Chapter 149 – Magnificent Public Bath
I took off my clothes and entered the bath. By the way I also brought Greed along. After each battle, this black sword is always noisy about being dirty, so I brought him along for some cleaning.
[Isn’t it a bit too wide…]
『A perfect kind of bath for me. If it’s any less than this, this me wouldn’t even bother to enter.』
[How luxurious of a bath. This is the first time where I couldn’t see the wall at the end of the room due to the steam.]
『A holy knight, who is also part of the five great families they say……。This much is just bare minimum for me！』
[But isn’t this a bit too luxurious? You know full well that this kind of thing doesn’t really suit me at all.]
『Fuhn, if you say so fine then. Either way it is a fairly luxury bath. Best enjoy the moment, correct？』
[… I guess so]
『Are you a kid！』
[There is only me in here, so it should be fine.]
While I was arguing with Greed over whether it’s okay or not, I heard voices coming from beyond the wall.
[Fai, do not jump into the bath!]
[Such a childish action, it’s not fitting for the head of Barbatos family!]
[This bath is an important facility, so please behave yourself!]
[Sorry, my bad. I’ll be more careful next time. By the way, I haven’t heard Snow’s voice. Is she okay?.]
[She is calm and quiet.]
[There, Snow. Fate-sama is just over there.]
[Really? Just over this wall?]
[Yeah, I’m here.]
[If that’s so, I’ll head over there!]
[Fua!? Wait what!?]
[Together again now!]
[Wait…why?]
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[ [ [ Kyaaaaaaah!] ] ]
I turned around at once, but the sight of their naked figure had already been burned into my brain. I could feel my body temperature rise in no time. And that’s not because of the already steamy hot air inside the bath.
[…sorry.]
[No, it is… Snow who broke the wal. It is not Fai’s fault.]
Although it’s by force majeure, I did still see their naked bodies. But Roxy forgave me.
[How horrible. Seeing me naked…]
[Oi, I can hear the giddiness in your voice. It’s not a laughing matter here, you know?]
[That’s not really the case. But since it has come to this, then I shall join Fate-sama over there.]
[That’s strange. Shouldn’t you be angry instead?]
[Fate… not gonna let you off this time.]
[You too!? At times like this! Snow.]
There’s no escape for me. Meanwhile Mimir unhesitatingly entered the men’s section. I was like prey being cornered by the hunters.
[Where did your embarrassment from earlier go!]
[There is no getting back on what you’ve seen earlier. Now Fate-sama should also experience the same embarrassment!]
[You just enjoy teasing me, don’t you?]
[Yep!]
And that was when Roxy interrupted.
[Hold it right there, Mimir!]
[As if I want to. Alright, I’m taking the first dip.]
[You, hold it.]
[Awawawa, please don’t. Everyone, not in this place.]
[In the end, everyone ended up coming over!]
I cried, but my voice was easily drowned by the noise of water splashing as they entered the bath.
[Fate-sama!]
[I told you, hold it right there!]
[Awawawa.]
[Everyone! Please stop!]
All that fuss, coupled with the heat from the bath itself had ended up knocking most of the girls out. I, especially, felt really hot, in various different ways.
Feeling dizzy, I fought my way out of the bath, only to hear another voice coming from the entrance.
[You guys, what are you all doing here? I was asleep, but that doesn’t justify leaving me out from all the fun.]
[Eris…]
This one, well, this one is real trouble! Far too dangerous!
[By the way, everyone seemed flushed from the heat. Can you even lift all of them?]
[Yosh.]
[Ooh, you come to help!]
[I want to join in as well!]
[Dammit!]
[Oya oya, is that cursing because you’re too happy?]
[That’s a very positive thinking coming from you!]
No good. I couldn’t beat Eris. Perhaps because she didn’t fare that well during the sacred beast fight… she’s looking to release some stress now.
[Help me.]
[Fate, I’m dizzy.]
[Well of course you are!!]
[So somehow, the sacred beastkin has become that little girl huh? That means my natural enemy is down for the count now.]
[Calm yourself down.]
[It’ll be alright, no worries! Once I feel refreshed, I’ll carry everyone out from the bath…]
I’m counting on you, Eris.
=====
When I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself laying on a bed in the guest bedroom.
[Looks like you’re finally awake. I guess it can’t be helped since fighting the sacred beast must’ve been very tiring.]
[Eris… did you carry us out of the bath?]
Hearing my first question after waking up, Eris angrily puffed her cheeks.
[That was upsetting. Even so I did carry all of them out of the bath, called the maids to put some clothes on them, then brought each of them to their bedrooms.]
[Thanks. What was I thinking…? Here I am doubting you. ]
[Ahaha, no matter what kind of person do you think I am, I still have a conscience. I couldn’t just leave those girls to stay unconscious in the hot bath area.]
[I see. Sorry then, for many things.]
Eris grinned in return.
[Who said that I did not do anything to Fate?]
[What!?]
This little devil. The moonlight shining through the window only added to Eris’ bewitching air.
[What…did you do?]
[After having the maids to take care of Roxy and the others, I got to be alone with a naked Fate.]
[And then?]
[That means, there is no one else to help you to put on some clothes.]
You arranged all that! So don’t give me that “what to do?” kind of face.
[So I pulled you out of the bath house, wiped your body gently with a towel, and carefully put some clothes on you. Then very carefully brought you to this room and laid you comfortably on this bed. I’ve been watching your sleeping face after that.]
[…doing whatever you want as usual.]
[No need to thank me. I enjoyed it, in a lot of ways.]
[Don’t say it in such a cryptic way. After all, you simply did what I asked of you. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time around Eris. I should at least understand one or two things about you.]
And now Eris, bathed in moonlight, I’m not really sure why, looked at me shyly.
[It was a privilege. But, thank goodness. We actually won the fight against the sacred beast… I mean sacred beastkin. Meanwhile I was stuck there getting cold feet. Sorry.]
[That’s what the other team members are for. Don’t be too worried about it.]
[Thank you, Fate. Although I haven’t told you why I acted like that…]
I already had a rough guess from what she said back at the bath house.
[Eris’ natural enemy…that Libra, he is also a sacred beastkin, isn’t he? The battle must’ve reminded you of him, therefore you acted like that.]
[That’s a good guess. And that’s indeed how it is. But Snow actually has nothing to do with me. Now that I think about it, this is the first time for me to meet her. I guess there were many kinds of sacred beast out there. It’s just that, Libra’s image kept flashing in my eyes when we fought Snow.]
[I see… that’s relieving.]
[Fate, I realized this upon seeing your father in the previous fight. Fate’s father, he is…]
[Sorry. But I want to ask Dad personally for that matter.]
[Your life, it’s actually much more complex than we all thought.]
