Chapter 159 – The Witch and the Black Knight (36)

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“…I’m here.”

“You came.”

After arriving at the beach, I awkwardly greeted Edel.

If you stare at my chest for more than three seconds, something something… Revenge this, revenge that…

It didn’t take long for me to realize how ridiculous those thoughts were on the way back.

Every time I looked at Edel, my gaze kept drifting downward, so much so that I couldn’t even see his expression, let alone meet his eyes.

Once I noticed what lay beneath that black swimsuit, it was like a curse. I couldn’t not be aware of it.

Should I have used Ulti after all?

Or… just cut off the source of the problem?

Absurd solutions swirled in my head.

In the end, my decision was to kneel on the sand, sit back, and blankly stare at the distant sky, anything to avoid looking at Edel.

“…….”

“…….”

A long silence stretched between us.

The air was heavy.

Aside from the weight of my chest straining against the bikini straps, the suffocating silence pressed down on my shoulders like a physical burden.

…What should I even say?

Sure, I had my own reasons for struggling to look at him, but shouldn’t Edel say something?

Like, “Your swimsuit is pretty”.

Or, “It suits you”.

You know, that kind of thing.

Even though I knew I was the one making things awkward, I couldn’t help but grumble inwardly at Edel.

I wanted to say something first, but… I was afraid I’d stutter again or accidentally bring up the “demonic sword”.

At the very least, I wished Edel would break the ice with some meaningless small talk.

Just as I was puffing my cheeks in frustration, holding my breath—

“My apologies.”

Edel’s sudden apology left me speechless.

“Huh?”

“I had no intention of peeking. I only looked at your eyes. So, please do not say you won’t teach me pure love anymore… or that you’ll seal me away.”

His voice was quieter than usual, lacking its usual confidence.

Though his gaze was fixed on the sky, his tone betrayed his unease, like he was fidgeting, unsure of what to do.

What do I even say to that?

I only said those things to tease him, but Edel had taken them way too seriously.

From his perspective, whether he meant to or not, he had been caught staring.

This idiot.

Taking everything at face value, how is that supposed to work in romance?

Here I was, wondering how to make Edel as flustered as I was, and he was too busy apologizing to even try.

“I’m the one who should apologize. I, uh… overreacted because I was surprised.”

If anything, I was the one who needed to apologize.

Because I was the one who peeked, not Edel.

Thanks to his apology, I finally snapped out of my daze and could look at him properly again.

“Is that so? Then… you’ll continue teaching me pure love?”

“Of course. We went through the trouble of getting you into a swimsuit—we can’t just go home now.”

Edel acted like a child double-checking a promise with a lying adult. It was unfamiliar, yet… kind of cute.

I stood up, placed my hands on my hips, and dispelled Edel’s ridiculous paranoia myself.

After all the time and effort I’d spent teaching him, even if the Demon King himself showed up, I’d never give up on Edel’s pure love.

“That’s a relief. I’ve been looking forward to the sea.”

Edel smiled brightly, his gaze still fixed on the ocean.

I followed his line of sight, but it was just an ordinary sea.

His head turned toward the distant waves, and every now and then, his eyes flicked toward me—brief, stolen glances.

Even in those fleeting moments, it was way too easy to notice where his gaze landed: my chest, half-exposed despite the swimsuit.

Oh?

Ohoho?

Look at this guy.

Like a boy seeing something scandalous for the first time, he tried to look away, but his instincts won out, his eyes darting back again and again.

It stirred a mischievous urge in me.

Just moments ago, I’d been cowering under the pressure of the “demonic sword”, but now, a playful grin spread across my lips.

“Edel, so… what do you think?”

“Think of what?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Obviously, my swimsuit. Take a good look. Didn’t you want to see?”

As I shifted toward where Edel’s head was turned, he immediately snapped it the other way.

I followed, stepping into his line of sight, only for him to turn away again.

The more he avoided me, the more I wanted to tease him.

This was the Black Knight, wielder of the “demonic sword”, the weapon that could reduce any woman to a trembling mess with a single strike?

And yet, here he was, flustered over me.

“Why won’t you look? Embarrassed? Is that it? Was it too much for you?”

“You called it sexual harassment.”

“Huh?”

Why is he bringing that up now?

“You said my gaze was sexual harassment. I don’t fully understand what that means, but since you dislike it, I’m restraining myself.”

“…….”

No, I only said that because you were checking if I’d gained weight!

“If I upset you, you might refuse to teach me pure love. If necessary, I’ll gouge out my eyes. I can still learn pure love without them, right?”

Why is he always so extreme?!

Gouge out his eyes? What nonsense!

I could only stare in disbelief as Edel actually closed his eyes.

Ugh. It’s not Edel’s fault.

It’s mine for misspeaking.

Whenever it’s just the two of us, I somehow get swept up in the mood and say things without thinking.

“Are you just gonna stay like that?”

“A date should be enjoyable. I won’t ruin your mood.”

You’re the one ruining it right now!

Arms crossed, not moving a muscle, he was really committed to not opening his eyes.

…Wait, was the sexual harassment thing just an excuse?

Did he close his eyes because he didn’t want to see a chubby woman in a swimsuit?

The thought bruised my pride. I had to make him look at me.

Would getting him to honestly comment on my swimsuit count as pure love?

Or should I threaten to stop teaching him?

No, that might backfire.

If Edel actually refused to learn… all my efforts so far would be wasted, and finding the last Heavenly King would be even harder.

How could I convince this stubborn knight?

I don’t like sexual harassment, but… I don’t dislike Edel’s gaze…

“Actually… I like your sexual harassment (gaze).”

Thud.

A sharp pain gripped my chest, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

The words had spilled out without thought, and both Edel and I froze, eyes wide.

What did I just say?!

Did I hit my head fighting Vampir?!

Even I couldn’t believe what I’d just said. My brain short-circuited.

“Edel, what I mean is—”

Not that I like sexual harassment! Your gaze isn’t even harassment, and I just meant I wouldn’t mind you looking at my swimsuit!

I flailed my hands, scrambling to explain, but Edel’s intense stare locked onto me, leaving my words tangled in my throat.

Meeting his eyes again… I did like it, but the longing in them held me captive.

“I see. So you like sexual harassment. All those intense reactions before… you liked them.”

He doesn’t even know what it means, yet he’s nodding like he gets it?!

“But what is sexual harassment? You’ve kept it from me until now, but surely you can tell me. If you like it, then it must be pure love. I’ll give you plenty of sexual harassment from now on.”

“Y-YOU’RE INSANEEEE!!”

Now he was openly declaring he’d sexually harass me—proudly.

I should’ve been more careful with my words and actions.

But I never imagined Edel of all people would take them so literally.

“Ah, you asked about the swimsuit. Hmm…”

Before I could protest, his gaze swept over me—blatantly, like he had no reservations left.

I wanted him to look, but not this shamelessly!

By all rights, I should have been furious, but Edel’s next words held my attention.

No matter what, I wanted to hear his thoughts on my swimsuit.

I could get mad after.

“S-So… what do you think?”

Without thinking, I tucked my long hair behind my ear, twirling the ends nervously as I waited.

“Why is your swimsuit in two pieces? If it’s that small, does it even count as clothing? Take it off. Or give me a loincloth too.”

I expected something—”It suits you,” or at least a perverted comment about my chest.

But this?

My jaw dropped.

And at the same time, the frustration I’d been holding back erupted.

“AS IF!!!!”

I hooked my foot around Edel’s ankle, yanked him off balance, and—using the momentum—grabbed his arm and hurled him into the sea.

He flew far, hitting the water with a massive splash.

I stood there, panting heavily.

Ugh… I can’t just kill him.

After taking a moment to calm down, I turned back to the sea.

Even if he’d been thrown far, he should’ve resurfaced by now. I was ready to lecture him—starting with the misunderstanding and ending with a pure love lesson.

But five minutes passed.

Then ten.

No sign of Edel. Not even a bubble.

A dreadful thought crossed my mind.

Don’t tell me… he can’t swim?

No way. He’s a Heavenly King.

He’s seen the ocean before.

“…….”

…Right?

“EDEL!?!?”

Without another thought, I dove into the water.