A morning bath is nice. If only I had some Japanese sake, it would be paradise.
There isn’t any, but there is soap. To wash away the succubus scent that had clung to me, I used a lot of expensive soap to scrub myself clean.
From the outside, it might have looked like a massacre with succubus corpses scattered around the prison cell. Inside, I was all but crushed and dead at the bottom. I woke up because I inhaled poison gas released from someone’s behind in front of me.
The succubus probably didn’t mean any harm, but I want you to forgive me for reflexively calling her out as “Stinky!” and humiliating her.
I pushed aside the succubus that had become a corpse, crawled forward on my belly to the iron bars, and Rufina smiled as she unlocked the door.
“Good work. Now the succubus is the captain’s slave.”
“Wh-what? Is that all you have to say…”
“Are you saying I should go bathe because I stink? The preparations are ready.”
“N-no! You should have a word before that…”
“I’ll keep it a secret from Priscilla.”
I had survived against twenty-five succubi, but I didn’t want to be killed by Priscilla. On the condition that I kept quiet about the succubus incident to Priscilla, I escaped the prison and headed for the bath.
“…This is a nice bath.”
Christine, who could suppress her killing intent as well as Iris, had somehow gotten into the bath without me noticing. Was it because soap got in my eyes?
“Y-yes. A morning bath feels so good, Hahaha.”
My face twitched. Rufina, that brat, she must not have told her. Heart attack is one of the causes of death in the bath, but I couldn’t help but associate it with that.
“…Should I join you…?”
The bathwater suddenly felt colder. If there’s a bath attendant, please add more firewood. No, I’ll do it myself, so Christine, please enjoy it by yourself.
“I-it’s fine.”
I couldn’t refuse, and Christine sat down in front of me, as if to occupy my lower half. Then, showing off her beautiful skin, she gently placed her right hand on my chest.
I’m going to die! I’m being murdered, disguised as an accident. Rufina must have broken her promise. Will Mode Five be effective against Christine’s support power, which can even destroy walls?!
“…It’s here, isn’t it. …The heart.”
I want to change the subject. The heart isn’t something to talk about first thing in the morning. I want to talk about something more hopeful. It only sounds like a conversation that will cut short my future.
“R-right. Everyone has one. Hahaha. How is Christine’s unit?! It must be tough with the increased numbers, right?”
Will Christine play along with my abrupt change of topic and round the corner with me?! Or will it be just me going over the guardrail and falling into the valley?!
“…The mercenaries from the Hasuhanto Trading Company, they listen to orders properly.”
“Th-that’s good.”
Good! Good for me too! Now I want to head straight for the goal. Let’s not go off-roading and round the corner together. Don’t leave me in the dust by dashing ahead alone at the end.
“…Thirty of them. …I’m treating them as fallen in battle.”
…Is thirty out of two thousand a lot or a little? For now, let’s offer a silent prayer. Now that the topic has changed, since we’re at it, let’s talk about war, even if it’s bloody for a morning conversation.
Even as I found myself talking unilaterally, Christine kept her hand on my chest. In fact, it felt like my life would flicker out if I stopped talking, so I kept talking, and eventually shifted to talking about cooking.
“Oi! A morning bath, how luxurious. We’ll join you too.”
Priscilla, energetic even in the morning, and then Alana and Orietta came into the bath. I was relieved, but they should at least rinse themselves before getting into the tub. It’s basic manners.
“What about Sophia and Rufina?”
“They’ll probably come later. I beat up some of the Hasuhanto guys this morning!”
“Eh! You shouldn’t do that. Hasuhanto are our allies!”
“Huh? It’s training, training. They’re mercenaries, so they lack discipline, but they’re strong.”
When you say you beat them up, I thought you had a fight. I wish you’d be careful, as fighting is forbidden by military regulations. As for Christine… I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.
“I see, good work. I’m about to get out, so please enjoy your bath at your leisure.”
From this turn of events, I thought Christine would move aside and let me pass, but her right hand didn’t leave my chest, and she looked me in the eye and said:
“…It’s here.”
I wish that were the case, but Christine’s words left my heart pounding as she stood up.
“…Priscilla, take it easy.”
What do you mean by “take it easy”?! Why are you saying that while looking at me?! I can’t relax if you don’t finish what you’re saying. As I stood up to leave with her, Priscilla’s right hand, without granting me the right to refuse, pushed me back into the tub.
“You’re not done yet. –Christine, you’ve got a nice ass.”
The sound of Priscilla slapping Christine’s behind echoed in the bath. Christine, whose retreating figure was still beautiful, left as if nothing had happened, and I resolved in my heart to do the same someday.
“I heard… Well, it’s necessary, so I guess it can’t be helped…”
I’m found out! That Rufina, what happened to our promise not to tell. Is being sunk in the bathtub a cause of death? If my right hand exerted any more force, I’d surely be challenging a deep-sea diving record.
“Did you recruit new members to the White Lily Corps again? You’ve got a hundred people now, almost like a brigade. I’ll ask, but I doubt there’s a rotation, is there?”
“That’s because the super-vibrating weapon is only permitted for the White Lily Corps and the Ashtal Knight Order, so I temporarily let them join as members! A rotation is out of the question!”
I had been secretly looking for women who could use the super-vibrating weapon and were suitable for the White Lily Corps, and inviting them to join. I had already requested the weapons, and with the money borrowed from Queen Anneliese, I had sufficient weapons and equipment.
“I see… I thought you’d understand if I explained. –Well, didn’t you understand immediately when I asked?”
“This morning, she was aggressive and took her frustration out on Hasuhanto’s mercenaries.”
“That’s why Sophia-chan is late. There are a lot of injured people.”
Hasuhanto mercenaries, I’m sorry. It’s my fault, but it’s also Priscilla’s fault for jumping to conclusions. I’ll send some sake later.
“It seems the misunderstanding has been cleared up… I think I’ll get out now…”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Let’s relax a bit longer. Being naked together is important.”
“Being naked together, touching skin.”
“Captain! Shall I wash you?”
What should I do? Touching is fine, I guess. It doesn’t have to be touching, but why is Priscilla’s right hand on my chest exerting force? I’d refuse if it meant holding my breath.
“Y-yes. I… I think I’ll stay in a little longer, Hahaha…”
After that, the bath time was almost over with peaceful and enjoyable conversation. Just as the conversation topics were running out and I was thinking of getting out, a voice with high feminine energy approached the bathroom.
“Mikael is in here too! You should have invited us!”
When Lia entered the bathroom with all the succubi, I thought, “I’m finished.” The succubi, revealing their purple skin, were quite a feast for the eyes.
“What is that?”
What indeed. Is it a succubus bathing? They escaped from the prison, how outrageous. I want them to go back immediately.
“Move aside! Mikael, let’s get in together!”
Lia shoved Alana aside and tried to sit next to me. The succubi followed her, unable to fit in the tub. The gong for the first round sounded not with a “clang” but with a right hook named “Gong” that landed on Lia.
“What the hell are these guys?!”
So fast! After the right hook, you’re strangling me. Do you perhaps possess Godspeed? Since I haven’t been sunk yet, there’s still time for discussion.
“Th-these succubi…”
“You’re going to die!”
There was no reprieve; it was an immediate, harsh sentence. The execution of sinking me in the bath was underway. But then, a pardon was instantly granted. From the water, I saw Lia’s beautiful right leg kicking Priscilla’s flank, a fearless feat.
“What are you doing to Mikael!”
For the first time, I felt gratitude, fear, and a swelling in my chest not for being hit myself, but for someone caring about me. I thanked Lia, who was in front of me. I feared Priscilla, who had sunk into the tub next to me. Did she perhaps die? I can handle artificial respiration.
“What is going on, Mikael!”
Priscilla emerged from the water, and if I were to add onomatopoeia, it would be ” Zubobobobob!” like the descent of a great terror. I want to run, hide in my futon, and cry.
“The succubi are now bound to serve Mikael. I don’t care if it’s the White Lily Corps or not, don’t act so proud!”
This activated one of the laws of this world: “adding fuel to the fire.” It’s unstoppable now. I’m one of the parties involved, but I want to escape.
“What the hell is that! Mikael! Explain yourself!”
“Th-this is…”
“Mikael is ‘god’ to the succubi. We are his apostles. What the apostles do to their god is their prerogative!”
That’s not right. Gods are to be revered, not exploited. I don’t understand the logic. Priscilla probably doesn’t understand either. Since we don’t understand, the discussion is over. Fight!
Three members of the White Lily Corps and twenty-five succubi having a naked brawl. Alana said it, “Being naked together, touching skin.” This is truly putting your words into action.
I’m glad Rufina isn’t here. Magic would cause deaths. Also, I wonder who will be the first to find me sunk in the tub…
