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Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Plan

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The Plan

"So, it was all a misunderstanding…?"

"Yeah! That's what I'm saying!"

[What on earth were you thinking?]

His voice, full of injustice, and the Author's grinning laugh echoed in my ears.

…It was all a misunderstanding?

"The way you were so close…"

"That's because they thought it was amazing and kept touching it."

"Th-the talk about… things being hard?"

"Muscles."

Ah.

I wanted to die right then and there.

It was just a fleeting thought, truly.

I swear on the heavens, I'm not a pervert!

"…Hey, Arte."

"S-Si-woo and Amelia…! And Dorothy, they're the ones at fault!"

"Huh?"

"It's not my fault!"

Right. It's not my fault.

It's Si-woo's fault. It's Amelia's fault. It's Dorothy's fault.

Because, well, they were wearing swimsuits.

Si-woo was in square-cut trunks, and Dorothy and Amelia were in bikinis.

An empty beach.

One man and two women, so exposed, their bodies pressed close, talking about things being hard—how could I not, huh?

Couldn't anyone misunderstand?

"I, I…!"

Right. Si-woo is the protagonist, isn't he? And Dorothy and Amelia are the heroines?

So, it's not strange if I misunderstood a little, is it?

I couldn't see their hand positions. Of course, I thought it was *that*.

I, I was just surprised.

No matter what, I mean, huh? We were outside.

Even if there were no people around, I was just surprised by such scandalous acts being done outside.

And it was all a misunderstanding?

Si-woo's flustered expression, and Amelia giving Si-woo a thumbs-up as I ran off, flashed before my eyes.

"It's not my fault!"

"Arte?!"

To somehow hide my flushed face, I covered it and ran towards the sea.

My whole body felt twisted with shame.

***

"How was it?"

"You, you…! Why did you suddenly run away?! Thanks to you, I was misunderstood!"

As soon as I cleared up Arte's misunderstanding, I ran towards the sea and protested to Amelia.

I was almost mistaken for a crazy person doing strange things outdoors.

With Amelia, I wouldn't really care what misunderstanding happened, but with Arte…

"I ran away so you *would* be misunderstood."

"You, you…!"

"No, Arte's face was flushed, right? So I thought, this is an opportunity."

"An opportunity?"

What nonsense was she spouting?

I decided to listen to her excuse.

If it wasn't plausible, I wouldn't forgive her.

I'd torment her somehow.

I was even prepared to secretly put mint chocolate in Amelia's coffee.

"It seemed like she was having some strange misunderstanding. I was just poking fun, but she was so flustered."

"Then you should've cleared up the misunderstanding."

"Hmph, that's why you're still a virgin."

Amelia scoffed, as if my answer was laughable.

It was infuriating how she was resting on a floating tube, adjusting the sunglasses on her head.

No, then what was I supposed to do there?

"You're right, you should clear up the misunderstanding."

"Then I'm right!"

"No, I shouldn't have helped you there."

"…What?"

"Think about it. If I had helped you clear up the misunderstanding, it would've just been a simple misunderstanding. But if I had helped…"

Amelia grinned and tilted her head.

Behind Amelia, I could see Arte, still red-faced, repeatedly dipping her face into the seawater.

"She would've just been enjoying the sea normally. Not so embarrassed like that."

"Why? That's a good thing."

"Have you ever seen Arte that flustered?"

"…"

"No, right? Sometimes, shock therapy is necessary. Now Arte might become even more conscious of you, which is more beneficial."

I had thought wrong.

Only after listening to her words did Si-woo realize he had made a mistake in judgment.

How many times had I been played by Amelia's words?

It wasn't the first or second time I'd fallen for her words, thought they were right, and then had those actions come back to bite me like a boomerang!

It was already too late.

Because I noticed myself already thinking Amelia's words were plausible.

After all, Arte had never actually shown such flustered behavior before.

That time on the Ferris wheel, it wasn't so much embarrassment as it was like her trauma had been triggered, so it was a bit different.

It was the first time I'd seen Arte's face flush with shame and her get so flustered.

"How is it? Arte's different side."

"…Cute."

"Huh?"

Ah, wait. I said something wrong.

Amelia slightly frowned, as if she'd heard something unexpected.

Then she thought for a moment before starting to chuckle.

"Oh, what? That's what it was?"

"W-what…"

"No, it's nothing. Yeah, well. That could be. Actually, this is even better. I can scheme freely now."

Amelia laughed, as if she'd discovered something amusing.

If others had seen her, they might have fallen for her beauty.

But I felt no such thoughts at all.

No matter how pretty she was, I never had such thoughts about Amelia.

Even if this woman tried to seduce me in a place where we were alone, there was no way I'd fall for it.

Because, well, it was Amelia.

"What are you scheming now…?"

"That? I'll just play it by ear. Don't worry, it won't be anything that harms you."

At that moment, Si-woo prayed, even though he wasn't religious.

God, please just keep Amelia from doing anything reckless.

***

[Hmm, I wonder if something as fun as before will happen again?]

"Author, I was wrong, please forgive me…"

Even after a while, my face still felt hot, so as I cooled it with seawater, the Author's voice once again rang out.

I begged for forgiveness, fearing she would cause another incident in search of something fun.

I just wanted to rest a little now.

I was so ashamed of my ridiculous misunderstanding, I couldn't bear it…

[…Hmm, but Reader. With only four people, isn't the beach a bit uneventful?]

"Huh? Uneventful?"

[No, coming to the beach is nice, but there doesn't seem to be much useful content…]

The Author started complaining to me.

[Beach volleyball events are a bit boring with only four people, and a blond punk hitting on the heroines is impossible since it's a private beach…]

"Do you really want to cause so many incidents even on vacation…?"

[Because that's what makes it fun!]

A sigh escaped me.

It seemed the Author had been pondering incidents that could happen at the beach, and, finding none, now wanted to cause one.

"Author, no matter what, it's a holiday. Everyone's enjoying themselves."

I floated in the sea, looking at the others.

Amelia was floating on a tube, and Dorothy was taking a break on a sunbed on the sand.

Si-woo and Amelia were talking about something.

"If an event has happened, it's only right to take a break, Author. The protagonist and heroines can't always be in top condition."

[Hmm… Is that so…?]

"Of course."

…By the way, this is a bit uncomfortable.

It's nice that my chest floats, making it easy to just drift in the sea, but my face feels a bit hot.

[Then I won't say anything else, so at least put on some sunscreen!]

"Huh? No, why bother with that? It'll all just wash off in the water anyway."

[I saw you grimacing because your face was hot?! There are products that don't wash off, so go put it on quickly! It's the body I created!]

"Haa…"

No, why bother with that troublesome thing?

I was sure I'd look fine even with a tan.

But the Author didn't seem to think so.

She started nagging, saying she didn't want the skin of the body she created to be damaged.

…After a short time, it was me who finally surrendered.

"Haa… You're really not going to cause any incidents, right?"

[Yes! Yes! So hurry up and put on the sunscreen!]

"Alright…"

She's making such a fuss, and it's not even her body.

Is this some kind of vicarious satisfaction? I really don't know.

"Dorothy, do you have any spare sunscreen?"

"Huh? …You didn't bring any, did you?"

"Ah, no. The sun feels a bit strong."

Dorothy, startled, hurriedly rummaged through her bag.

…Was I too careless?

Hmm, now that I think about it, it might be a bit of a waste.

Flawless skin like this is quite rare.

Seeing how freaked out everyone was about it, I started to think that even if I didn't actively manage it, I shouldn't let it get ruined.

"Here you go."

"Thank you. I'll return what's left…"

"No, it's fine if you use it all. I think I'm running low on drinks, so I'm going to stop by the villa for a bit. Do you need anything?"

"…Cola, then."

"Alright."

After handing me the sunscreen, Dorothy said she was going to the villa and left.

The villa was a bit far, so it would take some time.

It would be closer if she only moved her body, but she'd probably be carrying a few things.

"What? Where's Dorothy going?"

"She said she was going to get some drinks."

"Really? It'd be much faster if we went. She should've said something."

Amelia, who had been on a tube in the sea, seemed to have seen Dorothy get up from the sunbed and leave.

She approached me to ask what was going on, then questioned the item in my hand.

"…Is that sunscreen? Why did you take it out?"

"Oh, the sun felt a bit strong, so I was thinking of putting it on."

"You haven't put any on?! Why?!"

Did I do something that wrong…?

With all three women freaking out, I felt like I'd made a huge mistake.

When I was a man, I never bothered with it because it was annoying and sticky.

"…Aha. Right. So you're going to put it on now, right?"

"…? Yes. That's what I intend to do."

Amelia suddenly smiled, as if she'd realized something, and began writing something on a piece of paper on the table next to the sunbed.

"Excuse me, what's that…?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just worried about Dorothy, so I'll head to the villa for a bit too. I should probably grab some food as well. It'll take some time. About an hour?"

"Okay, well. Have a good trip…?"

What was with that specific time?

As Amelia left, she said one last thing to me.

"Don't forget to put on sunscreen diligently! Since you're in a bikini, pay extra attention to your back."

"Alright."

"And tell Si-woo to read that note when he gets here!"

I thought she could have just told him, but I didn't press further and simply nodded.

Well, she must have a plan.

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