Harem Survival System: Stranded On An Island With Beautiful Women
Chapter 37: Night-Time Patrol

Chapter 37: Night-Time Patrol

The water was soothing. It cradled him like gentle hands, rocking him back and forth in a rhythm so natural, so comforting, that he almost forgot about everything else.

The aching in his limbs.

The exhaustion weighing him down.

Down here, it didn’t matter.

Nothing did.

His breath left him in slow bubbles, rising to the surface, popping against the cool air above.

He could almost fall asleep like this, drifting in the waves, letting the tide carry him away.

But then —

A sharp pain shot through his lungs.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up, and suddenly, he was kicking, pushing himself up.

The moment his head broke the surface, he sucked in a deep, desperate breath, gasping for air as the cool night wind rushed against his damp skin.

His chest heaved, his heart pounding from the sudden rush of oxygen.

Lucas blinked, water streaming down his face, as if he had just woken up.

What the hell was that?

For a second, it had been too easy to just... let go.

Shaking his head, he wiped his face with his hands, inhaling deeply to steady himself.

His body still felt drained, but now there was something else mixed in.

He forced himself to breathe.

With a quiet sigh, Lucas waded back toward the shore, dragging himself onto the sand. His legs felt like lead, every step sluggish and slow, but he made it.

He collapsed onto the damp sand, letting the cool grains stick to his wet skin as he sprawled out, chest rising and falling in steady breaths.

The night sky stretched above him, vast and endless, a silent reminder of how small he was compared to everything else.

But for some reason...

That thought didn’t seem as overwhelming anymore.

It was just the truth.

Lucas pulled his damp shirt over his head, shivering slightly as the cool night air wrapped around him.

His entire body ached, muscles screaming in exhaustion, but at least the salt water had helped soothe some of the stiffness.

The bath had been necessary. The sweat and grime from the long day of chopping trees and dragging logs had made him feel like a walking piece of sandpaper.

Now, he just needed to get back to his tent and pass out before morning came.

The camp was eerily silent.

During the day, this place was filled with laughter, shouts, and movement. Now? It was like walking through an abandoned village.

The fire had burned out, leaving only a faint orange glow in the pit at the center of camp. The sound of the ocean was distant, muted, like it belonged to another world.

Lucas exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he walked toward his tent. His body still felt heavy, exhaustion settling into his bones.

Maybe he’d skip breakfast tomorrow, get an extra hour of sleep —

Then he saw them.

Two figures moving in the shadows.

Lucas stopped instantly, heart hammering against his ribs.

The Math teacher and the History teacher.

They were patrolling the camp.

’Since when did they do that?’

His first instinct was to assume it was just a precaution — maybe because of what had happened with the rafts. But something about the way they moved set him on edge.

Their eyes scanned the tents carefully, their movements precise, almost like soldiers on a mission.

They weren’t just wandering.

They were searching.

Lucas cursed inwardly and pressed himself against the side of a nearby tent, keeping his body low. He had no excuse for being out here this late.

Hell, if they asked, what was he supposed to say?

’Oh yeah, I just fell asleep near the shoreline, butt-naked, and woke up to take a moonlight stroll back to my tent.’

Yeah, that wouldn’t go over well.

He peeked from the edge of the tent, watching them carefully.

The Math teacher’s sharp eyes flicked from tent to tent, scanning the area, while the History teacher muttered something under his breath.

Then, just as Lucas was about to breathe, thinking they would pass by —

The Math teacher stopped.

Lucas’s stomach dropped.

"I heard something," the Math teacher said, his voice low.

The History teacher turned his head. "What was it?"

"Footsteps."

Lucas felt every nerve in his body go rigid.

Shit.

The Math teacher took a step forward.

Lucas’s mind raced. If he stayed still, there was a chance he wouldn’t be seen — but if he moved at the wrong time, he was caught.

Another step.

Lucas gritted his teeth.

Another step.

His fingers twitched.

The Math teacher was only a few feet away now, his gaze sweeping the area. He was going to see him.

Lucas acted.

His hand shot down, fingers curling around a moderate-sized rock.

Before his brain could fully process, he hurled it across the camp.

SPLASH!

The rock hit the water with a loud plunk, sending ripples through the silence.

Both teachers’ heads snapped toward the noise.

"The hell was that?" the History teacher muttered.

The Math teacher narrowed his eyes. "Something fell in the water."

Lucas didn’t hesitate.

The moment their backs turned, he moved.

Keeping low and fast, he darted between tents, his heart hammering in his chest.

The cold air stung against his damp clothes, but he barely noticed.

Behind him, he could still hear their voices —

"Did something fall in?"

"Maybe an animal."

"Let’s check it out."

Lucas didn’t slow.

He could still see his tent now, just a few more feet —

He slipped past the last set of tents, his hands trembling as he reached for the zipper.

His fingers struggled for a moment, fumbling in the dark, but then —

ZIP.

He yanked it open, dove inside, and zipped it back up in one quick motion.

Darkness surrounded him.

He exhaled sharply, his entire body slumping against the floor of the tent. His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths as he listened to the sounds outside.

Nothing.

No footsteps coming toward him. No hushed voices whispering about a student sneaking around.

He made it.

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