Let's Train Heroine

The sun was dipping low in the sky on the third day of their trip when Lucan and Maris returned to the hotel after enjoying a satisfying barbecue on the beach. The air was warm, carrying the scent of salt and grilled food.

Lucan, however, found himself feeling a bit sluggish. Perhaps it was because he had indulged too much at lunch, with the savory grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and the exotic fruits they had picked together. As a result, when they returned to the mansion for dinner, Lucan could only manage to sip some soup while Maris, with her ever-present appetite, ate heartily as usual.

Maris had changed out of her beachwear and into something more suited for an evening indoors. Her outfit was modest yet elegant, a soft, cream-colored dress with long sleeves and a high neckline, made from a lightweight material that draped gracefully around her figure. Her pink hair was neatly tied back into a loose braid, accentuating the simplicity of her ensemble.

She looked like a picture of serenity as she quietly enjoyed her meal.

The room was calm as Lucan lay on the bed later, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting as he listened to the distant sound of waves crashing on the shore. The trip had been half over, and he couldn't help but reflect on the days that had passed. It had been relaxing, and enjoyable.

The following morning, on the fourth day of their trip, Lucan found himself standing on the beach once more, but this time something was different. The sun had just begun its ascent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The beach was serene, the white sand stretching out before them like an untouched canvas, leading to the vast expanse of the sea where gentle waves lapped at the shore.

"It's the sea," Lucan murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.

"It's the sea," Maris echoed, her voice soft and melodic.

She stood beside him, her feet lightly sinking into the warm sand, her outfit now clinging to her after being washed by the sea. The deep blue tunic-style top, which had previously protected her arms from the sun, was now damp and slightly transparent, the fabric sticking to her skin and revealing the outline of her slender frame.

The long sleeves were weighed down with water, and the tunic's once crisp lines were softened by the dampness.

Her pleated skirt, made of sturdy fabric, was now heavy and darkened by the seawater, clinging to her legs and restricting her movement slightly. The vest she wore, with its small pockets, had become soaked as well, the fabric pressed close to her body. The scarf that had been tied loosely around her neck now hung wetly, its ends dripping with water and plastered against her chest.

The two of them were alone on the beach, the only sounds being the rhythmic crash of the waves and the occasional call of a seabird overhead. But something was off. Lucan squinted at the horizon, trying to pinpoint the source of his unease. The mansion that had been visible in the distance before was now nowhere to be seen.

"...It seems we've drifted ashore," he said, his voice tinged with confusion.

Adrift. That was the word that came to mind, though it didn't quite capture the situation they found themselves in. How had they ended up here, on this deserted beach with no sign of civilization in sight? To understand that, they had to go back a few hours.

Earlier that morning, Lucan had suggested they go sea fishing, a spontaneous idea that had popped into his head. Fishing was available as a mini-game in the game, so it seemed like a fun and relaxing way to spend the day.

"Shall we try fishing today?" Lucan had asked over breakfast.

"Fishing?" Maris replied, her eyes lighting up with interest.

"Yes, I think it could be fun."

Maris had agreed with enthusiasm, her love for fish evident in the way she clapped her hands and smiled. It was hard to imagine Maris ever disagreeing with Lucan's suggestions; she always seemed eager to join in whatever activities he proposed. And so, they had made their way to the harbor, boarded a small fishing boat, and set out to sea.

The boat rocked gently on the waves as they drifted further from shore. The sun was bright, reflecting off the water in dazzling sparkles, and a gentle breeze kept the heat at bay. Maris, ever the natural at everything she tried, seemed to have a knack for fishing as well. Within thirty minutes, she had already caught a substantial amount of fish.

"Amazing... this young lady is something else..." the boatman muttered, his eyes wide with admiration as he watched Maris pull in yet another catch.

"Yes, she is," Lucan agreed, though there was a hint of envy in his voice. The boat's deck was already covered with an array of fish: glitterfin, bluegill snapper, starlight bass, crystal carp, and even a shimmering sea wyvern, which was said to be incredibly rare. The diversity and vibrancy of the fish they caught made it feel like they had dipped their lines into an entirely different world.

"Lucan-sama, look! I've caught another one!" Maris called out, holding up a gleaming fish that wriggled on the end of her line.

"Amazing..." Lucan repeated, though this time he couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened. While Maris had been pulling in fish after fish, Lucan had yet to catch a single one. It wasn't for lack of trying; he had cast his line just as many times as Maris had, but luck seemed to favor her today.

As they fished, the boatman had taken one of Maris's catches and prepared it as sashimi for them to enjoy. The fresh fish was delicious, and Lucan found some comfort in the meal, though it didn't quite ease the sting of his empty fishing rod.

"I'm sorry, Lucan-sama... it's just me catching everything..." Maris said, her voice tinged with guilt as she noticed his mood.

"No, it's not your fault, Maris. I just seem to be unlucky today," Lucan replied with smile, not wanting to dampen her spirits.

Lucan did felt envy and bad that he couldn't catch a fish but that's okay. He wasn't too sad or embarrassed about it.

As they continued fishing, Lucan kept a close eye on his float. He watched as Maris's float bobbed up and down, signaling yet another catch. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his own float starting to shake.

"Lucan-sama! It's shaking!" Maris exclaimed, pointing at his line.

"Oh...!"

It seemed he had a catch after all. Lucan's heart raced as he grabbed the rod and began to reel it in. But as he pulled, he realized that whatever was on the other end was much larger than he had anticipated.

"This is... huge...!" he grunted, struggling to keep the rod steady as the line pulled taut.

The rod bent under the strain, the line creaking ominously as it stretched to its limits. Lucan braced himself, his muscles straining as he tried to reel in the catch.

"Are you alright, Lucan-sama!?" Maris asked, her voice filled with concern as she moved closer to help.

"I-I'm fine... Maris, step back a bit...!" Lucan managed to say through gritted teeth.

The boat rocked violently as the struggle between Lucan and whatever was on the end of his line intensified. Then, with a sudden surge, the creature broke the surface of the water.

A high-pitched, ear-piercing cry echoed across the sea. He stared as the creature's massive head emerged from the water, its body coiling and uncoiling like a giant serpent.

"A sea serpent!?" Lucan was confusion.

The sea serpent was enormous, its body as thick as a telephone pole and covered in glistening scales that shimmered in the sunlight. It thrashed in the water, sending waves crashing against the boat and nearly capsizing it. Lucan held on for dear life, his hands gripping the rod so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

In the game, catching a sea serpent was an incredibly rare event, with a catch rate of less than one percent. It was a formidable monster, one that required a high level of skill and strength to defeat. Lucan had only ever seen it in videos; he had never expected to encounter one in real life. He was determined to catch it and eat it.

"Whoa...!" Lucan gasped as the serpent gave another powerful tug, pulling him towards the edge of the boat.

"Lucan-sama!?" Maris cried out, grabbing onto his arm in a desperate attempt to keep him from being pulled overboard.

But the sea serpent was too strong. With a final, forceful yank, the creature pulled Lucan and Maris off the boat and into the sea. The cold water enveloped them, the sound of the waves and the serpent's cries filling their ears as they were dragged beneath the surface.