Chapter 13. Crisis and Opportunity (8)

Water poured down on my head.

After warming up in the hot water, Ria willingly came out to help me as I was about to wash myself again outside the water.

There was no physical contact between our bodies, but seeing Ria scoop water with a large wooden basin and pour it on my head, it seemed her words about dismissing the maids were genuine.

I was tense the entire time. When I came out of the water, the towel clung tightly to my body, but it felt like it would fall off with just a little more movement, so I held it tightly with my hands.

“You’re so shy.”

Ria smiled and gently placed her hand on my head.

Although she did this often, I, who had been tense, instinctively retracted my neck like a turtle.

……It’s truly frustrating.

Ria was acting this way for my sake, so I couldn’t get angry or annoyed with her, which was frustrating.

“Here.”

Ria placed the empty wooden basin next to me.

“Huh?”

“Since I helped you, you have to help me too.”

“…….”

With Ria’s words, I was once again put to the test.

Glancing back, Ria was sitting with her back to me.

It’s strange, but someone so active doesn’t get tanned at all. Could this be another kind of blessing or ability?

Well, considering hunters don’t get hurt much even when hit by fire breathed by monsters, perhaps they don’t change skin color from just a little sun exposure.

I slowly stood up and scooped water with the basin.

Thump. The wet towel fell to the ground.

……Well, Ria is looking the other way.

Since it was an open-air bath and Ria was in front of me, my front felt bare in many ways, but I slowly lifted the basin and gently poured water onto Ria’s head.

“Hoo.”

Ria swept her face with her hand, pushed her hair back, and exhaled lightly.

Even with that simple action, I felt strange.

Looking again, Ria’s skin wasn’t just pale. Her neck area was slightly flushed. Perhaps it was because she had been in the warm water for a long time.

That light pink color was a little-

Seeing Ria turn slightly towards me, I quickly turned my back. Then, I hurriedly picked up the towel that had fallen on the floor,

“……!?”

Sliiiip.

I stepped on the slippery wet stone floor and slid straight down.

“Oops.”

Ria caught me from behind. I could feel Ria’s hands on both of my hips.

I jumped up with a scream, unable to even make a proper sound. Then, I ran with all my might and jumped into the bathtub, which was dug into the ground like a hot spring.

Splash, the water powerfully surged up.

“…….”

As I crouched in the bathtub with my back to Ria, Ria remained silent and blank for a while-

“Puhaha!”

Finally, unable to hold it in, she burst into laughter.

Listening to the laughter continuing from behind me, my ears turned red as I remained submerged in the bathtub.

*

Only after entering the bathroom did Ria realize that she had been too pushy.

Anna is pure and easily deceived, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t shy. Perhaps her purity makes her even more shy.

It’s natural to be embarrassed if you’ve never shown your naked body in front of someone, whether they are male or female.

After rinsing her body with water and then getting into the bathtub, Ria covered her face and sighed deeply.

“What was I thinking…”

What was she thinking, really?

Anna hadn’t done anything wrong enough to make her react that way.

Is it that annoying that Anna refused to come into the bathroom with Ria?

Is it annoying that she said she believed in it, but couldn’t be in the bathroom together?

However, such worries didn’t last long.

A moment later, Anna entered the bathroom.

Seeing her come in, even covering herself with holy power, Ria felt all her previous annoyance disappear.

Anna, truly, was embarrassed. She kept covering herself, trying not to show her important parts to Ria.

……To be honest, it was a rather cute attitude.

Although I did pour water on her head from outside the water.

“…….”

Anna covered her front somehow, but it seemed she hadn’t paid attention to her back.

Actually, I had seen this scene before. When Anna wore her swimsuit, I saw that there was a strap on her back and that the clothing below covered an area not much different from underwear.

So, the scene visible now isn’t really that special.

However, her hunched shoulders, her arms covering her body forward, and her trembling body made strange thoughts run through Ria’s mind.

What exactly those strange thoughts were, they weren’t specific.

The more I try to recall-the more guilt comes to mind.

Guilt felt for the immense responsibility placed on these small shoulders.

Anna, who was so embarrassed yet tried so hard to accommodate Ria. Come to think of it, even being here now was ultimately due to work.

And that work is probably something Anna will have to handle almost entirely again.

Thinking that, pity welled up. I wanted to hug her tightly and stroke her head, telling her it was okay. That she didn’t have to.

However, doing so now would be a bit much.

Ria suppressed a sigh and gently poured water on Anna’s head.

The water flowed down her spotless white back. The slender body beneath the clear water was a little-

…….

“Here.”

Seeing that scene any longer would lead to strange thoughts, so Ria turned her back this time.

“Huh?”

“Since I helped you, you have to help me too.”

“…….”

Although that was an excuse, Ria, whose hair wasn’t as long as Anna’s, didn’t really need anyone to pour water on her.

She just couldn’t keep looking at Anna’s appearance.

Anna didn’t run away. She simply poured water gently on Ria’s body, just as Ria had done.

When her body was sufficiently wet, Ria involuntarily looked back at Anna.

Anna was startled like a cat.

She jumped up from her seat and quickly tried to grab a towel to cover herself, but she slipped and fell backward.

The way her feet slipped multiple times, making her almost do a原地 (原地 -原地) walk in place, was truly something you’d see in a comedy movie.

“Oops.”

Ria quickly reached out to stop Anna from falling, but then realized something was wrong.

She had grabbed Anna’s waist, specifically just above her hip, which was already barely covered.

Even though Anna loved to eat, she had less body fat than Ria. Perhaps she was pouring all her strength into using her holy power-

And then, a little later, the softness and warmth felt in her hands. And the slender waist that fit perfectly into her hands.

Anna screamed again and jumped up, then fell into the bathtub with a splash. Ria was caught in a sudden downpour.

Anna remained huddled in a corner of the bathtub and didn’t look back for the rest of the bath time.

Seeing her huddled in the water with her back turned, which looked somewhat cute, Ria briefly considered teasing her further but ultimately decided against it.

*

Still, it was fortunate that we brought our clothes.

The clothes provided here were too thin; it wasn’t just that the lines of the body were visible, but it seemed like you could even discern the color underneath.

“Still, it’s a bit cool at night.”

Ria said with a smile. Ria was also wearing the clothes we brought from the church.

“But aren’t those clothes white anyway? Wouldn’t it be fine if you wore them? From a ‘cultural relativist’ perspective, they seem more suitable for this climate.”

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Ria.

Receiving my gaze, Ria chuckled softly.

“Just kidding, just kidding. Right. Even if you’re not a Saint yet, it would be a bit much for you to wear those clothes. Our culture should also be respected.”

“Then, why don’t you try wearing them, since you’re not a Saint? We have yours too.”

“Oh, really? Shall I try them? Shall we both wear them?”

Seeing Ria retort without backing down, I finally closed my mouth again.

“Ugh.”

And I gritted my teeth.

It’s frustrating. So frustrating.

In these matters, Ria’s offensive power is too strong.

What’s most frustrating is that I, myself, seriously considered agreeing when Ria said that, though it was a fleeting thought.

This is really something-

Saint, my foot.