Chapter 108

“What are you two doing?”

“What are you two doing here?”

Since there were only four of us, including me, who came to play together, they approached us with a bored look and asked.

As for me, well, I was just splashing around in the sea…

“[Brother Evan said he would help me swim.]”

Actually, there wasn’t much to swimming.

I felt like I had to answer this way.

If I mentioned that Evan and I held hands and went into the sea together, the two of them, especially Stella, might feel jealous.

In such cases, it’s better to draw a clear line.

Evan seemed to look at me with a strange expression, but I successfully managed to pass it off naturally.

So what were they expecting me to answer?

If I answered incorrectly, it would take just an instant for my image to plummet, but seeing them looking at me as if they were somewhat disappointed gave me chills.

I wanted to think it wasn’t possible, but could it be…?

Hmm.

It probably wasn’t.

“Instead of just the two of you, let’s all play together!”

Actually, I had brought something specially prepared for this occasion!

Uriel smiled as she said this and began rummaging through her bag.

Curious about what it was, I checked and found…

A ball?

Beach volleyball?

“I heard this is really fun. It’s made from magical materials, so it doesn’t tear easily, and it holds air inside while having magic runes engraved on it, making it very light and able to float! If you pack magic power into it before hitting, you can send it flying far!”

“I guess if you’re of royal blood, it’s nothing to just casually play with such things…”

Stella, who was watching this, mumbled in amazement.

I never expected it to be a fantasy version of beach volleyball…

Moreover, it’s a floating object due to its magical properties, which was just too ridiculous.

So if someone misses while trying to hit it, won’t it just fly away?

That could be somewhat dangerous.

I looked at Uriel with a slightly worried expression, but she assured me that wouldn’t happen. She explained that it was designed to stop flying after going a certain distance, so there was no need to worry and forcibly invited us to participate in the game.

Though “forcibly” isn’t the right word, as she looked very disappointed if we didn’t join in, so it felt more like we had no choice…

“Then let me show you how it’s done!”

Uriel said with a bright smile, lifting the ball into the air.

As magic power smoothly flowed into the ball, it used the power to levitate thanks to the engraved magic runes.

After checking the angle of the floating ball for a moment, she nodded, as if deciding it was sufficient, and shouted,

“Hey!”

Swish!

She swung her arm and struck the ball toward us.

Whoosh!

In an instant.

In the blink of an eye, it grazed Evan’s cheek and flew away.

“Uh…”

It was such an incredible speed that Evan couldn’t even react.

In shock, Evan stood there blankly, blood dripping down his cheek.

“Uh, um…?”

Meanwhile, Uriel looked at her handiwork with a tilted head, seemingly bewildered and not grasping what she had just done.

Could it be she had no idea how strong she was…?

“Uh… if you hit it with all your strength, isn’t it obvious this would happen, Uriel…?”

Stella, watching from the side, spoke with an incredulous expression.

Eventually, as I watched Uriel being scolded by Stella, I approached Evan and treated the wound caused by Uriel just moments ago.

Well… it wasn’t a serious injury, just a graze on his cheek, so it wasn’t really a problem.

This wasn’t too bad, either.

*

After eating and spending time playing together, we enjoyed the day.

To be honest, I was worried when they first mentioned coming to the beach, but I never expected to have this much fun. More importantly, it was my first time in the sea with this body, and I was worried I might not know how to swim, but that turned out to be unfounded.

During our playful time in the ocean, I almost cramped up from excessive fun, but because I was with Evan, he noticed my distress right away and helped me, so I managed to be okay.

…

It was a pity.

I was ready to indulge in both the pain of cramping and the agony of drowning…

But well, perhaps it wasn’t so bad after all.

It would be wrong to worry too much.

“Sigh…”

At night, I snuck out to the beach, feeling the sea breeze as I sat on the sand.

What can I say… even though I was supposed to be feeling the charm of the night sea, it felt profoundly melancholy instead.

‘I wish my eyes could see more quickly…’

Not that this would change anything.

They say if we defeat the Demon King, we can grant one wish, but even if I choose to return to my original world, it wouldn’t matter; my eyes and ears would eventually revert to their original state, rendering it pointless.

Furthermore, in the case of gaining my sight and hearing, if it were a condition I had been born with, there wouldn’t be a way to remedy it, and even if something existed to fix such disabilities, there wouldn’t be any in this world.

Being aware of all this, even when I’m deteriorating and decaying, left me with a sense of longing that I couldn’t help.

I might never perceive the world with two eyes and ears as long as I remain here.

I should probably go back after looking around a bit.

Just then, I felt someone approaching from a distance.

‘Is that… Evan?’

In such situations, the detection of Divine Power is truly beneficial. Even if someone approaches from behind, I can instantly tell who it is.

“[Brother Evan?]”

“Ah… you noticed, huh.”

“[Hehe… I’m always watching my surroundings with Divine Power. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize you, Brother Evan.]”

I sent a teasing thought while smiling.

Seeing his disappointment, it seemed he had intended to surprise me, but that was futile.

Evan looked a bit regretful and came over to sit beside me.

I thought he came closer to say something, but surprisingly, he simply sat next to me without exchanging much conversation.

As we sat silently next to each other, all sorts of thoughts began to enter my mind.

It had been a long time since I sat with Evan like this, and I wondered how much time had passed since we had met, and so on… those kinds of thoughts, really.

How long had passed in this silence where we didn’t share any conversation before Evan suddenly spoke up.

“Hey, Aria.”

“[Ah… yes? Did you call?]”

“Yeah.”

“[What’s the matter?]”

“Well… um, it’s nothing serious, I just wanted to ask something.”

“[Something you want to ask…]”

That was something I could answer easily.

I responded in a nonchalant tone.

“[If it’s something I can answer, I’ll gladly do so.]”

“It’s really nothing to worry about, just…”

Evan turned back to look at the sea with a nostalgic expression, taking a moment before continuing.

After about ten seconds of looking away, Evan turned his head back toward me and asked.

“If we defeat the Demon King… what will you do?”

“[… Ah.]”

Was that it?

Come to think of it, I hadn’t had many personal conversations with Evan.

At his question, I put on a thoughtful expression.

To be honest, I had been planning to return to my original world after defeating the Demon King, so I couldn’t really answer his question.

For everyone, this world is their reality, and the world in which they live. If I said I was going back to my original world, no one would understand.

‘Hmm…’

I concentrated my Divine Power toward Evan for a moment.

Evan seemed to genuinely want a heartfelt answer from me, but…

This was a matter I couldn’t respond to despite wanting to.

‘I’m sorry.’

I felt bad for betraying his expectations, but it was something I couldn’t help.

With a smile unique to a Saint, I replied to Evan.

“[I want to live a peaceful life, continuing to perform good deeds and pray to God.]”

“… I see.”

The thought of defeating the Demon King.

I lowered my head, recalling the three people I had befriended here, who were practically my friends and companions.

I knew it was a painful thing for everyone.

I knew it would be a heart-wrenching experience to part ways like this.

But it was also inevitable.

If everything were to return to the way it was, and if I needed to return to my original world…

Then defeating the Demon King would become the final act of Aria in this world.