Book Eater

Swaaah.

A cloud of foam would spray out every time a wave washed up against the sandy beach. Drops of water twinkled in the air as the sun shone through the clouds. The aquamarine sea was so beautiful that it couldn’t be expressed in words.

It was an attraction in a distant land. This was Piris, the port of choice for all ships of the coastal kingdom, Soldun. It was the city with the most beautiful beach on the continent. Theo hadn’t seen it during the civil war of a few years ago, but many things had changed in the intervening years.

Theo looked at the peaceful scene and raised a glass cup to his lips, enjoying the refreshing lime-flavored liquid.

“... Mm, this is good.” Theo didn’t usually enjoy the bitter taste of alcohol, but this drink fit his taste well. Veronica laughed as she sipped her drink with him. “Really? I know how to make this. If you want to have a drink when we get home, just say it.”

Theo smiled. “What? Becky, you know how to make cocktails?” 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝒍．𝒏𝒆𝒕

Rebecca lounged beside him. “It’s a small hobby. You know me; I can’t get drunk, so I often drink alcohol. There’s only a few people who know, but there are a few cocktails that I named.”

Most people didn’t know that alcohol was toxic to one’s body. Naturally, the blood of a dragon, which broke down all poisons, didn’t exclude alcohol. Still, it was an interesting story. Veronica had pursued a hobby of creating cocktails because she couldn’t get drunk.

Theo laughed inwardly and looked at Sylvia.

“Hiccup.” Sylvia was beet red.

“Sylvia, are you okay? Would you like a cleansing spell?”

“Ah, hiccup. No, I’m fine. I like drinking. I can use the cleansing spell afterward.”

Sylvia was different from Veronica, who was the same even after a few drinks. All of them could use cleansing magic, but Sylvia didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere. Clearly, she didn’t want to be treated like a child by Theo. Sylvia leaned against Theo’s left shoulder, giving off a more bewitching allure than usual.

“Theo...” A lime-flavored voice tickled his ears.

A week had passed since the wedding. At first, the young man and woman had been a little discreet, but they soon became familiar with each other. Theo stroked Sylvia’s disheveled hair and kissed her exposed forehead.

“What, are you playing alone? Huh?”

“―Becky, oof.”

Veronica kissed his right shoulder and bit his earlobe before moving to his lips. It was an embarrassing gesture of affection in broad daylight. It would be shameful if someone saw her be so blatant, but they were sitting in the deluxe suite. They were the only ones in the room overlooking the seaside.

Veronica’s voice turned sultry, “Hua! It would be better if we were alone, but it isn’t bad to have three people. But now that we’ve visited Piris’ beach, where will we go next?”

Sylvia asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice to wait for the night sea?”

Veronica shrugged. “Well, is there anything other than a lighthouse on the sea at night? If you want a good night view, Austen’s capital of Edirne is good.”

Sylvia cocked her head. “Austen? I thought it was just a desert...”

The two of them had quickly become sisters. Theo watched their conversation with strange emotions. Red and gold, blue and silver… From personality to appearance, there wasn’t a single similarity between them. The relationship, which would’ve never become a close one without Theo, was now intertwined by marriage, making the two women family.

There are many lessons to be learned from life, even if I am a transcendent who has realized the principles of the world.

It was like he was born again every day after the wedding. They had eaten seafood in the East Continent the day before, and visited the craft stores of Andras the day before. As he promised to his brides, Theo could go anywhere and do anything. When they decided what they wanted to eat, they visited the place that day. When they thought about a place they wanted to go, they crossed the continent and the sea.

... Come to think of it, it is different from the books.

If his past self in the academy had seen it, he would’ve sighed. But unlike during the days he had delved only into magic, Theo now had the luxury of experiencing life outside magic.

Theo looked between his two brides and smiled. “Now, where shall we go?”

Veronica and Sylvia responded like they had been waiting.

“Belfort Harbor! I have to pick up the pendant I ordered the day before.”

“Then let’s go to Edirne. Sister says that the night view of Edirne is very good.”

“Okay, then shall we get up?” Theo left a few gold coins as a tip.

The three of them rose from their seats. It was a bonus to pretend to be drunk and hold each other. Theo held Sylvia and Veronica close to him. They were walking down white marble stairs when they encountered an unexpected figure.

“Um...?!”

“Ah.”

The white hair and the wrinkles gave voice to the difficulties of the last few years, while their attire fluidly combined eastern and western fashion, befitting the head of the family who had moved from the East Continent to Soldun.

They had encountered Baek Jongmyung of the Baek Family.

“It has been a long time, Lord Baek.”

Baek Jongmyung was struck dumb for a moment, before regaining himself and greeting them. “It has been a while, Sir Theo. I didn’t know we would meet again in a place like this. Have you been well in the meantime?”

Theo smiled. “It is as you can see. I am better than ever.”

“Hahaha! A true hero, it is good. Since there was no news that you were here...” The quick-witted Baek Jongmyung waggled his eyebrows at them. “This Baek has taken up your precious time. I will not tell anyone about this, so please enjoy yourselves.”

Theo inclined his head. “Thank you.”

“Huhu, it is a great grace that you are teaching my son. I am looking forward to the future.” Baek Jongmyung bowed one more time and walked past them. Youthful love was always impatient.

But as soon as he was out of earshot, the two women burst out in laughter.

“Kuk! Ahahahaha!”

“Huhut, huhuhuhut!”

They couldn’t help it; the encounter had been so sudden. They were each one of the top five magicians on the continent, so this was a tale that might be passed on through generations.

“I-It is really indecent.”

The two women laughed while Theo spoke,

「 Transition, Belfort. 」

There were still many places that the three of them wanted to visit, and time was flowing urgently. Theo had no intention of wasting any more when their honeymoon was still far from over.

***

Two months later.

It wasn’t a long or short period of time. Theo, Sylvia, and Veronica wandered across the continent, leaving countless memories. They witnessed a flickering aurora. They searched through sandstorms to find a city of mirage in the sky. They walked in the deep waters of the sea and found the volcanic crater that Brasmati called home, which only Veronica explored.

There were numerous beautiful sights in the world, and the three people saw them again and again.

“The sky is already dark. Shall we go back?”

Even so, they returned to the same place whenever they wanted to rest.

“Yes, I’d love to take a bath.”

Theo looked at his lovely wives. “Let’s go. To our home.”

Veronica and Sylvia nodded and grabbed his hands. He still felt the same rush as he had on his wedding day when he felt the warmth of their hands.

Flash!

All three of them were now very accustomed to space transfers and closed their eyes. By the time the flash faded, the three of them had already arrived at their destination. They were greeted by a man who wore plain, but crisp clothes. His wrinkled face and white mustache showed the passage of time.

Armand, the owner of the gorgeous old house, bowed in greeting. “Welcome back, Master.”

Theo hadn’t given him a specific time, so Armand’s timing was impeccable. It seems half a century of experience was certainly not to be underestimated.

Theo handed over his coat. “Your timing is amazing as always, Armand. Do you really have foresight?”

Armand chuckled. “Huhu, it is just an old man’s intuition. Just like how farmers know if it won’t rain tomorrow and how merchants can smell money.”

“Then there are too many magicians in the world. I hope I don’t lose my employee soon.”

Armand smiled and clapped his hands, calling the maids to accompany Veronica and Sylvia. Similarly, the maids had considerable experience. The maids took off Veronica’s and Sylvia’s shoes with familiar movements and removed the dust and debris from their hair and clothing. They were afraid to even blink.

It’s gotten quite familiar, but I can’t help feeling a sense of discomfort when looking out the window.

Theo gazed out the window with a subtle expression. Their honeymoon home was located in the birthplace of the Miller family, while the Miller Barony was now under direct control of the royal family. Dennis Miller had become a marquis and moved with the residents to a new area. There was no good mining vein or particularly rich farmland, so Kurt III had a villa built on the land.

It is a place that holds great significance in its own way.

The king had then sent a few maids and a retired butler. Although Theo had heard the story, he hadn’t known the villa had been transformed into a honeymoon house.

“Theo!”

Theo was following Armand’s instructions and heading to the bathroom when he turned back. Veronica and Sylvia stood on tiptoe at the same time and kissed his lips.

“You know that you are dealing with both of us tonight, right?”

“Are you planning to sleep alone?”

They were soft whispers, seemingly planned in advance.

“... Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

Satisfied with Theo’s soft answer, the two beautiful women smiled and disappeared with the maids.

Armand, who had been watching the exchange, said to Theo, “There won’t be any servants walking around the bedroom tonight.”

Theo’s eyebrows twitched as he asked, “Armand, what does that mean?”

“I’m just letting you know. Cough!”

Theo looked at Armand before looking out the window and sighing. It almost seemed like the stars in the night sky were brighter today? His expression darkened as he looked at the stars. There were two months left until Wrath would fall. Theo was reminded that the day of destruction was approaching.

The end of their happy days was near.