Discerning readers may notice something: my tenses are totally jacked up. That’s because the book is originally written in present tense with some past tense dispersed in there, but I translated it as fully past tense. Then I realized keeping the writing fully past tense really doesn’t help the flow. So I’m sorry for the present tense narration in the translation! Though I checked my brother’s English copy of Overlord, and apparently it’s okay to do that.
Note: I added a picture to that I forgot about.
I felt like a kindergarten teacher while holding Rangii and Baduk's hands as we excitedly followed Saehee along the mountain path. The path was just wide enough for a car to drive through. Colorful flowers, their names unknown to me, bloomed magnificently along the side of the path. Their smell was far away, sometimes there and sometimes not.
"Ah!"
Rangii stopped her idle chitchat and let go of my hand to run to the side of the path. What could she be doing? Rangii bent over by the waist, picked an especially bright red flower, and put it in her hair.
She trotted towards me and looked up at me with her knees slightly bent and her hands open.
"How do I look? Do I look pretty?"
When I came back to my senses, I was hugging Rangii.
"Unyaa?"
Sh, shoot! What did I just do? My reason flew far away for a moment after seeing Rangii so cute. I immediately let go of Rangii and went ehem as I cleared my throat.
"It, it fits you. Yeah. You look pretty."
"Hee hee."
Rangii blushed bashfully as she laughed.
"Young Master, Young Master! What about me?"
Baduk had picked a flower without me noticing, and she had that yellow flower in her hair as she asked me. She was so cute that, if I hadn't done that embarrassing act to Rangii earlier, I would've hugged her.
"Baduk looks pretty too."
I petted Baduk's head, taking care to not make the flower fall out. And then,
"Pfft?!"
I was taken aback at seeing Saehee with a white flower in her hair. Wh, why are you doing that all of a sudden?! Did you eat something bad?
Thankfully, Saehee didn't put that flower in her own hair.
"Isn't Saehee pretty too when she's like this?"
In other words, this was Rangii's work. Then again, who else but Rangii could put a flower in Saehee's hair? But how come when I see Saehee like that, what comes to mind aren't the words "It's cute" or "It looks good," but "It's weird" and "It doesn't fit you" and "The end of the world is nigh!" and things like that?
"…Looking at me like that is rude, no?"
I'm sorry.
"Ah! I'll put one in Sunghoon's hair!"
Rangii was holding a bright flower like the one in her hair, and she motioned for me to bend down. This brat's sure saying something terrible?!
"No. I'm fine, okay? You guys should…"
"Don't be like that. Sunghoon will be pretty too! C'mon, c'mon! Hurry up and bend down!"
"Please do, Young Master. It will look good on you, too."
I couldn't win against the gazes of those two little girls.
"Pfft?!"
Saehee ostentatiously laughed after seeing me like that.
"…Laughing at me like that is rude, no?"
"I could not help but laugh."
I wish I said that same thing to you earlier.
And so, this ghastly group of four with flowers in their hair arrived at a beautiful valley. There was a small gazebo on one side, and next to it was a large pond full of water. But that's not to say the water was dirty. Clean water continually flowed in through the valley river connected to both sides of the pond, and the water was so clean that it was completely transparent. It clearly looked as if it was made by human hands. I don't know who, but it must have been one of my ancestors. Should I give a prayer of thanks to whoever it was?
Saehee first went to the gazebo, took out a mat from her basket and spread it on the floor, and started to take things out on top of it. Towels, plates, plastic containers, drinks, snacks, sandals, swimming suits, spares clothes, a cutting board, a knife, a swim ring, a watermelon, and a respirator.
"What? There's no way that all could've fit in that basket!"
"Do you have a problem with this?"
"…I'll stop talking."
Because I have a feeling you'll shut me up by saying it's magic if I continued.
"In that case, my apologies, Young Master. Could you please put the watermelon in the river? Because I hate getting wet."
"Okay."
How could I not do such a small favor for her? If that basket doesn't follow the law of conservation of mass, then that means Saehee carried an incredibly heavy basket all the way here.
After placing the watermelon in the river, I returned to the gazebo and looked around me. That was when Rangii spoke to me while pulling on my hand.
"Sunghoon, let's go in already!"
"We need to get changed first."
Her head cocked to the side.
"Huh? We do?"
When you put it like that, I'm not sure either. Because for me to know, I'd have had to come to a river before. The moment when I thought to myself 'Is it weird to get changed before going into a river?'
"Bark!!"
Something the color of a human body flew like a blur past me and entered the water with a splash. I blocked the water with my hand and saw Baduk swimming in the water, completely naked. With her head and tail above the water, and her white butt on full display, she moved her hands and feet tirelessly under the water. She's really swimming doggy style—no that's not it! You brat! You didn't do your warm-up exercises!
No, no! That's not the problem either!
"Baduk! Why are you naked?!"
At my completely appropriate question, Baduk gave an unrelated reply.
"But my clothes would get wet if I wore them?"
If you don't want your clothes to get wet, then you could've worn a swimming suit. I'm asking why are you naked!
But most of all, the problem was that Baduk's words had an influence on a certain somebody next to me.
"Ah! Was that what you were worried about? Then I'll take off my clothes too."
That obviously wasn't what I meant!
Rangii ignored my mind's scream, took off all her clothes without my noticing, and pulled on my hand with her naked body confidently on full display.
"Sunghoon, get in too!"
My eyes naturally drifted towards Rangii's body.
She's cute. I already saw her multiple times, but seeing Rangii look up at me while completely unaware of shame, she's so cute that I want to hug her tight. That's obviously a part of her charm. I remembered Rangii's adult form from yesterday, with her burgeoning breasts and slightly curved hips.
"Ack!"
My face turned bright red. Why am I thinking about that right now?!
"Huh? Sunghoon, are you hurt somewhere? Your face suddenly turned red!"
Someone save me! Rangii raised her hand to my forehead and rubbed my cheek. On top of that, since I was hunched over, I could see Rangii's naked body more clearly than before—no, she's right in front of me! Don't ask why I'm hunched over. Don't ask!
"Have your wounds from yesterday not healed yet? Was licking you this morning not enough?"
The misunderstanding is getting worse. Her expression changed from an excited smile just a moment ago to one of concern as she worried about me. I, I should say something! Anything!
"No, that's not it—."
How could I tell her that it's because I was noticing her more.
"A, anyway, I'm not hurt! I'm not hurt so you don't have to worry!"
"It's okay to say you're hurt if you are! Tell me where! I'll lick you there!"
You must not lick me. Absolutely not. Something terrible will happen if you do.
Aggh, I'm not in my right mind right now! I need to resolve this situation somehow. Because Baduk noticed what was happening and is about to get out of the water! At this rate, the situation is going to get even worse! Isn't, isn't there someone? Can't someone help me?
Ah, Saehee! I turned to look at Saehee to ask for help. Saehee looked back at me with the corners of her lips raised, obviously mocking me.
Hey, you human. Do something about your master. For some reason, it felt like Saehee was saying 'Why would I do that?' Stop that and help me! Rangii's worrying about me because she thinks I'm hurt!
Saehee sighed as she granted my desperate plea and spoke.
"Master. There is nothing to worry about as all of the Young Master's wounds have healed."
I'm saved!
"Then why is Sunghoon in so much discomfort? And look. I can see a little energy gathering right here. Isn't that weird?"
Rangii raised her hand and pointed at a certain spot.
…I felt like biting my tongue from shame. You can see things like that too?
"It is okay. This happens to all men. In a certain sense, this is proof that the Young Master is a healthy man. There is nothing for Master to worry about."
Rangii made a question mark with her hair and spoke.
"Is that why? Sunghoon, are you really, really not hurt?"
Rangii clenched her hands into fists and lowered her head.
"Reeeeeaaaly?"
After asking to make absolutely sure, she raised her head and looked up at me. I showed her my best fake calm smile so that she wouldn't worry.
"Yeah. I'm okay, so play with Baduk for a bit. I'll be there soon."
"Uu—uu."
Still worried, Rangii was on the verge of tears as she looked at Saehee once, then looked back at me and nodded her head.
"Okay. If you're hurt then really don't go in the water."
"I said I'm okay."
I smiled cheerfully. Rangii was finally at ease, and after nodding her head, jumped into the water to play with Baduk. Even then, she seemed to still be worried about me as she glanced repeatedly towards me.
For Rangii's sake, I needed to get in the water right away, but I just sat there and sighed. Haa… I thought I was going to die.
"It seems you were between a rock and a hard place, Young Master."
I blushed deeply. That sigh of relief was premature.
"Sh, shut up. That's not what happened."
I was just careless for a moment. That's all.
"Although I believe that this is a truly desirable development for the two of you, there is no helping the conclusion that there is something slightly wrong with the Young Master's morals."
You lolicon. I didn't have anything to say to Saehee. So I decided to change the subject.
"More importantly, aren't you going to play with them?"
"If your memory is also so bad then you truly are hopeless."
"What're you saying?"
Saehee was watching Rangii and Baduk rolling over each other on the waterside, then faced me when she spoke.
"If I get water on me, then I get wet."
Ah, yes. That's right. If you get water on you, then you get wet.
"And the Young Master should not be saying that. If you do not quickly go in the water, then Master will worry."
I know. I'm better now so I'm going to go. But before that,
"Do you have a swimming suit, by any chance?"
I don't mind just going in the water like this, but I didn't bring a spare change of clothes. No, I don't have any clothes at Grandpa's home so even if I wanted to, I couldn't bring any. I don't want to walk back home with my clothes wet. Saehee could use her magic, but I don't want to get too used to something like that.
"I do. But would it not be better to take off your clothes and go in?"
"I absolutely do not want to do that so give me a swimming suit."
"If you put it like that, then here."
I was lost in thought for a moment while I held the black, tight-looking speedo that Saehee gave me.
"Are you joking?"
"I am."
I would've hit her if not for the fact that she helped me earlier.
"Here it is."
As if she really was joking, Saehee took the speedo and handed me swimming trunks that she took out of her basket.
"…Where am I supposed to get changed?"
"Please change here. I will even take pictures."
I decided to stop accepting Saehee's help starting now.
After getting dressed in the woods, I stepped foot in the river. —Uu, it's cold. But could this be perfect for a midsummer day? I walked slowly towards the middle. The river water wasn't that deep so it only went up to waist-level. Meaning even if Baduk were standing, only her face would be barely above the surface, and the water would be up to Rangii's shoulders. The ripples on the surface distorted anything under it so I couldn't see anything. Hurray for natural science! Hurray for refraction!
Rangii had been holding Baduk's hand and taking her here and there when she spoke worriedly after seeing me enter the water.
"Sunghoon. Are you really okay?"
"I'm okay."
"Really?"
"Seriously. Do you think I'd lie to you?"
Rangii nodded her head. Hey.
"Didn't you lie by saying you didn't love me even when you do?"
"Shut up."
She turned her head sharply away. After glancing at me from the corner of her eye, Rangii smiled happily.
"I'll do this to a good little liar like Sunghoon!"
Huh? Rangii suddenly let go of Baduk's hand and dove into the water. Only the tail connected to her butt was above the water, and it was steadily going towards me. No, I could see her swimming under the water in the first place. The moment when I thought 'What's this brat doing right now?' Rangii grabbed my legs.
No way. And once again, a bad situation had my name written all over it. Rangii grabbed and pulled on my legs. I lost my balance and fell into the water.
"Afuu!"
I tried to get up right away, but Rangii was still holding on to my foot so I couldn't even do that. I didn't have a choice but to swing my arms downwards with my hands to propel my face above the water, but during that time, Rangii went behind me, hugged herself tight to me with her arms through my armpits, and put her head on my shoulder. I turned my head and saw she had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Unyanyanyaa. I got you."
I was too busy worrying about Rangii's dainty breasts, asserting their existence to me by sticking to my back. They both had no clothes over them, so there was skin-to-skin contact. You get what I'm worrying about right now, right?
"If you space out like that, then you'll get eaten by me!"
Rangii went heh heh, laughing happily, and lightly bit my ear once while dragging me back. The dignity of the human race won't stand for being treated like this.
"Why're you acting so proud about a surprise attack, you brat?!"
I moved my arms behind me to tickle Rangii's sides.
"Unyaa?!"
Her tail shot straight up, and using this opportunity as Rangii fell, I turned around and I splashed Rangii with water. Rangii covered her face with one hand and tried to counter attack, but I had access to more water! Hahaha! If you don't like it, then grow taller!
"Ba, Baduk!"
"Understood, Master!"
Crap! I messed up! Rangii wasn't the only one in the water. Baduk was there too! Where is she? I looked around while I continued to splash, but I couldn't see her. Then that must mean?
Above!
"Bark!"
I looked up and saw Baduk flying down from the sky. Thank goodness the sun was behind me.
Baduk fell into the water and the resulting splash blocked my vision, and she grabbed me by the waist and pulled me backwards. But there's no way a kid like Baduk could overpower me…
"Huh, huuuh?"
Why is it that the landscape is slowly changing? The last thing I saw was the blue sky, and I closed my eyes.
Splash!
"Pwaa!"
So she used her Phantom strength? I quickly got up, sweeping my wet hair back, and looked around to find Rangii and Baduk celebrating their victory by hugging each other and spinning in a circle. They sure move around well in the water.
"Did I do well?"
"You did!"
Those two sure are happy about submerging someone in water twice. Then I won't just overlook this!
"Prepare yourselves, you two!"
I ostentatiously outstretched my arms and plowed through the water, taking large steps towards Rangii and Baduk as water splashed to all sides.
"Unyak?! Sunghoon's mad!"
The Young Master is mad!"
We continued to have fun playing in the water like this.
"You look just like a pervert."
…I'm not.