<Episode 36>

Abellard quickly scrambled up the mountain he had just descended, using both hands to push off the ground.

Living on this island for a year had trained his body well, making the climb not too difficult.

However, he knew that if he pretended to be in pain and struggling, Eveline would pay attention to him, so he acted as if it was hard.

“Oh.”

Even now, he almost reflexively said those words.

As he climbed the mountain, he recalled how Eveline had treated him.

<Eve, I’m in so much pain.>

When he said that, she looked at him with softened eyes and sighed.

Her red hair, as beautiful as roses, and her blue eyes, reminiscent of the sky.

“Ah, I need to stop thinking about this.”

Suddenly, his heart rate increased too much, making it hard to walk. He paused for a moment to think about something else.

<Pathetic.>

“Damn it.”

As soon as he thought of Elkais, his mood plummeted. His heart rate dropped as if it had never risen.

With a now cold expression, he resumed climbing the mountain.

He always felt there were too many useless rocks. The ground was damp, making his shoes unpleasantly wet.

He truly hated this island.

If only he and Eveline were alone on this island. He was confident he could spend the rest of his days happily.

“Well, it’s bound to happen anyway.”

He regretted saying that out loud because his heart rate shot up again, forcing him to stop.

“Eve… I’m really struggling here.”

He had to admit to himself that he said it hoping she would listen.

After calming his overflowing energy, he pushed through the trees and continued upwards.

He climbed much faster than before, and his breath was short.

“Phew.”

Arriving at the spot where he had killed Rubellite Croppers, he was annoyed to find no body.

There was a large bloodstain and footprints leading up the mountain.

He decided to summon his bow to kill him.

As long as Eveline didn’t find out he could summon weapons, he would be fine.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t be discovered, but if she did, she would immediately realize all the wrongs he had done.

And the moment she realized he wasn’t someone who needed protection, her affection for him would vanish.

“Hey, are you there?”

Abellard called out for Grand Duke Rubellite Croppers, who might be nearby.

“Hmm? Are you there?”

Abellard frowned at the rotten fish smell from Rubellite’s blood as he tracked his pheromones.

The dark, almost black bloodstains were smeared everywhere, making it hard to track him.

Covering his nose with his hand to block out the nauseating pheromone smell, Abellard took a moment to catch his breath.

“I should have brought a handkerchief.”

He thought of the handkerchief stained with Eveline’s blood. If he had brought that, it might have been less bothersome.

“No, let’s handle this quickly and leave.”

What bothered him more was that Eveline had gone hunting with Elkais.

He didn’t want them to get closer.

No, if they became close and then Elkais died, Eveline might rely on him.

“No, our Eveline isn’t that kind of person.”

He regained his sanity and rationality.

As he tracked the bloodstains, he realized something.

“Sigh.”

He had the ability to heal.

“I should have gone for the neck.”

He knew Rubellite would return to the group.

Although he didn’t know Rubellite’s intentions, it was clear they were different from his own.

[Illegal intruder allowance (1/0)

D-Day 4.

Grand Duke Croppers is currently heading to the hut.]

Abellard picked up the paper that appeared before him as if warning him. The black letters on the bright blue paper were scrawled angrily.

“I know.”

Abellard pouted and had to head back down.

* * *

“There are so many raspberries.”

Following Elkais, she found a place with plenty of large, ripe raspberries. Many of them looked edible.

“How did you know about this place?”

“It seemed like you liked raspberries.”

He probably thought so because of the red mark on her cheek on the day Rubellite was brought.

Come to think of it, he had picked raspberries that day too.

“Elkais, you’re quite kind.”

“Me?”

“Yes. But please don’t be too nice to me.”

Eveline warned him.

She was aware that his kindness might be due to the Omega pheromones she emitted.

But she didn’t want to admit that she had become an Omega. She was stuck in a state of denial and acceptance.

The circumstances suggested that Rubellite was right and that she had become an Omega.

But she desperately hoped it wasn’t true.

If she had become an Omega, it would be hard to escape from the Alphas chasing her. She would be with dangerous individuals who could go into rut at any time, and she herself might experience heat cycles.

Living as a Beta was tough, but becoming an Omega in this situation was far from desirable.

She even thought that becoming an Alpha might have been better.

“Why are you saying that?”

“Because when you’re so nice to me, I might misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what?”

“That you like me.”

Elkais pressed his lips into a thin line at her words.

Seeing his expression, she realized she had misunderstood and felt her cheeks flush.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“…Alright. I’ll be careful.”

He reflected on his actions.

It was true he needed to be cautious about being overly kind to her. He still didn’t understand why he felt a tickling sensation whenever he saw her.

It felt like being intoxicated by pheromones.

“Sorry if I upset you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

He watched her blush and smile absentmindedly.

“Eveline.”

“Yes?”

“Your pheromones… are stronger today.”

“Oh, really? I’m sorry. Should I move away a bit?”

His heart started pounding again, perhaps because of the scent emanating from her.

But seeing her smiling face disappear left him with a strange sense of loss.

Don’t move away.

As soon as he thought that, he snapped back to reality and said, “Yes, it’s probably best if you do.”

“Alright.”

She agreed readily and stepped back a few paces before starting to pick raspberries.

Elkais watched her pick raspberries with her small, white hands.

He wondered how she could use such rough magic without a single callus on her hands. Glancing at the weapon she carried, he quickly looked away and focused on picking raspberries himself.

Despite how easy it was to pick them, it felt like no matter how many he picked, the quantity didn’t increase.

When the sun was high in the sky, Eveline spoke first.

“The sun is too hot. Shall we go back?”

“Sure.”

Unconsciously, he raised his hand over her face as if to shade her.

“Hahaha. If you do that, it will be hard to walk forward.”

“I suppose so.”

Elkais was puzzled as to why he had done something so foolish. Still, he was a bit worried that her fair skin might get sunburned.

“Do you want to wear this on your head?”

“No need. The forest is dense enough.”

He started to take off his shirt to give to her, but she refused immediately.

Elkais glanced at the bird eggs inside his red cloak and the raspberries she had gathered in her handkerchief, then turned to start walking.

“It’d be nice if we encountered a puma on the way back.”

Eveline was walking briskly, holding her loaded gun.

“Yes. If we catch one, we can make some jerky.”

“I love jerky.”

Her response made him smile involuntarily as he led the way.

* * *

As Eveline and Elkais arrived at the hut, Abellard was coming down from the mountain.

“Brother? Why are you empty-handed?”

“Eve…! Why are you back so soon?”

“What about you, brother?”

Eveline was suspicious of Abellard, who seemed flustered.

But Abellard, not thinking, ran straight to her.

“Eve!”

“Brother. What’s all this blood?”

“Ah…”

He needed to come up with an excuse, but her suspicious gaze was so cute that he couldn’t think straight.

“I got hurt.”

Abellard turned his cold gaze behind him. Then Rubellite, who hadn’t been there a moment ago, appeared.

“You, are you injured?”

Eveline frowned as she checked his condition.

She suspected that he knew something about the island. And so did Abellard.

It seemed that only she and Elkais were completely clueless about the island.

“My hand hurts a lot.”

His hand had a hole in it, as if it had been pierced by something, and was bleeding.

“This wound was caused by your brother, Lady.”

Eveline looked at Abellard in confusion, and he struggled to find words, his mouth opening and closing without sound.