Ch.292Should Be Fine up to the Second Verse…?

I had a slightly unsettling dream, but the morning itself was incredibly quiet and peaceful.

It must have snowed overnight, as the edges of the spire roofs visible through the window were adorned with white bands piled up like clouds.

In the distance near the castle walls, a group of soldiers were busily clearing away the accumulated snow.

Snow removal. An important task indeed. In the north where it’s winter all year round, it must be a never-ending job.

I pulled the cord beside the bed to summon a maid, and not long after, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

“Yes. Excuse me.”

It’s not Ellen.

The woman who carefully opened the door and entered wasn’t the ice-pick maid I met yesterday, but someone I hadn’t seen before.

Well, Ellen did say she was Frider’s maid.

She guided me yesterday probably because Frider ordered her to, and basically she only attends to Frider.

“Did you call, Count? Your companions are still asleep.”

“What about Frider?”

“The Lady is still sleeping as well. It’s her first proper sleep in five days, after all.”

That’s probably a hint not to wake her up.

If Frider was sleeping peacefully, I had no intention of disturbing her anyway.

“I see. Could you guide me to the bathroom then? I can bathe now, right?”

“Yes. I’ll guide you right away.”

I could just take a bath and wait until Leonore or Florence wakes up.

It’s still too early for breakfast, and I’d feel bad waking up the companions who had accompanied me on this forced march.

I followed the maid’s guidance toward the hot spring bath.

—-

Perhaps because it was early morning, the bath was empty just like yesterday.

As soon as I opened the door and entered, steamy vapor moistened my skin. The floor where the accumulated snow had melted was soaking wet and slippery, and the sky visible beyond the wall was deep blue without a single cloud.

I took off the robe I was wearing, hung it on the coat rack, and approached the hot spring to dip my toes in.

The warm heat caressed between my toes, soothing the accumulated fatigue.

“Haah…”

This is it.

In the comfortable feeling of tension completely disappearing, I unconsciously broke into a silly smile.

[You seem to quite enjoy bathing.]

‘Do I…? I think I’m pretty normal.’

I bathe daily when I have time, but when I’m busy I just get through it quickly, so isn’t that a normal level even by this world’s standards?

[You wash your body at every opportunity. I’d hardly call that normal.]

‘Don’t you wash? How filthy.’

How barbaric. Hygiene and cleanliness are the most important factors for health.

How do you plan to treat illnesses without priests?

[…Water is scarce in the great plains, so it’s unavoidable. Ordos is close to a river, so there’s no shortage of water there.]

So basically you’re saying you don’t wash much.

—-

Tens of minutes passed as I soaked half my body in the hot spring water, gazing at the sky.

Beads of sweat trickled down my brow and fell onto my floating chest.

My skin had already turned peach-red from the heat penetrating deep into my body, and my muscles were also loosened and half-relaxed.

[…Aren’t you getting out?]

‘Just a little longer…’

I casually brushed off Hersella’s urging and closed my eyes, surrendering my body to the warmth.

The misty, moist air, the buoyancy supporting my relaxed body, and the splashing that tickled my ears like a song.

Even my consciousness was melting softly, making me feel like I might fall back asleep.

That’s why I was slow to notice.

“Haaawwn…”

A yawn full of sleep. A rather familiar voice.

…A voice that shouldn’t be heard here.

“…Demian?”

“…Haschal?”

Why the hell is this guy here?

Didn’t he almost get his head blown off for entering the women’s bath? This is ridiculous.

“…What’s this? A bad dream?”

Demian, who had been staring at me blankly, pinched his eyes.

A bad dream? This guy really has no filter.

“It’s not a dream, you know? I thought your head almost exploded, but you still haven’t come to your senses?”

“Not…a dream…?”

Only then did Demian seem to grasp the situation, his complexion gradually turning pale.

“Then, this place is…!”

“Yes. It’s the women’s bath, you idiot. Seriously, once might be a mistake, but twice is deliberate, isn’t it? What if other people were here…”

[Cover yourself! What are you doing!]

Ah, right. I was in the middle of bathing…!

I hurriedly covered myself with the towel I had placed nearby.

While I was mocking him for being in the women’s bath, I had forgotten that I was bathing naked.

Was it because embarrassment was overshadowed by bewilderment? Though I was pretending to be calm, I was just as flustered.

“Oh, s-sorry…! I was still half-asleep and accidentally…!”

Seeing me covering half my body with just a towel, Demian also turned his head away while making excuses.

What are you babbling about? If you understand, just get out!

[Pluck out that young boy’s eyeballs! No, I’ll pluck them out myself!]

Hersella was raging furiously.

As if her threat to pluck out his eyes wasn’t just empty words, the embodied energy of murder Karma extended from behind me and flickered.

‘No, please calm down for now…’

[How can I calm down! Never in my life have I suffered such humiliation!]

…Persuasion seems impossible.

The original protagonist was in danger of suddenly becoming a blind swordsman. I was suppressing the murder Karma power that Hersella was emitting, but it wasn’t easy since her Karma had grown stronger than before.

“Um, look. It definitely wasn’t intentional, so please calm down a bit…”

“Save your excuses and just get out!”

This clueless bastard, seriously!

“Ah, sorry! I’ll leave right away!”

Only then did Demian turn around and hastily exit the bath.

[Why are you stopping me! It’s not just about showing your body!]

‘…But that doesn’t mean we need to pluck out his eyes. We’re not strangers, and what would that make me if you did that? We might already be short on manpower. I’ll punish him later, so please calm down for now.’

Though healing miracles could restore it, completely reconstructing a complex organ like an eyeball wouldn’t be a matter resolved in a day or two.

Above all, if I made Demian blind, how could I face Millia?

—-

It took a full thirty minutes to calm down Hersella, who couldn’t contain her anger.

Even then, I had to promise that I would later shatter all of Demian’s bones. I agreed with that level of punishment.

After this battle is over, I could break them one by one while training him.

By the time I finally left the bath, my sleepiness had completely disappeared.

Having been soaked in the hot spring for over an hour, everyone else seemed to have woken up, as the inner castle corridors were filled with busy maids.

“Ah… you’re just coming out now? I’m really sorry, Haschal. I don’t know how to apologize properly…”

Demian, who had been standing next to the door, bowed his head deeply and offered an apology.

Had he been waiting there all this time for me to come out? For a full thirty minutes?

While it might be considered admirable that he was showing sincerity and genuinely apologizing…

Has this guy forgotten what’s beyond the door where he’s standing?

A man standing in front of the women’s bath for thirty minutes. And worse, someone who had invaded the women’s bath just days ago, even holding a bathrobe.

What would others think…?

I could tell just by looking around.

Women who seemed to be trying to use the bath and passing maids were glancing at Demian with uncomfortable and strange looks.

And to make matters worse, I emerged from inside the bath…

This completely looked like we had been bathing together and he was standing guard to monopolize the hot spring.

Sure enough, the women’s gazes toward me had taken on a peculiar light.

Those who had been looking at Demian with displeasure and suspicion now gave me looks of understanding and comprehension as I emerged from the bath with my face flushed red.

Some older women even looked at us with warm, approving gazes as if saying “Enjoy your youth~”.

…I don’t know what they understood, but I can definitely declare it’s a complete misunderstanding.

The heat circulating in my body all rushed to my head, making my face burn hot.

Those gazes suggesting I had a good time with a sixteen-year-old boy were more shameful than when I had exposed my naked body earlier.

“…Hey, lift your head and follow me right now. What are you trying to do here, embarrassing me?”

I grabbed Demian’s shoulder, who was still bowing his head, and pushed him.

Even for me, it was mentally unbearable to remain here under the increasing gazes.

I needed to get away from here, anywhere would do!

“Oh… you’re right. I’m causing trouble for others too. I should apologize to them later.”

If you’re talking about trouble, you’re dumping it on me by the truckload, so please just shut up and move…

“…Anyway, I’m sorry, Haschal. It must have been your first experience like that, and I lacked consideration…”

What the hell is this bastard saying now…!!

I was so dumbfounded that the arm I was using to push him lost its strength.

If he says such nonsense here…!

“First time? Consideration?! Those two really…”

Sure enough, young maids were whispering and chattering among themselves.

…Though I could hear everything clearly.

I resented my good hearing at that moment.

[…Perhaps plucking out his eyes would be better after all?]

…Maybe so.

Hersella whispered temptingly, not missing the opportunity.

Unlike before, this time I almost agreed.