Escape From a Deserted Island With Enemy Female Soldiers - Chapter 104



103 – How to Save an Enemy (3)

Entering the place Salbira, the spider woman, had told me about, Valkyrie was lying on a bed woven from silk.

“…Erich?”

“Hey, you okay?”

Valkyrie tried to sit up, but soon her posture crumbled.

“Hngh, n-not, not okay.”

The spore infestation was worse than yesterday.

Salbira followed me in, and spoke.

[“What’s taken hold of your companion is a forbidden art called Cordyceps. Unique magic created by the Calamity Witch. From spring to autumn, like now, she’ll be like a plant, unable to move her limbs. Then, when winter comes, the seed inside her body will germinate, tearing its way out of her stomach.”]

[“And after that, what happens?”]

[“She’ll either die, or become a demon.”]

Hearing those words, the platoon leader and Miyu widened their eyes.

[“I knew it was a forbidden art that could only be used once a year, so why would she use it on a mere human like this? Or is there some other reason…”]

If it were Valkyrie or the Saintess, who actually fought her, they might know something.

I relayed the spider woman’s words as they were, and both of them mentioned the same word.

“Hero?”

The Calamity Witch apparently asked Valkyrie if she was a descendant of the Hero.

“Not in a figurative sense, but that Hero who lived hundreds of years ago?”

“Yes.”

The Saintess nodded.

“It’s probably because she received power from the Goddess of Battle. Major Rachel’s divine power is strong, after all, right? She has power similar to the Hero, so it might have mistaken her for his descendant and used its trump card.”

Regardless, there was only one thing to do.

Release the taboo placed on the Valkyrie.

[“The taboo itself has already been mostly undone.”]

[“Thanks to the Saintess.”]

[“The speed of the curse’s progression has slowed, but injecting divine power alone isn’t enough. If we don’t remove the seed remaining in her digestive system, she’ll die eventually. Conversely, if we can remove the seed, she’ll recover quickly.”]

With that, Salvia proposed two methods.

[“One is to cut open her abdomen, pull out her organs, and extract the seed.”]

[“Too dangerous.”]

[“Yes, the situation is dire. It’s not like you don’t know my medical skills, but you also know how dangerous it is to operate without proper medical tools. That’s why I recommend the latter for you humans.”]

[“What’s the second method?”]

[“A method where you guys become very endangered instead of this woman.”]

With that, Salvia pointed to the sky.

More precisely, she pointed to the mountain peak below.

[“There’s a grass called “Sobaekcho” at the top of that mountain. It’s so uniquely white and radiant that even an idiot could find it. Go there, bring back the herb I just mentioned, and I’ll brew a medicine that melts the seed.”]

[“Hey.”]

Miyo answered with a sulky expression.

[“If you’re going to help us, why not just pick it yourself? Why are you trying to put us in danger? What exactly are you scheming?”]

[“That mountain is the Witch of Calamity’s stronghold.”]

[“Ah.”]

[“Does that answer your question now?”]

Salbira slowly shifted her weight. She sighed a few times, then opened her mouth heavily.

[“If I want to talk to you humans freely, this is the only place. The rest is all the territory of other creatures. It’s best to leave at night, if possible, so we don’t get spotted by the monsters outside.”]

We tried to talk more after that, but Salbira revealed almost nothing about her identity. Even when we directly pressed her, she just kept saying we’d find out when the time came.

Who is this spider woman? Why, as a monster, is she trying to help us? We had to make a decision without resolving any of our questions.

Night fell.

After much discussion, we decided to split into groups.

The Saintess and the fox sisters would form one group to take care of Valkyrie, and I and Commander Adora would be the expedition to find Sobekcho.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“We have to march hard. We’ll be back soon, so don’t worry. Besides, Mr. Casten needs to be the first one to check on Valkyrie if anything happens to her, doesn’t he?”

“Liyo’s good at climbing mountains too…”

“You’re more efficient staying here and making tools.”

Honestly, any combination would be a headache. I figured the most balanced group was me and the Commander.

For the record, the Commander’s opinion was reflected in this pairing to some extent.

The Commander seemed to feel guilty about not properly protecting me last time. She examined the blade of Jin’s sword as she spoke.

“Lieutenant, what are you going to do about the stones?”

“I’ll be taking the two golems Liyo made.”

Liyo had been making new machines little by little whenever she had free time. True to her quick hands, she’d finished two test models in half a day.

It was a drone-shaped golem utilizing a floating stone.

Director Adora’s jaw dropped.

[“You really made this…all alone?”]

[“The Magic Kingdom doesn’t have this kind of tech? Lame.”]

But there were only two, so I had to choose who would accompany me.

They had to be reliable, if possible.

And so, former Battalion Commander Kalon and a Valkyrie named Livia were chosen.

Click.

As two magic stones were inserted into the circuits, each golem’s body began to move and voices emerged.

“This looks like it’s gonna be a real pain.”

“You can say that again. Heh.”

Having overheard the four of them talking intermittently until now, it seemed Kalon-senpai and Olivia had become somewhat friendly.

“David, hold down the fort.”

[‘Yes, senpai.’]

“Daisy, I’m counting on you.”

[‘Rachel is with me, so hurry back.’]

This journey will be harder and more dangerous than any other. One wrong move and we might never return. Should I say my goodbyes in advance?

I was thinking this when I heard a voice calling me from behind.

“Erich.”

It was the Saint.

From noble mtl dot com

Come to think of it, when did the Saintess start calling me by my name?

“You absolutely, absolutely have to come back alive. You understand?”

“Understood.”

“If something happens, could I ask you for one favor?”

“Yes, tell me anything.”

“Hold me.”

The Saintess reached up, stretching her arms as she stood on tiptoes.

It was a surprising request, but not entirely unexpected. I knew, to some extent, what the Saintess thought of me.

I embraced Tiria.

Maybe it was because she was a head shorter than me, but she felt so small and fragile. I could feel her heartbeat, matching the fine tremors in her back.

Tiria buried her face in my chest.

We didn’t speak, but I knew what she was saying.

And then, in the next moment, I felt a warm sensation from behind.

It wasn’t hard to guess who it was. There was a scent. The scent of a Foxkin.

“Haaa…”

I had to indulge their childishness. Maybe this would be the last time I saw their faces.

Eventually, deep night arrived.

“Let’s go.”

“Just a moment. I need to see Valkyrie’s face before I leave.”

I entered the tent woven from silk. Valkyrie’s complexion, illuminated by the dim light, looked terrible. True to the forbidden name of Cordyceps, it seemed she was truly turning into a plant.

Valkyrie’s eyes fluttered open.

“…Erich?”

So, he’s calling me by my name now, I see.

“From now on, I’m going to go out there to the mountains and gather medicinal herbs to save you. It’s not just any high place, so I don’t know how long it’ll take.”

“No. Don’t go, don’t go.”

“Don’t die while I’m gone.”

“Stay. Next to me…”

Her voice, barely a whisper, made my chest tighten. I walked straight out.

Rachel called my name, telling me not to go over and over, but I didn’t look back.

When I get back, I’ll be there by your side until you’re sick of it, you pain-in-the-ass woman.

*

Erich left. Silence descended, replaced by an almost unbearable loneliness.

My lungs ache, my stomach feels like it’s being torn apart. It’s probably the damned restriction, but I can endure this much pain.

Saint Theria had said it earlier.

Erich and Adora had left to find something called Sobaekcho to cure her illness. And, although it’s still suspicious, there’s a demon with great power who wants to help them.

“Haa.”

What the hell? What’s going on?

There’s no time to sort things out.

Because it hurts too much, I feel too helpless, too desperate.

Theria came inside just then.

“Major.”

“Colonel, ma’am.”

“I’ve come to heal you.”

Tiria’s divine power filled the space around them.

“This won’t undo the binding spell, but it should slow it down. Here, also. I brought painkillers. I brewed them into a potion so it’s easier to drink, even if it’s hard to swallow, try to.”

Rachel forced the herbal concoction down with difficulty. It wasn’t even a few gulps, but getting it down was a struggle.

“The others…”

“Sergeant Liyo is waiting outside. The demon who offered to help us has gone into a huge cocoon-like thing and hasn’t stirred since.”

“Erich, the mage?”

“I told you. He went up the mountain with Major General Giffold to find sobaekcho to save you.”

She knows. She wants to know, but she needs to hear it again.

Wasn’t the mountain range the center of the demon realm? The base where the Witch of Calamity, whom Rachel herself fought, was entrenched.

That the face she saw today might be the last, that if he dies it will be because of her. Thinking that…

“Colonel… what should I do?”

“About what?”

“I miss that b*stard so much, I’m going crazy…”

Tiria sighed deeply.

Rachel Brokenhart is a rival in love. But she doesn’t want her to die. As a fellow countryman, as a fellow believer, and as a comrade who has overcome adversity together.

She wants her remaining life to be free from the wounds of war, and to be happy.

“If you miss him, then breathe. Even if it’s hard, don’t give up, stay alive. And…”

Tiria gripped Rachel’s hand tight and bowed her head.

“Please let Erich return, let’s pray together.”

Her trembling voice carried outside. Riyo, on watch, pricked up his ears and clasped his hands together where he stood.

*

Inside a cocoon woven with white thread.

[“Human, what is human…”]

Salvira repeated the same word over and over.

[“…Jeriem Ronstein, what exactly is this ‘human’ you spoke of?”]