Ch.241Side Story: School Trip – 1

“I’ve set up detection and distortion magic across the entire island so we can notice if anyone approaches, and to conceal the young master and his friends’ presence on the island. The range extends 150m from the shoreline.”

“Setting up detection and distortion magic of that scale would require a high-ranking mage. How did you convince someone to do it?”

On the way to the island, I received an explanation about the infrastructure.

Apparently, all the maids except for Nika and Beatrice were directly dispatched from the imperial palace, and various food ingredients were also supplied from there. It was obvious who had ordered this arrangement.

The most impressive thing was the detection and concealment magic that covered the entire island and extended a full 150m beyond the coastline.

Even though it wasn’t particularly large, this was still an island. To find someone capable of such large-scale magic, one would need to go to the Mage Association, but were those people even susceptible to monetary persuasion?

“When I mentioned I was from the Crate family, they all clamored to do it themselves, so choosing who to bring was the harder part. In the end, Archmage Valera personally helped us.”

“…Ah.”

Come to think of it, persuasion probably wasn’t difficult at all.

“We’ve arrived. I’ll guide you to your accommodations first, if you would follow me.”

This time, to truly set the mood, we arrived on the island by boat instead of using a dimensional gate. We let out small gasps of admiration at the island’s atmosphere, which was in no way inferior to the beach we had seen before.

In fact, because it was relatively smaller, there was something cozy about being surrounded on all sides. They said it would take about 30 minutes to walk from one end to the other.

The mansion designated as our lodging wasn’t far from the beach. It was physically close enough to fully enjoy what Earth travel agencies would endlessly promote as an “ocean view” for seaside accommodations.

“We’ve prepared more than enough rooms, so please choose whichever ones you prefer.”

The mansion was four stories tall, with each room the size of the living room in my parents’ house. I mean my Earth parents, not the ones in this world.

Without exaggeration, if there were proper beds, one room would be enough for our entire group. Of course, that would cause an uproar, so I kept that thought to myself.

“This is quite a spacious room. I am pleased.”

“Yeah. The bed is big too. We could share it and there’d be plenty of—”

“Do you really think so?”

Priscilla was checking out the bed and naturally trying to unpack her things in my room when she was grabbed by the scruff of her neck and dragged out.

Even while being dragged away, she looked at me with desperate eyes, but rules were rules. If I allowed her to get into the same bed to feel my “warmth” even on a day like this, soon everyone would be sleeping in my bed.

I deliberately chose a different floor to prevent conflicts, so sharing a room with anyone would defeat the purpose.

“Nice weather.”

After changing into swimwear and coming downstairs, we were greeted by the scenery I had seen when I came to deal with the gate.

The sky was clear without a single cloud, the sun was shining brightly from that sky, the sand was dyed golden from the light, and the sea was gleaming with an emerald hue.

“So we are to stay here for six nights and seven days?”

As I was setting up beach umbrellas, Latina approached. She was wearing a bikini bottom with a rash guard covering her upper body, and even a white windbreaker over the rash guard.

The only exposed parts were her bottom and lower thighs. Compared to the others, her outfit was extremely modest. Knowing why she dressed that way, I just smiled quietly.

“If you think you’ll get bored, should we go to the city? That’s why we have the dimensional gate.”

Using the dimensional gate that connected to other students’ lodgings, we could easily travel to nearby cities. There was absolutely no need to just splash around in the sea mindlessly.

“I meant we could stay even longer than six nights and seven days. And that it’s much better for us to be by ourselves like this.”

Her gray eyes turned toward the four possessed individuals and the one who was once the protagonist of this world, who had already started playing among themselves. Leona and Elisiere were trying to grab Rosaria and throw her into the sea.

With her arms and legs restrained, Rosaria wriggled her body to no avail, swinging like a pendulum before being hurled toward the sea.

“Woa…”

“There’s no mercy, it seems. How frightening.”

She shot up almost ten meters into the sky before falling. A large splash of water rose up.

Laura, who had been watching and laughing nearby, was the next target. “What do you think you’re doing—!” Her voice echoed all the way to where we were. Soon after, another splash of water similar in size to Rosaria’s rose up.

Priscilla, who was almost certainly the next target, tried to escape quickly, but she stood no chance against Leona and Elisiere. Strong, firm hands grabbed her wrist.

Whoosh! Her body soared high into the sky. Priscilla rose much higher than the previous two and fell much farther, creating an even larger splash.

“Well done.”

“Good job.”

Clap! Leona and Elisiere high-fived. It was impossible to imagine that they were originally born as hero and demon lord, destined to fight to the death.

“You look quite pleased, Mira.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Latina smiled and poked my cheek repeatedly.

“Yes. Very obvious. Are you that happy?”

“I know what they’ve all been through. Both after being brought here and after returning to Earth.”

If these were the same four people I first met, I couldn’t have imagined them playing with such expressions on their faces.

Although Priscilla seems to have made a complete 360-degree turn to normalcy, and Laura feels like she was shattered and then haphazardly pieced back together to maintain only an outward appearance of being fine… but time should be able to overcome that.

“Are you alright, Mira?”

“Me? Of course I’m fine. How could I not be when I have all of you?”

“…”

At my unhesitating answer, Latina stopped poking my cheek and froze. Her face turned red.

“To say such things at this moment, how unfair.”

“Unfair or not, it’s the truth, so what does it matter?”

If I had been alone, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to use the spear at all. I would still be struggling with trauma.

There’s the minor flaw that I realized this because of Elisiere’s unusual sexual preferences, but what does that matter?

“Mira! Help us out here! Let’s throw this one too!”

“You brute of a woman…! Why are you so strong?!”

From a distance, I heard Rosaria’s voice. Laura was beside her. Both were completely soaked and clinging to Elisiere, engaged in a test of strength.

Priscilla was also completely drenched and chasing after Leona. But thanks to her hero status, there was no sign of Priscilla catching up.

Fortunately, they were all wearing normal bikinis. If they had been wearing the sling shots or micro bikinis they had on initially, it wouldn’t have been a heartwarming scene but something straight out of an adult game.

‘…Are these really normal?’

If this were Earth, they would have attracted every possible gaze. The impact of what they first wore was so strong that my common sense seemed to have been confused.

“You there! Wouldn’t it be much more fun to throw someone you’ve already thrown once more?”

“What nonsense are you spouting! Mira! Don’t listen to such talk!”

“Um, if I help throw Elisiere, will you let me off?”

“You traitor…!”

The beach was bustling. I should probably head over there. As I got up, I glanced toward the mansion.

“Are they still not coming out? I was waiting for them.”

Nika, Beatrice, and Karna still hadn’t emerged.

“Either they have separate matters to attend to, or Beatrice and Karna are struggling because they don’t want to wear swimsuits. By the way, what happened to Erestica?”

“She said she’ll join us after completely finishing her work. She’s the chairperson, so she has no choice.”

Erestica’s arrival was scheduled to be a bit later. Since today was just the first day of our six-night, seven-day schedule, there was plenty of time, and she said she would definitely arrive before dinner.

“I understand. I’ll let you know when the three arrive, so you can go ahead.”

“It feels a bit awkward waiting alone. Want to come with me?”

“I won’t refuse.”

Latina rose as if she had been waiting for this. This seemed to be the right answer. With a sheepish smile, I reached for my zipper.

As I took off my top, the gazes that had been squabbling in the distance focused on me.

—Wow… even though I saw plenty last time, seeing it again…

—You’re an outrageous pervert.

—Ha. And what about you? Neither of us can take our eyes off, so we’re the same.

—Priscilla, did you get to see this sight all by yourself?

—That’s quite vexing. Perhaps we should throw her once more.

—That sounds good.

“I can hear everything.”

The only ones who didn’t participate in the conversation were Priscilla, who froze in place while walking out of the sea with her hair soaking wet, and Leona, who couldn’t say anything and just kept stealing glances at me.

It’s not that they didn’t participate; they couldn’t.

“Hey, you guys picked this out for me. Why are you reacting like that?”

In truth, what I was wearing could hardly be called swimwear. It was just slightly wider shorts that came down to my knees, like summer shorts.

If it had been something like a triangle brief, I would have refused immediately, but I was surprised they chose something so normal.

“Is then and now the same? This is the beach. That was a department store.”

“I don’t see what’s different… And you’re all plenty beautiful yourselves.”

“Come on, just words? Aren’t you going to prove it with your body’s reaction?”

“If I did that, wouldn’t it cause big trouble?”

Suddenly, all eyes shifted to my lower body. Then they quickly moved back up as if they hadn’t looked. That wasn’t what I meant, but thinking about it, they would never interpret it the way I intended.

“You’re right. Hey, how about we cause some big trouble?”

Rosaria subtly tried to lower her bikini strap. Before she could, I quickly grabbed her and lifted her up. Her skin, wet from seawater yet smooth, wrapped around me.

“Huh…? W-wait a minute. Mira? You’re not going to take me behind that rock—ack?!”

Then I threw her forcefully toward the sea.

Rosaria flew almost dozens of meters and fell into the middle of the sea. Since we had water breathing magic in place, she would be fine. With a splash, her soaking silver hair emerged above the surface.

“What the heck! How did I end up so far away?!”

While everyone was frozen in shock at the sight, I found my next victim. It was Elisiere. Much firmer, longer, and stronger limbs flailed in my arms.

“You asked me to help throw you earlier, right?”

“Y-you there. Just a moment—waaah?!”

Elisiere rose much higher than Rosaria. The slender beauty, standing just over 180cm tall, fell far away. A white column of water shot up.

Only then did everyone seem to grasp the situation, as they began to back away from me hesitantly.

“I’ll give a reward to anyone who throws me. How about it?”

“…What kind of reward?”

“You’ll find out when you get it… No, let’s say I’ll grant you one wish.”

“Oh, you just said ‘anything’.”

Laura’s eyes lit up. Priscilla cautiously asked.

“C-could it be… even something naughty…?”

“Hmm… I suppose so.”

“Really?”

“You won’t be able to catch me anyway, right?”

A flicker of competitive spirit rose on the faces of all three.