Escape From a Deserted Island With Enemy Female Soldiers - Chapter 96



95 – The Truth Revealed (3)

The Captain, sheathing Jin-do, added.

“Night watch is a solo gig for me for the time being.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“It’s more efficient this way. While I hold off any night attacks, you lot get some decent rest and prepare to head to the Nest.”

The Nest.

That’s what they call the heart of this island.

To raid the Nest, we gotta prepare a lot. Fix up the shack, stock up on emergency rations. We’ll launch the expedition when everyone’s in top shape.

Most important thing was weapons.

“Mage. This.”

Valkyrie said, showing me the broken spear shaft.

“Make me a new one.”

“What kind you want?”

“Long and thick. And sturdy.”

Valkyrie wanted another spear. A sword just doesn’t suit her personality, it seems. I nodded and explored the forest with Liyo.

After finding a suitable tree, we cut and trimmed it.

“Hmm.”

It’s turned out nicely. Seems like I could make three good spears out of this.

Next, time to make the stabbing part.

I already picked up a few pieces of graystone while walking around. Graystone is a sedimentary mana stone, harder than most minerals. You can use it as a reinforcement material for other mana stones. It increases the material’s hardness and strength.

I also found magnetite.

That’s right.

Iron.

Along with firearms and disease, a thing that drastically changed human history.

If I can make steel, I could make weapons even stronger than stone spears.

Obviously, it’s not an easy task. Even with magic. To make steel, you have to pay attention to the mixing ratio of iron and other materials, temperature, humidity, and so on.

If you try it with half-baked knowledge, you’ll just waste time.

And we had the fox sisters.

“I can do it.”

Riyo said confidently.

“We fox beastkin know by the sound of hammering. Like, ‘Ah, this is good iron.’ I’ve been blessed by the Goddess of Crafting, so if it’s small-scale production, I can do it. Erich just needs to help a little with magic.”

Guess she’s gotten pretty good at speaking the Magic Kingdom’s language after all this time together.

It’s not impossible.

We should use every means at our disposal.

I gave Valkyrie a stone spear first, then started trying to make iron.

[‘Are you sure you should be spending your time on this?’]

[‘Making iron on a deserted island? And in such a short time? Frankly, it’s impossible.’]

David and Calone questioned it, but I didn’t care. I trusted the fox sisters. Their eyes shone brighter than ever.

We built a cart like on the last island, then really got moving. At Liyo’s request, I’d gathered heat-resistant stones. These would make the frame for a makeshift furnace.

Next, we needed clay and other additives.

“Bring back mud from the stream. We also need a beehive to get beeswax, and… uhm. Some more wood to make charcoal with would be nice.”

So I did.

Maybe it was faster than she expected, because Liyo’s jaw dropped and her tail wagged.

“You completed the mission, so you should get a reward, right?”

“What are you going to give me?”

“Come over here.”

Liyo glanced around before reaching an arm out towards my shoulder. She naturally wrapped it around the back of my neck. The earthy scent, typical of canine beastmen, tickled my nose.

And then, the next moment.

“Chomp.”

Liyo bit my neck.

It wasn’t enough to make me scream. But it happened without any warning, so I was pretty taken aback. I couldn’t even twitch, like I’d been bitten by a viper.

Liyo held my neck in her mouth and shook her head for ten or so seconds. I felt like I was prey caught by a fox. The sharpness of her fangs was clear. I could also feel the warm, soft touch of her tongue.

“Phew…”

Finally, Liyo dropped her head. Her saliva dripped down my shoulder like honey. Teeth marks remained on my neck.

“…That’s the reward?”

“Don’t you like it?”

“No, it’s not that… “

“So, you like that?”

Riyo grinned dopily. She turned slightly away. Two tails were wagging frantically, as if begging to be grabbed. Miyo spoke through Riyo’s body.

[“Did you think about what I told you last time?”]

[“About grabbing tails?”]

[“That’s right. You said that a man grabbing a woman’s tail during heat has a very special meaning for beastfolk, right? What was that meaning again? Hmm, I can’t remember?”]

[“Playing innocent.”]

[“Idiot, still lacking in the sense department. In situations like this, you’re supposed to say ‘Then let me show you’ and just grab them already. Are you going to keep pouring ashes on a ready-made feast?”]

Ah, goddamn it.

Even I’m finding it hard to hold back at this point.

[“Then…”]

I grabbed Riyo’s hand and pulled her closer. I fixed my gaze on her gleaming left shoulder and opened my mouth.

And.

I took that mouth.

[“……!”]

“……!”

The fox sisters nipped at me slightly, just like they had done moments ago. I felt like I was about to lose my reason in the suffocating scent of her skin. Both foxes twitched and shuddered at the same time, gasping.

[‘Oh.’]

[‘Ah.’]

[‘Oh my.’]

[‘That’s it!’]

Carefully, I pulled my lips away. I’d marked the fox’s shoulder with teeth.

Ah.

Looking at what I’d just done, it felt insane. What was I even thinking? I wasn’t usually this reckless… That was too impulsive.

I was about to add an excuse when,

“Shhh.”

Liyo put a finger to my lips and the corner of her mouth lifted.

“No confessions, no excuses needed.”

Miyo continued.

[“Just accept what you just did, as it is.”]

“It’s as natural as being drawn by a fragrance.”

[“Don’t make a woman speak first. Got it?”]

“I’ll be waiting.”

The sisters took turns speaking, driving me out of my mind. This must be what it’s like to be captivated by a fox.

“It’s the pheromones, alright. They really work.”

“Shhh.”

I looked around, wondering if someone else was there. Valkyrie and the Saintess were out gathering herbs, away from the base. Director Adora had to work the night shift, so she shouldn’t be awake ye–

“Major.”

“……”

Why is she up?

The Director tilted her head and sat up. Her half-opened eyes stared at me like spears. It felt like standing face-to-face with a tiger.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Just now.”

“Did we wake you up talking?”

“No. What were you two saying?”

“Nothing, just small talk.”

“Hmm.”

The Captain surveyed me and the area around. Her gaze lingered, especially long, on one spot: the makeshift furnace we’d just started setting up.

“What’s that?”

“A furnace to make iron.”

“You’re going to smelt iron? In a place like this?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You think it’s possible?”

“I’m going to work with Fox Engineer. With my mana manipulation and Engineer’s holy power, we should be able to produce a small amount.”

“What are you going to use it for?”

“Valkyrie’s spear tips.”

The Captain frowned. Her gaze wasn’t friendly. It was directed at the Fox sisters, not me. Then, a *tch* sound escaped from the Captain’s lips.

“You should focus on securing food instead of making weapons.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Hey now, watch your tone.”

“So is there a problem? We’re doing this with Erich, so why are you interfering?”

“Because seasonal shit is inefficient busywork on a deserted island. I’ve got progress to make, what reason is there to need more iron?”

“Because you’re untrustworthy.”

“I struggle to understand that way of thinking.”

“Way of thinking? You struggle to understand? Are you discriminating against beastmen right now?”

Riyo hissed something that sounded similar.

“Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

“Not at all. I’m just a little unpleasant. If you’re gonna do it, do it yourself, why are you dumping work on my lovely subordinate… even though you’re lower ranking.”

“Well, Erich and I have a relationship where we don’t even need to discuss rank. Unlike you.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. I get it. Go ahead and do a good job.”

The atmosphere seemed to be turning ugly, but Major Adora cut it off at just the right time. However, the conflict wasn’t resolved. Riyo ground her teeth and thumped her tail against the floor.

“She really is a woman I don’t like.”

“It’s because of the Eight Shadows, right?”

Riyo nodded.

“She says it’s not, but it all shows in her actions. She’s subtly looking down on beastmen. She must have gotten tainted without even realizing it. That’s why I hate her. I despise her. The group that is my sister’s enemy…”

“I understand.”

The Major wanted to say it wasn’t really her fault, but she held back. Today’s fortune suddenly came to mind.

A warning to be careful in relationships.

Which also meant being careful what you say.

“……”

Feels like I wasn’t careful in a different way, though.

A few minutes passed before the Major came back over.

“Thinking about it, maybe I was too harsh. Sorry. If you can do ironmaking, it wouldn’t be so bad to try.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I was thinking about when I got my prohibition cured. Up until then, I thought I’d be stuck with that sickness forever. But look at me now, all cleaned up, so, yeah. Thinking about it like that, ironmaking on a deserted island seems doable enough.”

Then Major Adora pulled out two lollipops. She stuck one in her own mouth and gave the other to the Fox sisters.

“I heard Fox Therians love sweet stuff.”

“Whoa. Really giving it to us?”

“Yeah, it’s gotta be better than chewing on a honeycomb. Eat it when your sugar’s low.”

“Hmph, well I guess I’ll take it without another word.”

Riyo shoved the lollipop into her pants pocket, sticking her tongue out.

“But I still don’t trust you!”

“Think whatever you want.”

The Major yawned long and wide before lying back down. She asked for water, so I unscrewed my canteen and gave it to her.

[‘Wow, she’s drinking straight from the canteen.’]

That’s how we were proceeding, step by step, towards ironmaking. Just then, a rustling sound came from the eastern forest, and the Saint popped out.

“Erich! It’s a disaster!”

“What is it?”

“The Lieutenant, Lieutenant Rachel…!”