A few days have passed since we left Vega Country.

　We are now on the open sea.

　The ship we are on is a high-speed ship decorated in white and gold, which the Vega State has provided us with.

(She's fast.)

　The speed at which it moves through the wind is no less than that of Shumuria's "King's Boat".

　There is a reason why we are not on the King's Boat.

　What we are aiming for is the Arun Divine Kingdom.

　But because the Royal Ship is loaded with the Devil's Corpse, it's headed directly to the Kingdom of Shumuria.

　There's no way we can take it to Arun, and we can't leave it in Vega, right?

　As our replacement, Arnold provided us with a fast ship.

"He's always been good to us, you know.

　Mr. Kilt chuckled as he boarded the ship.

　Maybe he had mixed feelings about it, since he was the only one who had rejected his proposal.

　But Mr. Arnold didn't make a single bad face.

(He's a really nice guy.)

　And so, thanks to him and the Vega nation, we were able to sail safely to the ocean with a lot of beastmen seeing us off.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


Another boring voyage.

　Solstice, leaning against the deck fence, blurts out a look at the surface of the sea.

　The view is 360 degrees, all you can see is the ocean.

　Iltimina and Kilt are giggling.

　I ask, "How long will it take to get to Arun?

'How long is it going to take us to get to Arun?
'I'd say a couple of weeks. I don't think it'll take more than a month first.

　Really?

　It's going to take two months to get to the Kingdom of Shumuria.

''Shumuria and Arun are east and west of the Albac continent. Arun is still closer to Vega.
Yes.

　However, nothing can be done for those two or three weeks.

　By the way, Colon-Tudo-san was in the cabin of the ship, studying the 'Report on Divine Art' and the 'Devil's Corpse' that Solstice gave him.

　Poe is always poised by the side of such a high elf.

　I kind of think of the two of them as such.

(You two make a great team.)

　I think.

　And Solstice, who had been watching the sea, unexpectedly raised herself from the fence she had been leaning against.

'I'll just go to my room and read a book,'

　I declared.

'Oh, yes,'
'Then I'll be back. What about Merle?
I'll stay here and watch the ocean for a while longer.
I understand.

　Illtimina smiled.

'Be careful not to let the sea breeze cool you down,'
Yes.
Where's the quilt?
I'll see to it that Merle doesn't fall into the sea.

　I laughed.

(Ehhh, I won't fall off.)

　I'm a little frustrated that they treat me like a child.

　But I'm not going to complain because I can't say that accidents never happen, and maybe it's an adult's responsibility to prepare for them.

　With that, the sisters went back to the cabin.

　Me and Quilt-san look out at the sea.

　The smell of the tide.

　The cool sea breeze.

　The moving surface of the sea like a living thing.

(I never get tired of looking at it.)

　Solstice said she was bored, but I wasn't so sure about that.

　Mr. Kilt looks up at the sky above us.

　The sun is shimmering in the blue sky.

　And his golden eyes narrowed.

Hmm. Let's go fishing.

　I muttered.

'Fishing?'
Hmm. Did Merle ever do that?
Nope.

　I don't know if that includes my previous life, but I haven't experienced that in Marl.

　Mr. Kilt laughed.

'Do you want to join us?'
Yes.

　I nodded widely.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　I approached the beastly sailor from Vega country and asked him to prepare a fishing rod.

　The bait was a squid fillet.

　I put the bait on a hook and throw it into the sea.

"Ho?　That's good form.

　Mr. Kilt complimented me.

　Haha.

(Because swinging a rod is a bit like swinging a sword.)

　And so we wait lazily.

　However.

This is not a ship in transit. Don't hold your breath, all right?
Uh-huh.
Well, just enjoy it when you're bored.

　And Mr. Kilt laughs.

(Really?)

　But that's okay.

　I don't want to catch fish, I just enjoy fishing with Mr. Quilt.

　..........
　....
　......................

'Do you fish a lot, Mr. Kilt?'

　With no response at all, I somehow spoke to Miss Kilt.

　She replies, her silver hair shining in the sunlight.

'I used to,'
A long time ago?
I was a bandit in Arun. We didn't have enough to eat.
...Really?
You haven't done much in Shumuria because you've been doing so much 'gold-plated' work.
Hmm.

　I'm just gonna bite my lip and

You'd think they'd have a lake that big in King's Landing Mulia.
It's true.

　Kilt laughs.

So this may be the first time in my life I've been able to relax like this.

　He added.

　............

　Kilt-san's profile was very calm.

(Hmmm.)

　When I look at it this way, I'm really just a normal woman.

　I wish I had more time to be a quilt like this, I just wish I had more time to be a quilt like this.

　......
　........
　...............

　I fished for the next three hours or so, but....

It was no good.
Yes.

　Unfortunately, it was bowled over.

　But Mr. Quilt was laughing and I was able to relax and talk with him, which was kind of fun.

　When I was putting away my fishing rod.

Speaking of which.

　Suddenly, Mr. Kilt made a face as he remembered.

'Hmm?'
I guess I'm 30 years old.

　Huh?

　I couldn't help but stare at Ms. Kilt's beauty.

　As she continues to clean up, like it's nothing.

"Today was my birthday.
..........
I didn't expect to meet you on the beach. I'd forgotten all about it.

　What did you say?

　I just celebrated Solstice's birthday last month and today is Kilt's birthday....

''But strawberries are in their thirties.......and I'm getting old.

　And Kilt sighed.

　I look like I'm in my 20s at all.

(...What should I do for my birthday present?)

'Well Mr. Quilt, do you want anything?'
Hmm?

　She chuckled.

'No, no, it's no longer the year to celebrate.
No, no, no.
Hmm?
'It's the day Mr. Quilt was born. I don't care if you're good, I want to celebrate.
..........

　Mr. Kilt looks surprised.

　His cheeks turn a little red, then he looks at me, his golden eyes narrowing gently.　

'I'm sorry, Merle.'
..........
But we're on the water. And there's nothing to be had?
Ugh....

　If you ask me, that's for sure.

(You can't even buy alcohol or anything else on the ocean...)

　I'm stumped.

Jeez, so what do you want me to do for you?
Hmm?
I'll give you a shoulder rub, clean you up, whatever, okay?

　He clenched his fists and stared, desperately appealing.

'............'

　Mr. Kilt stared at me like that.

　And then.

Okay, I'll give you one.

　I said.

'Yes!'

　I nodded, naturally.

　With a small smile on my face, Kirt-san smiled at me.

Just for tonight, I want you to be my strawberry pillow.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


''Well, I'll put up with it if Marle wants me to.

　When I asked Ms. Illtimina about it, she seemed to disapprove, but she agreed because it was Kilt's birthday.

　Kirt-san smiles bitterly.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, you've been doing it so much, I just wanted to see what it felt like.
"Huh?

　Illtimina's eyes gleamed.

''Your eyes are so high.''
Hmm?
Merle's body is small, but firm and comfortable to hold.

　............

I have a high body temperature and I smell the sun.
"Hmm, hmm?
'When I held her tightly, she would wriggle and wriggle, and that was cute again. When I stroke her hair, she looks so good in her sleep.

　The sister speaks passionately.

(Nah, I'm kind of embarrassed about this...)

　Mr. Kilt is also a "ho-hum? I ask, turning a little red.

　Solstice has a dumbfounded look on her face.

　In the end, that day's dinner was a bit lavish, with Illtimina-san also standing in the kitchen.

　And the night.

''Then, Marle are you ready?
Uh-huh.

　The lights are off, and in the room, lit only by the moonlight from the window, Kilt-san, lying on the bed, beckons me in.

　By the way, Iltimina and Solstice are asleep first.

　Solstice is full from the sumptuous food and sleeps contentedly.

　And Iltimina is

'Because I don't want to see Merle as another woman's cuddler.

　He said.

　I went to bed early.

　I took a deep breath and approached Kirt's bed.

'Don't be so nervous,'

　She laughs.

　Perhaps it's because of the moonlight, but her silver hair shimmers wetly, and she feels more s*xy than usual.

　Throbbing.

What is it, me?

　Cuddle pillows are always a thing, right?

　A little confused, I lay down on Mr. Kilt's bed.

　Kirt-san hugs me from the rounded back side.

''...........''
..........

　Her bouncy breasts crush against my back.

　Unexpectedly, a flattering arm touches my stomach.

　The tip of her nose tickles my hair.

''Hm........''

　A small murmur.

　A moist thigh wrapped around my waist.

　Throbbing.

　My heart beats faster.

　I'm a little embarrassed to think that she's going to hear me.

'I see ... this is good,'

　Glossy voice.

(I'm honored if you liked it...)

　I exhaled heavily.

'So, good night, Mr. Kilt.'
Hmm.

　She smiled.

　Then.

It's...
?
"Thank you, Merle.
"........... Yeah.

　I nodded.

　Maybe it was because I laughed, or maybe it was because Mr. Kilt let out a breath of relief.

　I closed my eyelids.

　In the darkness, I feel Kirt's body.

　The body of an older sister who just turned thirty years old.....

　Kirt-san..........

　Kirto Amandes-san.........

　She was the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter', a heroic person, but when I touched her, she still seemed like just an ordinary woman.

'Goodnight, Marle.'

　A soft voice.

　That compassionate voice leads me to sleep.

　It's the night of Kirto's 30th birthday.

　Kirto and I have fallen into the world of dreams together.