Chapter 103: Four-Way Confrontation (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: Four-Way Confrontation (4)
Waves crashed against the shore.
The seawater pushed all the way onto the land, coating the sand with white salt before retreating once more.
A southerly breeze thick with salt gently rustled the palm leaves.
From the palm trees lined up tight like a wooden latch came the soft, curtain-like rustle of swishhhhh. Welter, a priest of the Outer God Church, closed his eyes for a moment to take it in.
The salty scent. The sound of the wind that felt as though it were sweeping his mind clean. It was a desperately needed respite for someone like him, whose life was usually weighed down by cleaning up after Yoo Se-in.
Welter opened his eyes.
The idyllic beach landscape, looking as if it had popped straight out of a canvas, remained unchanged. A prayer naturally rose to his lips.
‘O Outer God, your creation is truly beautiful.’
It was a view so thoroughly detached from the soul-crushing grind of daily life.
Just as Welter was refreshing his mind—
Giggle!
A commotion flying in from the distance ruined the mood.
“When you think of the beach, you think of watermelon smashing!”
Choi Seol-ah held a baseball bat high in the air. Welter’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘Her attire is... that, that...’
Choi Seol-ah was wearing a short-sleeved shirt that was already small, tied tightly in a knot right at her solar plexus—a crop top. Below her defined abdominal muscles, she was flaunting her long, bare legs.
Goodness, how immodest.
“Watermelons are meant to be eaten!”
The girl trying to snatch the bat was Hontail. Outwardly, she was a delicate young girl, but her true form was a dragon. And not just any dragon—she was the granddaughter of the Dragon Lord.
And yet...
She was wearing a solid navy, one-piece swimsuit that starkly contrasted with her snow-white skin. In technical terms, it was called a sukumizu.
“...”
O Outer God. Forgive me for knowing such things. All of this was knowledge acquired before I devoted my life to the Church. Welter clasped his hands together in prayer.
“Doggies eat dirt-covered watermelons just fine, though?!”
“A-Am I a dog?!”
“The snout on your true form looks pretty similar.”
Welter watched the two of them play tag despite their massive height difference for a moment before turning his gaze back to the horizon. A fleet of triangular-sailed yachts darted back and forth, shattering the shimmering sunlight on the water.
“It certainly is hot.”
Welter lifted his cloak and wiped the beads of sweat trickling down his temple. The warmth felt pleasant.
‘How peaceful.’
This was Hawaii.
*
Episode. Four-Way Confrontation
“Ugh, aaah. So hot.”
Under the shade of a parasol, Yoo Se-in threw a tantrum. Panting with her tongue sticking out, she looked for all the world like a stray dog from the neighborhood.
She attempted to slide the translucent windbreaker off her shoulders. Instantly, a bark of thunder flew from outside the parasol.
“...Saintess! Your clothes! Your clothes!”
Welter shouted hysterically.
“It’s hot! I said it’s hot!”
“You cannot! How unseemly! If the Saintess, the very face of our Church, were to go around clad in so little, what would become of the Church’s dignity? From that day forth, the Church would slide into ruin!”
“Shit.”
“Shit?!”
“Fuc—”
“Stop it!!”
“Bundling up tight when we came all the way to the ocean is only going to drop the Church’s popularity even more! Am I wrong? I went out of my way to buy a swimsuit, tsk. Fine, whatever. I’m just gonna strip it off!”
“Halt! Repent! Halt!”
“I say I’m taking it off—what can you possibly do about it?”
“If I must!”
Welter scooped up sand and threw it at Yoo Se-in.
“What are you doing! Ptooey! Won’t you stop?! Sand is getting into my mouth, ptooey!”
“Rather than see the Church’s honor besmirched, I shall bury you, Saintess!”
“You bastard! Hey! Kang Geomma! Help me out here, ptooey!”
“...”
Only then did I half-open my eyes.
‘Can’t get a moment’s rest.’
With all the noise bustling around, sleeping was out of the question. In the distance, Choi Seol-ah and Hontail were in the middle of a chase, while close by, the Outer God Church members were wrestling each other.
It wasn’t much different from usual, but their faces were flushed with the unique warmth of the Hawaiian island. Come to think of it, this was my first time in Hawaii for non-work reasons.
A trip with my classmates.
It was a joint proposal by Ryozo and Abel.
It just so happened that Joaquin Academy and its graduate school had finished midterms and entered a lull. On top of that, Balor Joaquin’s Birthday fell on a Sunday, granting an extra substitute holiday for a total of three days off.
I had been kidnapped to Hawaii with my classmates without even knowing why.
It was nice.
It really was, but...
On the other hand, I felt uneasy.
The timing was a bit suspicious.
‘Ever since coming here, Ryozo and Abel haven’t shown their faces once.’
It felt like I needed to prepare myself mentally...
“Kang Geomma!”
How noisy.
Where my gaze landed, Yoo Se-in was buried in a pile of sand with only her head sticking out. Welter had managed to cover her in a mini-mountain in the meantime.
“Pfft.”
“Pf-fft?”
“Hold on, let me take a picture.”
I paused the auto-hunting for Blessing of the Apocalypse M and quickly launched the camera app.
“Turn it off! Won't you turn it off?!”
“I don't want to.”
“Hey, you!”
The sand mound heaved.
“Bishop.”
“Yes.”
Welter leaped onto the mound like lightning. Sitting cross-legged, he pressed Yoo Se-in down with his weight.
“You cannot!”
“Seriouslyyyyy!”
Snap, snap.
Yoo Se-in resisted several times, but soon wore an enlightened expression. Might as well enjoy a sand bath while she was at it.
Restarting the paused auto-hunting, I suddenly asked Welter,
“By the way, Bishop, how did you end up coming along?”
“It is near the Gehenna Gate, is it not? Escorting the Saintess is my destiny.”
Yoo Se-in chimed in.
“Look who’s talking. Saying you gotta protect the Saintess while building sandcastles.”
“...Be quiet.”
“Saintess this, Saintess that. Sigh, whatever. I’m going to sleep.”
...
“...zZZ.”
Yoo Se-in’s head slumped to the side. Welter watched her fall fast asleep in an instant and let out a deep sigh.
“...At any rate, to continue what I was saying. The reason I came is none other than a tip-off from the Pope.”
The Pope of the Outer God Church. It had been quite a while since I last saw him. He explored truth in a quiet retreat a few steps removed from the secular world. He cared little for expanding the Church's influence, living more like a scholar.
“What kind of tip-off?”
“Regarding the Second Apocalypse.”
Without realizing it, I glanced at my smartphone. Reading my gaze, Welter nodded.
“He explicitly stated that it is related to you.”
The Pope often glimpsed heaven’s secrets and dropped prophecies.
It was pretty funny that I, the Sword God, listened to divine oracles.
Then again, in various mythologies, gods often held private audiences with prophets to seek counsel.
‘Since I am also a half-god who sealed my own divinity.’
Something was definitely brewing. It would be best to listen closely to the Pope’s message.
Uncrossing my arms from behind my head, I sat upright.
“Did he say how imminent it is?”
“He did not go so far as to mention that.”
“Still, intuition says it’s in the near future. Considering you’re already stuck like glue to this fake Saintess, Bishop.”
“...Yes. Because of—no, thanks to that. Haha.”
Welter laughed hollowly.
“My duty is my duty, but I must apologize, Heavenly Sword. You finally have a vacation with your classmates, and I feel as though I am merely intruding.”
“Intruding? Not at all. Since you’re here, enjoy your rest. You must have a tough time because of that fake Saintess.”
“Heavenly Sword...!”
Welter looked overwhelmed with emotion.
He must have accumulated a lot of grievances over time.
To think a grown man could make such a heavy, burdened face.
Welter pressed his fingertips against his eyelids before looking around the beach. His cloak, bearing Cain’s Mark, fluttered in the sea breeze.
“It truly is a wonderful place. So much so that it is hard to believe a gate leading to the Demon Realm exists on this very island.”
“The deeper the shadow, the more brilliant the light becomes.”
Welter blinked. A gentle curve formed at the corners of his lips.
“You truly have grown so mature. To embed so much meaning in a single phrase... I am proud of you.”
Welter had been an adult back when I was still a minor. Even though he consistently addressed me with formal respect, he cared for me like a younger brother ten years his junior.
“On the other hand... if I may dare say so, I also feel sorry for you, Heavenly Sword. Carrying such a heavy burden on your shoulders from such a young age.”
“I can still handle it.”
“Haha. As expected. Still, whenever you need help, please call upon me, Heavenly Sword.”
“Yes. I definitely will.”
We smiled at each other.
Welter tucked his long sideburns behind his ear and spoke.
“That aside, swimsuits these days reveal far too much skin. This won't do...”
“They just have high defense stats. Don't worry.”
“Defense stats? Whatever do you mean by that?”
Ah. Slip of the tongue.
“Pfft!”
“...”
Yoo Se-in snickered softly. When did she wake up?
“Care to rest in peace?”
“Watch your mouth. Since I can’t expose even a bit of bare skin, my defense is 0—a single basic attack could put me six feet under.”
“Saintess.”
Welter glared sideways at her.
“You have been playing far too many video games.”
“This is all preparation to face the Apocalypse, Bishop Welter.”
“Do not use divine power to create a halo when saying such things.”
“Tsk. Daddy’s going back to sleep.”
...
“...zZZ.”
Yoo Se-in fell fast asleep once more. Just as Welter was shaking his head in sheer exasperation—
Whooosh.
The flow of wind catching his cloak shifted. Unconsciously, our eyes followed the tail of the gust. The moment recognition struck, every aperture on both of our male faces opened wide.
Step, step.
Two women walked gracefully toward us. At first, our eyes stung as if looking directly into the sun.
“Mmm. So refreshing.”
Medea the Sage stretched. Her swimsuit featured silk lace wrapped around her hips that tickled her ankles, captivating anyone watching.
“Wanna have a swimming contest?”
Bongseon Rachel turned around and stretched her arms overhead. Her braided golden twin-tails lightly tapped the back of her thighs.
“Sorry. I float like a brick.”
“Why wear a swimsuit if you can’t swim?”
“Fufu. Does this look like a swimsuit to you? This is armor.”
Medea cast a sly glance in my direction. I quickly snapped my head away.
‘Huh?’
Bro. Your eyes are gonna pop out of your skull.
“Ahem!”
Noticing my gaze, Welter let out a loud, deliberate cough.
“T-Truly, these are the end times! T-The outfits on everyone! Goodness.”
On the inside, he was probably chanting prayers.
However...
Step.
With the next arrival, the composure Welter had barely managed to cling to shattered like foam on the crest of a wave.
My reaction was no different.
“...Abel.”
I choked on my breath, feeling my throat tighten up. Beautiful. Any further description felt like it would only diminish her true essence.
The wind playfully brushed against her skirt. Her tightly fitted H-line silhouette made my head throb. The curvature of her legs made my lower lip quiver slightly.
Feeling my unabashed gaze, Abel twirled a strand of hair behind her ear with her index finger in embarrassment.
“D-Does it look weird?”
Not a chance.
Thank you for being born.
Thank you for marrying me.
“Pwetty.”
“Pfft.”
When I bit my tongue, Abel let out a soft chuckle.
“I’m glad. But the next one won't be easy to beat either.”
Abel stepped aside slightly.
The shadow lifted, bringing the figure behind her fully into view.
Swishhhhh.
If not for the sound of the crashing waves, one would have thought time had stopped. The palm trees swayed, leaving blurs in their wake.
“...Don't stare so much.”
“Ah, ah.”
“You know I don't usually wear clothes like this.”
She was covered far more than Rachel, let alone Medea. Only her neckline was subtly exposed—an off-shoulder top paired with a coarsely woven straw hat.
Below her delicately contoured collarbone, her blouse fluttered softly in the breeze. Shyly, Ryozo pushed Abel in front of her to hide.
I lowered my eyes like a man who had committed a crime.
“Even so,”
Ryozo took off her hat. Wiping her mouth, she muttered softly.
“Why turn your head away immediately?”
Sand managed to find its way between Welter’s teeth.
“O-Outer God...”
That God almost had a heart attack too.
*
I spent half the day in total awkwardness.
The impact of her beauty, previously hidden behind a screen of familiarity, had thoroughly rattled my brain. Pathetically flustered and helpless, before I knew it, the light of dawn stretched across the horizon.
The shimmering water transformed from particles of light into a deep crimson dye.
Step, step.
I walked quietly, staring at the straw hat of Ryozo leading the way ahead of me.
‘Ryozo and me.’
It had been quite a while since it was just the two of us. Ever since Avallon Island, we had always been bustling about in meetings.
“Should we stop around here?”
“Yeah.”
Stopping abruptly, Ryozo crouched down. From the bag she brought, she pulled out a few chopstick-sized sticks. Sparklers—small, portable fireworks.
I sat down across from Ryozo. Hugging her legs, Ryozo let the stick dangle from her remaining hand.
Fzzzt...
A spark bloomed at the tip. I felt a presence nearby.
Over there, Choi Seol-ah formed a gun with her fingers and winked at me. Then, as if her mission was complete, she leisurely drifted away.
Sizzle.
Hawaiian sunsets are unusually short.
The surroundings turned dark in the blink of an eye. Only the single cup of sparkler flame dangling from Ryozo’s hand spun out a lonely light.
“Is the game fun?”
Ryozo brought it up while staring into the firework.
“Ah, yeah. Well.”
Damn it.
My already poor speaking skills became even sparser.
“I want to play with you too, but I can hardly find the time.”
“Are you... perhaps...”
Ryozo knew. She knew that I wasn’t idling away time playing games for no reason.
I had forgotten. I could fool a ghost, but not Ryozo.
“When everything stemming from that game is over, let's play together then.”
“Yeah...”
“Just like right now.”
It was tranquil.
“...”
“...”
What should I say?
My brain's circuits had fried.
Should I plant my forehead in the sand and apologize for Medea and Rachel?
Just then—
“Hey, Ryozo.”
“I completely respect your decision.”
The acrid smell of burning drifted up.
“...It’d be a lie to say it doesn't hurt. But Rachel sees into people better than anyone I know. You’ve heard the saying, ‘You can measure ten fathoms of water, but not one fathom of a human heart,’ right?”
“Yeah.”
“I might be able to measure ten fathoms of water, but I’m not very good at reading people. Rachel is the opposite. She might look like a musclehead, but she’s exceptionally sharp when it comes to people.”
No.
Ryozo, you are just as thoughtful.
“Rachel probably decided that, in her opinion, you need her right now.”
The sparkler was already halfway burnt, bending downward. Did this reflect her heavy, burning heart?
Sizzle.
Silence settled once more. The stars looked down on us serenely.
“Someday...”
It didn't take long before Ryozo spoke again.
“Will I be able to hear your secret?”
“...”
I couldn't answer immediately.
Secret.
Two words filled up to the tip of my throat.
‘That I am the Sword God.’
Along with the truth that I came from another world.
Ryozo, how much have you guessed?
I was afraid.
However—
“The day will come when you’ll know.”
“I see.”
Ryozo nodded.
“Doesn't this look like a star?”
She gestured with her chin toward the almost burnt-out sparkler.
“Yeah. It looks just like one.”
“People make wishes on stars. Would this be any different?”
“Should we make a wish?”
“Yeah. This is way closer than the stars in the sky.”
“Okay.”
I closed my eyes.
‘Just like this.’
Even if this is greed, I want to preserve this everyday life.
‘With everyone.’
Especially with you.
“...”
“Done?”
After a moment, I opened my eyes.
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
Ryozo grasped the flame that had burned right down to her fingernails.
“Wish received.”
In the darkness, her arms wrapped around my neck.