Ch.127Summer, and the Sea (7)

Anyway, everyone seemed to be looking forward to their summer vacation in their own way, making preparations as they saw fit.

I heard they had bought swimsuits too.

I… decided to just wear the swimsuit I had at home. It was a plain boxer-style swimsuit.

Since it had been hidden deep in my closet, it was covered in dust. Plus… it had a strange musty smell from the wardrobe.

‘Past life Arigiri Shota… I now understand what kind of life you lived…!’

I muttered, tears welling up in my eyes.

From what I could gather, he had lived as a hikikomori during middle school… Since I had taken over his personality after possessing him, I should become happy for his sake too.

Therefore, it was time for the symbol of youth—swimsuit fanservice!!! (This is strictly my personal opinion about youth.)

“Then… shall we play in our swimsuits tonight?”

I asked with a smile.

“Umm… no way.”

Umi flatly refused.

“Hey. These things need to be a surprise to have meaning. Shota, you’ve lost your touch.”

Taiga said with a laugh.

“There’s… a time and place for everything, you know? Wearing swimsuits at home is basically just underwear.”

Eri also delivered her logical opinion.

“Ah… I see.”

Well, I couldn’t argue with that.

I might not be able to write during the vacation. Knowing this, I immediately opened my laptop and started building up a backlog of saved work.

“Here, Shota. Coffee.”

Eri smiled as she handed me coffee. She seemed to have thoughtfully prepared it, knowing I was going to write.

“Oh, thank you.”

I accepted the coffee and kissed Eri’s luscious lips.

*Smooch* ❤

After the kiss, Eri stuck close to my side. She stared intently at me writing.

“You can do something else if you want.”

I said with a smile.

“I like… watching Shota work.”

Eri said, cupping her face with her hands.

“Well, if that’s the case.”

As long as Eri herself wasn’t bored, that was fine. I hurried with my writing. I was originally confident in my ability to write continuously. Churning out a few pieces was no big deal.

“Then… me too!”

Umi seemed flustered by Eri’s unexpectedly domestic behavior. She immediately started massaging my left shoulder.

“Really… Eri always has such good timing.”

Taiga diligently massaged my right shoulder. Everyone was working hard to gain my favor.

‘I wish there wasn’t any competition…’

But it was unavoidable given the harem dynamic. It was impossible to love everyone perfectly equally. Even if everyone got along well, the position of the primary wife would naturally be established. Even Genghis Khan, who bedded women as casually as eating meals, appointed Börte as his most beloved woman and primary wife.

That’s why they were all trying so hard to do thoughtful things. They had one goal: to become the primary wife.

Honestly, only Eri was truly favorable to the harem arrangement. After graduation, they would all want an answer from me. Until then, I had no choice but to maintain a delicate tension without letting it overheat.

‘Let’s control this so it doesn’t get too heated…’

With that thought in mind, I focused on my writing.

*Squish* ❤ *Squish* ❤

With two well-endowed women pressing against my back while massaging my shoulders, I could clearly feel the sensation of their breasts against my back. This was… quite luxurious. My condition was absolutely optimal.

After successfully building up a backlog of about 10 chapters, I decided to spend time with my girlfriends.

———-

Even with the vacation approaching, the destiny to save the world hadn’t disappeared.

That night, all members of our special activities club gathered promptly.

“June… as expected, a dungeon has appeared.”

Sasith sighed, pointing toward the mountain area of Emoshita City.

It was actually more of a hill than a mountain in size, but it barely qualified as a mountain and was called “Mt. Emoshita.”

There stood a massive mansion. It had an eerie atmosphere that made you think ghosts might appear if you entered. Bat-shaped monsters flying around to enhance the mood were just the cherry on top.

This was the June dungeon, called the Ghost House. As the name suggested, it was filled with monsters that looked like ghosts.

The dungeon was cramped because it was a mansion, but it had a maze-like structure. We needed to solve various puzzles to open new areas and reach the final floor. It was like the mansion exploration in that famous zombie game.

“Are we clearing the dungeon… within this week?”

Sasith asked me.

Though Sasith was the leader, I was essentially the strategist and order-giver.

“Hmm. This week is impossible.”

I said decisively.

“We’re going on a summer vacation. To the beach.”

Then, I had a brilliant idea.

“Sasiiiiith!!! Wanna come with us?!!”

Having Sasith along would be reassuring. When I got bored, teasing Sasith made time fly by.

“Ah… I can’t. I have a part-time job.”

Sasith said.

“Ah…”

Well, summer vacation was a chance to unlock various intimacy events.

There were many communications that could only be unlocked during vacation.

The strict old lady who runs the bookstore, classmates A, B, C, the kindergarten teacher who’s recently feeling disillusioned with her job—there were many intimacy events that could only be unlocked during vacation. The protagonist was busy indeed.

“Darn… that’s a shame.”

I said.

“Besides… it would be awkward if I went.”

Sasith said.

“Huh? Why?”

“You guys… would definitely engage in public displays of affection without restraint. It would be awkward for me to be there.”

Sasith explained.

“Hmm… is that so?”

Well, my girlfriends weren’t the type to hold back their affection just because Sasith was around.

Can’t be helped. I’ll just plan a proper guys’ trip with Sasith later. That’s what I roughly decided.

——-

“Anyway, let’s clear the June dungeon next week. We just need to clear it within this month anyway.”

I said.

Even as heroes saving the world, we were still high school students at our core. Youth could only be enjoyed in these moments.

“Right. There’s no need to rush.”

Sasith readily agreed.

For now, we decided to hunt in the field as usual to level up.

——–

The results of my training with Sasith in the dream immediately showed.

*Whoosh-!!*

Sasith, who used to only deploy Psychorobo from a distance, finally joined in close combat.

“Here I go!! Shota!!”

“Oh!!! Let’s tear them up!!”

Sasith and I charged toward the front line with our swords drawn.

*Slash-!!*

Sasith disrupted the enemy formation with clean sword strikes.

He had also mastered the Psychorobo combo that followed close combat.

*Shiiik-!*

Only a part of the Psychorobo rapidly formed from Sasith’s arm.

Only the arm of the physical-type staple Psychorobo, Uwang 799, was quickly generated.

“Punch Gatling!!!”

Sasith activated his skill while swinging his sword.

*Kaboom-!!!!*

Heavy fists mercilessly pounded the monsters ahead. Their bodies were shattered into pieces.

‘He’s definitely… gotten stronger.’

By mixing Psychorobo usage with close combat, his battle options had increased. Raising Sasith was going quite smoothly.

*Ding-! Ding-!*

Thanks to field mob hunting, Sasith’s level steadily increased.

He had already reached level 40.

‘Levels rise so quickly here… why don’t they increase well in the dream dungeon?’

That was puzzling. It was the opposite for me.

Well, as long as the levels were rising, it was okay.

After defeating the wild monsters roaming the field, we returned home late.

After rolling around in bed with my girlfriends and confirming our love, I promptly fell asleep.

In my dreams, the dungeon grinding continued.

“Oh!! Sasith!! You’re here!!”

I immediately waved at Sasith.

“You… why are you so energetic? Aren’t you tired?”

Having just finished hunting, Sasith spoke with a tired expression.

“Huh? I’m energetic! We’re slicing up monsters!!! I’m telling you, this gets addictive if you keep doing it!”

I said with a smile.

“Shota… you’re quite the psychopath.”

Sasith sighed. He keeps trying to make me out to be mentally ill.

“Alright Sasith!! Today we’re running the troll dungeon again!”

That’s how I planned our training.

Well… now that he’s hit level 30, the orc dungeon I run would be manageable… but Sasith doesn’t gain much experience here anyway. It was more important to build practical experience by repeatedly running dungeons with familiar structures. Practical experience never betrays you.

“Just running it would be boring, so let’s add a mission!! Don’t get hit even once!”

I said. It was a plan to improve evasion and defense.

“Well… I’ll try.”

This guy surprisingly follows my orders well. What a cute fellow. Hehehe.

“And… take off your top.”

I said decisively to Sasith as he was about to enter the dungeon.

“D-Do I have to?”

Sasith asked, blushing.

“Come on!!! You actually like it too. Become a berserker to the bone, Sasith.”

I stared at Sasith.

This guy… is secretly weak to pressure.

“Damn it!! Fine!! I’ll do it if I have to!! If I have to!!”

*Flutter-!!!!*

Sasith threw off his T-shirt in one motion.

“That’s it!! Sasith!!!!!”

I also took off my top, caught up in the mood. The sense of liberation doubled when both of us were shirtless.

“Kieeeeek!!”

Right after, I immediately entered the dungeon.

And so, the dungeon grinding began.

———

After running about five laps, the orcs no longer seemed threatening.

I reached the boss room in about three minutes.

Two orc black mages, and a boss wielding a greatsword. Their positions and patterns were identical.

“Human… I shall claim your soul!!!”

While the orc black mage was still chanting his spell, I immediately closed the distance.

*Whoosh-!!*

After momentarily enhancing my angular power with Kiryu Second, I closed the distance.

I knew well that the black mages’ casting time was about 1.5 seconds. With Kiryu Second activated, their casting speed seemed excruciatingly slow.

“Die!!!!!!!”

*Slash-!!*

I immediately swung my sword and bisected one black mage.

“Ugh….!”

The black mage quickly tried to draw a dagger for close combat. But even that was too slow.

*Swoosh-!*

My sword cleanly shattered the orc black mage’s head as it passed through.

Eventually, I defeated the boss mob as well and completed the run. The total time taken was about 5 minutes.

——–

While we were in the middle of dungeon grinding, Sasith asked for a break.

Well… to accommodate Sasith as a beginner, I sat down with him in the center of the white space.

*Ding-!!*

My level had risen quite a bit from the dungeon grinding. I was already at level 45.

“Shota… my level doesn’t rise well outside, but it rises well here.”

Sasith said.

“I know. But yours doesn’t rise here. I wonder why.”

Afterward, I looked toward Bluebeard with questioning eyes. I thought he might know something since he was kind of a deus ex machina within the game plot.

However, Bluebeard deliberately played dumb. This guy… didn’t seem to have any intention of telling me.

Well, let’s think about it leisurely later. It’s not an urgent matter anyway. That’s roughly what I was thinking.

———

After my nighttime rendezvous(?) with Sasith, Tuesday morning dawned.

“Shota!! Wake up!!! We need to go to the beach!!”

Umi slapped my cheeks repeatedly.

“Uh… mm. Right.”

I finally got up. Eri and Taiga had already packed their bags like military gear. Seems like they’re bringing a lot of stuff.

*Honk-Honk-!*

While we were preparing, a car horn sounded from outside the house. Shotaro had arrived with the car right on time.

“Let’s go then.”

I said with a smile.

“Yes!!!”

My girlfriends followed me with eyes sparkling with anticipation.

And so, our summer vacation began. Honestly… I was looking forward to it too.