Escape From a Deserted Island With Enemy Female Soldiers

23 – Shared Pain (1)

I engraved the names of six spirits each on twenty-two stones. It’s a process traditionally followed when conducting funerals in the Mage Kingdom.

Even with the help of magic, this task took two hours to complete.

Finally, everything was prepared.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Alright, you lot. You’ve suffered a lot, coming to the battlefield so young. I understand all the unfairness, all the bitterness. I’ll never forget your sacrifice, so now let the past go, and go home to rest peacefully.”

Words of blessing.

And.

Discharge orders.

“[…Lucas Brown, Heinrich Staffel, Alan Lauer. The discharge of 132 soldiers is hereby authorized.]”

Comrades who once shared meals, laughed together, and fought side-by-side.

It was time to let go of long-forged bonds.

“[You’ve all worked hard.]”

*

The man called out the names of the departed spirits, one by one. With each name, the fiend’s power weakened. The souls flew before the man, saluted, then rose to the sky.

Ascension to the afterlife.

That’s all it could be.

“How…?”

There were generally two ways for the dead to ascend. Either, having no lingering regrets in life, they leave on their own, or, after wandering the mortal realm, they finally ascend with the help of a cleric.

The man had sent them to the afterlife.

Even though he wasn’t a cleric.

Even though they were vengeful spirits corrupted by a demon, beyond even a cleric’s ability to save.

It was something that completely negated the knowledge and experience Tyria had accumulated.

“Hey.”

The man called out to Tyria.

“I can’t see them, so could you check if they’ve all gone?”

“……Yes. They’re gone.”

The vengeful spirits had vanished. Every single one, cleanly.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. You’re the first person I’ve ever seen purify a malevolent spirit without exorcising it, leading it to ascension.”

“Don’t call my brothers malevolent spirits.”

“It’s not a personal feeling that makes me call them malevolent. I can distinguish malevolent from benevolent spirits by the color of their souls. The souls that harm just by existing are dark and murky.”

Tiria continued,

“It might be rude to say this given the circumstances… but they had sold their souls to the Devil. Usually, those kinds of souls are beyond redemption. But the moment you commanded them to stand down, the color of their souls brightened again.”

Over the past two years, Tiria had seen countless unjustly murdered spirits. But she had never seen a soul fall into corruption and then ascend.

“It’s a first. With you.”

“Is that so.”

The man stared down at the stone cairn with a complicated expression.

“Saint, although we’re enemies, could I ask you one favor?”

“Go ahead.”

“Could you offer a prayer for my men, just once?”

Tiria’s eyes widened.

“You don’t believe in the Holy Church, do you? Weren’t you the ones who hated prayer, saying it was nothing more than superstition?”

“Not believing and hating are different. What dead man wouldn’t want someone to pray for their repose?”

“But… you heard it yourself earlier too. Is it really alright to pray for the repose of souls that even begged you to kill me?”

“That’s why I’m asking you.”

Tiria’s mouth snapped shut. The man continued.

“I’ve heard that a high priest’s prayers affect the next life of a spirit. Surely, with a saint’s prayer, even those friends who tried to use a sacrifice could be saved, right?”

It was true. A saint’s requiem prayer was a guaranteed ticket to heaven. At least, that’s what the church taught as truth.

Because of this, Tiria was taught this:

Never, ever, redeem a magician’s soul. Exorcise them on sight. If you foolishly saved them and their souls went to heaven, the upper realm would be defiled and the world’s order would be disrupted.

By the rules, she shouldn’t do it. But.

“It’s alright if it’s too much to ask.”

“No, I’ll do it for you.”

Tiria was surprised at herself. What, did I just agree to that?

“Thank you.”

It was already said, there was no taking it back. Not when this mage was wearing such a kind expression.

Tiria quickly racked her brain. She had to find an excuse before the Goddess grew angry.

Having a comprehensive knowledge of all the church’s teachings, coming up with an excuse wasn’t difficult.

“In the Holy Spirit Church, there are four goddesses. The goddess of battle, the goddess of healing, the goddess of crafting, and… the goddess of embrace.”

Leberon, the goddess of embrace.

“She is a compassionate being, who embraces even the non-believers, atheists, and mages.”

“I’ve never heard of a goddess with that name.”

“Actually, the goddess of embrace is just one interpretation that came about during the process of interpreting the scriptures. It’s not mainstream. The Central Orthodox Church, where I belong, doesn’t acknowledge her existence.”

“But is it okay for you to say things like that? Won’t you be called a heretic?”

“It’s not heresy. It’s just a difference in interpreting the doctrines.”

“Feels… forced.”

“Ahem.”

Tiria cleared her throat, her hands coming together. Gleaming particles rose around her, like stars of the night sky finding their reflection on the canvas of a sandy beach.

“Oh, Goddess of Embrace. Please guide them to a good place. Forgive their sins, and let their next life be filled with joy and glory.”

Why?

Why was she, the enemy, offering blessings to the ghosts of the Magic Kingdom? Just a moment ago, she believed they were irredeemable evil spirits, fighting desperately to exorcise them.

She didn’t know. How had it come to this?

“May they rest peacefully.”

Tiria sighed, finishing her prayer.

“If word gets out that I held a memorial for the Magic Kingdom soldiers, the High Priest will be furious. I could even be excommunicated.”

“It seems I asked too much of you. I’m sorry.”

“I did it of my own volition. There’s no need for you to apologize.”

“Then I will carry this grace to my grave. Thank you.”

Tiria was visibly shaken.

Thank you?

Had she just heard those words from a mage?

Suddenly, the man’s words and actions from earlier that day resurfaced.

From his declaration that he’d desert if the Magic Kingdom was researching forbidden magic, to the bitter expression he wore after hearing they’d developed military mana stones that killed people.

Until now, she’d suspected it was all an act.

But the man’s behavior just now was beyond performance. Yes, perhaps this was his true self.

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

Suddenly, it felt like her breath caught, like a gasp.

“…No way.”

Could it be that she’d been unconsciously charmed by this man’s true feelings?

Tiria grew afraid of the man before her.

Afraid that she might develop affection for him, an enemy.

Afraid that her lifelong faith, so carefully built, might be ripped out by the roots.

*

After finishing the night with the Saint.

I woke the Valkyrie to take over and slept until morning. Honestly, my sleep wasn’t great. Maybe because of the pitiful experience I had at dawn.

“David, how many hours did I sleep?”

[‘You slept for five hours.’]

More than I thought.

The fatigue hadn’t completely faded, but with the sun up, I had to move. Aside from the few fruits the Valkyrie brought yesterday, there was no food. If I didn’t get something to eat soon, I wouldn’t be able to fight the monsters properly.

I climbed down from the rock and headed toward the lifeboat. Two women’s voices reached me.

“Colonel, what happened last night?”

“Why?”

Maybe it’s from hearing so much Ascalian. I was starting to pick up a little of what the Valkyrie and Saint were saying. Of course, I could only understand a few words at best.

“You were staring at the mage a lot yesterday.”

“Just keeping an eye on him. Gotta watch out for mages doing weird shit.”

“For someone watching, your eyes are awfully… pink.”

“Just a trick of the light, saw red wrong. Ahem, anyway, shouldn’t we talk about what we’re doing today?”

A sentence longer than that and I’m lost. What the hell is she going on about?

The Saintess shot up from her seat. Her eyes met mine.

Cherry blossom colored eyes. Did she get all embarrassed from talking to the Valkyrie?

“Ahem.”

The Saintess cleared her throat and approached, speaking.

“Good morning, mage.”

“Yeah.”

“We talked about this yesterday. Do you remember?”

“Yeah, that I was going to the lake with you.”

“Broken Heart will stay here. While the Major fishes, we’ll scout a different path, secure water and food. And look for other natives. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Water and food. I could understand that much. I nodded.

Of course, while water and food were important, I knew exactly what I was going to do first thing when we reached the lake.

Take a bath.

I’d love to finally get this greasy hair of mine cleaned up. Maybe shave with my knife while I’m at it. Just because someone gets stuck on a deserted island doesn’t mean they should give up on cleanliness. Wouldn’t want to catch some disease, after all.

It’s a little embarrassing going with the Saintess since she’s a girl.

[‘Think about it. She’s still a Saintess, isn’t she? She was so embarrassed about showing her bare legs that she almost wore stockings in this heat.’]

Hearing David’s words, my worry dulls.

Yeah, right.

She’s a saint, after all.

Surely, she wouldn’t actually watch someone bathe?

*

She did.