62 Episode 62 "Various rituals were needed to wash slaves cleanly.".txt

A short time after we returned home, we received a message from Iris' house.

It was to convey the results of the interrogation of Neuel-Hafeumea and information about the Marquess Eterina-Harsburg.

Apparently, after leaving the Holy Land, the regular soldiers immediately rushed to the Marquis' villa.

But it was an empty house.

They were in a hurry, but the dishes were left out and the clothes were left behind.

There was a piece of unburnt parchment in the fireplace, and there was a single piece of paperwork left under a chair that had failed to burn.

Written on the document was a memorandum addressed to another port town, the contents of which were to prioritize her designated cargo in exchange for the downfall of Ilgafa.

And the burning residue was a piece of some kind of 'contract' document.

After receiving the report, Iris deduced.

The marquise's purpose was to sabotage the Festival of the Sea Dragons so that Irgapha would not be able to receive the blessing of the Sea Dragon Kerkator.

Here in the port city of Ilgafa, they send supplies to the frontier for the war against the Demon King.

The commission is more preferable than other port towns thanks to the 'Sea Dragon Blessing'.

Marquise Eterina Haasburg has come to the city to destroy the Festival of the Sea Dragons at the request of the other port towns, who are jealous of it. That's why she approached Iris's brother," she said.

I heard that Neuer-Hafeumea was screaming in the dungeons when he heard Iris's reasoning.

I'm with you on this one, about 80% of the time.

The question is, where did the "cheat skills" used in this case come from?

That ice golem is most likely a product of his cheat skills. We're almost certain that the Marquise is the one who planted it. And when the golem fought us, it was talking about the Demon King's quota.

And the "Silver Mask" that ruled the "Knights of Divine Life" is also the rarest of rare in this world.

When you think about the fact that they were mass-producing it, ...... I'm sure the owner of the cheat skill - the visitor - is behind it.

Well, our quest is over, so the regular soldiers are responsible for the next step.

The regulars are currently setting up checkpoints at the entrances and exits of the town.

I'm told that they've also sent people to the port to check all the ships coming in and out.

The Lord of Irghaffa has sent a courier to the Marquess of Haasburg in the capital.

It's perfectly arranged.

All that's left is for the Marquise Etelina-Harsburg to be caught and everything should be clear.

...... I hope they catch her.

'Well then, we'll let you know if anything comes of it.

With that, Iris's message left.

I sat down on a chair in the living room and let it go.

While drinking the tea that Aine had made for me, I thought about the future.

I won't get involved with the Marquise unless I have to.

I'll decide whether or not to be present at Iris's festival ...... after the problems over here are resolved.

Right now, there are some things I need to do as a top priority.

This is a party issue, and it's one that will affect our ability to fight.

So...

"Let's get this 'recalibration' over with, Rita.

I called out to the pile of cloths piled up in the corner of the living room.

Blankets and cushions and tablecloths. A pile of cloths I'd scavenged from all over the place, piled up by the window, with a golden tail sticking out of the cracks.

It's been like this for a while now.

'You know what, Nagi?'

A voice came from the pile of cloth.

'Darkness makes one bold, doesn't it?

I do.

'Sometimes we talk about things we wouldn't normally talk about just because we can't see their faces, right?

Yeah. I know you have.

In the original world, I've heard that in the original world, you'd go to stay at a friend's house and as soon as you turned off the lights, love stories would start. But I've never done that.

I think that's part of the darkness in the dungeon.

It's just one dark spot.

So I don't see any point in accidentally singing something embarrassing in the heat of the moment.

That's the way it is.

Uh-oh.

clattering sound

His golden tail is wagging.

Her toes sticking out of the blanket a little bit, flushed and pink.

When Rita came back, she scraped up the cloths in the room, pulled them over her head and cowered by the window.

The after-effects of "Binding Song of Binding" Lv 1 - or rather, the after-effects of singing a very sweet love song in the groove.

She was excited during the battle, but when she cooled down, she felt embarrassed.

'Oh, no one heard that, did they?　People don't care about my songs, do they?

'No, if you hadn't heard it, you wouldn't have triggered the effect of 'bondage singing'.

No!

striking a balance

The pile of cloth swayed from side to side.

'I'm just... Why did I say that? I should have used calmer lyrics. It's like my heart stops just remembering that ...... song, "I love you, Nagi, I love you," in front of a ...... stranger. Yeah ...... ha!

Suddenly, Rita flung off the blanket and looked up.

Her cherry blossom-colored eyes widened, she looked straight at me, and then...

But I'm not singing a lie!

Rita's face went blah, blah, blazing red.

'Because it's really what's inside. It's what I've always thought. But... ......'

briskly

I put the blanket back on again and just twitched my tail and repeated the process.

'Don't worry about it, let's just 'readjust' quickly.

"............ Wow. It's impossible. I'm drenched in sweat. You've got to get cleaned up before you can go to .......

It's okay, Rita. We just had a bath!

Cecil emerged from the entrance to the living room.

'Please come in before it gets cold. Come in with Nagi-sama.

Woooooooooooooooooooo!

From my right arm, a thread of magic power is extending towards Rita.

Because of this, Rita and I can't be separated.

The thread of magic is about three meters long.

And the bathroom in this house is unnecessarily large, and there's more than that from the bath tub to the changing area.

So in order to take a bath, me and Rita have to go in together.

It's the only way. This is.

I can't do it!　When I'm feeling like this, if I'm naked in front of Nagi ...... my heart will break ...... my heart, I'll never, ever be able to .................. It's not a good day.

'So, do you want to recalibrate the 'Fast Rebuild' first?'

"I can't have Nagi rubbing me with such a sticky body in the sea breeze ....... I can't be so rude to my master .......

I don't mind.

I know that. But my virginity won't let me. ......

Peeking out of the pile of cloth, Rita puts her nose close to her arm.

Then she gets a wow look on her face.

Rita's sense of smell is more developed than mine. I can't help but notice the smell of tide and sweat. Then...

So there's no way I can go in blindfolded?

............ I can't let my master do that.

Shake, shake, the pile of blankets shivered.

I understand.

Well, if that's the case, I'll take it. We'll find a way.

It's because I used the Fast Reconstruction 《Quick Structure》 on Rita in the first place, and it's the master's job to solve the slave's problems.

Rita's problem is that she's sticky with the tide and sweaty. And because of that, she's resistant to being 'readjusted' by me.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

But since we are connected by a magical thread, she can't take a bath by herself.

Hence, the solution to the problem can be found at ......, which is pretty simple, isn't it?

All right, then. Okay, Cecil, I need your help.

'What?　Is it me?

I want Cecil to block his gaze from me while Rita washes up, so he can't see me.

'............ ha!　Yes, sir!　That's Nagi indeed!

That's what I'm talking about.

He seemed to understand what I wanted to say right away.

"I should just stand between Nagi-sama and Rita-san and cover for her as she moves, right?

'Yeah. Cecil just needs to turn to Rita and stare at her to see what kind of movement she's going to make and then move with it.

I see. I think it's a great idea.

'But be careful. Rita is quick. She may make moves that Cecil can't even anticipate.

"Rita-san's athleticism is amazing. ...... And I'm tiny. I may not be able to hide Rita's body.

'All right. Then I'll ask Aine and Rafilia to join us.

You need three men?

Yeah, the three of us are going to surround Rita. It's a complete siege; if you're staring at Rita from three different directions, you won't be able to keep up with her movements. If Cecil fails to cover Rita, the other two can follow.

'A brilliant maneuver using party coordination!　That would be perfect then!

The thread of magic power is about 3 meters long.

It's not obstructed by physical obstacles.

Even if Cecil, Aine, and Rafilia are between me and Rita, there's no problem.

I ask the three of them to observe Rita's movements carefully and hold my gaze.

Of course, I'm going to turn my back to you while I'm doing that, too - but I might inadvertently lose my reasoning, or rather, I might turn around and lose to the sound of the girls washing their bodies.

So I ask the three of them to watch Rita's every action with six eyes so that they don't overlook her every move.

And if they block my gaze as they move, Rita will be able to wash herself without paying any attention to me.

That's perfect.

'Now Rita can take a bath in peace, right?

''No way!　Everyone is staring at me and blocking Nagi's gaze as I move, what kind of religious ceremony is that!

It was very unpopular.

It's funny. I thought of the least expensive and quickest way to do it.

That's just the way it is. Let's 'rebuild' Rita's skills to be able to take a bath without anyone seeing her.

What skill is that?

Stopping the owner for a few minutes?

'You don't have to go that far. Master!

With a thud, Rita bounced off the blanket.

"That's enough. I'm going to take a bath with Nagi!

Saying that, he stretches his chest in front of me with his slightly damp 'fighting priest clothes' on.

He's holding his chest with one hand. It seems to be a throbbing after all.

As for me, I don't intend to force the slave to do anything.

It's just that you are a master from the civilized world.

We can only bathe together and have a ............ bath together when things have settled down properly. I'm sure.

But Rita, wrapping her golden hair around her curly fingers, speaks up in a small voice.

I've decided that I'm ready for ...... to go. I'm going to take a bath with Nagi. I won't be selfish. Because ...... I am Nagi's. I just wanted to ...... be ready to ...... my heart.

I have good news for you, Rita!

So-so!

Aine, Raphilia?

The two of them come into the living room, dressed in their normal clothes, carrying a small box.

When did they go out, both of them.

'I didn't see this coming!　Aine has arranged for a 'bathing suit'!

"What did you say?

Cecil and Rita's voices overlap.

Even I'm surprised.

I'm too good at handling things.

In the first place, is there such a thing as a bathing suit in this world?

Even if it's there, the average person doesn't use it, so it must be pretty expensive.

Did you buy it with your reward for escorting Iris?

Good answer. That's what I'm talking about.

Aine nodded in satisfaction.

In this quest, Aine and Raphilia were going to get a reward for their escort from Iris, apart from us. I thought that since it was Aine, she probably wouldn't buy her own stuff, but ...... I see, she used it for this.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea.

A bathing suit used by royalty and aristocrats on short trips.

They were used by royalty and aristocrats on short trips to deepen their friendship by soaking in hot water together.

It is made of special fibers and is a good conductor of water and air.

The surface is woven with intricate patterns, and the threads are colored so that the skin is not exposed to the public eye when it gets wet.

If you just want to wash off your body with hot water, you can do it while wearing it'

'Mr. Iris, it's amazing. I asked her to come home and she arranged it for me right away.

...... looks incredibly upscale.

It's smooth and fine to the touch.

It has enough for several people. One for men. Four for women.

I don't suppose you're going to ...... spend all your money on this for Aine's share of the reward?

Does Nah-kun really know everything about Aine?

Ah, I knew it!

As expected of the strongest big sister .......

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this, but I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. It seems that Aine spent the entire amount she received on the bathing suit.

How much is the reward for the guards... how much do you think it will be?

The reward for this quest is 4000 arsha. The reward for Aine and the others' escort mission should be less than that. even if they don't go to 1000, they could probably earn ...... a few hundred arsha, at least a month's living expenses .......

'Because ......, Aine wanted to shed Nay-kun's back.

Aine put her left and right index fingers together with a pinch, pinch, pinch.

'I was wondering if putting on a bathing suit would allow Aine to take a bath with me.

Aine, it was a total waste of time and effort.

...... You should have at least let your back flow if you're going to do this.

It's a good idea to have them work during the day and then have them do that at night as well, because it's kind of like asking them to work overtime.

'Okay. Then you can wear it and have a bath with me. It's just a little reward for all the effort you put into making Aine feel like she's been put through today.

Nah-kun: ......

Aine put her hands together in a prayer form and smiled with a puff.

It's a good thing. That way I didn't have to tie Nay-kun up.

'You were going to tie me up!

...... Sometimes you have to do that kind of thing to make Aine's 'big sister spirit' go wild: ......

Saying that, Aine held her chest.

There are all sorts of hidden parameters, aren't there? Aine.

''Raphilia's reward is .......

I've got some money saved up.

Surprisingly decent.

You never know what's going to happen in ............ life. When the time comes, ...... at least ...... so that you can survive .............

The light fades from Rafilia's eyes as she remembers the past.

Come to think of it, she was a former unhappy person.

Even if I rewrite my skills, will my vigilance not disappear soon?

''...... Aine. Thank you.

The next thing I knew, Rita was holding Aine's hand.

Her cherry-red eyes sparkled and her face was serious.

'Nope. It's just that Aine wanted to take a bath with Nah-kun.

'Bathing with your master is one of the biggest challenges for our party, you know.

It's a matter of life and death and family planning.

Aine also mumbles, with a serious face.

My party seems to work differently than the others.

'I'm glad to have Aine on board. I really am.

You don't have to. I'm a stranger after all this time.

No. No, I don't think so. I'm so grateful. I would have done anything for Aine.

Really?

Yes. In honor of this Rita-Melpheus.

I understand. Then Aine will take a bath with Nai-kun and Rita-san.

Aine wrapped her hands around Rita's hands and nodded with a face like a merciful goddess.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. Aine?

Reason number one. I want to wash your back. I feel like I'm going to burst.

Reason. I want to see how it feels to use the 'choukoukyou na bathing suit' that Aine bought.

Reason. Rita-san is 'fast rebuilding' and unstable, so I want Aine to take care of her if something goes wrong.

She was the perfect reason.

She was the perfect, big sister.

It was no longer impeccable.

I couldn't even find a way to argue with her.

'May I?　Nah, Rita.

Aine asks with a chuckle.

Me and Rita looked at each other, but there was no way we were going to be able to compete with the 'big sister' who threw away all the rewards for the party .......

In the end, the three of us had to take a bath together.