Chapter 188: If You’re at the Sea, You’ve Gotta Play!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: If You’re at the Sea, You’ve Gotta Play!
Looking at the vast ocean and the people playing freely, I felt my heart grow a little warmer.
In the world before my regression, around the summer of my second year, the Twelve Zodiacs had suddenly monopolized the beach. They turned it into a resort town that you couldn’t even enter without paying an absurd admission fee, so the scenery and atmosphere hadn’t been anything like this.
So, this is what it was originally like.
Seeing the landscape I had only ever read about in text with my own eyes stirred a strange, ticklish emotion in my chest.
“Something like this is nice once in a while.”
In fact, as long as no accidents happened, I planned to just play to my heart’s content on the first day.
After all, my goal was to let Lilac and his merry band of friends enjoy things befitting their youth.
To be honest, if Master hadn’t helped me keep my head straight at the end, I probably would have gotten anxious again, ruined the travel atmosphere, and caused some kind of incident.
I’m really starting to feel that no matter how much time passes, I’m the kind of guy who can’t get by without someone’s help.
The moment I shook my head to dispel those strangely self-deprecating thoughts, Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak began approaching the water one after the other.
“Wow, the ocean is really beautiful.”
“The fact that a small number of people can monopolize a beach like this is one of the privileges of being a hero.”
Yu-hak, technically it’s a superhuman-exclusive beach, so hunters and villains can come here too.
…That aside, I hadn’t thought much of it at first, but seeing those two approach made me start to feel strangely annoyed.
“Hey, stay right there. Don’t come any closer.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Is there a problem?”
No, well, how should I put it? It wasn’t that I hated them; it was more in the realm of unpleasantness.
Both of them were quite tall with lean, toned muscles and solid physiques. In contrast, I was the only one with a slender build, so I felt like I’d be compared if they stood next to me.
However, those two, who were unnecessarily quick-witted, seemed to have realized what I was thinking and began to suppress playful laughter.
“It’s fine. Who would care about something like that?”
“Everyone is wearing shirts anyway. Unless someone is staring intently, no one will notice.”
“Oh, really? Then why don’t you say that without the smirk? Hey, I told you not to laugh!”
I mean, my frame is just on the finer side, but I’ve put on plenty of muscle too. It just doesn’t show on the outside.
It’s not like I have flab, and I’m not exactly a scrawny stick anymore, so objectively speaking, couldn’t you say I have a good body too?
“Ah, seriously, why do you care about that!”
“If Kim Ga-eul saw you, she would’ve called you a loser and teased you for a while.”
That? These crazy, humble-bragging bastards…? Right, those who have everything never know how precious it is.
“Excuse me…”
Just as I was making up my mind to test whether Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak could maintain those smiles after a thorough beating, a woman I had never seen before suddenly spoke to us.
“Yes? Can I help you?”
The woman, who seemed quite shy at Lilac’s response, glanced at him before speaking as if she had made up her mind.
“Since you guys came here as a group of boys, would you like to hang out with us noonas?”
Oh, what’s this? I thought she was just hitting on Lilac, but looking closely, it seemed she had a group behind her.
“There are exactly three of us, too. What do you think?”
Well, as expected of a world full of beautiful people, the women who approached us were honestly quite stunning.
Judging by their bold and confident attitude, they didn’t seem to think for a second that they would be rejected. Unfortunately for them, our boys are more devoted than they look, so they have a high resistance to this kind of thing.
“Uh, I’m sorry, but we’re already with a group. We’ll have to decline.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s not like we did anything wrong. Being overly considerate might just give them the wrong idea, so it’s right to just turn them down.”
Wow, are these really the same romance-losers Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak?
Honestly, I thought that even if they refused, Lilac would stutter and Cheon Yu-hak would say something unnecessary and hurtful. But I guess they’ve grown more than I thought; that was a pretty clean rejection.
“Oh, then let’s all play together!”
“Yeah, the more the merrier, right?”
But it seemed the opponents’ mental fortitude was stronger than expected.
Embarrassment flickered on Lilac’s face, while irritation clouded Cheon Yu-hak’s.
But guys, there’s no need for that.
Right now, they’re overflowing with confidence, thinking they can get a shot with you, but they’ll run away on their own soon enough.
The difference in power always has a way of stripping away one’s will with surprising futility.
“Oh my, would that really be okay?”
“We don’t mind.”
“Lilac, how do I look?”
There was Professor Cathy, expressing something slightly beyond confidence with her eyes; Ju Ri-ra, who was a beauty despite her usual reputation; and even Yu-na, who didn’t even spare the other women a glance.
The three of them had changed into their swimsuits and stood by our side.
“Uh… ah?”
The strong often fall into the illusion that no one stronger than them exists.
But that is a mistake. Power is destined to crumble before even greater power. It’s a bit of a cliché, but comparing those women to our group in their swimsuits was already bordering on an insult.
“N-No, it’s fine.”
“Yes, yes… it would be rude of us to intrude.”
In the end, the three women who had been hitting on us realized the difference in power and made an ungraceful retreat.
A beat later, Aisha and Ga-eul walked out.
“Hmph! Where do they think they’re going, trying to challenge our Professor with that level of looks? Not a chance!”
…Ga-eul, my dear Ga-eul. In that situation, you should at least say “us.” If you say it like that, they’re going to look down on you.
“Honestly, they didn’t know their place. The three of them aren’t even close to being on the same level as you all.”
Finally, Ha-ni came out, armed with a shirt and shorts for both her top and bottom. She claimed she was going to rest because she was tired but decided to come out anyway, but in reality, she had probably been waiting for the moment everyone else was gone.
“Ah, what the heck. I’m the only one who missed such a hilarious scene? I should’ve come out sooner.”
“What do you mean hilarious? It was annoying because they kept clinging even after we turned them down politely.”
“Oh? For someone saying that, I heard you didn’t refuse and just stood there watching?”
At Ha-ni’s sudden public humiliation, everyone’s eyes turned toward me.
Are you really trying to bury me like this out of nowhere…?
“They were going to run away on their own once they saw our group’s faces anyway, so why waste my breath refusing?”
When I spoke the honest truth without a hint of a lie, everyone’s faces turned a bit red, fortunately understanding my meaning: ‘Our group is incomparably prettier than them.’
But Ha-ni, this isn’t the timing for you to be blushing, is it?
“A-Anyway, I get that it was sudden, but doesn’t anyone have any comments on the swimsuits? Everyone put effort into getting ready!”
To break the awkward atmosphere, Ga-eul brought up a topic that could potentially make things even more awkward if handled wrong.
Certainly, besides the swimsuits, they did look different than usual.
Lee Yu-na had tied her long hair into twin tails so it wouldn’t get in the way of swimming, and Ga-eul had tied her short hair into a small sprout-like ponytail.
The Professor was wearing clothes over her bikini, but she was impressive in many ways, and even Aisha’s signature drill hair had been modified into a side tail for a beach style.
Should I say it finally felt real that I had come on a trip with such a diverse group of beauties? Come to think of it, was I a humble-bragger too, just like Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak?
Maybe I shouldn’t be criticizing those guys.
As if each of them was standing in front of the person they wanted an evaluation from, Lee Yu-na stood before Lilac, and Ju Ri-ra stood before Cheon Yu-hak.
And in front of me stood the Professor, Ga-eul, and Aisha.
Wait, the distribution seems a bit off. Is this right?
“Oh, there’s no one in front of me?”
Ha-ni was snickering as if it were funny, but for some reason, she was subtly glancing at me.
No, you’re not even wearing a swimsuit.
“Yu-na, you’re really pretty.”
“…Well, honestly, I think you look beautiful.”
The turns of the people in front of me passed in an instant. It was very simple, but honestly, those words were correct.
There was no need to pile on flowery metaphors as excuses; everyone was beautiful enough that those simple words sufficed.
They were pretty.
So truly beautiful that…
-Do I even have the right to be among them?
Such a gloomy thought crossed my mind because they were so radiant.
Again, here we go again. Please, just for once, stay tucked away in a corner.
“You’re beautiful.”
“…So-hyun?”
Whether they noticed the momentary change in my expression, they tried to approach, but I was faster at shaking off my stray thoughts.
“But where is Rose?”
Since Ha-ni said she was the last one, it meant Rose wasn’t resting.
“Ah, the maid went out before you. She said she was going to secure a spot.”
“Huh? She changed that fast?”
Usually, it’s hard to change faster than a guy, no matter what.
“No, ah. There she is.”
Indeed, I spotted her. I saw even the heroes, who usually wouldn’t be flustered by most situations, glancing in that direction, unable to overcome their curiosity.
I saw the maid sitting on a mat after setting up a parasol on the beach.
I didn’t want to learn that a maid uniform and the beach don’t mix in this particular way.
“Now then, shall we find a decent spot?”
“So-hyun, I understand how you feel, but don’t try to escape reality.”
No, I will. It’s embarrassing. I don’t want to admit I know that person.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
But she went and acknowledged us from over there.
I’m sorry. I think I was wrong. Could you please not come any closer?
“It was worth heading out early to secure a good spot.”
…Fine, everyone has already come this way, so what can I do now? If I think positively, I guess this will all become a memory too.
* * *
The thing was, coming to the sea was all well and good, but the problem started from here.
I’ve never actually played at the beach before.
I thought the kids would know how to play on their own if I just brought them here, but for some reason, they were all looking at me as if they’d made a pact.
What? Why? What do you want me to do? Just play.
When I nodded to signal them to play on their own, Lilac’s eyes sparkled as if he’d realized something, and he shouted.
“Shall we play beach volleyball?”
That wasn’t a culture that only existed in subcultures…?
Or was it? Is it because the Creator is my friend and she hasn’t actually been to the beach much?
“Ah, what do you mean beach volleyball~? Forget that and let’s just go for a swim.”
Ha-ni, it’s okay for you to go in the water, right? Your bandages are waterproof today, right?
“But what if we put So-hyun up as the prize for beach volleyball!?”
No, damn it, I didn’t mean for you to do whatever you wanted to that extent. You bastard. Who gave you permission?
“Ho.”
“Oh, that sounds good. But it’s a bit unfair if So-hyun is the only prize, isn’t it?”
As expected of the Professor. There’s no way she’d let such an absurd scene slide. I believed in you!
“Since there are more women anyway, how about the winning team gets the right to move around with the guy of their choice?”
…Professor? Excuse me?
The Professor, who had quickly recruited Lee Yu-na and Ju Ri-ra, turned Ga-eul, Aisha, and Rose into enemies.
What? Are we really doing this? So suddenly?
Is this right?
“…What are you doing?”
“What’s the big deal? It’s fun. Everyone’s going to give it their all because you’re the prize.”
“You find this fun? I feel like I’m suffocating here.”
“Why? I think it’s fine too.”
When I scolded Lilac, who was grinning for some reason, Ha-ni cut in with a smile.
“…What is?”
“Everyone’s going to want to hang out with you anyway, so they’re just letting the game decide who goes first. Lilac actually used his head for once.”
“Ah~ you weren’t supposed to say that out loud~!”
Seeing Cheon Yu-hak smirking in the back, it seemed the two of them had already discussed it.
…This guy actually thought of that?
Is Lilac actually being perceptive today?
“Anyway, let’s just sit and watch for now! Honestly, I’m curious to see which side will win.”
“Professor Cathy’s side will win, obviously.”
“You never know the outcome of a match. Miracles happen when there’s passion.”
“You’ve watched too many sports mangas, Lilac. Sports is a world of cold calculation and raw stats.”
The moment Ha-ni, who had volunteered to be the referee, blew a whistle she’d gotten from who-knows-where, we saw it.
The violent swaying.
“…Did you predict this too, you pervert?”
“…This wasn’t in my calculations.”
“Ahem. Hmph. Hmph.”
Because they were moving with all their might, things were swaying. Since most of them were quite well-endowed, the swaying was quite significant.
And because Lee Yu-na, who was looking at that volume with a cursed gaze, eventually couldn’t contain her rage and performed the bizarre act of spiking the ball toward her own teammate, Professor Cathy, the match proceeded quite intensely.
Right, I guess you really don’t know the outcome until the end—though it wasn’t passion that brought about the miracle.
No, seriously, how can they sway like that even with shirts on?