Chapter 24 : The Dragon Who Awoke From Sleep (6)

If the flame touched the water directly, it could boil too rapidly, so the heat was transferred as if brushing over the surface.

It was a kind of indirect heating.

Sssss—

White steam immediately began to rise from the surface of the water as the flame skimmed past.

Good, everything’s going smoothly so far.

I could feel the warmth spreading as the water in the stone tub slowly circulated.

I exhaled evenly and kept adjusting the intensity and position of the flame with minute precision.

If I lost concentration even a little, the flames might grow uncontrollably.

It felt like I was gathering all my focus at the tip of my nose—no, my lips.

It was a much more tiring task than I had expected.

How much time had passed?

Steam began to rise steadily from the entire bath.

I had to stop before it got too hot.

Children’s skin is delicate, after all.

[Mir, check the water temperature. Make sure it’s not too hot.]

Since it was clear that me checking the temperature wouldn’t mean much, I asked Mir.

Mir still looked annoyed, arms crossed, but approached the tub and dipped a pointed finger into the water.

“…Oh, it’s perfect. Not too hot, not lukewarm… Pretty good, actually?”

She didn’t have to say that last part.

At Mir’s final confirmation, I let out a sigh of relief and carefully withdrew the flame.

Phew.

It was an even sweatier task than I’d imagined.

This delicate control is really exhausting.

But still, it’s a success.

[Alright, you can get in now! Bath time begins.]

The moment I said that, Sori cheered “Yay!” as if waiting for the signal, threw off her clothes, and jumped in with a splash.

“Wow! It’s warm! This is a bathhouse! You’re the best, dragon!”

Jumping up and down in the water, she looked like a typical seven-year-old.

Seeing that, Lisette hesitated a little and began to undress.

She still wasn’t used to exposing her body in the open-air bath and looked a bit shy, but she couldn’t resist the temptation of the gently steaming water.

Carefully dipping into the tub, Lisette soon let out a soft sigh of satisfaction.

“…This is… really nice. I feel my fatigue melting away.”

She forgot her noble lady’s decorum for a moment, her face relaxed into a gentle smile.

Well, she’s been through a lot too.

Now only Mire was left.

Still with her arms crossed, she watched the two kids playing in the water with a disapproving look.

As if she absolutely wouldn’t go in.

[You’re not going in? You look pretty dirty.]

I asked casually.

“Hmph, who would go into a place where kids play around like that… It’s gross, but I can bear it.”

She said that, but her eyes never left the steamy tub.

Not being able to bathe for days, even that whelp must have felt grimy.

Judging by her expression, she clearly wanted to get in.

[Enough. Get in and wash—That’s an order.]

I said with a slight firmness, and though Mir flared up, she sighed deeply and started taking off her clothes reluctantly.

Clearly, she wanted to get in deep down.

So tsundere.

As soon as she entered the water, I heard her let out a low “Hoo…”

Grumbling on the outside, satisfied on the inside.

And so, the kids’ unexpected open-air bath time began.

Sori was busy splashing around excitedly, while Lisette soaked quietly and seemed to relax like a noble would.

Mir sat quietly in a corner, but occasionally chuckled when Sori’s splashing hit her.

I lay a little distance away and watched.

It was noisy, yet oddly peaceful.

It was a different, yet strangely satisfying feeling compared to the spas or bathhouses I used to go to as a human.

Seeing those kids enjoying themselves in a space I created with my own hands made the bothersome work feel a little more rewarding.

After playing in the water for quite a while, the kids started getting out one by one.

But the real problem began now.

There were no towels to dry off with, nor clean clothes to change into.

And I couldn’t exactly use my breath to dry them… one wrong move and they’d be roasted.

What should I do? This was beyond my ability again.

If I were human, I could’ve at least tossed them a towel.

While I was pondering, unexpectedly, Mir stepped forward.

“Move, noisy brats.”

She spoke bluntly and stood in front of the kids, waving her hand.

Suddenly, a soft, warm breeze began to blow from somewhere, wrapping around the children’s bodies.

The wind gently caressed their wet hair and every nook and cranny, like delicate hands, drying them off.

It was like using several high-end hair dryers at once.

In an instant, the kids were all dry and fluffy.

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

“It’s warm…”

Sori and Lisette exclaimed in wonder.

Wind magic? So she can do that too.

A different kind of magic from fire—subtle, and very useful.

I’m a bit jealous of that.

Now that they were all dry, the kids had to get dressed.

But the clothes they’d worn for days were filthy with sweat and dust.

Even I wouldn’t want to put that back on.

“What do we do about clothes… They’re so dirty…”

Lisette spoke nearly in tears.

It was pretty cruel to make a noble girl wear such rags again.

And then, Mir stepped up once more.

This time, she gestured toward the pile of clothes the children had taken off.

Although her expression still showed annoyance.

“Hmph—this much is nothing, just close your eyes and put them on.”

She said that, but as Mir muttered toward the clothes pile, a soft green light gently swirled above it.

The light briefly enveloped the entire pile, then faded away quietly.

And surprisingly, the dirt and stains that had been on the clothes had completely disappeared!

The fabric was still old and worn, but at least now it looked freshly washed.

There was even a faint scent, like the refreshing smell of grass, coming from somewhere.

“Wow! They’re clean now! Thank you, Mir!”

Sori exclaimed, eyes wide as she picked up her clothes.

Lisette also carefully checked her own clothes, wearing a mix of amazement and awe.

“A-a magic this convenient…!”

What kind of magic is that? Laundry magic? There really is a spell for everything.

I watched the scene with interest.

A different kind of magic from breathing fire, moving stones, or stirring the wind.

Is it purification magic that removes dirt? If that’s possible, it’s seriously useful.

As expected, a thousand-year-old imugi is on another level.

I let out a drowsy sigh, warmth soaking into every corner of my body.

The improvised bath carved into a giant rock was quite impressive.

The sound of hot steam hitting the ceiling and turning into droplets echoed rhythmically.

The kids who had been splashing around noisily earlier were now sitting by the edge, cooling their flushed cheeks.

From their now dry, fluffy bodies…Came a scent like the purification magic Mir had used.

[Quite impressive.]

When I spoke to Mir telepathically, she glanced at me and snorted.

She may act gruff, but she doesn’t seem to dislike the compliment.

Well, even for a thousand-year-old imugi, this kind of bath might be a first.

She had used magic to dry the kids’ bodies and clothes in an instant.

At first, she pretended to help reluctantly, but seeing her casually use domestic magic was a bit unexpected.

Sori sat with her eyes closed in satisfaction, and Lisette gazed blankly into the air, her usual sharpness gone.

Was that girl really so fond of baths? Or was she lost in thought?

Well, if you think about it, such a peaceful rest might have been a luxury for her.

Born as a count’s illegitimate child, and eventually abandoned as a sacrifice.

“Lisette, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Sori was the first to notice and ask about Lisette’s condition.

Lisette flinched and shook her head.

“N-no! It’s just… just…”

As her voice trailed off, complex emotions flickered across her face.

An experience she could never have imagined before—
Soaking in hot water and washing her body clean.

The comfort it brought, the memories of the past she once enjoyed, and the reality she now faced all seemed to mix together.

[Aren’t you hungry?]

When I asked telepathically, the children nodded in unison.

Bathing definitely uses up energy.

Especially for growing children.

[Alright, let’s prepare dinner.]

I stood up and headed deeper into the cave where the food was stored.

Tonight’s menu… right, a stew with those root vegetables I dug up a few days ago and the meat from that big animal we caught before.

Nutritious and likely to be a hit with the kids.

As I pulled out the root vegetables, Mir’s expression subtly stiffened as she watched from the side.

“……Where did you get that?”

[From the forest. Why?]

“That’s mandragora! If you don’t treat it properly, it’s dangerous to eat!”

Mir shouted.

Mandragora…

The name sounded familiar.

Wasn’t it a plant often featured in fantasy games or novels from my human days?

I remembered it screaming when pulled out.

Back then, I just thought it was a noisy plant.

[Nothing happened. I just roasted it and it seemed fine.]

Mir looked utterly dumbfounded at my response.

“You just roasted it? That thing? …Wait, hold on. Did you roast it with your fire?”

[Yes.]

Mir paused, then let out a small exclamation as if she realized something.

“Ha! Your dragon breath! Right, your flame has powerful purifying properties, so it might’ve neutralized the toxins! No wonder the kids are fine!”

Then she looked me up and down.

[What?]

“No… just thinking. You’re more useful than you look.”

There’s that gruff tone again, but her slightly flushed face makes it hard to tell if it’s praise or an insult.

I ignored her comment and began prepping the root vegetables.

Brushed off the dirt and cut them into proper pieces.

Mir watched the process with a look of curiosity.

She probably wasn’t used to seeing someone handle a dangerous plant so casually.

“That stuff’s actually great for mana recovery too.
Of course, the toxicity made it hard to use, but thanks to you, it’s safe to eat now.”

Mir muttered like she was talking to herself.