A Chill on the Sun-Drenched Beach
Summer break. It was a brief respite of only about ten days, but during this time, students either rested or visited their families. And during this summer break, the ones I ended up spending my time with were Iris and her companions.
"Does it make any sense for a newly dating couple to spend their vacation apart?"
"I don't think couples have to be glued to each other's sides all the time."
Inside the rattling carriage, Hania and I were having a conversation. To encourage the students, Jerion Academy opened up the Aron Sea—the blue southern ocean—during the summer break. Quite a few students visited the Aron Sea to relax during this period. Iris had decided to visit this very sea.
"True. But Princess Iris already explained the real reason herself, didn't she?"
Hearing that, I fell silent. I turned my gaze toward Iris. Looking out the window, Iris caught my eye and let her lips curl into a faint smile. Lately, she had been smiling at me much more often.
"For the time being, Hanon, this will be better for you too."
Just as Iris said. As a result of Nia Cynthia's assassination attempt coming to light, someone had testified to seeing me heading toward the Demon Palace that day. A knight on shift rotation had spotted me taking a different path into the Demon Palace after parting ways with Sharin. Consequently, my name had suddenly been dragged into the spotlight.
I excused myself by claiming that, as a student council member, I was merely visiting the Demon Palace to prepare for the next battle. But the timing couldn't have been worse. In an instant, people began framing me as the culprit who had tried to kill Nia. Sure enough, the Third Princess's faction made a massive fuss, chanting my name. They were trying to pin Nia Cynthia's assassination attempt entirely on me, claiming I had acted alone.
Not that it would ever work.
The First Prince's faction already knew of my existence. If they let me be framed as a rogue actor, they would lose a prime opportunity to shake the Third Princess's faction. Thus, they brought forth arguments from various angles to defend me. Even without me lifting a finger, they actively gathered evidence to prove my innocence.
However, the Third Princess's faction didn't just sit idly by either. Their plan was to sell me out to buy themselves some time. If I caused enough confusion in the investigation, cutting their tails would become much easier. I was on the verge of being dragged off to the Imperial Palace for interrogation. The one who shielded me from that fate was Iris. After all, she was the one who had originally hinted for me to save Nia. So, she defended me and kept me close by her side.
No matter how powerful the Third Princess's faction was, they couldn't argue when the Third Princess herself spoke up. In the end, they gave up on using me. Their goal had been to buy time anyway; they didn't strictly need me. For them, getting on the bad side of the Third Princess—who could very well become the next Emperor—was something they had to avoid at all costs. Now that they knew the Third Princess and I were on good terms, her faction wouldn't dare touch me again.
Iris had gone out of her way to bring me along on this summer vacation to make our relationship clear to everyone. I could only be grateful to her.
The problem is that my name has surfaced. Once it's out there, eyes will inevitably follow. The First Prince's faction will probably start making their move soon, too. They must have realized by now that I'm not the real Hanon. To uncover my true motives, they will definitely try to approach me. How I navigate this from here on out is entirely up to me.
"And..." At that moment, Iris patted her lap. Watching her quietly, I stood up under Hania's glaring gaze. As soon as I sat in front of Iris, she pulled me into a tight embrace.
Iris possessed a tall, slender frame. Easily towering over the average woman, she was much taller than me, as my current body was only about average height. Thus, I fit perfectly into her embrace. I felt a soft sensation against my back. Iris's signature scent of roses tickled the tip of my nose.
"Hanon is warm. It helps me sleep."
I had essentially become Iris's personal stuffed animal. The residual heat left in my body after absorbing the Fire's Flame was helping her sleep peacefully.
"Ugh... to think Princess Iris is holding him like that..." Hania tore at her handkerchief with eyes full of jealousy. As someone who absolutely adored Iris, she was incredibly envious of me.
Though it's actually incredibly stressful for me. To be honest, I'm terrified of the future. Iris is only acting like this because she believes I'm her cousin. If she ever finds out that, far from being her cousin, I am actually Bikamon—the very person she banished... I might literally die that day. Because of this, every time Iris does this, I feel like I'm walking on thin ice. Yet, I can't exactly refuse a princess's command. Refusing would mean losing my head in a different way.
More than anything, I also wanted Iris to sleep peacefully. She was the destined vessel for Akjon. The more we could reduce Akjon's nightmares, the more we could prevent his possession. Ending Iris's nightmares once and for all would happen in Act 6. Until then, I had to prevent her from being completely consumed by them.
One of the other bad endings: the Nightmare Ending. A bad ending triggered if Iris was completely consumed by her nightmares before Act 6. In this ending, the entire world would plunge into Akjon's nightmare, bringing about its ruin. To prevent this, Iris's nightmare gauge needed constant management.
Normally, I'd be able to see the nightmare percentage. But this was reality now, not a game. I couldn't see Iris's nightmare percentage with my bare eyes. I have to rely on guesswork. Iris's nightmares are still progressing even now. To combat this, I have been constantly working to improve the quality of her sleep.
But this isn't a fundamental solution. In the end, these are all temporary measures. This alone won't completely stop Iris's nightmares. To solve this, there is only one person. I have to summon that guy—the one who can substitute for the Flame of Fighting Spirit—to Jerion Academy. It's one mountain after another. But it's something I must do. I quietly steeled my resolve.
"Hanon got even warmer." First, I think I need to get out of this situation.
The southern Aron Sea. An uncharted ocean pioneered in the past by Aron, who ushered in the Age of Discovery. Since the Flame Butterfly Chapter was filled with both mysteries and various monstrous creatures, pioneering the sea was a monumental achievement, earning those who did it the title of hero for generations. On Apyros Beach, a stretch of the Aron Sea owned by Jerion Academy, students who had come to play were enjoying the water.
The beach is a place that harbors many of the students' dreams. In particular, Apyros Beach was a gathering spot for fresh, youthful teenagers. The sea is a magical place that strips away people's inhibitions. The girls harbored subtle expectations, while the boys steeled their resolves to realize their dreams.
"H-Hey, do you want to hang out with us?" "Oh, um, what should I do..." Thus, many students fully displayed their youthful innocence by the sea. And as for me, watching all of this... I was just a luggage keeper.
"Why do I feel so annoyed for no reason?" On the sandy beach, watching students hit on each other and get hit on right in front of me only fueled my irritation. As I frowned in annoyance, I heard footsteps approaching.
"Why the scary face?" Hearing a familiar voice, I turned my head to see peach-colored hair fluttering in the wind. Naturally, the gazes of the surrounding students instantly locked onto us.
What met my eyes next was a stunningly curvaceous physique, perfectly proportioned in all the right places. Wearing a swimsuit patterned with peach-colored cherry blossoms that matched her hair, Hania Lepiddia, the daughter of the Imperial Knight Commander, stood before me.
I almost let out an exclamation of awe. I had seen illustrations of Hania in a swimsuit before, but now that it was reality, the sheer impact was on a completely different level. And it seemed the surrounding crowd felt the same way, judging by the stinging glares piercing my back. The jealousy of the men was hotter than the summer sun.
"The way they're staring is really unpleasant this time," she noted.
"It's an act of God."
"I didn't wear this for you to look at, you know?"
"Well, since we're dating right now, doesn't that technically mean you wore it for me?"
"Should we break up?"
"Sure. Maybe I'll go hit on some girls too." I decided to leave the luggage and move.
"Where are you going?" At that moment, another voice reached my ears. The voice, carrying a strange, alluring charm, naturally drew my gaze. And then, my vision went completely dark.
"What do you think you're looking at?" Hania had covered my eyes with her hand.
"Hania, my eyes have a duty to behold treasures."
"Don't worry. I'll feast my eyes on them on your behalf, Hanon."
"You two really get along well." Iris's soft chuckle reached my ears. I could feel Hania grinning foolishly at Iris. Taking advantage of the distraction, I quickly poked Hania in the ribs.
"Eek!" Poked on her bare skin, Hania gasped in surprise and pulled her hand away. Immediately after, I faced Iris. She revealed her pale, slender legs beneath a black swimsuit. However, she was wearing a long coat over it, topped with a straw hat. My eyes gradually cooled.
Thud! "Are you crazy? Where do you think you're poking?!" And so, I was struck by Hania and rolled across the sandy beach. I had paid the price for my sins.
"I'm weak to sunlight." Iris's skin was as white as snow. It was only natural that her skin would be sensitive to the sun. I figured as much, but since reality had changed in so many ways, I had wondered if today might be different.
"Come on, Princess Iris. Let's leave someone like him behind and go play by ourselves." Hania gently nudged Iris toward the shore. Watching them, I gathered our things and followed.
I wonder who will show up in this side story. The beach event was a side-story episode of Act 3. Since the visitors to the beach varied depending on Lucas's influence on the heroines, I couldn't even begin to guess who would show up this time. After all, the protagonist, Lucas, was dead.
"Seriously, you worked so hard this time, you're allowed to play a little today!"
"B-But I need to train, even if it's just a little, so I can defeat that man..."
"That's a training addiction! An addiction!" Following Hania and Iris, I heard another familiar voice. The moment I raised my head with a look of disbelief, I saw a girl with honey-blond hair being pushed forward by her friend. I blinked as soon as I saw her. Then, the girl being pushed also looked my way, her eyes widening.
"Y-You?" Isabel Luna. She was standing there, wearing a swimsuit that matched her hair color. Facing her, I couldn't help but take in her appearance. Perhaps due to her intense training lately, her physique was even more toned than in the game's illustrations, with a short skirt lightly covering her thighs. And though she was curled up like a small animal, her chest—which couldn't hide its hidden volume—perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be a 'main heroine.'
"Y-You..." She clearly hadn't expected to run into me, as her face was filled with sheer embarrassment. "Kyaah!" Belatedly, she covered her body with her hands. I doubted that would do much to hide her figure, but one thing was certain: that reaction only made a man's heart race more.
"What are you staring at?" Stepping in to block my view of Isabel was one of her best friends, Mina, a fellow Martial Arts student. "Though our Bel is indeed very pretty."
"M-Mina!" Isabel protested from behind her, but Mina merely snorted and stood her ground confidently. I looked at Mina for a moment before locking eyes with Isabel again. She flinched and timidly hid behind Mina's back.
"I-I didn't come here to skip training! Mina practically begged me to come with her," Isabel rambled, making excuses. Listening quietly, I eventually gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure, have fun." People need to rest sometimes. If this could help clear Isabel's mind, I was all for it.
"Ah..." Yet, for some reason, Isabel looked utterly devastated. What was that about? I told her to have fun, so why that face? As I wondered in confusion, Isabel hung her head low. Tap, tap. Just as I was about to speak to her, someone tapped my shoulder from behind. Turning around, I felt a cold sensation on my cheek. There stood Sharin, poking my cheek with a finger coated in ice cream. So she was here too.
Wearing a dark blue swimsuit, she showed off her overall slender frame, though her lower half was covered by a long skirt. "Heeey, Hanon."
"Why are you poking my cheek with a finger covered in ice cream?"
"Because it's fun."
"It's only fun for you."
"Is it?" Sharin pulled back the hand she had poked my cheek with and sucked the ice cream off her finger with a soft pop. It was an utterly baffling action.
"My cheek is sticky now because of you."
"Should I clean it for you then?" Sharin parted her lips slightly, revealing her tongue.
"No, thanks." If I actually let her do it, things would get incredibly out of hand.
"But the ice cream is going to waste..." Then you shouldn't have poked me with it in the first place. As I wiped my cheek, Mina and Isabel stared at me with strange expressions.
"...Hey, jerk. Are you really that close with Sharin?" Mina looked at me, her face filled with disbelief. I had never left a good impression on Mina. From her perspective, I was probably a highly unpleasant person. So, seeing me act so close with Sharin, who was Isabel's best friend, naturally made her suspicious.
"I've never seen Sharin act like that around a guy before." Mina stared at Sharin, who was happily munching on her ice cream. Sharin's lazy expression gave absolutely nothing away. While Mina tilted her head in confusion, Isabel spoke up. "You and Sharin, too..."
"Hanon, what are you doing?" Cutting Isabel off, Hania made her entrance. Her appearance made everyone freeze. After all, all three of them knew that Hania was supposedly my girlfriend. "Honestly, Princess Iris is waiting." Hania naturally grabbed my hand. For a split second, the gesture made me wonder if I really was her boyfriend, but her eyes quickly scanned the three girls. It was a deliberate move to imprint the idea of our relationship even deeper. Quite the tactician.
But at that moment, for some reason... despite the sweltering summer heat, an inexplicable, bone-chilling cold swept over us.