The beach town of Raque had a year-round abundance of mana.
As a result, it was perpetually hot and sunny—turning the area into a favorite retreat for nobles and royalty alike.
But to Ethan Hayes, it was nothing more than a magical version of Hawaii.
"Seriously? We really came here just to chill..."
Stepping out of the hotel, Ethan looked at the group having fun on the beach and couldn't help but smirk.
The most outrageous of them all was Gauche, the obsessive sister-lover.
With surprising skill, he had sculpted a sand statue of his sister Marie—and was even streaming it live with Mirror Magic while nosebleeding the whole time.
There wasn't even a hint of danger in the air.
Did no one seriously fear a surprise attack from the Eye of the Midnight Sun?
"Um... Ethan, w-what do you think of this swimsuit...?"
That familiar voice reached his ears. Ethan didn't even need to turn to know who it was.
And honestly? That swimsuit was... painful to look at.
It looked like something a small-town girl might buy on her first trip to the city—cheap, awkward, and loud.
But then he turned around.
And reflexively swallowed hard.
With flushed cheeks, Noelle stood there, looking slightly down and fidgety.
Despite her awkward posture, her three-piece swimsuit exuded overwhelming power—barely covering even five percent of her skin.
It was a massive contrast to her usual attire.
The radiant aura of youth and femininity she gave off hit Ethan like a tidal wave. His hormones surged.
"Ahem... It's... not bad. Pretty good... actually."
His words said one thing, but his eyes betrayed his true thoughts as they shamelessly devoured the view.
If only there weren't so many people around...
"Wanna take a swim?"
Without waiting for her reply, Ethan grabbed Noelle's hand and bolted toward the water.
He wasn't stupid. He knew Noelle had feelings for him.
She just hadn't confessed, partly because of her tsundere pride and partly because he had been too preoccupied lately.
But moments like this—opportunities—they always came eventually.
Splash!
Ethan dove deep as soon as they hit the water. When he surfaced, he noticed Noelle was still standing nervously at the shoreline.
"What? Scared of the water? Or... don't know how to swim? Come on, I'll teach you!"
He tugged her in with a splash and a scream.
Of course, teaching her to swim wasn't really his goal here.
This was no time for actual swimming lessons.
Only a clueless blockhead would take this seriously.
In the water, Ethan held her under the belly with a very professional expression.
"Okay, keep your body flat. Good. Now stroke with your arms, kick your legs—yes, like that. Perfect... very good..."
Noelle's face was as red as a firework. Her brain was practically shutting down.
This was the first time she had ever been in such close contact with a guy.
Her blood was racing, heart pounding—it was all too much.
"I... I can actually—"
"Yeah yeah, I can tell you're getting it! But swimming isn't something you master instantly. You need time—"
While speaking, Ethan let his hand wander inappropriately.
"No, I mean I can—"
"Alright, alright, don't push yourself. If I let go too early you'll choke—"
"I'm saying—"
"No more talking. Follow my rhythm!"
Whoosh!
Before he could finish, a wave crashed—and Noelle shot forward like a torpedo.
She was gliding through the sea like a yacht.
Backstroke. Butterfly. Dog paddle. Freestyle.
She showed off an entire set before circling back to Ethan with a splash.
"I meant—I already know how to swim. So stop wasting your time."
Ethan stood frozen. What the hell was that?
Was this a... steel-hearted straight girl?
Wasn't it said women are natural-born actors?
Couldn't she have at least pretended not to swim?
"Ugh... fine. Swim by yourself then."
He pouted and turned away.
Whoosh.
His eye twitched.
Ethan genuinely thought Noelle might be a bit... dense.
Did she really not understand what he was trying to do earlier? Or was she just messing with him?
"Whatever... no one in the Black Bulls is normal anyway."
He sighed, shook his head, and walked back to shore.
Lying down on a beach chair, he stared at the sky.
He needed to calm down. Or maybe—come up with a new "romantic strategy" to finally take a bite of that forbidden fruit...
"Hehe, Ethan~ Feeling hot? You look a bit... flustered."
A sultry voice drifted into his ears as Vanessa leaned into his field of vision.
Ethan immediately bolted upright, instinctively covering his lower body.
All that time in the water with Noelle had given him... a very noticeable physical reaction.
The tent was fully pitched.
Clearly, Vanessa had seen it.
"Oh my~"
She giggled uncontrollably.
Vanessa wasn't exactly experienced in romance, but as a Witch, she knew men.
And this sort of reaction? Definitely screamed virgin.
A more seasoned guy would never have reacted so honestly.
"Ethan, Noelle might be too innocent to handle you... but me? I've got plenty of love to give~"
She said this while deliberately sitting on the chair next to his—with zero personal space.
Their proximity? Practically skin-to-skin.
Ethan could already smell her perfume.
"Perfume should be classified as a weapon..." he muttered to himself.
Vanessa's curves were dangerous enough to be banned.
And his Onix was already revving up again—separated from her Cloyster by just two flimsy pieces of fabric.
"No! No way! Too intense!"
He jumped up, pushing her away and gasping for breath.
He was trying—desperately—to suppress the Onix.
But even Time Magic wouldn't help now.
This beast was beyond containment!
"Screw it. Let's go, Onix! If we die, we die!"
He turned around, determined to confront Vanessa head-on.
But she wasn't teasing anymore.
Her gaze—and everyone else's on the beach—was fixed out to sea.
A massive waterspout erupted, piercing the sky like a spear.
The calm ocean turned into a storm of crashing waves and roaring winds.
Even the once-clear skies had grown dark with clouds and thunder.
It looked like a natural disaster—and the fear on everyone's face was real.
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