Vacation Beach Trip # 2
Vacation Beach Trip # 2
After that, Leona and Yu-ri dragged me around some more while we ate and checked out other spots. No, seriously, why is everyone's swimsuit so distracting? Maybe it's because Yu-ri kept messing with me over it. It's stuck in my head.
"Then we'll see you on the day, Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Yeah! Sure! See you then!"
I waved back at Leona, who was waving at me. Leona bought me these zebra-print beach pants today; I'll treasure them as a family heirloom for the rest of my life.
"Oh! I'll send you a picture of my swimsuit, Geun-cheol!"
What a bomb to drop!
"What are you saying, Woo Yu-ri!"
"Yu-ri, please...!"
"Look at that bastard getting his hopes up!"
Something like that—I traded a few barbs with Yu-ri, who was trying to mess with me, then headed home. Hey, just because you're basically my master doesn't mean you can walk all over me.
"Oof."
Anyway, I got home, stripped down to my underwear and T-shirt, washed my feet, planted myself in a chair, and called Si-hoo.
—Brrrr.
But this guy doesn't pick up.
"This bastard's the Sovereign Commander's kid and she's acting like a total princess, huh? Fine, I'll just send a message."
—Click.
I snapped a pic of the beach pants with my phone, attached it, and sent a message.
[What's up?]
She'll see it when she has time.
"Right."
So I went wild today; let me get a quick workout in before washing up. Work up a good sweat, shower, then crash—perfect. I need to buff up as much as I can before we hit the beach.
"Heh heh heh."
Earlier, Leona even let out an exclamation when she saw me in the beach pants. And what does that mean? I've got a killer physique.
—Fwoosh!
I was striking a pose like a Greek statue while thinking that.
"Geun-cheol?"
"Kittteeeeee!"
"Eeek."
Kitty opened a gate and popped out!
—Fwoosh!
I immediately spread all four limbs into an X, launched myself like a facehugger at Kitty who was trying to bolt, and we rolled across the floor wrapped around each other!
"Aagh! Geun-cheol!"
"Kitty, you! You said you'd help me, and then you ran for it!"
She needs a serious talking-to!
"Nooo. I didn't run, a space anomaly suddenly happened and I couldn't intervene. Let me gooo."
Caught in my grip, Kitty squirmed faintly and pleaded her case. Wait, she couldn't intervene?
"Yeah? You didn't abandon me; you ran into trouble and couldn't save me?"
"Mm."
"Then why are you only showing up now?"
"I've been busy with my sister. Anyway, Geun-cheol, what happened? A spatial anomaly occurred and I couldn't see anything."
"What?"
I heroically fought like a madman and she didn't see it? No, wait—she doesn't know anything at all?
"Kitty, you didn't see all that?"
"Nope. So tell me."
"Hm."
It's probably just Kitty who doesn't know.
From the circumstances, it looks like Void Princess knows the deal, but there's a high chance Kitty's still in the dark.
Void Princess clearly knows about that phenomenon and the monster I saw for the first time. On top of that... when I saw that monster, I felt a rage that was like nothing of this world.
Was that monster something that can manipulate human emotions?
Probably, the VP is the only one who knows the answer.
"Before that, Kitty, you spill it first. What the hell was that phenomenon? What the hell pulled something like that?"
"I don't know. She won't tell me anything. Geun-cheol, what happened there?"
"Well, you see..."
I pretended I was about to tell her.
"Not telling!"
I let Kitty go and made my refusal clear!
"Huhh?"
"Kitty, you sneaky little thing! How many times have you messed with me? This time I'm not telling you until you become a good kid!"
"Ah."
Kitty, who'd been listening blankly, opened her mouth.
"Geun-cheol, Big Brooo. Tell meeee."
Nope. Acting cute won't work either.
"I'll be a good kid. M'kay?"
When I turned my head away, Kitty came over and wrapped her arms around my waist. Obviously, I have no intention of telling her.
"But what do I have to do to be a good kid?"
"What should you do, hmm?"
Yeah. Ball's in your court.
No counter-offers accepted.
"That’s for Kitty to figure out."
"Come back with an answer that satisfies me."
"More importantly, Geun-cheol. About the nonsense you told my friend..."
"Yup! Secret extension!"
"Nooooo!"
Kitty latched onto me and kept acting cute, but I'm not letting her off. Unless Void Princess sent her to find out, I'm not telling her for the time being.
If necessary, her sister would send a signal first.
And when that happens, I'll ask her directly. What kind of phenomenon that was.
* * *
A few days later.
"Then let's get going!"
We took Leona's car and set off for the beach.
"Yes!"
"Yeah!"
"Whoa. We're going all the way to the sea in this thing."
Flying in an aircar straight to the beach was so surreal I couldn't begin to describe it. We shot straight to the coast without any of the peak-season traffic.
"Hey. Si-hoo. Anything happen at home?"
I asked Si-hoo, who was sitting next to me on the way,
"Huh? Nah. Nothing like that. Let's just focus on having fun at the beach."
Si-hoo said it as if it was nothing. But there was no way it was nothing. She'd been radio silent since then, and I couldn't even ask whether she checked her phone. Something was definitely up.
Anyway, if she didn't want to talk now, that was fine. There'd be plenty of chances at the lodging or somewhere else.
"Alright, we've arrived!"
We barely did anything and we'd already arrived.
So now do we just unload and go check in to the lodging? The second I got out of the car and opened the trunk, Leona let out a bone-chilling shout!
"Kim Geun-cheol! Move it! Combat readiness posture! Haul all the gear!"
"How the hell do you know combat readiness posture!"
"I know all sorts of military trivia! Now go go!"
"Fine!"
—Shunk!
I pulled the suitcase out of the trunk and extended the handle.
"Oh, Kim Geun-cheol. Carry my sister's things too."
"Yes ma'am!"
If you're the student, you do as you're told.
I grabbed a suitcase handle in each hand. Leona's and Yu-ri's luggage. Mine's just a backpack, so I just wear it.
Leona and Yu-ri were already carrying the cooler and the beach umbrella.
"Geun-cheol. What about mine?"
"Grab your own, man!"
"So mean!"
You're supposed to be a guy; why would I carry it for you?
"Let's head in. Looks like it's just up ahead. Ah, the smell of the ocean is great, isn't it? I can't wait to get out there and play!"
"Then we've gotta run for it! Leona! Let's run!"
"Yeah!"
That's how Leona and I kicked off the ground and sprinted, darting straight toward the lodging. Leona checked us right in. The moment we got assigned our two rooms, we handed off all the luggage.
"Unpack, change your clothes, and come out! We're right in front of the beach! Oh, and make sure you grab all your stuff, too!"
"Got it!"
—Thud.
Anyway, Si-hoo and I went inside our room together.
"Yo."
A brief silence.
"Si-hoo. We've gotta share this room, you know?"
"Uh, uhhuh... Yeah?"
"You go change in the bathroom."
"Usually it's the other way around, isn't it?"
"Hey, man. It's just easier if you're in there. You just get fully dressed and come right out. If I'm in there, even after I'm dressed I've gotta wait around inside."
"Ah, right."
Sure, Si-hoo is a girl, but that doesn't change our usual dynamic. Anyway, Si-hoo grabbed her stuff and went into the bathroom, and I changed straight into my swim trunks.
"Heh heh heh."
Zebra-print beach pants, white T-shirt. And I threw on a beach shirt with the same zebra pattern. Anyone can tell I'm someone who came here to enjoy the ocean.
—Creeeak.
I waited, and Si-hoo came out.
"Ooh, this guy covered up well, huh?"
"Obviously. I've done this a few times."
She's wearing a black short-sleeved full-body swimsuit with beach pants and a shirt on top. Wearing it like that perfectly hides the feminine lines.
"How is it? No problems?"
"Man incarnate."
"You, Geun-cheol...!"
"Anyway hurry up, let's get out there!"
"Fine."
We grabbed the cooler and headed outside.
"Ah, you're out? Let's go then."
"This bastard's a total zebra, I swear."
"You guys are..."
Leona and Yu-ri. Both of them were wearing bikinis with a cardigan draped over. Judging by the colors, Leona's looked sky-blue... and Yu-ri's was black. Because of the cardigans, it gave off a 'missing pants' fashion vibe.
This is seriously distracting... If they take those cardigans off, the whole bikini will be out in the open, right? Yu-ri's stupid antics earlier are making my eyes wander even more.
"Yo. What're you looking at?"
Play dumb!
"That umbrella you're holding, Yu-ri. Where'd that even come from?"
"Ordered it online, obviously. Anyway, let's move!"
"Yeah!"
That's how the four of us left the lodging and headed for the beach.
* * *
—Swooooosh.
The beautiful sound of waves.
—Caaaw!
Refreshing sunshine and white sandy shores. Shouts of beachgoers ring out from every direction, and the distinctive salty scent of the sea tickles my nose.
This heat.
Unbearable.
"Haah! Look at all the people! Alright, Yu-ri! Let's get this umbrella planted!"
"Where's a good spot?"
Looking around, all the good spots were already crammed full of neatly arrayed umbrellas. Do those spots charge a spot fee? Prime real estate always costs money.
So obviously, we just have to set up right next to them. Any farther and the spot totally sucks.
"Let's stake our claim right here!"
Leona stomped on a reasonable patch of sand.
"Yes ma'am."
Yu-ri carried the umbrella over, and I brought the cooler. Then Yu-ri rammed the umbrella into the spot.
"Haah!"
"Haah!"
Now this is a summer resort!
Now all I have to do is sprint energetically into the ocean!
"Fufufu, now that the umbrella's up, it really feels like we're on vacation. A beach umbrella's a must at the seaside."
"Exactly! That's what I'm talking about! Just what I'd expect from our Archangel! You know your stuff about the sea!"
"When you think of the sea, you think of Leona; when you think of Leona, you think of the sea! Ah! Let's go catch crabs a bit later, too!"
"Sounds good! Yo, Si-hoo! Let's bet on who can catch the most crabs!"
"Why are you so motivated all of a sudden... Ah, fine, should we make it a group bet then? Whoever catches the least does all the dishes!"
This guy's talking some sense!
"Hey, hey. So how many points for an octopus?"
Yu-ri's competitive spirit catches fire.
"If a small crab is 1 point, an octopus should be like 50 points, right?"
Wonder how many points a mud shrimp or a pen shell is.
"Fufufu, Kim Geun-cheol? Brace yourself. Because when it comes to crab-catching technique, I'm second to none."
"No, wait, why's she good at catching crabs...?"
Isn't she a European noble young lady?
"It's part of survival training. Well then, let's first enter the wat—"
The moment she said that.
—Shunk.
Some shifty-looking middle-aged guy walked up to us.
"Excuse me. You need to leave. You can't stick an umbrella in the ground here."
Excuse me?
"What are you talking about? Why not?"
"You've gotta pay if you wanna stick an umbrella in. That'll be 50,000 won."
Ah, son of a bitch.
