civilwarnovels Chapter 1005 The Last Routine 184
Chapter 1005 The Last Routine 184
Chapter 1005 The Last Routine 184
That day, because it was so hot, Kobayashi and the others took Alice to the beach, and Claire came along too. Perhaps because of the previous hot spring trip, she was a little nervous, so she insisted on coming along no matter what, though Kobayashi felt she was deliberately targeting him.
On the beach, Aqua, wearing a blue swimsuit with a pink bow on the chest, shouted, "Take this! Goddess's Waterfall!"
"Wow!" Alice let out an alluring scream as she was soaked to the bone. Of course, even more alluring was her pink and white swimsuit, which made her look incredibly pure and lovely. She smiled and said to Kobayashi, "Hehe, brother, why don't you come and play too? It's so refreshing and cool!"
"No need." Kobayashi glanced at the girls who were playing around, then looked at the female guard beside him and said, "Before that, I was very concerned about..."
"Why are you looking at me?" Claire glared at Kobayashi with a hostile expression and demanded, "Lady Alice invited you, but you didn't go. What's the meaning of that?!"
"Wait, wait!" Kobayashi quickly stopped her before she could draw her sword, explaining loudly, "I'm just concerned about your clothes! Aren't you hot in this outfit?"
It's hard to say whether Claire is being dutiful or just lacking in humor, but she wasn't wearing a swimsuit like the other girls; she was still in her bodyguard uniform. In this hot weather, it's understandable to worry that she might get heatstroke from wearing too much clothing.
“Of course not.” Claire snorted and said, “Besides, I’m a guard. If I can’t complete my original mission just because I changed clothes, then I’ll be putting the cart before the horse.”
She has the refined elegance of a butler from a wealthy family, but considering Alice's status, Claire's behavior is understandable. However—
"What a waste to have such a rare ocean."
Huihui said this with some disappointment. She was wearing a red bikini swimsuit, which was very attractive, but she didn't have much to show for it, so she looked quite pitiful.
"I knew that's what you were thinking, wasn't it?" Aqua pouted slightly and complained, "I did make her a swimsuit, but she won't wear it."
Indeed, all the other girls were wearing swimsuits and enjoying the sea, but Claire was not. Even if it was because of her duty, it still gave off a sense of being out of place.
"The purpose today is to change Alice's mood, so please don't worry about me," Claire said somewhat stiffly, showing no intention of changing into her swimsuit.
Seeing this, Alice pouted slightly and said in a low voice, somewhat unhappy, "I also want to play with Claire, but you won't listen no matter how many times I ask. Really, I'm going to get angry."
“I am pleased with your kind offer.” However, Claire remained unmoved and said, “Lady Alice, please enjoy the sea.”
"Well, since she said so herself, let's not worry about it." Aqua showed a magnanimous attitude, not wanting to make things difficult for others, and then smiled and called out to everyone, "Next up is beach volleyball! Kobayashi, I'll leave the refereeing to you!"
"Yes, yes, yes." Kobayashi reluctantly accepted her impolite request, then looked at the female guard beside him who was motionless like a wooden stake, and sighed, "But Claire is really serious."
However, what he didn't know was that Claire, while appearing perfectly composed, was secretly staring at Alice with intense longing, thinking to herself: Ah, Alice's delicate skin is on full display... that figure, she's simply a fairy from the seaside...!
Ignoring her, Kobayashi and the others were happily playing volleyball on the beach.
"Brother! Did you see that serve just now?!"
"Wow, that's amazing. The power is even enough to be used for attacks!"
Kobayashi looked at the deep crater created by the explosion and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. The power of Alice's attack was almost comparable to that of an ordinary adventurer.
"Wait a minute!" Megumin shouted defiantly, "My Overlord Burst Strike won't lose either!"
What? That strange name. Although I know her competitive nature, she's still far behind in terms of physical strength when it comes to competing with Alice from the royal family.
Aqua, looking displeased, said somewhat irritably, "I said, isn't it about time to rest? I'm tired."
"The sun seems to be getting warmer too." Darkness's swimsuit was bright yellow, reflecting a bright light in the sunlight. It was hard to tell if it was the swimsuit or her fair skin. "Everyone, let's rest for a bit in the shade over there."
"Let's have some ice cream! I brought it over after freezing it with magic!"
"Thank you, elder brother!"
Kobayashi made thorough preparations for her trip. Things like ice cream could be easily made using freezing magic. Shaved ice was also no problem.
At this moment, Alice looked around but did not see her guards, and asked in confusion, "Where is Claire...?"
“Mmm…!”
"Claire!?"
Then I saw Claire, who had been hiding in the shade under a tree, collapse onto the beach as if she could no longer hold on. It was only because the sand was soft that she was safe; otherwise, she would have been badly injured.
The female guard struggled to her feet, forcing an awkward smile as she said, "N-nothing, please don't mind me... um."
"It's not nothing, is it?" Huihui said excitedly, "You're drenched in sweat, aren't you?"
"Honestly, it's because of what you're wearing that you're so stubbornly frightening." Kobayashi was equally helpless, helping her to a shady spot and saying, "Alright, let's rest in the shade."
After a flurry of activity, Claire finally calmed down.
"Lady Claire, are you alright?" Darkness asked anxiously, holding a glass of ice water and looking at Claire lying under the shade of a tree with an ice towel on her head. "I brought you some water."
"I'm so sorry to have troubled you. I'm truly unfit to be a guard," she said, feeling deeply ashamed.
"Claire, don't push yourself," Alice said, looking at her with concern. "If you're feeling unwell, I'll give you a lap pillow."
"Lady Alice's lap pillow!?"
Claire, panting, stared at Alice's fair and slender legs, looking like she really wanted to pounce on them, but Kobayashi stopped her. Before the perverted female guard could get angry, she said, "Alright, alright, it'll just get even hotter, let's forget about it."
"Anyway, I think it's better to wear something a little thinner," Huihui said with a concerned look.
"But my job is to protect—"
"It's okay, we're here for you. Alright, just accept your fate and put on your swimsuit!"
"No, no need, um... I just need to rest for a bit—"
Even with all the persuasion, she insisted, truly a stubborn female guard. Seeing her like this, Alice said worriedly, "Claire, I'm worried about your health. If you really don't want to, there's nothing I can do... I want to play at the beach with you."
Ah, Alice-sama…! If I were to be asked such a cute request, I… I… ahh ...
Claire's cheeks flushed, but she suddenly became serious and said, "I understand! I, Claire, will wear anything Lady Alice asks me to!"
Then I went to change into my swimsuit.
After a while, Claire returned wearing a white bodysuit swimsuit. Although she didn't have anything particularly hot about her, her elegant yet shy demeanor was still quite novel.
"I always feel awkward."
"Perfect for you, Claire! Great!"
"Mmm! My eyes can't be wrong. It looks different from usual, isn't that nice?"
Alice and Aqua said this with smiles on their faces.
"Alright, let's play together!" Alice said, taking her hand. "Let's forget about work today... okay?"
"That smile... how dazzling! How destructive!! Who could resist it? No, no one! I understand, I'll risk my life for you!"
No, no, no, it's not like I'm really going to kill you.
Seeing Claire's relentless expression, Kobayashi couldn't help but twitch his lips. This kind of personality was just too troublesome.
However, she successfully joined the team.
"Lady Alice, a little more to the right! Yes, very good!"
"No, it should be a little further to the left, right?"
"Kobayashi, stop talking nonsense! What if Lady Alice misses!"
"It's just hitting a watermelon, that's an exaggeration."
Faced with Claire's scolding, Kobayashi laughed and said, "The point of going out to play is to have fun. This kind of deliberate fooling around is also a kind of fun, isn't it?"
"...I know! This is it!" Alice shouted, raising her stick high, "Haaaaaahh ...
Slam it down hard.
The beach… no, even the sea was briefly parted. The massive shockwave even exposed the bottom of a nearby reef to everyone's view. Yet, despite its immense power, the watermelon wasn't hit. No, no, no, if it had been hit, it would have burst open, wouldn't it? Just like a person's head.
One can't help but wonder what would happen if bursting watermelon juice were splattered onto her smiling face like blood—
"How are you, brother, Claire!"
"Waaaaahh ...
Xiaolin was startled.
Claire exclaimed, deeply moved, "That's wonderful! I, Claire, am completely captivated!"
"Do you really understand the significance of hitting a watermelon?"
Xiaolin couldn't help but complain.
How could such an entertaining activity turn into a performance by the violent faction?
Claire didn't care about any of that. Touched, she took Alice's hands and said, "Come, Lady Alice, is there anything else you'd like to do?"
"Yes... in that case—"
Alice smiled and moved on to the next activity, while Kobayashi sincerely hoped that things wouldn't get any worse.
"Alright, are you ready!?" Aqua shouted, waving her little flag. "Whether you laugh or cry, this is the final round! Who will win the title of Beach Flag King!?"
"Hmph, I don't think anyone can beat me, Mr. Kobayashi."
"My name is Megumin! I covet the name of speed, and one day I will dominate this world with my dazzling feet!"
"As the protector of the people of this kingdom, I will not lose!"
"That...that...there is no one in this world who can defeat me...!"
Everyone made their pre-battle declarations, but Darkness seemed a little reserved. Megumin, with a mocking smile, said, "Looks like Darkness still hasn't overcome it. He could learn from Claire."
"Losing this life is nothing... I will definitely present the banner of victory to Lady Alice!"
"Your Excellency Claire, when did you become so energetic?"
Moreover, Claire wasn't making a declaration before battle; she genuinely intended to dedicate the flag to Alice, which is why she was so serious.
"Then, the first match of fate!" Aqua shouted, raising her white flag high, "Claire versus... Alice!"
"What!?"
Claire, who had just been standing tall and seemed invincible, immediately deflated upon hearing that her opponent was Alice, her face filled with disbelief.
"Do you want me to draw my bow on Lady Alice!?"
"It's just a game, everyone's exaggerating." Kobayashi rolled her eyes and gestured for her to look to the side, saying, "Alice is full of enthusiasm, you know."
"Claire! The combat system is about who's the best... That's how I learned from my teacher in the Crimson Demon Village. Come on, let's settle this!"
Alice, on the other hand, seemed quite interested.
"Oh!?" Megumin exclaimed. "Although some time has passed, the teachings of the Crimson Demon Clan are deeply rooted in Alice's heart. That's truly delightful."
"That's right. The long time I spent with you, Teacher... and Huihui, will be cherished memories that will stay with me forever!"
"Ugh, another strange wording has appeared...!"
Claire looked at Alice with a headache. Although Alice had said strange things before, she had corrected herself after returning to the palace. She didn't expect Alice to change like this again.
"In short, let's settle this fairly and squarely!"
“…I understand.” Seeing Alice’s earnestness, Claire said, “If that’s what Lady Alice wishes for, then I, Claire, will gladly oblige!”
"It's time to go! Get ready—"
"Claire, there's no need to hold back... Oh?"
Just before Aqua gave the order, Alice said this to Claire earnestly, and her expression stunned Claire.
Lady Alice, what a stern expression! It's as if I'm being sucked into her eyes...!
"start!!"
"Drink up!"
"Oh, no!"
Seeing Alice run far away, Claire, lost in her own thoughts, finally snapped out of her reverie and hurriedly chased after her, but it was too late.
"The winner is Alice! What a wonderful match! Come on, let's give each other a high five and praise each other's efforts!"
Aqua actually forced herself to praise her.
Alice said with some concern, "Claire, it seems like you started late. Has your body not recovered yet?"
"No, no! It's not like that..."
She had absolutely no idea how to explain it.
(End of this chapter)