Chapter 2: Being Allowed into Prison with Beautiful Girls

With the tip of Evanjesica's beloved blade pressed against me, I had to climb the rocky mountain on the north side of the settlement. Apparently, the prison is halfway up this mountain.

Secretly looking around, I committed the island's terrain to memory as I advanced.

After walking for about five minutes, a cave about the height of my stature came into view.

"It's inside that cave. Go in first."

Ordered to advance into the cave, I found a prison cell fitted with iron bars at the very back.

In a space where four adults could barely lie down, Lilia and Sierra were sitting.

"—Leon-chan!! Thank goodness!! You're safe!!"

As soon as she recognized my figure, Sierra gripped the iron bars with both hands, her joy exploding.

Seeing this, Evanjesica furrowed her brows.

"Sierra, have you still not reflected? Pebble isn't a baby, is he?"

"You're wrong! Leon-chan is my baby!"

"I don't understand! This man said earlier he was 18 years old! If you gave birth to him, the calculation doesn't match!"

"You're wrong! Leon-chan is still 0 years old!"

"Why do you say things that anyone can tell are lies at a single glance!?"

"No, Evanjesica-san. Within Sierra-san, it is the truth. It's like I become 0 years old only in front of Sierra-san."

"Hah...? What are you starting to say now, Pebble...?"

She looked at me with a face that said she genuinely couldn't understand.

That said, there probably isn't a single person in the world who can understand this concept.

"...Well, fine. You all reflect in here for a while."

Saying that, Evanjesica opened the door to the cell where the two were.

"—Eh? I'm being detained together with them?"

"Naturally. This is the only prison on this island."

I see. Since there are only 20 islanders, having multiple prisons would probably be a waste.

In other words, from now on, I will be spending time in this cramped space with zero privacy alongside Lilia and Sierra...?

What is this? Isn't it the best?

My heart racing, I entered the prison.

Immediately after, I was fitted with Shackles with iron balls, similar to Lilia and the others.

Honestly, with this amount of load, I can move around normally, but I'll keep quiet so they don't increase the weight.

Evanjesica glanced at the three of us, then locked the door. She put the key in her skirt pocket and left the cave.

"—Leon-chan!! I missed you!!"

While I was thinking about whether I could somehow steal the prison key, Sierra embraced me from behind. Soft swells pressed against my back, and my thoughts were instantly blown away.

Sierra is currently in her Swimsuit Armor. The sensation of her chest is transmitted more directly than when she's wearing a uniform...!!

As I was grinning, Lilia directed a scornful glare at me.

"By the way, why were you imprisoned, Leon-san?"

"That's... because I imitated a pig..."

"Hah...?"

Lilia looked like she couldn't understand, but since explaining the circumstances was difficult and embarrassing, I decided to vaguely gloss over it.

About 30 minutes after being put in prison, Evanjesica appeared carrying a luxurious meal on a tray.

Roasted meat on the bone, a salad of wild grasses and mushrooms, a stew of potatoes and beans, and rice wrapped in a large leaf. There were even wild strawberries that seemed to be dessert.

However, there were only two plates.

"Lilia, Sierra. It's mealtime."

Evanjesica placed the meal in front of only the two women as if it were natural.

"How about it? If you live on this island, you can eat all you want of this kind of food every day. On top of that, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do or anything troublesome. You can just make the men do everything."

I see. I thought the treatment was too good for being in prison, but it's an attempt to win them over.

"Needless to say, there isn't any for Pebble. After the two of them finish eating, ask them to bless you with the leftovers."

So that's how it is.

I had vaguely guessed it since I saw the men being blessed with scraps earlier, but...

"That's no good! Leon-chan! You can eat Mama's portion!"

Sierra protested while moving all of her meal in front of me.

Evanjesica sighed.

"It seems you need education. You can listen while you eat, hear about the history of the island.

This island is peaceful now, but long ago it was ruled by violence. Because selfish men frequently killed each other over status and women. Because of that, the island's population plummeted.

That is when the previous Island Lord—my mother—took action. She united the women of the island, stripped the men of all weapons and rights, and created a culture of female sovereignty. Since then, not a single murder has occurred.

Men are foolish creatures who have high pride, are stubborn and won't bend their opinions, can't be attentive, hate apologizing, and love conflict.

On the other hand, women are good at sensing others' feelings, are social, can think flexibly, are deeply affectionate and patient, and do not like conflict. Therefore, for the sake of peace, women need to properly manage the men."

"I see...!!"

I was incredibly convinced. As expected, I should live the rest of my life on this island.

"Leon-san, don't be deceived. That statement just now was quite biased. Besides, this method is only working for now; there is no guarantee it won't collapse forever. If the next female leader is someone who likes conflict, what do you think will happen?"

"It's okay. Because women are social and deeply affectionate."

"You've been brainwashed too much in this short time. It's strange for me to say this myself, but do I look deeply affectionate?"

"—Agh!!"

"Don't say rude things."

Even though I just agreed, I got hit.

Lilia turned back to face Evanjesica and glared.

"Anyway, no matter what you say, we are leaving this island."

"That would be a problem. As I said earlier, this island's population plummeted a while ago. To survive, we have no choice but to bring in outsiders."

"If you can't survive, why don't you all just leave the island?"

"We love this island. We can't imagine abandoning it and leaving."

"And for that, you want us to be sacrifices?"

"I guarantee a comfortable life. Although, since Pebble is a man, it might be a little harder to live than outside the island."

"I don't care about Pebble, but I hate being tied down."

Both of them are treating me roughly.

"Good grief, Lilia is stubborn. What about Sierra? Do you want to live in this cramped prison forever?"

"I don't care about myself, but I want you to stop doing terrible things to Leon-chan. He is still a baby."

"I can't get through to you!!"

Evanjesica shouted.

I feel like Sierra is probably considered more troublesome than the rebellious Lilia.

"Enough. You will spend the night here."

Throwing those words at us, Evanjesica left the cave.

Silence enveloped the prison.

"By the way, have you tried to see if these iron bars can be broken?"

When I asked, Lilia shrugged.

"Naturally. With my arm strength, they didn't budge. If I kept hitting them with the iron balls on the Shackles, they might break eventually, but the sound would reveal that we are trying to break out."

"I see..."

Just in case, I grabbed the iron bars and put some strength into it, but they only bent slightly; tearing them apart seemed absolutely impossible.

"Then, it seems we have no choice but to have Evanjesica let us out, or secretly get the key."

If only I could contact Fiona somehow...

"...Well then, let's think about the future. What we need most right now is, naturally, the key to the prison and the Shackles.

Next is information. We must investigate whether a boat is needed to return to the Hero Training School, or if we can return on foot."

"Um... Lilia-san. For that purpose, why don't we pretend to accept this island's customs for now and get them to let us out?"

"You want me to lie?"

"A lie can also be a means to an end."

When I said that, Lilia fell silent.

"...It can't be helped. They might realize it's an act, but I will try to pretend I've had a change of heart."

"Please do."

"However, wouldn't it be suspicious if I suddenly said I've reformed?"

"Then, how about spending the night here and pretending your thinking changed? Something like, 'Rather than spending time in prison like this, I thought I'd rather become an islander and live a good life.'"

"...Understood."

Thus, I ended up spending the night together in a cramped room with two people in Swimsuit Armor.

First, we decided to finish the meal, sharing it among the three of us.

"By the way, what should we do about the toilet?"

The moment I asked the question that suddenly occurred to me, Lilia's expression froze.

Then, she pointed to a reddish-brown pot sitting alone in the corner of the prison. It was probably pottery, about the size of an adult male's head.

"...I was told to use the pot there. At the time, I thought it was just because it was only Sierra and me..."

"I-I see."

"You just thought something inappropriate, didn't you?"

She directed a cold gaze at me, like she was looking at a maggot.

I wanted to keep it off my face, but I couldn't stop my cheeks from relaxing.

"But, isn't it Lilia-san's fault for resisting that the three of us have to stay in prison...!!"

"...That is certainly true. I understand, I will resolve myself too."

"Gulp...!!"

"If I need to use the toilet, I will crush Pebble's eyes."

"The resolve to sacrifice me!?"

"Also, I don't want the sound to be heard, so I think I will rupture your eardrums."

"But then you'll know the smell; is that okay? Shouldn't you crush my nose too?"

"Don't react in a way that suggests you imagined the scene realistically. It was so disgusting I got goosebumps."

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Come to think of it, what level is the Female Supremacy on this island? Are women allowed to kill men?"

"Don't try to utilize the island customs you were criticizing just a moment ago."

While pleading, I thought. Surely in this situation, she wouldn't really try to kill me or crush my eyes. ...Probably.

Which means sooner or later, I will be able to witness Lilia and Sierra in an incredible state...!!

"For the time being, there doesn't seem to be anything we can do. Let's try to sleep and recover our stamina in preparation for when we can get out of here."

Proposed by Lilia, we decided to sleep side-by-side like the character for river (川). I was by the iron bars, Sierra was in the middle, and Lilia was in the back.

I tried closing my eyes just in case, but there was no way I could sleep with beautiful girls in Swimsuit Armor right next to me. A chance like this might not come twice, so I'll pretend to sleep for now, and after a while, I'll steal a look at their sleeping forms.

But, when I secretly raised my upper body about 10 minutes later, Lilia sat up swiftly.

Beyond the peacefully sleeping Sierra, Lilia was glaring at me with the expression of a demon.

"—Hey, Pebble."

"Y-Yes?"

"What did you intend to do after we fell asleep?"

I was totally suspected. She misunderstood that I was planning something clearly beyond what I had intended.

However, I have too many prior offenses, so I don't feel like I can defend myself.

"N-No. I just thought I would worship your sleeping forms, I had absolutely no intention of laying a finger on your bodies...!!"

"But on impulse, you might touch, right?"

"The possibility is infinitely close to zero!!"

"Is that true? Both Sierra and I are in Swimsuit Armor, unlike usual, you know? Moreover, we're asleep, so you wouldn't get caught touching a little. can you declare that you can truly control your own desires?"

"When you put it that way, I'm a little unsure... Wait, why are you trying to frame me as a sex offender!?"

"Because your usual conduct is too bad."

"I'm aware of that, but..."

When I honestly admitted it, Lilia sighed.

"I should have ordered Pebble like this from the beginning. —'Sleep'."

S S S

I regained consciousness at the sound of water coming from somewhere.

When I opened my eyes, the inside of the cave was illuminated by the setting sun, dyed a deep red. How much time had passed since Lilia put me to sleep?

Without thinking, I sat up, and Lilia was peeing in the corner of the prison.

Beyond the soundly sleeping Sierra, Lilia, having removed the bottom of her Swimsuit Armor, was pressing the pottery pot against her lower abdomen.

It was too shocking; I couldn't believe this was reality.

"—Do, 'Don't look'!!"

Lilia shouted, flustered. I closed my eyes as a spinal reflex.

Even though I want to see it so badly, my body obeys Lilia's orders.

"'Plug your ears', 'Don't breathe through your nose'!!"

I immediately shoved my index fingers into my ear canals. Now I could only hear the sound of water faintly.

As I agonized in that state, the water sound eventually stopped.

Silence dominated the cave for a while.

After plenty of time had passed, Lilia tapped my shoulder.

"'Stop plugging your ears and look this way'."

I turned to face Lilia as ordered.

Naturally, Lilia was properly wearing the bottom of her Swimsuit Armor.

However, I recalled the unsightly figure I had witnessed just moments ago.

"...Did you see?"

Lilia, her ears bright red, asked me.

"Um... I didn't see the crucial parts. Really."

"......"

"In the first place, why did you pee without telling us...?"

"That's..."

After muttering just that, Lilia fell silent in embarrassment.

Probably, she hated even the fact of us knowing she was peeing in the same space as us. That's why she tried to secretly finish it while we were sleeping.

Thinking back on it now, the proposal "Let's try to sleep and recover our stamina" was sudden, and...

"To think Leon-san would wake up...!!"

Lilia gritted her teeth in frustration. She seemed considerably shaken, as her way of addressing me had returned to normal.

"You should have ordered me to cover my eyes and ears from the start."

"I am fiercely regretting it. ...But, I can still make it in time."

"Eh?"

"'Forget every event related to my toilet usage'."

"—Ah!!"

The moment Lilia ordered me, my consciousness blacked out.

When I opened my eyes, the inside of the cave was illuminated by the setting sun, dyed a deep red. How much time had passed since Lilia put me to sleep?

When I sat up, my eyes met with Lilia, who was glaring at me.

"? Lilia-san, why are you glaring at me?"

"...It's nothing."

It was clearly a way of speaking that implied something had happened.

It seems her face is red, but...

"...Pebble. You really don't remember anything?"

"Eh? About what?"

"No, it's nothing. ...By the way, are you okay not using the toilet?"

"Ah... I can still hold it."

Saying that, when I casually looked around where the pot was placed, I felt a sense of incongruity. The ground in the corner of the prison seemed a little wet.

Could it be that while I was sleeping, Lilia or Sierra peed...!?

Damn it...!! If so, why didn't I wake up...!!

"...It seems you are okay."

Lilia muttered, sounding relieved.

Then I finally understood the reason why Lilia was acting strangely.

"Could it be that you went to the toilet while I was sleeping? And you wanted to confirm if I was awake?"

"No, absolutely not."

"Ah, I'm sorry..."

I was off the mark... Embarrassing...

Then, the wet ground isn't pee? Or did Sierra do it...?

"Yawn~"

Just then, Sierra woke up and stretched a little.