Escape From a Deserted Island With Enemy Female Soldiers - Chapter 67



66 – Three Hundred Yards to Find a Friend (1)

A stone pagoda atop a cliff.

Redop questioned the fire lizard who had returned, looking disheveled.

[“Speak. How did you end up getting your tail chopped off?”]

[“W-well, that is…”]

The fire lizard explained.

“Those b*stards weren’t messing around. Three of them wielded holy power at a high level, and another was a mage who specialized in magic stones. We didn’t stand a chance with our strength!”

“Magic stones, a mage?”

Redoff’s eyes narrowed.

“One of them uses magic stones as their main weapon?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Unpleasant.”

From noble mtl dot com

This island was originally a volcano island. Useful raw stones, perfect for making magic stones, were everywhere.

“If that b*stard knows how to handle magic stones, he must feel like he struck gold. This is going to be a pain in the ass.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t think he’s *that* good of a mage. I checked with mana detection, and well, his magic power was just a mouse’s fart, you know?”

“Did you see any of their situation or weaknesses?”

“I don’t know much about their situation. But one of them had a weakness.”

“What is it?”

“Fire.”

“You idiot! Humans are all afraid of fire. You call *that* a weakness?”

“No, that’s not it! There was one guy who literally had a fit just from seeing it!”

“A fit? Explain in detail.”

Following the fire salamander’s words, Redoff burst out laughing.

“…so that mage was shielding a woman. Seems like they’re close.”

“Interesting. A mage screwing around with a holy power wielding b*tch? If the Demon Lord knew, he’d laugh heartily and say something like this.”

“How, might I ask, would he speak?”

[“We’ll start by killing that mage.”]

[“Ah, your brilliance shines!”]

The two monsters’ snickers echoed against the stone tower.

[“It seems their food supply is about to run out. How about we slowly wear them down by continuously sending out patrols, and then when they’re completely exhausted, we strike and wipe them out?”]

[“I was planning on doing that even if you hadn’t said it. I don’t need to move personally to catch those tadpoles. More than anything, I have a mission to complete my research within the deadline….”]

Redophe entered the separate chamber. He dragged two heavy bodies from the corner.

Rock golems whose entire bodies were covered in solid crystals.

The golems were shaped like theropods. Their appearance was fierce at a glance.

[“You never know. They might try for a quick victory before their food runs out.”]

Never underestimate the enemy’s capabilities. We must make the greatest preparations possible.

[“The late Emperor also underestimated the hero party and suffered a serious injury. I don’t want to repeat the same mistake. Deploy these things in the thornbush thicket. They’re unfinished, but they should be enough to hold them back.”]

[“Understood.”]

The fire lizard took the golems away. He was limping like he’d been neutered, probably because he had to cut off his tail to escape.

*

A hearing opened first thing in the morning.

“You feel safe when you’re together?”

“Yes.”

The Saintess looked at us with a bewildered expression. It seems even she thinks it’s incredibly strange that Valkyrie is clinging to me.

“What is even going on here….”

The Saintess rubbed her forehead. Her eyes were a deep orange hue.

Actually, the one most flustered was Valkyrie herself. Valkyrie was clearly showing she hated it, yet she was lightly holding my pinky.

“Major, are you insecure if you’re not doing that?”

“Yes, I’m insecure.”

“What on earth is the reason?”

“I don’t really know why I’m like this either. But I think this is the best way to escape this island quickly.”

“……Hoo.”

The Saint’s eyes change again. Green. The color that symbolizes jealousy.

Huh? The Saint is jealous? Why?

[‘Look at this. We have to get Erich-sunbae together with the Saint.’]

[‘It’s too early to judge. Let’s see how the Sapper turns out.’]

Meanwhile, Riyo was leaning on my shoulder. She was rubbing her head against me, leaving behind a savory scent.

[“What are you doing?”]

[“Repainting.”]

[“What are you talking about?”]

[“My nose is several times more sensitive than a human’s. I’ll come find you after the war is over. I’m leaving my scent on you in preparation for that time.”]

I flicked Riyo on the forehead.

[“Ow!”]

[“I’m talking to your superiors. Listen at least a little seriously.”]

Miyo whined and backed away. The Saint said with a sigh.

“Alright. I don’t really understand, but I guess this is the best way. You both don’t like being stuck like this, right? Let’s catch the leader quickly and move to a safe island.”

Opinions were gathered.

We’re moving ahead with speed.

I pulled out the magic stone I got from taking down the ghoul.

A transference stone.

“I used this stone for the first time on the last island. I was clumsy back then and couldn’t really use it properly, but I can now. I learned one very important thing through research.”

“How so?”

“If you remember the location coordinates, you can move directly to wherever you want.”

The Saintess lit up at my words.

“So, we could even get outside?”

“I already tried it. It just devoured my mana and nothing happened. Just like Mr. Kastan said before. This island must be cut off from the outside world.”

“Ah, I see…”

“Even if it wasn’t cut off, the distance you can travel at once seems to be limited to roughly 300 meters.”

“300 meters?”

“Riyo knows how to convert units. 300 meters is 328.084 yards.”

“Ah, roughly 330 yards then.”

The Saintess nodded. The stones screamed.

[‘Kraaak! David! Will you still support the Saintess even after this!’]

[‘oooh, heavens. Why do you give me such trials? Does a world where the Holy Empire and the Magic Kingdom use the same unit system truly not exist?’]

Both of you, quiet.

“Mana consumption will be high, but we can use this to just skip over the plains area.”

“So, you’re saying we can pick up where we left off exploring yesterday?”

“That’s right.”

“But will you be alright? You might be short on mana.”

“The Artificer can give me mana, so it’ll be fine. If it gets really bad, I can just weave breath there again.”

Just like that, I managed to shift the subject smoothly. The Saintess looked displeased, but she didn’t say anything and let it go.

Survival and escape, those were the priorities. This island wasn’t a place to linger. We quickly packed our gear and teleported.

*Whoosh!*

We crossed the field zone in less than a second. The brownish-red thorny thicket we’d retreated from right at the edge yesterday stretched out before us. A crackling sound echoed in my ears. Valkyrie gripped my arm, probably tense. For some reason, it felt like the fox sisters were glaring this way.

“Once we get through here, there’s a cliff.”

“Do you see it over there?”

“See what?”

“There’s something like a spire above the thicket.”

The Saintess stood on tiptoe.

“I’m too short to see. Where is it?”

“Over there, that way.”

“I can’t see it at all.”

“Shall I make it so you can see it?”

“Yes, I want to see it too.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

I grabbed the Saintess by both legs and lifted her straight up. The Saintess let out a shriek.

“How is it, can you see a little now?”

“A-ah, I, I see it! So please put me down, quickly!”

No sooner was she down than the Saintess was huffing. Her eyes were a mix of orange and pink.

“What do you think you’re doing, suddenly lifting me up like that? I was surprised!”

“You said you wanted to see it, so I thought you were ready.”

“I didn’t know it would be like this!”

“My apologies.”

“Since you apologized quickly, I won’t be angry anymore. And even though I was a little surprised… I wasn’t really angry, though. Next time, explain it in detail before you do it.”

“Understood. But did you see exactly what it looked like?”

“It was a tower. About five stories? Seemed like a tower made of stone.”

“Huh.”

A stone tower, huh. Is some kind of immortal living inside?

“That’s the first time I’ve seen a proper structure like that.”

“It’s definite. The boss will be watching us from there. We need to go quickly and take him out before he prepares.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“I brought several Mana Stones with good penetrating power and Ice Flower Stones.”

“Good. Let’s go in.”

The path leading to the cliff was extremely rough. Thorny bushes, flames. The path itself was so narrow that you could easily get burned. For that reason, Valkyrie is shrinking back in high praise.

I grabbed Valkyrie’s hand tightly and took out a canteen.

“Let’s wet ourselves down with this before we go in.”

Blue flames, burning not on air, but mana. No smoke, so no worries about carbon monoxide poisoning. Just gotta be careful not to catch on fire.

I soaked myself and walked into the thornbush forest. The moisture evaporated fast. I kept spraying myself. It was as steamy as a sauna. I felt so hot I wanted to strip naked right then and there.

“Ow! That stings! Don’t push!”

“I just got poked too. Sss, that really hurts.”

“Ugh! My tail!!”

We hacked through the shortest route, enduring every hardship. This was the first time a minute felt like an hour. The path itself was so narrow, one wrong move and you’d get jabbed. This made military obstacle courses look like child’s play.

How long did we walk? A wide open space appeared.

We weren’t the first ones here.

“…What’s that? A dragon?”

A dragon. An ancient race, extinct long ago. A common research topic for archaeologists, classified as a type of reptile. More academically, they call them dinosaurs.

But all the dinosaurs are extinct, right? How could one be here in this era?

“…”

Figures.

“That’s a fake.”

“A fake?”

“Yeah, it’s a golem imitating a dinosaur.”

One was black as lead, the other a lighter silver. That’s fake skin. Under that hide, there’s definitely a ton of mana stones and wires, and steel, no doubt.

Grrrr.

The golems emitted a deep, low growl.

Each time they snorted, a hiss and sparks of vapor escaped. The sight was so menacing, Valkyrie and the Holy Maiden, even Riyoma, froze in place.

And, I. No, we.

[‘Whoa.’]

[‘Seriously.’]

Were already thinking about wanting to try riding it.