Ch.174Bubble Bobble

I had received a monster investigation request from Orpheus, but I couldn’t immediately depart for the Beech Tree Sanctuary.

From leaving Hopmill Farm, defeating the orcs, passing through the Great Sage’s house, to reaching the Westpoint Trading Post.

I couldn’t start the next investigation right away, especially after being exposed to black mana for three days.

Like many of the outposts we’ve visited so far, only a portion of the Westpoint Trading Post—mainly the residents’ homes and traveler accommodations—is protected by the barrier tower.

We stayed within the effective range of that barrier tower for only about 10 minutes when we checked into the inn and dropped off our luggage. During our meals, exploring the marketplace, and listening to Orpheus’s story, black mana was steadily accumulating in our bodies.

For that reason, we’ll begin our formal investigation tomorrow.

Today, we plan to purify the accumulated black mana while enjoying the best rest in the traveler’s inn’s most luxurious room, the “Premium Suite.”

“I never thought even the best room would have a bathtub installed.”

“I know. This is the first time I’ve seen a room with such a large tub.”

The bathroom in the Premium Suite Room—of which there are only four in the traveler’s inn—had a bathtub large enough for two adults to comfortably fit.

Throughout our journey across five western cities, we occasionally stayed in expensive accommodations, but this is the first time we’ve stayed in a room with a large bathtub.

The feeling of being immersed naked alongside my beloved Jessica in that large tub filled with warm water…

I could somewhat understand why Japanese protagonists in isekai stories are always trying to build bathrooms in their homes.

“Ahh~ This is absolute paradise.”

“Hehe, you definitely sound like an old man when you talk like that.”

“Ugh, I let my guard down.”

“It’s okay. On the outside, you’re a healthy twenty-year-old. Sometimes you even look younger than me.”

“No way, that can’t be true. If anything, Jessica is the one who…”

My words get caught in my throat as I look at Jessica hugging her snow-white legs while gazing at me.

I’ve seen her after showering or naked several times before, but seeing her soaking wet in the bathtub right next to me is indescribably beautiful and sensual.

“…Your face suddenly turned red. Having naughty thoughts?”

“Ah…well, how should I put it. I just realized I’m taking a bath with an incredibly beautiful girl.”

“Geez…it’s embarrassing when you say it so directly.”

“Aren’t you embarrassed about the wrong thing? You’re the one who suggested we bathe together first.”

“Well, I always wanted to try this with a man I liked. Taking a bath together and washing each other.”

“Ah, I get it. It’s like a romantic fantasy. Since you mentioned it, shall we do it properly?”

“O-okay, please take care of me…”

Jessica and I get out of the tub and start lathering soap on each other’s bodies.

Thinking it would be nice if we had liquid body wash or a soft shower towel, I carefully rub Jessica’s beautiful, snow-white body to avoid causing any scratches.

Jessica is also gently caressing my body with careful hands, as if bathing a small child.

“You can scrub a bit harder on a man’s body. It won’t be a problem.”

“Y-yes, it seems that way.”

“Are you cold?”

“I’m fine for now. The steam… is filling the room…”

Since we started touching each other’s bodies, Jessica’s talkativeness has noticeably decreased.

Although we didn’t start this skinship purely with lewd intentions, it’s impossible to suppress the passion that arises when young men and women in their prime rub against each other with slippery soap bubbles.

Still, somehow, I felt that if we started doing that, it would taint the romantic fantasy Jessica had been cherishing.

Desperately suppressing my pounding heart, I rubbed soap on her soft skin and began washing her beautiful red hair that flowed down to her back.

I’m a bit worried about damaging her hair since we only have soap, without shampoo or conditioner.

“Mmm… having someone else wash my hair feels strange.”

“I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. Please forgive my clumsiness.”

“Am I the first woman you’ve bathed with and let touch your hair?”

“Yes. My mother might have bathed me when I was a baby, but I don’t remember, so that doesn’t count.”

“…Ehehe.”

Jessica smiles cutely, unlike her usual mature image.

Despite everything, she seems pleased to have claimed my “first.”

After I finish soaping her abundant red hair and turn around, Jessica’s slender fingers, covered in soap bubbles, dig into my scalp.

“How is it? Not too hard or too soft?”

“It’s perfect. You’re good at this.”

She’s careful not to scratch my scalp with her nails, yet not too gentle either.

Her touch is full of consideration and affection that I couldn’t feel from the service after getting a haircut at a salon.

“Come to think of it, Will hardly grows any facial hair. I heard other men get all scruffy before they turn twenty… Are you secretly shaving?”

“No, it’s genetics from my father’s side. He barely started growing a beard after turning thirty. All the men in my family were like that.”

“Huh… so that varies by constitution too.”

“Does Jessica prefer men with beards?”

“I don’t mind either way. My ideal type has already been adjusted to match Will.”

Saying that, Jessica hugs me tightly from behind.

The moment I realize the identity of the slippery, soft sensation against my back, my face flushes with heat.

“W-we seem to be done soaping up, so let’s rinse off and get back in the tub. We don’t want to catch a cold.”

“Okay. I’ll pour some water.”

*Splash~*

We rinse off the soap bubbles from our hair and bodies with warm water and get back into the tub.

Unlike earlier when we sat side by side, this time Jessica nestles into my arms in a back-hug position.

I can feel my self-restraint rapidly crumbling as the area of skin contact becomes much wider.

“…Want to touch my breasts?”

“Huh!?”

Being already quite excited from the soap bubble skinship earlier, my tongue gets tied at Jessica’s unexpected surprise attack.

“Pfft, Will is really easy to read.”

“Hahaha… it’s the sad instinct of a man.”

“You’ve been holding back all this time, right? Just to grant my request to bathe together.”

“…Well, yeah.”

“You don’t have to hold back anymore. I got really turned on while you were touching me too… if there’s anything you want, you can tell me.”

“Anything? Like what specifically?”

“Anything. You granted my request, so I want to do whatever you want too. Something you’ve always wanted to try, or something you’d like me to do right now… a s-service or something. Don’t you have anything like that?”

Things I’ve wanted to try… of course I have plenty.

Just the situation of being in a bathroom with a busty girlfriend could generate ten scenarios right now.

“…Let’s get some more soap bubbles first.”

After a long time of patience and self-restraint… I was already quite worked up.

It’s time to return to being ‘the man’ Kim Jeong-hyun.

~ ~ ~ Seti, Phyllis, and Mina’s Room ~ ~ ~

While Will and Jessica were enjoying their private time in the bathroom, in another room, Seti, Mina, and Phyllis had finished bathing in turns and were resting.

The large bed in the Premium Suite was spacious enough for three people to sleep comfortably, and since the accommodation fee was charged per room rather than per person, there was no reason for Mina to get a separate room this time.

“Hey~ I’m getting hungry.”

Lying on that large bed and fiddling with a doll, Mina looked at Seti and Phyllis while expressing the hunger she felt in her stomach.

She meant for one of them to go to Will’s room and ask about getting dinner.

Although Seti and Phyllis were also starting to feel hungry, they weren’t eager to respond to Mina’s request for help.

“Now that you mention it, it’s past dinner time.”

“Yeah… but I don’t want to disturb Will and Jessica’s private time.”

Even though they had accepted a harem relationship and shared a bed, time alone with the man they loved was still precious.

That’s why there was an unspoken agreement among Will’s lovers: ‘If someone is having an intimate moment alone with Will, the others shouldn’t interfere.’

Of course, this applied only to Jessica, Seti, and Phyllis, who had physical relationships with Will, not to Mina, who had barely set foot in the outfield of the harem relationship.

Just as they were about to suggest that maybe just the three of them should go eat, someone gently knocked on the door.

*Knock knock knock*

“Come in~”

As soon as Mina responded, the door opened and Jessica rushed in with hurried steps.

Her usual outdoor clothes were clean and tidy, but her red hair still had traces of moisture.

It was evident that she had just finished bathing and hurriedly dressed.

“Sorry, I kept you waiting. You haven’t had dinner yet, right?”

“We were just talking about food. Let’s go before the restaurant closes.”

“Where’s Will?”

“Ah… well, Will is kind of…”

“Is he not feeling well? The pharmacy should still be open at this hour.”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

Three pairs of eyes focused on Jessica as she hesitated.

Jessica lowered her bright red face and answered about Will’s condition in a tiny voice.

Seti and Phyllis froze in place with disbelieving expressions, and

“…Whaaaat!? Will collapsed? While doing it with Jessica!?”

Mina’s voice of astonishment echoed through the first-floor corridor of the inn.