Chapter 73: Unlike How They Act, Everyone Is....
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73: Unlike How They Act, Everyone Is....
Despite its exterior, the interior was state-of-the-art. I could feel the weather getting significantly hotter as we approached the equator, but the inside was cool, with the air conditioning blasting at full power.
Morian, whose clothes were visibly soaked through after walking outside for just a few minutes, closed her eyes in front of the AC and began to bask in the cold air with an expression of pure relief.
"Welcome, Lady Alicia, and your companions."
A middle-aged woman dressed in what looked like a kimono gave a modest bow. Just as I was wondering why I had to see that kind of attire in another world, I spotted other sisters standing beside her, bowing their heads while wearing hanbok and cheongsams.
What on earth is this hybrid mess?
Since everyone else was just ignoring them and walking past, I spoke up in a loud voice.
"Hello!"
"Hello there, little young master," the sister in the cheongsam replied warmly, her face looking quite kind.
"Yong-hwan, we have to unpack. Hurry up!"
I wanted to say something about this chaotic "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" costume set the sisters were wearing, but considering how many familiar things existed in this world's culture, I decided to just let it slide.
"You can even charter a place like this? You really pulled some strings, Alicia."
"It was a struggle to build it without Grandmother finding out. It’s meant for invited guests only, so we can relax and play without worrying about other people being around."
Since Alicia’s "acquaintances" were likely just actors or Imperial nobles, it meant this hot spring inn was essentially a private playground she’d built for herself.
"Does it actually make money, though?"
"Well, I haven't recouped the investment yet, but I think I will in a few years. It’s surprisingly popular. I’ll even call over the voice actress for your favorite Green Brachiosaurus Beta XII!"
"Alicia Noona, you're the best!"
The voice actress for our Green Brachiosaurus Beta XII was a truly cool lady. She wasn't physically imposing, but she was like the reliable eldest sister of a sentai team, perfectly portraying the heroic role of someone who gets hurt and sacrifices herself for her teammates in a crisis.
"I can arrange a meeting for you."
"Hindel, you said you'd let me meet her last time and you lied!"
"No, that was... I will let you see her tomorrow."
The damn dragon should have just admitted she forgot, but instead, she was trying to dodge the subject.
"No, this is a trip for just us! Call her some other time!"
"...Understood. Do not be angry."
The Dragon Lord watched my reaction carefully. She seemed quite shocked that I’d let go of her hand earlier, looking hesitant and fidgety, so I reached out and took her hand.
Seriously, what a pain.
"...I will definitely call her."
"She has recordings too, so you have to check her schedule!"
"Oh, right. There’s a movie shoot and a dinosaur robot shoot coming up. When are you free?"
Morian, who had recovered her energy in front of the AC, suddenly started saying something weird.
"What shoot?"
"We agreed to film that movie. The script... the one where the auntie comes out and saves you, and the one with the dinosaur robots."
I remembered agreeing to cooperate with a tokusatsu shoot in exchange for increasing Green Brachiosaurus Beta XII's screen time and getting a Green Brachiosaurus Beta XII S2, but...
"I said I wasn't filming the auntie part...?"
"No, no, you said you would."
The Purple Pot was currently trying to scam me. I stared silently at the exhibitionist pervert Snow Woman sister.
"...."
"...."
As I watched Morian without saying a word, everyone else sensed the atmosphere turning serious and kept their mouths shut. Our dragon was looking at Morian with an incredulous face, and the Snow Woman sister’s face was gradually turning red as she struggled with her shame.
"Say, 'I'm sorry for lying.'"
"...Ugh."
Morian let out a pained groan, baring her white teeth.
"SAY YOU'RE SORRY FOR LYING!!!!"
"N-no..."
As things started getting interesting, everyone gathered around and began to dogpile on Morian.
"Apologize for lying to the brat!" Alicia jumped in immediately with an insult.
"Apologize! Apologize! Apologize! Aren't you ashamed of yourself as an adult?!" Mom joined in excitedly, metaphorically beating Morian down.
"...How pathetic, Morian," the King Milk Cow sneered.
"Aren't you just trash? Get on your knees and apologize!" the Sweet Simp Tiria demanded, though no one paid her any mind.
"...."
Yuseoha, who had appeared out of nowhere, stared intently at Morian.
"Ugh... I'm sorry... for lying...." Morian apologized. But I had no intention of letting it end there.
"Say you're sorry for trying to trick a child into filming a movie!!!"
"I-I'm sorry... for trying to trick a child... into filming a movie!!!!" Morian shouted with all her might.
"Good, pass. I forgive you."
Unable to bear the shame, Morian covered her face with both hands. I could see a few tears pricking her eyes. Everyone else seemed satisfied, snickering after their collective lynching of Morian.
"...Pathetic."
Except for my sister. Maybe it's because she's going through puberty, but she looked so annoying that I wanted to hit her—something deep inside me cried out.
Masculinity (Not Castrated): Master, shall I show them the taste of the Cowardly Incest Squad?
Hold it in.
Seeing the women, who were like aunts to my sister, chuckle and find her "cute," they were definitely adults.
If it were me, I would have called her out, started with a good paddling, and spent an hour lecturing her on "where are your manners toward adults?"...
"Oh, right. The beach isn't far from here, so it's great for playing. It's a safe zone with no marine monsters. It's also a patrol area."
"Marine monsters...?"
An incomprehensible term popped up.
"No need to worry. We'll go with you when you go to the sea anyway."
Alicia smiled warmly and lightly stroked my shoulder.
"Mama will protect you."
"No, what exactly is a marine monster?"
"What? You've never even seen a marine monster?"
Tiria looked at me in disbelief, then turned to my mom.
"I've never even taken him to an aquarium, and this is his first time at the sea. It's not like they teach it... so..." Mom spoke as if making an excuse.
"How big are they? Bigger than Green Brachiosaurus Beta XII?"
"...They are big. Very big," Hindel said firmly.
Bigger than a 16-meter-tall robot? What kind of horrible world is this?
"The small ones are about 6 meters... Most of them can't come past the front lines, so you don't need to worry too much. Is the brat scared?"
A lot of information I hadn't learned in elementary school was coming out. I would have known if I’d attended a proper elementary school, but since it was a "Basic" Education Institution, I hadn't learned basic common sense.
"No! Because the sisters will protect me! It's fine! Instead, I just won't go anywhere dangerous!"
Hindel crouched down and hugged me tightly without a word. I don't know what part of this Commie Dragon's heart I triggered, but it was annoying. Really!
"Do not worry. I shall protect you."
Our Dragon Lord whispered tenderly. She was a beauty, so I had no choice but to let it slide.
"Beach or hotel in the morning, hot springs in the evening. Any objections?"
The vampire began coordinating the schedule. I thought these kinds of plans were usually made before a trip, but no one seemed to have any particular thoughts. In fact, they all went to unpack their luggage as if telling her to just do whatever.
"The sea is beautiful, isn't it?"
Mom looked at me with a bright smile. Her blonde hair fluttering in the breeze and her green eyes sparkling under the sunlight made me stare blankly at her despite myself.
"Son?"
"Ah, yeah! It's really pretty!"
The sea visible beyond the sandy beach was emerald-colored. Mixed with the white sand, it was certainly a beautiful sight. The breeze was cool, and there were no people.
"But why are there no people?"
"It's because this is a private beach. If you go to the other side, it's packed with people. How is it? Nice, right?"
Alicia started her bragging again. I felt like her habits would get worse if I played along. I ignored her and clung to Yuseoha.
"…!"
"Yuha Noona, teach me how to swim~!"
"…!"
I didn't know how long this person was going to keep up her "silent" act, but seeing her keep her mouth shut in front of people just made me feel bad for her.
She claimed that people would fall under a charm if they heard her voice, but only kids in the Basic Education Institute believed that kind of nonsense.
Mom's friends were all kind, so they seemed to understand and tolerate it even though they knew it was bullshit.
Looking at this, the pink-headed loser definitely had good luck with friends.
"Me too, me too! I'm a good swimmer...! When Mom was in the army, the special forces..."
"Mom, just go grill the meat!"
Mom's shoulders slumped. I wasn't a kind enough person to play along with Ame Cal Degrain, who was failing at being a mother and constantly trying to seduce her own son.
"Alicia, is there anyone here who wasn't in the special forces?"
"I served as an officer, you know?"
"As if there's a bitch here who wasn't an officer..."
Alicia spat out a weak excuse at Tiria's words, but she shut her mouth at the following remark.
"Is Alicia Noona really an officer?"
"That's right! I was a Colonel in the Imperial General Political Bureau!"
"What's that?"
"It means she was the head of a unit that rooted out reactionaries and spies committing sabotage."
At Alicia's grand words, I looked at Mom's friends. It was time for them to bash that nonsense.
"...She has softened up compared to back then. She was a complete crazy bitch back then." Camel reminisced about the past with a fed-up expression.
"Do you remember when we first saw her? It was seriously chilling seeing her pop out from between the corpses. Ame and I were like, wow... thinking about it now, it's truly horrific."
"What did she say back then? 'No prisoners,' was it? What was it, Tiria?"
"Aaaagh!!! Shut up!!!!" Alicia screamed and lunged to cover Mom and Tiria's mouths.
"Morian Noona, was Alicia Noona an enemy of Mom's?"
"Not exactly an enemy... more like a difference in opinion. Those kinds of clashes happen sometimes on the front lines."
It seemed like there was a complicated story hidden there. I felt like I’d ruined the mood, so I had to mediate.
I pointed at Mom.
"United Kingdom Army!"
"Huh?" Mom, who was blocking Alicia, asked back blankly.
"Imperial Army!"
Alicia let out a long sigh and stopped attacking Mom and Tiria.
"United Kingdom Army!"
"...What, are you asking where we're from now?" The Black Cow prosecutor looked at me with narrowed eyes. Since I didn't care, I pointed at Hindel.
"...Imperial Army?"
"According to the laws of war, the Dragon race is forbidden from combat in inter-state conflicts outside of the 'front lines,' excluding colonies. I am affiliated with the Empire, yes."
I didn't know what kind of bullshit that was, but I nodded as if I understood.
"Imperial Army!"
"I'm from the United Kingdom."
I guessed Morian because she was a second-generation chaebol, but I seemed to be wrong. I looked at Yuseoha. She kept her mouth shut. Everyone started looking at me with expectant eyes.
"...United Kingdom?"
"Seoha is from the Undersea Kingdom of Balak. She's a princess."
Yuseoha's lips twitched as if she wanted to explain something. This loser pink-head, total pervert mermaid who dreams of being trained by her son, is a princess?
"That's unfair!"
"I think so too sometimes. Still, she's pretty far down the line of succession, so she's just a loafer. A total loafer."
Alicia clicked her tongue while looking at Yuseoha, who was blushing and unable to say anything.
"But how did you all meet?"
Alicia avoided my gaze. It seemed like there was something there.
"Everyone is a disciple of the Master. Except for Alicia and Seoha." Camel replied as she filled the grill with charcoal.
"If it's the Master... Grandmother?"
"Yeah, your grandmother. Ah, what was Seoha...?"
Yuseoha glared at Camel with wide eyes.
"Don't tease the girl who can't speak. Seoha came as a guest back then."
"Ah, I remember now. I remember. I was groaning in pain, covered in bruises after getting beaten by the Master, and suddenly a pink girl started applying medicine to me. I was so surprised back then..."
Camel chuckled and patted Yuseoha on the back. The pink-head smiled with an expression of relief.