SAE 12

Chapter 12

Come to think of it, my precious spiritual phantom was far more capable than Felix.

So I concluded that if it was just the three of us—myself, the phantom, and Isael—leading the way, we could move a little faster.

If we quickly reached the next island, we could avoid wasting our energy like before.

Still, I was a bit hesitant to leave Felix in charge of the rear.

I never knew what nonsense he might pull from behind.

Sigh… what should I do with that guy…

Every possible contingency seemed insufficient. After all, we barely managed to get to this first island.

Besides, we only recovered because we ate beans—both Isael and I had sustained minor injuries from the previous battle.

With so many islands left, it made sense for Isael and me to lead the way to minimize injuries.

“Felix.”

“Huh?”

“Do you think you can handle the monsters from behind and keep up?”

“I’ll try!”

Felix replied with enthusiasm.

I eyed him suspiciously.

“You wouldn’t dare attack Isael from behind or use me as bait, would you?”

“Of course not! What do you take me for?”

“Take you for? A guy who’s already abandoned me once, that’s what.”

“……”

Felix shut his mouth, apparently with no reply.

Isael, quietly observing the conversation, stared at him coldly.

After a moment, Felix spoke again.

“……I’m not stupid enough to not realize you’re letting me tag along.”

“Really?”

“Really! So don’t worry. I’ll do my best to be helpful.”

I studied his face carefully.

He didn’t seem to be lying. Even if he were, right now there was no better option.

“Fine. I’ll leave it to you—stay behind this time.”

“Got it.”

With Felix behind us, Isael and I stepped into the river.

As soon as we exited the island, the surrounding monsters, which had been fighting each other, gradually noticed us.

Their eyes—shaped in all sorts of monstrous forms—were filled only with the will to kill.

—Grrr!

The first one, a dog-shaped monster, lunged at us.

I dispatched it using my spiritual phantom.

Shraaa!

The phantom shredded the monster instantly.

Meanwhile, Isael was cutting down a monster that looked human on top but had a quadruped lower body.

After confirming Isael efficiently handled the monster, I took care of my share.

Slash! Blood splashed onto my face.

I quickly wiped the obstructing blood from my vision and swung my dagger at the next monster.

At the same time, my phantom shredded another one beside me.

The three of us pressed forward steadily, step by step.

At least they’re not coordinating attacks…

That was the one advantage on our side.

We attacked in unison, while the monsters, driven only by instinct, were running blindly toward us.

I strained to control the phantom while swinging my dagger.

I have to save the beans.

They would be essential if we suffered severe injuries or hunger.

I couldn’t waste them just because my magic power was slightly low.

The first island we had crossed was the smallest among the islands on this floor.

Islands closer to the door were larger in size.

The first island had nothing, but maybe the next one would have food—or some useful item.

Thump!

Shraaa!

I gritted my teeth and killed monster after monster.

Interestingly, Isael’s sword, which was already missing teeth, didn’t break easily.

No, it was perfectly intact. Was it a holy sword that didn’t need awakening to be strong?

Boom! Another monster fell to Isael’s swing.

“We’re almost at the island! Hang in there, Rosette! Keep going, Your Highness!”

I heard Felix cheering from behind.

If you have energy to shout, use it to kill at least one more monster, you fool…

Anyway, he was right—the second island was right ahead.

Isael and I waded through the river, felling endless monsters as we moved forward.

Then, at some point…

“Ugh.”

I heard Isael let out a small groan.

Even with the deafening cries of the monsters, the sound was unmistakable.

It was tiny, yet I heard Isael clearly.

“…Isael?”

Isael!

Isael collapsed as soon as he reached the island.

He wasn’t fully unconscious, but his body felt completely limp.

“Did the prince get badly hurt?”

Felix, who had just arrived on the island, ran over with a shocked expression.

I bit my lower lip and rummaged through my bag.

First, feed him a bean, then check his injuries—that was my plan.

I carefully held Isael’s face, opened his mouth, and inserted a bean.

During this, Isael merely looked at me with weary eyes.

His condition looked serious.

His complexion was pale, as if he could die at any moment…

Felix, observing Isael, murmured suspiciously, “There’s no obvious fatal injury… so what’s the problem?”

I examined Isael’s body and finally concluded:

“I think the wound on his neck is the issue.”

A long cut ran across Isael’s nape.

It was the only injury that could be affecting his state.

But even that wound alone shouldn’t have incapacitated him this badly.

Felix, observing the wound closely, said,

“Looks like a scratch from something sharp… maybe a claw?”

“Could it be poison?”

The thought occurred to me suddenly.

“I suspect a monster attacked him with poison on its claws.”

“Well… I can’t be sure, but that’s possible,” Felix nodded.

Talking with him gave me some certainty.

Isael had likely been poisoned.

Should I have rested longer before moving…?

I worried that delaying would waste resources, so I had rushed to the next island.

I exhaled softly and handed a bean to Felix.

“…Here, eat this too.”

Felix was also badly hurt; his face was covered in blood.

“You need to eat too, Rosette.”

“I’m fine.”

“…Make sure you eat before you change your mind.”

“Alright, alright.”

After confirming Felix quickly ate the bean, I got up.

“Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“Stay here. I’ll look for something in the forest.”

“Me, alone here?”

“One person has to watch Isael’s condition.”

“…Right. Okay.”

Felix nodded, pale with fear.

Not very reassuring, but I had a task to do.

Sitting here wouldn’t solve anything.

I needed to find something in this forest that could help Isael recover.

I scanned the dark, ominous forest.

Then—

Tap, tap.

“…Hmm?”

Someone tapped my shoulder.

I thought it was Felix, but it wasn’t.

It was the spiritual phantom that hadn’t disappeared yet.

The phantom raised its arm and pointed to itself.

I stared blankly, unsure what it meant, when a voice echoed in my mind:

—I, can, absorb, the, poison.