Seira grinned confidently as she spoke.
Swish.
She folded her fan and pointed with her finger.
There was a familiar sight.
A woven mat spread out on the sandy beach, a large watermelon and some wooden sticks resting on top.
The essential items for the watermelon-smashed event that can’t be missed in any Japanese anime beach episode.
But wait, this isn’t Okinawa; it’s Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do?
Doing traditional Japanese watermelon smashing at a Korean valley?
What a horrific hybrid situation.
“How is it? This fun I prepared? Hehe.”
Seira shrugged her shoulders, smirking.
Her lips quivered.
“Ah, yeah. It looks… fun.”
It might be a bit more interesting than just swimming.
Thinking that, I spat out some hollow praise.
“Of course, I knew a little girl would like it.”
Seira shrugged her shoulders in response.
Just then, as I followed her out of the water—
Bzzz.
A vibration echoed from the swimwear pocket.
My phone, wrapped in a waterproof pack, was ringing.
What could it be?
I pulled out my smartphone from the waterproof pack and answered the call.
[Hello. This is Seoul Research, a polling organization.]
A public opinion survey?
What’s this all of a sudden?
Feeling puzzled, just as I was about to hang up—
[Domestic interest is heating up regarding the spouse of Hero Kim Deok-Sung. Who do you support as Hero Kim Deok-Sung’s spouse among Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, Shinozaki Rin, Nishizawa Eri, Hoshino Kasumi, and Kamiya Makoto?]
A voice came through the phone that made me doubt my hearing.
What kind of ridiculous polling is going on right now?
In my special move!
Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do.
Kim Deok-Sung Private Resort. An artificial valley camping site.
At this location, a chicken stew was currently being prepared amidst the bustle of the cooking crew, including Han Seo-Jin.
Tap, tap, tap.
Han Seo-Jin slowed down while chopping green onions with her kitchen knife.
Tap.
“Ugh.”
Han Seo-Jin took a deep breath.
She nearly cut her finger.
“Han Seo-Jin, what’s wrong? You’ve been spacing out since earlier…”
A concerned voice echoed next to her.
It was Kasumi with her purple hair, the beautiful girl.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Hoshino, you don’t need to worry.”
Han Seo-Jin skillfully resumed her usual poker face.
“Still, I’m worried, so please let me know if anything happens!”
Kasim smiled upon seeing that.
Once she confirmed Kasumi was out of sight, Han Seo-Jin sighed and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
‘An uncharacteristic mistake…’
The earlier incident ran through her mind.
Kim Deok-Sung.
The moment she had shown him her bikini.
Thump thump.
Her heart raced as if it were malfunctioning.
[Looks good on you.]
His words echoed in her ears incessantly.
‘I thought this swimsuit wouldn’t suit my ugly body…’
Han Seo-Jin’s eyes quivered slightly.
She wrapped her arms around her shoulders.
It didn’t suit her.
Not just the swimsuit, but she felt she didn’t suit him as a woman.
He was a great national hero, the beacon of the motherland, and her savior.
Such a magnificent person shouldn’t be with someone as lowly as her.
‘Why am I getting unnecessarily excited?’
Han Seo-Jin tried to calm her racing heart.
Her flushed face slowly cooled down.
‘I cannot stand by his side.’
Her lips trembled.
She knew.
She wasn’t worthy of standing beside him.
There was the obvious difference in status between hunters and heroes, but for Han Seo-Jin, there was a more fundamental reason.
‘I… cannot have children…’
She was infertile.
A tragic accident occurred while performing gate defense duties as a hunter, resulting in a surgery that left her with complications.
‘Before being a hunter, not having a proper woman’s body, it’s impossible for me to stand beside him.’
This was Han Seo-Jin’s real secret, which she hadn’t even told her childhood friend Yoo Se-Ra.
That’s why Han Seo-Jin couldn’t stand by his side.
‘All I can do…’
Is to be his shadow, aiding him as much as she can from the darkness.
She must never step into the light or harbor any greed for it.
Of course, if he desired, she wouldn’t hesitate to embrace him, but she wouldn’t wish for more than just that.
That’s as far as her role went.
Han Seo-Jin thought so while she composed herself and continued to chop the cabbage.
*
I hung up the phone.
The content was too absurd.
What is this, some kind of election?
Why on earth would they ask about the heroine’s approval rating?
It had to be a prank call.
‘Who could be playing such a prank…’
[Right? Partner. It’s ridiculous. I almost mistook it for a real poll.]
Even the Black Prince chimed in.
Shaking my head, I put my smartphone back in its waterproof case and headed to the sandy area with watermelons.
“Wow! President, when did you prepare all this?”
“Summer isn’t complete without smashing watermelons!”
There were Yoo-Ji and Ishihara, already amazed at the giant watermelon.
But the skin was a bit unusual.
It looked more black than green, without any stripes.
“Hohoho! Today’s watermelon-breaking event features a special Hokkaido delicacy, the Densuke watermelon, brought in just for this occasion!”
Swish.
Before long, the President approached, fanning himself while grinning.
The chairman was opening his fan and laughing.
“If it’s a Densuke watermelon… a premium watermelon that goes for over 200,000 yen at auctions…!”
Yuji’s eyes sparkled.
That watermelon costs over 2 million yen?
What kind of money nonsense is this?
“That’s easy as pie for me. Huhuhuhu.”
Seira laughed at Yuji’s words.
From the way her cheeks twitched, she seemed quite pleased.
“Alright, let’s do some watermelon smashing. Who will smash this watermelon?”
*Tap.*
Seira folded her fan and pointed at the watermelon.
Her gaze turned towards me.
“Hey, kid. How about you give it a shot?”
Watermelon smashing.
It’s a classic event that pops up every time an anime hits the beach.
But do I really want to do it myself?
Don’t I just get to eat the smashed watermelon afterward?
“What kind of childish watermelon smashing is this…?”
“Are you saying you don’t want to…?”
Seira’s shoulders drooped slightly at my words.
*Tap, Tap.*
She clapped her folded fan against her palm.
Seira spoke to me in a serious tone.
“Well then, I’ll just have to use my secret technique…”
Secret technique? What on earth is that?
Just hearing the explanation gives me an ominous feeling—must be my imagination, right?
Even in midsummer, I feel a chill.
“Deok-Sung oppa!”
Seira’s childish voice tickled my ear.
*Grab.*
She caught my arm.
“Aren’t you going to play watermelon smashing with me, Deok-Sung oppa? It’s bad to not play with super cute Seira. I might cry!”
Seira was pouting like a little kid.
My head was throbbing.
Is she speaking rationally?
[Hah… Sister…]
The Black Prince sighed heavily in my mind.
[…I can’t take this anymore, partner…]
He spoke in a gloomy tone.
I couldn’t look at that any longer.
My stomach churned.
“Alright. I’ll do it, Mr. Chairman.”
I sighed internally and rose from my seat.
“Really? Deok-Sung oppa! You’ll do it for me? Thanks! Seira believed in your kindness! Hehe.”
But I said no, so why is she acting like that?
My head is pounding.
Just as I was about to grab the back of my neck.
“Truly, Seira! You’re cute, even if not as cute as Kusunagi!”
*Flash.*
With a sparkle, Kusunagi appeared next to Yuji.
Dressed in a striking black kimono, she approached Seira with a smile.
“Mm, mm? Really? Seira is cute? Thanks! Kusunagi!”
Seira beamed at Kusunagi’s compliment.
Seeing these two—an ancient spirit and a human—praising each other in their youthful forms made my breakfast want to come up.
Especially with Kusunagi, someone I wanted to avoid seeing.
I sighed and grabbed the string on the mat to cover my eyes.
No matter what, I needed to smash that watermelon quickly, just to avoid seeing that scene any longer.
Feeling around.
I grabbed the wooden stick with my hand.
It was pitch black without my sight.
Using my senses could make this simple, but that wouldn’t be necessary.
[Partner, that’s right. There. Now you just need to bring it down.]
I’ve got the Black Prince by my side.
I’ve gotten used to the grip of this stick.
Following the Black Prince’s guidance, I strike down with the stick.
Swish.
I feel the dull impact as the stick hits the watermelon with a sound like it just got smashed.
“Wow! Brother, you’re amazing!”
“The watermelon is split into four pieces! Kim!”
I hear Ishihara and Yuji reacting from the side.
“Good job, Deok-Sung! I’m so happy! Hehe. To think you could even knock over a little kid, no one can resist this body’s ultimate move.”
I can even hear Seira’s voice.
Wait, what?
Ultimate move?
If this ultimate move means a technique that literally kills by definition, then I guess it does.
Because right now, I’m ridiculously embarrassed.
[Oh dear······.]
The Black Prince feels the same way.
He throws off the strap from his head.
As my sight returns, the first thing I see is the watermelon, split into four pieces just as Yuji said.
“Well then, let’s eat the watermelon.”
Seira coughs lightly while blushing.
She pulls out a kitchen knife from somewhere and slices the watermelon with skill.
She sits down on the mat.
As expected from a watermelon worth over 2 million won, the red flesh looks delicious.
“Master, this watermelon is as sweet as Kusunagi’s love. Please, have a taste.”
“Okay, I got it. Kusunagi.”
Kusunagi sits beside Yuji and starts feeding him watermelon.
They’re having a great time together.
I hope they continue to enjoy each other’s company for a hundred years.
And stay away from me.
Zing.
Feeling my gaze, Kusunagi glares at me.
“What are you looking at?”
“Hmph.”
Kusunagi turns away.
Maybe because she got scolded by Haru last time, she can’t be openly hostile but still keeps a needless wariness.
Not cool.
“Ahem. Little one. How is the watermelon I cut? Would you like to have a bite?”
Seira hands me a slice of watermelon with a flushed face.
Since it’s already cut, there’s no reason not to eat it.
I take a bite from Seira’s watermelon.
It’s sweet and refreshing like it just came out of the fridge.
Nice.
So this is why both Japan and Korea eat watermelon in the summer.
“It’s delicious.”
“Hehe, I’m glad to hear that it suits your taste. Ahem.”
Seira’s face twitches with joy.
If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging like a puppy’s right now.
A puppy?
I think I’m losing it.
“Alright, I’ll eat some watermelon too.”
“I want some too!”
Just as Ishihara and Seira dashed in to devour the watermelon quickly,
“Master!”
From afar, I heard Eri’s voice.
“Lunch is ready! Let’s eat baeksuk together!”
Eri, smiling in her school miz, called out to us.
As if we hadn’t already finished the watermelon.
Now it’s time to check out that baeksuk.
*
Artificial valley, camping site.
On the outdoor table set for meals, a big pot with steam wafting up is placed.
The smell of boiled chicken tickles my nose.
“Here you go.”
Olivia, wearing an apron over her bikini, scoops the baeksuk into bowls with a ladle.
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