129 – A Fleeting Settlement (5)

Red, orange, green, violet.

Tyria’s eyes shone like an opal, with colors swirling in every direction.

“Colonel?”

“Major Erich. Pray tell, what is the meaning of this little tableau?”

Rachel and I froze, locked in our embrace. It felt as if we’d been caught in the midst of a tawdry affair. A tidal wave of guilt crashed over me.

“I thought perhaps you might show a little remorse!”

The myriad hues shimmering in Tiria’s irises coalesced into two stark shades. Red and green. She was consumed by both fury and jealousy.

“So, that’s how it is, is it? You can live a happy little life with just a Major, is that right? Right? You’re happy to have a woman who only looks at you until the very end?”

“Frau Karsten, I…”

“Forget it! I was a fool to worry you might be hungry!”

The situation was dire. In times like these, an apology was the best course of action.

“I am sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“I upset you, Frau Karsten. I am truly sorry.”

“Is ‘sorry’ the only word you know?”

“I was wrong.”

“Yes, but *what* were you wrong about?”

I was lost. There was no right answer.

[‘Oh dear, you’ve really done it now.’]

[‘Congratulations on falling into the woman’s infinite loop, Rohnstein. You’re screwed now.’]

[‘Why didn’t you choose the Saintess from the start? This is all your own doing, Captain.’]

[‘Om nom nom. This is some great drama.’]

Instead of talking, why don’t you all give me some strength? I even made bodies for you, and this is how you repay me?

[‘Hmm.’]

I’ll make dinosaur models for you. Please.

[‘I’d like a Pterodactyl.’]

[‘Me too.’]

[‘I want to be sculpted into a beautiful female form.’]

[‘Oh my, me as well.’]

And so, an alliance with the stones was forged. Daisy and Olivia’s voices were less than enthusiastic, but at least they were willing to help. Was it because the bond between Rachel and I was now definite?

[‘We’ll give you choices.’]

The Golems whispered.

[‘Option 1: Say sorry and plant a kiss.’]

[‘Option 2: Plant a kiss on our Rachael.’]

[‘Option 3: Go find the Fox and plant a kiss on her.’]

Ah, damn it. The karmic repercussions of that burnt offering are catching up to me here.

Option 1 would be counterproductive at best. Option 2 would be like adding fuel to the fire. Option 3… that David, seriously.

[‘Option 4: Plant a kiss on dropped food.’]

Kalón offered the last suggestion.

Food?

Frantically racking my brain, my eyes landed on the overturned stone bowl.

Kalón-sunbae’s words, strange on the surface, might actually be a breakthrough. Yes, show her through action.

I picked up the food Tiria had dropped and swallowed it.

[‘Uh, I was just joking?’]

Too late now.

[‘He’s actually doing it, even though I said to?’]

“Huh?”

The glare in Tiria’s eyes softened, just a fraction.

“Hey, hold on a second. Why are you suddenly eating that?”

“Wasn’t it mine?”

“It was your meal, sure… but why are you eating something that fell on the ground!?”

“It’s a waste. You made it for me, thinking of me.”

“What waste? It’s filthy! Do you want to get sick? Spit it out right now!”

“I already swallowed it.”

“Ah, I can’t believe this—!!”

Tiria yelled at me to hurry and throw it up, slapping my back repeatedly. It hurts. The shouting’s so loud, it’s making my head throb.

But I saw it.

A faint golden light rising in Tiria’s pupils.

“Are you an animal? Huh?! There are so many edible berries around here, why weren’t you eating those?”

“I can’t eat anything now unless it’s food that Casten-ssi gives me.”

“Huh?”

The golden light intensifies. A touch of orange appears alongside it.

“Aish, seriously! Just come here. I’ll give you one that isn’t dirty.”

“This is fine for me. See to the Major first.”

“Is that so? Alright, I will.”

Tiria grabbed both Rachel’s and my wrists at the same time and pulled us.

“You two Majors are truly, just fools.”

Tiria’s voice had softened considerably. It seemed this was the right answer after all.

[‘This actually worked?’]

You said it. Why did it work?

“Here, eat.”

As soon as we reached the campfire, Tiria held out a bowl. Unlike before, when it was caked with sand, this was proper food.

I cautiously took the bowl and took a bite. Instantly, warmth spread through me, and the fatigue melted away.

“How is it?”

“Delicious. I could eat this every day.”

As always, Tiria’s cooking was superb. The greens were tender, and the fish had absorbed the herb fragrance, completely removing any fishy smell. No matter how unappetizing the ingredients, they bloomed under her touch.

As I finished my meal, I tentatively asked, gauging the atmosphere.

“What about the Captain and the Commandant?”

“They went to bed first.”

“Are they both very angry?”

“So what if they are? You going to go and appease them?”

“I should.”

With a clink, Tiria also got up.

“I’m going in too.”

She seemed to be sulking again. Was it a mistake to have mentioned another woman, even in passing? Still, how could I not worry?

There’s no choice.

Every stone in the world, lend me your strength.

[‘Her anger will subside on its own as time passes. It’s best to let her be here.’]

[‘No way. When she’s that angry, you have to follow her and comfort her until the end.’]

[‘What can you even do about it? It’s better to wait until time has passed and she calms down…….’]

[‘What do men know? When a woman storms off like that, it’s a sign that if you don’t stop her here, she’ll hold a serious grudge later!’]

The stones, more serious than before, were divided into two opposing opinions. I decided to follow Daisy and Olivia’s advice. A woman knows another woman’s heart best, surely.

I signaled Rachel with a glance, then rose with her.

“Herr Kastner.”

A sharp rap.

Thiria, already turning away with angry strides, was nudged from behind. She twisted around almost irritably, regarding me with a sullen expression.

“What is it?”

I didn’t answer her query. Instead, I gripped the backs of her knees and her back, and hoisted her into my arms with no preamble.

“Kyaa!”

Thiria let out a shrill shriek.

“W-what is it now, all of a sudden!”

Thiria struggled for a moment, then went limp as over-boiled spinach. The emerald green of her eyes slowly shifted to a shade of rose. She spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, her tone still sulky.

“Why… why are you doing this…?”

“You’re sleeping with me tonight.”

“Pardon?”

I laid Thiria on the bed. I offered her a casual smile, then settled down beside her. Rachel pressed down on my shoulder, clinging to me like a cat.

To my right, Thiria.

To my left, Rachel.

In the silent darkness, only the glimmer in the two women’s eyes was visible. They stared down at me from their prone positions, then seemed to shift their gazes to one another.

“Major, are you truly that fond of this man?”

“Yes.”

“I am too. Fond to the point of madness, I think. That’s why I’m jealous of you. I wish no one but me could be near him.”

“I… I feel something similar, but also different.”

The two of them abruptly switched to speaking in Askalian. They spoke in hushed tones, and both of them slurred their words so much, it was difficult to make out even a few isolated words.

“I am also fond of Colonel. And Sergeant Fuchs, too. I don’t know much about the Mado country woman, since we haven’t talked much, but I don’t think she’s inherently a bad person. That’s why the desire for all of us to live together is stronger than my jealousy, I think.”

“Explain it more clearly.”

“I told Colonel once before. All my family, all my friends are dead. I’ll be alone when I return. I was afraid of forming new relationships.”

“When you return, you’ll be celebrated as a war hero. If I tell the Order, they will call you the bloodline of the hero who defeated the Demon Lord and you will receive everyone’s praise and love.”

“I don’t want to be lauded. I just need someone to truly believe in and rely on. Being revered by strangers only frightens me. I’m afraid of becoming a showy, empty shell…”

The two of them exchanged murmurs, then Thiria nodded her head.

“I understand what Major is saying. You are someone who cannot exist without Erich. You are also the one who has spent the longest time with him, so I don’t dare to feel jealous. However, there is something I still don’t understand. Why does it have to be that I, too, am Erich’s wife? Why can’t we just remain close friends?”

“Well… isn’t it true the more family you have, the better?”

“And?”

“I only learned this myself recently, but you see, I am of the hero’s bloodline. And Colonel, you are a sacred maiden of the Karsten clan, inheriting the blood of both an elven priestess and a hero…”

“Ah.”

Seriously, what kind of conversation *are* they having?

[‘Giving it all away wouldn’t be fun, would it? Here’s a clue. Have you heard of a Kirschtein?’]

Kirschtein?

Isn’t Karsten pronounced Kirschtein in the Hazkaiel dialect? What about it?

[‘Centuries ago, one of the priestesses who led the elven people, and also a hero’s wife, had the family name Kirschtein.’]

Really?

But what does that mean?

Ah, wait. I think I get it.

“Major, it seems we are distant relatives.”

Rachel and Theria shared a minuscule drop of blood, though their connection was so distant – akin to eighth cousins eight times removed – that they were practically strangers.

Not that it mattered.

The mere fact they both inherited the hero’s blood established a religious completeness.

“So we’re the second hero’s party, then.”

“Besides, I’ve heard Erich is from the Jeriem lineage.”

“The hero gravely wounded the Demon Lord, and the Jeriem mages finished him off. Is this coincidence, or destiny?”

“I… I hope it was destiny.”

“I think so too.”

“Colonel.”

“Yes?”

“I wish for Erich, of course… but also for you to become family with me as well.”

Rachel’s voice, which had been so smooth, suddenly trembled. Theria’s expression flickered with a momentary confusion, but then blossomed into a serene smile.

“Major, why are you being so bashful? We’ve been family from the start, haven’t we?”

“What do you mean…?”

“If we share the same faith, how could we *not* be sisters?”

Theria’s hand reached past me and gently stroked Rachel’s hair.

“I also wish to remain on good terms with you, sister. Even after we leave this island, for all time.”

“Sister…”

“I’ve lived as an only child my whole life, so it’s nice to have a new sibling. It seems to prevent any feelings of jealousy, too. I think I understand now why the church sees jealousy as a sin, and why fellow believers use the term ‘brother’ and ‘sister’.”

“Thank you… for understanding.”

“No, I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

I’m not entirely sure, but it seems like things have worked themselves out. I could tell by the way Tiria’s eyes had regained their golden hue.

Carefully, I put my arms around both Rachel and Tiria, offering them a comforting embrace.

“Still, I’m going to be harsh on Erich for a while. He deserves to be punished for making people panic without even giving them a moment’s notice.”

Tiria giggled and leaned her head against me. The atmosphere is nice. If things continue like this, I might be able to persuade her.

With that hopeful thought, I drifted off to sleep.

*

Something’s wrong.

“I’m not working today.”

Last night, everything was so harmonious before bed, but as soon as the sun rose, she reverted to her sulky self.

“You can cook your own meals today. I’ve suddenly developed a craving for something you make.”

“Uh, Ms. Carsten?”

“Hurry up, hmph. Are you going to let your beloved wife starve?”

Something is definitely wrong. Even Daisy and Olivia are freaking out, warning me that I’m in deep trouble, doubling the pressure on me. It’s all so bewildering.

However, a woman even more unpredictable than Tiria has now appeared before my eyes.

“Kkhyaaak!”

The fox stretched languidly, her tail swaying. She dashed towards me and kicked me hard in the shin.

“Ugh!”

“Good morning, idiot!”

“O-oh, yeah….”

Are these the same fox sisters who were angry with me yesterday?

Liyo pressed her face close to mine, a look of shock on her face.

“I discovered something huge last night.”

“What is it?”

She clapped a hand over her mouth and whispered conspiratorially.

“My heat cycle hasn’t ended, even though it’s past March.”