Beachside Brawl and Sticky Saintess
The crowd parted to both sides, revealing a group of men. They were all dressed in white linen shirts with wooden clubs tucked into their belts. Judging by their uniform attire, they were likely private security from the club.
The one who seemed to be the leader approached me. "What seems to be the trouble, sir?" His tone was polite, but there was a clear nuance that he saw me as the cause of this mess.
"Nothing major. They tried dragging my group off somewhere under the pretense of 'having some fun together,' so I stepped in to stop them, and a little scuffle broke out."
"A little scuffle..." He glanced skeptically at the men sprawled on the ground, bleeding.
"Ask the other witnesses. They'll tell you."
No sooner had I finished than the onlookers who'd been watching from the start rushed forward, clamoring to explain the situation to the guards. Amid the chaotic testimonies, the captain raised a hand as if he'd gotten the picture.
"I think I've got the gist. So... a typical resort hassle that ended anything but typically, right?"
"Spot on. So, can we be on our way?"
"Y-yeah... go ahead... We'll clean up here..."
The captain trailed off with a thoroughly uneasy expression. But with all these witnesses around, he couldn't just detain me on a whim.
I gathered my girls and slipped away from the scene.
"Everyone okay? If you were headed to the club anyway, let's go together."
Idi perked up with a goofy grin and trailed after me. Marim seemed a bit shaken but bounced back quickly, while Della nursed her cool cocktail with a darkened expression. That tender-hearted girl must have been deeply shocked by the earlier violence. Even back when I'd killed those thugs in the Rat's den long ago, Della had gone pale as a ghost, nearly fainting.
"Thank you, Master. Thanks to you, even a noble had to apologize to us."
"You can't just let it slide when some jerk mouths off? Why pick a fight every single time?"
Marim whined that I couldn't understand as a non-half-elf, and that if my ears grew long like hers, I'd get it—blah blah blah.
Sipping their cocktails, the girls gawked wide-eyed at the club's opulent sights, too mesmerized to notice the stares pouring their way. But soon enough, feeling the weight of those gazes, they nudged my back, begging to head back to the beach. Idi’s massive chest, Della’s stunning beauty, and Marim’s oversized ears were more than enough to draw every eye. Sure, Marim was cute and pretty in her own right, but those striking half-elf traits overshadowed everything else.
Back under the parasol, we filled in the rest of the group on what had happened. Francois listened quietly while stroking Kali’s back, and Pelle flopped down like she couldn't care less.
"Those punk asses should've been castrated so they never pull shit again!"
Celereja spat out crude words no saintess should utter, startling everyone. Della’s face seemed to drain of color even more.
"Eh, water under the bridge. Let's forget it and have fun—we're here to vacation, right, Francois?"
"You're right, Bertrand. When else do we all get to hit the beach like this?"
Idi and Marim, moods lifted, dragged Kali into the sea, with Francois following this time. Amid their petite frames, her tall, graceful figure stood out sharply.
"Miss Della, you don't look so good."
Celereja approached Della, who was sitting on the mat. Della managed a weak smile and shook her head, but her face truly looked pallid.
"I got a bit startled earlier... I'll be fine after some rest."
"No, come here."
Celereja knelt beside her, gently stroking Della’s head with a hand glowing holy power. Remarkably, color began returning to Della’s cheeks.
Pelle, who'd been lounging nearby, scowled at the sight of the holy energy and bolted out from under the parasol.
"Whew, much better. Thank you, Saintess."
Della sprang up, refreshed, and dove into the splash fight with Marim, Idi, and Francois. Seeing my girls so blissfully happy warmed my heart, drawing a smile to my face.
"Mr. Bertrand. What're you looking at?"
Celereja grabbed my cheeks with both hands and yanked my head toward her, her voice sharp. Meeting her eyes, I flinched. Gone was the gentle caregiver who'd healed Della—replaced by her polar opposite.
"Just watching the girls play."
"Don't."
"Then... where should I look?"
"Me. You've never properly looked at me once. So look only at me—especially when I'm right here."
Has this saintess finally lost it? Sure, she's jealous and hot-tempered, but this level of obsession...? The other employees couldn't care less if Celereja clung to me like a cicada, so why was she making a fuss alone? Still, knowing her full backstory, I couldn't say I didn't get it at all.
Fine... we're on vacation—no need to stir trouble.
"Got it. I'll do that, so please let go of my face."
"You promised. Absolutely tonight..."
"I promise. Really. If you don't believe me, stand guard outside my room. Happy?"
Only then did Celereja release my face, still looking dissatisfied.
Thanks to her clinginess, I was stuck with her until sunset. Even at the club for lunch, she stuck to my side; she even waited outside the bathroom. I cursed that goddess who'd sucked me dry and vanished. Couldn't she have fixed Celereja’s personality while she was at it...?
As the sun set, we had to leave the beach and return to the club. Della, Idi, Marim, and even Kali looked utterly spent after a full day in the water.
"Ugh... my body's so heavy... I feel like I'm dying..."
Marim shuffled along, hunched over nearly touching the ground, groaning. Idi cradled her heavy chest with both arms, and Della kept wobbling toward my shoulder. But every time, Celereja’s glare shot daggers, forcing me to dodge contact.
Francois, reading the room, pulled Della to her side.
The evening club was as dazzling as midday. Lights from the five-story building's windows and ground-floor facilities illuminated the plaza. Crowds bustled amid delicious aromas, laughter, and distant music stimulating every sense. The employees, who'd been half-dead from the luxury resort's allure, perked up instantly.
They asked if they could scatter and explore; with no intention of reining them in, I told them to go wild but not too late back to the hotel.
Della, Marim, and Idi bolted like arrows toward the club building across from the hotel. Since I planned to check it out anyway—maybe grab dinner and scout ideas—I followed.
The first-floor lobby exuded wealth with marble floors and lavish decorations, much like the hotel. There, I scanned the wall-mounted floor guide.
First floor: amenities as seen outside. Second and third: upscale restaurants. Fourth: casino. Fifth: management offices.
"Even a casino? This place is seriously top-tier."
Francois peered at the guide while holding Kali.
Pelle indifferently surveyed the lobby. The Demon King's castle in its heyday had been far grander, so this probably didn't impress her.
Leaving the missing kids aside, the rest of us dined at a second-floor restaurant. The food was exquisite, service impeccable. If I ran a restaurant instead of an inn, I could model it after this place.
With Francois, maybe open a separate eatery? I floated the idea; she smiled and gave the stock response that it was a great thought.
True enough, this club brimmed with concepts worth copying. The empty lot behind my inn was plenty big for something like this. Build a mini-club there—layered facilities per floor. Business would boom, right?
Rosens had stunning views thanks to the Vurn Mountains, and the Buren River right behind the inn—not a bad resort spot. Promote it well, draw crowds... And staff it with pretty girls like now... Hmm, not bad at all. Money's the issue, though. I couldn't fund a build this scale.
Save up diligently, and someday... Vurn Troll Club.
As we finished eating, Celereja suddenly leaned into me, whispering weakly.
"Ah, maybe too much sun today... my head's dizzy..."
"Then rest in your room. Want me to escort you?"
Pelle muttered low at the sight.
"She could heal herself with holy magic and be fine..."
Catching it, Celereja shot Pelle a death glare; Pelle looked away.
"Pelle and I will hang out more—you two go ahead."
Francois linked arms with Pelle, smiling. Pelle grimaced at the contact but didn't shake her off.
"See you tonight then. Don't stay out too late."
As Francois and Pelle walked off, the "dizzy" Celereja stood straight and gazed up at me.
"Let's hurry to the room."
