Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Summer Beach Lacks Romance (3)
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“Bro, that one! I wanna ride that big tube!”
Sihyun was eyeing something huge—a tube? A boat? Whatever that thing floating out there was big enough for at least two people.
Out in the water, plenty of kids and what looked like their parents were already having a blast on them, and there was a rental stand nearby.
“But... that doesn't seem like a tube for a 28-year-old.”
I couldn't help thinking I was way too jaded and beat down by adult life for stuff like that.
“Bro, shut up and go rent one. You wanna taste bus taxi hell on the way back too?”
She was pulling out the nuclear option.
I had no choice but to trudge over to the rental stand. People were lined up waiting their turn, so I slipped into the queue. Mostly families with kids, which just made my lonely solo mission feel even sadder.
“Excuse meee~”
A voice called from behind me mid-line, so I turned around.
“Yes?”
A petite woman was looking up at me from right behind.
“You here alone?”
Her eyes were sparkling like she'd just found her owner—total lost puppy vibes. If she had a tail, it'd be wagging like crazy.
“No, I'm here with my sister.”
“Ohh, gotcha. Wanna join us anyway? One of my group's missing—how about we all hang out together?!”
She went straight for the kill, leaving me momentarily stunned. That puppy comparison made it hard to brush her off harshly, so I hemmed and hawed.
“Uh... my sister's kinda shy, so probably not.”
Sister card activated. What're you gonna do when the group's a hassle?
“No worries! Me and my group get along with everyone! Mind giving me your number?!”
...Not working.
“No way. Back off. Seriously.”
The line was inching forward, but the puppy wouldn't quit yapping at me. Stuck with no options, I shot desperate looks around for backup. Anyone wanna save me from this?
“Bro. What're you doing? Still not rented it?”
A familiar voice hit right on cue, and words tumbled out.
“Sihyun, help! This girl's harassing me.”
“Oh? You must be the sister! Wanna play with us?!”
“What's the deal here?”
Sihyun stared at me like she was watching a comedy sketch, total deadpan.
“She's harassing me.”
“Hah... Bro, you attract the weirdest crap. Can't leave you alone for a second.”
“Eep.”
“Forget it. We'll tube later or whatever.”
Sihyun grabbed my moping hand and yanked me out of line.
- Hey! Just your number...
“No. Can't you see how bummed he looks?”
“He's not a kid, though...”
“You boiled the poor baby till he deflated like this.”
“I didn't...”
“Already ugly enough to worry about, and now you wrecked him. Aigoo, breaks my heart.”
“Hey!”
“Pfft!”
She teased till she cracked herself up. I pouted despite the help—complicated feelings all around.
“Bro, let's just chill and kill time. Tube's a bummer to miss, but whatever.”
Her beaming pull was impossible to resist, so I followed. Tons of time, stuff everywhere—something would do.
The summer sand offered romance for like five minutes. Under the midday sun, the beach got scorching hot as asphalt, killing the vibe fast after a few toe dips and pics.
So we ended up fleeing to some parasol shade, sprawling out. Spreading our mat and melting into the shadow made our heat-sapped bodies scream in relief.
“Haaah~ Feels alive again.”
“No clue why you're such a mess. Here, catch!”
Sihyun, back from a quick errand, pressed something ice-cold to my cheek. My half-closed eyes snapped open as I bolted upright.
“Whoa, that's freezing. Thought you'd ditched—went for drinks?”
“You were whining so much, had to shut you up quick.”
“Harsh~”
I chugged the peachy sweetness from the can; it rinsed my mouth cool and sweet. Throat quenched, energy trickled back. First outdoor jaunt in ages, and it wrecked me.
“Sihyun, no swimming. I'm wiped already...”
“Nobody swims at the beach anyway. We can just lounge here. It's a chill trip—what's the big deal?”
Wait, really?
“Cool. I'm crashing then~ Wake me later~”
“Bro, no! You can't just...”
Too late—eyes shut, old habit kicked in, out like a light.
- Hey! Hey, you little...!
Warm but breezy—perfect for me.
How long since a daytime nap? My early-riser routine made it feel weird.
The parasol-filtered warmth was gone—afternoon blaze passed. Breeze whispering from somewhere, I cracked my eyes.
Narrow view: a tiny fan waving beside me. And Sihyun's sharp glare, annoyed I'd finally woken. Super pissed face, but still fanning—guilt trip central.
“Uh... hey? Nice evening~”
“Yeah, real nice. Slept like a rock, huh?”
“Evening already? Food time...? Grilled shellfish...? My treat!”
“With what?”
“Uh... your card.”
Only thing in my wallet.
“Bro, I wanna Chestnut Flick your skull thirty-five times.”
“Sorry.”
“Sigh, fine. Let's eat. Short walk past the beach.”
Sihyun brushed off her clothes and stood. I followed, packing up. Dusk beach emptying fast; parasols and trash all that lingered.
Off the sand, streetlights flickered on. Clamshell spots lined up, kitschy bulbs dangling bright.
“Bro, any place? Or walk more?”
“Walk a bit. Weather's nice—stroll vibe?”
“Sure~ Not bad.”
We strolled past the row, beach path hugging shore. Sun dipped peekaboo-style, now gone, spraying purple sunset. Opposite horizon darkened nightward; gentle waves lapped.
Wave sounds, muted by crowds earlier, now trickled noisy-yet-calm to ears, mingling with distant chatter.
That over there—a gate?
“Sihyun, gate up ahead?”
“Yeah? Those small ones? They let 'em break on purpose now.”
“Huh? Why? Dangerous, right?”
Festival gate memories—rushed in to seal quick. Weird.
“See how tiny it is? Probably sub-F-rank. Below F, no loot drops, monster cores microscopic.”
“Guilds skip 'em—loss to enter. Let it break, sweep once. Saves time/effort. Association clears all preemptively, but guilds chase profit.”
I nodded at her check-in glance.
“Oh... so that's one about to break?”
“Yup. Within six hours. Whoa, cracking now.”
Gate edge warping, cracks spidering like scars on its round portal face, spreading fast.
“Can we watch up close?”
First time seeing; she shrugged okay.
“Should be fine. Local guild's got safety covered.”
I led to the gate. Crowds already gathered; front had hunters in goofy armor, weapons ready.
Break hit as we arrived—crack CRACK-ed wide, ripping the door open.
- Everyone, heads up!
Distant guild hunters warned, but gawkers ignored.
Torrents of water gushed out, laced with sea monsters—big frog things...? Hmm, familiar...
- Tidal wave! Keep civilians clear! Folks, back up slow!
“New monster type. Low gates always spawn rarities.”
Sihyun seemed new to 'em too. But they rang bells. Pretoria beast? Nah.
“Anyway, bro, wave's bigger than expected—fall back.”
“Yeah~”
I started retreating with her. Or tried.
- Kyaaah!
Till a scream yanked my curse. Damn hero syndrome—I bolted toward it. Spotted civilian swept up; legs moved first.
Bless
[Legs reinforced]
I whispered low, boosted my legs, kicked ground, plunged into the wave, hauled the sucker out into my arms.
“You okay?”
Stabilized the coughing woman in my hold. She'd gulped tons—hacked it up, then focused on me.
“Cough...! Y-yeah... fine...? Wow...”
Seemed lucid; scooped her up, dashed beyond wave range.
“Bro! Are you nuts? Why'd you run into danger?!”
Sihyun sprinted over frantic.
“Um... we have a connection now, right? Your number...?”
The rescuee's eyes glazed dreamy.
“...Bro, you don't live for this crap, do you? Picking up girls every chance?”
Misunderstanding exploded—totally innocent here.
“No way. Back off. Seriously.”
All I could do was repeat to the blushing number-hunter.