A Vacation!

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We were now at the beach in White Sand Island.

“I’m the first!”

The small fox… Milina, shouted cheerfully as she jumped into the water.

“Meow! Not fair!”

Rona the cat followed after her. And the children of the various tribes continued.

Melk, who was in her wolf form, looked at them and said,

“Do stretches first. Or you will drown…”

Water was splashed into Melk’s face. I didn’t know which child had done it, but Melk must have seen, as she jumped in the water right after it happened.

Asuha watched this and let out a sigh.

“Really. Ms. Melk is just as childish… Kya!?”

Out of nowhere, someone had poured water over Asuha’s head.
And so Asuha and her black bathing suit were drenched.

Behind her, I saw Mette running towards the water while holding a bucket. So she was the culprit…

Mette wore a purple bathing suit. I had not made it, so it must have been Ymir or the golems.
Though, it did not use a whole lot of fabric…or leave much to the imagination.

Mette had a very mature look, but she teased Asuha playfully now.

“Hey! If you want revenge, come over here!”
“How foolish! Just you wait, Ms. Mette!”

Asuha flapped her wings, and then flew towards Mette like an eagle targeting its prey.

“Everyone is so excited…”

I suppose that was how much they had looked forward to this. As for me, it showed how peaceful Fendel was now, and so I was happy.

In the water, buoys and nets had been placed to separate areas where swimming was allowed. As the nets were made of purple iron, they would not get ripped even if Shield Shells appeared. Also, adult Kappas stood guard.

Several parasols had been placed along the beach, as well as chairs and tables so that people could eat.

While I enjoyed swimming…

I was a little too old to go in and play with the children.
That being said, it wasn’t only children who had come here today. Monica and Ecleshia, as well as other young men and women had come as well. Even Celes and the Mopes were here.

As I thought of such things, Iria, who wore a white bathing suit, approached me.

“Sir Joshua. Aren’t you going to swim?”
“Aye. But there is something that I wanted to make for everyone.”

I took out some black powder from the magic workshop.

Iria looked at it with a puzzled expression.

“What is it?”
“It is something we found on the island yesterday. It’s called vanilla beans.”

According to Ecleshia, she would be able to grow more of them. And the rest I would use to make some sweets.

“It has a strange, sweet smell…”
“Aye. I am going to make something with them. Though, it is something very simple…”

And so I started to make it in magic workshop.

First, while chilling the Mope milk, I gradually stir it… And as it starts to thicken and solidify, I add honey and vanilla and continue mixing.

“…There, that should do it.”

I put the finished product onto a wooden plate.

“This… It looks just like snow!”
“Apparently, it is called ice cream. Iria, do you want to try it?”
“May I?”
“Aye. As I followed a recipe, it should not be terrible.”

And so I handed it to Iria with a spoon.

“Made by Sir Joshua… And it smells so sweet… It must be delicious then.”

Iria then took a scoop of it with the spoon and brought it to her mouth.

And then her eyes widened.

“Oh! It’s delicious!”

Iria said as she touched her cheek. It was cute how much she enjoyed it.

“Ah, that’s good. So it turned out well after all.”
“You should try it too, Sir Joshua. Here!”

Iria took a spoonful and offered it to me.

“Ah, thank you.”
“Now, open your mouth.”

Iria looked a little embarrassed. I felt the same, but…

“Come on, open your mouth.”
“Uh, yes.”

And so I opened my mouth and ate the ice cream.

We were like some young couple from the city…

As for the taste, it was definitely good. I would have enjoyed it even if Iria wasn’t feeding me.

And then, unsurprisingly, Melk rushed to us like the wind.

“What are you two eating? …This smell…”
“Ah, Melk. This is what I was talking about yesterday.”

I then gave Melk the ice cream.

She took a big spoonful into her mouth and then she froze for some time.

“Me-Melk?”

However, her tail was wagging more than ever before, so I suppose it meant that she liked it.

After a while, Mette and Asuha came as well.

“I smell something good.”
“It’s yesterday’s vanilla!”

I nodded at them.

“Aye. I made something with it. We should all eat it together. But I have to prepare for it. Will you lend me a hand?”

I asked. And then I placed a large table on the beach, and then placed the plates and spoons with ice cream on it.

And then Mette and Asuha called the demihuman children who were playing, and we all ate the ice cream together.

Rona raised her voice.

“Meow! Delicious, meow!”
“Oh. So those beans that I buried in the field…turn into this. How is it, Monica?”

Ecleshia asked.

“I’ve never eaten anything like it before… And it is perfect for warm places like this. Fletta, Moo? Do you like it?”
“Yes! I’ve never eaten something so delicious!”

Monica’s younger sister and her friend liked it a lot.

“Delicious!! So you can make something like this out of our milk. We sure are amazing, baah!”
“Cold food that tastes this good… Though, eating too much makes my head hurt a little.”

Celes and Ymir finished their ice cream in the blink of an eye.

The children were also very excited, as they were eating ice cream for the first time. Up until now, we sometimes served crushed ice, but it was nothing like this.

“I’m glad that you all liked it. Though, it will take some time for the vanilla to grow, so you will have to wait before you can eat it again.”

I said, and the children looked quite disappointed.

Just then, Iria muttered.

“While the vanilla might take time to grow, I think you can just use strawberries instead.”
“Or even lemon.”

Said Melk, and then Ena pointed to the coconut tree.

“Coconuts might go well with it too!”
“I see. So we could just replace the vanilla with all kinds of things… Alright. Then I shall teach you how to make it, and you can all test various flavors.”

I said, and everyone agreed.

After that, I made tools so that they could make ice cream without production magic, and I taught them how to use it.

If you weren’t using production magic, then the ice magic that Melk and the others used was important. However, ice magic was taught at the schools, and so the children were able to make it themselves.

After that, everyone continued to enjoy the time, whether through swimming or eating. Mette also joined the children and was having fun.

“Well…I guess all take it easy under this parasol then.”

I decided to sit on the chair and rest.

It was cool in the shade, and the sounds of the sea were quite relaxing. I felt like I would easily drift off to sleep.

Just then, I heard a voice coming from next to me.

“Sir Joshua. Are you resting?”
“Oh, Iria…”
“I thought you might be tired, and so I brought you a drink! Will you join me?”

Iria was holding a tray with two cups.
Apparently, she had made a drink for me.

“Ah, thank you.”

I took a cup from the tray.
Iria then put the tray on the table and sat down on the chair next to me.

The drink was some kind of fruit tea. There was ice inside, and it was perfect for a hot day.

And when I tasted it, it was quite delicious as well…

“It’s great… Ah.”

My grip had been weak, and I spilled some of it. I suppose these days of peace have made me less sharp… Well, it was not a bad thing.

“I have to be careful… Uh, Iria.”

Iria started to wipe my chest with a towel.

“Hehe. You can be quite childish sometimes, Sir Joshua.”

Iria laughed mischievously.

“Th-thank you… But I can do that myself. Anyway, aren’t you going to go and swim with the others?”
“No, I would rather be with you. Also, I brought something today to help you relax.”

Iria said as she pulled out a book.

“A Shiatsu…massage book.”
“Yes! It is supposed to be very effective for removing tiredness.”

Well, that was true. Back at the Knights Order, I had often wished that I could go and get a massage.

“I appreciate the thought, but you’ll just get tired, Iria.”

Besides, she might be planning something else…

But Iria shook her head.

“It’s fine” I want you to take it easy today, Sir Joshua. Or would you rather be alone…?”
“Ha-hardly! I’m happy, but…”
“Then just leave everything to me!”
“Uh…alright then.”

I decided to accept her offer.

First, Iria gently massaged my feet with her fingers. And then my calves and thighs…and waist, back and shoulders.

“How does it feel, Sir Joshua?”
“Ah…it’s very nice.”

It felt so good that I started to drift off to sleep.

When I woke up later it was evening. And so we decided to stay there for the night.

After that, White Sand Island became a popular spot for the demihumans to swim. And the ice cream made from Mope milk became one of the most famous Fendel treats.

Next Chapter

Seisan Mahoushi no Rakuraku Henkyou Kaitaku - Saikyou no Ajintachi to Howaito Kokka wo Kizukimasu!