.｡.:✧ Chapter 7 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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One mistake can lead to death.

It was a warning etched on my wildly pounding heart.

I wasn’t foolish enough to ignore that warning. After swiftly descending the hill, I immediately took out my shovel.

I couldn’t run away. If that unidentified enemy entered deep into my territory, there was no telling what catastrophe might occur.

Moreover, the opponent was a monster that had annihilated the bears, including their leader. Its pure strength was likely stronger than the leader of the multi-headed snakes. A head-on confrontation had no chance of victory. I knew my place well.

It was an enemy I couldn’t defeat in a direct fight.

As always.

But since when have humans been creatures that win against beasts in head-on battles? If quality is lacking, make up for it in quantity; if a direct confrontation is impossible, dig traps. If barehanded, at least pick up a stone. That’s what humans do.

So for now, the priority is to shake off that bastard. It would be even better if I could lure it towards the snakes or the dungeon.

I have to shake it off until an environment to confront it is prepared.

If I fail to do so, in the worst case, not only I but even Karina might meet a terrible end.

I’ll pass on such a future. If I’m going to die, I should at least see the island before dying.

Even Robinson Crusoe returned to his hometown before dying!

“Somehow my luck has been good these days…”

In case the enemy had a keen sense of smell, I stabbed a nearby corpse to make blood flow around it, then immediately plunged the shovel into the ground.

The soft earth was mercilessly dug up by my shoveling.

Some might say this is nonsense, but it was the best move. My shoveling skills had reached a state of mastery over the past 10 years, and I could dig the ground faster than anyone else. To the point where I could easily make a hole large enough for a person to fit in.

I couldn’t be certain that I would survive just by making a hole and going inside, but I hadn’t experienced this kind of crisis just once or twice, and I didn’t dig my grave thoughtlessly. This was my way of survival.

“Crafting.”

Once inside the hole, I immediately covered the gaping ceiling with a skill. From the outside, it looked like the same ground, but from the inside, sturdy blocks were inserted at the entrance. After perfectly disguising it to appear like an intact dirt floor, I shortened the length of the shovel and stuck it in the earthen wall right in front of me, muttering.

“Crafting.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the soil before my eyes began to compress. As the soil compressed into thin plates and embedded into the earth, the space naturally began to widen. I took out a bear bone from my pocket, gazing at the dark tunnel that was starting to form.

It was an item I had crafted to be easy to use.

“Crafting.”

I drove the bone that had become a sharp stake into the ceiling. So that even if the hole was discovered, the pursuer would be injured. It was a cheap trick to delay the pursuit even a little, but it wasn’t entirely ineffective against creatures other than snakes.

“I hope I can escape with this.”

Now that I was hidden underground, they wouldn’t be able to find me right away. I needed to come up with a plan in the meantime. I sprinkled powder at the entrance that would numb the sense of smell and cause itching on the skin.

It was an additional measure. Even if it couldn’t kill, it would still be irritating for a while.

I moved through the tunnel I had created with the skill.

Using skills like this was tiring, but it was much better than dying. They usually wouldn’t expect me to move underground.

For now, I’ll try to shake it off… If that fails, I’ll lure it as much as possible towards the snakes’ territory or the dungeon, then shake it off. Hmm, it sounds easy.

The problem is whether I can actually shake off that unidentified enemy and how strong it is.

If, just if… it’s a being that can wipe out the snakes and still have energy to spare, it would be like picking your nose without using your hands, but conversely, it means that bastard could also sweep away my territory.

In the end, the best move is to either catch that bastard within the bears’ territory or completely shake it off… but will it work?

I swallowed my saliva, feeling the vibrations that shook the ground with each step, even though I wasn’t an elephant. It probably couldn’t immediately discover my location. I moved in the opposite direction of the approaching vibrations, recalling the items in my pocket.

A few pieces of leather and bones that were running low. And mushroom powders used for various purposes and medicinal herbs for unexpected bleeding… I should have brought a bit more.

No matter what, I never expected a monster tag capable of wiping out the bears in one go to pop out. I had prepared these items with that possibility somewhat in mind, but…

“…Have I gotten far enough?”

The vibrations had diminished considerably. I touched the ceiling and activated a skill.

“Crafting.”

A plausible trapdoor appeared above my head. I carefully opened the door and poked my head out. It was a forest. The exact location was difficult to discern due to the dense trees, but thanks to the cave caught at the end of my sight, I could confirm that I had arrived at the right place.

I had moved correctly.

This was the point where the three territories collided. The most awkward place for each side to move.

Ah, if the snakes realized that the bears had been annihilated, it wouldn’t be the case.

Perhaps they had already noticed. The leader of the snakes, unlike the bears, was quite a cunning and clever bastard. If they had noticed, they would be gathering information about the new enemy around this time.

“It doesn’t seem to have followed…”

I no longer felt any vibrations. Fortunately, it seemed I had successfully escaped unscathed. That bastard was probably still searching for me around the hill. I could buy some time for a while.

I had to deal with it before it caused more havoc.

I looked in the direction where the dungeon would be. I could see the dungeon sitting with its mouth open on the ground. Judging by the broken bones scattered around the dungeon, it seemed the snakes had cleaned up in front of it.

“The snakes are taking care of their own front yard.”

Then I should also properly take care of my own front yard. Let’s put luring it towards the snakes on hold for now. In the worst case, we might all end up getting sliced together. It’s too early to hope for both sides to die when the information about the new enemy is still lacking. Now is the time to gather information.

I moved towards my territory, listening to the surrounding sounds. Thanks to the sachet, the snakes wouldn’t be able to easily approach. So I could return, only being wary of the approach of the nameless invader.

Fortunately, the only things I heard before entering my territory were angry roars and earth-shaking explosions.

Seems like it stepped on the traps properly.

Still, it looks like I can buy some time, even if it’s not much.

The news, though scant, seemed to have somewhat eased my troubled heart.

For now, let’s return and inform Karina of the situation. It would be easier to engage in battle if I evacuate her first.

And I need to gather a few more items necessary for the fight.

I looked up at the sky that was starting to darken, busily formulating a plan in my mind.

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‘…You’re late. I hope nothing happened.’

Karina, who had been stirring the green-tinted stew with a ladle, looked at the door that showed no sign of opening.

Johann, her savior, had yet to return even though it was about time for the day to end.

“I hope he returns safely…”

If something happened to him, she would have no one else to rely on. Although she had been gradually learning survival knowledge from Johann, compared to him, she was still at a level where she couldn’t even take her first steps. If she were left alone, she would eventually become a corpse with her hands clasped in prayer.

She shuddered at the thought of her corpse being treated as a holy relic and stuffed in a temple. The Pope was someone who could do such a thing if it meant attracting more believers.

Her face darkened as she recalled that greedy Pope.

Desperately shaking her head to rid herself of the unpleasant memories of the temple, she decided to focus more on worrying about Johann Quartz, her lifesaver. It was a train of thought she couldn’t understand herself, but she rationalized it as her heart being that way originally.

‘I want to go out and look for him, but Johann told me not to wander around unless absolutely necessary…’

Karina quickly abandoned the idea of searching for Johann. It was obvious that she would only be a burden if she went out in her current state, unable to even run as her body hadn’t fully recovered yet. In the worst case, she might get lost, and Johann would have to search for her.

As someone who had been under escort for a long time, she knew well how much of a nuisance that would be.

‘But I’m still worried. I really hope nothing happened…’

Karina’s face sank into concern. However, she didn’t even realize that she was making a worried expression. This kind of peculiar relationship was a first for her.

Her world had always consisted of Renny, who had been by her side, a few priests, and high-ranking nobles and their children.

Relationships where they had no choice but to wear masks and engage in hypocritical conversations.

Karina had always wanted to escape from such relationships. She wanted relationships where she could have silly chats like other children her age, go out to play, and sometimes even fight… She didn’t want to live like a caged bird. Even if everyone wanted her to be that way.

It wasn’t that she didn’t sincerely believe in Kalon, but she was still a young girl, not even an adult yet. One who would be swayed by small temptations.

If the Pope had known, he would have been appalled, but who would scold her for having impious thoughts on a deserted island with nothing but two people and monsters? At most, her conscience would poke her a few times with its finger.

Karina had yet to realize that the collar that had been tightening around her neck was starting to loosen little by little.

‘I want to recover quickly and help Johann.’

At least for now, that was her only thought. Enrolling in the Academy was also a special occasion for her, but since she was trapped on a deserted island anyway, the Academy was something she could only go to in her dreams.

So for now, the most important thing was to pray for Johann Quartz’s safe return.

As she was praying at an inopportune time in front of the pot, she heard a faint sound of footsteps.

It was a familiar rhythm.

Light shone on her darkened face. With a fluttering heart, she got up from her seat and approached the door.

Creak-

The door opened before she could reach for the doorknob.

Karina’s gaze naturally rose upward. The head of the person she had been anxiously waiting for was slightly above hers.

“Welcome back.”

A gentle voice was carried to him by the warm air.

He rolled his eyes with an awkward expression in response to her greeting, then nodded and opened his mouth.

“…I’m back.”

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