CH 42

The high ground in the city of Ulaine Donagh offered a great view of not only the ocean, but also the thin border of the horizon.

The area was rich in nature, and in addition to the sea, they could also see the white mountain range soaring high into the sky, as well as meadows and roads that seemed to stretch far into the distance.

Couples and adventurers often went there to have a look at this spectacular view.

[This is awesome, Satis! This might be my first time seeing something so beautiful from so high up!] (Seto)

[Easy now on the excitement, the scenery is not going anywhere. Ah! There’s an empty bench.] (Satis)

They sat side by side on the bench, and enjoyed the sea breeze while gazing at the horizon and the land.

Other couples had also gathered on this high ground, showing a different kind of bustle from that of the city.

[But, I gotta say… This place is really full of grown-ups.] (Seto)

[What’s wrong? Are you feeling nervous? Sure, you may be the only child here. But from my point of view, you’re a fine and wonderful man as well, so you should be proud of yourself.] (Satis)

[Eh!? Y-You think? If… you say so. Ahaha!] (Seto)

Seto smiled bashfully as Satis praised him.

The latter stroked him gently.

Objectively, they looked like a pair of siblings or something similar.

However, considering the kind of people who gathered here, those around them could not help but believe them to be a couple with an age gap.

Whaaa~!? No way! That boy is actually dating a woman this beautiful!? (Woman A)

Seriously…!? Where the hell did a brat like that ever find a top-class beauty like her!? (Man A)

The two of them were in the spotlight, if only temporarily.

Satis did not particularly mind being gazed at, but Seto felt indescribably uncomfortable with all those eyes on him.

Well… I guess I shouldn’t let it bother me so much. (Seto)

Telling himself that, he and Satis enjoyed the beauty of the scenery around them.

[But I must say, it’s gotten really hot today. The seasons change so quickly.] (Satis)

[Yeah. Didn’t notice back when we were at the facility, though. …This heat makes the sea seem like a great place to cool off.] (Seto)

On that day, the sun was shining so brightly that even the cool breeze was drowned out by the heat.

Satis took a water canteen out of her dimensional pocket, and shared it with Seto.

[I guess we should’ve brought an umbrella or something. You’re dripping in sweat.] (Satis)

[Yeah. I can’t stand this heat. Are you okay, Satis?] (Seto)

[Not even close. Look. See how sweaty I am?] (Satis)

When she said that, she showed Seto how moist her face and neck were.

Her skin glistening in the sunlight made her look even more seductive than usual.

The sweat ran down her nape into the hollows of her collarbone, and the drops on her chest disappeared into the depths of her cleavage.

As far as Satis was concerned, it was probably an unmindful gesture, but because it emphasized the visible parts of her body and showed Seto her sweat-soaked skin in such an absent-minded way, the boy suddenly blushed so hard his eyes started spinning.

[Eh!? Hey, Seto! Are you all right!?] (Satis)

[W-Water! Pour some water over my head!] (Seto)

[Eh? Water…?] (Satis)

Seto quickly grabbed a water bottle from Satis, who was confused at his request, and spilled it over his head.

The people around them were glancing at him, but Seto himself had no way to tell.

[Haa… Haa… Thanks.] (Seto)

[Uh, you’re welcome…?] (Satis)

What’s wrong with me…!? I thought I had grown accustomed to Satis’ looks since I see on a daily basis, and yet…! (Seto)

He scratched his head and combed his hair with his fingers so as to let the air flow easily through it and cool his head down.

Satis looked at Seto, who had calmed down considerably, and finally realized what his problem was.

Oh my~! Was that too stimulating for him? I thought he had gotten used to it by now… Ah, I know! (Satis)

It was then that Satis smiled at Seto with the sort of friendliness that bordered on sadism.

She had an idea what they were going to do this afternoon.

[Hey, Seto. What should we do after lunch? Do you think you can move?] (Satis)

[Yeah, I’m fine now. Though I don’t have any idea what we can do next.] (Seto)

[In that case, how about we go to the beach after lunch? The public beach is too far from here, so let’s go to the one nearby.] (Satis)

[Ooh! I didn’t know there was such a place here. It’d be great if I could catch some fish there.] (Seto)

[Fufufu. Good idea.] (Satis)

While happily conversing, the two left the high ground and started descending towards the city.

For Seto, it would be his first time enjoying the sea.

He has no idea what sort of fish he could catch there.

As he let his imagination about it run wild, Seto went with her to a place where they could eat.

After eating a quick meal at a nearby restaurant, they returned to their inn.

Seto was humming as he tended to the fishing rod he rented from the innkeeper.

[Oh, you look like you’re having fun.] (Satis)

[Of course I am. …Hm? What are you preparing, Satis?] (Seto)

[Do you want to know?] (Satis)

Seeing Satis with a bewitching smile similar to back when they used to be enemies gave Seto the feeling that she was preparing something dangerous.

[Say… Are you up to something?] (Seto)

[Now, whatever do you believe I’m up to, hm? I hope you don’t think it’s something naughty.] (Satis)

Satis pointed out with a smirk, causing Seto to blush and turn away reflexively.

She was joyfully giggling behind him, but Seto tried to ignore that by checking his fishing rod and baits.

A few minutes later, Seto walked out to the beach a short distance away from the city.

It was a small beach surrounded by rocks, with no people.

Most of them seemed to have gone to the public beach.

[Satis told me to head there first, but…] (Seto)

Satis’ smile was the kind she made when she was plotting something.

Seto shook that last remark of hers out of his mind, and sat down on an isolated rocky shore stretching out to the sea, and hung his fishing rod.

The sound of the waves in this quiet atmosphere could be heard with a tempo.

He felt the same sort of natural tranquility as that time he went on a picnic in Benjamin village.

So glad I came here… (Seto)

He sipped water from his canteen as he basked in the coolness of the sea and the warmth of the sunshine.

After a while, he heard Satis’ voice coming from behind him.

[Oh, you’re finally- …here?] (Seto)

He turned around to see her carrying a sheet and various other things.

Instead of her combat suit, she had changed into a black bikini top and bottom, a summery beach attire that exposed even more of her skin.

Her breasts, wrapped in that black fabric, were looking soft and well-groomed while exhibiting even more of their beautiful curves.

In that outfit, they swayed as she walked, causing Seto’s brain to instantly spark with worldly desires.

[I was thinking that since we had come all the way to the beach, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to swim.] (Satis)

[Eh?! Wha?! Huh?! Huuuh?!] (Seto)

Sure enough, Satis seemed pleased with Seto’s flustered reaction.

Seto ran up to her as she started laying out the sheet and putting up a parasol, and gave her a hand with that, albeit nervously.

Sensing his obvious gaze, Satis smiled as she struck a seductive pose and sat down for a moment.

[There’s no need to worry. I’ve cast a spell to ward off people from this place.] (Satis)

[No, I’m not worried or anything…] (Seto)

[Really~? I mean, now you can have me in my swimsuit all to yourself. If we were at the public beach, some playboys would be hitting on me, and I can’t have that.] (Satis)

This was their private area, so to speak.

With a provocative smile on her face, Satis, who was practically naked, felt the warmth of the sunshine and the breeze of the sea through the parasol, as if she were taking a break.

[…Seto, I don’t mind at all if you look at me, but don’t forget about your fishing rod. Something’s pulling on it, you know?] (Satis)

[Eh? A-Ahh, right!] (Seto)

Satis giggled as she watched Seto hurrying away.

She could not help but enjoy seeing him act and react differently from usual.

[Now… Let’s take our time to have fun.] (Satis)

Here began Seto and Satis’ private and relaxing time at the beach.

I… I can’t relax…! (Seto)