Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

[Main Text] Siesta's Hottest Holiday: Chapter Seventy-Eight "Who Will Protect Me?"

"Whether it was intentional or unintentional... you really dare to say that."

"What?"

Skadi didn't respond; she simply turned her face away, not to bring her gaze back to the sea, but to avoid Tomat's innocent gaze, which was either thick-skinned or genuinely oblivious.

Thomas's previous remarks were practically a self-recommendation.

As he said these words, Frostnova was still lying on his lap.

When Tomat disappeared, Frostnova actually talked to her quite a bit.

The two weren't particularly compatible, but they could still chat a bit more because they shared a common strength.

However, Frostnova's mentions often veer towards Tomat.

Occasionally, she would use almost direct hints to ask herself if she had any special relationship with him.

When Skadi questioned Frostnova, the latter responded with various denials in a somewhat flustered manner—though she still seemed somewhat happy.

Skadi wasn't so naive as to be unable to understand things like romantic love; she could naturally tell which one had feelings for the other.

However, in her view, Thomas had never given a direct response to her veiled feelings.

"Don't act recklessly just because she's asleep."

Skadi said it casually, but putting aside Tomat's survival-driven words, Skadi was more focused on a certain part of that sentence.

"Just get stronger."

This is indeed a necessary step to overcome feelings of powerlessness, or rather, to gain the power to protect oneself and others.

Even now, she hasn't confirmed the meaning of protecting herself, or found someone else willing to protect her.

"What are you saying? It's all so nonsensical. Are you already drunk?"

Seeing Frostnova turn over, Tomat took off his coat and covered Frostnova, who didn't actually need warmth.

His legs aren't so fragile that they would easily get frostbite or go numb.

It's perfectly fine to continue like this until Frostnova wakes up.

Although her reaction would probably be quite intense if she woke up.

Upon seeing that Tomat was unable to move easily, Skadi, after saying these words, seemed to have lost much of the sense of powerlessness that had been hidden in her words and expression.

It turns out that having someone to talk to brings about more change than drinking alone in silence.

—And then she planned to keep drinking.

This time, she simply brought the liquor case over, placed it between the two of them, and sat down on the path to begin their late-night drinking spree.

However, compared to the previous atmosphere, the two spoke much less.

Since the topic that was originally brought up had already ended, and neither of them were good at initiating topics.

No matter how much they talk, without anyone to start, they can only maintain this awkward silence that outsiders find embarrassing.

Although the participants themselves were quite used to this atmosphere.

Skadi occasionally mentions the Agor people's prosperous underwater city.

Thomas would occasionally mention the various advanced civilizations he had encountered during his time in the Legion.

Neither of them had much insight into the technology itself, so the conversation wasn't particularly obscure or profound.

This isn't about two scientists or technicians discussing the technology itself, but rather like two city dwellers who have moved to the countryside reminiscing about the conveniences of city life while surprisingly unanimously complaining about the various inconveniences of today.

"To be honest, I still don't get used to Terra's civilized environment. You could say it's backward, but some places are incredibly advanced. You could say it's advanced, but some places are as backward as primitive tribes. It's just awkward."

With a helpless expression, Tomat recounted what he had seen and heard over the past few months.

Skadi listened intently, without much reaction.

He would occasionally reply with longer sentences—this kind of leisurely chat hadn't been done with anyone else in a long time.

"When I asked about some basic technical questions, a group of people, including those in the technical department, acted as if they had never heard of such a concept before, and then pressed me to explain the underlying principles. How would I know these things? I just wanted to ask them if they had them."

“That’s right. The technological theories that were actually explored by the land-based races are actually very few. Most of them were obtained from the relics left by their ancestors. They themselves don’t even understand many of them, unlike Agor who has more technological theories that form their own lineage.”

Skadi took over the conversation and nodded with a sense of agreement.

"They can build large drainage systems based on the leftover blueprints, but they don't know how to make a flush toilet... really."

But even though he was talking about the inconveniences of life, his tone carried a sense of helplessness.

However, Skadi smiled easily as she spoke.

It was Skadi herself, not Tomat, who noticed the smile.

—If it were an outsider, they would probably be quite surprised to see themselves smiling and point it out.

However, Thomas clearly saw the smile and was neither surprised nor taken aback.

It's as if they initially felt that this behavior wasn't anything to be particularly concerned about.

Skadi had long realized that "there was no need to be surprised by their ordinary behavior," but now she was surprised that she had shown a normal emotional reaction.

Did I subconsciously relax in front of the other person? Did I feel like I could act like an ordinary person without having to worry about anything?

Skadi, who never smiles, is herself.

Skadi, who is just like any other ordinary person, is also herself.

However, the latter has long been hiding behind the former facade.

Therefore, Skadi lowered her hand that had been instinctively covering her mouth, and then—

"Hahaha......"

He laughed loudly with a relaxed expression.

"Shh-"

But Tomat immediately covered Frostnova's ears with one hand to avoid being woken by the cheerful laughter, while making a shushing gesture.

"Ah...sorry, sorry, it's just that I haven't laughed out loud in a long time."

Skadi wiped away the few tears that had welled up in her eyes, and stopped laughing with a half-open smile.

"It's a good thing that you can still laugh."

Tommat glanced at Frostnova, who was still undisturbed, breathed a sigh of relief, and continued drinking from a newly opened bottle of wine.

Unlike Skadi, although he also has a good tolerance for alcohol, consuming large amounts in a short period of time will still have a certain impact on his mind.

Skadi remained expressionless, but Tomat's face was already flushed.

"...I said."

For Skadi, drinking was just a way to stay hydrated, but she still picked up a bottle and drank along with Tomat.

She picked up the bottle, touched it to Tomat's hand, and began another conversation in an unusually quiet voice.

"You're suggesting I find someone easier to protect, or that I become strong enough to prevent the person I'm protecting from easily getting hurt... that way I won't get hurt."

Skadi's crimson pupils gleamed dimly in the moonlight. Meeting Tomat's gaze, her breath, reeking of alcohol, almost brushed against his nose as she continued:

"But I also want to know... is there anyone in this world who can protect me? Someone who would never let me get hurt?"

[Main Text] Siesta's Hottest Holiday: Chapter Seventy-Nine: My Back is Great

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

After all, even someone as indifferent to emotions would be taken aback if a beautiful young woman suddenly brought her face close to theirs.

Tomat simply lacked interest in "beautiful women" as a Saiyan, but that doesn't mean he lacked the ability to discern them.

"Ha, it will happen."

Although slightly tipsy, Tomat was not going to do anything out of line because of his current state.

He smiled as he retrieved the bottle he had clinked with Skadi and continued drinking the alcohol that was gradually seeping into his body.

"...That's true."

Skadi spoke softly, shaking the wine case that was being leaned against.

There was still plenty of wine inside, enough for the two of them to keep drinking until one of them got drunk, or until the sun rose again, allowing them to part ways in the sunlight.

"Keep drinking, you might not have another chance like this."

Skadi suggested, handing another bottle of strong liquor to Tomat.

Amidst the roar of the tide and the howling of the sea breeze, the figures on the beach then only made gurgling sounds of drinking.

—Tomat opened his eyes and saw the somewhat dazzling rising sun.

Its daybreak.

My head is still a little dizzy, but I am still relatively conscious.

Empty bottles littered the ground, and Froststar remained lying on her lap, covered by her coat.

The smell of alcohol on his face had faded considerably; now he simply looked like a normal sleeping man rather than someone flushed with drunkenness.

Thomas still had memories of last night in his mind, as well as the names of familiar people who appeared in his dreams after he had fallen into a drunken stupor at some point.

"Isatis... oh wait..."

This name also belongs to a Saiyan, and she hasn't appeared in Tomat's dreams for a long time.

It was a "good dream" that I recalled with some sadness after waking up.

So much so that after exhaling the lingering smell of alcohol and clearing his throat, the first name he mentioned was this one.

However, Tomat soon noticed that something seemed to be missing.

"Uh...Skadi?"

He looked around but did not find the Agor man who had drunk with him the night before resting there.

Only a string of relatively new footprints could be seen on the ground, not yet covered by the sand and dust stirred up by the morning breeze.