Chapter 15
“Anyway, why all of a sudden?”
“I thought I could teach you a bit more. Of course, only if you want.”
“Ah…”
“I also think training together with me could be fine.”
I hesitated for a moment, then shook my head.
“For now, it’s better to focus on mastering the new ability first.”
The ability to control the spirit.
Right now, it would be reasonable to spend all my time just to fully master it.
“Once you’re completely familiar with this ability, I’ll learn swordsmanship from you.”
“Alright.”
I didn’t expect Isayel to think of that.
The fact that he considered teaching me swordsmanship was impressive.
Isayel, I’m genuinely touched.
“You were thinking about me, right? Thank you for suggesting it.”
“…Not really.”
Seeing my smiling face, Isayel turned his head and cleared his throat again.
When Isayel and I emerged from the forest, Felix came running toward us as if waiting.
“What? Stay back.”
As soon as Felix got close, Isayel warned him.
Felix hesitated briefly, then with a resolute expression said,
“Rosette, I’ve decided.”
“Decided what?”
Was he going to say some nonsense again?
I looked at him coldly.
“I’m going to go all the way with you. I’ve decided to get out of here with you.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah!”
Ugh, my ears.
“Speak a little quieter!”
“Ah, sorry…”
He made a big deal out of something not even that impressive.
“Well… anyway, I just wanted to say I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
“Yeah, alright.”
I answered vaguely and started organizing my bag.
It wasn’t surprising that Felix decided not to return to his comrades.
‘I’d do the same.’
Going back alone to the other side would be too reckless.
‘He sure knows how to weigh pros and cons.’
Felix could be irritating, but he was unexpectedly pulling his weight.
Occasionally annoying, but he was helping us in small ways.
His decision to stay wasn’t a bad thing for me either.
“Hey, Rosette…”
“Why?”
After organizing my bag, I looked up. Felix spoke cautiously.
“I’ll try to help you as much as I can from now on, so watch me.”
“Uh… alright.”
I answered vaguely again, and Isayel nudged Felix aside and stood next to me.
“What did you talk about?”
“Oh, he said he’ll be coming with us from now on.”
“…Suddenly?”
Isayel frowned as he looked back at Felix.
By the way, he still didn’t know that Leonard had arrived here.
“Well, I saw the Camelot Empire people arrive earlier.”
I pointed to the first island we passed.
“See that? The island we came from.”
Isayel glanced at the first island with a serious expression.
“…There are some people I haven’t seen before.”
“Yeah. Since we couldn’t hear anything, we realized it late, but it seems they’ve also made it safely to this floor.”
Isayel thought for a moment, then turned to look at Felix.
“So that shouting earlier, was it because of those people?”
“Yes, Your Highness! I discovered them first!”
Felix looked proud, as if expecting praise.
“Hmm… those guys, huh.”
Isayel muttered gloomily, staring at the island, then stood there for a while without looking away.
After taking a brief rest, I sat Isayel and Felix down and began explaining.
“Listen, this is the plan.”
It was really simple, not much of a plan.
“We’ll keep an eye on them, and when they try to move here, we’ll head to the next island.”
Once the monsters gather on the other side, we can use that gap to move.
Fewer monsters will remain here than we faced before.
‘We’re using them as bait.’
We’re not pushing anyone outside; we’re just taking advantage of them to make our move easier.
I didn’t feel guilty about this plan at all.
“We’ll see how the monsters react, but if it goes as I predict, it’ll be much easier.”
“Certainly… that makes sense.”
Hopefully, it goes exactly as I expect.
Glancing at the first island, I saw Leonard standing there.
‘You’ll never make it here easily.’
As a protagonist, he might manage to leave this floor somehow, but that would have to wait until we’re already below.
I planned to stay ahead and take everything useful for myself, leaving nothing worthwhile for them when they arrive.
“Any objections?”
“None.”
Isayel answered immediately. Felix nodded quickly as well.
I looked at Isayel approvingly and took out the mushrooms from my bag.
“Now, let’s eat this.”
Felix’s eyes widened.
“Oh! Mushrooms? Where did you get them?”
“Found them by the lake.”
“Wow… we get to chew on something…”
He looked genuinely happy to have something edible.
‘Considering we’ve been eating just beans and such.’
I chose the biggest mushroom for Isayel and gave the ugliest one to Felix.
“Thanks, Rosette.”
Felix chewed happily, savoring the raw mushroom.
‘…Is it really that tasty?’
I took a bite myself.
‘Ugh.’
Raw, uncooked, strong smell, not really palatable—definitely not my taste.
‘Hah… I want meat.’
Still, it was something. I swallowed it, grit my teeth, as if chewing dirt.
After the meal, we rested while observing the first island.
Soon, Leonard and his group left the island and seemed to move toward our side.
As always, Leonard led the way.
The others followed, moving down to the river.
Leonard swung a decent sword I had given him, cutting down monsters.
Kane followed with a mace, battling monsters, while Louis protected Ariana with magic in the back row, and Jade defended the rear.
Even from afar, they worked well together.
All of them were useless guys, but if someone like Louis the mage had arrived instead of Felix, it would’ve been better.
‘Kane’s fine. Jade’s not bad either…’
But my reality was Felix.
I looked at him, sighing with disappointment.
Felix flinched and stepped back.
“Rosette, what are you thinking? Your face…”
“My face, what about it?”
“No, never mind.”
I sighed at Felix’s frantic head-shaking.
Yeah, Felix has his strengths too—if you look hard enough.
At least he feels guilty and apologetic toward me.
Whether he’ll actually help me in the future remains to be seen.
As expected, the monsters were crowding toward Leonard’s group.
Of course, there were still plenty fighting among themselves near our island.
But it seemed easier than before to move to the next island.
I looked at Isayel.
“Let’s head out now.”
“Alright.”
Isayel, already prepared, nodded once and led the way off the island.
