Chapter 64: Chapter 64

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Summer Break

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Summer break.

It wasn't a very long period, only about ten days.

During this time, students either rested or visited their hometowns.

And during that summer break,

I ended up staying with Iris and her companions.

"Does it make sense for a couple who just started dating to be apart during the break?"

"I don't think couples always have to be glued to each other, though."

Inside the rattling carriage,

Hania and I were talking.

During the summer break, to encourage students, Jerion Academy even opened up the Aron Sea, a blue ocean to the south.

Some students took advantage of this period to visit the Aron Sea and relax.

Iris had decided to visit this Aron Sea.

"Right. But Lady Iris already explained the real reason, didn't she?"

Hearing that, I stopped speaking.

Then, I shifted my gaze towards Iris.

Iris, who had been looking out the window, subtly curved her lips upward when our eyes met.

Lately, Iris had been smiling much more often.

"For now, Hannon, it'll be better for you too."

Just as Iris said.

As a result of Nia Cynthia's assassination attempt coming to light,

There was a witness who happened to see me heading towards the Demon Palace that day.

A knight changing shifts at the Demon Palace had seen me taking a different path to the palace, separate from Sharin.

As a result, my name unexpectedly surfaced.

I excused myself, claiming I was on my way to visit the Demon Palace as a student council member, preparing for the next Demon Palace battle.

But the timing was just too coincidental.

In an instant, I began to be framed as Nia's killer.

Sure enough, the Third Princess faction loudly proclaimed my name.

They intended to use this opportunity to accuse me of unilaterally carrying out Nia Cynthia's assassination.

'That's not going to happen, though.'

The First Prince faction already knew of my existence.

If they allowed me to be framed for acting alone, they would lose the opportunity to shake the Third Princess faction.

So, they gathered opinions from various sources and defended me.

Even without my intervention, they actively collected evidence proving my innocence.

However, the Third Princess faction didn't stay idle either.

They planned to use me to buy themselves some time.

If the investigation became confused because of me, it would be even easier for them to cut ties.

Thus, I was in danger of being apprehended by the Imperial Palace and interrogated.

And it was Iris who prevented this.

Originally, it was Iris who had given me the hint to save Nia.

So, she defended me and quickly took me under her wing.

"Don't use my cousin for something like this."

No matter how powerful the Third Princess faction was, if the Third Princess herself spoke like this, there was nothing they could do.

Ultimately, they gave up on using me.

Their goal was merely to buy time.

I wasn't absolutely indispensable.

From their perspective, incurring the displeasure of the Third Princess, who could become Emperor, was something to avoid at all costs.

As long as they knew that the Third Princess and I were on good terms,

the Third Princess faction wouldn't bother me anymore.

Knowing this, Iris made sure to leave a clear impression.

That's why she deliberately brought me along for this summer break.

For my part, I could only be grateful to Iris.

'The problem is that my name has surfaced, though.'

Once it surfaces, attention is bound to follow.

'It feels like the First Prince faction will start approaching me soon too.'

They must have realized that I wasn't the real Hannon.

So, they would definitely approach me, if only to uncover my true intentions.

How I would navigate this in the future was entirely up to me.

"And,"

At that moment, Iris patted her lap.

I, who had been watching her intently, stood up under Hania's glare.

As soon as I sat in front of Iris, she pulled me into a hug.

Iris possessed long limbs.

Easily surpassing the average woman's height,

she was much taller than me, who was about average height for a woman.

Thus, I fit perfectly in Iris's embrace.

A soft sensation was felt against my back.

Iris's unique rose scent tickled my nose.

"Hannon is warm, it helps me fall asleep."

I had currently become Iris's comfort doll.

The residual heat remaining in my body after embracing the Flame of Fire.

That helped Iris sleep comfortably.

"Ugh, ugh, Lady Iris is hugging him like that."

Hania tore at a handkerchief with eyes full of jealousy.

As someone who loved Iris, she couldn't help but envy me.

'Meanwhile, I'm actually having a really hard time.'

To be honest, I dreaded the future.

Iris's current actions were based on her believing I was her cousin.

If she were to find out that I was not her cousin at all, but Bikerman, whom she herself had driven away...

'I might die that very day.'

Thanks to this, every time Iris did something like this, I felt like I was walking on thin ice.

Yet, I couldn't refuse a Princess's command.

If I refused, it would be my neck in a different sense.

'More than anything,'

I also wanted Iris to fall asleep comfortably.

She was the destined vessel for the Demonic Lord's possession.

The more I could reduce the Demonic Lord's nightmares, the more I could prevent the possession itself.

'Putting an end to Iris's nightmares...'

That happens in Act 6.

So until then,

I had to prevent Iris from being completely consumed by the nightmares.

'Another one of the bad endings: the Nightmare Ending.'

This bad ending occurred if Iris was completely consumed by nightmares earlier than Act 6.

In this ending, the world would fall entirely into the Demonic Lord's nightmare and meet its end.

To prevent this, Iris's nightmares needed constant management.

'Originally, I would see the nightmare percentage.'

But now, this was reality, not a game.

So, Iris's nightmare percentage couldn't be checked with the naked eye.

'I had no choice but to estimate.'

Iris's nightmares were still ongoing.

To combat this, I had consistently worked to improve the quality of her sleep.

'But it's not a fundamental solution.'

In the end, it was all just a temporary measure.

This alone couldn't completely stop Iris's nightmares.

'To solve this,'

Only one person.

I needed to summon the one who could replace the Flame of Fighting Spirit to Jerion Academy.

'It's one difficulty after another.'

But it was something I had to accomplish.

I quietly fueled my determination.

"Hannon got warmer."

First, I probably needed to get out of this situation.

* * *

The Aron Sea to the south.

In the past, it was an unknown sea discovered by Aron, who had ushered in the Age of Exploration.

As the "Flame Butterfly" arc contained many mysterious and monstrous creatures,

pioneering the sea was a great feat, enough to be called heroic for generations.

At Aphros Beach, Jerion Academy's private beach on the Aron Sea,

students who had come to the sea were enjoying a swim.

The sea was a place where students harbored many dreams.

Especially Aphros Beach, a gathering spot for fresh-faced teenagers.

The sea was a magical place that made people shed a layer of themselves.

Women held a subtle sense of anticipation, and men steeled their resolve to pursue their dreams.

"H-hey, wanna hang out with us!"

"Ah, uhm, I don't know."

And so, many students at the beach openly displayed the freshness of their youth.

And I, observing this,

was merely a porter, guarding the luggage.

"Why do I feel inexplicably annoyed?"

On the sandy beach.

Watching students hit on others and get hit on right before my eyes,

an unnecessary irritation welled up within me.

As I frowned in annoyance, footsteps soon approached.

"Why are you making such a fierce face?"

Hearing the familiar voice, I turned my head, and there, peach-colored hair fluttered.

Naturally, the gazes of the surrounding students instantly converged on us.

What then met my eyes was an outstanding physique, with curves in all the right places.

She was wearing a peach-colored swimsuit adorned with cherry blossoms, matching her hair color.

The daughter of the Imperial Knight Commander,

Hania Lepidaia, was there.

I almost let out an exclamation of admiration unwittingly.

I had seen Hania in a swimsuit in illustrations before.

But now that it was reality, its impact was on a whole different level.

And it seemed the same for those around us.

The gazes shooting from behind felt stinging.

The jealousy of the men was hotter than the beach sun.

"This time, the stares are unpleasant."

"It's unavoidable."

"I didn't wear this to show *you*, you know?"

"But we're a couple now, so doesn't that make it something you wore to show me?"

"Should we break up?"

"Fine. Maybe I'll go try my luck with some flirting too."

I decided to leave the luggage and move.

"Where are you going?"

At that moment, another voice reached my ears.

A subtly alluring voice naturally drew my gaze.

And then, my vision went black.

"What are you trying to look at?"

It was because Hania had covered my eyes with her hand.

"Hania, my eyes have a duty to behold treasures."

"Don't worry. I'll take my fill for you instead, Hannon."

"You two certainly get along well."

Iris's short laugh reached my ears.

I could sense Hania grinning foolishly at Iris.

Seizing the opportunity, I quickly poked Hania in the side.

"Hmph!"

Hania, poked on her bare skin, gasped and pulled her hand away.

Immediately, I faced Iris.

She revealed her fair, slender legs beneath a black swimsuit.

However, she was also wearing a long coat over it and a straw hat.

My eyes gradually cooled.

*Wham!*

"Are you crazy? Where are you poking me?!"

And then I was hit by Hania and rolled on the sand.

I paid the price for my sin.

"I'm sensitive to sunlight, you see."

Iris's skin was as white as snow.

It was only natural that such skin would be sensitive to the sun.

'I knew it would be like this from the start, but...'

Since reality had changed so much, I wondered if today might be different.

"Alright, Lady Iris, let's leave someone like him and go play by ourselves."

Hania gently pushed Iris forward, heading towards the beach.

Watching them, I gathered the luggage and followed.

'I wonder who will appear in this side story.'

The beach event was a side episode in Act 3.

Since the visitors to the beach varied depending on Lucas's influence on the heroines,

I couldn't guess who would show up at the beach this time.

And that was because Lucas, the protagonist, was dead.

"Seriously, you've worked so hard this time, you can play a little today!"

"B-but I need to train even a little bit for that man..."

"That's training addiction. Addiction!"

As I followed Hania and Iris, another familiar voice reached my ears.

The moment I looked up with a 'no way' expression,

I saw the owner of honey-blonde hair being pushed forward by her friend.

The moment I saw her, I blinked.

Then, she, who was being pushed, looked my way and her eyes widened.

"Y-you?"

Isabel Luna.

She was there, wearing a swimsuit that matched her hair color.

Facing her, I unconsciously took in her swimsuit attire.

Perhaps due to her recent diligent training, her physique was even more refined than in the illustrations, with a short skirt that barely covered her thighs.

And though she was hunched up like a small animal, her chest, unable to conceal its power, was also visible.

Isabel perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be a 'main heroine.'

"Y-you."

Of course, she hadn't expected to run into me, and her face was filled with dismay.

"Kyaa!"

And belatedly, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to cover her body.

As if that would actually hide her body.

One thing was for sure: that action only made men react even more.

"What are you staring at?"

At that moment, the one who stepped in front of Isabel, shielding her, was one of her best friends.

It was Mina, also from the Martial Arts Department.

"My Bell is very pretty, but..."

"Mi-Minaa!"

Isabel protested from behind her, but Mina snorted and acted boldly.

After glancing at Mina for a moment, my eyes met Isabel's again.

At that, she flinched and passively hid behind Mina.

"I-I didn't come here to skip training! Mina just begged me so much to come."

Isabel offered her excuses.

Listening quietly, I soon put on an indifferent expression.

"Alright, have fun."

People needed time to rest too.

If this could help lift Isabel's spirits, I was all for it.

"Ah."

But for some reason, Isabel wore a crestfallen expression.

What was it? I told her to have fun, so why was she making that face?

As I wondered, Isabel bowed her head deeply.

*Tap, tap-*

Just as I was about to speak to her, someone tapped me on the back.

When I turned my head, I felt a cold sensation on my cheek.

There was Sharin, poking my cheek with a finger that had scooped up ice cream.

So she was here too.

Wearing a dark blue swimsuit, she revealed her generally slender body.

However, she had covered her lower half with a long skirt.

"Hiiiii, Hannon."

"Why are you poking my cheek with a hand covered in ice cream?"

"It's fun, isn't it?"

"Only for you."

"Is that so?"

Sharin brought the hand that had poked my cheek to her mouth and sucked the ice cream off her finger.

It was an utterly inexplicable action.

"Now my cheek is sticky because of you."

"Shall I clean it for you?"

Sharin slightly parted her lips, revealing her tongue.

"No, thanks."

If I asked her to, it felt like it would turn into a huge mess.

"What a waste of ice cream."

Then you shouldn't have poked me.

As I wiped my cheek, Mina and Isabel looked at me with strange eyes.

"...You rude bastard, are you really close with Sharin?"

Mina stared at me with an expression of disbelief.

I had never left a good impression on Mina.

From Mina's perspective, I was probably a rather unwelcome person.

So, it was natural for her to be puzzled that I was close with Sharin, Isabel's best friend.

"Sharin, I've never seen her act like that towards a guy before."

Mina looked at Sharin, who was mumbling about her ice cream.

Sharin's languid face revealed nothing.

While Mina tilted her head, Isabel opened her mouth.

"Sharin and you, too..."

"Hannon, what are you doing?"

Cutting off Isabel's words, Hania appeared.

Everyone paused at her arrival.

That was because all three of them here knew that Hania was my girlfriend.

"Honestly, Lady Iris is waiting."

Hania naturally took my hand.

For a moment, her action made me wonder if I really was Hania's boyfriend.

But Hania's gaze quickly scanned the three people.

It was a deliberate action, meant to reinforce the impression at this opportunity.

A strategist, indeed.

But at that moment, for some reason,

a chilling aura, inexplicable for the sweaty summer, swept over us.