Ch.63How to Overcome Trauma (2)

# Sand Worm Ambush

However, it was only a half-hearted ambush at best. I had been reading its mana for several seconds already. Thanks to that, I acted faster than anyone else in the group.

[“Pierce through.”]

I struck the monster’s head with a heat ray. With a thud, the trajectory of the fire it was spewing twisted. I rolled across the sandy ground while holding the Valkyrie.

“Ugh!”

The ground is hot. If I hadn’t been wearing my uniform, my arms and back would have been burned already.

Fwooosh.

The monster, after being hit, burrowed back into the ground.

“Mage!”

“Are you okay?”

By the time the Holy Maiden and Riyo joined us a moment later, the monster was already preparing its next attack.

I tracked the flow of mana.

The attack direction: from below, upward.

It’s fast, but not so fast that we can’t dodge it.

Whoosh!

I grabbed the Valkyrie and seized the spear she was carrying. As the creature emerged, I thrust the spear downward.

Crack!

The monster bit the spear tip with its fangs and shattered it. Bluish flames flowed between its teeth. When a chilling heat sensation began crawling up my arm like a centipede, I quickly pulled my hand away.

I took out another magic stone from my pocket.

After defeating the wooden doll on the previous island, I obtained some high-quality magic stones. I’m not sure which one was the key that helped us escape that island, but one thing is certain: every magic stone has its own unique use.

[“Little leaf, bloom into flower.”]

As I recited the incantation, vines burst forth from the magic stone.

The stretchy stems, like taffy, forced their way into the monster’s mouth. They pierced through from head to tail in one go.

The monster tried to resist, but its struggles were futile. The vines had backward-facing thorns. The more it tried to pull away, the more firmly they would tear into it.

“Mage!”

“I’ll help!”

Riyo and the Holy Maiden rushed forward with their axes drawn.

Their axe blades embedded themselves in the seam of the monster’s head. Riyo widened her eyes and put her weight into it.

Crunch!

The monster’s head tore open and dangled loosely. It let out a long, thin shriek before collapsing.

“…Did we kill it?”

Better safe than sorry.

I took out a carbon steel knife from my pocket. I stabbed it into the spot where Riyo had embedded her axe and twisted it. I cut at an angle, determined to completely sever its central nervous system.

Gulp!

I felt the blade slice through flesh. A clay-like blood clot rose up.

I pulled out the knife and stomped on the loosened head, crushing it. With a sound like jelly being squished, gelatinous lumps that looked like konjac oozed out. The stench was overwhelming. Barely holding back my gag reflex, I finished the job.

“Phew.”

After quickly retrieving the magic stone, I kicked the monster toward the sea to wash it away.

“Is everyone alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Although we were ambushed, we were fortunate to repel it without any significant losses. With this, our battle was over.

However, for the Valkyrie, the battle was just beginning.

“Uh, huh, huuuh.”

“…Major?”

“Ah, aaaah!”

The Valkyrie screamed and jumped into the sea. She frantically scrubbed her skin while dousing herself with seawater.

“It’s hot! It’s hot! It hurts!!”

There was no actual fire on the Valkyrie’s body. No visible burn marks either. Sparks might have singed her, but even so, there was no reason for such a dramatic reaction.

The cause of her pain lay elsewhere.

Trauma.

“Major! Calm down!”

“Major, there’s no fire! Your body is fine!”

The Holy Maiden and Riyo clung to her, trying to calm her down, but it didn’t seem to be working.

“Mom! Dad! Someone, someone help me!”

Over the past two years.

I’ve seen countless soldiers who returned from the battlefield with psychological wounds.

They often became sensitive in certain situations, got angry, or in severe cases, even attacked their own comrades.

The Valkyrie is showing the exact same symptoms.

I need to calm her down before things escalate further.

“Ms. Kasten.”

I pulled back the Holy Maiden who was trying to comfort the Valkyrie.

“Let me try.”

“How will you do it? Even stabilizing holy magic isn’t working. It won’t be easy!”

“I’ve calmed many soldiers with these symptoms without using holy magic. Would you mind if I give it a try?”

“…Alright. Do you need anything?”

“Yes. Could you teach me a few words so we can communicate?”

The Holy Maiden nodded.

After asking the Holy Maiden for a few difficult words, I carefully observed the Valkyrie’s behavior. She was scooping up seawater and splashing it everywhere.

Just as I expected.

The memories of that day were replaying in her mind. The day when her home and village were burned down by false mages.

In cases like this, simple comfort won’t calm her down. I need to see what the Valkyrie is seeing. I need to immerse myself in that situation.

I cleared my throat and spoke.

“Little miss, what brings you to the fire station?”

“The… fire needs to be put out…”

“Oh my, you’re covered in soot. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It hurts, please… help me.”

“Wait just a moment. I’ll help you right away.”

The seawater is surprisingly warm. Perhaps it’s because this island is burning.

To calm the Valkyrie, I need cool water.

I took out a purifying stone and turned some seawater into fresh water. During this process, I concentrated mana to its limit. The concentrated mana causes condensation. When condensation occurs, heat is absorbed.

In other words, the purified water is colder than seawater.

I pushed mana until my lips went numb. Two buckets’ worth of cold water were created. I slowly poured the cold water over the Valkyrie’s arms, legs, and head.

“Ah, cold…”

“That’s good. The fire is all out now. That was a close call. Now I’ll bandage you up so you can rest. Okay?”

“…Ah.”

The Valkyrie’s eyes slowly closed. I supported her with both hands.

“It’s done now.”

“How… how?”

The Holy Maiden asked in surprise.

“How did you do that?”

“I simply matched her perspective. This kind of role-playing tends to work quite well.”

“Mage, you…”

For the first time, the Holy Maiden’s eyes showed three colors: pink, yellow, and blue.

“I’m ashamed of myself. I received power from the Goddess of Healing, yet I couldn’t treat someone else’s trauma.”

“No, you’re doing plenty well as it is.”

I wasn’t even sure if this method would work. I was acting on experience, and it happened to be successful. In other words, I got lucky.

[“Riyo, Miyo. Please make a fan with the remaining bamboo. Preferably a large one.”]

“Huh? Okay.”

“Ms. Kasten, I think we’ll have to spend the night in the lifeboat on this island. Please prepare the sleeping arrangements.”

“I think that’s better too. This place is far too dangerous.”

Blood had splattered on my uniform during the fight with the monster. Stains weren’t a big deal. The problem was the filth itself and the smell. If not cleaned properly, other monsters might be attracted by the stench, or we could fall ill.

I took off my clothes and removed the Valkyrie’s outer garments. The Holy Maiden, who had returned after tying a rope to a rock, was shocked.

“W-what are you doing…!”

“It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“Your eyes, they’re pink.”

“Ah.”

The Holy Maiden covered her eyes with both hands and made an “Aaaah” sound. She can be quite silly sometimes.

I smirked and said:

“Are you a pervert?”

“Who’s a pervert! And why are you embracing the Major naked?”

“It’s psychological treatment.”

“How is that treatment?”

“In the Magic Kingdom, this is how we typically help people with trauma. It unconsciously makes them realize they’re not alone.”

“Then let me do it.”

“It’s best if the person who calmed them down continues.”

Gray swirled in the Holy Maiden’s eyes. She replied with a pout:

“Aren’t you just satisfying your own desires?”

“Have you forgotten that the Valkyrie and I are enemies?”

“Well… that’s true.”

“This is all for survival. If we’re going to get through this island, the Valkyrie needs to do her part. I’ll help her overcome her trauma somehow. I’m absolutely not doing this because I want to.”

Considering the Valkyrie’s trauma, coming to this island was a gamble.

But then again, going back to the previous island would be just as risky. If we encountered a typhoon on the way, we’d be done for. No choice here guarantees 100% safety.

If both options are dangerous, moving forward is better than retreating.

“Goddess of Healing, please grant peace to this poor lamb.”

The Holy Maiden recited a prayer of stability. The Valkyrie’s breathing became more calm. I carried her to the lifeboat. Even after sitting in the lifeboat, I continued to hold her.

“Tsk.”

This island is insane.

Designed so that you can’t get through without comforting your enemy.

The two stones were making annoying “oing oing” sounds, so I gave them a stern warning to be quiet.

***

Blazing flames.

Rachel was in the middle of it all.

Her entire body was on fire. It was too hot to bear. She tried pouring buckets of water on herself and the house, but it was useless. The pain wouldn’t go away.

She felt like she would stop breathing from despair.

And then, a saving hand descended.

-Little miss, what brings you to the fire station?

She met a firefighter.

Rachel spoke urgently. Help me, she said. The fire needs to be put out. My whole body is hot and painful and miserable.

-Wait just a moment. I’ll help you right away.

Shortly after hearing those words, an ice-cold sensation washed over her. Rachel shrugged her shoulders. The hot sensation disappeared instantly.

The fire was extinguished.

-Now I’ll bandage you up so you can rest. Okay?

Then came a warm touch. Yes, not heat but warmth. It felt like being embraced by family.

She wanted to feel more of this warmth. Rachel pulled her arms closer. And then, she slowly opened her eyes.

“…?”

The first thing she saw was a man’s skin. Firm muscles were right in front of her eyes. She herself was completely naked, nestled against him.

Startled, Rachel raised her head.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

In the twilight, Erich’s eyes gleamed.

Rachel pushed Erich away in shock. As she began to understand the situation, her cheeks flushed as red as ripe persimmons.