Ch.114Awakening (6)

# The Three Female Soldiers in the Underground Prison

The three female soldiers were imprisoned in the underground dungeon.

Their hands and feet were tightly bound, and there wasn’t even a single ventilation duct on the walls. The only place where air could pass through was the iron bars, which were triple-layered, and blood ghouls were wandering right in front of them.

Escape seemed impossible.

“Hey, you.”

Rachel tried calling out to the wandering monsters, but they didn’t even turn their heads, let alone respond. The blood ghouls’ eyes were dull and vacant. They seemed to lack any semblance of reason.

“They appear to be low-level familiars.”

“Familiars?”

“I’ve heard that high-ranking vampires know how to use necromancy. They probably breathe souls into dead bodies to control them.”

Tiria continued, saying that blood ghoul familiars only listen to commands from their masters.

“So, dead people are watching us?”

In response to Rachel’s question, Riyo sniffed the air. The smell of formaldehyde. Though they appeared normal on the outside, they were already dead.

“They’ll probably react if we try to escape. This is troublesome.”

“Is there no way out?”

“Well…”

Rachel and Riyo glanced sideways at Tiria.

In truth, the spirits were no match for Tiria. If she could just remove the handcuffs, purifying this entire area would be no trouble at all.

But the vampire must know that too.

Rachel looked down at the handcuffs she was wearing. Besides the iron rings, there were also restraints made of spider webs. These were Salvira’s work.

Even if she tried to break them by force, they were surprisingly tough, unlike ordinary threads.

The vampire’s intentions were clear. She clearly suspected that spider woman.

A way to escape from here?

There is one.

Three days ago, Erich had given the three female soldiers magic stones. They were replicas of the transfer stones obtained from capturing a ghoul. Fortunately, they weren’t discovered during the body search before coming here.

The vampire doesn’t know about the fox sisters’ abilities. The moment she learns that they can manipulate mana, this level of surveillance won’t be enough.

They only had one chance.

Rachel, Tiria, and the Riyo-Miyo sisters—all four had agreed beforehand to trust Erich. If he made a move, they would immediately escape from this place.

Just as they were each making this resolution…

“So the final sacrifices are here?”

A deep male voice. And the sound of military boots that followed created tension in the air.

“Yes, that’s right. They say they’re prisoners from the Holy Spirit Kingdom.”

“…Holy Spirit Kingdom prisoners?”

“They say each serves a different goddess. I heard them earlier talking about how they’d make good catalysts or something.”

“The vampire has good skills. To bring more sacrifices in the meantime.”

Hazkhail language.

No doubt about it. They were officers from the Magic Kingdom. Tiria especially furrowed her brow.

Eventually, the officers appeared and stood directly in front of the three.

“That one is said to be a squadron leader from the White Lotus Battalion, that beast-person is from the Divine Engineer Corps, and the last one…”

“She’s clearly the Saint of Purification.”

Rachel and Tiria’s eyes were also moving quickly. About a dozen field-grade officers and one general. In the case of the general, he had not just one or two stars, but five.

“…Marshal?”

“I see the Saint knows how to speak the language of the Magic Kingdom. That makes our conversation easier.”

The neatly dressed general laughed as he removed his hat.

“Admiral Abraham Dietz at your service.”

“Abraham Dietz? The commander-in-chief of the Magic Kingdom’s southern waters? I heard you died at the Battle of Tatangkur.”

“Ascalia’s intelligence is truly pathetic. One shouldn’t make such judgments until a body is found.”

“So, the Magic Kingdom was indeed preparing evil sorcery. And with ancient monsters, no less.”

Tiria glared at Admiral Dietz. Rachel and Riyo also frowned deeply. They engaged in a staring contest with the officers behind the admiral, maintaining a standoff for a while.

Only the admiral was laughing jovially.

Tiria asked.

“I heard you’re trying to resurrect the Demon King.”

“That’s correct.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Why has the Magic Kingdom joined hands with its old enemy? It was Hazkhail that destroyed Hellayer. Have you forgotten what the Pledge of Jeriem is?”

Admiral Dietz answered that question by biting his lip.

“What an impudent girl. A saint daring to bring up the Pledge of the Mage. Generals, look at this. The Holy Spirit Order has always been fickle. When we first created and announced the pledge, they didn’t pay any attention, but now that their lives are in danger, they change their tune. Isn’t it amusing?”

The officers began to snicker one by one.

“So, who taught you to bring up the pledge when in danger? The Pope? The High Priest? Or perhaps that precious goddess of yours?”

“I think you know the person best.”

“I don’t have connections with the Holy Spirit Kingdom, so I don’t know who you’re referring to…”

“Erich Lohnstein.”

The moment that name was mentioned, the smile disappeared from Admiral Dietz’s face.

“Say that again. Who?”

“Erich Lohnstein. The man who succeeded Johannes Kalon as the commander of the Magic Stone Supply Battalion. Tall and handsome.”

The expressions of the officers behind the admiral also darkened dramatically.

Tiria recalled the events on the ghost island. Even the vengeful spirits of the Magic Kingdom hesitated to harm Erich. That’s how respected he was.

“We had to cooperate with that man to survive here. It started as an uncomfortable alliance, but now my thoughts have changed. Erich is a good person. Judging by your expressions, I think you all feel the same way, don’t you?”

Even as she spoke, Tiria was considerably surprised. She hadn’t expected the entire officer corps to be so moved. How deep must his respect have been to cause this reaction?

No, that’s not it. That’s why even she had fallen for him. Wasn’t he more like a clergyman than she was, despite being the Saint?

“Lohnstein… That friend should be listed as killed in action at Tatangkur.”

“The Magic Kingdom’s intelligence is truly pathetic. One shouldn’t make such judgments until a body is found.”

“Hahaha!”

Admiral Dietz laughed heartily.

“You’re a much bolder young lady than I expected.”

“I didn’t become a saint just for show.”

“But even if you have a connection with Lohnstein, it won’t change your fate. You have about two weeks… Use that time to prepare yourselves. If needed, I’ll provide paper and pen for your last will.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

The conversation ended there. Led by Admiral Dietz, the Magic Kingdom officers turned to leave. Unlike when they arrived, their pace was noticeably more urgent.

“…We will all survive this together.”

Watching Admiral Dietz’s retreating figure, Tiria murmured quietly.

***

It was just as Salvira had promised. No one could enter the cocoon. Thanks to that, I could focus purely on training.

I was worried about what had happened to the female soldiers from the Holy Spirit Kingdom, but that only made me think I needed to work harder to increase my mana capacity.

And so, it was now the third week of fasting.

My breath smelled sweet even when I was just breathing quietly.

My thoughts weren’t connecting well. If I lost focus even a little, I felt like I would collapse, but even maintaining that focus was difficult. It felt like my patience was being tested to its limits.

I can’t go on any longer.

Whenever I had such thoughts, the director would come to give me water.

The director had essentially entered a fast as well. The first reason was that she couldn’t eat comfortably alone while I was starving beside her.

“I’m fine, so please eat something, Director.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Your father would be sad if he saw this.”

“You must have learned in history class how the Magic Kingdom was established. Hazkhail’s school ties… are as strong as blood ties. When a fellow alumnus has given up food, I can’t be comfortable while sharing life and death with them.”

Thud, the director’s head touched my shoulder. She leaned on me just slightly, not enough to be burdensome.

“…So, senior. Hang in there a little longer.”

This is it. This is why I keep enduring even when I want to quit right now. If it weren’t for Director Adora, I would have given up the day before yesterday.

The reward for enduring longer was also powerful. My mana capacity had now soared to 50 times what it was on the first day. This level already exceeded the national average and was approaching the threshold of the average Larron Academy freshman.

Truly, once I get out, my life will turn around.

After an hour passed, the director, who had been holding water in her mouth, poked my thigh. I, who had been creating a magic stone, reflexively turned my head and opened my mouth.

“Mmph…”

By now, the number of kisses had exceeded 400. If Tedman found out about this, he would surely kill me like a rat. The Giford family has historically upheld the principle of premarital chastity.

I feel guilty.

However, I was feeling even more lust for the director.

We had been in this small room together for days, and had exchanged kisses hundreds of times. Moreover, they weren’t just kisses, but acts to obtain water.

It was something done for training and survival, but my subconscious was interpreting it a bit differently. It recognized kissing Director Adora as an essential act for survival.

The outcome of that recognition was predictable.

In the end, I momentarily couldn’t control the lust that burst forth like a flood.

“…?!”

When I pushed my tongue in, the director’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s. She grabbed my collar and trembled slightly. Every time her breath touched me, her sweet scent made my head spin.

A lovely strawberry scent.

Knowing I shouldn’t do this, I still traced the director’s lips and pulled out my tongue to drink even one more drop of water.

I wasn’t in my right mind.

The director gradually leaned backward. I supported her head with my left hand while wrapping my right arm around her waist. Her trembling body slowly stabilized.

Then, she entrusted her tongue to me and gently blinked her lips.

The director’s lips were like an oasis that never dried up.

[“…Beep?”]

I came to my senses after hearing the little spider’s voice.

[“Beep! Beep beep! Beeeep!!”]

The director and I immediately separated our lips. She looked up at me with a face that had melted languidly. The saliva of my sin was dripping thickly from her lower lip.

The director said, breathing heavily.

“…Senior, you pervert.”

All I could do was bow my head and apologize. Real fasting seems to be beyond me.

Anyway, we need to separate now. I need to continue training…

“I was wondering what you were doing. You’re quite fortunate.”

A familiar voice was heard.

Turning my head toward that voice, I saw an unexpected figure standing at the entrance of the cocoon.

“You’ve made quite a few girlfriends while I haven’t seen you, Lieutenant Colonel Lohnstein.”

“…Admiral Dietz?”

“Yes, it’s me. I thought the lieutenant colonel was an honest and good friend… but it turns out you have quite the playboy tendencies. How did you end up laying hands on Giford’s esteemed daughter, hmm?”

I couldn’t continue speaking.

The reunion with the superior I had always missed since being stranded on the deserted island was, truly, the worst possible scenario.