CH 130

Chapter 130

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : A Name That Calls Death, Part 2 — Nia's Concern

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

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That evening, at the place where they are staying. The meal is over and the pot is clean and empty. After that, the wreckage of the Euthy… she can’t be there.

Euthy kneels down on her knees next to the pot, gasping for air.

「Hah, hah… I thought I was going to die.」

「It’s Euthy’s fault anyway.」

「Why you didn’t help me out until the last minute, Lisa.」

「Lisa didn’t think she was serious about it. Let’s be careful not to really offend Fenna from now on.」

「I would do the same…」

Even Euthy seemed to be reflecting on the fact that she was almost boiled in hot water. The normally calm ones are more frightening when angered. It was a day when Euthy learned one important thing, and Fenna’s smile stuck in her brain and she couldn’t forget it.

The place to stay was a simple cave made out of the ground. Originally built by Phalanx as a refuge for himself, it was firmly marked with his scent and traces, so none of the beasts used this place as a roost. It’s also not the kind of place that can be blown away by a tornado, so it’s sturdy enough to withstand a tornado passing directly overhead as long as you are inside.

Alfiris and Nia are standing guard near the exit.

「The wind is strong it seems.」

「Yeah.」

「A blast before the storm passes, I suppose.」

「It might be.」

「It’s so cool, it’s hard to believe it’s summer.」

「Yeah.」

「Nia… what is 1+1?」

「Yeah, maybe.」

「This is getting nowhere…」

Nia was completely above the clouds, they were sitting next to each other, but when Alfiris approached her, there was no reaction. Normally, when she approach Nia, her tail would definitely react. So Alfiris unexpectedly grabbed Nia’s tail as hard as she could. Normally, she wouldn’t be able to touch them even by surprise.

「Eyy!!」

「Fuuaahhhh!? What are you doing, Alfie!!」

「Because I’m not getting any response…」

「But that doesn’t mean someone should grab you by the tail! It’s more embarrassing than having your ass grabbed.」

「That’s fine, it’s just your butt. Or are you saying you only want Kazas to touch you?」

「T–T–That’s not true, you know!?」

「（I’ve hit the nail on the head.）」

Nia’s tail twitches. It’s totally understandable. Alfiris sighed loudly, almost deliberately.

「W–What? Such a big sigh.」

「You’re troubled, Nia. I think love is free, but I don’t think you should be so passionate about it that you can’t even keep such a watchful eye. If you’re a warrior, you need to get your head out of the clouds.」

「I–I’m sorry. But I wasn’t thinking of Kazas…」

「Then what were you thinking?」

「You see…」

She is unusually brusque for Nia. Nia seemed to be wondering whether she should talk or not, but she started to open her heavy mouth, perhaps realizing that there was nothing she could do at this point.

「Actually… it’s almost time for a free day.」

「Come to think of it, you’re on a warrior training trip.」

「Yes. And it got me thinking about a lot of things.」

「Like what?」

「My captain is the one who originally inspired me to travel… I’ve never really had any kind of skin in the game. He had been approached by the 100 chiefs for quite some time, but our captain wouldn’t shake his head, so the conversation always drifted away. So I left the country with the promise that if I could get one from the captain, I would be promoted to chief of the 100…」

「If you don’t think you’re going to win.」

「You make it clear. But frustratingly, you’re right.」

「Is he really that strong?」

It was a surprise to Alfiris. They had been hand-to-hand for months now, and Nia’s strength had increased dramatically. This is especially remarkable since they started working with Aerial. Aerial and Phalanx also gave their assurances that Nia’s ability was considerable. But how strong a captain is he if she still doesn’t feel confident enough to win?

「He’s not even close to just being strong. I have heard from my seniors that he’s a general, let alone a thousand chiefs, if only for his strength. But he has an extreme dislike for power and has remained as the commander of the 100 people. He’s eccentric, but he’s very strong. I’ve been beaten only by his footwork.」

「There’s no way he’s that strong.」

「Not only our captain, but all the soldiers in Gruzald are monsters. They say that the generals are really one-hit wonders. In fact, when a general went out to punish a group that had broken the military code and violated the local residents, he personally went out to beat them up and nearly destroyed a battalion of 200 men in order to stop the general who was so mad. In terms of human strength, that’s about 1,000 people.」

「I’ll try not to be part of the war with Gruzald.」

「That’s alright. But that’s not the only thing I’m worried about.」

Now Nia sighs with a huff.

「Did you hear the one about Zamwed being at war?」

「Yes, an ally of Gruzald, I believe?」

「Ah, so Zamwed is a good friend of Vargo, the general of the legion I belong to. He’s probably going to have to go out on a limb to intimidate them without being asked to do so. That’s what we’ve been doing.」

「Even in a win-win situation?」

Zamwed had already been destroyed at this time, but there is no way that Nia and Alfiris, who have been on the prairie all this time, would know about such things.

「Yeah, this time we’re dealing with Krummus, but that’s why it’s superfluous. Tragathlon, south of Krummus, has been the scene of frequent skirmishes with Zamwed, and this time they will be out to give Tragathlon the benefit of the doubt. It could be a pretty long expedition.」

「And then?」

「That would be a very bad idea… Can you stop smiling and listen to me?」

「? Okay.」

Nia is gulping and swallowing spit. Seeing the dent in her tail, it might be something quite serious. As Alfiris braces herself,

「Actually, I’m about to go into heat…」

「…Hah?」

Alfiris could not grasp the meaning of Nia’s words. First of all, Alfiris did not know what estrus was.

「Going into heat… what do you mean?」

「Ah, I guess you don’t know. The beastkin only go into heat at certain times of the year, with the exception of the rabbit people. It depends on the individual, but I’m young, so it’s about a one-year cycle. Humans and rabbits, on the other hand, are on a year-round… well, you know… D–Doing it with their lovers, you know?」

「Ehh… yeah, maybe…」

Both Nia and Alfiris were embarrassed because of the content of the conversation. It’s rare for girls to talk those topics so openly with each other. Miranda, however, would do it herself if she could get a drink. Miranda also doesn’t usually talk about such things openly because she doesn’t have any friends to do so, and Alfiris believes that she is probably very careful about that.

That’s why I can’t call her now, even if I think that if Miranda were here at a time like this, the conversation would be somewhat smoother. Nia also continues with her face turning red because this is an important conversation.

「And. We are uncontrollable when we’re in heat, to the extent that we’re not in the mood for it at all outside of heat. It’s enough to make anyone better if you don’t keep proper self-control.」

「Then, perhaps, Nia, are you…」

「I haven’t done anything yet! Do I look like such a slut, Alfie!?」

「A–Alright, I get it, just calm down…」

When Nia unintentionally poked out her fingernails, Alfiris hastened to correct her. Nia’s claws could easily rip through leather goods if she wanted to.

「So, what was it?」

「Right. So usually when we don’t have a partner when the heat comes on, we substitute exercise or training. So far, I’ve been in heat three times, and I’ve managed to hold it off by spending all my time training. But this time, there’s a war… I’m not so sure.」

「What do you mean?」

Alfiris asks a question. She doesn’t know how it is connected to war. Alfiris hasn’t been to war yet.

「Has Alfie never been to war?」

「Yes, I’m not yet.」

「Then it’s not surprising if you don’t know. War is more miserable than Alfie thinks. Especially for female soldiers.」

「Being attacked, is that what you mean?」

Alfiris frowned. Nia wondered for a moment how she should respond, but she chose her words carefully and continued talking.

「That’s one thing, but… when a woman experiences extreme conditions, her consciousness moves in the direction of preserving her species. This happens not only to beastkin but also to human troops, and there is a common belief that nearly 10% of female soldiers who go into battle become pregnant.」

「It’s just common belief, isn’t it?」

「But in Gruzald’s case, it’s true. In Gruzald, there’s an egalitarian system and no division of the cloth, which is probably superfluous, but what happens when you throw a woman in heat in the middle of all that?」

「I see… it’s possible for a male beastie to be in heat.」

「Yeah, few female soldiers actually have a say in Gruzald. Only about 10 or so hold the rank of chief of 100 or higher. That’s because that’s what happens on the battlefield, after all. And Gruzald women join the army with a certain degree of preparedness, and it’s not uncommon for them to not know who the father of their children is. And if that kind of thing happened in the military, it would be tacitly accepted. As a military person myself, I was prepared for the possibility that such things might eventually happen. But…」

「Now you have the Kazas.」

「Yeah.」

Nia lays her eyes down.

「Polygamy and vice versa are common among the beastkin, and many of them don’t care about marriage. I’ve been told a lot about my way of thinking, that I’m rigid, that I’m smell like a human… I don’t want to be anyone but Kazas.」

「But you want to be a soldier, right?」

「And that… I’m not so sure about that now.」

「Eh?」

Alfiris hadn’t expected those words, so she leaned in. She had always assumed that Nia was a soldier at heart.