In the flickering light of the campfire, Renji and Olga sat together, surrounded by a pile of leftover dinosaur bones that emitted a faint, fishy smell.
The warmth and comfort of the fire filled the space around them.
"Mmm~ I'm so full~"
Olga rubbed her belly, which was swollen from the feast. A look of contentment spread across her face.
The deliciousness of the dinosaur meat had satisfied her, and the fullness in her stomach brought a sense of happiness.
"My dream of 200 years... has finally come true!"
Renji, with a blade of grass in his mouth and his hands behind his head, said, "Well, congratulations."
"For 200 years, I survived on fish that drifted in and the fruits on the island. I always dreamed of the day I could eat meat to my heart's content," Olga said, taking another big bite of meat.
She looked at Renji, her eyes filled with warmth and joy.
She knew how important and reassuring it was to have Renji's company in this unfamiliar environment.
'Poor kid.'
Renji glanced at the pile of bones. The girl had truly been starved for meat. Almost an entire dinosaur had ended up in Olga's stomach.
Olga reminisced about her life 200 years ago:
"200 years ago, my family lived on the Steel Island of Alchemy. But my stupid scientist father had to go and create Pure Gold."
Renji listened quietly as the girl recounted her past.
"After that, everything changed. Pirates, hearing about Pure Gold, stormed the island and killed my mother."
"..."
"Then the lantern swallowed the island I lived on, all because it was attracted to the Pure Gold."
"I always wonder, if my stupid father hadn't created Pure Gold, would our lives have turned out differently?"
Renji spat out the blade of grass and looked at Olga, who seemed a little sad.
"You mentioned earlier that after your father created Pure Gold, he immediately made you a ring."
Olga took off the ring from her finger and held it up to Renji.
"Right, this one. There's a piece of Pure Gold embedded inside."
The Pure Gold inside the ring shone brightly, even in the well-lit surroundings.
Renji took the ring between his fingers and placed it back on Olga's hand.
"This ring carries your parents' love for you. Keep it safe."
Olga touched the ring on her finger, puzzled. "What you're saying is strange. Of course, I'll keep the ring safe. It feels like there's more to your words."
Renji looked at the confused Olga and ruffled her hair.
"Someone will explain it to you later. Do you want to come with me to find the person who can give you the answers?"
"Meet... the person who can give me answers?" Olga pointed at herself and then at Renji. "Now?"
"Yes, right now," Renji confirmed.
Olga lowered her head and whispered, "Are there other people alive here?"
She had lived here for 200 years and had never seen any signs of other people.
She glanced at Renji, his warm smile making her doubt her own thoughts. In the end, she chose to trust him.
"Then let's go together..."
"..."
Strange vegetation and bizarre rocks intertwined, creating a unique and mysterious landscape before their eyes.
Renji and Olga made their way through, sometimes passing through dense thickets, sometimes crossing rugged rocks, gradually moving deeper into the island.
Renji led the way, clearing a path. As they ventured further into the island, his brow furrowed.
The environment here was terrible. It was hard to imagine how a defenseless little girl had survived here for 200 years.
Olga followed closely behind Renji.
Her eyes showed a mix of curiosity and anticipation. She believed Renji would lead them to the person who could provide the answers.
Looking at the ring on her finger, she knew it was this object that had allowed her to live so long.
Could there be others who also possessed Pure Gold?
"..."
Olga's face twisted in discomfort. Her legs were trembling.
"How much longer until we get there..."
Renji, without turning his head, replied, "Almost there. It's just ahead."
Olga looked around at the unchanging scenery and muttered,
"But you've said that five times already..."
"This time, we're really close..." Renji was also a little helpless. The girl asked every five minutes. Who could handle that?
"I'll believe you one last time..." Olga pouted.
Renji didn't explain further. Pushing aside the grass blocking their path, a wide-open space came into view as light poured in.
They arrived at a broad clearing, the ground covered in oddly shaped, unknown rocks with various peculiar plants growing on them.
At the end of the clearing, a vast canyon was faintly visible.
Renji and Olga stopped and gazed at the massive canyon.
"We're here."
Olga felt a surge of anticipation and curiosity. She knew the person who could provide her with answers was in that canyon.
She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see further.
"Wow! So many dinosaurs."
Olga thought of the roasted meat Renji had made, and a drop of drool formed at the corner of her mouth.
"..."
Inside the canyon.
Dinosaur nests were scattered throughout, each containing baby dinosaurs eagerly awaiting food.
"Roar!"
A dinosaur placed a massive chunk of meat on the ground and roared at the babies.
The baby dinosaurs immediately swarmed the meat, fighting to take bites and enjoy their feast.
Surprisingly, among the baby dinosaurs was a man wearing a dinosaur costume.
His appearance was completely different from the baby dinosaurs around him, but the dinosaurs didn't seem to notice. Instead, they shared the meat in the nest with him.
"It's too late!"
"How could you bring food so late? This is unacceptable!"
The man pulled off the dinosaur headpiece, revealing his chubby face.
"I'm starving!"
The man complained incessantly, but at the same time, he felt a sense of relief.
He knew this was how he had survived—by blending in with the dinosaurs, waiting for them to bring food.
In this dangerous island, he had to adapt to the environment and learn to use it to his advantage to survive.
"Every day, it's just meat, meat, and more meat," the man sighed as he swallowed a piece of raw meat. "When will this life ever end?"
"I really want vegetables and fruits..."
...
... (TL/N): If you are intressted you can read up to 30 chapter on patreon.com/Yanet96 search with this link.