Beach Vacation ①
"Phew—the beach is great."
Jinseok smiled, gazing at the dazzling sea and white sand beach. Out here on vacation by the ocean, he felt a rare leisure after escaping his packed daily routine, his fatigue melting away.
It wasn't just Jinseok, either. Team Valkyrie was on a temporary break, with every member enjoying the beach getaway. Hero work, unlike other jobs, didn't follow a regular schedule. That's why they could take time off on a weekday instead of a holiday, letting them relax at a beach mostly free of crowds.
The blazing sun, sparkling white sands, azure waves. With hardly anyone around, it was perfect for unwinding.
"Jinseok! Tent's all set? Come on over!"
From the water, Serin splashed around, calling him to join her in the sea. She wore a pink swimsuit that matched her cherry-blossom hair—a two-piece with frills that kept it modest, paired with a swim skirt below.
"Yeah, got it. Coming."
Jinseok had laid out their spot and pitched the tent single-handedly, using his strength and skill. It was no trouble at all for him and didn't take long. With the tent up, he dashed straight to the water.
Splash-splash—
Pfsh!
The moment Jinseok dove in, Miyeon—who'd been slicing through waves like a pro swimmer—leapt from the sea with the force of a breaching dolphin, soaring several meters into the air. Her form evoked a dolphin perfectly. Twisting into flips midair, she plunged back down.
Splash!
Pfsh!
Splash!
Pfsh!
"Phew!"
Even those superhuman feats were just a light warm-up for an S-rank hero like Miyeon. After a few more leaps and aerial twists, she landed gracefully on the beach with a sigh.
Miyeon's swimsuit was a blue high-leg one-piece that perfectly accentuated her slender, athletic figure and the elegant lines of her long, smooth legs.
There weren't many guys on the beach, but every one stared at her swimsuit-clad body in awe. Couples got smacked upside the head by their girlfriends for it.
"Sis is seriously amazing..."
Jinseok found himself admiring her movements too, despite himself. He had physical enhancement too, but the gap between him—a B-rank—and an S-rank like Miyeon was vast. Anytime she flexed her powers even a little, he couldn't help but marvel.
"Eh? You like figures like Unnie Miyeon's too, Jinseok?"
"H-Huh? N-No, that's not what I meant."
But Serin, who'd been right beside him, overheard his mutter and got the wrong idea. She thought he was gushing over Miyeon's body.
"Ugh... Figures... I'm not tall like Unnie Miyeon, and I'm kinda chubby too."
Serin had a bit of a complex about her figure. She was petite, not as slim as Miyeon. Sure, her small frame came with generous, well-shaped breasts and hips, making her plenty alluring. But she envied Miyeon's tall, sleek build.
"Figures you'd prefer a body like Unnie Miyeon's, Jinseok."
"N-No! I was just impressed by her powers, that's all."
Jinseok rushed to correct her assumption that he idealized Miyeon's type.
"R-Really?"
"O-Of course. And honestly, I think a body like yours is way more attractive."
"Heehee. You two look like you're having fun."
A short distance away, Ye-eun watched Jinseok soothe Serin with a warm smile.
"Serin, you should show off your figure more boldly. You're cute, and you're a great S-rank hero—when are you gonna stop lacking confidence?"
Ye-eun wore a revealing white bikini that highlighted her voluptuous curves—massive breasts, wide hips, and a firm rear.
"But compared to you unnies, I'm..."
"Pfft. You've got such a cool boyfriend—don't sell yourself short."
Ye-eun encouraged her too.
...
"Whoa, it's Team Valkyrie. They're seriously hot as hell."
"Never thought I'd spot them here."
"Damn, check out those tits."
"Woo-hoo. Jackpot."
Team Valkyrie's arrival drew tons of attention from beachgoers. Their stunning looks made them one of the most popular hero teams, especially Miyeon, Serin, and Ye-eun—they had male fans buzzing like they were an idol group.
"Phew. They're swarming."
"Were there this many people?"
"They must've come to see us."
The beach had started quiet and empty, but word spread about Team Valkyrie, and crowds gathered near their tent. Jinseok hastily set up a perimeter line, while other team staff blocked excessive approaches.
"Man, this is nuts."
Jinseok held the line, physically blocking overly eager folks. The sheer numbers were overwhelming—like if he let up, it'd turn into a total mob.
Meanwhile, Miyeon, Serin, and Ye-eun had finished swimming and ducked into the tent for a break, munching pre-sliced watermelon. It was a bit stuffy inside, but after all that water play, it tasted amazing.
"Sigh. Can't even enjoy a vacation in peace. What a drag."
"We still had fun, right? Let's just eat up and head out."
"Yeah. We're famous now—gotta live with it."
Even the cool-headed Miyeon felt a twinge of pity for the fawning crowds outside. Serin and Ye-eun chuckled ruefully.
"Show us Miyeon!"
"Serin too! Ye-eun! Come on!"
"Everyone, we're not here for promo today. This is our rest time—please don't push."
As the crowd grew rowdier, some demands turned unreasonable. Jinseok yelled to calm them, his sturdy build keeping anyone from crossing the line.
"That guy's Yoo Jinseok, right?"
"Yeah, the one dating Serin?"
"Tch. Nothing special, acting all high and mighty."
"Yeah, yeah. Dumb-looking face, just tall and buff. Ugh."
But amid the throng, some recognized Jinseok and shot jealous glares, grumbling. Surrounded by Team Valkyrie's three beauties—and dating Serin to boot—he was in an enviable spot.
(Hmph. Yeah. Jealous, huh? You losers.)
Jinseok had grown used to the envious stares and snide remarks. No point agonizing over it—he just let them stew in their envy, brazenly owning it.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!
Emergency notice! Monster outbreak alert! Monster outbreak alert!
Monsters have appeared at the beach! All beachgoers, evacuate to shelters immediately!
"Huh? What's that sound? No way!"
The blaring alarm pierced the beach air. Jinseok knew instantly it was a monster alert—he'd heard it dozens of times on the job.
"Wh-What's going on? Monster alert?"
"Monsters here too?"
"We gotta run? For real?"
"But where?"
Panic rippled through the crowd. More people than expected, too few guides, and most vacationers clueless about shelters. Chaos spread fast.
"Damn it. Came to relax, and this happens. Sis! Monster alert!"
Jinseok shouted to Miyeon, Serin, and Ye-eun resting in the tent.