CHAPTER 120: CH 120: THE CURSED RESORT - PART 1

Emma awkwardly trailed behind High Priestess Lumine, tugging at the edges of her barely-there outfit with an expression that screamed discomfort.

"High Priestess, are you absolutely sure this is necessary? I... feel like I’m hardly wearing anything at all right now."

She whispered hesitantly, lowering her voice so the nearby maids wouldn’t hear. Her cheeks burned a soft shade of pink as she tried to cover herself as best she could.

Lumine turned her head slightly, her usual serene smile resting on her lips as she walked gracefully down the marble corridor.

"For someone without holy powers, Emma, exposing as much skin as possible is the most effective method to cleanse the body of accumulated impurities. The influx of corrupted energy around this resort is heavy, and your body needs purification more than most."

She said gently.

Hearing that, Emma’s protest died on her tongue. If it was to cleanse herself and restore balance to the resort, she couldn’t complain further.

She exhaled softly, resigning herself to the revealing attire.

Just then, one of the maids—dressed in an equally daring outfit—hurried over, bowing her head respectfully before speaking.

"Lady Emma, the last cruise ship is about to arrive," the maid reported.

Emma blinked in confusion.

"That shouldn’t matter. There are no guest bookings for the next few days. That’s why we dismissed most of the staff early."

She replied calmly, though her tone carried slight annoyance.

The maid hesitated, fidgeting slightly before adding nervously.

"I... thought so as well, but... there was supposed to be a delivery from Penelope. She said her employee would be coming in her place."

Emma let out a soft sigh, running a hand through her hair as frustration seeped into her expression.

"We’ll deal with that when it happens. For now, our focus needs to be on detoxifying this place."

She murmured.

Lumine’s ears perked up, her serene expression shifting into one of pleasant surprise.

"Oh? More people will be arriving? This is good news. Tell me, Emma—this delivery person... are they female?"

She asked with an almost childlike excitement.

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Emma hesitated but eventually nodded.

"Yes, I believe so. Penelope mentioned sending a female employee."

The High Priestess’s eyes lit up, her gentle smile widening.

"Perfect. Prepare another cleansing outfit for her. Since she’ll be entering this corrupted land, it’s only proper she undergoes purification as well."

She said, clasping her hands together lightly.

Emma froze, her mouth opening slightly in shock.

"...You want me to make Penelope’s employee join the detoxification ritual?"

Lumine simply nodded, her tone calm and unyielding.

"Of course. It would be irresponsible to let her wander freely without proper cleansing. The purification of this land affects everyone present."

Emma let out another long, weary sigh, her embarrassment deepening as she realized what was about to happen. Still, she could only obey.

"...Fine. I’ll have something prepared."

She said reluctantly, rubbing her temple.

______

Meanwhile, out at sea, Kana stood on the deck of the cruise ship as the salty breeze brushed against her face.

The closer the boat drifted toward the Happy Summer Memories resort, the heavier the feeling in her chest became.

Her instincts whispered warnings, urging her to turn back while she still could. Something about the stillness of the surrounding waters and the eerie quiet unsettled her deeply.

She tightened her grip on the railing, trying to shake off the unease gnawing at her thoughts.

’It’ll be fine. I’m just overthinking it.’

She tried to reassure herself.

But before she could settle her nerves, the boat slowed, gently docking at the edge of the island.

A crew member approached her with a polite but firm tone.

"Miss, we’ve arrived at Happy Summer Memories Resort. This is your stop."

Kana hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward the sea. The idea of staying on the boat briefly crossed her mind—but she quickly realized it wasn’t an option.

With a resigned breath, she stepped off the ship, her sandals touching the warm, sunlit pier.

Turning back, she caught a final glimpse of the cruise as it slowly drifted away, leaving her behind on the unfamiliar island.

Watching the vessel grow smaller and smaller against the endless horizon, a heavy knot formed in her stomach.

Kana had no idea why, but somehow... she felt like she had just walked straight into danger.

The moment Kana stepped off the cruise and her foot touched the wooden pier, a sharp chime echoed in her head.

[Warning: Corruption levels exceeding normal thresholds.]

[Recommendation: Initiate a grand-scale purification of the land immediately.]

Kana froze mid-step, her expression twisting in disbelief.

"You’ve got to be kidding me..."

She muttered under her breath, resisting the urge to shout. She had barely arrived, and now the system was telling her the entire island was corrupted?

Before she could even process the warning, the soft sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears.

Kana’s gaze snapped up, muscles tensing instinctively, but what emerged from the path ahead made her blink in confusion.

A woman came rushing toward her—barely clad in a revealing, flowing outfit that seemed more ceremonial than practical.

Her face was flushed with both embarrassment and urgency, her movements a little hesitant as she reached the end of the pier.

"I—I’m sorry for the sudden approach! My name is Emma, and I’m the owner of the Happy Summer Memories Resort."

The woman stammered, stopping a few feet away.

She glanced nervously over her shoulder, as though wary of something unseen, before looking back at Kana with an anxious expression.

"You... you’re the one Penelope sent, right? We can’t stay out here. Please, come with me—there’s a safe place nearby."

Emma asked quickly, lowering her voice. Without waiting for Kana’s confirmation, she gestured hurriedly for her to follow.

Kana hesitated, her system’s warning still ringing faintly in her mind.

Her instincts screamed at her to be cautious, but something about Emma’s urgency made it clear that danger wasn’t just a possibility—it was already here.

Silently, Kana followed, bracing herself for whatever awaited deeper within the resort.