Ch.66How to Overcome Trauma (5)

Mana and Sephiron struck the lizard’s nape in an arcing motion.

When Mana and Sephiron meet, a neutralization reaction occurs. When they collide violently like now, the reaction intensifies, sometimes creating powerful shockwaves.

The lizard’s head exploded in the Mana-Sephiron storm. It was a cruel blow that didn’t even allow the creature a death cry.

[“Damn it!”]

The smaller lizard cut off its tail and fled hastily. Pursuit was impossible. The sun was setting.

“Ha, haha! We won! We actually won!”

The Valkyrie put down her axe with trembling hands. Our fists bumped together.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever won against fire!”

“See? I knew you could do it!”

I’ve never seen the Valkyrie this happy before. Her joy was contagious, lifting my spirits too. The Holy Maiden cleared her throat when she saw us.

“You two seem to be getting along well?”

“Ah, ahem.”

We put some distance between us.

But not long after, the Valkyrie began showing signs of anxiety again. Though she seemed a bit better than before we defeated the lizard, she was still trembling.

I moved closer to her side, trying not to make it obvious. Pretending to clasp my hands behind my back, I extended my hand and felt a warm, delicate touch. The Valkyrie had grabbed my hand from behind.

“I’ll… I’ll just use your body a little.”

“……”

“Don’t like it? Neither do I. But we have no choice. We need to survive.”

Thanks to the Holy Maiden’s teachings, the Valkyrie and I were gradually learning to communicate.

At first, I thought it would be good if we could talk, but now I’m afraid.

“Well, now that we’ve eaten and caught the monster, shall we go to sleep?”

“Mmm, the joyful bedtime returns right on schedule…”

Riyo yawned lazily and dove into the lifeboat.

“I’m going to sleep first. I’m tired from all the exploring and making tools. Wake me up when it’s my watch.”

“I’ll turn in early too. Good night, everyone.”

Tonight, I have the first watch. I sat on a rock, holding the rope.

Even though it’s called a watch, it’s mostly just being on standby. Monsters tend to appear at specific times. With luck, they might not come at all.

Today seems to be a lucky day. Not a single one in sight.

I examined the magic stones we obtained from the monsters. The quality of rewards matched the island’s danger level. Each stone contained dense magical energy.

[‘Seems to be iron ore type.’]

[‘If refined properly, they could be made into magic bullets. But without a gun, we can’t shoot them.’]

[‘Why worry? The engineer said she’d make us rifles later.’]

[‘That’s only if we become closer, isn’t it?’]

[‘From what I see, she’s already fallen for you.’]

[‘That’s just your opinion, senior. It could be different for a beastkin.’]

Iron and fire elements.

They’re good, but unfortunately have the worst compatibility with the monsters on this island.

Since the quality of the stones is good, I decided to try imbuing them with a penetration formula. This would create attack stones lethal to any being except ghosts.

While I was engrossed in my research:

“Mmm…”

A moan came from inside the boat.

“Mmm, mmm.”

It was the Valkyrie. She was sweating cold. Judging by her furrowed brow, she must be having a nightmare.

It makes sense she’d be traumatized after seeing flames so many times. These symptoms will likely continue for a while.

I need to help her overcome this no matter what.

Ironically, it seems I’m the only one who can soothe her trauma.

I grabbed the Valkyrie’s hand as it flailed in her sleep.

“Oh.”

My body was pulled as if caught by a hook. The Valkyrie pressed my hand against her face and nuzzled it. The stones inside me roared in protest.

Damn, how do I pull my hand away?

Actually, I didn’t need to worry about that. It was time for the shift change anyway.

I shook Riyo with my other hand.

“Hey, wake up.”

“Mmm.”

“It’s time to change shifts. Get up.”

“No. Look only at Riyo.”

What is this fox saying?

She must be deeply asleep. Shaking her shoulder or tapping her lightly wasn’t enough to wake her.

In that case, I had no choice but to use more drastic measures.

First, I touched her left tail.

[“Uh, ah, aah?”]

Then I touched her right tail.

“Eep, hic, hiik.”

They say the tail is one of the most sensitive parts of a beastkin. As if to prove this, Riyo squirmed and woke up.

“…Pervert.”

[“…Pervert.”]

I got a combo of insults as payment for waking her.

[“Couldn’t you wake me in a more elegant and wholesome way?”]

[“I shook your shoulder and even tapped you, but you wouldn’t wake up.”]

[“That’s because it wasn’t enough.”]

Miyo rubbed her cheek with her hand.

[“You could have kissed me here.”]

[“…”]

[“I’m joking, just joking. Why do you look so bashful? Makes me want to bite you.”]

Riyo got up with a smiling eyes. She tapped my head with her tail and hopped onto the rock. A nimble movement befitting a beastkin.

I sighed.

My left arm was still captive to the Valkyrie. It was firmly secured. I could pull it out with force, but that might wake her up.

With no other choice, I lay down beside the Valkyrie.

“Mmm.”

The Valkyrie let out a low moan and shifted her body. Unfortunately, her leg ended up resting on my thigh.

Not content with that, she pulled my arm closer and rested her head against it. Her breath felt heavy on my shoulder. Isn’t this too close?

The Valkyrie’s expression in the light of the luminous stone was…

Smiling.

A serene smile like a calm lake, showing no anxiety or fear. Pure and ephemeral. It was beautiful enough to make me wonder if this woman could really make such an expression.

“Hah.”

I must be crazy. Thinking that the woman who killed my friends is beautiful.

Even if I come to understand the Holy Maiden and become close with Riyo, the Valkyrie is different. It seems impossible to give her genuine affection.

Of course, knowing her past, I can understand to some extent… but that’s that, and this is this.

There’s only one thing I can do for her.

Just help a little with overcoming her trauma.

Even this is just a temporary measure to get through this island. It doesn’t change the fact that the Valkyrie and I are enemies. The best scenario for me is that the war is over by the time we escape this island.

With trembling hands, I embraced the Valkyrie.

“…Warm. Nice.”

Yes, this is just about survival.

“Stay by my side forever…”

It’s just fake kindness offered for the sake of survival.

***

The whole world was burning.

Smoke rose from everywhere. Screams of people could be heard in the distance. Rachel was running through the city in chaos.

She needed to get out of here quickly.

A strangely shaped flame blocked Rachel’s path as she ran. The flame gradually took on a human form and approached with a sinister laugh.

It was a demon. A demon trying to devour her.

She had no proper weapon. Rachel fled desperately. She was out of breath. Her lungs felt like they would split and spit dry blood at any moment.

While running away, she saw a man running from the opposite direction.

“Rachel!”

His face was obscured by smoke, but the voice was familiar.

The Mage.

The Mage grabbed Rachel’s hand and turned her around. He handed her a holy spear and said:

“Let’s fight together.”

Rachel’s body moved on its own. Regardless of her will, she pointed the holy spear at the demon. At that moment, the Mage also took out a magic stone and chanted a spell.

As the Mage uttered an incantation, water gushed from his fingertips like a waterfall. The stream covered the demon and extinguished its flames. The withered body of the creature became visible.

Rachel gathered her courage and leaped.

She thrust her spear into the demon. The demon collapsed, spraying blood and screams.

Exhausted, Rachel fell to the ground. The Mage caught her.

“Are you alright?”

He smiled. It was such a reassuring smile. One she could look at forever.

At the same time, this warmth. It was as warm as being with family. The temperature Rachel had been searching for, after having only hot or cold dreams.

“……”

Yes. It was a dream.

Rachel came to her senses.

She had another strange dream. At least it didn’t end as a nightmare, but still, finding happiness in the arms of an enemy?

“Hmm.”

She couldn’t help but sigh.

Rachel’s internal clock was accurate. Despite the watch schedule changing daily, her eyes would open right on time.

Her blurry senses slowly returned.

And she felt a strange yet familiar warmth.

“…!”

Her body was half-overlapping with the Mage’s.

It wasn’t just lying side by side.

Not only was she using the Mage’s arm as a pillow, but until she woke up, she had buried her face in his embrace. They were essentially hugging.

Why?

Judging by their position, it couldn’t have been the Mage’s doing.

There was only one possibility.

In her sleep, unconsciously, she had sought him out.

Could it be the influence of the dream she just had?

“Damn it…”

Either way, it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Her face felt strangely hot. Rachel slowly moved away, careful not to wake Erich.

At that moment:

The Mage wrapped his right hand around her head. Rachel was so surprised she couldn’t even breathe.

This touch was the same as what she felt in her dream. Warm. Despite disliking it, some part of her felt strangely reassured.

This shouldn’t be happening. Remembering how Daisy and Olivia died, and by whose hand, she shouldn’t allow herself to be conditioned to this touch.

Nevertheless, Rachel’s body and subconscious were honest. After four months of primitive living on a deserted island, her body had adapted. Physically, she accepted that being near this man meant safety.

While Rachel was feeling conflicted:

“Major?”

Riyo, who had come to take over the watch, looked down at Rachel and murmured:

“Why are you erasing the pheromones I buried?”