Chapter 237
It was early morning, and he was having breakfast with everyone.
Franz naturally continued his meal while observing them out of the corner of his eye.
“Are they okay now…?”
They were eating while exchanging conversation naturally. It was a completely different sight from yesterday’s dinner, where not a single word was spoken.
If there was one problem amidst such a peaceful atmosphere, it was that he now had a concern of his own.
“So Yuna told them about that…”
Franz couldn’t easily understand Yuna’s thoughts. Even if she had confessed, revealing that fact to others was a completely different matter.
Not to mention, she had told them of all people. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen from now on.
Did those thoughts show on his face?
“Is the meal not to your liking?”
A servant suddenly asked in a low voice.
“The meal is delicious, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
The servant stepped back once again.
Including her, there were a total of five servants present. One servant was exclusively assigned to each person.
It was incredibly awkward whenever they made eye contact while eating.
He knew this kind of treatment was natural for an honored guest from the empire, but he still couldn’t erase the thought that it was burdensome.
Time passed, and it was around the time the meal was coming to an end.
“Magic Tower master, do you have any plans for today?”
Arian asked while wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.
Plans…
“I’m planning to go to a lake. There’s a pretty place.”
“If it’s a lake… will we be going into the water perhaps…?”
“That’s up to you. You can go in, or you can just watch.”
Come to think of it, they played in the water when they went to Ganiphus too. It was quite troublesome because they all happened to be wearing white clothes of all things, but it was still pretty fun.
'Surely the same thing won’t happen again.'
They were just as troubled back then, weren’t they? They wouldn’t repeat the same mistake after experiencing that precedent, so it seemed safe to relax.
…Or so he had thought about an hour ago.
Having finished their preparations and gathered, they were wearing white clothes as if they had promised each other.
Just why…?
“Are you guys really going like that?”
“Yeah, is there a problem?”
Yuna tilted her head.
It wasn’t just she; everyone seemed unable to understand the meaning of his question.
So he decided to speak a little more directly.
They would definitely understand if he did this.
“It was troublesome when you wore that in Ganiphus.”
“Was it…? In my memory, it wasn’t particularly troublesome…”
Yuna trailed off and raised the corners of her mouth.
That meant she remembered what had happened, yet still came wearing white clothes.
Just what was she planning to do by acting like this?
Franz let out a short sigh.
“I won’t be held responsible if they get wet and everything shows through.”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Look all you want.”
Yuna puffed out her chest as if proud.
But that was only for a moment. Soon, she looked at the three standing next to her and frowned.
“Being pointlessly big for nothing…”
“Wh-what did you say?!”
“Fufu-, it’s okay. You can be jealous.”
“It definitely feels uncomfortable when moving.”
The four began to bicker over a strange topic.
Listening blankly to their conversation, Franz slowly shook his head.
Somehow, this trip seemed quite dizzying right from the start.
It happened not long after that.
Light flashed, and Franz arrived at the entrance of a large cave. Naturally, the four who had been bickering were with him.
“Franz, didn’t you say we were going to a lake…?”
“Well, just follow me for now.”
Instead of answering Hera’s question, Franz took a step toward the inside of the cave.
Compared to the sweltering outside, the inside of the cave was quite cool. It felt a bit humid instead, but it was at a tolerable level.
“Wow…”
“It’s incredibly pretty…”
They let out exclamations of admiration as they followed Franz’s footsteps.
It was because the colorful lights created by the mana stones embedded in the walls were quite beautiful. It was even more so because the inside of the cave was dark.
'I’m glad I brought them.'
Isn’t that how the person making the plans feels? There was no greater joy than their simply enjoying themselves happily.
How far had they advanced into the cave while looking around like that?
They finally arrived at their destination.
The large lake held water as transparent as glass, and a ray of light was shining down from a hole in the ceiling.
It was a sight truly worthy of being praised as a spectacular view.
“To think there would be a place like this at the end of the cave…”
“Could the lake the Magic Tower lord mentioned perhaps be…”
Hera and Yuna were looking at the lake with entranced expressions.
Standing next to them, Arian and Yusti-ah were speechless and couldn’t say a word.
“I really wanted to bring you here.”
Franz smiled warmly at them.
After admiring the spectacular view of the lake for a while, everyone began to prepare to play in earnest.
They laid the mat they brought on the ground and placed their luggage on top, though their luggage was nothing more than small bags.
It was then. Yuna suddenly approached his side.
“Franz, could you turn around for a moment?”
“Why?”
“Don’t ask why, just turn around for now.”
Just what was she plotting this time?
Franz turned around despite feeling anxious. It wasn’t a particularly difficult task, after all.
“You absolutely must not look back.”
Yuna made him promise firmly and disappeared behind his back.
In the quiet cave, the sound of fabric rubbing together could be heard, rustling.
Since there was nothing to see, he ended up focusing even more on the sound.
How much time passed since then?
“It’s done now. You can turn around.”
The long wait was finally over.
Franz slowly turned his body, feeling extremely tense.
“You guys…”
Franz couldn’t bring himself to continue speaking. It was because the sight before his eyes was far too shocking.
“How is it? Pretty, right?”
Yuna was wearing a red swimsuit, its color just like her hair color.
Was it because she was born a commoner and had lived as a commoner? Out of the four, she had the most skin exposed.
Even so, it was nothing more than an ordinary bikini, but it was an outfit that was hard to imagine easily in this world.
“It’s my first time wearing clothes with a lot of exposure, so…”
Yusti-ah’s swimsuit was in the shape of a one-piece. It clung much tighter than the nun’s habit she usually wore, clearly revealing the contours of her body.
“I am likewise not used to this.”
Hera’s swimsuit had a green background with embroidered floral patterns. It was a swimsuit that suited her perfectly.
“How is it?”
Arian was wearing a sky-blue swimsuit, the color that represented her family and her magic attribute.
Was it because she was born a noble? It had fluttery lace attached to it.
“What should I call this situation…”
Franz was simply flustered. It was because he hadn’t imagined that they would be wearing swimsuits.
In the first place, by the standards of this world, the perception of highly revealing swimsuits wouldn’t be very good.
It was a world where people were shocked just by a woman confessing, yet they were wearing swimsuits that clearly exposed their skin. Honestly, they would look no different from exhibitionists.
“I-is it perhaps weird…?”
Yusti-ah asked while fumbling around her body. It seemed the clinging clothes felt awkward to her.
“No, it suits all of you well. You’re pretty.”
Praise works wonders. Their expressions, which had been full of anxiety, brightened radiantly.
“Magic Tower lord, they say this is the swimsuit trending in Ganiphus these days. I was really hesitant at first too, but looking at it more, I think it’s alright.”
“I agree. It’s comfortable to move in, so it doesn’t feel too bad.”
Arian and Hera said so as they approached.
Was it because they usually bundled themselves up exceptionally well? Their appearances felt even more stimulating.
Thus, Franz had no choice but to turn his eyes elsewhere.
“Then shall we play together now?”
“Play what…?”
“What do you mean, what? We can’t be the only ones going into the water.”
Uh…?
While Franz was thinking that, his body was already flying through the sky.
Arian and Hera had thrown him into the lake.
To be honest, he could have stopped at any time. Floating his body with magic was nothing, after all.
But he didn’t want to do that. If he did, they would definitely be disappointed.
Splash-!
In the end, Franz fell straight into the water.
The water was beyond cool and could even be called cold, so it truly brought him to his senses.
Soon, when Franz lifted his head above the surface, he saw them high-fiving and smiling outside.
“Do they really think they can throw me in and get away with it?”
Franz let out a chuckle, pfft-.
At the same time, the surface of the water rippled, and a giant hand made of water grabbed Arian and Hera.
“U-uh…?”
“F-Franz, I’m sorry. Please forgive me just this oncccce…!”
The giant hand dragged Arian and Hera straight into the water.
With those two taken care of, the only ones left were Yuna and Yusti-ah.
“Come at me anytime!”
“N-no, right? I didn’t do anythingggg…!”
In the end, everyone ended up coming into the water like that.
Didn’t it mean they intended to go into the water, since they had put on swimsuits? Of course, the method was a little different from what they had expected.
Afterward, Franz enjoyed playing in the water with everyone. They had diving competitions and swimming races.
It was at some point during that.
Suddenly, someone poked him in the back with their finger - poke, poke - .
Franz immediately turned his body, and soon he was able to face Yuna.
But just what was going on?
“F-Franz, I can’t find my swimsuit…”
Yuna was covering her chest with her two small hands.