Chapter 73
It didn't make sense that the Demon egg was moving on its own.
However, I couldn't explain how the egg I'd left in the forest had moved to the cliff.
'Let's pretend I didn't see it.'
I deliberately avoided looking at it and turned my back.
I gathered some bamboo and branches to start a fire and returned to where Kaiden was lying. I set up a spot, started a fire, and checked on Kaiden's condition frequently.
Fortunately, it didn't seem too serious, and his fever quickly subsided. Watching Kaiden's face relax, I constantly tended to the fire to keep it from going out.
That's when it happened.
Rustle.
At the sound of the bushes moving, I reflexively grabbed my dagger and sat up. I quickly looked back at Kaiden, but he showed no signs of waking up.
Even if he did wake up, I couldn't ask a sick person to fight. I bit my lower lip and steeled myself.
'I'm not confident in using my strength, I'm screwed.'
I roughly wiped the cold sweat beading on my forehead with the back of my hand and carefully moved my body.
I positioned myself to strike with the dagger at any moment and slowly walked towards the bushes where the sound had come from.
Then, very slowly, I moved one foot forward, leaning my upper body forward to see what was beyond the bushes.
Shine.
"Ah, geez, you scared me!"
Something shone brightly, reflecting the moonlight, and I almost lost my eyesight.
Well, almost losing my eyesight was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was blinding.
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and checked the object again. It was the silver egg I had encountered in the forest earlier.
Is this where I picked up the branches earlier? I shook my head with exaggerated gestures to try to ease my fear.
But no matter how I looked at it, this wasn't where I had picked up the branches earlier.
I had clearly gone deeper into the forest then, but this was right in front of where Kaiden was sleeping.
"...Why are you being so creepy?"
I picked up the egg, went deep into the forest, placed it on the ground, and covered it with leaves. It would be in trouble if it got eaten by a beast.
"But what if it's really a Monster egg?"
However, as Kaiden had said, I had a faint feeling that this thing wouldn't be aggressive towards me. It was a feeling I couldn't explain.
For example, it had rejected contact with Kaiden, but it accepted my touch.
Thinking about it, it felt like the egg really wiggled. Was I imagining things?
"Don't you follow me."
I raised my index finger and spoke to the egg in a stern tone, then just laughed at the overwhelming sense of futility.
"I think I've finally gone crazy."
I tilted my head, checked to make sure the egg was well hidden by the leaves, and then returned to my spot.
Fortunately, there were signs of dawn. Morning was finally coming.
"Haa... What a shitty night."
I stayed up all night, exhausted, and slumped against a large tree trunk with a tired face.
And not long after, the sun rose. Only then did I feel relieved and put out the fire. It was sure to get hot soon.
'I'm so tired I could die.'
I watched Kaiden, who was still unconscious, and dozed off.
My vision, which had been flickering, finally went completely dark.
\ \ *
My body was swaying and moving. I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was moving. I was being carried on a broad back.
I tilted my head slightly and saw dazzling silver hair. It was Kaiden.
"You're awake?"
Kaiden quickly noticed that I had woken up because I had moved my body.
I looked around while being carried on his back. It seemed like we had moved far away from the river and deep into the forest.
"Let me down."
I had diligently nursed him, fearing he would die, but that didn't mean I wasn't resentful of him.
Kaiden quietly retorted to my firm reply.
"Just stay on my back. You're not in good enough condition to walk right now."
"Are you giving me medicine after making me sick? You're the one who made me like this."
Kaiden didn't say anything, as if he had nothing to say.
I had been fine when he was asleep, but seeing him awake made anger boil up inside me. Perhaps the things I had been suppressing and hiding all along were finally bursting out.
I felt wronged. That the people here misunderstood and distrusted me for things I hadn't done.
I had tried to act nonchalant, saying it was understandable, but in reality, I was struggling to cope with everything that had happened to me.
'It's understandable... Then what about me? Am I okay like this?'
My eyes grew hot.
"I'm sorry."
And then Kaiden apologized to me.
"For everything. So don't cry."
I was fine.
I definitely thought I was fine.
But at Kaiden's next words, I burst into tears.
I quietly buried my face in Kaiden's shoulder. All the grievances I had endured came rushing in at once. His clothes were getting wet, but what did I care?
It was the first time in my life. That I had cried in front of someone.
Kaiden stopped walking and paced around, not knowing what to do. Whether he did or not, I sobbed silently for a long time.
Sniffle.
"Are you done crying?"
Kaiden finally asked me when I sniffled. I didn't answer and quietly got off his back.
Kaiden turned to look at me.
"I'm sorry."
He apologized to me again. I didn't answer. He bent down to my eye level.
His face came closer.
"I'm sorry, Margaret. Huh?"
Tears must still have been flowing. He reached out and wiped the tears flowing down my cheek with his thumb.
Sniffle.
I still didn't answer his question and sniffled.
'Damn it, I look like the heroine of a tragic romance.'
"You're crying so sadly."
Kaiden continued to stroke my cheek while keeping his head bowed.
I lowered my eyes and slowly looked up to meet his eyes. My eyes were probably swollen and red from crying so much, making me look ugly, but what did that matter?
"I'm sorry for doubting you."
Kaiden reached out and gently cupped my cheeks with both hands. I looked at him with hazy eyes from crying so much.
"In the first place, that wasn't important."
Kaiden's crimson eyes, which were looking at me intently, deepened.
"Margaret."
He tilted his head slightly. His sharp jawline came into view, and my gaze lingered on his lips, which were as red as his eyes.
"I want you to live. Even if I have to die saving you."
I stared at him as if possessed, then suddenly came to my senses. I furrowed my brow and asked him.
"Why are you saying it like that? Is that a confession?"
"A confession?"
Kaiden widened his eyes as if he didn't understand.
I sighed. Of course.
"No, never mind. Don't do things like dying to save me. Are you telling me to live with guilt for the rest of my life? Have you decided to change the way you torment me now?"
"That's not it..."
Kaiden, looking flustered, trailed off. I shook my head at him, who couldn't finish his sentence.
"That you doubted me, yeah. I understand. But almost dying because of it... I don't know."
I had almost died and come back to life, so I wasn't in my right mind either. It was difficult to make rational judgments, and emotional words kept coming out first.
'Well, if you're sane enough to maintain reason on this island... wouldn't that be even stranger?'
Kaiden, who was looking at me, replied with a troubled face.
"I know. I'll ask for forgiveness with actions rather than words, so don't say anything right now."
Kaiden's voice lowered.
It was a completely different, surprisingly calm voice than usual. His words and expression were more serious than any moment since I had met him.
He, who had always hidden his true intentions behind exaggerated behavior, spoke sincerely for the first time without pretense.
His heart overflowed warmly and slowly pooled towards me. The negative emotions that had been seething deep inside me gradually subsided.
"I'm sorry for doubting you."
"In the first place, that wasn't important."
"I want you to live. Even if I have to die saving you."
I touched my eyelids, which were swollen from crying a little while ago. In fact, I might have already decided not to resent him.
