It was just past noon.
A blindfolded Angel in a swimsuit stood by the poolside of the Village of the Great Tree. She held a wooden sword in her hands. If you saw only that, you would probably think she was preparing for a game of watermelon splitting, but there were no watermelons in sight.
In their place were water spheres created by the magic of the Pond Turtles. Each sphere was roughly the size of a large watermelon.
The spheres flew toward the blindfolded Angel—not just one, but a relentless barrage of them. They came from the front, the back, the left, the right, and even plummeted from the sky at a formidable speed.
However, the Angel did not panic. She swung her wooden sword with fluid precision, shattering every single sphere before they could touch her.
The children watching from a distance broke into applause. I joined them.
"I ended up getting a bit wet. It was hardly worth such applause..."
The Angel spoke as she removed her blindfold, but I couldn't help but notice Galf standing nearby, completely drenched from his own attempt.
Ah, Galf declared he wanted another go and pulled the blindfold back down.
...He was currently being toyed with by the Pond Turtles’ water spheres.
"No matter the form, anything created by magic is shrouded in mana. You have to feel that mana," the Angel advised, but it seemed her words didn't quite take root. He managed to smash the first one or two, but that was it.
"I just can't help but rely on my ears..." Galf grumbled.
Honestly, I thought being able to track the spheres by sound alone was already impressive.
The Angel returned to the pool to play with the children. Watching her, I recalled how she had handled the wooden sword. Was she perhaps stronger than the Sword Saint, Pirika?
When I murmured the thought aloud, Galf nodded. He explained that since Angels were a long-lived race, they became absolute masters of anything they dedicated themselves to.
I see. And yet, even with that level of skill, she apparently wasn't the strongest of her kind. It made me realize all over again just how terrifyingly powerful my wife Tia, the strongest of the Angels, really was.
The Pond Turtles usually resided in the reservoir or the waterways, but when summer arrived, a few of them moved to the pool. They maintained the water quality while simultaneously generating the current for the flowing pool. It was a massive help. They were even happy to play along with the training exercises, as I had just seen.
I decided to bring them some freshly harvested cabbage as a reward. I told them to climb up onto the poolside to eat so they wouldn't foul the water. They asked if it really mattered since they could clean the water instantly, but that wasn't the point. It would be a problem if the children started following their example.
"Thank you for understanding," I said, handing over a particularly large head of cabbage.
Hm?
Hahaha, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to bring some to the turtles staying in the reservoir and waterways, too. Don't hold back; eat up.
After finishing my rounds with the cabbage and returning to the poolside, I found a swimsuit fashion show underway, featuring designs by Zabuton and her children. The participants included the children, the Angels, the High Ogre maids, the beastman girls, and the Civil Official Girls.
The focus wasn't on revealing entirely new designs, but rather on showcasing improvements. New swimsuits were usually unveiled around spring; these were refinements based on actual use during the summer. Even a change as small as adding or removing a single piece of fabric could completely alter the impression of a suit. It was quite a vibrant scene.
For the record, Zabuton viewed swimsuits as the pinnacle of functional beauty. She believed they were profound specifically because they were simple. Because of that, while she didn't quite call accessories like pareos heretical, she didn't exactly look on them with favor.
I understood her logic, but my own swimsuit happened to have a cape. Naturally, I took it off before swimming, and it was designed with a quick-release mechanism. Still, a cape paired with swim trunks... well, I personally felt it was a bit too avant-garde. I wore it regardless.
At dinner time.
...Summer was certainly hot, but the Village of the Great Tree never got particularly muggy. Furthermore, the mansion was equipped with magic tools to regulate the temperature, and the Ice Monster, Ice, was working hard, so it wasn't hot at all. If anything, it was actually a bit chilly.
Because of that, I didn't think it was appropriate for everyone to live in their swimsuits. The children would start imitating them. I cautioned the Angels, beastman girls, and Civil Official Girls who were wandering around in their swimwear.
"Follow the example of the High Ogre maids," I told them.
The maids were properly dressed in their uniforms. I suspected the fabric was a thinner summer weave, but their commitment to the long skirt was admirable. Although, I did think a slightly shorter length might look more refreshing in the heat.
I didn't mean they should jump straight to miniskirts; I was thinking something around knee-length. Or if they were hesitant to show their legs, they could layer a see-through long skirt over it.
Apparently, that would be fine for private clothes, but for a maid uniform, it was considered too flashy. I see. Well, wearing what you want to wear is best, I suppose. Still, wandering around the house in a swimsuit was crossing a line. I asked them to at least throw a wrap or a shirt on.
But why stay in swimsuits in the first place? Didn't they take a shower after leaving the pool? Shouldn't they have changed into normal clothes then?
They were planning to go back to the pool after dinner? But the sun was already down. They were going to use lights to create a fantastical atmosphere?
...I didn't quite get the appeal. Wasn't it dangerous? They weren't going to swim? They just wanted to enjoy the vibe and some drinks?
I wouldn't forbid it, but I made it clear that entering the water after drinking was strictly prohibited. I didn't want anyone drowning on my watch. I told them to tell me how it went tomorrow.
Hm? I should join them?
Ah... I think I'll pass. If I stayed out late playing around, Lu and Tia would only scold me.
After dinner, the Fairy Queen arrived in a huff.
Apparently, her vanilla-flavored ice cream wasn't sweet. I tried a spoonful, and she was right—it wasn't sweet at all. According to the High Ogre maids, it was unsweetened ice cream intended for use in cooking. Even after that was explained, the Fairy Queen remained indignant, claiming that unsweetened ice cream was a contradiction in terms.
"Now, now, don't be so angry. If it's not sweet, we just have to add some sweetness."
Sugar was the obvious choice, but since it was vanilla, honey seemed more appropriate. I drizzled a generous amount over it and asked if that satisfied her. Her mood shifted instantly. Crisis averted.
By the way... there was no dessert served at dinner today. Even if it were only served to those who asked, the High Ogre maids wouldn't have accidentally given the Fairy Queen that specific ice cream. Which meant... she had to have taken it herself.
"You took it without permission, didn't you?"
She knew I knew. It was a bit much for her to steal something and then complain about the taste. I told her to stop trying to win me over with that cute, innocent face.
The next day.
It was decided that the Amusement Hall in Village Five would remain in its trial phase for a while longer. A great many issues and points for improvement had been raised. The official opening still looked to be quite a way off.
While listening to that report, I made my way to the Village Council Hall. A lecture was about to be held in the large Assembly Hall. The lecturer was a high-ranking official from the Demon Kingdom Army—the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Demon Kingdom Army, if I recalled correctly. I wasn't entirely sure how prestigious that title was, but he was certainly someone important.
The attendees were me and my sons: Lilius, Rigul, and Ratte. The reason I was there was that the lecturer had specifically requested my presence. He had sent word through the Demon King and Beezel that he desperately wanted me to hear his talk. Since those two also seemed keen on the idea, I had agreed to participate.
However, the subject of the lecture was the Demon Kingdom Military System. I assumed that meant a discussion on the structure of the army, how it was governed, and how soldiers were conscripted. I wondered if Lilius and the others had actually asked to hear about this. More importantly, I wondered why they wanted me to hear it. Was I supposed to be the chaperone in case he started teaching the boys something strange?
Well, I’d find out soon enough.
Incidentally, Gratz was sitting at the edge of the room. His assigned role was apparently to act as a plant in the audience, chiming in with, "I'm just an amateur, so forgive me for asking a basic question..." before launching into highly technical inquiries.
I couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't just ask his questions normally.