Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 210

When Chris had nearly finished helping me put on my top, I came to my senses and promptly shoved her out into the bathroom.

With sheer determination, I managed to push her out and cautiously began changing into the bottom half of my swimsuit.

Rustle, rustle.

After all, I had lived alone for a long time with this inconvenient body. It wasn’t easy, but with the help of my arms and upper body, I could manage to change by myself.

"Seulbi~ Can I come out now?"

"Just wait a bit! ...Ha, alright, I’m done."

Click.

The bathroom door swung open, and Chris emerged with her eyes covered by her hand. Over her swimsuit top, she wore a loose shirt.

“Ta-da!”

Chris’s adorable excitement as she added her own sound effects made me chuckle. She always treated me like a child, but at times like this, she felt more like the playful one.

"You can open your eyes now."

“...H-Holy...!”

Cautiously, Chris removed her hand from her eyes, only to freeze, her mouth agape.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself, avoiding her intense gaze.

“D-Does it look weird?”

“....”

My swimsuit, adorned with white frills, complemented my pale hair. I thought it suited me well enough—I had always considered my figure to be rather pleasing, even by my own standards.

The problem was...

“T-This is a bikini, isn’t it? Ugh, it’s too embarrassing. The bottom part is skirt-like, so it’s not so bad, but...”

I flushed and tried to cover my exposed stomach with my hands.

“My... my belly button is completely visible. Are you sure this is okay?”

“Grrrrr!”

“Eek!”

Chris suddenly charged at me with a ferocious intensity. I flinched, curling up as if to protect myself from her advance.

With trembling hands, she placed them on my shoulders.

“S-Seulbi!!”

“Y-Yes?”

Blushing furiously, I responded shyly, watching Chris with her bloodshot eyes, heaving breaths, and beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Chris was... excited. Oh no. Was she about to pounce on me? Would she end up touching me all over? Not that I’d hate it if it was Chris, but still—

Rustle, rustle.

Out of nowhere, she grabbed a shirt and slipped it over my swimsuit top. Then, she draped a light blanket over my lap as I sat in my wheelchair.

In mere moments, I was thoroughly covered up.

“...Chris?”

“Whew, that’s better.”

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Chris looked relieved. Then, she solemnly declared:

“You’re way too provocative. Even though there aren’t many guests at the resort this time of year, and most of them are Klaus Capsule Corporation employees...”

She nodded firmly, as if convincing herself.

“Don’t take off the shirt outside. Only remove it when we’re in the water, and only in front of me.”

“...Alright.”

I tilted my head in confusion but nodded anyway.

I guess it was less embarrassing this way. But then... why did she insist on buying the swimsuit in the first place?

Hum, hum~

Chris hummed cheerfully as we made our way to the beach. She carried a parasol and a cooler box in each arm. I wondered what she’d packed.

Whirr, crunch, crunch.

“This wheelchair is amazing,” I remarked.

“It even handles sand well,” Chris replied.

The futuristic electric wheelchair, a marvel of advanced technology in this era, could navigate various terrains with ease. Though slower on uneven ground, it was still impressive.

Looking around, I noticed a few other people. This beach seemed private, likely reserved exclusively for resort guests.

A woman lounging on a mat, basking in the sunlight, sat up when she saw Chris approaching.

“Oh, isn’t that Senior Researcher Chris from headquarters?”

“Hello there. You’re with the Daejeon branch, right? Taking a vacation, too?”

“Yes, I remember meeting you during my visit to HQ. And... who’s this?”

“Hehe, this is my younger sister.”

“Oh my! Oh my goodness!”

The woman gasped dramatically, covering her mouth as she stared at me.

I nodded politely in response.

“Oh my, I’ve heard rumors, but to see you in person...”

Clears throat.

Chris shot the woman a warning glance, causing her to flinch and retreat back onto her mat.

“Ahem, well, enjoy your vacation,” the woman stammered.

“Thanks, you too.” Chris flashed a sweet smile and bowed slightly before leading me away.

As we moved past the woman, I leaned closer to Chris and whispered, “It seems like people from your company know about me?”

“Well, you’ve been to HQ twice. Word spreads.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“What else? My little sister is as cute as a doll, so everyone’s curious.”

Chris smirked mischievously. I squirmed uncomfortably. Compliments about my appearance still made me uneasy.

“This spot looks good. Let’s set up here.”

Chris began digging the parasol into the sand while I steered my wheelchair closer to the water’s edge.

“Seulbi, are you okay by yourself?”

“Yes, don’t worry. I won’t go in.”

Chris had been fretting about me playing in the water, but I wasn’t planning on going in too deep, especially not alone.

Standing at the edge of the vast ocean, I gazed out with wide eyes.

The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the water, its rays gradually sinking towards the horizon.

The Earth’s ocean was breathtaking.

The gentle waves lapped at the shore, their rhythmic sound soothing.

I carefully lowered my feet from the wheelchair, letting them touch the water.

Splash.

The cool sensation of the water against my soles... it was a feeling I hadn’t experienced in ages.

If I hadn’t returned to Astria, if not for the friends who cared for me across millennia, would I have ever felt this again?

“Seulbi?”

“...Right now, I’m Rain.”

“Rain, huh?”

Chris had approached without me noticing, carrying an inflatable tube. She grinned warmly.

“I’ll hold onto you tightly. Want to try dipping into the water?”

Splash, splash.

“Don’t let go of me... ever!”

“Relax, it’s super shallow here. You won’t sink.”

“Eek! Why are you touching my thighs?”

“...Oops! Sorry, my hand just went there...”

“It’s totally intentional, isn’t it!?”

“It’s not my fault your body is so alluring!”

“T-That’s... such shameless reasoning!”

The sensation of water enveloping me was unfamiliar yet pleasant.

Supported by the inflatable tube and Chris’s firm arms, I tentatively opened my eyes.

“Wow...!”

Floating on the water, buoyed gently, felt surreal.

“This feels... strange.”

“Hehe, but it’s nice, isn’t it?”

“Yes. This is my first time.”

It was like drifting on clouds.

Chris’s radiant smile, framed by her damp crimson hair, was mesmerizing.

For the first time since arriving in this world, I laughed freely.

“Ahaha!”

Sigh. “So salty.”

“That’s the ocean for you. Haha, we could’ve played in the resort’s pool instead.”

“Still... I wanted to come here.”

“Should we play more tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’d like to try the pool tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.”

Sitting under the parasol on the mat, nestled in Chris’s arms, I watched the sun slowly dip below the horizon.

Feeling a bit thirsty, I looked up at Chris.

“Could you grab me a drink?”

“Oh, I should’ve brought something! Wait here, I’ll run to the resort and get something.”

“Alright.”

Pat, pat, pat.

Chris hurried off toward the resort. I watched her go before turning my gaze back to the setting sun.

Crunch, crunch.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps on sand reached my ears.

“Huh?”

Had Chris come back already? It hadn’t even been a minute.

Turning my head, I saw someone approaching—a tall, stunning figure.

For a split second, I thought it was Chris, but no. The bikini was a different color. The hair was blonde, not red. The skin was a warm tan rather than «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» pale.

And... her figure was even more... explosive.

The unfamiliar woman, wearing ornate sunglasses that covered a third of her face, smiled and spoke.

“Hello, Isulbi?”

I gasped, her name slipping from my lips in shock.

“G-Golden Sun!”

Oh no, she’s talking to me.

Chris, where are you?

A stranger with golden skin and a dazzling presence is here!

Save me, please.

The golden beauty waved her hands, her tone almost offended.

“...Golden Sun? That’s not my name!”