“Ah puh puh puh!”
“Haap! Yeolgyeokcham!”
“Don’t use skills!”
“Ugh, why are you using it! I’m going to use it too! Blast away, water spray!”
Puhwaaaah!!
Leaving the four playing in the sea behind, I walked out to the beach and approached Apple Flavor, who was staring blankly under the parasol.
Apple Flavor jumped in surprise upon seeing me.
“Why aren’t you playing?”
“Uh, I don’t really like the water…”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
With a flop, as I sat next to Apple Flavor, she gasped and tried to stand up.
“Sit down. Or should we go over there?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Then just stay here.”
Swoosh~ swoosh~
No! Don’t throw that there!
Hyuji! Please don’t throw the water flask!
From the water spray, whoosh…
The sounds of waves and staff enjoying their vacation can be heard.
This peaceful life feels quite unfamiliar.
It’s not that I never had a peaceful moment, but I was always on high alert.
But now there’s no need for that.
Rescuing people who might be under attack somewhere.
The attack of the torn demon race that splits the earth and tears through space.
Those who seek to claim me.
There’s nothing like that now.
I just have to enjoy.
“Uh… why isn’t Lady Lily playing…?”
“You looked bored, so I came to check on you. I should go back now.”
“…Can I ask something I’m curious about?”
“Ask away.”
Swoosh…
Apple Flavor turned her head away, covering her androgynous face with the straw hat.
“Uh… you saw earlier, right?”
“Earlier?”
“When we first entered the resort.”
When we entered the resort.
My group and I left the guide behind and received directions from the staff at the front desk.
They were similar in height and appearance to the islanders.
They were a bit taller than Leo and had a face closer to Western features, but the distinctive detail was that they each wore a fruit-shaped badge on their chests.
“The guide had three strawberries, right?”
“Yes. The guide had five cherries. The islanders had three cherries.”
All travelers, including us, had badges too, and when I asked about their meaning, they said it was just a special culture of the island.
For reference, we also received fruit badges separately.
The badges we got were two cherries.
I received a special two-peach badge, and when I asked why, they said it was given only to the leader of the group.
“But why is that?”
“They say there are several secrets on the island, and perhaps the badge is one of those secrets?”
If it were a culture, it would typically either be unified or randomly given out.
Not distributed with a special ‘criteria.’
But here on Kiki Island, they clearly had a specific standard for distributing the badges.
Kiki Island has strict criteria for handing out badges.
I was staring blankly at the apple flavor for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“That’s an interesting story. But you’re not mistaken, are you?”
“Huh?”
“We came here to have fun.”
It’s a perfectly reasonable argument, but it doesn’t matter.
Even if, as the apple flavor said, there’s a huge secret hidden in the badge that could lead to an incredible reward, I really couldn’t care less.
“I’m on vacation, do I really need to think hard and exert myself?”
“Oh…”
“Plus, the secret is also what keeps Kiki Island going, so it can’t be revealed just like that.”
We’re not here to conquer the ‘touristified’ dungeon of Kiki Island; we genuinely came here to enjoy ourselves.
Even if a World Boss that grants mythical rewards appears here, I’m planning to just ignore it.
Resting is way more important.
“So just relax.”
“I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s okay. You were still pretty sharp. Everyone else isn’t even paying attention to the badges.”
Most people just hang it on their clothes or even ignore it completely.
I, too, just did a basic investigation on the badge and put it on.
Unless something special happens, I have no intention of poking at it further.
“You’re not going to get in the water, right?”
“Nope.”
“Then relax. I’ll turn on the broadcast later and have something to eat, so see you then.”
I approached the remaining four.
The apple flavor, left alone, was awkwardly sipping a drink from the cooler while glancing at their wrist.
A small badge hanging from their bracelet.
“I’m sure there’s something…”
Kiki. ♧1
■
Water play has ended.
I initially thought about streaming while playing in the water, but the ripple effects seemed too overwhelming for even me, so we decided to keep it to ourselves.
Not streaming would be more comfortable for everyone.
As we played with beach balls and splashed in the water, I noticed that some started using techniques. So, I unleashed a flurry of spears made of water, and only then did they stop using techniques.
“Hitting me directly is…”
“Wow. Did you just get knocked down from one hit?”
“The storm…”
“I didn’t empower it that much.”
I didn’t add any real strength to it, so it was just enough to hit with a splash of water.
Naturally, there was no damage and no one got hurt.
“I thought I was going to die…?”
“Ah, Hyuji is a ranker. I specially hit you harder.”
Shouldn’t everyone feel equally hit when they get hit?
So, I deliberately adjusted the intensity based on people’s levels and physical abilities.
Still, it’s a difference between one in a million or one in ten.
“……”
“By the way, why does White Autumn look so sulky?”
“Noooooo…”
Ever since I first jumped into the water, that sulky face.
It’s not really a face of dissatisfaction; more like a face of significant disappointment.
“Why… whyyy…”
“?”
“Why are you still wearing the same clothes during water play?!”
“…Huh?”
“Honestly, I was expecting something else…”
Of course it’s the same.
There’s no way I would wear something like a bikini.
“Then should I wear a bikini instead?”
“…No, well, maybe not a bikini, but at least a rash guard…”
“Hey, that’s rude!”
“Eeek… I’m sorry.”
White Autumn lowered her head, looking all dejected.
Still, she doesn’t demand anything ruder than when we first met.
That sight brought a smile to my face.
I get what she’s saying, but there’s no way I’m even considering wearing a bikini.
This isn’t just about the fact that my gender changed in the past.
Honestly, I’ve become numb to those sensations by now.
If we really go into details… it’s just that it doesn’t match my personality.
‘Lily in a bikini?’
Some might be thrilled, but no matter how I look at it, there’s no way I could go around like that.
Even though I’m wearing the same outfit, it doesn’t cling or reveal anything when it gets wet.
Unless I lose my mind, I guess this personality will stick with me for life?
‘Though I might already be losing it.’
“Then let’s go grab something to eat.”
“Yay~”
“Let’s hurry up and go!”
“Are we turning on the broadcast?”
“Just for a bit? I won’t keep it on for long.”
I actually have something I’ve been putting off.
A secret meal saved just for this day.
“Huh?”
■
[?]
[Lilha!]
[Lilha]
[Oh, what is this?]
[Is it the sea?]
[What are we doing today??]
[Wasn’t today supposed to be a day off?]
[Lilalilalilalilalilalai]
[Wow, where is this?]
[Didn’t they say we were going on vacation?]
[Oh my god]
[What resort is this?]
[Whaaat?]
As soon as I turned it on, viewers flooded in excitedly.
I waited about 5 minutes, just pointing the camera around a bit before flipping it to show myself.
And then, the staff who were standing there too.
“Tada!”
[Oh my god]
[?]
[???????]
[Wow, what a crazy outfit]
[Oh my god]
[Wait, this is so pretty, is this real?]
[Hahahahahaha??]
[Wow]
[What the heck]
[Wow, this is insane for real]
[Oh wow]
[Are you wearing different clothes because it’s vacation?]
[Why were you wearing weird stuff usually, Lily ;;]
“Why have you been dressing so weirdly, Lily? ;;]”
“[Did you throw away your white clothes?]”
“[So hilarious, I can’t deal with this! Hahaha!]”
“Well, I didn’t throw them away. It was a vacation dress code, so we all dressed similarly.”
The editor and manager sitting next to me waved their hands.
In front of them are outdoor beach tables prepared by the resort, filled with food and cooking tools.
The food is way too much and varied for just six people.
I had just asked for the tools, but they generously provided local specialties and expensive dishes.
There are main dishes as well, but…
“[I envy you so much.]”
“[Are you really going on a trip with Lily? I’m so jealous, for real.]”
“[What a divine job;;]”
“[So jealous.]”
“[Lily, you look insane today.]”
“[But everyone’s characters look pretty good, right?]”
“[White Autumn looks a bit different from the image.]”
“[Joah is so cute, haha.]”
“[Ah, this is so frustrating, for real.]”
“[Cute, huh?]”
“[Is Apple Flavor a guy or a girl?]”
“[Are you traveling with a guy, Lily? I’m mad.]”
“[Hahahaha!]”
“[Jesus.]”
Everyone took a glance at the chat, showing strange reactions.
They probably have only managed or edited but never actually broadcasted.
Meanwhile, White Autumn is waving her hands and showcasing her attention-seeking skills.
I clapped my hands to grab everyone’s attention.
8 PM.
The sky started getting dark, and it was time for the planned dinner, so it was time to kick off the real content.
I pulled out two cooking ingredients from my spatial pocket.
“Anyway, today is literally a vacation day, so it’s just a quick streamed broadcast. Today’s show is…”
“Cooking broadcast.”
Two huge red claws, twenty times the size of my forearm.
The proper name is the claws of Crabcrows, the second prince of the Crab Empire.
“Crab?”
“Crab cooking!”
“Eh?”
“[?]”
“[Huh?]”
“[What is that?]”
“[Are you going to use that now?]”
“[Are you going to use that wickedly? Hahaha!]”
“[Sounds delicious.]”
“[Are you really going to cook with that? Hahaha!]”
“[Wow, look at that big crab.]”
“[So that’s why you caught it, to cook it here?]”
“[It must taste sweet.]”
“[Hahahahahaha!]”
“[Info) Lily has cooked and eaten directly in the Crab Empire.]”
“[Ddddddddddddd.]”
“[Hahahahahahahahahaha!]
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