Ch.79Oh, It’s Fine. You Guys Go Ahead and Have Fun. (2)

I faced the women as they got off the carriage.

‘Wow…’

I somehow managed to swallow the exclamation that was about to burst out.

These women, who were already second to none in beauty on normal days, had transformed into something unbelievable after putting in their sincere effort.

I simply couldn’t tear my gaze away from them.

As I stood there dumbfounded, Derin was the first to speak with a smile.

“Crow, I missed you. Have you been well?”

She was dressed similarly to her usual style—a flowing, feminine dress.

The slightly yellowish dress that gave off a bright impression made her look radiant as she slowly approached me.

Click—

Her gait was natural despite wearing unusually high-heeled shoes.

As a thief, she was well-versed in maintaining balance.

When she finally reached me, she flashed a bright smile.

I gave her a slightly delayed response.

“Yeah, I’ve been good. How about you?”

“So-so…? Without seeing you, nothing seemed fun…”

Derin trailed off with a gloomy expression.

Was the time without meeting me really that difficult for her?

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’m happy about it.

While I was lost in these thoughts…

Elin’s voice reached my ears.

“Crow, is that the ocean?!”

When I turned my head toward the voice, Elin was approaching me with quick steps.

Her two heavy mounds bounced up and down.

When she finally got close, she grabbed my arm tightly.

My arm was buried between her breasts, and I could feel her soft, elastic skin.

I stroked her head as I answered.

“That’s the ocean. I was surprised too when I first saw it.”

“Have you tasted it?! I heard it’s super salty.”

I haven’t even dipped my feet in it yet, let alone tasted it.

Well…

“I was waiting for you all to come so we could go in together. Let’s all play in the ocean today.”

When I said that, Elin rubbed her face against my arm.

“That’s… so touching…”

She said that and then grinned happily.

I had held back from going to the ocean yesterday just to see this reaction.

That thought crossed my mind as happiness radiated from her every action.

At that moment, Derin, who had been blankly staring at Elin, subtly grabbed my other arm.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her seemingly competitive behavior.

With both my arms taken, I shifted my gaze to look at Riano.

‘Is she angry…?’

This would be Riano’s first time seeing such a scene.

The workshop had been exclusively our space, and I had never had physical contact with other women inside it.

She must be quite shocked by what she’s seeing now.

But Riano, in my eyes, was just sighing, not looking particularly angry.

Instead…

‘Why is she running toward me?!’

She started running toward me.

Her sky-blue dress fluttered behind her, and her hair, which reached down to her waist, danced in the air.

Pitter-patter—

She quickly reached me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

Being careful of her makeup, she lightly pressed her forehead against my chest and said:

“I’m definitely not giving you to anyone.”

Her words were embarrassing but made me feel good.

However, that was only from my perspective.

For the others, it was like a storm brewing.

“Riano, you…!”

Derin exclaimed with wide eyes.

I had expected her to protest, but the way she casually called Riano by name and her tone suggested they were quite close, which surprised me.

‘What happened…?’

I couldn’t help but wonder what conversation had taken place in the carriage to result in this.

While I was pondering this…

From the opposite side of Derin, Elin also protested.

“You said it was okay in the carriage and that we should get along…!”

She even said that…?

It seems she got excited about making new friends…

As I slowly lowered my gaze, my eyes met with Riano’s.

Her pupils were trembling from side to side.

Seeing her eyes that seemed to be screaming for help, I stepped in.

“I think Riano was just trying to express her affection for me. She loves me too much to give me to anyone. Something like that.”

I hope they’ll let it slide with this.

Fortunately, the mood of Derin and Elin changed after hearing my words.

Well, they didn’t seem genuinely angry to begin with…

“Y-yeah, that could be it. Sorry for misunderstanding, Riano.”

“I-I’m sorry too…”

Hearing their apologies, Riano seemed to find peace of mind as her trembling eyes returned to normal.

Riano shook her head lightly and spoke.

“No, it’s my fault for saying it strangely. I’m sorry.”

The three of them, still embracing me, radiated a warm atmosphere, and Lael, who had been watching from a distance, silently moved behind me.

“Hey! Why are you all giggling without me?!”

Lael said that and hugged me from behind, and with her being the last, I was now surrounded on all sides.

It’s starting to feel a bit suffocating.

We should play while the sun is up and save this kind of thing for the night…

“Girls… let’s head to the ocean now.”

* * * * *

Under a clear sky without a single cloud, the sun shines brightly, and the golden sand sparkles under its rays.

Swoosh—

The transparent blue water rushes onto the golden sand.

We faced the brilliant ocean.

“Wow…”

Everyone, as if on cue, let out exclamations of awe.

Except for Lael, who had already seen this sight before.

Elin approached the water’s edge with excited steps, dipped her finger into the seawater, and put it in her mouth.

She looked back at us with a grimace.

“Ugh! It’s really salty!”

At her words, one by one, we approached the water, dipped our fingers in, and tasted it, all showing the same reaction.

Me included.

‘Wow…’

When I heard that salt was made from the sea, I honestly found it hard to believe.

It just looked like plain water.

But now that I’ve tasted it, I understand.

‘It’s incredibly salty.’

As I thought this and looked at them, Derin was spitting repeatedly, and Riano was wrinkling her face in disgust, sticking her tongue out.

Seeing them like this, I burst out laughing.

‘This is fun.’

As expected, with the four of us gathered together, I feel a sense of fulfillment.

It’s not because they like me.

‘It’s because I like them.’

I like them.

The women I like are gathered in one place, laughing and chatting happily.

Looking at them, I even wondered if this was the reason I had lived until now.

Just then, Lael’s voice came from the sandy beach.

“I told you it was salty, so why did you taste it?!”

She was looking at us with a deep sigh.

She probably thinks we’re pathetic.

But what can we do?

If someone tells you that natural water is salty, I bet a hundred out of a hundred people would taste it.

Thinking that, I created water with magic and rinsed my mouth.

It really is salty.

After experiencing firsthand that seawater is salty, we, who were a bit lacking in common sense, returned to where Lael was.

“Here, Crow. Do this for me.”

Lael handed me several long sticks and a wide piece of cloth.

A makeshift tent.

Having used it several times during adventures, I moved without hesitation.

I set up the poles, covered them with the cloth, tied it with strings, and pulled it down.

This created a tent with one side open, allowing us to observe the surroundings.

It’s not extremely sturdy, but it should hold up fine in this place where only a gentle breeze blows.

As I was wiping sweat with my sleeve, they went inside and spread a wide mat on the floor of the tent.

Inside the now more perfect tent, white robes dropped one by one onto the floor.

They had taken off the robes that had been covering their bodies.

‘Finally…?’

I had been a bit curious.

They said they were changing clothes but came covered in robes, so it’s only natural to be curious about what’s underneath.

Moreover, the conversations coming from inside amplified that curiosity.

“Elin, did they get bigger again…?”

“Ugh… they’re starting to get heavy…”

“Damn it…”

Derin being jealous of Elin’s chest.

“Derin, you look pretty.”

“You’re making fun of my small chest, aren’t you?”

“No, I meant your swimsuit looks pretty.”

Riano complimenting Derin’s swimsuit.

“Lael… yours is quite ordinary…”

“Yes, it lacks character.”

“Ordinary is good though.”

“Is that so…? I should have prepared something more flashy.”

Lael’s swimsuit being described as ordinary.

And then the conversation continued…

“Riano, that’s too daring.”

“Oh my… t-too much skin is showing.”

“I think that might be a bit much…”

“N-no, no! It’s normal!”

After hearing the conversation about Riano, I gulped.

‘They say it’s daring…’

Riano dislikes exposing her skin.

She believes the purpose of clothes is to protect the body, so she buys clothes accordingly.

What wind has blown for her to be called daring even by Derin?