Chapter 37

Chapter 37

"Fire, fire! Sectors D and N, increase the bombardment intensity! The defensive capabilities of these Giant Cave Beasts' hides are about to break open!"

"The power reserves can't keep up! Hey, you over there working on the mechanical panels, find a solution!"

"Damn it, this damned thing bit through my exoskeleton armor! Someone help me secure it again!"

"Hold the line, everyone! These star beasts are at their limit—don’t let them counterattack!"

Though night had fallen, the rocky area—one of the high-level star beast gathering grounds in the desert zone—was illuminated by the blazing light of artillery fire.

At the same time, voices, gunfire, and the roars of star beasts echoed from afar. Philo, who had just approached the area but stopped in his tracks due to the commotion caused by the female warriors, looked up at the faint glow in the distance before slowly walking forward.

He didn’t get too close. Remembering the incident where a female warrior had suddenly thrown a star beast right in front of him, Philo cautiously stopped outside the central zone of the rocky area.

Thanks to his keen eyesight, even from this distance, he could vaguely make out the intense combat ahead. His gaze swept over the female warriors, some flying and others running, before finally settling on the massive star beasts being surrounded and attacked. After a closer look, noticing that most of the star beasts had forked tails, he roughly identified them.

Giant Cave Beasts—C-class star beasts.

Though he hadn’t encountered them in VR simulations, he recalled that this type of star beast was indeed known to be native to desert regions.

Once he remembered their name and rank, Philo could also understand why the female warriors had chosen this moment to launch their assault.

According to records, while Giant Cave Beasts weren’t the strongest among C-class star beasts, they were notoriously adept at digging and burrowing. Their claws were powerful enough to puncture starship hulls. To deal with them, the insect warriors needed not only sufficient firepower but also to strike when their guard was lowest—around dusk.

With this in mind, Philo observed cautiously from behind the rocks again.

Clearly, these female warriors were meticulously prepared, performing their assigned roles with precision and coordination. The stronger fighters focused on offense, those with high defense blocked the star beasts’ counterattacks, and those skilled in machinery maintained the fortified alloy plates laid out in advance to prevent the star beasts from burrowing underground to escape.

Despite facing creatures many times their size, the female warriors showed little tension—instead, they became increasingly battle-hungry as the battle raged on.

Are Military Females of the insectoid race always this spirited? Impressive.

Lacking the female warriors’ superior physical capabilities, Philo silently gave his future potential classmates a silent admiration. At the same time, he prudently avoided making his presence known, as his sudden appearance would likely disrupt their carefully coordinated assault.

But he didn’t have to wait long. Not because the female warriors were overwhelmingly powerful—after all, they were up against C-class star beasts.

Under the sustained offensive, the most formidable Giant Cave Beasts eventually clawed through the reinforced metal barriers beneath them. Soon, the star beasts that had been howling in pain moments earlier retreated underground.

Retracting their wings, the flying female warriors descended to the ground, while those who had been encircling the star beasts gathered around. These star beasts weren’t just worth points—their hides, flesh, and bones were also valuable.

Unlike Philo, though the female warriors carried standard provisions and water, their combat expenditure was far greater. To maintain peak condition over the three-day trial, they needed additional sustenance.

Without delay, aside from the injured treating themselves with field med-kits, the rest swiftly and efficiently delegated duties to clean up the area.

Some female warriors secured the perimeter—not just for cleanliness but also to avoid attracting other star beasts at night. Others harvested usable biomass from the slain star beasts, utilizing whatever they could and disposing of remains far away.

Clearly, these female warriors planned to rest here for the night. But for some reason, many kept scanning the area as they worked, as if anticipating something.

What were they waiting for?

No one voiced the question, as most seemed to already know the answer. After all, by now, nearly every female warrior in the vicinity was aware that His Highness Philo had landed in their desert zone.

By analyzing his previous stopping points and the nearby marked resting spots on the map, it wasn’t hard to predict his likely destination for the night.

Would His Highness come here tonight?

They had already neutralized the majority of the star beasts in the area, and there were several caves dug by Giant Cave Beasts nearby. The largest and innermost one would be perfect for His Highness to rest in—providing insulation from the elements.

The more they thought about it, the more their focus wavered, their movements growing increasingly eager. Amid this quiet yet tense atmosphere, the sound of measured footsteps gradually approached.

Having walked all day with only a short respite at noon, Philo’s steps were heavy, but the soft sand muffled the sound.

Carrying his resource pack, his face and body far more weathered than before, the male insect slowly entered the central rocky area, coming into view of the gathered female warriors.

Brushing sand from his hair, his luminous violet eyes met the gazes of the female warriors in the dim light. Philo smiled and initiated with a wave, greeting them warmly.

"Hello, everyone. I’m Philo, the male contestant participating in this trial."

Such a concise yet effective, and easily understandable introduction.

Standing still, whether busy or idle, injured or unharmed, those who had seen Philo before and those who hadn’t all looked up in unison.

After a brief moment of silent exchange, the female warriors—who had been buzzing with excitement and plans to strike up a conversation earlier—once again demonstrated their signature "deer-in-headlights" reaction.

A faint smile playing on his lips, Philo, seemingly accustomed to such scenes, took the initiative again.

"I saw you all repelling those star beasts earlier, so I assume you’re planning to rest here too. I was hoping to stay here tonight as well—do you object if I joined you?"

...

Would they mind?

Hearing this, the female warriors—who had prepared themselves for the possibility of the male insect claiming the area for himself—were caught off guard by his courtesy.

Exchanging glances, they hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Among the gathered female warriors, only a small fraction were from the capital planet, while the majority originated from other worlds—some even from remote colonies.

For them, most of their impressions of male insects came from photos, videos, and descriptions circulating on the StarNet.

Though Philo’s appearance was familiar, his temperament remained largely unknown. Thus, they had automatically accorded him the deference and respect typically expected toward male insects.

But...

"Not at all!"

Before Philo could repeat himself, a loud, resounding answer cut through the silence.

From the center of the group, a female warrior—who had been staring at Philo unblinkingly, her face flushed with nervous excitement—clenched her fists and declared boldly the response.

The sheer volume and directness of her reply were something Philo hadn’t encountered in a while.

Almost instinctively, he turned toward the source of the voice. Recognizing the speaker, his smile widened.

"It’s you. We meet again."

Indeed, it was the same reckless female warrior who had nearly thrown a star beast at him—and almost shot him—earlier that day.

Already overwhelmed at seeing Philo again, the female warrior trembled violently when she realized he remembered her. The hands that had held a gun steady moments earlier now shook uncontrollably.

But having already embarrassed herself once in front of him, and having missed the chance to speak more that morning, she mustered every ounce of courage to take the first step in conversation.

"Your Highness, it’s me! You—you’re welcome to rest here! We found a few caves earlier—you can pick whichever you like!"

Blast it! She stuttered again!

No sooner had he spoken than the young female, realizing her voice was trembling, tried her best to maintain composure on the surface while inwardly berating herself for being so pathetic.

And at this moment, she clearly wasn’t the only one scolding herself for being pathetic.

The other females around, who had long wanted to speak to the male, now seeing someone take the lead and realizing this Your Highness didn’t seem inclined to scold them, couldn’t help but chime in as well.

“Yes, yes, Your Highness, none of us mind. You can choose any spot you like.”

“Your Highness, please come inside. It’s windy out here. We’ve already tidied up inside—please come in and rest.”

“Do you need any help, Your Highness? Are you tired? I’ll get your cave ready right away.”

It had to be said—no matter the situation, once someone spoke the first words, the rest followed easily.

The previously silent crowd of females instantly sprang into action. Some of the bolder ones even bowed, offering to help Philo carry his bags, unpack his belongings, or prepare a shelter.

Faced with this group of females who either completely ignored him or were overly enthusiastic, Philo waved his hand and quickly said,

“No need, no need. I can handle these things myself. I’m just here for the competition. The school requires that I don’t interfere with your assessment. You don’t need to worry about me—just focus on your own tasks.”

After speaking, Philo glanced at the remaining unprocessed star beasts nearby and added, tongue-in-cheek,

“You’re all so impressive. I really don’t want to delay your evaluation because of me.”

*They* were impressive…

Rooted to the spot, none of the females had ever been praised by a male in their lives. For a moment, they stood there just like the one who had been praised earlier, unsure how to react.

But in those few seconds of stunned silence, Philo strode in smoothly, picking his way through the star beast corpses on the ground and heading deeper into the rocky terrain.

Watching his receding figure, almost unconsciously, most of the females immediately followed behind him. Of course, there were also the particularly sharp ones who hurried ahead to guide the male.

Seeing that these females wouldn’t leave him alone unless he settled in properly, Philo didn’t waste time. He simply picked one of the caves they recommended and began tidying it up.

Refusing any help, he quickly cleaned the cave himself before motioning for the females to stop hovering over him and return to their assessment.

This time, the females gave polite nods and didn’t dare to linger—after all, it was clear the Your Highness wanted to rest.

However—

A warm fire, grilled star beast kebabs, makeshift stone windbreaks placed at the cave entrance…

Though Philo hadn’t stepped outside, one item after another was delivered to him by various females, almost as soon as he spread his coat out on the ground and prepared to sleep.

Recalling how these females had taken care of him during his earlier nap, Philo’s gaze lingered on the fire in his cave, and he gave a wry smile.

He truly hadn’t wanted to trouble them. He’d only come here because he hadn’t found any other suitable place to spend the night nearby. Thankfully, the females left to attend to their own business after delivering the items—otherwise, he really wouldn’t have known what to do.

Indeed, star beasts that preferred nocturnal activity were far from rare. The females, bent on securing top marks this time, had prepared a resting spot in advance but had no intention of sleeping so early.

After all, night had only just fallen. Aside from the Giant Cave Beasts, there were plenty of other star beasts in the vicinity. Remembering the male’s earlier praise, they raised their guns excitedly and fanned out to hunt again.

It had to be said—Principal Aofu’s idea of using Philo as motivation was paying off handsomely. In previous years, though the competition in Kalms Military Academy’s assessments had been fierce, it had never reached this level.

Especially since most females during assessments were usually cold and focused—never this fired up, as if they’d hopped up on stimulants.

“Aofu, it seems this year’s freshmen are performing exceptionally well.”

Outside the simulation field monitoring room, the two females who had just entered took in the sight of the swarm charging out.

The sound of military boots halted as the senior female turned to the old principal standing at the center of the monitoring room and remarked approvingly.

Setting down his porcelain cup, the old principal chuckled lightly at his old friend, who had initially said he wouldn’t come but had now appeared unexpectedly.

“That’s largely thanks to your Philo, Zhousha.”

Indeed, the senior female who had just entered with another in tow was none other than Zhousha Tulath—one of the highest-ranking officers in the military, honorary vice-principal of Kalms Military Academy, and also the mother of Philo, the male currently participating in the assessment.

Nodding at Zhousha with a knowing smile, the old principal wasn't particularly surprised—he had guessed the other would eventually succumb to curiosity and come take a look.

Still, when his gaze landed on the female behind Zhousha, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Gore? What brings you here?”

Zhousha’s presence could be explained by concern for his son, but Gore rarely returned to the capital after graduation. Even when he did, he kept a low profile—never had he shown interest in the academy’s admissions before.

“Principal Aofu, it’s been a while.”

Offering no explanation for his presence, the blue-haired female simply paid his respects to the old principal. Then, despite having graduated years ago, he turned and respectfully saluted each of the instructors present.

Observing Gore’s flawless etiquette—and the distance between him and Zhousha—the old principal’s widened eyes crinkled with amusement. He didn’t push the matter.

If there was anything special about this year’s admissions, it was only one small thing. And likely, it was this very detail that had triggered this chain reaction.

His eyebrows lifting cheerfully, the old principal, having roughly guessed the reason, was about to fill in the newcomers on Philo’s progress in the simulation field when, before he could speak, footsteps rang out from outside the monitoring room once more.

Unlike the steady, decisive tread of military females, these steps were even and deliberate—clearly not from a serving soldier or a retired instructor, but rather…

“Prosecutor Shang Ling? What brings you here as well?”

The word “also” here was undeniably apt.

Entering the room, the female—not particularly surprised to see Zhousha and Gore—first gave a respectful nod to Zhousha, then nodded at Gore before addressing Principal Aofu.

“As the foremost military academy in the alliance, Kalms Military Academy’s admissions are always of great interest. Coincidentally, the Government Office is currently conducting research on strategic positioning and talent development policies across different institutions. With some free time today, I thought I’d observe your admissions process for future reference.”

The reason was, admittedly, impeccable.

His expression unchanged, Principal Aofu nodded with a light chuckle. “We're honored, then. However—”

His gaze swept over the two younger females before he lowered his eyes with a quiet laugh.

“Since everyone is so interested in this year’s admissions, please take a seat. If you have any questions, you may direct them to our assessment’s lead supervisor, Director Esther.” With that, the old principal gestured to the middle-aged female beside him.

Unlike the ever-smiling Aofu, Director Esther was the picture of sternness.

Nevertheless, faced with three high-ranking military officers and government officials—none of whom were current students—the middle-aged female, though still serious, adhered to protocol and greeted each of them properly.

Once the brief formalities were exchanged, the newcomers—seated on the extra plush chairs brought in by the academy staff—quieted down, their attention turning to the surveillance screens like everyone else’s.

Naturally, most eyes were drawn to the central screen displaying the male.

Yet the moment the newcomers saw the figure on the screen, they all caught their breath simultaneously.

Author's Note:

Three more observers joined the gathering...

Foreshadowing abounds.