Chapter 96
“The First Firework”
As soon as I confirmed who it was, I froze.
Roitz swam toward me with the speed of a polar bear.
“…Commander?”
“Serdin.”
I was too shocked to know what to say.
Unlike me, Roitz brushed back his wet hair with both hands and even smiled.
The moonlight touched his face, and the drops of water on his skin sparkled with that smile.
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
“Why did you fall? No, did you jump?”
“No, I fell.”
“You, Commander?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Roitz’s face turned red.
Bang! A firework burst.
Bright light spread behind Roitz in the dark night.
Over the endless shimmering sea—
“Actually…”
Roitz said something then, but the firework’s explosion covered his words.
Colorful fireworks burst overhead, grand and shining.
‘So this is the first firework?’
It was even more dazzling than I imagined. The sound was so close, it felt like it shook my heart inside.
“Wow.”
I couldn’t close my mouth at the sight.
“…Beautiful.”
“It is.”
Bang—like summer flowers, red, blue, bright, fireworks bloomed above, and I heard Roitz’s voice between them.
“Wow, really… No wonder these cruise tickets are so hard to get.”
I lowered my gaze to look at Roitz.
His carefully styled hair for the party was already a mess.
His face was wet like he had just finished training.
“…”
But strangely…
“Serdin?”
Maybe because he was the male lead, or maybe my eyes were wrong, but—
He didn’t look bad at all.
‘What is this? I thought my “male lead filter” for him had already broken long ago… Did the fireworks create a temporary one?’
I even felt strange heat spreading through me.
Even though it was the cold night sea, I didn’t feel cold anymore.
When I swam here, the water had been freezing. But now, somehow, warmth spread through me.
The ship kept moving farther away.
But my feelings were only rising higher.
“Take my hand, Serdin.”
Onboard first, Roitz stretched out his hand.
His big hand was wet, but it wasn’t cold—his warmth spread through it.
It felt so warm I almost wanted to keep holding it.
The ship’s attendant led us to the cabin.
Even though we were soaked, there weren’t many people in the servants’ corridor.
‘I still got on the cruise ship after all.’
Walking side by side with Roitz, I recalled our earlier talk on the pier.
“Commander, what will you do if we can’t get on the cruise? It only happens once a year.”
“Are you that disappointed, Serdin?”
“Well… I was, a little. But what can we do about a ship that already left?”
“Wait.”
Then Roitz somehow brought a yacht out of nowhere.
“…?”
“Let’s go.”
That was just like Roitz. If there was a trap, he’d destroy the trap itself.
Once again, I realized—if there was no road, Roitz was the type to make one.
Inside the cabin, attendants dried my hair and clothes so quickly that it looked like I had never fallen in at all.
When I stepped outside, Roitz was already waiting, leaning on the wall, looking perfectly neat again.
“You don’t look like someone who just fell in the sea.”
“You too, Commander—you look even better now.”
Roitz chuckled lightly at my words.
Arms folded, his laughter under the moonlight shone brightly.
“Let’s go, Serdin.”
With a soft smile, he turned.
His arm unfolded, and his hand dropped naturally by his side.
It was a hand radiating warmth.
For a second, I almost grabbed it.
‘What am I thinking?’
I squeezed my eyes shut to chase away that thought.
‘I should find Lucike and Siyute.’
I walked quickly, sneaking a glance at Roitz. He looked calm, unreadable.
The ship had already sailed for some time, so the final firework would come soon.
I saw the first one with Roitz, but I wanted him to see the last with Lucike.
“Bishop and Siyute are probably in the central hall, right? That’s where the main event is.”
I started to walk, but Roitz blocked my way.
His broad shoulders, and a troubled expression.
“What about the deck? Or maybe the top floor?”
“But the main event is in the central hall. Wouldn’t they be there?”
“…You never know. The Bishop doesn’t like drinking.”
“I heard the main event has nothing to do with alcohol.”
So Roitz knew Lucike’s habits well. They must be close.
I had seen them talking earlier—they already seemed comfortable together.
Maybe they even shared secrets. Of course, Roitz would know her better than I did.
“Alright, let’s check the deck.”
And yes—Lucike was there.
Roitz’s instinct was right.
“You were right, Commander.”
“…So it seems.”
Lucike stood alone, enjoying the night breeze. Siyute was nowhere around.
Her white dress fluttered in the wind. Her lips were gently closed, lost in thought.
Roitz looked at her with a complicated face, like he might fall for her all over again.
It was the perfect chance for them.
I pushed Roitz forward.
“Stay with the Bishop. I’ll go somewhere else.”
“Where?”
I had the perfect excuse for times like this.
“The restroom.”
And just like that, I slipped away toward the ship’s center.
Alone, I leaned against a pillar, looking out at the sea.
From here, the horizon stretched under the black night sky.
Just earlier, I was sitting on land, watching this ship from afar.
Now, I was standing inside it.
‘What are Roitz and Lucike talking about right now?’
I had read the original story, so I thought I knew Lucike better.
But watching them today made me unsure.
They had spent time together, building things only they knew.
It was the same for Roitz.
Knowing someone longer didn’t always mean knowing them deeper.
‘Still… I probably know him more, don’t I? Lucike hasn’t seen him train or fight yet. And maybe she doesn’t know his favorite food places… No, she might know that too.’
‘Wait, why am I even thinking like this?’
I shook my head. I must have been bored alone.
Tying my dried hair back, I leaned again.
Some spots on the ship were crowded, others quiet.
‘Should I go eat something? And while eating, imagine the final fireworks.’
I didn’t usually imagine things like that, but tonight, I wanted to.
‘The first fireworks were red, yellow, pink, green… so beautiful. Will the last be the same? Or stranger shapes? Roitz would like that kind of thing too.’
‘It would be fun to talk about which fireworks were the most special.’
But no—he should see them with Lucike.
‘Wait, Aaron and Manon are here too! I should find them.’
Excited, I stood up from the wall.
But just then—
Something moved in the quiet shadows.
‘What’s that?’
It looked like a person.
Not sure who, but something felt strange.
“…”
If something feels suspicious, sometimes it really is.
So I hid myself in the shadows and followed carefully.
And then—
‘…Huh?’
There was something familiar about that person.
And also…
‘A mask?’
They were wearing a robe, and though the darkness hid them, I could see a mask.
Like the one from the Vivi family charity party.
And like the mysterious swordsman from the Entry family incident long ago.
