episode_0154

I am walking along a misty beach.

The cold dew, mistaking itself for an early morning sprout, dampens my fingertips.

I walk barefoot on the pale yellow sand, like waterlogged fabric.

Pffft- Pffft-

The sand digging between my toes is slightly ticklish.

Even if I tread lightly to avoid injury, round and elongated footprints are clearly left behind.

It feels like they will remain etched there forever, yet they are washed away when the seawater, like time itself, momentarily embraces and then releases them.

Therefore, a person’s footprints are ultimately only visible for a brief moment to those who quietly follow in their wake.

Ultimately, everyone forgets them, perhaps.

I unconsciously shift my gaze from behind to ahead once more.

I resume my strides with renewed vigor, as if nothing had happened.

Two or three shore crabs, mistaking my heel for a large rock, dig burrows beneath it and scurry away.

Nothing in this world remains still; everything eventually starts moving again.

Otherwise, it will be swept away by the tide of time.

I too intend to move forward.

I struggle to lift my reluctant feet and step once more onto the cold, seawater-soaked sand.

But… where to?

Where should I go?

The wind blows from the front and the back, only stirring my hair listlessly.

If I sit idly waiting for the sun to rise, I will be reduced to grains of sand, shattered by the biting wind before it does.

I will become that same dry, sandy beach I am now standing on.

There’s no guarantee I won’t.

What is the difference between me and this sand?

In the vast world, we are all just specks of dust, mere scraps of torn sail whose post-momentary existence is determined by wind and waves.

Therefore, I must continue to observe.

To hear, touch, and smell; and to feel and think.

That is the only difference between me and the grains of sand scattered on the beach; the moment the pursuit of those deeds ceases, there is no difference.

Eternal existence is a non-existent concept in the phenomenal world, and everything moves forward.

All things exist equally, and move forward equally.

Those with the privilege to think must appropriately sense and imagine based on that.

We must fantasize and imagine and etch on the beach forms that are no different from ourselves.

The traces of life will inevitably be erased someday, but as I have seen the world, the world also sees me.

Someone will see my traces, even if I don’t realize it.

It will surely be a beautiful thing.

…

…

…

“Haaap- Dog- five more please-ee”—

What kind of crazy dream was that?

My brain feels refreshingly clear, like I just finished intense exam studying.

I’ve clearly woken up, yet my eyelids keep fluttering as if they were already open, gazing at the ceiling.

The vividness makes it feel like I didn’t sleep at all.

Simultaneously, the feeling of refreshing cleanness feels as if I slept more soundly than usual.

These two mutually exclusive sensations intertwine, to the point that a sense of unreality creeps in, questioning whether I’m still asleep.

And what anchors that floating sensation to reality is Nix, gnawing on my penis.

“Hot dog-ggh—”

“Damn it—”

Before I become a real hot dog sausage without needing ketchup, I quickly extract my member from her mouth and get my thumb bitten instead.

“Uupshup shup-”

Once that incident, which threatened my existential value, comes to a close, my eyes finally open fully and the room’s scenery comes into clear view.

A huge circular resort house with an oversized bed.

A sofa, a table, a refrigerator filled with alcohol and drinks, a sideboard lined with glasses, and bookshelves filled with magazines.

Various household goods neatly and tightly fill the spacious area, plus magical tools of unknown purpose.

It seems like a concentration of the most up-to-date technology in the world for pure “convenience.”

And yet, even the latest magical tools appear to lack a cleaning function (or even a function to return items to their original places).

Compared to the neatly organized state, the room is a mess so extensive that it might have lost two zeroes off its face value.

Scattered liquor bottles, overturned food dishes, stained walls and floor that look like a type of modern art.

Clothes scattered haphazardly, over top of which lie naked women, also strewn about haphazardly.

I can count three bouncy buttocks in my direct line of sight, which means six if you count them individually.

The sun, I don’t know when it rose, is already high in the sky, and the cries of seagulls are heard from outside.

I glance at the clock; it’s showing 1 o’clock.

I briefly consider—for about ten seconds—the possibility that this is not 1 AM, imagining some drastically wrong situation, then give up.

Thud-

“…Are you awake?”

The sudden sound of a human voice could not have been more welcome.

As if a death god called my name, I quickly turn my head to look in the direction of the voice.

Lulu, looking perfectly normal and neatly dressed, was clinking a teacup.

“Yeah… so, this is… I drank yesterday—no, it was the alcohol, but… we certainly celebrated our successful conquest…”

As I mumble incoherently, unable to continue the sentence, she sips her tea and shakes her head.

“If you don’t remember… just try not to think about it.”

“Why—why…? Did I do something… terribly wrong?”

“Not really.”

The carnage around clearly suggests something happened. Yet, yesterday’s memories have vanished, cleanly removed as if by a surgical scalpel, replaced by the contents of a dream.

“It wasn’t necessarily your fault… you probably weren’t in your right mind when you consumed ‘that’—”

“That…?”

Lulu nods and points to the floor. Following her gaze, a rolling empty bottle catches my eye.

After rolling half a turn, the label, reading “Angel’s Tears,” becomes visible.

“I… drank this…? I…?”

Nod nod-

She quietly looks at the place where other women are lying.

“It was… truly an orgy…”

“I’m… sorry…”

My face suddenly burns, and I quickly turn my head, scratching the back of my head.

My coarse hair is tangled even more, and some unknown sticky liquid is stuck to it heavily.

And I realize I am also naked. That’s why Lulu hasn’t been making eye contact with me.

The air is so awkward that I grab a robe, wrap myself around, and get out of bed, blurting out whatever comes to mind.

“When did you wake up?”

“Around ten o’clock.”

“You woke up pretty late too. Saying you wouldn’t touch alcohol these days—”

Hooooo—

Lulu lets out another heavy sigh and bows her head.

“How could I sleep early in that situation… It’s too stimulating to ignore, but it’s a little scary to get involved…”

“Sorry…”

Feeling like I’m stepping on landmines no matter what I say, I decide to shut my mouth.

…

…

…

I washed up first and went outside.

Instead of the shallow beach, I walked toward the harbor which is deep enough for ships to dock.

There were more goods being moved than people and I managed to navigate past a procession of trucks to arrive at a comparatively quiet spot.

I sat down on the quiet little pier, practically deserted now that the ships and people had left, and watched flocks of seagulls flying in groups.

Ignoring for now the events of yesterday, of which only vague fragments remain, I spend a few seconds pondering what to do today.

I’ve had enough fun by the sea, so now it’s time to follow the other girl’s wishes.

Yuri said she liked the night sea view with a drink, and Nix said something about a warehouse where magical books come in. The others haven’t given a proper opinion yet though, but Lulu would probably follow Nix.

Tiera… fulfilling all her requests will be quite exhausting, but oh well.

And Aspi, who was still thinking…

Thud- Thud-

“Good morning… although it’s a bit late for that.”

Talk about the tiger’s coming when his name is spoken.

Aspi, freshly changed into clean clothes, walks toward me at that very moment.

She nods slightly, and pats the place next to me. She sits on the pier, adjusting her skirt.

“When I open my eyes, that’s my morning. I don’t need to follow any specific time.”

“Hee hee- is that so?”

“Is this your first time waking up this late?”

Aspi nods slightly. Her pale face, still lacking life after just waking up, looks a bit sickly, so I decide we should move to a different place.

As I kneel to get up…

“Let’s go. We’ll eat something then—”

“Ah- wait, Nari-”

A familiar-sounding title from an unfamiliar voice makes me pause and immediately turn to her.

“Uh- oh, no… Your Highness…”

“Say it again.”

“Ye- yes…? ”

Getting close to her face, I looked her straight in her eyes and asked.

“It’s the first time you’ve called me by my name, right?”

“Th-this… is a mistake and-… I couldn’t possibly call Your Highness by your name…”

It’s none of my business what she says. I’ve already decided what I want to hear, so Aspi just needs to do it.

Grasping her shoulder firmly, I cling to her relentlessly, and finally she slowly parts her lips.

“Na… Nari…”

“Yeah, one more time.”

“Nari…? Uoop-”

Chuup- Chup-

Without realizing it, I swallowed her small lips. I just felt like doing it.

Dragging my tongue longingly between my lips, I gently stroke Aspi’s hair.

“Yeah? Why did you call?”

“Uuh, uh… I, uhm…”

Her face is as red as a beet, she stammers before quietly continuing.

“Oh, I want… to buy some clothes…”

“Okay, let’s do that.”

Without any hesitation, I take hold of her hand to get up and walk towards the shops.

“Let’s hurry before the others wake up, let’s have a little shopping date.”

“Yes…”

“Tssup-! When it’s just the two of us…”

I scold her, raising my finger. Aspi gently adjusts her bangs and smiles quietly.

“Yes, Nari…!”