I sigh as I see Olivia back in her tsundere mode after a long time.
“Nothing happened. I just collapsed from a cold, and Rin took care of me in the cave. The rest is pretty much what you already know.”
I mean, they must be aware of Ivan’s attack incident since they had to interrupt their practice for a safety inspection.
I just tell the truth.
As for the kiss with Rin, it was just an accident, and in this atmosphere, mentioning it would just make things worse, so I deliberately leave that out.
[Partner, your shamelessness has increased. Wait, were you always this thick-skinned?]
The Black Prince mutters unnecessarily again.
“So, what about yobiste?”
Olivia asks with a trembling voice.
Seeing a French person demand answers about yobiste from a Korean in Japanese right in front of me is completely insane.
Really, why does such a culture as yobiste even exist in Japan?
“I’m Korean, so I don’t care about yobiste or anything like that. If you want, you can call me by my name.”
What’s the big deal about calling someone by their name, anyway?
At my words, Olivia, Eri, Hoshino Kasumi, and Makoto widen their eyes in surprise.
“Uuuuuuhhh…”
Olivia lowers her head and makes a moaning sound.
She puts her hand on her chest and looks at me.
“Really, you fool, idiot, sea cucumber, sea squirt, sea anemone! Pervert! Trash! Scoundrel! I-I heard about the terror news and was so worried about you! Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!”
Olivia puffs up her cheeks and yells.
“Here it comes! The Bonaparte’s verbal combo!”
Makoto says, bringing her hand to her mouth beside me.
Verbal combo?
What is this, a fighting game?
The commentary is ridiculous.
But still. Since they were worried about me, I feel a bit guilty.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“Hrmm, I see you understand. You fool.”
Olivia crosses her arms and turns her head away.
“Master! I was really worried too!”
“…Junior, I was really worried about you too. I’m glad to see you safe.”
“Your Highness, I’m glad you’re okay.”
Eri, Hoshino Kasumi, and Makoto look at me and say.
Given the nature of this light novel world, they must genuinely be concerned about me.
It makes me feel a little awkward.
Anyway, this world is unnecessarily kind.
“So, why are you guys even here?”
Continuing this conversation would likely lead to nowhere, so I intentionally change the subject.
“Why are we here? That’s obvious, my Master.”
Eri smiles as she answers my question.
“It’s because the practical training is done, and we’re here for the summer school after-party with everyone!”
“Easy!”
“What? Everyone’s coming together?”
Are they all really gathering?
It’s already ominous.
Wouldn’t it be better to just fight Ivan again?
Do you know about joining a club?
“What’s with you, junior? You don’t look too happy. Don’t tell me you don’t want to go to the after-party?”
Kasumi-senpai says to me.
“Master, are you not going to party with us?”
Makoto’s sparkling gaze is directed at me.
“Eri-chan worked really hard to prepare for the party…”
Eri droops her shoulders.
Her face looks gloomy.
“Hey! You! You’re not actually planning to skip the party, are you?”
Ugh.
Olivia glares at me, placing her hand on her chest.
No, this is making my heart soften again.
An after-party would just be a barbecue on the beach anyway.
“No, it’s not that I’m not going, it’s just… I haven’t been discharged yet…”
But I can’t just be dragged along like this.
I try to make an excuse.
I’m still a patient.
Of course, my body is fine now, but on paper, I’m still hospitalized.
“If that’s the case, you don’t need to worry! Your personal maid—me—has already gotten permission from the hospital for you to join the party! Ahem!”
Olivia clears her throat proudly.
In that instant, my excuse for not attending the party vanished.
[Partner, it looks like you’re destined to go to the party, huh?]
The Black Prince adds maliciously.
How annoying, being that meticulous over something so trivial.
“Yeah…”
I reply with a blank expression.
“You don’t need to thank me. As your personal maid, it’s my duty to do at least this much. Hehehe.”
Olivia covers her mouth and chuckles like a lady.
“Hmm. If it’s that kind of party, I’ll join too.”
Rin, who’s nearby, smiles.
Ding.
The cowbell around her neck jingles.
“Before you join, how about changing out of that vulgar and lewd outfit? You cow?”
Eri puffs up her cheeks.
“Washboard. Even if you didn’t say that, I was already planning to change. This outfit is for my future husband, you know.”
Rin laughs with assurance.
“Tch… Cow, I don’t like this oddly confident and relaxed version of you. It’s annoying.”
Eri clicks her tongue.
“Anyway! Shinozaki-san, change out of that, that scoundrel outfit right now and come to the party! Got it?!”
“Sure, Bonaparte.”
Rin nods.
So, I’ve ended up having to participate in this damn after-party.
*
As expected, the after-party was a barbecue on the beach.
The scenery was cliché, the kind that would be portrayed excellently in an anime.
The sunset dyed the sea orange.
Sizzle sizzle.
The meat on the grill cooks.
Cooked pork is placed on an impromptu table set up on the sandy beach.
“Master! Eri-chan. I made barbecue for you! Here you go.”
After piercing the steaming pork barbecue with a fork and adding sauce, Eri presents it with a smile.
Well, it does smell good.
“Wait a minute, feeding him is my duty as his personal maid, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! You should start with the meat I cooked. Understand?”
Suddenly, Olivia thrusts a barbecue skewer at me.
“Deok-Sung, I grilled some meat this time too. I hope you’ll try the taste of the meat I made.”
Beside her, Rin stood ready.
“Junior, this barbecue I specially prepared for you. You’ll eat it, right?”
“Cold barbecue. Are you going to eat it?”
“Master. I also… I also prepared something…”
Kasumi and Makoto timidly chime in.
Five pieces of meat speared on five forks come towards me.
[Wow. Partner. You’re living the high life.]
The Black Prince whistles in my head.
I’m in luck, I’m in luck.
Sighing, I pull a cola from the cooler and say,
“I’ll take care of it, so just put it on the plate. If you keep this up, I’m not having a party, or anything.”
It’s obvious that arguing over who eats first will lead to a week-long mess, so it’s better to cut off any grounds for conflict from the start.
The women nod in agreement and place the meat down.
I grab a fork, dip in, and eat a piece of pork barbecue.
Delicious.
Well, if meat grilled badly isn’t a problem then we’re really in trouble.
At that moment.
“From now on, I will grill the meat.”
A familiar voice, and suddenly a gray flash appears at the grill.
It’s Han Seo-Jin, the gray-haired beauty.
Perhaps because we’re at the beach, she’s in a management swimsuit instead of her usual suit, holding tongs and starting to grill the meat.
Sizzle, sizzle.
The smell of grilling meat rises.
You can’t resist a barbecue.
I quickly snatch a piece of meat and eat.
Chiiiing.
Han Seo-Jin skillfully grills the meat.
Her ability to do anything when asked is now almost scary.
“Han Seo-Jin, you’re amazing!”
“How do you grill meat so well?”
Eri and Rin are by Han Seo-Jin’s side, watching with sparkling eyes.
“……”
Han Seo-Jin continues grilling in silence, her expression as blank as usual.
But there’s an oddly subdued feeling in the air.
Having spent time with her, I can sense it.
That subtle change in atmosphere.
‘Did something happen?’
[What? If you’re talking about that girl Han Seo-Jin, she looks just the same as always, doesn’t she?]
The Black Prince retorts.
For a self-proclaimed heartthrob, how can he not pick up on this?
The Black Prince is such a loser. Seriously.
I should just keep my mouth shut.
Whoosh.
Flames leap from the grill.
“Ah……”
A low sigh escapes Han Seo-Jin’s lips.
A slightly burnt piece of meat is on the grill.
It’s burnt, but not to the point of being inedible. Still, it’s completely the opposite of her usual perfectionist self bordering on obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“I’m sorry, Kim Deok-Sung. I made a little mistake…”
Han Seo-Jin bows her head slightly, her face still expressionless.
“It’s okay.”
It’s not something I can’t eat.
I pick up my chopsticks and grab the meat.
Even if it’s a little burnt, it’s fine.
“It’s tasty.”
“……Thank you. I’ll make sure to grill it properly from now on.”
Han Seo-Jin returns to the grill, starting to cook again.
Chiiing.
This time, she grills the meat perfectly without mistakes.
The slightly subdued atmosphere from earlier and the shadow on her face have vanished.
[Partner, are you mistaken? Even the perfect Han Seo-Jin can make mistakes.]
The Black Prince has a point.
But I still feel uneasy.
Just as I was about to say something.
“Kim Deok-Sung! Shinozaki! You were all enjoying the party here! I’ve been looking for you!”
A familiar voice rings out from afar.
Everyone enjoying the barbecue turns their gaze towards the direction of the voice.
There stands Evangeline Stewart, a beautiful girl in a fluttering bikini emphasizing her ample chest, with pink twin-tails.
In the winter tail, there was the beautiful girl, Evangelin Stewart.
“I’m not particularly interested in this human party… but since my contractor requested it, I had no choice but to come. Consider it an honor, humans.”
Behind her, Beatrice makes a grand entrance, striking a pose.
“Oh, you made it, Miss Stewart. Miss Smith.”
Rin waves her hand in greeting.
The three girls have become quite close since their training on the deserted island.
On the other hand, the others started to be wary of the suddenly appearing new faces, Evangelin and Beatrice.
“Looks like there’s another stray cat around. Eri, I feel uncomfortable.”
The first to respond was Eri.
Pouting her lips, she glances at Evangelin and Beatrice.
“Poor prey caught in the web of the junior. The junior is a bad man.”
“Geeeee…”
Kasumi puffs her cheeks, making sound effects with her mouth, and Makoto joins in with similar sounds.
It’s all good, but can’t we skip the sound effects?
It’s giving me a headache.
“Evangelin Stewart? How did you get here…?”
Lastly, Olivia stares at Evangelin with a slightly surprised expression.
Olivia’s eyes sharpen.
“Don’t tell me you’re also aiming for him…”
“Oh my, Princess Bonaparte. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Hehe. I’m sorry for not properly thanking you that day.”
Evangelin cuts off Olivia’s words.
Her pink eyes sparkle.
Suddenly.
Evangelin grabs Olivia’s hand.
“Girl, Evangelin Stewart here deeply remembers the grace you and Mr. Kim Deok-Sung showed in saving her and her motherland, England. I’m truly grateful.”
“Ugh, hmm…”
Olivia’s face reddens.
Looking away, she responds.
“I-I didn’t do it specifically for you. Don’t get the wrong idea!”
“Not just Princess Bonaparte. I’m thankful to Miss Nishizawa, Miss Hoshino, and Miss Kamiya as well. I’m grateful to everyone here.”
Clasping her hands in a praying gesture, Evangelin says.
“I don’t think I need to thank Eri…”
“Miss Stewart is a well-mannered girl.”
“Hawawawawa…”
Eri’s awkward expression at Evangelin’s reaction is met with Kasumi covering her mouth and laughing, while Makoto is flustered.
Everyone seems to be falling for Evangelin’s compliments.
“Hehe. Thank you all for welcoming me.”
“Hmph…”
Evangelin smiles and drags Beatrice into the barbecue party seamlessly.
Was Evangelin always this much of a socialite?
“!!”
Beatrice’s eyes widen as she tastes the barbecue.
“Human food isn’t bad at all…”
Seems like she really likes the barbecue, as she keeps munching away.
As if that wasn’t enough, she’s even eating grilled pineapple.
“Hmm, this grilled fruit is quite sweet and delicious.”
Grilled pineapple, huh.
Why on earth do people eat that?
What’s next, will she have pineapple on pizza too?
Grilling pineapple or putting it on pizza is crazy.
Before long, the atmosphere at the barbecue party begins to warm up.
Chewing on meat, I pull out my phone.
I missed checking the public sentiment on the cow print bikini and this barbecue party earlier.
So now, I need to check it while I have a moment.
