I'm Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 158

24. The Return of the Seven

Noel Bennon Ruthison, a member of the Central Infantry of the Empire of Langridge, prayed and prayed that this sickening, land-grabbing war would end as soon as possible.

The Continental War broke out again in the Holy Land of Romalizan. Before going to today’s first round of the war, Noel woke up early in the morning, setting his drink in front of his barracks and praying.

His comrade, Heisen, walked by and asked, “Noel, what are you doing up at dawn?”

“Can’t you see? I’m praying, dude.”

“The way you pray must have changed without my knowledge.”

“It’s a story from the Northern Empire. They say that if you pray like this, the gods of the earth will hear you.”

“You believe in that kind of superstition? You’ll be in trouble if the Holy See catches wind of it.”

“We’re already fighting the Holy See tooth and nail, so what does it matter?”

Unable to respond to Noel’s rebuttal, Heisen finally shut up.

That’s right. This insane war taking place in Romalizan was a power struggle between all the forces of the Western Continent, including the Holy See and the Wizards’ Association (Magic Tower), the Empire of Langridge, the Kingdom of Hestia, and the Northern Principalities and Empires.

“Where did the missing ‘seven’ go? This is truly a mystery that will forever be remembered in history. Only when they return will this damn war end or there will be a ceasefire,” Noel muttered with a sigh.

Heisen shrugged, looking around at the soldiers bustling about as the sun began to rise. “Unless God really did take them, I don’t know how they could have disappeared so suddenly in one day.”

This came from Heisen, who didn’t believe in God.

Noel looked up in surprise. “Why are you saying something like that?”

“It’s just the way things are these days.”

Heisen’s self-deprecating tone immediately resonated with Noel.

At that moment, a superior’s voice came from the barracks entrance. It was Lord Feldheim, the combat commander of their infantry.

Fully armed and standing upright, Lord Feldheim glared at Noel and Heisen.

“What are you doing, gentlemen? Aren’t you ready for war?”

“We are ready!”

“I apologize. We’ll start right away!”

Noel and Heisen ran out of the barracks in a huff.

But that day, in the Holy Land of Romalizan, they witnessed it firsthand.

The moment when the ‘seven’ rode a giant divine beast and tore through the sky.

***

It’s been about a week since we escaped the island.

The war had been brought to a cease-fire by our sudden arrival in the middle of the war.

There was no pandemonium at first. Everyone rubbed their eyes and doubted what they were seeing, and then suddenly the war stopped.

The process of identification was brief and quick, as the missing high-ranking figures showed up not one by one, but all at once.

We were escorted to the barracks of the Langridge Empire, where we were heavily guarded. It was a small military barracks, but when I saw the triumph of civilization and so many people alive, I realized that I had really escaped. I was on the verge of tears.

Even with Yuanna and Ruzef’s divine powers, the wound over Arthdal’s right eye could not be healed. Luckily, all of his wounds were healed except for his eye.

Kayden finally woke up as well, but he hadn’t left the barracks since waking up.

I lay down on the barracks bed and closed my eyes. I’ve been well-rested all week, but I can’t seem to regain my strength.

The truth is, it wasn’t the outward wounds that were our problem. We all had serious aftereffects and were in desperate need of rest.

Arthdal did not go straight to Hestia’s camp, but instead stayed in the camp of the long-time enemy, the Langridge Empire. He said he had a lot to share with us, and I admired his guts. Thanks to him, Yuanna and Ruzef can stay here, and so can Kayden.

In this war, all forces are at odds with each other, except for the allied forces of the northern countries.

However, the distinction between allies and enemies has become irrelevant, as figures representing the Kingdom of Hestia, the Holy See, and the Wizards’ Association all remain in the military camp of the Langridge Empire

‘……a war.’

I had expected it, but I never thought it would be real.

Probably led by the Holy See, House Rohade, and the Wizards’ Association.

Just then, I heard a shout from outside the barracks.

“Wait, Noel. Did you forget? She’s the rumored Lady Floné!”

“Who cares? Did you know that this is an event that will always be remembered in history? Anyway, it’s just a rumor, that person’s name will go down in history. At least I have something to brag about in the future.”

“Hey……! That’s why you’re an ignorant fool, you idiot.”

The knights seemed to be chatting.

‘Come to think of it, people in this world still think I’m the evil Margaret from the past.’

In fact, that wicked Margaret was me, and I must accept it. I have nothing to say.

“Ahem. Excuse me, Lady Floné. I brought you a meal.”

The man’s voice sounded too sweet to be the man who’d been making a fuss a moment ago.

The truth is, I don’t have an appetite, but I’m hungry. I need to see people to confirm my escape from a remote island is real, not a dream.

“Come in.”

A man stepped into the barracks in response to my answer. His curly blonde hair caught my eye. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with a somewhat youthful face, likely around my age.

I pulled myself up and sat down on the bed.

The man bringing the stew bowl and water on the tray stopped in his tracks, surprised by my appearance. He hesitantly backed away, his face bright red.

“Oh, I…… s- sorry…… I’m sorry. I didn’t know you weren’t ready yet. Please forgive me…… for this rudeness……”

The man looked surprised to see my outfit. I am still in my boots, cargo pants, cropped tee, and bomber jacket.

There are no clothes I can wear in the camp, and it goes against their common sense for a noblewoman to borrow knights’ clothes.

So I have to wear these clothes for now.

“I’m sorry, I surprised you,” I said, looking at the man with embarrassment.

The man stood there hesitantly and looked at me with a very worried look on his face as to whether he should leave or not.

“Thank you for the meal, I’ll enjoy it.”

I stood up and took the tray from his hand. The man scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed as well.

“I’m Noel Bennon Ruthison. You may call me Sir Noel.”

Have I ever heard the name Ruthison?

‘Ah, I remember it.’

House Ruthison is well known in the Langridge Empire.

“You’re the son of Count Ruthison? House Ruthison is said to hold sway over the southern regions of Langridge, right?”

“That’s right.”

Noel smiled sheepishly. Such a harmless face.

“Thank you for the meal, I’ll enjoy it. And…… there’s something I want to ask.”

I trailed off and studied Noel’s complexion, his eyes shining with a look that invited me to ask him anything.

Luckily, his feelings for me were more curiosity than prejudice, so I asked the question I’d been meaning to ask since my return.

“My family…… I mean, is everyone in the Floné family safe?”

Noel’s face immediately clouded over. He was looking at me with a very sorry face.

Although he was aware of Margaret’s reputation, he seemed to feel sorry for ‘Margaret, who had just returned from missing and didn’t seem to know what was going on’.

“The Floné family is safe and sound. They’ve been looking for you in every direction, ever since you went missing.”

Am I relieved by those words?

I don’t know. It’s a more complicated feeling.

Margaret’s family is very close-knit. It’s a warmth I’ve never felt as Lee Jinju. So this contrast only added to my confusion.

“Oh, I heard that Duke Floné fell ill.”

“Yes? My father?!” I asked back in surprise.

Noel looked at me in confusion. “I- I…… I’ve only heard rumors that he’s been ill since you went missing, unable to get over the shock of it. I also heard that he has never left the castle since then, not even to go to the palace.”

Perhaps the rumors that Duke Floné, my father, was ill were true. Actually, I think it’s more likely, as he was a gentle and kind-hearted person.

On the contrary, my mother and sisters would be out there with their blazing eyes looking for my kidnapper.

I chuckled at the memories of the past, and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Noel stared at my face in wonder.

I asked, “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head vigorously, flustered. “N- nothing……”

“The……. the stew is cooling down, you may eat it. Now, if you’ll excuse me……”

Noel continued to stammer, obviously flustered, and then he pointed to the tray on the table while uttering, “You may eat it,” and stepped back.

Why are you walking backward……?

But just as he was about to leave the barracks, something tripped him up, and it was Eunji, back in her real snake form.

“What is this……. eh, ack……!!”

Eunji looked up at him with wide eyes and tilted her head.

“What’s going on!”

A knight with dark blue hair who had been waiting in front of the barracks rushed in.

“Young lady, are you alright……!?”

He soon spotted Noel on the floor, a pitiful look on his face. Then he bowed to me.

“My name is Heisen Barden Peres. Please forgive my comrade’s rudeness. This guy is so fragile that I have no idea how he could even be dragged into this rough war zone.”

Heisen, a man with a neat appearance, asked for my understanding with simple movements and a clean speaking style.

“Heisen, you……!”

Seeing Noel pointing his finger at him with a bright red face, the two are apparently friends.

Meanwhile, the curious Eunji slithered in front of them and then towards me as she lost interest.

Heisen, who had been standing there with an expressionless face, also looked at Eunji with a little surprise.

“Is that snake, by any chance, the divine beast you rode that time?”

Heisen’s question made me laugh.

Eunji is a monster, not a divine beast. But there was no need to add unnecessary words, so I just laughed.

When I didn’t say anything, they just kept quiet, probably because they were too hesitant to ask further questions.

“By the way, which barracks is Kay– Lord Kayden in?” I asked as I put Eunji onto my shoulder and stood up.

Heisen answered, “Oh, are you referring to the Magic Tower Lord of the Langridge Empire who returned with you? If it’s him, I think it would be better if you don’t meet him now.”

“Why?”

This time, Noel made a troubled face at my question.

“Because…… his condition…… is not good.”