138 – Foxes Mating (1)

Foxes have an exceptional sense of smell.

So do beastkin who inherit their characteristics.

That’s why, after every encounter, he always paid extra attention to tidying up. Covering himself in sand, then washing it off in the stream – anything to scrub away the scent.

“You think that would fool me?”

A paltry trick, like flexing in front of a silkworm.

“Erich is so dense. Still clueless.”

If he didn’t want to get caught, he shouldn’t have tried in the first place.

Truthfully, it wouldn’t have mattered too much if he *was* discovered. He’d said long ago that he wanted to welcome everyone as partners, and while they were still conflicted, the atmosphere had been more or less agreeable.

And yet, he still felt inexplicably ashamed.

No, wasn’t that natural? Who in the world wants to be caught after a night of passion?

Normally, these things are best left unspoken, a silent agreement to ignore.

That kind of thing didn’t exist for this fox.

“You have a big package, you know.”

He immediately clapped his hand over Liyo’s mouth.

“Mmph!”

“…Quiet.”

“Mmmph! Mmph!”

“Don’t you dare gesture with your hands! Ouch!”

He’d been bitten.

Instinctively pulling his hand away, Liyo stuck her tongue out. She wore a sulky smile, a subtle expression of her discontent.

“Saw it all, what you were doing with the Saintess yesterday.”

“Hah.”

“Teasing her, like you were going to, but not quite. Heh heh heh, impressive, really.”

“Don’t you have any shame?”

“I do. But the fact that I’m even saying this means I’m *that* miffed. Humph, tch, phooey, there. Yes, that’s right. The important thing is that while we were diligently building a boat, you were flirting with other women.”

“…Are you two taking turns talking now?”

“Who knows? Do you?”

Riyo tilts her head to the right, and then Miyu tilts her head to the left.

“Miyu, if you don’t speak with Wheon, how are we supposed to know who’s talking?”

“Then don’t bother knowing.”

“Never mind I spoke.”

“Anyway, since you slacked off up till now, you need to pay attention to me for at least the time that’s left. To *me*. Huh? No, Sister. Since it’s my body, you should be spending time on me, right? What? Where in the world does that happen?”

She’s suddenly having a self-split.

Could this be the origin of the idiom ‘speaking with two mouths at once’?

“Okay, let’s split the ratio. Since this is my body, 8 to 2 seems fair. What? No way. It has to be 5 to 5, at least, to be fair. Hmm, 7 to 3. No, no compromise. It’s 5 to 5, no matter what.”

“What are you two doing?”

“Okay, I’m feeling generous! Since you’re my sister, I’ll go as far as 6 to 4! Sister gets to use it for 40 minutes, and I get to use it for 60!”

Wait a minute, *use* what?

A chill ran down my spine. It seemed like these vixens were sharpening their claws, planning to devour me whole.

“Ugh, forget it! We can just adjust it as we go. Either way, we have one goal. To dunk Erich, who slacked off, right? Mm-hmm.”

“No, I didn’t slack off that much.”

“You did! Yes, you did.”

“While the sun was up, I was building the boat with you, wasn’t I? I chopped firewood, cooked, and even helped with gathering and hunting. Look at all the food piled up over there. We can last until we’re rescued, easy.”

“Humph, I don’t know. I don’t remember any of it.”

She must be seriously sulking.

The fox sisters tapped the finished boat, and spoke.

“Enough. If you have time to make excuses, go and launch *that*.”

“By myself?”

“Well, duh. Isn’t that obvious?”

And so it was. For the sin of leaving the fox sisters lonely, I was sentenced to ‘launch-the-boat-alone’ punishment.

“Ugh.”

It was terribly heavy, likely due to being built for carrying so many.

After dragging the boat to the shore, I secured it tightly with a rope, ensuring it wouldn’t drift away. With it bobbing gently in the shallows, I climbed aboard with the fox sisters.

“At least two present no problem.”

“We put our all into this. We used the Goddess’s gift, so there shouldn’t be any mistakes. You understand what that means, yes? Uh-huh, if we capsize and all hell breaks loose, it’s entirely Erich’s fault.”

“What? Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You planned the boat to carry ten people, give or take.”

“So what if I did? You think we’ll sink?”

“Yep.”

“That’s absurd…”

Including me, the female soldiers, and Salvira, there were six of us. Even with food, Bbi-Bbi, and the rocks, we weren’t close to the weight limit. A ten-person capacity seemed more than sufficient.

“Dummy, are you forgetting something?”

The fox sisters stroked their lower bellies and flicked their tongues. Only then did I understand what they were implying.

The cunning pair had factored in fully developed fetuses into their calculations.

“Hey, even so, that’s going too far.”

“Uh-uh, it’s perfectly reasonable. You specifically asked for a boat that could carry around ten people. You didn’t set a precise weight limit, did you? In other words, if we have more than five kids, we could be doomed! Ehehehe, logical, isn’t it?”

“Even if I had kids with both of you, that’s only four more. That’s exactly ten.”

“Hmm, are you sure about that?”

“Sure about what?”

“Who knows? We might have twins who look just like ‘us’.”

“Ugh.”

“Ugh, or perhaps, ooh?”

Twins resembling one Liyo and one Miyo?

The sheer difficulty of raising them was already dawning on me with unnerving clarity.

“Ahem. So, about that…”

The fox sisters poked my chest.

“We’re on the verge of getting sulky, you know. We worked so hard, shouldn’t we at least get a reward?”

A reward.

There was no mistaking what that implied. Stroking the heads of the fox sisters as their tails swayed, I responded.

“When do you want it?”

“Now.”

“Couldn’t I rest for just a few days?”

“No.”

“I’m the one who doesn’t have the stamina.”

“After you went at it so hard yesterday?”

“Haa.”

It was time for negotiation.

Against the Suin, masters of shrewd tactics and bargaining, there was no chance. At best, the Fox sisters, after conceding everything they could, managed to eke out a sliver of time.

“I’ll give you two days. You promise?”

The Fox sisters smiled brightly and retreated.

The road to ruin lay clear. Perhaps being squeezed to death wasn’t just a joke, but a genuine possibility.

At least, the fact that I could recover some stamina through Mirkill was fortunate.

“Hoo.”

Sitting down, I exhaled and gathered the surrounding mana.

Based on what I learned from Salvira, I focused, amassing magical power and permeating my cells with it, grain by grain.

I closed my eyes, drawing up even more energy.

It was around then that I felt a soft sensation on my lips.

“Major.”

It was Adora.

“General Gipold.”

“You seemed to be diligently training in mana. It’s a pittance for a special-grade mage, but I’ve shared some of my power with you. Use it wisely.”

This sensation, it wasn’t just magical power, but something closer to demonic energy. There was a sweet, candy-like scent.

“Well, that aside. There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“Please, ask away.”

“Nothing special. I was just wondering when the escape ship would be completed.”

“We just launched it. It has oars, so it might be possible to escape this island as early as tomorrow.”

“Is that so? So that’s how it is? Ha, finally…”

Adora let out a shallow sigh.

“It seems our mission here is nearing its end. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Major?”

“Yes, Commandant.”

“Well then, while we’re at it…how about an unforgettable night with me…”

“Peek-a-boo!”

“Eep?!”

Before she knew it, Riyo had returned, appearing from behind Adora.

“Did I scare you?”

“…Honestly, the nerve!”

“Nyah, nyah.”

A superior officer teasing the Commandant. A bizarre spectacle. Is this where the military discipline of both our nations crumbles? Hmm, not entirely displeasing.

“Oh-oh? Are you hitting me? Hitting a beastkin? You’re a bigot!”

Adora clicked her tongue.

“You know just where to poke…”

Even as Adora directed her irritation at the fox sisters, she had to tread carefully. Though it went against her will, she was still affiliated with the Crimson Legion.

Like it or not, only Riyo’s defense could offer her a chance at leniency.

It’s undeniable that Adora lacked free will at the time. Everyone here knows that, so there’s no need for debate.

The important thing is how to take down the Chancellor.

It might seem like treason, but this war must be guided towards the Magocracy’s defeat. Only then can the nation be normalized.

It was a day for much contemplation.

For two more days after that, the war of nerves between the fox sisters and Adora continued.

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I think Adora was also feeling some physical attraction toward me.

“Commandant. No, Adora.”

Now that I’ve decided to be with all four of them, I have to say what needs to be said. There shouldn’t be secrets like this within a family.

I confessed everything that had happened to Adora in detail.

Adora’s eyes then took on a deep, dark hue, like a fathomless sea. Her irises, already black, intensified further.

“…Yeah, well.”

I’ve already done it with Rachel and Tilia, and Riyo is scheduled for today.

Her eyes glistened, seemingly disappointed by that fact.

Adora tried to maintain a blank expression, but unable to manage it, she whipped her head away.

Adora, having shed her outer coat, leaned against a rock, snapping the flavorless gum in her mouth.

“Thank you for letting me know, Senior. Yes. Thanks to you, the shock is…less.”

It was sarcasm.

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s nothing. I knew the order would go like this. I came last, after all. From your perspective, it’s probably all the same…”

Adora’s words trailed off. My lips silenced hers.

“…Senior?”

“Does love really need physical intimacy? What will we do when we’re old?”

“What…are you talking about?”

“I asked you to marry me so we could spend a hundred years together. Adora, it wasn’t just because you were pretty and cute.”

“I’m pretty, and cute…”

“Junior, don’t forget we owe each other our lives multiple times.”

I was serious. I didn’t want to misjudge the future fueled by fiery youthful blood. I was thinking about having children, seeing grandchildren, and everything that came after.

“I’m sorry my stamina is like this. In, say…two days, I’ll give you everything you want.”

“…You promise?”

Thank goodness. Adora understood. I avoided a rupture in our relationship. I had been ready to take a slap to the face, considering it was her.

[‘The Jeriem bloodline, as expected.’]

[‘Setting up harems is in their genes, ancestors and descendants alike.’]

Next, I went to see Salvira. After running some tests, I informed her that there were no abnormalities with her abdomen.

Salvira, who was playing cat’s cradle with Bbimppi, nodded.

[“Now, all that’s left is to truly escape.”]

[“Yes, Teacher.”]

I could perhaps do more, but on this peaceful deserted island, aside from satisfying basic needs, there was no particular motivation to do anything else.

But that didn’t mean that food, clothing and shelter were adequate.

Our clothes were so worn out, we were dying to change.

Even though Tiria was doing her best with the cooking, the lack of spices made the meals monotonous.

Due to the nature of the tropical climate, the weather was unpredictable, and the tent would collapse on days with stormy weather.

And with so many mouths to feed, if one person caught a cold, we would all be coughing in turn.

Outside was war, but here, it was struggle.

In any case, we have all the evidence with us. If Rachel and Tiria could just put in a little effort, ending the war wouldn’t be just a pie-in-the-sky dream.

With the information we possess, we can prevent further innocent sacrifices.

Considering even that, escaping as quickly as possible was the right call.

[“Master, I am much indebted to you for your kindness.”]

[“We’re going together, so why do you speak as if you’re leaving me behind?”]

[“After we meet with the rescue team, we won’t be able to converse at all.”]

I decided to live in hiding as Salvira. With Tiria’s help, I’m thoroughly concealing my magic from now on, living an ordinary life.

The decision to attach a prosthetic leg was also temporarily put on hold. It was predicted that not having one would make it easier to deceive the rescue team.

[“Let me reiterate, Master was subjected to human experimentation here and lost both legs. We rescued you from being a sacrifice.”]

[“Even so, shouldn’t I use my power until the rescue? By using my magic, I could at least create a path for you to reach the ocean.”]

[“That won’t do. It’s different now than it was before. Technology has advanced so much that there’s a high chance of being discovered. We’ve already built a ship, so we’ll escape using our own strength.”]

[“Haa, I understand. I understand.”]

Lying didn’t sit well with me, but I couldn’t drive my benefactor to death either. This part would be solely my responsibility.

Having finished the conversation, I led Salvira into the cocoon. She was recuperating inside, for half a month now. Bbeem-bbi was taking care of her, so she would be fine.

I sat by the bonfire, gazing beyond the horizon. The sun set, and night arrived.

Another day was coming to an end.

Adora said she was tired and went to sleep early, and Tiria also went to bed, complaining of a stomachache. Because of that, the atmosphere was extremely still.

“Erich.”

Rachel, who had been surveying the surroundings, glanced at me and slowly approached.

“When are we leaving?”

“Within a few days at the latest.”

“Then…”

Rachel, who sat down beside me, wiggled her toes. Bare legs, and bare feet. Just like the first night, the atmosphere was similar, and so was her attire.

Crack, crackle.

Rachel flinched at a lightly flying spark. It was the moment she was about to cling to me and whisper.

“Hey, about tonight?”

“Ahem!”

The fox appeared.

“Excuse me.”

Riyo, with a hand on her hip, approached, pushing her way between Rachel and me to separate us.

“The Major and the Colonel already had their turns. Today is my turn. I made a reservation first, so please don’t touch.”

Rachel paused, then nodded slowly. A bitter expression clouded her face as she rose from her seat.

Only the fox sisters and I remained.

“Hek, hek.”

The fox sisters scratched gently at the back of my hand, demanding,

“Off!”

A mating overture devoid of even a sliver of romance.

The difference between a beastman and a human laid bare.