127 – A Fleeting Respite (3)

It was the Holy Order’s Saintess who had saved Salbira, on the brink of death from excessive blood loss.

“I used herbal hemostatics, performed emergency surgery. She lost so much blood; it was touch and go.”

“So, she’s going to be alright?”

“I’ve done everything I can. Now it’s up to her to hold on.”

Seeing Salbira’s legs wrapped in bandages brought a torrent of thoughts. What had happened? Why had the devil taken only her lower body as payment?

Her demonic characteristics had completely vanished. What would Salbira’s reaction be when she woke up, a demoness so proud of her kind?

“[Ughh.]”

“[Master? Are you coming to?]”

“[Where… where am I?]”

“[You’re in the lodging. You’re safe.]”

I hurriedly helped Salbira sit up.

Salbira’s gaze dropped, her back arching. Her eyes held a hollow emptiness. Nothing remained below her thighs.

“[So, it was taken, after all.]”

Salbira murmured, as if resigned.

[“To have lived with such pride, as the Queen of Arachne…”]

[“There is nothing I can say.”]

[“Isn’t it a miracle I even survived? It is only that I did not die honorably that I lament.”]

[“What are you saying?”]

[“Jeriem.”]

Again, his name.

[“The demon took Jeriem’s lifespan as payment. Thanks to that, I was able to survive by paying only the interest. And *this* is the result.”]

Salbira explained the whole story, then covered her face with both hands.

And wept.

Not just anyone, but a centuries-old legendary demon, was showing a vulnerability that was no match to a child’s.

[“Not only did I receive his heart, but now I owe him my life… How can I face him in the afterlife?”]

[“Master.”]

[“Forgive me for the unsightly display, disciple. Could you leave me alone for a little while?”]

[“No.”]

I shook my head.

[“How can I leave when you’re suffering like this? You can cry as much as you need to. I’ll be here for you.”]

[“Please, I’m begging you. I don’t want you to see me like this any longer.”]

[“Are you ashamed of being unsightly?”]

[“Why do you ask the obvious?”]

[“The more you feel that way, the more you should rely on others. Look.”]

I gestured around the room. The female soldiers, the golems, and even more so, the spider demons who were worrying about Salbira more than anyone else.

[“No one left; they were all waiting for you to wake up. They even skipped meals because they were so worried about you.”]

[“The spiders, I understand, but why the others? I’m a cadre of the Demon Lord’s army, and I’ve committed unforgivable sins…”]

[“Well, because you helped us.”]

Adora interrupted Salbira. She chewed her flavorless gum as she continued, answering the question.

[“I don’t care if you’re a demon or not. I don’t care what you did in the past, either. No, I’m not even qualified to discuss it. We’re not the ones you harmed.”]

[“Then…”]

[“All we can say is this. Thank you for helping us.”]

Salbira’s eyes widened at those words.

[“The karma I’ve accumulated is different from yours. Even if I did good deeds for you, they are nothing compared to the evil I’ve done. So I don’t think I deserve praise for just this one thing.”]

[“Then, why not offer to others what you offered us?”]

Adora said, her tone sharp and businesslike, bordering on cold. But the sentiment itself wasn’t wrong.

I added, [“Master, there’s no need to overthink it. If you survived, then simply live. And if you desire atonement, death is not the solution. It would only be more grotesque.”]

[“So, spending the rest of my days helping humans… would that allow even a sliver of redemption?”]

[“It would be far more valuable than surrendering your life now. Jeriem would want that, too.”]

Salbira sighed, a long, drawn-out breath, and nodded.

[“Hearing those words from Jeriem’s descendant… it brings me some peace.”]

There’s an old saying:

Within fortune lies misfortune,

Within misfortune lies fortune.

Perhaps Salbira losing her traits as a spider demon is a good thing. In appearance, she is no different from a human now.

If we escape from here, she could evade the Holy Church’s gaze and settle in a decent suburb.

Of course, releasing a demon who was once a high-ranking member of the Demon King’s army into society is undesirable. Socially, it would be difficult to accept.

But nevertheless.

I wanted to offer a chance to those who repent. To allow her to wash away her own sins. To fulfill her responsibilities here in this world, not in hell, and to return to the earth when her appointed time comes.

[“I understand, disciple. I will strive to create the world Jeriem desired until the end of my life. More than anything… dying now would be nothing more than running away, wouldn’t it.”]

[“You’ve made the right decision. For now, you should rest.”]

[“I apologize for causing you worry. I’m alright now, so go about your business.”]

I took off my outer garment and covered Salbira’s legs with it before stepping outside.

There was an unexpected commotion, but we made it through the crisis.

As my tension drained away, hunger gnawed at me. I had been awake since the crack of dawn, and when I finally came to my senses, it was already early evening. I had survived for a full day on only water.

There is much to do.

Even if the demons are gone, this is still an uninhabited island. If we don’t gather and hunt in time, we will starve. We could die from a sudden squall or succumb to a disease.

“Everyone, gather around.”

To survive here, we must all cooperate. As we have done until now.

“Let’s decide on a plan.”

I listed simple words in front of the gathered women.

“Water, food, shelter, clothing.”

Obtain drinking water and food, maintain our living quarters, and make clothes to wear until we leave.

To put it plainly, provide and supplement the essentials of life.

The female soldiers nodded as if they understood.

Liyo, with a sly grin, added in the next instant:

“So you mean you’ll love me until you quench my thirst, prepare food and clothes for the children, and live with me in the same house. Heh.”

“What are you rambling about now?”

“Wasn’t I right?”

Liyo, tail drooping, grumbled.

“That’s too much, really.”

“What is?”

“You haven’t told us who you’re going to choose yet.”

“Ah.”

“Everyone’s staring at your lips.”

At Liyo’s nagging, the other three female soldiers also darted glances. Rachel was biting her lower lip hard, and Tiria’s pupils were a deep amethyst. Adora repeatedly popped her bubblegum.

That’s the reaction they show when they’re all uneasy.

[“You know it too, Erich.”]

Liyo’s voice dropped an octave.

No, this isn’t Liyo. Judging by the use of Hwian, her sister had seized the floor.

[“Once we break the barrier and leave the uninhabited island, we have to return to our respective countries. We’re separating. Our souls are bound, but our bodies are far apart. I can’t even imagine it. That’s why we want a token.”]

A token.

Perhaps it meant marriage(結婚) – not a soulbinding(結魂), but a wedding.

“The Senior Officer is right.”

Tiria chimed in.

“Give us your answer, Erich.”

“Mr. Karsten…”

“We’ve all bound our souls with you. Whoever Erich chooses, I won’t cry. I’m prepared to accept it.”

I couldn’t just gloss over those words with an “I see.” Because Tiria’s voice was trembling so much, as if submerged in water.

Accept it no matter who I choose?

Don’t lie. You can’t hide your emotions, Lumina. And with your eyes shining with such a pathetic light, how could you accept it?

You’re going to cry your eyes out.

“Tsk.”

A click of the tongue, and I turned to find Adora staring daggers at me, eyes narrowed.

“Lieutenant, you’d best think this through with some realism.”

Adora’s lips parted, ever so slightly. Looking at those lips only brought back memories of a month’s worth of kisses. The time we shared was the shortest, but our physical connection the most intense.

The Fox sisters, Tiria, even Adora, had each said their piece.

And, Rachel…

“Huu…”

Only a sigh escaped her lips, a breath of nothingness. But her eyes, they spoke volumes. She too, awaited my answer.

“Erich.”

“Spit it out already.”

“Lieutenant, I refuse to believe you’re the type to string us along.”

“Hee…”

This was bad.

[‘oooh, what’s this then? A spectacle unfolding?’]

[‘Oh my, is this finally the moment?’]

[‘He looks more tormented than when surrounded by monsters.’]

[‘We could use some snacks for a show like this.’]

[“Bwee?”]

Catching the scent of drama, the golems settled one by one behind the female soldiers, taking their seats. Instead of popcorn, they crunched on the sand grains from the ground, their shoulders shaking in anticipation. The wave was distracting.

[‘Confess! Clap! Confess! Clap!’]

[‘After inflicting the kind of pain that could kill us, he better not choose someone other than Rachel!’]

[‘If you don’t choose Luminas, the Saintess who can cook, clean, is of high social standing, beautiful, has a great figure, and is ever so demure, I will forevermore refer to you as a eunuch, Senior!’]

[‘Quiet down, all of you. Pick the fox, Erich—!! We can’t force his hand from the sidelines, though the Fox would do nicely—!!’]

[“Bweem-bwee! Bweem-bwee-bweep! Bweeeeeet!”]

With even the golems clamoring for an answer, there was no escaping this. It was something I had to face eventually anyway, and I wasn’t one for drawing things out needlessly.

I steeled myself for the inevitable beating and opened my mouth.

“I… I want to marry you all.”