130 – A Very Brief Settlement (6)

It’s said a fox is a creature that combines dog and cat. Its appearance is closer to a puppy, but its actions, it’s said, are more feline.

“What did you just say?”

[“Heat, I’m talking about heat.”]

I can’t fathom what the fox sisters are thinking. Yesterday, they decided they disliked me, kicked me square in the shin, and today they’re acting like this? In this regard, they truly are like cats.

“The heat isn’t ending.”

[“Must be because of you.”]

“Look. It keeps itching, right here.”

[“Your tail keeps wagging. Entirely independent of our will.”]

A pair of tails swishes softly.

“No matter how much I try to be disappointed in you, my body remembers.”

[“The moment we forged such a deep connection, it was already over.”]

“My body has been trained.”

[“Knowing we’re in this predicament, that’s why you confidently brought up the harem idea, isn’t it?”]

“You’re awful.”

[“Seriously, you’re so sly!”]

I realized once again why foxes are foxes. If Tiria was genuinely sulking, these two were testing the waters even while pretending to be upset.

Suddenly, Tiria’s words came back to me.

That if you become deeply involved enough to touch a fox spirit’s tail, it’s like you’re offering some kind of guarantee.

“Pervert.”

[“Pervert.”]

I recognized this as a gesture of reconciliation.

So unwilling to be honest.

Clearing my head, I simultaneously snatched the swaying tails of Riyo and Miyo.

“Hngh!”

[“Ah?!”]

The fox sisters trembled and tried to sink to the ground. I supported their waists to prevent them from falling, pulling them closer. An intoxicatingly nutty aroma burrowed into my embrace.

I learned while comforting Tiria yesterday. That the words “I’m sorry” lack sincerity.

I spoke the words the fox sisters most wanted to hear right now.

“I love you both.”

“Hnngh…”

“I can’t choose just one of you. Because I’m an idiot. An idiot who can’t even count properly.”

“No, we are one…”

“Even like this?”

“Heet!”

[“Keut-heung!”]

As I held each of their tails in turn, two different voices flowed alternately from a single mouth.

“It’s the two of you. You can’t be included in a choice that demands just one person. If I choose one, the other will unconditionally follow. It’s an affair, then.”

[“Not an affair…”]

“Then, can I just choose Riyo, and only love Riyo? Is it okay to forget about Miyo as she is?”

[“Hey, who says so?”]

“See.”

The fox sisters are clever. They had already realized they were trapped in a self-contradiction.

“If I don’t choose you both, it’s irresponsible of me towards you. If I choose you, I become a duplicitous b*stard.”

We are comrades who have shared life and death.

We could understand each other’s feelings without needing to speak.

Even so, I will speak. Clearly, with all my heart.

“So, I want to take responsibility for all of you. I’ll make you happy. Whether there are joyful things, or if, by some chance, sad things happen, I’ll at least be there to ensure you’re never lonely, for all our lives together.”

“Ugh, ughaa.”

“I love you.”

I lightly nipped at the fox sisters’ necks. A sticky scent, tails twitching, fur scattering.

My breath quickens. The scent of the fox sisters seemed to have the power to incite a potent urge.

At the same time, the sisters bit firmly into my shoulders.

It hurts.

As if to say that this much pain must be endured to embrace these women, they were biting with all their might.

Therefore, I endured. I held back the groan that threatened to escape, and embraced them even tighter. Allowing the marks of their teeth to remain clearly on my shoulders.

A hot sensation washed over me.

Slowly, I separated our intertwined bodies. I touched my shoulder, now sticky with saliva.

“Ah, it’s bleeding.”

A pale pink liquid was flowing out.

This time, the fox sisters pushed their heads forward. I wondered if they would bite the other shoulder, but no. They carefully licked the wounded area with their tongues, breathing life into it.

Finally, Liyo wiped her lips with a flourish and stuck out her tongue with a grin.

“Neener, neener, I stole Erich’s virginity!”

I just laughed, a hollow sound.

“What, who stole whose what, now?”

“Exactly…huh?”

A sharp, edgy voice. Sensing something amiss, I quickly turned my head.

Adora Gipold stood there, arms crossed, watching Liyo and me.

*

When it was time to eat, everyone gathered.

Salvira’s portion, as she was still convalescing, was set aside first, and then the bowls were distributed to the other women.

Today’s brunch was a broth with meat from a wild animal Rachel had caught and herbs gathered by Tiria.

Basically a hodgepodge, but on a deserted island where food was always scarce, nothing was better for filling your belly.

“How is it?”

“Well, it’s edible.”

It was the first time I’d put so much effort into cooking. Luckily, it seemed to suit everyone’s taste, including Tiria’s.

Adora was the first to finish her meal.

“We should head to the White Sands zone soon.”

She mentioned the day’s task with utmost formality.

“We’ll undo the barrier, and return the way we came. Either wait for rescue there, or build a raft and escape.”

It wasn’t wrong.

No matter how comfortable this place, Salvira’s abode, was, there were limits to how much food we could get and how hygienic we could keep it.

We split into two groups.

Rachel and Tiria were responsible for hunting and gathering, and the rest of us would take care of cleaning up and making tools.

Using the magic stone to check the direction, I showed Liyo the blueprint for the barrier-releasing gem Salvira had given me.

“What, you wanted to see me after lunch because of this?”

“There’s no one else who can do it but you two.”

“Heh heh, true enough.”

It was a blueprint that required pouring both sacred power and mana into it.

Why did it have to be designed to require both?

It was obvious, of course.

To prevent those of the Holy Spirit Nation trapped on this deserted island from escaping, while also ensuring that traitors within the Magic Nation couldn’t freely leave.

How could one who wields holy power and one who wields magic power ever cooperate in this world?

Even if they did cooperate, how could they possibly synchronize their movements?

And even if, by some miracle, they could synchronize, there was yet another mountain to climb.

They’d have to move beyond simply using holy power and magic power instinctively, and understand it clearly as a law.

In other words, they’d have to possess, to some degree, knowledge of both Holy Spirit studies and Magic studies.

Otherwise, constructing this schematic would be bordering on the impossible.

And there was exactly one person on this island who possessed all these conditions.

“We’ll give it a try.”

It was the fox sisters.

The seductive voice of the vixen from before was nowhere to be found. Riyo and Miyo were focused, their faces serious. Together with me, they carved circuits and inscribed magic circles.

Adora was observing our work intently.

Like being watched by a superior, no, even more pressure than that.

Rustle, rustle.

Adora unwrapped a lollipop from her pocket and placed it in her mouth. The sound of the wrapper bothered me, and I glanced at her, only to have my gaze meet hers.

“Don’t mind me. Carry on.”

Her words were calm, but a hint of sulkiness flickered across her face.

Last night, she had publicly scolded me, saying she would ‘question me for deceiving my superior,’ but now, it was more of a ‘Senpai, you’re so mean’ kind of expression.

That’s right.

She was sulking.

I needed to find some time to apologize or console her, but I’d been so preoccupied with Tiria that I hadn’t given her any attention.

It was entirely my fault, so I had to make amends here and now.

“Director, could you lend me a hand for a moment?”

“With what.”

“I think we need to channel a lot of mana here, but I’m not getting anywhere.”

“Aren’t you a first-class magician? Can’t you handle something like this?”

“I have congenitally low mana reserves…”

The truth was my mana had been amplified permanently dozens of times over thanks to Adora, but that wasn’t the point.

Appeal to the emotion, not the logic.

It would suffice, I reckon, to mention I was in need of a woman called Adora.

“Hmm, let’s see.”

Rising from her seat, Adora leaned over my back, peering down.

“Something like this? A non-major like myself could manage it easy enough.”

Adora placed her hand on the stone tablet, channeling mana. The glowing mana circulated, then settled with a steady hum.

“Major, I distinctly remember lending you even my lips to boost your mana, and yet…”

“Perhaps my body is recovering slower than expected. Seems it’s still insufficient.”

“Well, alright then. That’s what it is, is it…”

The next moment, Adora’s arm encircled my neck.

And before I could even close my mouth, a sweet fragrance spread within it.

“Don’t chew, just let it dissolve slowly.”

The taste of artificial sweetener, as cloyingly sweet as honey.

The true nature of this flavor, tasting like a piece of civilization itself melting on my tongue, was undeniably the candy Adora had been sucking on.

“How is it?”

“…Sweet.”

“And?”

“A touch salty, too.”

*Thump.* Something was draped over my shoulders. It was the coat Adora had been wearing.

Removing her coat meant removing her epaulettes.

“That’s the taste of it, *sunbae*.”

Adora wrapped her arm around my shoulder, leaning into me slowly. Her words brushed my ear like a warm wind.

“I won’t apologize for yesterday. You were in the wrong, *sunbae*. But now that I think about it, I’ll be the victor in the end, don’t you think? Because, once we leave this island, I’ll be the only one left by your side, and besides, my father is your direct superior.”

As she spoke, Adora’s gaze drifted towards the fox sisters on my opposite side.

“Hey.”

The fox sisters growled, approaching. They snatched the stick from my mouth. And then, they put it in their own mouths, chewing thoughtfully.

“Look at this, would you?”

Adora frowned.

[“How dare you take what’s mine without permission? Give it back!”]

[“You gave it to Erich. Erich is ours. So, this is ours too.”]

[“A load of twisted logic. Return it while I’m being nice about it.”]

“Sure,” Miyo said.

Raising the corner of her lip, she crunched a piece of candy with a loud snap.

*Odogodok*, *ummul ummul*.

The fox sisters, radiating a sweet fragrance, pounced, their lips instantly claiming mine.

“Mmph, chwep…”

Fragments of candy slid into my mouth with a sticky wetness. Sweet, yet salty. The bestial kiss threatened to overwhelm me. I nearly lost consciousness.

Adora’s expression twisting into a grimace was a natural consequence.

“I wasn’t going to say this out of politeness…”

“Say it.”

“You’re like a beast.”

“That’s right. I am a beast. Or, more accurately, a fox. That’s why no matter how many women cling to our husband, it no longer matters to me.”

Giggling, Miyo squeezed my chest playfully and hissed at Adora.

“Because, from now on, I’ll make sure he can’t sleep with other women, I’ll milk him dry every single day.”