"Don't get too excited, Luna! I'll get you back!" Margaret said arrogantly.

She tossed the ball into the air, then jumped and served it over the net.

Smash!

The ball flew toward the other side at breakneck speed. However, Liora wasn't about to let it through.

She jumped and managed to block it. The ball bounced forward, and Luna immediately sent a high pass into the air.

Merlin rushed in and delivered a powerful smash.

"No good!"

Catrine was startled and quickly lunged forward. She fell to the sand but still managed to block the ball.

It shot upward, and Margaret quickly passed it to Lisa.

"Go for it, Lisa!"

Lisa smiled and jumped two meters into the air.

Her big breasts, hidden beneath her yellow swimsuit, swayed slightly in midair, creating a striking sight.

Smash!

The impact was so powerful it felt as if the air itself had warped.

The ball shot toward Monica. Caught off guard, she failed to block it.

"Priit!" Nivis blew her whistle and raised the red flag. "Current score: 1–1!"

"Ugh…" Monica rubbed her aching head and looked at Merlin apologetically. "Sorry, Merlin. I'm useless."

Merlin smiled and extended his right hand.

"Take it easy. Don't worry—we're definitely going to win!"

Hearing that, Monica's sadness vanished, replaced by a bright and innocent smile.

"Um!"

***

Two hours later…

"Hah… Hah… Hah…"

Everyone on the field was panting, and the volleyball court was in complete shambles.

Holes littered both sides of the sand, all caused by their match.

Earlier, the game had grown so intense that when Catrine suddenly used her power, the others refused to be outdone and began using theirs as well.

As a result, the ball shattered before they could even determine who had won.

"It's all your fault, Catrine!" Margaret pointed at her, glaring in annoyance.

Catrine lowered her head, looking miserable.

"I'm sorry."

She knew it was her fault—and she couldn't deny it.

"Alright, don't just blame her. You, me, and everyone else are also at fault for using our powers," Luna said as she stepped forward to calm things down.

The others lowered their heads in shame. Lisa, in particular, scratched her head and didn't dare meet Luna or Catrine's eyes.

She was the oldest among them, yet she had acted the most childish.

"By the way, Nivis, what was the score just now?" Merlin asked.

"Umm… it was 18–19. Your team won, while Margaret and the others lost," Nivis replied.

Merlin smiled and looked at Margaret, Nysera, Catrine, and Lisa.

"Since you lost, you'll have to prepare the barbecue. Any objections?"

The four of them shook their heads helplessly.

"No," they answered in unison.

Merlin nodded in satisfaction. Tonight, they would be having a barbecue party, and the team that lost the volleyball match would be responsible for preparing the ingredients and equipment.

Of course, barbecuing was still a strange concept to them. However, Merlin had already explained the methods and techniques on the ship earlier.

He had also bought the equipment from the system shop, so everything was ready—except for the ingredients, which they could request from the maids.

"Alright. Get to it now," Merlin commanded like a king.

The four of them rolled their eyes, but none of them complained.

Once they left, Merlin turned to Liora and Monica and asked, "What do you want to do now?"

"I want to play in the water!"

"Um! Me too!"

They answered in unison, and Merlin didn't stop them.

"Be careful. Don't go too far, since this is the open sea. No one knows if there are monsters lurking beneath the water, ready to drag you down."

A faint smile appeared on his lips, instantly frightening the two girls.

"W-We understand!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

With that, they hurried toward the shore and began playing in the water.

"You're really mischievous," Luna said in dissatisfaction as she pinched his waist.

"Ouch!" Merlin groaned and quickly stepped away.

Rubbing the sore spot, he explained, "I was just trying to make them more cautious. I didn't mean to scare them."

Luna rolled her eyes, but she still believed him. After all, Merlin was a considerate person.

"By the way," she added, "what do you want to do now?"

Merlin took a deep breath and stared at her for a moment. His eyes swept over her from head to toe, making Luna blush.

"What's wrong? Do I look weird?"

She quickly glanced down at herself, scanning her body as if afraid she had missed something.

However, Merlin shook his head and replied, "Nothing's strange. In fact, you look absolutely beautiful."

His words made Luna freeze for a moment before her face flushed even deeper.

"You've got a sweet mouth," she muttered.

"Of course not. I'm not just flattering you—I'm simply telling the truth," Merlin replied.

He stepped closer until only about thirty centimeters separated them.

Then Merlin pulled Luna into his arms and pressed his face against her lightly sun-warmed, fragrant pink hair.

"My love, you truly are beautiful. Don't you know me well enough? If I say you're beautiful, then you can be sure I mean it."

His embrace tightened, and Luna's soft chest pressed against Merlin's.

Luna was one of the main heroines in the novel. Her natural beauty was unmatched among the women of this world.

Although the other heroines were also beautiful and unique in their own ways, in Merlin's eyes, Luna remained number one.

More importantly, Merlin's relationship with Luna ran far deeper than with any of the others—even Catrine.

After all, Merlin had always seen Catrine as a younger sister. His feelings for Luna were different.

If he had to describe it… perhaps she was his first love.

Luna's heart was pounding so loudly that Merlin could feel it against his chest.

"Are you nervous?" Merlin asked teasingly.

He loosened his embrace and looked at her flushed face.

"N-Nervous? How could I be?" she replied, turning her face away.

But Merlin wouldn't let her.

He gently stroked her cheek, then brushed his thumb across her lips, and said casually, "But your face is red."

His touch sent Luna's nervousness soaring, yet at the same time, it filled her with happiness.

Merlin rarely acted this affectionate toward her, especially after Catrine returned.

At times, Luna had even wondered, "Has he lost interest in me?"

But now, those worries seemed meaningless. Merlin still loved her.

After their moment together, Luna asked again, "Do you want to go back to the villa?"

Merlin stepped back and shook his head.

"No. I want to play in the sea."

He gazed at the distant waves with a look of excitement.

"Do you want to come with me?"