Escape From a Deserted Island With Enemy Female Soldiers - Chapter 84



83 – Smoke (1)

Queen Bee’s Nest.

Birzhoneh frowned upon receiving the scout’s report.

[“The vanguard is annihilated?”]

[“Yes, it is.”]

[“Are you certain of what you saw?”]

[“If even a single one returns alive, execute me immediately.”]

The Queen hummed in contemplation. Though just a pawn with the lifespan of a fly, if he asserts it to this degree, she can believe him. The fact that the vanguard, who should have returned with results, has been completely unheard from also weighs on her mind.

[“Even though Hornet is a suicide unit, the fact that such a number didn’t leave even one remaining…”]

[“The enemy’s forces were beyond expectations. Their formation was stable. There was a female soldier each using combat, healing, and crafting divine power, and although the man’s mana was low, he was a mage with considerable skill.”]

[“Hmm.”]

Combat, healing, crafting, and mage.

Hearing the enumeration of those words, Birzhoneh recalled a past event and nodded.

[“A very plausible occurrence.”]

Long ago, there was a party that opposed the previous Demon Lord.

A human hero who received a holy sword from the Goddess of Combat, capable of extinguishing any darkness.

An elven high priest who received immense medical skills and divine power from the Goddess of Healing.

A beastkin scout who received the ability to quickly create anything from the Goddess of Crafting.

The special operations unit formed around those three infiltrated the Demon Lord’s Castle hundreds of years ago, inflicted fatal wounds on the predecessor, and caused disruption on the front lines. The Demon Army’s expansionist moves were thwarted, and the army, stabbed in the back, was forced to retreat.

And that wasn’t all.

At that time, laborers who secretly learned magic within the Demon Lord’s territory started an uprising.

The rebellion wasn’t properly quelled, plunging the kingdom into chaos and making it difficult for the legion commanders guarding each region to gather in the capital, Hellaier.

Eventually, the Demon King’s army was defeated, the country fell, and that brings us to the present.

[“Jeriem…”]

The Queen frowned, a man’s face flashing through her mind.

[“Seeing him throw in his lot with the Holy Spirit Church, that mage isn’t likely one of the Eight Shadows. Must be some pretentious fool calling himself a ‘magician.’ I’ll capture him and torment him until he begs for death. You!”]

[“Yes!”]

[“Immediately summon every Black Fang unit on the entire island! We’ll wipe out these intruders!”]

The herald started, shaking his head frantically.

[“I dare to say, Your Majesty, immediately summoning the main force might not be the best choice. The Calamity Witch or the Blood Princess might notice.”]

[“…Hmm, you’re right about that.”]

The Calamity Witch, who manipulates mushrooms.

The Blood Princess, who manipulates blood.

Both of them lose their minds over men.

The former is obsessed with the ‘materials’ only men can exude, while the latter is obsessed with the taste of their blood.

The competition could spike to 3-to-1 at this rate.

She needs to monopolize him while she’s the only one who knows.

After a moment of deliberation, Virzoneh chose the cautious path, again.

[“In that case, order a slow assembly over the next few days under the guise of large-scale training. In the meantime, don’t let the enemies rest. Mobilize the remaining worker bees to launch nightly raids. But, make it look like a fight, and absolutely do not try to kill them. Just wear them down, understand?”]

[“Understood.”]

The herald bowed his head and took flight.

The queen bee gazed up at the sky and muttered.

[“…Must bear as many as I’ve killed, you whelp.”]

*

These days, the stones are really something.

They never shut up, chattering away except when I sleep or fight. It’s so noisy, it keeps getting on my nerves.

The stones talk about all sorts of things, but one of their favorite topics is my relationships with the enemy female soldiers.

[‘What a waste. If the Saintess and the Combat Engineer had been just a little later, we would’ve gotten to see the real deal.’]

[‘Yeah. Why is the timing always so bad?’]

[‘It’s a good thing. The Saintess still has a chance…’]

[‘You all still don’t get it. Valkyrie and he are mortal enemies, so it’s unlikely to happen, and the Saintess is too shy and not proactive enough. In the end, the Fox Sisters will be the victors. My eyes have never been wrong.’]

[‘They’re about to be.’]

[‘Who do you think you are, blocking Rachel’s path to marriage?’]

[‘Do you have to see blood even after you die?’]

[‘We’re stones, though.’]

[‘So what? Stones can bleed too. Want me to show you?’]

[‘Oh my.’]

[‘Ugh, I can’t stand being with these stone-heads.’]

They debate like this for hours. It’s driving me crazy.

If you asked if I have a liking for those three female soldiers, I’d be lying to say I didn’t. What man in this world dislikes beautiful women?

But if you asked if the liking between me and the enemy female soldiers could develop into deep love, well. I still don’t really know about that. Love isn’t a one-way street, after all.

Unless it was a saint who’d completely mellowed out, or even a sapper who’d gotten into a ‘heavy relationship,’ I thought it’d be impossible to stick around with Valkyrie even after the war was over. Until her two comrades started rooting for me and her.

[‘Ah, I wonder if another good chance’ll come along?’]

[‘Rachel’s way too scared for her own good, I tell ya. Frustrating.’]

I couldn’t take it anymore and asked directly.

[“Why are you two trying to hook me up with Valkyrie? I distinctly remember you threatening to watch me like a hawk back on that island!”]

[‘Well, that was in front of the Saint.’]

[“I don’t know what you mean.”]

[‘Are you just clueless, or pretending you don’t know?’]

The two women’s laughter echoed in my head.

[‘Erich Ronstein, right? We were really impressed by what happened yesterday.’]

[‘Honestly, we didn’t think you’d prioritize Rachel’s safety over your own desires, even after breathing in that pollen. We thought you’d really go at it….’]

[‘But this is good in its own way. Thanks for taking care of our defenseless leader.’]

[‘And now we know for sure. You’re exactly what our leader needs to be happy.’]

[‘After what happened yesterday, we want to support you even more! Kyaa, what am I gonna do!’]

I was flustered. These people were completely different from when we first talked.

The people I killed were trying to connect me with their dearest friend? They must be out of their minds.

I turned my head to look at Valkyrie, who was resting.

“Ugh.”

Valkyrie immediately avoided my gaze.

See that? She won’t even make eye contact. It means a wall’s been built between us. Yesterday’s events were that shocking for both of us.

[‘Ughhh! This is so frustrating, seriously!’]

[‘Wizard-ssi. Could you maybe rebuild our bodies? We’ll talk to Rachel nicely and smooth things over between you two. That way this tense atmosphere will disappear quickly.’]

[“Understood.”]

I called Miyo over.

[“Starting today, I’ll teach you how to make golems.”]

[“Really?!”]

Miyo’s eyes sparkled.

Actually, I’d never seriously made a golem before. It wasn’t my major. But since it was still Dimensional Magic, I knew the theory inside and out. I could just help with the mana circuit construction and leave the design to Riyo.

As it turned out, it was more manageable than I expected.

A few days later.

Me and the fox sisters had created four small humanoid golems.

“Ooh, we have vocal cords again.”

“I was getting tired of muttering in Fox Tongue. I should really speak the language of the Magic Kingdom.”

“ooo ooo ooo ooo.”

“Eeeee Eeeee Eeeee Eeeee.”

Two golems with short arms and legs vibrated on my shoulders.

“Why are these guys like this?”

“They’re both cute. Can we make some too?”

“Oh my oh my oh my.”

“Heh heh heh heh heh heh.”

Did I screw up the design?

Daisy and Olivia, by their own eager request, ended up perched on Valkyrie’s shoulders. One way or another, it seemed things would quiet down again.

“You know, I liked being a dinosaur better than this body.”

“When are we turning back into dragons?”

“Senior, evolve me into a dinosaur, please.”

“While you’re at it, give me one with wings. I’ve always dreamt of soaring high in the sky.”

“Don’t fly too high. You’ll reach Nirvana.”

“What did you just say, you little punk?”

Scratch that. Still noisy.

“Magician, magician.”

“Yeah?”

Riyo lifted Kalon into the air, grinning brightly.

“We made him. He’s our baby.”

Seriously?

“Goo goo ga ga.”

Don’t encourage them.

*

Roughly a week or so had passed. During that time, the four’s base had taken on a reasonably decent shape.

Walls were erected around the beds, a ceiling was built, and a makeshift storage room for the remaining food and various cooking utensils were made. At the very least, they had a living space where they could escape the rain and wind.

They also managed to gather a fair amount of food. It was much more plentiful than the last island, which had been nothing but rock and fire. Even if they failed to hunt, they could pick herbs and berries and fill their bellies somehow. At least they were hardly worried about starving.

What Rachel was most happy about was being able to talk to her friends again. Erich and the fox sisters had joined forces to create a golem with vocal cords.

But, Daisy and Olivia’s every utterance, now that they could speak again, was unsettling.

“Why are you hesitating?”

“We’re really okay.”

“You don’t need to feel guilty. Pounce already!”

“You have to hold onto that man, no matter what.”

They were urging her to seduce Erich even more intensely than before. They even brought up the addiction incident from a few days ago, which made Rachel’s cheeks flush red.

Honestly, she was still wavering.

Was it okay to reconcile with a man named Erich Ronstein? Could she even fall in love with him? Would the day come when he wouldn’t fear or despise her, but smile at her purely?

The more time Rachel spent with Erich, the more she realized that her rage in the past had been indiscriminate. He hadn’t fought as a soldier for his country, but had fought consumed by the madness that all magicians must die.

Guilt from that, and the memory of unilaterally devouring his lips a few days ago, mingled together. That was why Rachel couldn’t hold her head up in front of Erich these days.

“Oh, look over there.”

“A magician is coming.”

Rachel, who had been shrinking back, was startled and raised her head. Erich, with heavy eyes, was approaching.

What on earth was that look? Did he have something to say?

“Here comes the moment.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been telling the magician for days. Take our Rachel away, I said. Judging by his eyes, he seems to have decided to have a serious talk with you today?”

The two spirits giggled.

“Oh my, is he really going to confess?”

“Oh my oh my oh my.”

Rachel’s shoulders tightened instantly.

A confession? A confession? Out of the blue?

The next moment, Erich grabbed Rachel’s wrist and pulled.