Chapter 11. Summer and the Sea (3)

Hmm, well, it’s fine.

Since I first brought up the strangest story of a nun wearing a bikini, perhaps I should move on to a slightly less important story.

First, let me explain how the sea retreat, which was supposed to be just for Ria and me, ended up with so many people-

“So, you’re saying we should bring other knights?”

That’s right. That was the reason.

I am a Saint candidate.

My reputation on Earth is still slightly weaker than my reputation among other races. Within the church, it seems almost certain that I will ascend to the position of the next Saint, but ironically, most people who have seen me in action in this world are professionals.

Hunters? Of course, they think well of me. There are more than a few who owe me their lives. Some soldiers have only seen me fight in the research lab.

However, I have rarely been active in front of ordinary people.

I have never defeated a giant monster that invaded this world, nor have I performed life-saving rescues flying among people like other heroes. Strangely enough, even I think so, I haven’t publicly performed as much as I have elsewhere on Earth.

That was fortunate… but the problem is that people in the church know all about my exploits.

Wherever I go, it has become natural for the church’s knights to follow me.

Even before, no one paid much attention as long as I had Ria, my personal escort knight, but now, even that status seems to have risen slightly.

…Yes, I understand. It’s understandable if they reported to the church after seeing me in action at the Dwarf Kingdom.

“I can’t wear a swimsuit in front of knights.”

“…”

Hearing Ria’s words, I briefly considered bringing the knights along.

It was only for a very brief moment. Ria seemed very eager to go to the sea, so I didn’t want to do anything that would dampen her spirits.

As a result, we found escorts who were excellent at protecting us, but at the same time, they were people who wouldn’t say anything even if we wore swimsuits in front of them.

That would be Lee Si-yoon and his friends.

No, Gloria and her maid live in our church, but I have no idea how they ended up in Lee Si-yoon’s group, but anyway, that’s how it is.

“…If the Nun Superior knew I was in this attire in front of other men, she would probably lose consciousness.”

“She might come back to her senses quickly. If she knew you were wearing a veil on your head, she’d faint once more in her dreams.”

“…”

Even though I wanted to get angry at Ria, unfortunately, I was in a state where I couldn’t look directly at Ria. The swimsuit I chose suited Ria very well, but at the same time, it was a difficult outfit for me, who had no tolerance for such things.

“Come on, don’t just stand there, let’s go.”

Ria said that and grabbed my hand.

Normally, I would have accepted that naturally. Ria always liked to take me places, and holding my hand or wrist in the process was a very natural thing.

However, Ria’s back, as she led the way, was- well, it exuded an objective charm in many ways, so I couldn’t bring myself to look up.

*

The swimming I learned from Ria wasn’t very useful, actually.

First of all, I could barely learn the basic parts, but it’s not like we did that swimming lesson every day, or scheduled it several times a week.

Moreover, the waves were quite a hindrance. I couldn’t go deep into the sea, and the places that were not significantly affected by the waves were surprisingly deep.

In the end, what I chose was to sit on a tube and enjoy the waves.

Splash.

“…”

I, who was blankly looking up at the sky, lowered my head again at the sound.

The tube sank to one side. It wasn’t enough to completely flip over, though.

Splash.

After getting splashed with seawater on my face, I wiped my face with my hand.

And then I looked at Ria.

“…What are you doing right now?”

Ria was clinging to one side of the tube, smiling at me.

Because she had put her lower body into the hole of the large tube and was sitting there, balancing with her legs and back, the seawater was flowing in and out of the center of the tube, but Ria was deliberately splashing it at me.

“No, it’s just that I got a little bored playing in the waves.”

“…”

Ria had her elbows resting on the tube.

If she had just rested her body on the desk, I wouldn’t have had to worry about where to look. Most of her body would have been underwater.

But the fact that one side of the tube was submerged in water meant that she had pushed it down with force. Ria was using her elbows to lift her body.

It was inevitable that her chest would be clearly visible above the water. And it was precisely the parts not covered by the swimsuit.

“Are you just going to rest like that? All the kids over there are playing hard.”

I turned my gaze without a word and looked towards where Lee Si-yoon and his friends were.

That place was, in a word, youth. Lee Si-yoon, Han Yu-ri, and Gloria.

For the record, Gloria was also a person who originally had a very negative view of swimsuits. Perhaps because she was a princess, she was a bit burdened by exposing her skin so much in front of others.

When Han Yu-ri insisted on choosing a bikini, Gloria seemed anxious and also chose a swimsuit, but it was a rather plain one-piece swimsuit.

Thanks to that, Lee Si-yoon seemed to be blushing a little more at Han Yu-ri, his childhood friend.

Putting all that aside, he was just an enviable guy.

Well, it’s fine.

If I start playing, Ria will surely follow, and then there will be two more heroines next to Lee Si-yoon.

In that case, it would be more helpful to both of them if I stayed here and held onto at least one person.

…….

It’s definitely not because I’m embarrassed.

It’s not because I don’t want to see Ria sticking to Lee Si-yoon… well, that’s true, but it’s not jealousy. It’s not. Probably.

But Ria, interpreting my complicated expression, smiled and put more strength into her arm.

“Don’t.”

I warned her.

“Huh? What are you going to do if I do?”

…….

Ah, right.

What can I do?

I’m weaker, and unfortunately, I’m not used to women.

Well, I have tried hugging or unintentionally holding her. I even hugged Ria and stroked her head.

But the atmosphere is completely different from then and now. At least now, both Ria and I had completely normal faces.

And it was Ria, not me, who was teasing.

“I told you not to.”

I warned her again, as if bluffing, but Ria seemed to have made up her mind.

In the end, Ria pushed the side of the tube she was leaning on completely underwater.

I sank underwater with a gurgle, unable to even scream. Although Ria quickly caught me and pulled me up-

“Puhaha!?”

I gasped for air as I suddenly sat up in the water.

“What are you doing!?”

As I shouted, feeling the bitter and salty taste of seawater in my mouth-

Crash!

A wave from the side hit my side again, and my body tilted.

I instinctively extended my hands forward, and my hand touched something smooth and soft. It didn’t take long to realize it was Ria’s waist.

As I pulled my hand back in shock, the wave that receded behind me took away a handful of sand from under my feet, causing me to stagger violently again, as if I had lost my balance on a treadmill.

“Oops.”

As if pitying me, Ria said that and then grabbed my leg.

Of all things, she grabbed my waist.

As I was about to fall, she put her hand behind my waist and held me firmly, and with her other hand, she grabbed my flustered right hand.

Thanks to that, I was held much more firmly than just holding hands or arms, so I didn’t fall.

“…”

Although I was pulled hard by Ria’s hand.

When I glared at Ria, she smiled slyly and said.

“What, you’re glaring at me like that because I caught you when you were about to roll on the waves? My heart aches.”

Even though she herself had a red face.

No, more than that, do normal girls allow this? They would absolutely not do it. If it’s just a friendly hug while fully clothed, maybe.

No, well, we’ve already danced and done everything, and anyway, we’re even wearing rings on the same hand.

Could it be that?

Is she hoping I’ll hate it more intensely?

“You made me fall!?”

When I shouted, Ria let out a laugh.

No, more than that, let go of me.

If we stay like this, it will lead to strange misunderstandings.

Other people,

And me too.

Soon, Ria let go of me with a playful smile.

Stepping back, I glared at Ria once more.

My heart pounded violently. Damn it.

Seeing her smile, she’s clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

How should I get back at her? It’s not like embarrassment disappears all at once.