Ch.226Bathroom, Contact, Reunion

“…sir, ……?”

A priestess approached me.

I couldn’t properly hear what she said. I’m not sure what I answered either. Did I even answer?

“…would you…? Then….”

At that moment,

A brilliant light stabbed through my eyelids with a flash.

The sacred light seeps into my body.

A bit of vitality returns to my tired body, and my drowsy mind clears somewhat.

“Huh…?”

My half-closed, dim vision becomes clear again.

Before me, a naked priestess was looking at me with a bright smile.

Since I was sitting down and she was standing, my gaze met around her navel.

Actually, it was a bit lower than her navel… but anyway, it was her navel. Her navel, I say.

Let’s assume that the golden something I saw when I opened my eyes was the sacred light.

“How do you feel? You looked very tired, so I cast a blessing to boost your vitality.”

“…Ah, thank you. I feel much better.”

I thanked her while averting my eyes slightly.

After all, it’s not polite to stare at a priestess’s body.

“No need for thanks. Compared to how Lord Median has fought for us, this is nothing.”

The priestess smiled sweetly and took a step closer.

The fragrant scent of bath oils and damp skin wafted toward me.

Wait, why is she coming closer…!

Even between women, isn’t this too close for someone you’ve just met?

“My name is Lilliez Bianchi. I’m a priestess serving Elpinel. Please call me Lilliez.”

Lilliez took another step closer. So close that her feet almost touched mine as I sat.

Her pale white skin filled my vision.

“Um, yeah, uh, Lilliez? Don’t you think you’re a bit too close…? Do you have something to tell me?”

“…Your wrist.”

Lilliez murmured softly as she leaned her waist toward me.

Her wet hair clung to her ample chest.

“Huh?”

She pointed at my right hand with her finger.

“That on your wrist, it looks like a burn mark. Haven’t you had it treated?”

I unconsciously covered the seal on my right wrist with my left hand, as if to hide it. There was no particular reason to do so. It was just a reflexive response.

“Hmm…?”

“Ah, this isn’t an injury, it’s like a tattoo. Don’t worry about it.”

Lilliez, who had been tilting her head curiously, nodded as if she understood.

“Is that so? I’m glad it’s not an injury.”

“Yeah, so could you please move aside a bit now…? It’s really uncomfortable.”

This is too close, way too close. I can see everything. Very clearly.

Is this normal distance between priestesses?

“Oh, excuse me! Alright.”

However, contrary to her words, Lilliez brought her face even closer to mine.

What’s with her? What is this, should I push her away? Is that okay?

“Hey, please…!”

“…69th outpost, behind it, Mül Alley. Until 4 AM. Lady Elmaine is waiting for you.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper near my ear.

“What…?”

It was unexpected information.

Elmaine. Lacy Stardolf, who had gone missing, is here?

“What did you just…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I got dizzy and stumbled. I must have been in the bath too long… I’ll be going now, Lord Median, please rest well!”

Pretending not to hear my question, Lilliez straightened up and retreated from the bath.

Her snow-white legs, straight as a deer’s, moved hurriedly.

Roughly drying herself with a towel, Lilliez left the bathroom. I didn’t stop her.

There was no point in pressing further; I wouldn’t get the answer I wanted.

And I couldn’t exactly “interrogate” a priestess.

It wasn’t that the bathwater was too warm for me to chase after her. Absolutely not. It was delightfully warm to the point of melting, but anyway, that’s not it.

I’ll just wait until dawn as she said, and go find this Mül Alley or whatever it is.

…So, I’ll rest a bit more for now. There’s still some time until dawn.

With a leisurely sigh, I leaned back against the edge of the bath and rested my arms.

The warm heat loosened my muscles comfortably. Soft flesh floated gently on the water’s surface.

[ …What are you staring at? ]

Hersella grumbled.

So she was awake. She’d been quiet for a while, so I thought she might be sleeping.

‘Nothing, it’s just my first time seeing breasts floating on water in real life.’

[ ……My, my…. They must be small…. ]

It’s not that they’re small, more like they don’t exist…?

[ There’s no need to be so upset. Smaller ones are advantageous in battle, so that’s a benefit too, isn’t it? …Hehe. ]

Misinterpreting my silence, Hersella threw what seemed like a mocking consolation.

…I wonder what would happen if I revealed I was a man now. She’d probably have a fit.

That might be amusing, actually.

—-

After finishing my bath, I returned to the lodgings provided by Margrave Ludwig.

It wasn’t as nice as the guest room in the margrave’s castle, but it was a decent room with a bed, table, and sofa. Is this the taste of power?

“You’re back? You’re later than I expected. Must have been tough, huh?”

Leonore… no, Rene, right. Rene welcomed me.

Unlike the daytime battle, she hadn’t participated in the night raid. The raid team had to move without helmets.

“I fought for dozens of minutes in the middle of a fire pit, covered in blood. Felt like boiled meat.”

“That sounds difficult. Is that why your face is red too?”

No, that’s probably because the bath was too warm….

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“Where’s Lena? Since you’re here, I assume she’s returned to the room.”

“She’s sleeping inside. She wanted to go treat the wounded at this hour, but I told her children need their sleep.”

That makes sense. Lena is at a growing age, so she needs plenty of sleep at night. Otherwise, she might grow up looking like a Dwarf rather than a human.

It was surprising that Lena agreed to this.

“I’m surprised she listened. I thought she’d insist it was a priest’s duty to treat patients.”

“She did insist. So I put her to sleep myself.”

Rene smiled, waving her hand with palm wide open.

Wait, if you hit the back of her neck with that, you didn’t put her to sleep, you knocked her out….

“…That’s not good for her health.”

“She can recover with a healing miracle, can’t she?”

Rene shrugged nonchalantly.

Our ways of thinking are different.

I suppose that’s how it is in a world where healers are commonplace, but her thinking is quite brutal.

—-

I sat on the sofa drinking tea with Rene, telling her about the night raid.

And about the news of Lacy that I’d heard after returning.

“…Isn’t it a trap? Coming all the way to Landenburg without notifying the Margrave, trying to meet you secretly. Is there any reason for that? It seems suspicious.”

“Well, she was definitely a priestess. Besides, causing trouble here would be suppressed within five minutes, so who would set such a stupid trap?”

Even the Ghost Blade coming personally would be too much.

If it were a trap, the goal would be to kill or capture me, but deploying forces capable of that on such a mission and risking losing them would be tantamount to self-destruction.

So it must be Lacy. I just don’t know why she wants to meet me secretly.

“I see you’re planning to go. Be careful not to get backstabbed.”

“What are you talking about? You’re coming with me.”

“…What?”

Rene’s hand stopped as she was lifting her teacup.

Why are you so surprised? It’s only natural.

“If by chance it is a trap, at least one of us needs to escape and alert others. Put on your armor. Are you planning to send your lady into danger alone?”

She has no right of refusal.

If I get caught, she’ll be like a kite with its string cut.

Leonore sighed and put on the armor she had taken off.

“After experiencing it firsthand, I think you’re not so much confident as you are a bit shameless…”

[ An accurate critique. You have an excellent eye for people. ]

Well, I think I’m pretty normal…?

—-

We arrived at Mül Alley around half past three.

The street was dark and desolate without a single person. Only the flour mill’s windmills were quietly rotating.

So that’s why this ordinary alley was named after millstones.

“Is this the place? It’s too quiet… Could it really have been a trap?”

Rene looked around with her hand on her sword hilt, ready to rush in and cut down any enemy that might jump out.

Though that probably won’t happen.

“No, I don’t think so.”

I calmly flicked my cigarette.

While I wouldn’t say I’m familiar with it, I could sense a presence I’d felt a few times before approaching.

“…You came earlier than expected, Lord Median. And who might this person be?”

A low, calm voice. Brown hair fluttering in the wind.

A female knight with a tired expression pulled back her hood to reveal her face. It was Lacy’s paladin escort, Bels Rugna.

“Ah, it’s been a while, Lady Rugna.”

“Princess Leonore…?”

Perhaps she hadn’t imagined the princess appearing here; a startled Bels murmured blankly.

“Call me Rene. That’s the alias I’m using now. Besides, I’m no longer a princess or anything.”

“I heard you were in seclusion, heartbroken over the sad news of Lord Matthias… but it seems that was a disguise.”

“Seclusion? Do I look like someone who would do that?”

Rene grinned. Indeed, that’s not her personality.

More likely to be turning things upside down hunting for revenge.

“Have you given up your status as princess and joined the First Prince’s faction?”

“Yes. In exchange for my safety, I’ve become Baron Median’s maid. To think that I, once an imperial princess, am now a mere baron’s escort and maid… fate is quite strange, isn’t it?”

At Rene’s joke mixed with a sigh, Lady Bels could only offer an awkward laugh, seemingly at a loss for words.

“I think that’s enough introduction? I’d like to hear why I was called here. Where is Lacy?”

“Yes. I’ll guide you to her. Please follow me. She will explain the details.”

She nodded, pulled her hood back up, and walked into the alley.

Rene and I followed behind her.