aren’t you hot?”

I handed him the leather water pouch.

It was filled at the lake on the previous island.

Isael accepted it gratefully, took only a tiny sip—just enough to wet his lips—and handed it back.

“Why? Drink more.”

“No, I’m good.”

He stretched his limbs casually as he spoke.

Saving every resource he could—very admirable.

I bent down to pick up the sword he had tossed aside.

And then I noticed something I hadn’t before.

“The sword… it’s changed?”

The holy sword looked completely different—anyone would notice the transformation instantly.

When had the appearance changed?

On the previous island, it had still looked like the same old battered sword I knew.

I examined it carefully, then handed it back to Isael.

“It changed on the way to this island.”

“Really? Just like that?”

“…I think I heard a voice, too.”

Isael frowned as he tried to recall.

“But I was fighting monsters at the time, so maybe I just misheard… I don’t know.”

“Hm… yeah?”

Maybe Isael was getting used to handling the holy sword’s power just like I had.

At this rate, he might actually become the rightful wielder of the holy sword.

That thought felt refreshing.

If the holy sword awakened completely, Exsolid would belong to Isael—no question.

Then Leonard wouldn’t be able to snatch it later.

Something originally destined for Leonard ending up in Isael’s hands…

The thought alone was delightful.

“Anyway, stop training. Let’s go. Félix woke up.”

“Okay.”

I left the sandy area with Isael.

When we returned, Félix was exactly the same as before—still sitting blankly, staring beyond the island.

“You’re still watching what they’re doing?”

“…Leonard just now made it to the second island safely.”

“Took longer than I expected.”

Since Leonard was the protagonist, I assumed he’d reach the island quickly.

But they’d struggled far longer with the monsters than I predicted before finally crossing.

“No one died. Some people are pretty injured though…”

Wow, Félix. You’re doing a whole live commentary over there—completely uselessly.

It seemed he still hadn’t fully let go of his attachment to that group.

Ignoring him, I handed Isael a mushroom.

Once I made sure Isael was eating it properly, I summoned the spirit.

“Go look around and check if there’s anything useful or valuable on this island.”

The spirit nodded slowly and walked off.

I watched it leave, then closed my eyes.

Time to get some rest.

‘It’s a little hot…’

But nothing unbearable.

Better hot than cold, I thought, and drifted into a light sleep.

“Rosette.”

Someone called my name.

But I couldn’t see anything.

I was sure my eyes were open, yet everything was pitch black.

“Rosette, can you hear my voice?”

The voice sounded familiar.

Who is that…?

I was certain I’d heard it before.

Thinking carefully, I soon realized.

“Lewis?”

Yes—Lewis.

Leonard’s childhood friend. The mage who swore he’d get Leonard out of this tower.

“It’s me. Lewis.”

Hearing him admit it so easily left me stunned.

“…What kind of stupid dream is this?”

I muttered, but Lewis immediately corrected me.

“This is not a dream. It’s magic.”

“…”

“I can’t come meet you physically, but it seems this much is possible. I just tried it in case it worked.”

“What the…”

“I wanted to meet you in person to make a proposal, but the magic flowing between the islands keeps interfering.”

…So you invaded my dream instead?

I was so dumbfounded I fell silent.

I didn’t want to talk to him at all.

Either unaware or uncaring, Lewis continued calmly.

“I have a proposal.”

Very confident, this guy.

“We’ll compensate you in whatever way you desire for Leonard’s past mistake. So how about you work with us again?”

Bullshit.

I snorted.

Did he really not know what my answer would be?

‘If so, he’s even dumber than I thought.’

How do I wake up? How do I break out of this stupid dream?

“I’ll give you time to think. I’ll come back again—”

“Oh, no you won’t!”

The moment he said he’d come again, I lost my patience.

I shuddered.

“I said no. So get lost.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t you hear? I said get lost.”

“Ha…?”

“No need to give me time.”

I continued quickly.

“Don’t talk to me again. Don’t come looking for me like this.”

“…Rosette. It’s not a bad offer for you. You should at least consider it. I’m a capable mage, and Leonard—”

“Yeah, I don’t care. I said no. Just get out.”

And at that moment, I woke up.

“…What the hell?”

Was it just a stupid dream?

Or did Lewis actually enter my dream through magic?

I had no idea. I was just confused.

I blinked away the sleepiness and glanced toward the opposite island.

There, I saw a pale-faced man with sharply cut silver hair staring in my direction.

Lewis.

I couldn’t see his expression clearly, but I could guess it wasn’t a pleasant one.

‘Looks like that wasn’t just a dream after all.’

Was he really planning to come again?

Maybe I should have rejected him more clearly—given a detailed explanation—just to make sure he got the message?

…No, forget it. They can’t reach us anyway.

They can’t even leave that island, and with the situation being what it is, he’s not coming over here to bother me.

Just ignore it.

Pretend I heard a bunch of nonsense and move on.

“…Huh?”

Wait a second.

Would it be possible for me to send only the spirit to another island…?

It would take a lot of mana, but maybe… just maybe… it could work?