“Whoa! It is even more beautiful from up close. The reflection of the sun made the water look like liquid gold.”

  Woya stood on her tiptoes, her hands clasped together as she gazed out over the shimmering horizon. The morning light was still low, casting long, dramatic shadows across the rugged bay of Baymur. The water pulsed with a rhythmic grace, catching the first rays of dawn and transforming into a vast, undulating field of brilliance. It was a stark contrast to the dark, damp stone of the dungeon floors we had spent the last week clearing.

  “Yeah. It is a good thing we came early, so you could see it at its best,” I said, feeling a deep sense of contentment.

  We had woken well before the first hint of light, preparing ourselves in the quiet of the Yargan house before I used ‘Warp’ to transport us directly to the cliffs overlooking the bay. Because of that early start, the sun was only just beginning its ascent, granting us the maximum amount of time to enjoy this rare reprieve from our labor.

  “Let’s find an inn first,” I informed them, turning my gaze away from the water to scan the settlement below. “The whole day is ours to do with as we please, after all.”

  “Yes, master,” the girls replied in unison. Their voices were as obedient as ever, but I could hear the unmistakable undercurrent of excitement bubbling beneath their professional masks.

  As we descended the hill toward the town of Baymur, I noted the layout of the hospitality district. There were several inns clustered near the shore—it made sense, as nearly everyone who traveled to this rugged corner of the Union came specifically for the ocean views. The quality of the establishments varied wildly; some appeared to be little more than run-down shacks for passing fishermen, while others boasted polished stone facades and decorative wood carvings that suggested a high level of luxury.

  I didn't feel the need to seek out the most opulent place in town, as we only intended to stay for a single day, but I wanted something respectable. We eventually settled on an inn that sat right on the edge of the shore, its windows positioned to offer an unobstructed view of the waves. We stepped inside the cool, shaded lobby and headed toward the reception desk.

  The lobby was empty of other guests, the silence only broken by the distant sound of the surf. I reached out and struck the small brass bell sitting on the counter. It rang with a high-pitched, crystalline melody that echoed through the building.

  Thud-thud-thud-thud.

  A few seconds later, the sound of rushed footsteps carried down from the floor above. A slim man, taller than the average human and dressed in clean but modest clothing, came hurrying down the stairs. The moment he spotted us, a wide, eager smile broke across his face—the look of a man who was very happy to see potential customers so early in the day.

  “Welcome, esteemed visitors! Please, forgive the wait,” the man said breathlessly as he reached the desk. “I was just finishing the cleaning of a room upstairs. How can I assist you this morning?”

  “It is fine, we did not wait long anyway,” I said, dismissing his apologies with a wave of my hand. “We are looking to rent a room for one day. Do you have any vacancies?”

  “Of course, of course! We have plenty of space at this hour,” he said, his hands moving to the ledger. “If you wish for individual privacy, I have three single-person rooms available... However, if you would prefer to stay together in a single unit, we have our standard rooms and our royalty suites.”

  The innkeeper’s gaze flickered briefly to the girls standing behind me before returning to my face. He seemed to be measuring our relationship with a practiced eye.

  “Hmm. We want a single room for the three of us,” I said, leaning against the counter. “But what exactly is the difference between the standard and the royalty options? I assume the royalty suites carry a significant price tag?”

  “Huhu, you certainly have a sharp eye for value, sir,” the innkeeper replied with a chuckle. “Yes, our standard rooms are quite affordable at three silver coins per day. The royalty suites are ten silver coins. But, I must say, the difference is substantial. We only have two such suites in the entire inn. They are much more comfortable, featuring larger floor plans and superior furnishings. The beds in our standard rooms can fit two people comfortably, but... it would be a very tight squeeze for three. Additionally, in the royalty suite, you may request hot water or other small amenities at no additional charge—”

  “It is okay. We will take the royalty room,” I interrupted.

  The moment he mentioned that the standard beds would be a problem for three people, my mind was made up. I had no intention of being cramped, especially when the girls had worked so hard. The extra seven silver was a negligible price for comfort.

  “... Oh, a wonderful choice, sir! Truly excellent!” the man beamed.

  He seemed genuinely delighted by the decision and immediately led us up to the third floor. He unlocked a heavy oak door and gestured for us to enter.

  “Here we are, sir. Please, do not hesitate to inform me if you require anything at all.”

  I stepped inside and looked around. The room was impressive, featuring a wide balcony and a massive, plush bed that looked like it could easily accommodate four people, let alone three. It was at least five times the size of the cramped room I had rented back in Targashar.

  “Hmm, it looks good enough,” I said with a nod of satisfaction. I pulled twelve silver coins from my pouch and handed them to the man. “Here. We will be eating breakfast here tomorrow morning before we depart. You can keep the change for your trouble.”

  The innkeeper stared at the coins, looking both immensely happy and a bit puzzled by the tip. He stuttered out a thank you, unable to fully find his words for a few seconds.

  “By the way,” I asked before he could retreat, “is there a place nearby where we can take a proper bath?”

  I knew that once we finished our time in the ocean, the salt would dry on our skin and become incredibly uncomfortable. Having a place to rinse off was essential.

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  “... Oh, yes! There is a public bathhouse just down the street toward the center of town,” he replied, regaining his composure. “You can use it at any time, though they only have the heaters running for hot water toward the evening hours.”

  I thanked him and sent him on his way. As the door closed, I felt a brief shadow of a memory cross my mind. Looking at the spacious room, I couldn't help but think of Namo, my late catkin slave. Back in Targashar, I had rented a room with only a single bed, leaving him to sleep on the hard floor. Maybe I should have been more considerate then.

  I shook my head, clearing the gloomy thoughts from my mind. I couldn't change the past; I could only focus on the present and the two girls currently waiting for my lead.

  “Whatever. Girls, let’s change into the clothes we bought earlier,” I said, gesturing toward our packs. “Don’t forget to wear the tunics over your swimsuits. If we find a secluded spot where no one else is around, you can take them off.”

  We quickly changed into our new gear. I stepped into my sturdy swim shorts, while the girls disappeared behind the privacy screen to put on their respective yellow and blue sets, carefully layering the light brown tunics over the top. Once we were ready, we left the inn and headed back toward the shore.

  The sun was halfway to its zenith now, and the air was growing pleasantly warm. As we reached the water’s edge, we saw a few other people enjoying the bay—mostly locals and a few other travelers splashing in the shallows. I took the girls and began to walk along the shoreline, moving away from the main town. I was searching for a private cove or a cluster of rocks that would offer us some seclusion, allowing me to enjoy the girls’ enchanting bodies without the prying eyes of strangers.

  As we walked, I noticed how much the sisters were genuinely enjoying the experience. They were smiling from ear to ear, their tails twitching with every new sight. They seemed fascinated by the ocean and the simple joy of the people playing in the distance.

  Eventually, I spotted a perfect location. It was a small inlet shielded by a crescent of large, weathered rocks. The water here was crystal clear and appeared to be relatively calm. I stepped onto the wet stones and slowly waded into the water. I wanted to check the depth and ensure there were no sharp rocks or sudden drops on the seafloor. It seemed perfectly safe.

  “... It looks fine,” I said, turning back and opening my arms toward them as if inviting them to jump in. “Come on, girls, get in the water.”

  “O-okay, master,” Woya said timidly.

  She reached up and unfastened her light brown tunic, laying it carefully on a dry rock. She stood there for a moment in her cute yellow swimsuit, the fabric highlighting her voluptuous figure, before slowly approaching the water’s edge.

  As I watched her, a thought occurred to me. I realized I didn't actually know if wolfkin could swim. I knew that regular cats and dogs on Earth possessed an innate ability to tread water, but I wasn't sure if that translated to humanoid beastkin. I decided I would need to be extremely careful and stay close to them.

  Seeing Woya already approaching, Wyn followed suit. She removed her own tunic, revealing her beautiful, athletic body in the blue bikini set. She looked breathtaking in the natural light, her skin glowing against the backdrop of the ocean. She walked toward me with a shy, hesitant grace.

  Woya reached me first. She stepped into the waist-deep water and immediately reached out, gripping my left arm firmly. She seemed a bit panicked by the sensation of the shifting sand beneath her feet, acting as if she were afraid of falling over. To reassure her, I wrapped my left arm around her waist, pulling her close. She was startled at first, a soft gasp escaping her, but she quickly relaxed and looked up at me with a grateful smile.

  Wyn reached us a moment later, and I pulled her into a similar embrace with my right arm. We stayed like that for several minutes, the three of us standing in the gentle swell of the bay. The girls began to talk, sharing their first impressions of the ocean. It was clear from their conversation that they were indeed incapable of swimming—or, at the very least, they had never had the opportunity to try. But as we stood there, they began to get used to the sensation of buoyancy. They realized the water was helping to support their weight, and they found it easier to maintain their balance.

  After some time, I slowly released my grip. They found that they could stay upright and even move around without much difficulty. They even began to experiment, letting themselves sink slightly until their feet no longer touched the bottom, testing the water's lift. I watched them closely and noticed that Wyn seemed to have a much easier time with it than Woya. I suspected it was either due to her greater general combat experience or perhaps the passive boost from her job’s Sense stat.

  I’d bet on the latter. With my own Sense stat being significantly higher, the effect was unmistakable; keeping my balance and reading the movement of the water felt as natural as breathing. I was glad to see them improving so quickly; it meant we could truly start to enjoy ourselves.

  We stayed in the bay for quite a while, wading in and out of the deeper sections. As the girls grew more confident, the atmosphere shifted from cautious exploration to playful competition. They eventually started to splash each other, attacking with handfuls of water and giggling. It was a heart-warming sight to see them so carefree. At first, I hesitated to join in, thinking they might be too intimidated to throw water at their master, but the temptation was too great to resist.

  I decided to lighten the mood with a bit of a prank. I ducked beneath the surface of the water without them noticing, using my high stats to move stealthily through the bay. My goal was to approach them from below and surprise them with a sudden appearance. However, I underestimated their instincts. First Wyn, and then Woya, noticed the displacement in the water. They both turned toward my submerged form, their ears perking up as they tracked the movement.

  Realizing my plan had already failed, I decided to just surface anyway. I erupted from the water in front of them, which made them jump back a step, though they weren't truly frightened. Once they realized it was me, their expressions shifted from wariness to utter confusion.

  “Ah, master... what were you trying to do just now?” Woya asked innocently. “Is that an activity people are supposed to do in the ocean?”

  “Oh, no,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling a bit sheepish. “It’s just... I wanted to surprise you.”

  “... Huh? But why?” she asked again.

  It was as if she had no concept of what a practical joke was. I realized then that their lives as slaves probably hadn't included much room for humor or play.

  “Huu... it was meant to be a joke,” I explained truthfully. “I saw the two of you playing and giggling in the water, and you both looked so beautiful that I couldn't help but want to join in.”

  “OOHH! So, master... You wanted to play with us?” Woya’s eyes widened, and a huge, radiant smile broke across her face. She started to giggle again, looking genuinely happy.

  I looked over at Wyn and saw that she also appeared remarkably pleased. She had a soft, warm look in her eyes, almost as if she had just received a heartfelt confession from someone she cared for deeply.

  “Then, master... may I?” Woya asked mischievously. She held her hands together in front of her beneath the surface, clearly preparing to launch a massive splash.

  “... Haha, bring it on!” I challenged, a wide grin spreading across my own face.

  We continued to play in the bay until the sun reached its peak. We splashed each other relentlessly, the water sparking in the noon sun. At one point, I even let them both climb onto my shoulders, taking them on a "tour" through the deeper parts of the cove. We tried to teach them how to float on their backs, though they couldn't quite manage it without my hands to support them.

  By the time the midday heat became intense, we were all exhausted but wearing identical smiles of pure joy.

  [Edited]

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