episode_0226

Chapter 226 – Volcanic Island

A week after my date with Alisa, Abel and his group visited me after a long time. My family had recently moved, and I had been busy helping them unpack, so I hadn’t had many chances to meet up.

The moment he saw me, he asked about my schedule.

“Ruan. How are things lately? Do you have time?”

“I have plenty of time. But why? Is something up?”

I asked out of curiosity, but in truth, I already knew the reason for his visit.

‘It must be because of the travel lottery.’

The so-called Hot Spring Event!

This episode was the very catalyst for Abel to build a full-fledged friendship with Isis.

“Actually, I happened to draw a travel ticket in a lottery yesterday, and I won first prize. It’s for seven nights and eight days. It says I can bring up to ten people, so I was wondering if you’d like to come along if you’re free.”

“Oh, really? Sounds good to me. But where are we going?”

The location was a famous hot spring in the North. It was only a few days’ journey from the Friuli territory.

I expected him to continue with those words, but the information I heard was completely different from my expectations.

“Well, it’s a volcanic island called Cotipania in the South. They say it’s warm all year round, so it’s great for a summer retreat.”

“…What did you say?”

“That it’s really warm, so it’s great for a summer retreat…”

“No, not that. Where did you say?”

“Cotipania, a volcanic island in the South. Why? Is there a problem?”

What in the world happened? The trip was clearly supposed to be to a hot spring in the North, so why had it changed to a volcanic island? Even if it was just a different hot spring, I might think there were some minor changes, but how could it be to the exact opposite side, the South? Did someone deliberately switch it to mess with me?

‘Could it be that bastard, Ethan?’

He would know that Abel was going to get the travel lottery ticket, so he might have pulled some strings. I seriously considered the possibility.

“Hmm…”

As I maintained my serious demeanor without a word, Abel seemed to understand my predicament and awkwardly chuckled, waving his hand.

“Ah, of course, you can decline if you’re busy. It’s just that there are extra spots. It would be a waste since ten people can go. Well then, we should be going…”

“Stop right there. I’m going too.”

“Uh, huh?”

“I said I’m going too. And Deborah and Alisa are coming, right?”

Those two were the only trustworthy companions. Leaving them out of a journey where anything could happen was absolutely out of the question.

As if sensing my firm resolve, Abel readily nodded his head.

“O-Of course! I was going to ask them next anyway. By the way, that fills up six spots. Who else should I ask?”

Abel seemed to be troubled. Yas hadn’t returned from his hometown yet, and he was worried that taking moderately close acquaintances from the Academy would just make the atmosphere awkward. He had a personality that fostered deep but narrow connections, so choosing people must have been difficult for him.

I looked at Abel and asked.

“Abel. Can I recommend someone?”

“Huh? Someone? Who? Is it someone I know?”

“Of course. There’s probably no one at the Academy who doesn’t know them.”

“That much? Who is it?”

Not only at the Academy but a person whose fame was widespread throughout the Empire, and also someone who was supposed to appear in the original episode. There was, naturally, only one such person.

“How about bringing President-nim too?”

“Huh? You don’t mean the President-nim, do you?”

“That’s right. Haven’t you gotten much closer since joining the Student Council? Everyone else has at least met her once, so I think it’d be fine.”

“But wouldn’t she be too busy?”

“Being away for about a week isn’t a problem. Why don’t you just propose it? Uni also seems to want it.”

I gestured with my chin, and Abel turned his head.

Uni was currently looking at Abel with eyes sparkling enough to rival Deborah’s. In front of that earnest and beautiful light, even a psychopath would hesitate to refuse. Abel, who liked Uni, was no exception.

“O-Okay then. We have four spots left anyway. This works out perfectly. Let’s go ask her right away.”

“Yay! Abel’s the best!”

“Oh, oof! U-Uni.”

Upon hearing her request granted, Uni hopped and skipped excitedly before linking her arm with Abel’s. Her not-so-small chest pressed against Abel’s arm, offering a soft, squishy sensation. Abel’s flustered face widened into a wide grin.

‘What a sight.’

Not interested in watching others’ romance, I frowned and turned my back.

“Then I’ll be going first. I need to continue my training.”

“Oh, okay! Take care! The departure date is five days from now, so let’s all meet up and talk about it before then!”

“Alright, alright. Contact me beforehand.”

I casually waved my hand left and right and left.

‘Anyway, a volcanic island in the South…’

Since it maintained warm weather 365 days a year and was entirely surrounded by the sea, tourism-related businesses must have developed there. I hadn’t even gotten to enjoy swimming at the beach because I was dragged to my family’s estate during summer vacation, so since things had turned out this way, I might as well enjoy myself to the fullest this time. Of course, that was assuming no problems would arise there.

“Well, most things should work out somehow.”

That’s why I purposely recommended Isis. With her combat prowess, she could easily fend off anything unless a top-ranking executive of the Dark Cult moved. Of course, Regina would end up tagging along next to her, but I considered that a small price to pay.

‘Come to think of it, it’s been quiet lately, hasn’t it?’

After being ambushed once during the frontline deployment, they hadn’t made a move for several months. But actually, it was a natural outcome. There was no need for them to attack me now, unless they wanted to get raped. I hoped they would remain quiet there too.

I began to anticipate various situations that might occur on the island and prepared countermeasures.

*

Two days later, with only three days left until the trip, everyone gathered. As I entered the reserved cafe, I saw the group already waiting.

“Ruan! Welcome!”

“You’re here. Sit here.”

Abel waved and welcomed me, and Isis gestured to the seat next to her. Just as I was about to sit there, Alisa, who had been occupying my left arm, shoved her bouncy backside forward and cut in, and Deborah, who had been on my right, pushed in and sat down firmly. I had no choice but to sit squashed between them.

‘Well, it’s not bad.’

Feeling the soft, supple skin of beautiful girls on both sides was pleasant. However, unlike me, Isis’s expression was not good. It was understandable that she would be upset after those girls completely stole the seat she had offered to her brother. But, true to her good nature, she simply gave an awkward smile, looking between Alisa and Deborah.

“You, you three are really close. It’s nice to see. Please take good care of Ruan in the future.”

“Yes, of course. Don’t worry.”

“H-Hmph! Th-This is unwilling, you know. We’re engaged, after all.”

Deborah nodded calmly, and Alisa, as always, acted tsundere. Just when the atmosphere seemed to shift, Regina, who had been observing from beside Isis, interjected.

“To charm two girls like that. You’re a total playboy, aren’t you? Isn’t that right, Isis?”

“Huh, huh? That’s…”

“I’m truly surprised, you know? You’re so different from the Ruan Friuli I heard about from you. Did someone switch places with him in the middle?”

She emphasized the last part especially. I wondered what she was saying, only to realize she was trying to get a rise out of me like this.

‘She can’t expose me even if she tries.’

If I revealed myself as a Transmigrator, I would eventually be investigated by the Cult, and then the fact that Regina was raped would also become known. She would absolutely want to avoid that. I outwardly acted unconcerned and sent a telepathic message to Regina.

– It would be best to stop.

– Why should I?

– You wouldn’t want to become the continent’s top porn star, would you? If you disclose my information freely, I’ll spread the video. Understood?

The video of Regina’s hymen being torn was still sleeping in my subspace pocket. Whether it would be released to the outside or not was for her, not me, to decide. Regina glared at me murderously.

– …You trashy bastard.

But that was all. The way she quickly averted her gaze indicated her submission. I was somewhat relieved.

‘Speaking of which…’

My gaze shifted to Isis. Ever since she heard Regina’s meaningful words, she had been strangely restless, glancing at me. That sight fanned the hidden anxiety within me.

‘Does she know, by any chance?’

A premonition struck me that Isis might know my true identity. If it was true, it would be a major problem. Of course, the fact that she hadn’t said anything despite knowing could be interpreted as her wanting to keep it a secret to herself, but it might also be that she simply lacked certainty. No one knew how she would act the moment she gained certainty. My mind became complicated.

‘I need to keep an eye on her from now on.’

I formulated a simple countermeasure and focused on the group’s conversation.

“So I’ll take a single room, Ruan, Alisa, and Deborah will take a triple room. And the rest will use double rooms. How does that room arrangement sound?”

“Yes. I think that’ll work.”

“I don’t mind, meow.”

Positive opinions poured out. Just as it seemed decided, Isis suddenly voiced her objection.

“W-Wait a moment! Isn’t it problematic for three people to share the same room?”

“Excuse me? Are you talking about Ruan’s group?”

“Yes! Ruan and Alisa are engaged, so that’s one thing, but Deborah isn’t, is she? No matter how close they are, people will be watching. Don’t you think? Huh? Alisa!”

Isis, presenting her argument, looked at Alisa as if she were her last resort. Alisa was completely taken in.

“That’s right! Now that I think about it, why is Deborah sharing a room? W-Well, it’s not like I want to share a room with Ruan alone, but it’s still strange for someone else to be between two engaged people, isn’t it?”

“Hold on. That’s a bit strange, isn’t it? How many people on that distant island would know us? And besides, they wouldn’t know who’s using which room, would they? If you dislike it so much, why don’t you just drop out? I want to share a room with Ruan alone.”

“What? Are you out of your mind?!”

At Deborah’s logical yet overly direct words, Alisa flared up and shouted. A silent standoff ensued. With an atmosphere that felt like they were about to tear each other’s hair out, Abel quickly intervened.

“Hey, hey, everyone, calm down! Don’t fight!”

“We’re not fighting. One side is just being stubborn.”

“Stubborn? That’s funny! It’s the obvious thing to do! Abel, don’t you think so too?”

“Huh? M-Me…”

Abel, suddenly handed the bomb, briefly panicked and stammered. Then he looked at me, grinned brightly as if he’d met a bomb disposal expert, and passed the buck to me.

“Ru-Ruan! You decide! It’s your problem!”

Everyone’s gaze converged on me. At this peak of attention, I offered the wisest answer.

“Let’s just get separate rooms.”

A sudden stillness fell upon them!

In an instant, Deborah and Alisa froze. And Isis’s face shone brightly like a flower blooming in spring. I don’t know why.

“No!”

“No! No!”

But perhaps their status effect didn’t last long, as Deborah and Alisa, breaking out of the ice, began to riot with one heart and one mind. They only calmed down after it was eventually decided to stick with the original triple room. Isis’s face turning gloomy was a bonus.