Chapter 95: Caenis
[Under the overwhelming numerical advantage, Chiron acknowledged your victory.]
[You became the first-place winner of the hunting competition.]
"Did we win?"
Eikou revealed a somewhat indescribable expression as he looked toward the female monsters on the beach.
"Can this really be called a victory for our team? It is completely different from what I imagined."
Of course, he did not think that he had won by sheer luck.
After all, he had confronted the members of Argo, exhausted his Mana, and was chased all over the mountains and forests by a group of monsters. The effort he put in was in no way less than others.
It was just that the result was slightly different from his original expectations.
"Eikou, are you dissatisfied with something?"
Seeing his complicated expression, Chiron took the initiative to ask.
"Ehm... saying it like this sounds a bit like benefiting while pretending to be modest, Chiron-sensei, but sometimes I feel that the efforts I put in are not as convenient as a single effective activation of Disaster With Women?"
"There is no such thing."
Chiron shook his head.
"It is precisely your experiences that created this action. Think about it carefully—if even one step of your approach had deviated slightly, would you still have achieved the victory you have now? Your ability originates from your own experiences and understanding. The parties you have attended, the women you have met and helped—those intentional or unintentional actions are exactly what created today's Disaster With Women."
"Umu..."
The Centaur teacher gently patted his shoulder and smiled with narrowed eyes:
"In other words, Disaster With Women is trouble that you yourself caused using your own ability. Enjoy it and struggle in suffering. Congratulations on becoming the champion."
"So that's how it is... thank you for your guidance, Chiron-sensei."
He truly was a top-renowned teacher of Greece; when it came to conveying and explaining things, there was really nothing to criticize.
Eikou's mood immediately lightened.
[Congratulations, you have become the first-place winner of the hunting competition.]
[You received a special reward from Chiron: a Golden Apple that can instantly restore all stamina!]
[Although it is not the same as the Golden Apple in Greek mythology, it is still an extremely valuable item with commemorative significance.]
[Your reputation in the two classes has increased, and you received an Encouragement Dice.]
[When everyone finished the training and prepared to leave, the female monsters and Amazoness Warriors clung to you without letting go, no matter what they did not want to let you leave the island. Fortunately, there were many teachers and students around who held you back; otherwise, you definitely would have been dragged back to the island to become the Harem King.]
[Tristan said that, actually, this is not bad, right?]
[...]
[Just like that, with the sea breeze blowing straight against your face, Golden Hind cut through the waves and water, bringing everyone back to the seaside hotel.]
[You heard that Baobhan Sith might participate in tonight's party, so you also decided to attend.]
[However, in your heart, an extremely bad feeling welled up.]
[Think about it: the first time you joined a party because of Baobhan Sith, you ran into Morgan; the second time you heard Minamoto no Raikou would attend, you ended up encountering Scathach. From beginning to end, the parties you have experienced have, in reality, always gone against your ideals.]
"Minamoto no Raikou and Baobhan Sith—those two really are like bait thrown out by other women, just to specifically hook me into the trap."
Eikou could not help but sigh, having long since seen through this kind of arrangement.
[But as long as there is even a little possibility, you will still desperately give it a try.]
[Alright, join the party!]
[Moreover, you also heard that this party would be very high in scale, with Heroic Spirits from other classes attending as well, making it the best opportunity for you to expand your connections.]
[...]
[Around six in the evening, before the party began, you originally planned to return to your room to get a good sleep. But while enjoying the sea breeze, you suddenly saw a familiar figure...]
June 26th.
Six in the evening, with a gentle sea breeze blowing.
The golden sunset was brilliant like blossoms blooming among the clouds; white seagulls sang clear cries, spreading their wings and soaring high within the scenery where sky and sea merged into one.
"Ha..."
Eikou yawned slightly in fatigue, rubbed his still drowsy eyes, and happened to walk past the beach.
At that moment, he saw by the shore a familiar figure with dark brown skin and a pair of white beast ears growing from her head. That figure held a surfboard and walked out of the sea, then lay stretched out on a beach chair in an extremely unrestrained posture, cooling off while enjoying the seaside sunset.
That person was Caenis.
That person might say she hated the sea, but it did not affect her enjoyment of summer in the slightest.
"So it's Caenis..."
Now, every time he saw her, Eikou found it hard to remain calm.
Ever since the hunting on the island ended, he could not help but repeatedly think back on what had happened back then.
At that time, had he done something that hurt Caenis?
Back then, in order to deal with Jason, he had deliberately brought up her identity as a woman. To her, that must have been extremely insulting, right?
Normally, he often joked about Finn getting 'green hat', and also frequently teamed up with Gawain to tease Tristan about his romantic history, because everyone involved had already let go of the past and was fairly relaxed about such matters.
But after joking around too much, when facing someone he was not yet close to, the boundary also became blurred. With just a slight carelessness, one could make a mistake.
Heroic Spirits who were still troubled by their pasts did indeed exist.
"..."
Eikou revealed a guilty expression, wanting to speak but stopping himself. After thinking for a moment, he finally turned around and walked in another direction.
A short while later, he returned carrying two boxes of grilled oysters and two cups of iced beer.
"Yo,"
Eikou smiled and walked straight over to Caenis.
"Caenis, interested in having a couple of drinks with me?"
He narrowed his eyes and said with a smile.
"Why all of a sudden?"
Caenis, who was lying on a beach chair, asked with some confusion.
She was still wearing that cool black swimsuit, comfortably stretched out on the chair, unconsciously displaying her alluring body. Her tanned skin was exposed to the air, her firm and full legs, along with those strong, well-defined muscles—all of it became an enchanting sight on this beach.
Even though Caenis always refused to acknowledge herself as a woman, that body clearly exuded the presence of a mature woman no matter how one looked at it.
Eikou naturally sat down on the beach chair beside her, placed the other cup of iced beer next to Caenis, and then opened a can of beer for himself.
White seagulls flew toward the setting sun, while the pale golden glow of dusk flickered in and out among the waves.
"There's no need for a reason. Treating a friend to food and drinks isn't strange at all."
Eikou said softly.
"That's true. Thanks."
Caenis did not think much about it and also opened her can of beer.
"As for the reason, it's not convenient for me to say, but as a friend..."
Eikou spoke with a serious expression, then pointed at his own face.
"I hope you can punch me really hard once. Hurry up."
"That's not something friends should do, is it? What's wrong with you?"
"Just punch me once. That way I'll feel better."
"Do you have masochistic tendencies? With such a handsome face, are you really willing to let someone hit it?!"
[Caenis still punched you once, making your mood improve a little.]
[She is somewhat worried about your mental state.]
…