"I disrupted its shadows with the bright light. I'm glad it worked!"
"Nice job, Phoebe!"
The wolf hadn't dodged because it was trying to counterattack using shadows. Phoebe's magic, the light that appeared above, interfered with that plan, allowing Archie to pierce it before it could react and defend itself.
"Hmm, my levels and stats are going up, but I don't really feel any stronger... I can tell I'm a bit more durable, but that's about it."
"Lena, you've definitely gotten faster! Plus, you sent that wolf flying with a full swing. I'd say you've become quite strong!"
Maybe it's because I'm facing an opponent for the first time that I don't feel the change? From Phoebe's perspective, it seems I've improved significantly.
"Is that so... we'll fight a bit more, will you join me?"
"Absolutely!"
After that, we battled various foes such as black wolves, large deer, and small dinosaur-like enemies, gaining valuable experience. Initially, I struggled a bit, but thanks to my MP-dependent armor, my HP never dropped below half, and I was able to focus on fighting due to the regenerative healing.
After about an hour of fighting, when it was time to log out, I found I could defeat enemies around the Three Streets area with hardly a scratch. Of course, I can't get complacent—it helped that the enemies had predictable attack patterns and I wasn't overwhelmed by more than three at a time...
"Well, I think I've had enough for today... With this, maybe I'll manage tomorrow's summer event?"
"I'm looking forward to the beach! What's it like?"
"Uh, it's kind of like a huge salty puddle...?"
"Whoa, that sounds intriguing!"
"Well, that's something to look forward to tomorrow," I said, wrapping up our conversation as I returned to Lily's home to finish today's game.
After logging out, I suddenly remembered that I had only ever swum in school lessons and had never swum more than 25 meters. Would that be enough in this game world? I shrugged off the worry; somehow, I'd manage. With that thought in mind, the day slipped away.
On the day of the summer event, I was changing out of my jacket and into a light blue, hooded swimsuit with a large front pocket at Lily's home.
"It's tough to give up my jacket," I remarked. Though I had just made it yesterday, its proven defense against the monsters around the Three Streets made me hesitant to switch it for a swimsuit that offered much less protection.
"Um… Lena, could you tell me? Does this look good on me?" I heard Phoebe's voice from behind. Although changing was a quick process enveloped in light, I felt the need to brace myself mentally.
When I turned around, Phoebe stood there in a green bandeau bikini. I hadn't realized how slender she was, having always seen her in thick coats and robes. The bikini emphasized her slight figure and the subtle curve of her chest. My heart raced, and I felt an overwhelming urge to protect her. Was this what they called a fleeting beauty?
By the way, Phoebe's belly is completely exposed, but she doesn't have a belly button... Maybe that's because she was born differently than others? And her waist is so thin... What should I do? Is it wrong that a part of me thinks I made a good gamble deep down...? One misstep, and I could have been in that outfit myself...
"Um, wait!? Lena, what's gotten into you all of a sudden!?"
Just as I wondered, my body moved against my will, lifting Phoebe and pulling her close to my chest. I was shocked by how my body was acting on its own. That's when I noticed an unfamiliar heart icon appearing below the HP bar… Could it be? Am I enchanted!?
**Enchantment**
You become unable to move or are forced to comply with the other's wishes; the stronger your will, the faster you can break free. Once released, you gain resistance to that same individual.
As the description of the enchantment echoed my inner turmoil, I realized how deadly this effect could be in battle… But more importantly, I needed to return to normal!
"Um, it's not that I mind being in your hands, Lena, but wearing this swimsuit... is really embarrassing…"
"I love Phoebe!"
As I desperately wished to return to my senses while I instinctively patted Phoebe's head, I blurted out the bombshell statement! Sure, I do like her, but to just say it like that! Stop it, you idiot!? Just as that thought hit me, the enchantment broke!
What am I supposed to do from here?!
"Um, well..."
"I want you to keep adventuring with me! Plus, we're going to that summer event, so I need you to stay in my chest pocket! And remember, don't peek out in front of other guys! Phoebe's swimsuit will attract them!"
"Y-Yeah, okay!"
With that, Phoebe blushed and slipped into my hoodie pocket... Did that work out? Or did she notice I was in a weird state?
Oh no, the allure of Phoebe's swimsuit might be even more dangerous than I thought—it affects my allies too! That's practically a drawback... I suppose since I've experienced it once, I might be resistant now, right?
If she's charming the opposite sex, I really need to keep her away from the male players like the leader...
Lost in thought, I stepped onto the magic circle at Lily's home. At that moment, a message appeared: "Limited-time summer event now active," along with a button for entering the special stage.
I pressed it, and a description popped up:
"Please enter a random number. You will be summoned to the same field as those who input the same number. Entering the wrong number may transport you to a different channel, making it difficult to reunite with your party. Be cautious as you may also encounter people with different random numbers."
I see, I need to match the random values for the party, but since I plan to go solo, it doesn't really matter to me... Random values... Can I use romaji? Well, I guess I can just use romaji at the blacksmith.
Once I input the random values, my vision turned completely white, and I was transported to a stage specifically for the summer event.
"Transferring to the Summer Stage. Swimwear confirmed. You will receive a 50% bonus when earning event points, and there will also be a boost to your stats."
After the announcement of the bonus triggered by my swimwear, my vision returned to normal, revealing a sky of fluffy clouds, a white beach with a small red crab scuttling by, and an expansive ocean stretching out before me.
"Wow, it looks like a private beach!"
The lack of other players was likely because they were all in different channels with the same scenery. It was fantastic to avoid the crowds.
"So this is… the ocean…"
Phoebe's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the sea.
"Should we go in?"
"Absolutely!"
As I stepped into the water, it was freezing, sending a shiver through my body. I waded in enough for seawater to slosh into my pocket.
"Yikes! It's cold!"
"Have you ever swum before?"
"No, I haven't, so I'm a little scared…"
It's understandable to feel frightened in deep water if you've never swum or can't swim at all.
I've only ever swum 25 meters in my school pool, and having never been to the ocean, I feel a bit nervous. Luckily, our swimsuits have a feature that allows for underwater breathing, so I shouldn't drown… but I'd like to test it while I'm in shallow water.
"Sorry, Phoebe… could you float above me for a moment? I need to check the swimsuit's effect," I ask.
"You want to confirm the underwater breathing, right? Got it!" she replies.
With her delicate fairy wings fluttering, Phoebe perches above me.
"My wings are getting wet, making it harder to fly…" she notes.
"Is that so? Just be careful not to fall on me, okay?"
After our exchange, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and step into the sea, keeping my head above where Phoebe is floating. I tentatively open my mouth, bracing for the salty water, but I'm relieved to find I can breathe without choking. Next, I open my eyes.
What greets me is the stunning underwater world, and surprisingly, my eyes don't hurt despite not having goggles. There's a strange sensation of being submerged while still breathing, but it doesn't hinder me.
"Hey, Phoebe, can you hear me?"
"Yes! I can hear you!"
Hmm, so we can talk to each other even underwater…
"You should try it too, Phoebe! At least you won't drown!"
"...O-Okay, I understand!"
With that, Phoebe plunged into the sea with a splash. She closed her eyes and mouth at first, but as she slowly opened them, her eyes began to sparkle with wonder as she gazed around.
"This is amazing! I can breathe underwater!"
"Isn't it incredible? But wait, you're sinking—are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh no!"
She flailed about, trying to surface, but instead sank deeper, and I caught her gently in the palm of my hand.
"I can't swim…"
"Looks like it's time for some practice."
I, too, wanted to learn to swim. Fortunately, this area seemed safe from enemies, and I didn't see any other players around, so I felt free to swim. Although the main goal of this event was to collect points for rewards, the duration was long, and I wanted to enjoy the ocean, so I decided to swim safely for about 30 minutes.
"I can't swim!!"
Thirty minutes into our swim, Phoebe cried out in frustration. She no longer sank, but her movements were painfully slow. I could see why: the fairy wings on her back increased water resistance, hindering her swimming. Plus, being small meant she lacked the strength in her arms and legs to propel herself forward effectively, making her a fairy stuck in a cycle of surrender.
"I understand now—fairies are creatures that fly! It's a mistake to think they swim!"
"Yeah, that's right. Just keep her in your pocket when you're moving through water."
"Will do!"
It was adorable to see Phoebe trying so hard to swim, but I held back on the swimming topic. I didn't want her to develop a dislike for the ocean. Thanks to my underwater breathing ability, I no longer needed to manage my breath, so I could swim effortlessly. In reality, I always struggled to find the right moments to breathe, often gasping for air after just 20 meters. But here, I felt fantastic without the risk of running out of breath, enjoying the solitude without any other players to bump into.
Plus, it was a relief that I could take out the metal-heavy Archie without sinking. If I were attacked in the water, I might actually be able to handle it. In real life, trying to swim while holding a shovel would be incredibly difficult...
After 30 minutes of swimming, feeling satisfied, I decided to head back to shore.
"Ahh, time to focus on the quest… Huh? Is that singing?"
I heard a familiar melody, but it wasn't coming from a machine; it was someone singing.
"Did you hear something?"
"Yeah, I heard a voice singing from over there."
Could it be another player? I was intrigued...
"Should we go check out who's there?"
"Alright, let's go try it out!"
Could it be that someone else is enjoying the sea just like us? I thought as I headed towards the source of the singing. After a couple of minutes walking along the sandy beach, however, the voice seemed to drift further away.
"Lena, do you really hear the singing?" I asked.
"What? You can't hear it, Phoebe?"
"No, not at all..."
Could it be a trap? Just as that thought crossed my mind, the pleasant melody shifted to a haunting tune that echoed across the beach. As an icon appeared below my HP bar indicating a drop in defense and attack, two spear-wielding mermen emerged from the sea and charged at me!