Escape From a Deserted Island With Enemy Female Soldiers

108 – Awakening (1)

Valkyrie looked at me with a shocked expression, as if she’d just done something outrageous.

Wait, is she just now realizing what she did?

I rubbed roughly at the spot where Valkyrie’s lips had touched, rolling my eyes. The Saintess and Riyo weren’t the problem; it was Major Adora. The Major smirked as she removed her coat, revealing her rank insignia.

“Senior, you must be happy, so popular with the ladies.”

A sarcastic tone.

But that sharp tone wasn’t aimed at me. The truth was obvious just by seeing where the Major’s gaze was directed.

[‘Ah, so what had been lurking beneath the surface has finally risen.’]

[‘oooh, that’s it. After coming this far, senior, you’re doomed to be tossed around between these women. Oh, this is insane. It feels like I’m eating a sweet potato with my ass.’]

Well, what am I supposed to do? This situation is a first for me too.

It was unexpected voices that helped me, as I was just looking around, trying to figure things out. Valkyrie’s comrades sighed heavily, and then spoke sharply at me.

[‘You’re too damn nice for your own good.’]

[‘You’re not even dating anyone yet. Doesn’t that mean you can be even bolder about it?’]

[‘Women are drawn to guys with confidence. Maintain a basic level of decency, but absolutely don’t be intimidated. Just act the way you always have.’]

Voices whispering very quietly. Even Miyu and the Section Chief didn’t seem to notice.

I sorted out my thoughts.

I nudged Valkyrie, who had her head bowed, and asked,

“Why?”

It was just a short word, but it held a lot of meaning because of it.

Why did you kiss the cheek of your enemy?

Why did you do something so sudden in front of everyone?

Why did your feelings for your nemesis change so much?

I want to hear your heart, even just a little.

“…I don’t know.”

Valkyrie avoided my gaze and answered in a barely audible voice.

“Idiot.”

“Yeah, sorry for being an idiot.”

Valkyrie wordlessly punched my shoulder hard.

“Die, idiot.”

“What, if you’re gonna try to kill me, put some real intent behind it. You’re a kid?”

“Ugh…”

“You’re still hurting. Just rest tonight.”

I forced a half-assed smile and got up. That’s when Valkyrie instinctively gasped, “Ah.”

“Where are you going?”

“Gotta work. Got a lot to make.”

“Are you coming back?”

“What, can’t sleep alone? Want me to sleep with you?”

“Sleep? Together?”

“I’m asking if you want me to share your bed.”

Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. Her face was slowly turning as red as a beet.

“Are you crazy?”

“Yeah, I guess. Sounds crazy even to me. I’m going.”

“…Wait.”

When she was just pushing me away, Valkyrie grabbed my arm again, tight.

“No.”

“What?”

“I said no.”

Her grip was way stronger than before. Like she absolutely wouldn’t let me leave.

I sighed and sat back down.

Good enough for now. I took Valkyrie’s hand and a faint smile touched her lips as she lay down. She looked incredibly happy. That pain-in-the-ass, she probably doesn’t even realize the face she’s making.

Truth is, I wanted to see that smile.

The moment Valkyrie fell asleep, Major Adora picked up where she’d left off.

“Senior, that’s low.”

“What is?”

“You were such a brick wall with me, barely giving me the time of day, and then you’re completely unguarded with her. Do you like her *that* much?”

“Don’t know.”

“Why don’t you know?”

“Because she used to be the enemy.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t really told the Major. What Valkyrie and I had been to each other.

I quickly ran through what had happened, and the Major’s eyes widened.

“…Oh, is that so.”

“Yeah.”

I picked up the Major’s coat and draped it back over her shoulders.

“So I hope you too, Major, will keep our professional and personal lives strictly separate, just like Valkyrie and I do.”

“Keep our professional and personal lives strictly separate…”

The Major chuckled.

“You’re saying you’ll keep testing the waters until we’re off this deserted island.”

“Not testing the waters.”

“So, there’s already someone you’ve set your heart on?”

“Yes, there is.”

The moment I spat those words out, a brief silence fell. The Major, as well as the Saintess and the fox sisters, all sucked in a breath.

“There is?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you’ll tell us now?”

“I’m afraid it’ll cause internal strife.”

“Didn’t you tell me to separate public and private matters? Even I can manage that much. So… well.”

The Major leaned his face in, aggressively close.

“Can’t you give me even a hint?”

“I cannot.”

“So stingy.”

“Please understand.”

Major Adora acknowledged and turned to lie down.

The night deepened. I carefully pulled my hand from Valkyrie’s grip and rose from my spot. Just as I was about to step outside for some night air, the Saintess followed.

“…That you have someone in your heart, is that really true?”

“I don’t lie.”

“Could it change along the way?”

“No.”

“Even if that person is petty, and has bad sides?”

“Who isn’t like that? I’ll even love that side of you.”

“……Ah.”

The Saintess gave a bitter smile. She echoed my words, muttering and nodding.

“I’m learning another thing from you, Erich. Then, I’ve decided to accept it too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your choice. No matter who you choose, con, congra, congratulations… I’m trying to congratulate you, just a moment. Uh, uh?”

Out of nowhere, rain begins to pour. The drizzle falls from beneath the Saintess’ eyes. Her cute and lovely pupils were turning a watery blue.

“Wait, just wait a moment. Why, why am I doing this…?”

I’m a lucky b*stard. A beauty like this has feelings for me. And on top of that, she’s a nervous wreck, shedding tears in case she gets rejected. Just seeing it chills me to the bone, but I can’t tell her the truth now.

“Really, is there really no turning back?”

“No.”

“Seriously?”

“My mind is made up.”

“Ah…”

The Saintess’ eyes, which had been tinged with melancholy, now completely shifted to purple. Purple represents unease, worry, fear, and even heartbreak and loss.

“Hic, hucc.”

“I said I’d tell you when we leave the island. Why are you doing this so suddenly?”

“Because I know you won’t choose me.”

“Why are you thinking so negatively?”

“Prayers won’t work, will they? How can I ask the Goddess to control someone’s heart? It’s *your* heart. And… I’m not good enough to be by your side. I’ve only shown you my inadequate and ugly sides until now.”

The saint hiccups, continuing her words.

“I haven’t been able to comfort countless spirits. I killed your comrades twice over. How could you like someone like me? If I were you, it would be hard. There’s Lieutenant Rachel, General Gifford, even the fox sisters who are completely innocent…”

“…Tiria.”

The moment I call the saint’s name, her sobs abruptly stop.

“I didn’t know you were such a weak person.”

“Huh?”

“I thought you were kind, considerate, someone who reflected on and fixed their mistakes, always becoming a better person. Someone who constantly pondered faith, understood others, harmonized, and always wore a benevolent smile even when things were tough, a true saint.”

“Ah, a-ah.”

“So, you had this side too.”

I smile bitterly, wiping the moisture from the saint’s cheeks with my hands.

“Tiria. You’ve done so much for me. If it weren’t for you, I would have died fighting the ghouls, fighting the Alaune, fighting the wooden puppets, on that flaming island, at the hands of the Witch of Disaster… dozens of times over. Why can’t you think that you’re the one who’s saved me and everyone else’s lives the most, the one who’s cooked us the most meals?”

“That’s…”

“The important thing is that we wouldn’t have made it this far without any of us. We’ve been diligently cooperating to get here. If anything, they’ve developed affection for you, not dislike.”

The saint’s mouth gaped. Her eyes shimmered with all sorts of colors. Yellow, pink, and other miscellaneous colors mixed together, resembling opal.

“Get some rest, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

I pat the saint’s shoulder and then turned to leave.

Today it was my and the fox sisters’ turn to stand guard.

Riyo and I lit a bonfire and spread out all the materials we had gathered in one place. Using the chorus of the crickets as music, we continued the work we had been doing yesterday.

[“Erich, you know how I feel, right?”]

[“To some extent.”]

[“So, I have something I’m curious about.”]

Miyo asked her question, just as I expected.

[“Can I ask?”]

[“Speak.”]

[“You said you’d pick one partner you like after we get off the deserted island, right? If you were to pick this body… would it be me, or Riyo?”]

[“……”]

[“You wouldn’t possibly see me and Riyo as the same person, after you’re the one who imprinted me onto Riyo. So, there are two possibilities, aren’t there? Either you choose both me and Miyo, or you choose neither.”]

The time was already a full moon. When the full moon was at its highest.

Miyo’s expression, bathed in the moonlight, was as serene as a mountain valley lake. But her ears and tail were twitching frantically, betraying her impatience.

[“Our heat, it’ll be over soon.”]

[“Is that so?”]

[“We still haven’t found a mate. Thinking about it just passing by like this, it’s making me feel all restless, you know? I guess we’ll be alone again this year. The husband who’ll give our family a surname isn’t coming….”]

[“……I’m sorry.”]

[“See? You’re not going to choose us after all. We’re sad. We even let you touch our tail, even let you bite our shoulder.”]

Miyo turned around and promptly thrust her soft, glossy tail towards me.

“Erich.”

[“You tamed us, didn’t you?”]

“Look over here.”

[“You have to take responsibility for what you tamed.”]

I quietly nodded. Then, I reached out both hands towards the pair of tails shimmering before my eyes. The spongy texture and thick, nutty scent scattered my reason.

“Ah…”

[“Ugh, aah…”]

Yeah, I’ve come this far, there’s no turning back now.

Gotta brace myself.

[‘Oh, you crazy son of a b*tch.’]

[‘Erich, you wouldn’t, would you?’]

[“Bweep?”]

That’s right.

I never said I’d only choose one from the start.

*

Meanwhile, in the deepest cave of the Black Death Zone.

“Finally, the resurrection preparations are complete.”

A silver-haired, red-eyed vampire twisted his lips into a chilling smile.

Vampiress Bepisha.

One of the Demon Lord’s 28 Generals, and a descendant of the progenitors, still enjoying immense power and a long life.

“Now, when the next full moon rises, if we offer the sacrifice… he will return.”

For the past several centuries, how much humiliation and oppression have we suffered? How long have we cowered and endured within this cramped fiefdom?

Knowing the frustration of those long years will soon disappear, even my dead heart feels like it’s pounding.

“When the Demon Lord is resurrected, the world will once again become a place where we demons can thrive.”

“Is that so? Has the time already come?”

Befesha turned his head at the sound.

Thud, thud.

Dozens of pairs of heavy footsteps approached, trampling the earth. Mages, heavily armed with all sorts of advanced weaponry. Most of them had a symbol painted on their shoulders.

A silver moon and eight inverted crosses.

Beneath the symbol, the ancient words read, ‘For the Demon God.’

A smile crept across Befesha’s face as he confirmed they were allies.

“Welcome, Admiral Abraham Deetz.”