The sun had long since risen above the horizon and was gradually approaching its zenith, and the residents of the rented house had only just begun to wake up. Exhausted by the long and active walk of the previous day, the teenagers and the young teacher basked in their own beds as long as possible, delaying the moment of awakening.
The intercom bell, which rang at ten o'clock, became a signal for everyone to rise. Unlike the others, the dragons had been awake for a long time, so they ordered breakfast at a local restaurant. The couple generally adored this kind of service. If they had no desire to go out in public, they would order food to their home and enjoy delicious food in their lair.
— Food is in the kitchen, — Sai said to the girls descending the stairs, while Ophis continued to eat, sitting on his lap. — I ordered two options for each of you to choose from."
— Benefactor! — Ryuyu continued to praise the rich and generous young man from the very first meeting. — Are you sure you don't want to date me? I'm ready to be a concubine.
— No, we don't need that, — Ophis answered instead of the guy. — Besides, you're no use, just an expense.
— So, Bocchi fits this role? — the girl looked at the pink-haired girl's chest with envy. — Since you took her under your wing and spoil her with gifts like that, then it's not all for nothing.
— Huh? — Hitori, who was walking behind, was surprised when the conversation turned to her.
— Much more than you!
— Eh?! A-a concubine?
— Don't pay attention to them. We didn't even think about anything like that, — the young man tried to calm her down. — Besides, Ophis won't tolerate any kind of competition. Dragons are too greedy creatures to share with anyone.
— But you really do treat me well, — the guitarist answered timidly, sitting down next to the couple. — Spend your time constantly and spend a lot of money on gifts.
— You are a member of our pack, and your relationship with family is different, — laughing at the embarrassed girl, he gently stroked her head.
— See! — Ryuyu pointed to this scene to Ophis. — As soon as you got distracted, he started seducing Bocchi.
— Hm! — snorting, Ouroboros got off her knees, pressed close to the pink-haired girl and rubbed her cheek against her. — Don't talk nonsense. We're just taking care of our Hitori.
— What's all the noise? — Shizuka asked sleepily. Unlike her usual appearance, she now looked in complete disarray. His long black hair was disheveled, and the shirt he was wearing instead of pajamas was wrinkled and unbuttoned at the top few buttons. — Why are you so active this morning?
— Ha! Looks like someone overdid it with beer last night?
The people present looked at the last members of their group with interest. Not paying much attention to those around them, Hiratsuka took a cold can of beer from the refrigerator. She still had to go through a wave of embarrassment when she fully came to her senses and realized her appearance. Hachiman moved completely mechanically, while having a stunned look. He simply sat down at the table and began to eat, staring into space. The most cheerful of the three was Komachi. The girl with a sly smile and a sparkle in her eyes shifted her gaze from her beloved brother and his teacher. A funny incident happened between the two of them, but I will tell you about it in the future
— Ha-ha-ha! — As soon as Sai and the girl's eyes met, she gave him a thumbs up with a mischievous smile. — Hachiman is one step closer to his dream.
After finishing breakfast, the group went to their rooms to change into swimsuits and grab the necessary things for the beach. Thanks to the house's close proximity, the walk to the sea took only a couple of minutes. The beach was already full of people, but this was not a problem for them. The dragons had rented places in the fenced area for themselves in advance.
— This is the last chance to rest for most of us, — having placed their things, the group gathered together, — so let's have fun!
— YES!!! — everyone supported Silence's proposal.
— Hi~to~ri~, — before she could go anywhere, she was grabbed into Ophis's steel embrace. — I hope you haven't forgotten about my condition?
— W-what condition?
— A tan! — she waved the tube of cream in her hands. — You're not going anywhere until your pale skin gets a proper tan. So lie down on the lounge chair and let me apply tanning cream to you.
— But you don't have a tan either! — the Vritra carrier tried her best to refuse the fate of showing off her swimsuit, remaining in a hoodie.
— That's why I'm also going to sunbathe with you, — Hitori's defense was broken, and the girl showed off her white bikini. — Sai will help apply cream to my entire body, — Ophis whispered languidly into the guitarist's ear, — do you want him to help you too?
— No!
— Ha-ha-ha! As I thought, — the dragon laughed cheerfully at the embarrassed girl. — So lie still and enjoy.
After that, each of them found something to do to their liking. The flock of dragons and Hiratsuka lay on the lounge chairs, basking in the rays of the midday sun. The girls from "Kessoku Band" replaced their lost comrade Komachi and decided to play ball in pairs. Hachiman moved away from the crowd and began to build his empire of sand alone.
After an hour of blissful idleness, the couple felt a familiar aura approaching them. Such a purposeful movement towards them discarded the option of a chance meeting. With slight irritation, Silence put on his sunglasses and began to closely watch the uninvited guest with an active magical gaze, ready to get rid of a possible threat at any second.
Two minutes later, the dragons could easily spot the girl they had met at night among the crowd. Dressed in a sports jacket with an unzipped zipper, showing a white T-shirt, short denim shorts and a military cap worn over long dark hair, the girl attracted the gaze of those around her. However, she did not react to the others in any way, her gaze remained riveted to the two dragons.
— I finally managed to find you, — she said with a wide smile, standing in front of the lounge chairs. — Good afternoon. Thank you again for your help. I am Oda Nobu. We never got to meet last time we met.
— An acquaintance of yours? — Hiratsuka asked with interest, examining the girl.
— Not quite, — Ophis shook her head. — We met yesterday, and it so happened that we accidentally solved her problem.
— Why were you looking for us, Oda Nobu? — Hearing the wary and irritated tone of the young man, Hitori realized that she was not an ordinary girl.
— Wow! It seems that you two are not the only ones I need to be wary of, — the descendant of the hero squinted at the pink-haired girl, who had wrapped her hand in a towel, which had somehow blocked her powers. — How interesting!
— You should watch your words and actions better, — Ophis said with undisguised bloodthirstiness, standing in front of the guitarist, — or you might regret the consequences. Not for long, of course, but still.
— What's going on here? — the teacher asked worriedly as the situation began to escalate. — After all, you spent the whole time with us yesterday and couldn't meet her.
— Don't interfere, Shizuka. It's none of your business, — Silence also stood up from his seat. — We'll talk to our friend and come back a little later, but for now, keep an eye on your students.
— Let's take a walk, Oda, — the pair slowly walked away from the crowded beach. — Let's talk.
— Yeah, — Nobu answered with a smile that never disappeared from her face.
They continued their conversation a hundred meters away, without stopping. As they moved further, Sai quietly erected a barrier.
— You better tell me right away why you came to us. Or I'll decide that you're just tired of life and I'll end your suffering.
— No need to be so aggressive towards me, — she raised her hands disarmingly, feeling two irritated looks. — I don't have a chance against any of you, even if I had such thoughts.
— Let's say, — Silence could "see" the truth of her words and the lack of hostile intentions, — then why did you look for us?
— Besides gratitude, I wanted to talk to you and get to know you better.
— Why?
— Perhaps you heard this yesterday, but I only awakened my power a couple of months ago under not very cheerful circumstances, — remembering the fate of her parents, the girl could not hide her sadness. — I was left completely alone, not understanding what was happening. My unusual ability, monsters roaming among people, similar to youkai. So many new questions that need answers, but there's no one to ask.
— It's a sad situation, of course, but what do we have to do with it?
— After two months, I've only found more monsters, but not those who can explain what's going on to me. And then yesterday, a shady guy showed up and invited me to join his group to destroy supernatural creatures while protecting people. However, it sounded too fake, — Nobu chuckled. — He was only going to answer all the questions after the introduction, which made me too wary. In my attempt to knock out answers, I almost died myself, but then you, seemingly big bosses, show up and easily kill an opponent who was too much for me.
— So, — Silence tried to comprehend what he heard, — you want us to share information with you. To tell you what situation you found yourself in.
— Yes. And I was convinced of my decision when I discovered another unusual person next to you.
— Ha-a-a-a! — the young man exhaled heavily, nodding to Ophis, confirming the girl's words. — You chose a not very suitable method.
— Why? — Nobu tilted her head to the side, trying to understand the reason.
— Too straightforward and aggressive, — Ouroboros answered. — A little more, and they really could have gotten rid of you. So... just in case.
— You're joking, right? Right? — However, in response she sees the serious faces of the couple. — Damn!
— Get used to it. You ended up in a supernatural world where losing your life is easy, — Silence completely relaxed, taking off his glasses from his face. — With one wave of his hand, your life can turn into hell, if a more powerful being decides so.
— Are there many such strong creatures?
— You're not even in the middle of the food chain, — Ophis "cheered" her. — And with your sacred gear, you'll become a target for many factions.
— That doesn't sound very encouraging, — Nobu frowned. This was not what she expected when meeting them. — Then why haven't I met anyone from those factions yet?
— You live in the territory of the youkai. Besides, the "heroes" have already found you, — the young man shrugged carelessly. — And after the death of their recruiter, stronger fighters will descend here, and they won't stand on ceremony.
— Great prospects! — the girl clutched her head in despair. — Right! Yesterday you said that that guy's boss is subordinate to you, — she pointed at Ophis, — which means you're stronger than him. Maybe you'll take me in?
— Why do we need this? What use are you?
Silence did not comment on his beloved's statement, waiting for Nobu's answer. The girl clutched her hair tighter, trying to come up with an answer.
— My sacred gear! — an idea came to her mind. — Since I will become a tasty morsel because of it, then after training my powers may be useful to you! Having a strong fighter in your ranks will never hurt.
— What do you think? — seeing the desperate desire in Oda's eyes, Ouroboros decided to find out her boyfriend's opinion.
— It's not that we need it, but having such a bodyguard wouldn't be superfluous?
— A bodyguard? Me?
— Yes, they occasionally pester us during our walks, and sometimes I'm too lazy to deal with small annoying insects.
— A good idea! — Ouroboros supported the guy. — You can also keep an eye on our territory. Otherwise, apostates sometimes drop into the city. These mindless creatures need to be gotten rid of.
— So you're basically asking me to be a guard? A sort of fighting dog?
— You're too weak for a dog, — Ophis grinned. — I'd choose a better candidate. However, you're right about the rest. We'll provide housing and care, and if that's what you want, we'll even pet you behind the ear.
— Ha-ha! — Nobu snatched the summoned gun and shot the impudent girl in the head, but Ophis only grabbed Sai's hand, stopping him from taking action. The bullet did no damage, simply crumpling where it hit and falling to the ground. — Excellent! I agree to these terms.
— A smart decision, but be more careful in your actions in the future, otherwise you won't be saved in time.
— What do you want from me now?
— Are there any entertainment options nearby? We've already visited all the famous sights.
— You can sign up for diving a couple of kilometers from here.
— Diving? — Sai was surprised. — The Internet said that the nearest diving company was an hour's drive from here.
— That's if it's official. However, students from the local institute gather in the Grand Blue diving equipment store. They created their own diving club and are not averse to earning some money in the summer by conducting dives for small groups of tourists.
— Is it safe?
— Ha! Can something like that harm you?
— I'm worried about ordinary people vacationing with us. Unlike us, they can get hurt.
— No. These guys are professionals in their field, although a little eccentric.
— Great! Then let's go back to the others. And don't talk about the supernatural in front of them, almost none of them know about it.
— Good.
When they returned back, Hiratsuka and Hitori seemed very worried about what had happened, but the couple quickly calmed them down and introduced everyone to their new friend. After a noisy introduction, they told everyone about a diving club nearby. As expected, most refused the dubious pleasure, but besides Hitori, who did not even resist, Komachi expressed her desire. Hachiman followed his sister, wanting to make sure of her safety.
— Don't be too surprised by what you see, — Nobu warned the others before opening the front door to the store. — Guys can be overly enthusiastic.
— You're no match for me! — a dark-haired young man said inside the store, standing in his underwear, holding an empty glass. — So, who's ready to challenge me next?!"
— Don't look! — Ophis and Hachiman simultaneously covered the eyes of the girls next to them.
— Are you sure we've come to the right place? — Silence asked skeptically, looking around the crowd of naked and half-naked drunk guys. — They don't look like they'd be able to dive underwater and come out alive.
— Don't worry, there are a couple more girls who'll help newbies without any problems, — Oda approached the store counter, where a red-haired saleswoman was standing. — Hello. My friends would like to see the wonders of the underwater world. Do you have your equipment ready for the descent today?
— Yes, of course, — she pulled out tablets with questionnaires from under the counter. — Please fill out these forms and indicate your weight and dimensions more precisely so that we can select equipment for each of you. I will need half an hour to fill the additional air tanks.
— See, no problem, — the hero's descendant declared against the backdrop of the continuing drinking bout.
— I'm not so sure about my decision to swim anymore, — Komachi whispered plaintively.