I came to my senses and got up.
"Priest. Let's go to the shade and rest for a bit. The sun is so hot that we'll get dehydrated soon."
"Okay."
Emilia nodded.
We walked away from the shore towards the inland.
There wasn't any suitable shade.
I took off the coat I was wearing.
I placed the coat on the branches of a bare tree to create some shade.
Emilia turned her gaze away shyly when our eyes met.
I sat down in the shade.
"Come sit here.
You shouldn't be sweating right now."
"Okay!"
Emilia came over and sat next to me, awkwardly bringing her knees together.
Her actions and tone of voice were infused with vivaciousness and energy.
Even after losing her eyesight, if she maintains this personality and gains a solemn demeanor along with awakening sacred abilities-
She would become the noble saint Emilia Rosebloom I saw in the novel.
However, because of me, she didn't lose her eyes.
As a result, many things have changed.
She won't do crazy things like gathering corpses washed up on the white sand beach and praying in place for a month.
That was something Emilia did purely out of desperation to rely on God.
As long as she can see and has a survivor to depend on, such miracles won't happen.
Forget about being a noble saint.
Now we just need to survive together on this uninhabited island for a month until the navy comes to rescue us.
I guess this is the situation Leah wanted.
"I just woke up too. When I woke up, Mr. Castoloni was lying collapsed over there.
I was so glad to see you."
"Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you. Are you okay too, Mr. Castoloni? Please tell me if you're hurt anywhere. I know some healing magic."
"Fortunately, I'm fine."
A moment of silence settled between us.
The sound of waves filled the gap.
Emilia spoke up.
"Mr. Castoloni."
"Yes."
"Can I ask you something?"
I answered while looking out at the distant sea.
"Suddenly there was a smell of oil and gunpowder."
"What?"
"Weren't you going to ask how I knew to jump off the ship?"
Emilia shook her head.
"Oh, no, that's not it."
"Then what?"
She averted her gaze and puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Ugh. Actually, you're right."
She seems to have a bit of pride.
"To be precise, I didn't jump off the ship, but when I sensed something was wrong, I tried to take shelter near the railing while holding you like this.
We were thrown off the ship by something like the shockwave of an explosion."
Emilia nodded.
"I see."
We silently looked out at the sea.
Pieces and traces of the wrecked ship were washing up on the shore.
Corpses were visible too.
Emilia's expression darkened.
I thought I should try to lift her spirits.
"The navy will probably come to rescue us."
"Do you think so?"
"There were quite a few nobles on board. They'll conduct a search.
And you were on board too, right Priest?"
"Huh? What about me..."
According to the novel, Emilia was already famous even before being revered as a saint.
I became even more certain after seeing how people on the ship looked at her.
The Empire watched over by God.
You could say she was like the holy idol representing that Empire.
Not only did such an idol survive a horrific accident, but she even showed a miracle despite losing both eyes.
It's not strange that she started to be revered as a saint.
"What are you saying? You're the jewel of our Empire, Priest.
Of course they should come to rescue you."
"..."
She smiled bitterly without saying anything.
"Priest. Let's try to think positively."
I was asking Emilia to give me hope.
She looked at me.
As if she quickly grasped my intentions, she nodded.
"You're right.
Yes. Come to think of it, of course they'll come to rescue me!
Don't worry, Mr. Castoloni.
This Emilia Rosebloom is quite an amazing person, you know!"
Emilia clenches her small fists and shows them to me.
Good.
Mental care is done for now.
Now we need to make plans and take action.
What's the first thing to do when stranded in the wilderness?
'Find a safe base camp and water source first.'
That's what Bear Grylls and the bald guy said.
"Shall we walk along the beach and gather useful things from what's washed up?
Then we'll explore the island to find water and a safe place to spend the night.
If possible, we should also light a fire to request rescue."
"Have you been stranded before, Mr. Castoloni?"
"What?"
"You seem to come up with methods right away."
I smiled bitterly.
It wasn't a joke, but I thought this second life I'm living now feels like being stranded.
"Shall we go?"
First, we gathered useful things from what had washed up on the shore.
"I'm sorry."
Emilia also farmed the pockets of corpses with me.
[Matches] [Knife] [Canned food crate]
It was a fairly successful farming.
We decided to take some [clothes] from the deceased just in case.
Emilia said a prayer to comfort their souls before getting up.
"Let's go."
She didn't show the desperation and devastation of relying on God as in the novel.
Her clear, bright eyes showed positivity and a will to live.
Leaving corpses to rot is the way of nature.
Perhaps the Emilia who is struggling to survive now is closer to a miracle, I thought.
We decided to climb to the highest point to get an idea of what this island looks like.
As we circled around climbing the island, we naturally shared stories about each other.
It was a process of building trust, so to speak, so that we could rely on each other on this uninhabited island where anything could happen.
"How did you end up on the ship, Mr. Castoloni?"
"Well, as a merchant... I move around to sell goods. What other reason could there be?"
Not knowing the exact circumstances, I gave a vague answer.
Emilia tilted her head.
"Didn't you say you run a toy shop?"
"Yes. That's right."
"...I see."
Did I say something wrong?
"Then how did you end up on the ship, Priest?"
"The bishop's orders came down for me to visit the soldiers fighting demons on the front lines, to bless and comfort them."
Ah.
I see.
So it was a ship going to the battlefield.
I suddenly became a cold-blooded idiot trying to sell toys in a war zone.
I nodded, pretending to be nonchalant.
"I see. In a way, we had the same purpose."
"What?"
An expression that seemed to say "What nonsense?"
I rolled my tongue.
"Toys comfort the heart.
If young friends find comfort in the toys I give out for free on the battlefield.
When they grow up and have some money to spare, they won't forget my toys and will buy them.
That's what I'm aiming for."
"..."
"Isn't it similar to how you spread the gospel, Priest?
If the soldiers on the front lines find comfort in your words and survive through your blessings.
They won't forget and will visit the cathedral later to offer prayers of thanks to God.
Perhaps both you and I are acting with the purpose of comforting wounded human hearts and receiving something greater in return later...
Oh my.
I've overstepped. Please forgive me."
A smile spread across Emilia's lips.
"So you were on your way to donate toys."
[Emilia Rosebloom (Virgin)]
[Occupation: Priest]
[Status: Convinced]
[I see. Well, there would be children in villages devastated by war too.
Right. God's will isn't always far away.
Mr. Castoloni is talking as if he's investing for future money.
But in the end, he's trying to help people in need within the scope of what he can do now.
He also said he would donate to the cathedral on the ship.
As I thought, he's a good person.]
Phew.
This works.
I stopped walking.
Huh?
Trickle. Gurgle gurgle.
I heard the sound of water.
I ran ahead with excitement.
There was a stream flowing where I ran to.
It was clearly clean and clear water.
"Priest. Come over here. There's water!"
"Really? Haha."
Emilia ran towards me with a bright smile.
Every time she moves, the lewd outline of her body is clearly visible under her thin priest's robe.
Her large breasts bounce as she runs towards me.
The priest's robe is split on the side, showing glimpses of white thigh flesh.
Wow.
This is it.
From today, the name of this uninhabited island is Dongtan.
At that moment-
Something like a long tentacle suddenly sprang out from the bushes, wrapped around Emilia's waist, and snatched her away in an instant.
"Aaagh!"
"Priest!"
I pushed through the bushes and chased after her.
'Oh no!'
A tentacle monster that looked like an octopus, easily 3 meters long, appeared before my eyes.
Thick tentacles were wrapped around Emilia's slender waist and just below her chest.
"H-help me!"
She reached out her hand to me.
Before I could run to her, Emilia's arms and legs were also wrapped in tentacles.
"Ugh!"
Emilia's expression contorted in pain.
The tentacles bound her two arms behind her back like restraints, and lifted her two legs with tentacles wrapped around her thin ankles.
In an instant, Emilia was lifted into the air in a ︶ shape, as if tied in a turtle-binding position.
I took out my knife and ran to try to cut the tentacles.
Clang. Clang.
'What is this!'
It was as if the tentacle knew Vajra like me; the blade wouldn't penetrate at all.
"Hnngh. Mr. Castoloni..."
Emilia struggled, but there was no way she could break free.
She looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.
She must have heard what happens when violated by a tentacle monster.
'What should I do?'
At that moment-
Ding.
A status window appeared.
[Bibik]
[While outwardly resembling a typical tentacle monster, it is actually a monster with completely opposite characteristics.
This mindless creature helps the female it captures to mate with other males.
It contributes to increasing the reproduction rate of wild animals and absolutely won't release the female it has captured until she is completely violated by a male of the same species.
It is hermaphroditic.]
Ah.
So that's what it is.