Meena and brother Silvio suffered from severe seasickness and we turned back to the beach.

　Meena and brother Silvio looked like they were having a hard time returning to the mansion in the carriage, so we decided to let them sleep at a nearby resting place.

　As long as they rested in a shady place where they wouldn't be shaken, they would recover in time.

'Well, what do we do now?'

　Once we were settled, Eric cut him off.

　The original plan was to cruise on a fishing boat for the entire afternoon this afternoon, but Meena and brother Silvio had to return to land early due to their terrible seasickness.

''That said, it would be a pity to leave those two here and return to the mansion.

'If you call our maids, they'll take care of you but, well, that's just as well.

　As expected, it's a pity that we're the only ones going back to the mansion and letting the maids take care of us.

　To tell the truth, I'd rather go back to the mansion and just laze around.

''Well, let's just pass the time here until you two recover your health.

Yeah.

　Well, it wouldn't take me more than an hour to recover my condition. Once I'm better, I'll be able to take the carriage home.

　An hour or so would be enough time to sit on the beach and watch the ocean and play in the sand.

I don't want to collect shells again, though.　I'm tired of it.

　Sister Elinora says, crossing her arms and sounding bored.

　This kind of leisurely time is the most precious thing in the world. Elinora doesn't understand.

'Oh!　I've got an idea!

　As I was dumbfounded in my mind, Elinora sister suddenly began to say in a good mood.

　Elinora sister's good thing I have a bad feeling about it.

''What do you mean by good things?''

　I have a rough idea of what to expect, but I dare to ask in order not to let him take the initiative.

"Me and Luna have the wooden sword, let's have a practice fight right here!

Reject!

Why?

'We have a day off and we're rehearsing tomorrow!　That's what Dad Nord said, too!

　Why do we have to practice when it's a vacation day? Does sister Elinora not understand the purpose of a vacation day?　

　It's an important time to rest your body and mind. You can't kill it.

''Well, I don't have any practice tools right now, so I'm not sure...''

What are you talking about?　Do you think a swordsman can always be in perfect condition to fight?

Oh, oh.

　Eric opens his eyes at the words of his sister Elinora, and a look of admiration appears on his face.

　Hey, idiot. What are you admiring? Don't you disagree with me more firmly?

''If you're a swordsman, you should be training to be able to show your strength in any place or condition.

　What is that idea of an ever-present battlefield?

　There are demons, but in this peaceful kingdom where there are no wars, I don't think we need that kind of thinking...

　However, when Elinora Sis says it, it's strangely awesome and persuasive. Is that what you call charisma?

''Unnu!　It's true, you're right. Should I practice like that on a regular basis?

You should.

　And then there's one man whose charisma has gotten the better of him.

　Eric isn't as good as sister Elinora, but he's more of a martial artist. They belong to the same category, so they must have something to feel for each other.

''And since the soil here is so soft, it looks good for practicing physical skills.

'Yeah, our basic bodywork training is mainly done here.

　...This is a very bad trend. If we all say we're going to practice, we're out of options.

Can Luna practice too?

Not good!

I wasn't talking to you.

　When I argued vehemently, sister Elinora held her head down and said once and for all.

　Could it be that Luna agrees with the practice?　If possible, I hope you'll deny it as much as I do.

　When I look at her as if I'm hoping for a little more, Luna-san........

''Hmmm, it's a rest day and I don't feel like it.''

'What?　Why?　Normally we'd be in a groove and practice!

　Perhaps it was surprising that Luna-san didn't come on board with the practice, but Sister Elinora was surprised.

　Oh, oh, God was here!

　When she was talking about her training methods on the beach, I thought Luna-san had the same brainpower as Elinora's sister, but apparently she's not.

''Well I've trained with Elinora, but I've never played with her. So today I'd rather have fun playing with Elinora than practicing.

Yeah, right. If Luna says so, let's not practice. Well, we can make sure we practice tomorrow.

　It's weak when it's said so straightforwardly, Elinora sister says with embarrassment.

　I see. When it is said straightforwardly, is it weak? The next time you want to skip your independent practice, I'll try to imitate you.

Well then, Elinora, let's do harpoon pounding. Let's do a harpoon stick. That shallow water there is close to here and we can poke fish from the rocks without having to dive.

Nice!

　Perhaps she liked Luna-san's suggestion, Elinora sister nodded with a smile.

　She said she wanted to try it earlier.

''Well then, let's go to the hut to get the harpoon.

Yes!

　Luna and her sister Elinora move to get the harpoon when she says that.

　And there are only two people left here, me and Eric.

''What do we do?''　Do we play harpoon with them, too?

　Eric turns around and suggests it, but I shake my head.

'Well no, I think I'd rather just relax on the beach.

　It's not that I'm not interested in harpooning, but I don't want to disturb sister Elinora and Luna, who seem to be close to each other. Besides, it would be better for someone to be at a distance where they can watch brother Silvio and Meena.

'Hmm, I see. It would be nice to spend some time at leisure once in a while.''

　Eric exhaled with a "huff" and sat down on the beach. Then he pulled off his shoes and socks and stretched out his legs to relax.

'Oh, I like that,'

　With that thought in mind, I did the same and sat down on the sand and took off my shoes and socks.

　My feet, freed from my shoes and socks, were exposed to the sea breeze, which took the heat out of them. The exhilaration of it was unbearable, and the feeling of stepping on the soft sand was pleasant.

　As I moved my feet to enjoy the feel of the sand, I turned my gaze forward.

　In front of me, the vast expanse of ocean and sky stretched on forever, and in the distance, the two blended into one another.

　The sound of waves of all sizes can be heard in the distance, and the scent of the tide tickles my nostrils.

　I can feel the sea with my whole body.

　And above all, it's nice to be able to gaze at the sea like this and be at peace.

　The endlessly blue sky and the blue sea make me forget about the fatigue I'm feeling right now, and even the hard practice I'll have to do tomorrow.

"..........

Hey.

..........

Hey!　Get a grip!

'Wow!　........what the hell, Eric. All of a sudden, you're yelling at me.

　What's wrong with Eric, what's wrong with him, all of a sudden he's screaming so loudly?

　I ask, frowning, and Eric looks so serious.

What? You look like a slaughtered char, and I'm worried about you, so I called out to you. Are you as sick as those two guys?

'You're fighting me. I'm perfectly normal.

Is that right?　I think that's a bad idea, but...

　I replied indignantly, and Eric gave me a divine look.

　'Leave me alone about the eyes.

'There are quite a few fish out there, even on the rocks.

'Well it's more correct to say they're there because they're rocky. Because most fish prefer rocky ground.

　As I was making a random comment to let Eric's words flow, I heard the voices of sister Elinora and Luna flowing in the wind.

　When I turn my gaze towards the voices, Luna-san and Elinora-san are already on a nearby rocky beach.

　Apparently they got the harpoon from a nearby hut while I was in a daze.

　They must be planning to poke a fish with a harpoon from the rocky shore. They are crouching down to watch the sea.

　I could continue to observe them in a daze, but it would be troublesome if Eric says his eyes are dead again.

　Since we're at the beach, how about playing in the sand?

　I reach out and touch the sand around me. It's warm and soft in the sun. I put it on my palm, but it quickly slips through my fingers and falls off.

'Buh!　Don't you dare!　The sand will be in your eyes!

　I'm enjoying the feeling of being smooth and flowing, when Eric shouts out, covering his face with his arms.

'Oh, sorry, sorry,'

　Apparently, the moment I fiddled with the sand, a sea breeze blew in Eric's direction.

　Is it good luck or bad? Is this the kind of thing the wind loves to do?

It doesn't sound sincere at all.

　I apologize with a half-smile, and Eric wipes his face in frustration.

　Meanwhile, I grip the sand on the beach like I enjoy it.

　It's been years since I've touched the sand on the beach like this.

'What are you?　You want to play in the sand at the age of seven?

　As I'm touching the sand with a deep sense of emotion, Eric says to me, as if I'm making fun of him.

　From the way he says it, only a small child would fiddle with the sand on the beach.

'Yes, they are. I've seen the ocean before, but I've never touched sand on a beach before.

　I've touched it in my previous life, but never in this life.

　I'm still a kid in appearance, too. I'm not ashamed of touching the sand, I'm not ashamed of touching the sand.

''I see. You can fiddle with the sand on your own, but don't go spinning the sand like you did earlier.''

　Eric let out a boring snort, "Hmph," as if he wasn't amused by my imposing reaction.

'If you're not busy anyway, why don't you come play in the sand with me, Eric?

"You'll get your clothes and hands dirty. It's no fun to touch the sand, mostly. I'll dig a hole or make a small mountain out of it at best.

'It's not fun to make something that small,'

What?　Then what would you make?

　My sighing words have sparked a fire in me, and Eric asks me with a winning look on his face.

'If you're a man, you should at least build a big castle.

"...Can you make that much out of sand on the beach?

There's all this sand and seawater to harden it. It's not impossible.

　When I say this, Eric crosses his arms as if he's thinking about it.

　I wonder if he's thinking of himself building a sand castle in his brain.

''Well, to pass the time, I'll play your game. It's a game of who can build a castle better.

Okay.

　You're in the habit of saying that you're killing time, but you're also saying that you're going to play the game in a groove.

　However, if I go into that, there's a chance that Eric will sulk, so I'll let him go through with it here.