<Episode 62>

“That barrier weakens if it’s touched by blood infused with my divine power.”

“How do you know that?”

Abellard sighed as he responded.

“When you and Eveline started acting strangely before, the same kind of barrier blocked our way. That’s how we broke through it.”

To be more precise, it was because he understood the nature of the goddess Remeros that made it possible.

Abellard didn’t offer more explanation.

He had a vague idea that the god protecting Eveline was Dekarv, just as he knew that the god protecting Elkais was Remeros.

The goddess of creation and the past, Remeros, had the nature of giving her creations opportunities, consistent with her role in creation.

Therefore, the barrier likely considered both the perspective of the one blocking and the one breaking through.

On the other hand, Dekarv, the god protecting Eveline, wasn’t like that. As the god of destruction and the future, Dekarv had a straightforward and uncompromising nature. He preferred to destroy everything, aligning himself with the strong.

Thus, it was likely Dekarv who had sent Eveline to that place to punish her for violating the rules.

“Let’s make a raft. That way, I can apply my blood to the barrier, and you can swing your sword.”

“…Alright.”

Elkais wanted to ask if Abellard was certain, but he didn’t. He just wanted to act, to do something.

Driven by the singular thought that he needed to reach Eveline, Elkais set aside his doubts and decided to follow Abellard’s plan.

“You go cut down the trees. I’ll head to the cabin to make ropes. I’ll tear up the clothes there and braid them.”

“Alright.”

Elkais nodded and went to cut down trees.

Abellard sighed before heading to the cabin.

He quickly grabbed some clothes and made his way back to the beach.

However, what he hadn’t expected was—

“Are you a monster?”

“What nonsense is that?”

“How long was I gone to the cabin? How did you do all this?”

Elkais, clearly uninterested in answering, simply gave an annoyed grunt. Abellard stared at the neatly cut trees Elkais had stacked, ready to be used for the raft, as if they were prepared by a professional.

“Do you even know how to make rope?”

“No. I figured I’d just try and see what happens.”

Elkais sighed, as if expecting that response, and swung his sword to cut Eveline’s discarded wedding dress into smaller pieces.

“I’ll show you how. Watch closely.”

“You arrogant jerk! You’re so damn annoying!”

“Fine, you can curse all you want, but make sure you get the rope right.”

Elkais ignored Abellard’s insults, his mind already preoccupied with Eveline, who was on the island across from them.

“I really hate you.”

“Yeah. I got it.”

Abellard picked up the small pieces of the wedding dress Elkais had cut and sat beside him.

“Braid it like this. It will be stronger that way.”

Watching Elkais twist the fabric into ropes, Abellard found the process easier than expected and started following his example.

After hours of braiding ropes until the fingerprints on their hands nearly wore off, Elkais stood up and began binding the logs lined up on the ground.

Abellard, having spent half a day braiding ropes, felt his back, neck, and hands ache.

“Eve…”

He tried to gather his strength by thinking of Eveline.

I love you, Abellard.

“I love you too.”

He imagined her, trying to recharge his energy.

“You sound like a lunatic.”

“Just focus on making the raft.”

Despite Elkais’s sharp words, Abellard didn’t get angry. His mind was too focused on imagining Eveline to care.

His heart pounded, and he clutched his chest.

“I don’t think I’ll live long.”

“That would be great.”

“I’ll still outlive you.”

“Sure, keep dreaming.”

Elkais continued assembling the raft with ease. Within half an hour, half of it was done.

“What about the oars?”

“Only now you think of that?”

Elkais eyed a large tree and swung his sword. A blade of energy sliced through the tree, cutting it into pieces like a whip.

“Isn’t this cheating?”

“Your nonsense is more entertaining than usual today. Keep going.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“I’m on the verge of losing it. So keep babbling, or I might swim over there after killing everyone.”

Elkais was dead serious. Every time he thought of Eveline, his anxiety grew, making him feel like he was losing control.

The only thing that slightly eased his tension was Abellard’s constant whining and irritating chatter.

“You’re insane.”

“Thanks.”

Abellard flopped down in the shade, trying to catch his breath.

“I miss Eve so much.”

“I told you to say annoying things, not things like that.”

“I miss her so much I could die.”

“…”

Elkais sighed, deciding it wasn’t worth responding.

Another half hour passed, and Elkais finished the raft. He tied the remaining fabric to make a sail, so they could ride the wind across.

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah!”

Abellard jumped up from the shade as soon as the raft was complete and climbed on board.

“You’re getting on before we even push it out?”

“You’re strong. Just push it. I don’t want to get wet.”

Elkais considered slicing him in half, but thoughts of Eveline stopped him.

As much as Abellard didn’t act like her brother, killing him would only make Eveline sad.

“Fine.”

Elkais bit back his words and pushed the raft into the water. It wasn’t difficult—what was difficult was resisting the urge to twist Abellard’s neck.

“Are you mad?”

He thought about how Eveline had once been in that same body. As much as he wanted to strangle Abellard, images of Eveline softened his thoughts.

I’m Eveline.

He recalled the way she had looked directly at him with that same face.

“Just stay quiet.”

With that, Elkais pushed the raft out and easily climbed aboard, rowing powerfully toward the transparent barrier.

When they arrived, Elkais gripped his sword, and Abellard, understanding the signal, extended his wrist.

“Do it.”

“I don’t want to. Cutting myself is scary.”

“You can heal it afterward.”

“I don’t care. Just hurry.”

Elkais was about to slice Abellard’s arm but hesitated when he saw the genuinely frightened look on his face—it reminded him too much of Eveline when she was upset.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t. You do it yourself.”

“Unbelievable.”

Abellard sneered, grabbed the sword from Elkais, and sighed before closing his eyes and slicing his own wrist.

“Ugh…”

As blood flowed from the cut, Abellard grabbed his arm and smeared the blood over Elkais’s sword.

“Now, attack the barrier.”

“…Right. Heal yourself.”

“Not yet. We don’t know if it’ll break immediately.”

“Stop being so rational. It’s making you sound like Eveline.”

“What?”

Elkais realized what he had said and regretted it. Abellard wasn’t the type to let that slip by.

“Ah, so that’s why you’ve been acting so nice. Because I remind you of Eveline?”

“Shut up.”

“Wow, you’re hilarious. You’re such a stuck-up idiot!”

Abellard started to laugh, but quickly caught himself.

“I’ll tease you later. For now, break the barrier.”

“…I know.”

Elkais gripped his sword tightly and swung it at the barrier.

*Boom!*

The sword clashed with the barrier, creating a strange sound.

*Zing… Crash!*

The barrier trembled and then shattered under the force of the sword.

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

At that moment, Abellard healed his arm, and Elkais jumped into the water, preferring to swim, knowing it would be faster than rowing.

* * *

“What are you doing?”

When Eveline regained consciousness, she felt dizzy, as if her blood was rushing backward. Upon opening her eyes, she understood why.

“You’re awake, my lady.”

The Crown Prince, Ferite, smiled as he carried her over his shoulder like a sack of goods.

Seeing him climbing the mountain with her, Eveline tried to think rationally.

“It seems like the two royal Alphas from the other island are trying to come over here.”

“Oh.”

“I remembered you wanted to avoid them, so I took you with me. Was that displeasing?”

“No.”

Eveline still had a slight fever, making it difficult to move. Her underarms ached, but not just there—her entire body felt sore and strained.

“Where are you taking me?”

“There’s a temple further up the mountain.”

“You can’t go there. Isn’t that Yulias’s temple?”

“No, it’s red.”

Eveline suddenly remembered how she hadn’t been able to enter Yulias’s temple with Abellard.

But if the god behind her was Dekarv…

She had no weapon, as Ferite hadn’t brought her gun.

“Should we not go?”

“No, let’s go. If it’s a red temple, it’s likely Dekarv’s.”

“I thought so too.”

Eveline sighed and relaxed her body. Ferite shifted her into a more comfortable position and met her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Since we’re going anyway, I wanted to earn some points with you. Did I do well?”

“Yes.”

Ignoring his intense gaze, Eveline simply closed her eyes.