The next morning.
“What did you all do overnight to end up looking like this?”
At the entrance to the Old School Building, in the area the Academy set up as a “meeting spot”, I met Yurha Silverstar, who had arrived pulling the Golden Carriage.
“Nothing much. I spent some time in the Old Library working on a thesis, while everyone else stayed up all night debating how to spend the vacation.”
“Umm… really…?”
“Of course.”
Everyone was half-asleep, so I ended up leading the conversation, but Yurha seemed to be casting more subtle glances at others rather than focusing on me.
Not that there’s any real reason for that—
“I brought swimsuits; aren’t you all going to try them on?”
“No.”
“That’s not happening.”
“You have to try them on.”
At the mention of swimsuits, the three immediately perked up. It was as if they’d been jolted awake while sleep-driving, entering what could only be described as combat mode. Their reactions were nothing short of intense.
“There’s even a fitting area set up inside so you can try them on right away. This Golden Carriage is quite spacious.”
“Senior Yurha.”
“Oh, Miss Yunia? What is it?”
“This Golden Carriage—does it have some kind of magic cast on it to make the interior bigger than it appears?”
“Fufufu.”
When Yunia asked with a curious tone, Yurha touched her face playfully, as if she’d been waiting for this question.
“I intended to keep it a secret, but I guess you found out. Yes, on the outside, it looks like a large Golden Carriage, but inside, it’s as spacious as a proper store.”
Clearly, it was space-distortion magic. If you asked how such a thing was possible in reality, the answer would simply be: “magic”.
“I see.”
“You don’t seem very surprised. It’s high-tier magic, you know.”
“No, I’m very surprised. It’s just that I’m so exhausted I don’t even have the energy to react properly.”
“…?”
Yunia made a plausible excuse as she stepped into the Golden Carriage, passing through the rainbow-hued dimensional door at the entrance.
Watching the three of them vanish inside, Yurha pouted slightly, looking disappointed.
“I thought Miss Yunia would show more interest in high-tier magic like this.”
“…”
“Don’t tell me there’s something even more impressive inside the Old School Building?”
“Do you think such a thing could exist in the Old School Building?”
There is.
A chamber of trials imbued with an ancient grand magic that feels like it holds an entire “world”. It’s a level of magic far beyond the space-distorting spells the Silverstar Group executives use.
Though we were expelled from its entrance without much ado, the expansive white space that unfurled before reaching the Tower of Earth’s entrance had already left a profound impression on the special class students.
Compared to that, a Golden Carriage with a built-in store?
Impressive, but still overshadowed.
“By the way, Senior Yurha, what does a ‘5-star hotel-grade resort’ mean exactly?”
“Just what it says. There’s a resort by the southern coastline of the Marquisate of Ludvecia, built right by the sea.”
“The southern coastline of the Marquisate… Oh, you mean the southern coastal region.”
I remembered.
“But wasn’t that area teeming with monsters?”
It wasn’t just the northern part of the Marquisate of Ludvecia, formerly the Count Habsderk territory, that swarmed with monsters. All over the continent, roads were carved through regions with fewer monsters to connect territories.
If the Silverstar built a resort in such a location, it could only mean one thing.
“You took down a named monster to build the resort, didn’t you?”
“That’s correct. The [Mega Sea Dragon]—almost an S-rank monster—was defeated, thanks to that person over there.”
Behind me, Instructor Esta appeared.
“Why are you bringing up old stories? That was three years ago.”
“Well, thanks to your exploits three years ago, we’ve been able to expand our range of activity. That A-rank core and the monster’s body even helped us construct another Magic Tower.”
“You mean a resort.”
“Do you not like the resort, Instructor Esta?”
When I asked, Instructor Esta flinched and grimaced.
She usually maintains a neutral expression in front of me, so her open distaste was surprising.
“Well, it’s a resort, so it attracts not just Academy students but also outsiders. And some of them come specifically to meet the [White Sword Saint].”
“Hmm…”
Indeed.
Unless the resort were entirely reserved or chartered—which would be absurd—there would inevitably be people trying to mingle with the beauties present.
“Don’t worry, Junior Phoenix.”
“What am I supposed to be worried about?”
“Are you afraid some bothersome guys might approach your fellow special class students?”
“Of course, that’s concerning, but I was just brainstorming ways to render such pests blind.”
“In that case, there’s no need to worry. The Marchioness of Ludvecia has reserved the entire resort for the duration of your stay.”
“…The entire resort?”
“Yes, the whole thing.”
Yurha winked and gave a thumbs-up.
“However, the schedule is tight. We’d have to leave tomorrow afternoon to make it in time. Do you have any plans?”
“Plans…”
Of course, we did. We had just entered the Fourth Founder’s Trial and hadn’t even cleared the first floor of the Tower of Earth.
But a trip to a resort?
“Nope, no plans.”
It didn’t matter.
The world wouldn’t end, nor would the Apocalypse come, if we didn’t clear the trials immediately.
And the opportunity to enjoy a deserted 5-star resort was simply too tempting to pass up.
Even if you can utilize some of the facilities from 500 years ago in the Tower of Trials, there’s nothing like that there.
“Phoenix!”
From the Golden Carriage entrance, Yunia leaned out, beckoning.
“There are men’s swimsuits here too! Want to come in and pick one?”
Clad in a strikingly red bikini, she innocently invited me inside, pointing to the interior.
“Sorry, but entering that place feels like asking for trouble. Can you choose one for me?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Pick whatever you’d like to see me wear.”
“Really?”
Yunia’s eyes sparkled as her lips curled into a wide smile.
Her mischievous grin was a bit unsettling, but there was no way I’d willingly step into that den of chaos.
As soon as I step in, Yurha will inevitably follow and target me from behind.
No thanks to that chaos.
And then—
“Senior Yurha, you mentioned tomorrow afternoon. That means we have about 40 hours left, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“How are we getting there? Teleportation magic? Or will it be like last time, traveling by carriage?”
“Of course, we’ll travel in a specially modified vehicle designed just for all of you.”
A vehicle.
Not just a carriage, but a proper vehicle. It looks like “that” is finally being introduced.
“Understood. Then, during those 40 hours…”
“Got something planned?”
“Yes.”
I pointed to Instructor Esta.
“I was thinking of heading to the Old Library with Instructor Esta to briefly look through academic journals from 500 years ago.”
“Eh?”
“Would you like to join us?”
“…Uh.”
Yurha slightly averted her gaze.
“Instructor Esta? Do you want me to prepare your swimsuit as usual?”
“Ah, yes, please.”
“Alright. Then have fun.”
Yurha quickly disappeared into the Golden Carriage.
It seems that even someone like Yurha has no interest in studying during vacation.
“…Well, shall we go?”
Instructor Esta tugged at my sleeve with a sly smile.
“Conveniently, I’ve claimed we’re busy swimsuit shopping, so there’s no need for hourly reports.”
She gestured toward her empty left wrist and then pointed in the direction of the Old School Building infirmary.
“For now, Kadisha is in the infirmary organizing your report for the instructor archives, so we’ll have some free time to use the Old School Building.”
“Not you, personally?”
“Hmph.”
Instructor Esta glanced toward the Golden Carriage and pressed a finger to her lips.
* * *
“Have you picked out all the swimsuits?”
The moment Yurha climbed into the carriage, the three from the special class approached her.
“…W-what is this? Closing the distance so suddenly is a bit overwhelming.”
“Senior Yurha?”
Yunia grabbed Yurha’s hand tightly.
“Do you happen to know of any… private beaches near the 5-star resort?”
“There are some, but why do you ask?”
“If there’s no one else around, how about this kind of swimsuit?”
When Yunia held up the swimsuit, Yurha’s expression instantly contorted.
“A swimsuit…?”
“Yes, a swimsuit.”
“…”
“Oh, this? Let me explain.”
Yunia grinned mischievously as she pointed to the swimsuit in her hand.
“It’s for Phoenix to wear.”
“No.”
“Isn’t that right?”
“That’s correct, Yurha Silverstar.”
“Even you, Miss Ludmila?”
As Yunia held up the swimsuit, Ludmila ran her hand along it thoughtfully, nodding, while Yurha could only manage a hollow laugh.
“Are you people p*rverts?”
In the end, Yurha couldn’t help but ask.
“How can you even call that a swimsuit…!”
“Senior Yurha.”
“W-what is it, Princess?”
“If Senior Yurha spends time with Phoenix, this is what will happen to you too.”
Evangeline, with a resigned expression, looked at the swimsuits the two were holding.
“And we’ll all be wearing these as well.”
“…????”
“Oh my.”
Yunia smiled sweetly.
“Feeling nervous?”
