Drifted Into a Reversed World ~ The One Method for Me, a Japanese Guy, to Survive in a World Where Men and Fertility Are Scarce ~ - 11

Chapter 11: Rematch

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Bolting through the forest, the greenery in their field of vision flew from front to back. They were like a single arrow shot from a bow. Their bodies felt light as down, seemingly unaffected by the weight of the armor. Firis held Sota, rucksack and all, in her arms as she tore through the forest, splitting it vertically. Even though she was clad in armor and carrying a young man, her speed far surpassed that of any sprinter from Sota’s world.

Firmly cradled in her arms, Sota could do nothing but tremble at the sheer velocity.

“Sota! Are they still behind us!?”

“Yes! They’re coming!”

“Dammit…!”

From behind, seven or eight women clad in light black armor were closing in. Every one of them possessed a terrifying speed that rivaled Firis’s own. The Imperial soldiers had discovered Sota and Firis and immediately swarmed them. They shouted incessantly about “a man” and “a male,” chasing them down with persistent, lewd grins filled with base desire.

To these Imperial soldiers, Sota was a feast. Finding a premium man while on a long, grueling mission and being forced into a life of celibacy meant there was no choice but to ravish him. In the case of “Man-Snatching Warfare,” the Empress allowed a certain amount of rough handling toward the male targets. While violating a “man with true black eyes” might be risky, such a thing was a trivial matter in the face of the Imperial soldiers’ pent-up sexual desires.

The desperate expressions of the Imperial soldiers—desperate in a slightly different sense—struck a significant amount of fear into Sota. This was especially true after Firis had explained how men were treated in the Empire. The curiosity he once felt, thinking he might want to be caught if it meant he could have sex with girls as much as he liked, was now revealed to be a completely naive thought. These women were predators, and a man was merely a sheep to be devoured. There were no human rights for him there.

“Firis-san, I’m sorry, it’s because I’m here…!”

“Don’t say it. I told you, I will protect you no matter what.”

If she weren’t carrying Sota, Firis could surely make a clean escape on her own. But she would not let go. The hands gripping Sota’s arms and thighs held a strength that vowed never to drop him. But at this rate…

“…Tch. She finally showed up.”

Firis clicked her tongue in annoyance. Waiting ahead, standing tall like a temple guardian, was a warrior. She stood majestically with her arms crossed, her axe quietly waiting for the moment to be drawn.

“Ronia Ilfitte…!”

Her lightly tanned skin was young and vibrant. Her navy-blue hair swayed slightly at shoulder length, and her orange eyes were locked straight onto Firis. Firis finally came to a halt. She judged that outrunning someone like Ronia was impossible. She quietly set Sota down beside her and pulled out the small survival knife she had borrowed from him.

“…”

In the meantime, the pursuing soldiers quickly surrounded Firis and the others, casting gazes upon Sota that were far too vulgar for women. The beasts surrounding the prime piece of meat were already salivating.

“Fi-Firis-san…”

“Do not worry, Sota.”

Firis responded to Sota’s trembling voice with a firm tone that betrayed no trace of anxiety. It was the dignified aura of a military commander, and her own way of showing consideration so as not to let him be afraid.

“Well, this is a surprise. What a top-tier catch.”

Ronia uncrossed her arms and licked her thin lips with a red tongue. Her unreserved, appraising gaze clung to Sota’s entire body like melted cheese. Her interest was no longer on Firis. Her mind was occupied only with ravishing Sota.

“Did you pick that man up in the forest?”

“I have no obligation to answer you.”

“…What a boring old lady. Fine then, I’ll hear plenty of stories from that man later… Inside my bed.”

“…Keep dreaming.”

Sota could feel a boiling fighting spirit swelling within Firis. This quiet yet intense, wrath-like aura was perhaps similar to what a parent exerts when protecting their child. The Imperial soldiers caught in that aura instinctively gasped at its pressure. Only Ronia raised the corners of her mouth, as if the spirit prickling her skin felt pleasant.

“Hey. Lend Firis a sword.”

Ronia gestured with her chin toward the soldiers. They couldn’t hide their confusion at the sudden order.

“What are you planning?”

As Firis furrowed her brow, Ronia gave a bellicose grin.

“It would be pathetic if I, Ronia-sama, the strongest warrior in this world, won against an opponent who’s practically unarmed.”

“…Is that okay? You’ll come to regret that arrogance.”

“You think it’s arrogance? If you believe that, then you’re the one being far too conceited.”

“…”

Firis couldn’t find a retort for Ronia’s boastful words. The first battle had been a clear, crushing defeat for Firis. Even with a sword, her chances of winning were likely slim. But even so, Firis had to win. This was the match of a lifetime, with her pride and the man she loved on the line.

“Go on, hurry up,” Ronia barked, prodding a soldier who then reluctantly slid a sword to Firis’s feet. Firis picked it up slowly, letting the feel of it settle into her hand. The weapon was by no means bad.

“Firis-san…”

“Don’t make a face like that, Sota. Rest easy and trust me. …No, maybe ‘rest easy’ is bad. You came to this place because you met a storm while on a ship.”

Firis scratched her cheek apologetically as she said that. Even in a moment like this, her consideration for Sota’s feelings perfectly illustrated her upright character. Sota took her hand, squeezing it firmly as if sending her his strength.

“Please win. For sure. Promise me.”

“…Yeah. I’ve just become a hundred times stronger. Thank you.”

Contrary to Sota’s tense expression, Firis smiled softly. They were unaware that the surrounding women were casting envious glances at the exchange between Firis, who wore a smile full of affection, and Sota, who showed such concern for her. To the Imperial soldiers who had never seen a man admire a woman, they were even greater objects of envy.

“Are the final goodbyes finished?”

Ronia drew her axe with total composure. She wasn’t in a hurry. She was convinced that once she killed Firis, that man would be hers. Firis drew her sword and responded sternly.

“They won’t be final goodbyes. Because I am going to kill all of you.”

“I’m looking forward to it…. Taking that man to bed while my body is still hot from killing you.”

“I won’t let you lay a single finger on my Sota.”

With those words as the finale, a brief silence fell. The two edged closer—

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”

—and the dance of death began once again.

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