Year 1451, month 10, day 10

  “Clack… Thunk.”

  The sharp, distinct sound of a door being handled pulled me from the lingering edges of sleep. I opened my eyes to the familiar dim light of the bedroom, instinctively stretching my limbs against the cool sheets. It was only then that I noticed the space beside me was empty; both Woya and Wyn had already vacated the bed.

  “Good morning, master.”

  I was just about to turn my head toward the doorway to see which of the twins had returned, but Wyn was already there. She offered a slight, graceful bow, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she addressed me.

  “Good morning, Wyn. Is breakfast ready yet?” I asked, my voice still a bit rough from sleep as I pushed myself into a sitting position.

  “Yes, master. We are in the middle of preparing the table now,” she replied casually, her movements fluid and practiced.

  “Okay, I’m coming. Give me a few minutes,” I said, finally swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

  Wyn nodded and headed back downstairs to assist Woya with the final preparations. I made my way to the washstand, the cold water acting as a much-needed wake-up call as I splashed my face. Once I was dressed and somewhat presentable, I stepped into the corridor that connects the kitchen to the living room. I could already hear the girls; they seemed to be moving with an unusual degree of urgency, the clatter of plates and utensils echoing through the house.

  As I reached the intersection of the doors, Woya came rushing out of the living room at full tilt. She nearly collided with me, screeching to a halt as she realized I was standing directly in front of her. Seeing her startled, flustered expression was both funny and undeniably cute. I couldn't help but smile, instinctively reaching out to pat her head.

  “Easy there, girl. Where’s the fire?” I teased, my hand resting on the soft strands of her hair.

  Woya closed one eye, leaning into the touch with a small, contented smile. She clearly enjoyed the affection, her tail giving a tiny, subconscious wag.

  “Good morning, master,” she said, her voice breathy from the sudden stop.

  “Why are you two in such a hurry this morning?” I asked, slowly retracting my hand.

  “Ah… well, we got up a bit later than we usually do today,” she explained, her expression falling slightly as if she were worried about the lapse in schedule. “We’re just trying to catch up so we don't fall behind on the normal routine.”

  I hadn't even noticed the time, to be honest. The room had still been dark when I woke up, but I suppose they have their own internal clocks.

  “It’s okay,” I said, offering her a reassuring look. “As I told you yesterday, we aren't going to the dungeon today. And where we’re headed isn't for work, either… at least, not for the most part.”

  The tension in her shoulders bled away at my words. They slowed their pace after that, and the three of us had a casual, relaxed breakfast together. Once the meal was finished and the girls were busy cleaning the dishes, I went back to my room to put on my standard casual outdoor clothes.

  When we were all ready to depart, I stood in the center of the living room and activated the Warp. I gestured for the girls to step into the shimmering portal first. As they vanished into the portal, I felt a familiar, dull ache begin to throb behind my eyes. I knew this jump was going to be a heavy one. I reached into my inventory and pulled out a mid-level MP potion—a concoction designed to refill 25 mana instantly while boosting mana recovery speed by 150% for a short duration. I gulped the bitter liquid down in one go.

  The immediate pressure in my head subsided, and I stepped through the gate. However, the moment I materialized on the other side, the headache returned with a vengeance, far more intense than before. I instinctively pressed my right hand against my temple, rubbing the spot in a futile attempt to soothe the spike of pain.

  “... Huh? Master, are you alright?!”

  The girls had been busy surveying their new surroundings, but the second they noticed me standing there with a pained expression, they rushed to my side, their faces masks of genuine concern.

  “Haha, it’s okay, girls. Don't worry,” I said, forcing a small smile through the discomfort. “It’s just that we’ve traveled quite a distance. Moving three people this far required a significant amount of mana.”

  I explained the situation simply, which seemed to put them at ease, though they continued to watch me warily.

  The truth was that while the pain was manageable, I had definitely pushed my limits this time. I checked my internal status: my mana reserve was currently sitting at 57/137. It was well below half-capacity, though not yet at the level that would leave me writhing on the ground.

  Yargan is located on the southwest side of the Hazaroth Union. Geographically, the country widens significantly as it extends northward, but the Brinewall Mountain Range cuts deep into the interior, curving sharply to the west. This mountain range serves as a massive natural barrier, effectively preventing the Targonia Kingdom from reaching the ocean. It indirectly cripples their ability to benefit from maritime resources or water-based trade routes, which is likely why they are so aggressive on land.

  Where the Brinewall Range finally peters out, the land curves inward to form a deep bay. By using Warp, I had managed to bridge the gap and reach the coastline. If I wanted to reach the actual, open border of the ocean, I would have had to travel solo or make several intermediate stops to recover.

  I had visited this location a few times before I purchased the girls. Back then, I didn't possess the Mage or Job Collector jobs, so my Intelligence and Wisdom stats were significantly lower. I hadn't suffered from these headaches when traveling here alone, but returning on the same day had always been a struggle. Back then, my MP was around 110, and a single Warp cast for one person cost 40 mana. Now, thanks to the efficiency boost from my increased Wisdom, the cost has dropped to 35 mana per person. Still, without the potion I’d just consumed, my MP would have plummeted to a dangerous 32 after transporting the three of us.

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  The spot where we now stood was situated on a high cliff overlooking the bay. This is the westernmost point where the ocean is visible from the Union’s territory. The distance from Yargan to here is roughly 500 kilometers. To put that in perspective, I could technically travel from the westernmost edge to the easternmost edge of the Union—a distance of 1,500 kilometers—though I suspect the resulting headache would be world-ending.

  As I sat there doing the mental math of distances and mana consumption, the girls finally calmed down, seeing that I was no longer in visible distress.

  “Master… where exactly are we?” Woya asked, her voice hushed. She seemed unable to tear her gaze away from the vast, blue expanse stretching out before us.

  “Do you see that settlement down there, nestled below the hill?” I pointed toward the town below us. It was a sizeable settlement, far too large to be a mere village but just a bit too small to earn the title of a city. “That is Baymur.”

  I turned back to the girls, a proud smirk on my face. “This is the closest place to home where we can actually see the ocean. What do you think? Do you like the view?”

  “...”

  Neither of them spoke for a long moment. Their eyes were wide, taking in the shimmering water that seemed to extend forever toward the horizon. They turned back toward the waves, as if trying to memorize the sight.

  “M-master… is that really the ocean?” Wyn asked, her voice trembling slightly with awe.

  “It is,” I replied. “Had you ever seen one before?”

  I already knew the answer based on their reactions, but I wanted to hear them say it.

  “No, master,” Wyn said, her voice dazed. “I’ve only ever heard stories from travelers, or from people who claimed to have read about it in books. I never thought… It’s beautiful.”

  “... Right?” I nodded in agreement.

  We stood there in silence for nearly a minute, just listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the jagged rocks below. I could hear the faint, distant sounds of activity rising from the town’s docks; it looked like the local fishermen were just returning with their first catch of the morning.

  “... Thank you, master.”

  I heard Woya’s voice and turned to look at her. To my surprise, I saw tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “... You’ve earned this,” I said softly. I was a bit perplexed by her sudden emotional outburst, but as I reached out to pat her head with a smile, I realized these weren't tears of sadness.

  As I stroked her hair, the tears continued to flow, but she beamed a radiant, happy smile back at me. I felt a sudden, warm sense of accomplishment. I had done a good job this time.

  Once the girls had composed themselves, we began the descent toward the town. Baymur is a community that lives and breathes by the water. Their primary sources of income are fishing and diving. While the fishing provides the town’s food supply, the divers are the ones who bring in the real wealth: luxury goods like pearls, exotic seashells, and rare types of amber found along the seafloor.

  I’d heard rumors that Baymur used to be a center for glass production, but the industry had been suspended years ago due to a shortage of suitable beach sand. Because the town is located within a rugged bay, the shoreline is more rock than sand.

  As we entered the town proper, I noted the layout. The jewelry shops and raw material traders—businesses that cater to the luxury market—were clustered near the main entrance. The more mundane establishments, like grocers, bakers, and general clothing shops, were distributed normally through the center, while the fish markets and their derivatives were concentrated closer to the docks.

  We stopped in front of a clothing shop, and I gestured for the girls to follow me inside. It looked like a standard boutique at first glance, but I noticed they carried a wide array of specialized garments: bikinis and swimsuits meant for the water.

  “Welcome, esteemed customers. Are you perhaps in the market for swimsuits today?”

  A well-dressed woman stepped forward to greet us. Based on her confident air, I assumed she was either the owner or a lead staff member.

  “We are,” I answered. “But I have to ask—how did you know?”

  “It’s quite simple, really,” she said with a knowing smile. “You have the look of visitors, and visitors to Baymur rarely buy regular tunics. They come for the water. You’re looking to enjoy the bay, am I correct?”

  “I am,” I confirmed.

  “Then please, allow me to assist you.”

  She began to lead us through her various inventories. Choosing for myself was a simple matter; I only needed a sturdy pair of swim shorts. The girls, however, were much busier. They looked through the racks with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. I’ll admit, part of me was looking forward to seeing them in some of the more revealing bikinis or cute swimsuits I saw on display, but I quickly dismissed the thought. I realized that if they wore such things in public, other men would be able to stare at their bare bodies. I wasn't particularly fond of that idea.

  “Sir? What do you think about these for the young ladies?”

  I was pulled from my thoughts as the shopkeeper held up several items for my inspection. She was holding exactly the kind of cute, slightly obscene garments I had just been thinking about.

  “Hmm… they look good,” I admitted, a bit regretfully, “but I’m not comfortable with anyone else seeing them in clothes like these. Could you provide something a bit more modest? Something that covers more?”

  “Oh, I understand perfectly,” the woman said, her eyes twinkling as she leaned in. “But, Sir, if I may offer a suggestion... You could still purchase the ones you like, and then simply buy an additional tunic for each of them to wear over the top. That way, no one can see what’s underneath while you’re in public, but you can see them anytime you wish, as soon as the cover is removed…”

  She finished with a subtle wink. She was a master of her craft; she had not only solved my problem but convinced me to purchase two additional items in the process.

  The logic was sound, so I decided to go with it. We eventually selected a cute but somewhat revealing yellow swimsuit for Woya, designed to accommodate her more voluptuous figure. For Wyn, we chose a blue bikini set that emphasized her athletic, curvy frame.

  Throughout the entire process, the girls were incredibly shy, their faces flushed as they held the small pieces of fabric. However, true to their nature, they didn't resist or complain. They remained perfectly obedient. Once the selection was finalized, we also purchased two light brown tunics to serve as covers.

  “Excellent. That should be everything,” I said to the owner. “What is the total?”

  “Hmm… let’s see,” she said, looking over our pile of purchases with a smirk. “Since I had such a wonderful time dressing up these lovely girls, I’ll waive the fee for your shorts. For the rest... let’s say only two gold coins.”

  She called two gold coins "only," and her reasoning for my free shorts was clearly nonsense, but I didn't care to argue. The items were unique to this region, and I was satisfied with the quality.

  “Alright… here you go.”

  I pulled two gold coins from my pouch and handed them over. We said our farewells and stepped back out into the sun. We walked for a few more minutes until we reached a wide, open plaza near the edge of the cliffs—a place where the buildings ended and the unobstructed view of the ocean opened up before us once again.

  [Edited]

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