Chapter 52: Maidens' Vacation
Yustia and Dominique let their singing voices resonate under the blue sky, while Ilmheld played a melody on her lute. It was ordinary music, but its refreshing and cheerful tune suited the scenery well.
Today, the weather was quite sunny once again. The temperature was gradually rising, making it a perfect time for a swim in the sea.
On the other hand, wearing coats or similar clothing inside the labyrinth could be stuffy, but the temperature inside the labyrinth varied by section. Nevertheless, with a little planning like changing clothes before entering, it wasn't a problem.
We left Termuills and traveled along the coastal road in a carriage.
White sandy beaches and a clear blue sky. The color of the sea was a bright and pale green – the kind often referred to as emerald green, truly beautiful.
The carriage was a modified covered wagon. We borrowed it from the stables so everyone could ride together. Although it lacked the interior of the original carriage, it was spacious and open, not bad at all. We invited Forestbard and Rosetta as well, but it seemed they had some requests and work piled up, so their schedules didn't align.
Well, it's a bit disappointing, but this time it's just the party members and the monster girls.
"It's so beautiful..."
"The sea... it's so clear."
Grace and Ashley gazed at the sea from the carriage.
Even from my perspective, I thought the sea was beautiful, so for the two of them seeing it for the first time, it must have been quite impressive. Just this alone made the trip worthwhile.
"By the way, how far are we going? This stretch of beach looks nice too."
"They say there's a better spot a little further ahead."
When Sheila heard about going to the sea, she didn't react much at first, but... judging by her perked tail, it seemed she was quite pleased. Speaking of her, I've recently realized that it's easier to understand her true feelings by focusing on her ears and tail rather than her expressions, especially when she's in a relaxed or unguarded state.
Knowing the terrain around Termuills well, I also knew suitable places to play near the sea. I pretended to have researched it in the town and led us to that location.
We directed the carriage towards a cape. Changing direction midway, we proceeded through a path between rock formations and forests, where we spotted a natural tunnel that was wide enough for the carriage to pass, as if carved into the rock face. It was somewhat hidden, but in BFO, it was a popular spot near Termuills.
"Oh, there it is."
I had wondered how far we could take the carriage before the wheels got stuck in the sandy ground. However, it seemed we could go all the way through to the other side of the tunnel.
The tunnel itself wasn't very long. It quickly came to an end.
"Wow..."
Ashley exclaimed softly.
"I think I might like this atmosphere," Yustia said as she looked at the scene.
I hadn't expected to receive Siren's seal of approval.
Emerging from the tunnel, we found ourselves on a beach surrounded on three sides by rock walls, with the sea stretching before us.
It was a kind of cove, with ample space and plenty of sunlight, so even though we were surrounded by rocks, it didn't feel gloomy. It was a serene and mysterious place, like a secret haven.
Towards the middle of the cove, there was a small island, or rather, a round rock protruding from the water's surface. It seemed like a good spot for fishing.
"Alright, I'll change in the shade of those trees."
"Got it."
Then I should change behind those rocks.
I quickly changed and returned. First, I used a fifth-tier dark magic called "Dark Field" to cast a thin defensive barrier over a wide area.
Since it offered some resistance against light attribute damage... maybe it could also block the effects of UV rays.
With a harp in hand, Yustia ran towards the sea and jumped in. Her face was beaming with a smile... quite different from her usual cool demeanor. As soon as she dove in, she dispelled her humanoid transformation and leaped out of the water.
"Hahaha!"
Well, I'm glad she's enjoying herself. She's truly like a fish in water.
Dominique also dispelled her humanoid form and was darting around just above the water's surface. It was a bit different from swimming in the sea, but she seemed to be having fun.
"Oh my, everyone's dispelled their humanoid forms. Well, there's no one around, after all."
Ilmheld also said that while dispelling her humanoid form. She seemed to be planning to swim too, entering the sea while keeping her lower body in the form of a snake. She wriggled her body and swam skillfully. It was my first time seeing a Lamia swim, but... I didn't really watch too closely. The reason being, her human-like form was quite revealing... a bit hard to know where to look.
Next to emerge was Sheila.
...She seemed to be wearing quite a daring, low-rise bikini... probably to avoid her tail getting in the way. Well, it might be unavoidable. Those two are a bit too much for the eyes.
"I want to eat fish."
Saying that, Sheila headed towards the central rocky area of the cove with a fishing rod in hand, doing a kind of doggy-paddle or cat-paddle swimming style.
"Teo"
Turning around as my name is called, I see Grace and Ashley walking together. Both of them have a translucent, white complexion.
Under the bright sunlight, they shimmer like sunlight itself... It's a completely different experience from seeing them in the bathroom. Indeed, swimsuits are meant for the sea.
"Grace, can you swim?"
She should have grown up inland. When I fell into the waterway, she was the one who pulled me out, or at least I think she was. I don't remember that moment very well, but she definitely jumped into the water to help me.
"Yes. While I've never swum in the ocean, the waves here seem calm. I believe I can swim without any issues."
At least flowing water... seems to be unrelated to Grace. Maybe it's because she's a dampyr, or due to the effect of the ring. Or perhaps the vampires in this world are different in that regard. Water magic didn't seem to be particularly effective either.
It's true that she dislikes direct sunlight, but when it comes to the true nature of vampires, there's a wide variation among individuals. The vampire folklore on Earth is a mix of various myths, and the fear of running water might have been confused with vampire legends, possibly due to similarities with how someone with rabies fears water.
Either way, as long as Grace is fine, that's what matters.
"And Ashley?"
"I have never swum before."
Ashley seems a bit nervous.
"Well then, let's start by getting used to the shallow area. I've also learned water magic for underwater breathing, so there's no need to worry about drowning."
"Yes."
Playing in the shallow waves is a good idea too. Grace seems a bit worried about me, but it's okay. With the ability for underwater breathing, I won't drown anymore.
"Yes, that's right. Relax your body like that. You're doing well."
Ashley quickly learns to swim under Grace's guidance. Since she can breathe underwater, she doesn't struggle much to learn how to breathe between strokes. The lack of fear of drowning allows her to relax.
Grace seems a bit surprised by the saltwater, but she must have been able to swim naturally to begin with.
I'm floating on the water's surface, testing the feeling of using water magic for underwater activities.
It seems like Shiela has caught a good number of fish. As soon as Justia took her place on the rocks and started playing the harp, the fish went into a feeding frenzy. Their tails are sticking up, and their expressions seem somewhat joyful. It's obvious they're quite pleased.
"Hmm?"
As I watch everyone playing in the shallow water, my attention is caught by Dominic flying above the water's surface, creating white ripples. An idea comes to mind. Let's try it out.
First, Aqua Walk – using the water magic for walking on water, and simultaneously using water manipulation magic to generate propulsion.
"Wow."
Slicing through the water's surface, my body moves forward. I control the magic to turn left and right.
This works. With a bit more control over the magic, could I glide on water like this even on land?
I tried it out by riding up onto the sand and using life magic to create water, and as planned, I was able to glide on the ground.
Not only is it practical, it's also incredibly fun. It allows me to achieve speeds similar to water skiing, giving a sensation quite different from flying. Everyone is looking at me with surprised expressions.
"This is interesting. I never thought humans could impress me with water."
That's Yustia's assessment.
"Teodor-sama, that's amazing!"
"Indeed. It looks so much fun."
"Can we try it too?"
When I invite the two excited onlookers to join, they eagerly nod.
Using Aqua Walk, they hold onto my hands. I become their makeshift water bike.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Yes!"
We speed across the water's surface, holding hands like skating on ice. The speed is slightly gentler than before, but both of them are delighted.
Hmm... It was supposed to be a training exercise, but it ended up being more of a playtime. Nevertheless, I've unintentionally acquired a new skill. This might come in handy within the labyrinth.
However, it's a bit unstable when pulling someone else along. Maintaining balance becomes a challenge when accelerating or decelerating. Since the speed is toned down for this, if it's ever used in a real situation, I should probably use it by myself.
"This is... so much fun."
"But... my soles are ticklish."
Unlike me, who uses the propulsion force, the two being pulled seem to have a slightly different sensation.
Laughing joyfully, they grip onto my arms when their balance falters.
Of course, they're both in swimsuits. Their soft and warm touch spreads throughout my arms.
I should give myself credit for not letting go of control over the magic.