Chapter 52: The Island’s Secret

With the urgent matter seemingly resolved, it was time to begin the Battle Royale in earnest.

Ruah and Juju decided to create a hidden shelter, out of sight, before making any moves.

“There’s some space here.”

Ruah, having found a gap between rocks near the riverbank, called Juju over.

Juju, in Ruah’s stead, gathered foliage to conceal the opening, creating a small hiding spot.

“Oh, this is pretty cozy.”

It was just big enough for the two of them to sit closely together.

From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a patch of grass near some rocks.

“Hmm….”

Juju fidgeted, seemingly uncomfortable in the cramped space.

Ruah wasn’t entirely comfortable either.

“Teacher, why don’t you just sit here?”

Juju, after shifting around, patted her own knees.

“Eh? B-But, that’s a bit….”

Sitting on Juju’s lap would certainly create more space, but it also meant close physical contact.

Seeing Ruah hesitate, Juju scratched the back of her head, looking embarrassed.

“W-Well, I guess sitting right on me would be uncomfortable. My body’s so hard….”

Juju said, gesturing vaguely at her chest, still seemingly self-conscious about her physique.

“N-No! It’s okay! I’ll sit!”

“Really?”

Juju’s face brightened as she moved further into the shelter and sat cross-legged.

Ruah then closed the foliage that acted as a door and crawled in after her.

“Hmm….”

Ruah wriggled around, finally settling her small bottom between Juju’s legs.

With Juju effectively hugging Ruah from behind, they could manage in the tight space.

“A-Are you okay? Is this uncomfortable?”

“Perfectly fine!”

“Th-That’s good then….”

Ruah’s face was flushed, though Juju, with her back turned, couldn’t see.

Juju’s body heat was noticeable against Ruah’s entire back.

‘Have I ever been this close to her before…?’ Ruah thought.

“Teacher, I’m realizing this now, but you’re really small. Like a doll.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Every breath Juju exhaled made the hairs on the back of Ruah’s neck stand on end.

Ruah took a deep breath, nervous that Juju might hear her racing heartbeat.

“I used to like dolls when I was little. Like other girls.”

Juju’s hand rested on Ruah’s head.

Her fingers combed slowly through Ruah’s hair.

Ruah started in surprise and tried to stop her, but her arms were still pinned to her sides.

“I liked cute and pretty things… but I gave up on them somewhere along the way.”

Was it because of the Gate incident that took her family?

Or because she started training after seeing Hunter Kim Jiyeon?

“Anyway, being like this with you reminds me of the old days. Hehe.”

Juju’s usual laughter tickled Ruah’s ear.

“Y-You don’t need to give up.”

“Huh?”

Not having to face Juju made it easier for Ruah to speak her mind.

“You’re still cute now, so I think… you should have more confidence.”

“…….”

The hand combing her hair stopped.

Sensing something amiss, Ruah turned around—

“—Oh, coomme oon!”

“?!”

Juju’s arms and legs wrapped tightly around Ruah’s small frame.

Juju nuzzled her face into Ruah’s neck, her hair tickling Ruah’s face.

“That’s not fair, saying stuff like that in this situation.”

“Wh-What are you talking about…!”

Ruah struggled to escape, but trapped in the small space with her arms pinned, she couldn’t break free from Juju’s trained physique.

“Ugh….”

It was several minutes before Juju finally released her hold.

“We should formulate a plan now.”

“…I was waiting for you to say that.”

Juju seemed to have calmed down.

Still held in a light embrace from behind, Ruah began to explain.

“We’re currently on the west side of the island. Around the middle section of the river that flows from north to south.”

“Yeah, I saw from the sky.”

“We need to find drinking water to survive. So, many participants will come to the river.”

Their landing near the riverbank was for that very reason.

They had to fill their empty water bottles before fighting or surviving.

“Then we wait here and take them out!”

“No, there’s no need to fight.”

Ruah said firmly.

“Since this competition is about being the last one standing, it’s better if they tire themselves out. Everyone needs drinking water, so the first battles will definitely happen by the river.”

“Hmm….”

Juju groaned, sounding slightly disappointed.

‘Did she want to fight?’ Ruah thought.

It was understandable to feel deflated after preparing for battle only to be told to avoid it.

“We’ll fight when we need to, but not by the river.”

“Why not?”

“Because the safe zone will shrink.”

At Ruah’s words, Juju’s eyes widened in understanding.

She must have remembered the screen Kim Jiyeon showed during the briefing.

“The safe zone shrinks from the edges of the island. This river area will likely become a danger zone by tomorrow morning. Even those who win fights here might end up eliminated.”

“Then it’s better for us to head towards the center? Everyone will gather in the middle of the island eventually.”

“Exactly.”

“Hehe.”

Juju chuckled awkwardly. If Ruah’s arm wasn’t injured, she would have patted Juju’s head.

“Our destination is the volcano in the center of the island. We’ll go there first, secure a strategic advantage, and wait for the others.”

“Got it!”

Ruah smiled at Juju’s energetic response.

‘That’s right, the volcano in the center of the island is key.’ Ruah thought.

She hadn’t told Juju, but there was another reason Ruah wanted to go to the center of the island.

It was because of a developer Easter egg that Ruah had discovered after playing this Battle Royale game dozens, even hundreds of times.

One particular item, located in a secret cave at the foot of the volcano, a place where players normally had no reason or ability to go.

The reason she told Juju to keep a skill slot open.

‘An A-rank skill can be acquired there.’ Ruah thought.

“Master, it’s been two hours since the start.”

“Hmm.”

A situation room was set up in the training center where the participant orientation was held, to monitor the camp’s progress.

Dimly lit, the room was filled with monitors, and guild members watched their respective screens.

The monitors displayed the current status of the scholarship selection camp taking place on Inyong Island.

They were observing the participants through cameras placed throughout the island.

“We should start shrinking the safe zone around this time. Should I proceed?”

A guild member with a cybernetic eye had a control panel open on his monitor.

Pressing enter would release a gas that disorients people on Inyong Island.

But Kim Jiyeon shook her head.

“Wait a little longer.”

“But…”

“Wait.”

The guild member lowered his head and obeyed the Master’s stern command.

“Tsk….”

Kim Jiyeon clicked her tongue, her gaze fixed on one of the monitors.

It displayed a live feed from a camera placed on the riverbank on the western side of the island.

On screen, Yoo Juju and her instructor were hiding in a crevice between rocks.

‘Juju….’ Kim Jiyeon thought.

The child she saved from that horrific Gate, the one that took her left arm.

She never imagined that child would become an Academy student and end up here.

And with Kim Jiyeon herself as a role model, no less.

—Yes, ‘of all places’ here.

“…….”

If this was fate’s way of giving her one last chance, shouldn’t she turn back now?

Shouldn’t she give up everything?

—Bzzzz!

Her phone, set to vibrate, buzzed.

Kim Jiyeon’s eyes widened when she saw the caller ID.

“……!”

After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.

“Yes, it’s me.”

The voice on the other end, as always, slithered into her ear like a snake.

“I know. The participants have been sent to the island.”

Kim Jiyeon’s expression darkened with each word.

“Don’t you dare! Keep your promise! So make sure that weed is ready!”

“……!”

All eyes in the control room turned to Kim Jiyeon after she shouted.

But she didn’t care. She hung up angrily.

“That bastard, always rushing me….”

She put away her phone and pulled out a vape pen.

Her hand trembled.

She turned it on, put it to her lips, and inhaled deeply, but—

“—This!”

It seemed the cartridge was empty from her previous use. She cursed, pulling it out and throwing it on the floor.

“Anyone have a spare cartridge?!”

A nearby guild member hurried to offer theirs. Kim Jiyeon replaced the cartridge and inhaled deeply again. Finally, a sense of calm washed over her.

“Haa…”

She leaned against the wall.

On the screen, Yoo Juju and her instructor, after filling their water bottles, started moving towards the forest.

They were heading east.

“…Release it in an hour.”

“Understood.”

The guild member replied.

Kim Jiyeon exhaled another puff of vapor, narrowing her eyes.

‘It can’t be helped.’ Kim Jiyeon thought.

Juju wasn’t the only one who lost something ten years ago.

Kim Jiyeon lost her arm.

Just as Juju found a new purpose, Kim Jiyeon found hers as well.

—Inyong Weed.

When smoked, it cleared her mind, doubled her cognitive function, and most importantly, relieved the phantom pain that occasionally shot through her missing arm.

This weed, which she discovered on Inyong Island ten years ago, had become an essential drug for all members of the ‘Nick’s Brothers’ Guild.

Now, she couldn’t live without it.