Unlike us, who were just starting our meal, it seemed Victor and his group were already finishing up.
After chatting with Raven for a bit, Victor began gathering his coat and belongings as if preparing to leave.
“Well, it’s about time. As much as I’d like to stick around, I’ll be heading out now.
We’re staying in the same hotel, so I’m sure we’ll run into each other again. Let’s catch up more then.”
Hahaha!
Victor laughed heartily, as if he had thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.
Oh no. Just hearing that laugh again felt like it might trigger some PTSD. That laughter...
And those muscles—seriously, was he human or a tiger beastfolk?
Even through his shirt, the sheer bulk of his physique was overwhelming.
His pecs seemed almost alive as they flexed with his laughter, which was, frankly, a bit unsettling.
“We sincerely apologize for Mister Victor’s behavior,” said a stoic-looking woman from Victor’s group.
“Hey, hold on. I didn’t do anything to apologize for! Are you even listening to me?”
“My deepest apologies,” the woman continued, ignoring Victor as she grabbed his ear and dragged him out of the restaurant.
Was she the equivalent of David in Victor’s group? She certainly seemed competent.
And she was stunningly beautiful too.
I quietly watched Victor’s group retreat through the restaurant doors before turning back to my plate of meat.
Chewing thoughtfully, I let my mind wander.
“I can’t believe I ran into Victor here. I wasn’t expecting that at all. At least it seems like he didn’t recognize me... I’d better avoid running into him again.”
It had been months since that incident in Night Haven.
Back then, I’d been heavily cloaked, so the chances of him identifying me as the "ghost" were practically zero.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.
If he somehow realized I was the ghost, it would lead to a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Having decided on this cautious approach, I focused on finishing the towering mountain of meat on my plate.
But just as I was happily devouring the pile, something unusual caught my eye.
“What the heck is that?”
It was some kind of... art installation?
Seafood, meat, vegetables, noodles, bread, desserts—an entire buffet’s worth of food stacked onto a single plate.
What was truly impressive was that no ingredient was repeated.
Even more astonishing was that this gravity-defying structure was balanced atop not one, but four plates—two in her hands and two resting on her forearms.
Despite how precarious it looked, the entire thing was remarkably stable, like a circus act in motion.
David and Reyne were too stunned to say anything as they stared at the culinary marvel.
Meanwhile, Raven, ever the unshaken, just sighed and spoke in disbelief.
“...What the hell is that? Even for you, that’s excessive. Did you really take one of everything from the buffet? And how did you even manage to stack it all?”
“Well, you can’t know what’s good unless you try it all! This is just how I approach buffets—I always make sure to try one of everything.”
“...Unbelievable.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Alice approached the table, placing her plates down with such fluidity and grace that not even a single clink was heard.
Her movements were so smooth, it was almost mesmerizing.
She glanced at my plate and smiled playfully before turning her attention to her own mountain of food.
Starting from the top, she began eating her way down with astonishing speed and precision.
It was like watching a black hole swallow everything in its path.
Food disappeared into Alice’s mouth at a pace that seemed almost otherworldly, as if someone had fast-forwarded time.
How she managed to eat so much without gaining weight was a mystery in itself.
Did it all just go to her chest?
Meanwhile, Sabrina, sitting next to Alice, had a plate filled with a modest selection of French cuisine.
After the overwhelming spectacle of Alice’s plate, Sabrina’s calm and normal arrangement felt oddly reassuring.
*
After finishing our boisterous meal, we returned to our room, though not to end the day’s activities.
The reason was simple: we needed to retrieve our swimsuits from our luggage.
That’s right—swimsuits.
Our plan for the afternoon was a session of swimming and water play until the evening.
It was a shame that it wasn’t summer, as we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the hotel’s private beach.
Swimming in the frigid winter ocean would only lead to hypothermia.
Instead, we planned to visit the Aqua Marina, the indoor swimming pool facility within the Saint Maria Hotel grounds.
“Ehehe, I prepared a swimsuit for Yuria just for this occasion. Get ready—it’s super cute!”
“...!”
“Oh my, I’m also looking forward to seeing Alice’s swimsuit. With your figure, I imagine it’s going to be stunning.”
“Maybe you should cover up instead? Everyone’s eyes will just be glued to Alice’s... um... chest.”
“S-Sabrina! What are you even saying?”
Gathered in the spacious bedroom, the girls were chatting as they placed their belongings on the bed.
Swimsuits were, of course, essential, but so were lightweight jackets for when we weren’t in the water, towels to dry off, waterproof pouches for devices, and oils for skin and hair.
Compared to my initial plan of grabbing my swimsuit and heading out, their preparation made me feel woefully underprepared.
Still, it felt surreal to actually be putting on a swimsuit.
It had only been a week since our department store visit, and here we were, putting that purchase to use.
If I refused and tried to back out now... I could already imagine Alice’s disappointed, pleading expression. Just the thought of it made my resolve crumble.
Well, there was no escaping it. I’d have to wear it.
At least it was a modest black one-piece with little skin exposure, so it wasn’t overly embarrassing. That was a relief.
But then a thought struck me: What about the Tesseract?
The swimsuit had no pockets, and leaving it out in the open wasn’t an option.
“Hmm... I guess I’ll bring a light jacket and tuck it in the pocket. Tesseract, I’ll see you later.”
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
[Okay... see you later, Mama.]
Glancing at the others, who were busy with their packing, I discreetly removed the Tesseract from around my neck and slid it into my pocket.
The faint, forlorn tone of its voice as I removed it tugged at my heartstrings, but it couldn’t be helped.
If anyone saw the Tesseract, it would undoubtedly raise questions and complicate things.
I’d keep it secure in my jacket pocket and wear it again after swimming. Hopefully, it would understand.
“All done! I’ll go check if the guys are ready!”
“Thanks, Alice!”
While I was stowing the Tesseract, Alice had finished her preparations and dashed out to check on Raven and David.
She was always the type to volunteer for the troublesome tasks—a reliable class president type.
You couldn’t help but admire her proactive and dependable nature.
But just as I was mentally praising her, a loud slam of the door followed by a shriek echoed from across the hall.
“Eek! W-why are you undressing here? You scared me half to death!”
“Well, it’s more convenient to change here before we head out. Besides, how about knocking? It’s basic etiquette.”
“I-I’m so sorry... haaa...”
Curious, I peeked into the hallway to see Alice slumped against the door, her face beet red.
Her usually lively, arched eyebrows drooped helplessly, indicating she’d seen something... traumatic.
She must’ve barged in without knocking and accidentally witnessed a sight she wasn’t prepared for.
She might dress boldly, but in some ways, Alice was still quite innocent.
It seemed the universe had played a cruel joke on her sensibilities.
By the time Alice’s flushed face returned to its normal color, we were making our way to the indoor pool.
“This is huge. Honestly, this could operate as a standalone business.”
“Wow... it’s so warm inside. No need to worry about catching a cold.”
The Saint Maria’s Aqua Marina was ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) a colossal indoor water park with a capacity of nearly a thousand guests.
It was so impressive that some visitors came solely to enjoy its facilities.
For hotel guests, admission was free, and premium passes granted access to every amenity.
Not visiting Aqua Marina while staying at the Saint Maria Hotel would be like missing out on half the experience.
“Hmm, apparently, in the summer, the outdoor areas of Aqua Marina open up to offer full access to beach and marine activities.
I imagine this place must get even busier during that season,” Reyne noted, glancing around.
“Even in winter, it’s amazing to swim in such a large, warm space. I have no complaints!”
“Let’s go change into our swimsuits and meet back here!”
“Come on, let’s go!”
Alice grabbed Sabrina and me by the hands, practically dragging us toward the changing rooms.
Her excitement was infectious—this was going to be fun.
In the changing room, I pulled out my black one-piece swimsuit adorned with frills.
It left my shoulders and thighs exposed but had an overall cute design suited for a child.
Over the swimsuit, I added a lightweight jacket to cover up more.
It made me feel slightly more at ease.
Sliding the Tesseract into the inside pocket of my jacket, I zipped it up securely.
“Yuria, are you ready?” Sabrina’s voice called out.
I nodded in response, fastening my jacket before turning to look at her.
Sabrina wore a navy-blue top that resembled a school swimsuit paired with short board shorts.
It struck a balance between sporty and cute, giving her a tomboyish charm that stood out.
I could picture her with a surfboard tucked under her arm—it would complete the look.
Noticing my gaze, Sabrina grinned mischievously and leaned closer.
“Are you shy about your swimsuit? What’s under that jacket? Let me see!”
“...!”
“Come on, you’re going to have to take it off eventually. Show me already!”
Sighing, I gave in and slowly unzipped my jacket.
The frilled one-piece was now visible, and Sabrina gave an amused laugh, giving me a thumbs-up.
“It’s adorable!”
Just as I thought the teasing was over, Alice walked in, and both Sabrina and I froze.
Her swimsuit was a striking bikini that flawlessly combined elegance and allure.
It was a stunning combination of purity and seduction—a weapon of mass destruction.
If a young boy accidentally bumped into Alice, he’d probably lose sleep for weeks.
I couldn’t help but applaud in awe, while Sabrina muttered in a daze, “Chest monster... I told you to cover that up.”
“Why are you staring like that?” Alice stammered, visibly flustered.
Fortunately, Reyne arrived soon after, her modest, slender figure serving as a calming presence.
It felt like an antidote to the overwhelming energy Alice radiated.
As we regrouped and headed out, I thought:
What a lineup we are. A walking nuclear bomb and our human bomb shelter.