Chapter 5
Part 1
─── 「Mines of Raging Seas」 hot spring street hotel.
Rewinding time a little.
When Kuro Usagi and Ayesha that were dragged along by Kasukabe Yō for half a day were finally released, it was exactly the time when the Game Izayoi participated in, rang the ending gong. Ayesha returned to the hotel listlessly, Kuro Usagi hung her usamimi and was brought away by Yō. Kuro Usagi who had experienced her first sabotage in work stared at Yō with a grudge from the bottom of her heart.
“Uuu… So depressed. What would Izayoi-san tell me…”
“Mah, it’s fine. I will cover for you.”
“What cover up? It was 100% Yō-san’s fault!”
Pa! Kuro Usagi straightened her usamimi and swung the paper folding fan at Yō’s head. It seemed that the usamimi that returned added a tsukkomi ability.
Usamimi paper folding fan really had so many usages.
“Any-Anyway! Let’s rendez-vous with Asuka’s group! Since we came to the hot spring street, after all.”
“YES! My usamimi has heard. Asuka-san and Alma-san should have come here for reception…”
Kuro Usagi was looking around, right at that time.
Kudō Asuka and Almathea's voices came from the local product shop.
“Ara, you have come. Just in time.”
“Asuka-san! Alma-san! Were you two buying something?”
“Ei. I am just browsing around with my master. Has Kuro Usagi-dono worked hard refereeing? From the looks of it, Kasukabe-dono has also advanced.”
It seemed that Asuka brought Almathea clad in her maid uniform to shop at the hot spring street, both hands full of local products and hot spring manju.
Yō saw Almathea’s human form for the first time, and stared at her with a dissatisfied look.
“So unexpected. Alma can change into human form?”
“That’s right, may I know if there is any problem?”
“Un. The goat form is obviously more handsome, why did you have to change to human form?”
Hearing Yō’s straightforward comment, Alma could not help but be shocked.
To her who was originally a goddess, both the human and goat forms were her true self. She probably never considered the difference between her two forms.
But when others looked at her, her human form was mostly praised.
The eyes of logic and wisdom hidden behind the glasses.
Prim and proper facial features.
And a body that surpassed its functional purposes, beyond what the word “beauty” could describe.
That female body hidden beneath the strict maid uniform, was breathtaking even to the same gender.
But Yō did not care about her beautiful human form, but praised her goat form instead. Her form that was not used to being praised was praised so straightforwardly, being unconsciously happy was a matter of course.
“Thank you very much, Kasukabe-dono. But as you can see, my master possesses the high purity of a sheltered ojō-sama element. Then shouldn’t it be fitting for a quiet and sensible female servant to stay right next to this sheltered ojō-sama and aid her?”
“Ara, that’s such a high self-evaluation. I feel that before talking about reliability and sensibility, a poisonous-tongue-label should be added first.”
Asuka gave a discontented stare, while Alma covered her mouth and giggled. Seeing this, rather than a master-servant relationship, it seemed more like a sisterly harmonious atmosphere.
Yō grinned and asked the two.
“Are you both going to the hot springs?”
“Yes. The sun has almost set. I feel that the time is just right.”
“Both of you also seemed to have come here to wash your bodies. Want to go together?”
“YES! Let’s go for a 「No Name」 girls’ bath meeting!”
Kuro Usagi raised her usamimi and suggested. Especially, since Alma had not participated in this kind of event before. Due to processing the aftermaths of the battle against Aži Dakāha and hosting the Game this time, there was no time for such an event. Kuro Usagi , as she swayed with her usamimi, felt that this was a good chance, but she didn’t know why Asuka and Alma looked at each other with strange expressions.
“...That’s true. This may be a good chance, Alma.”
“Can I?”
“Yes. This is something that won't happen too often later. I will speak with them first.”
All by your will, Alma lowered her head in respect.
‘What was that about?’- this time it was Kuro Usagi and Yō’s turn to look at each other, but it was not something to be discussed in front of the hotel. Soak in the hot spring first then talk, both sides agreed as such, and entered the hot spring hotel.
But as they reached the entrance of the female bath, they saw a 「reserved」 sign hung.
“Ayaya? There seems to be someone reserving the place?”
“Must be Porol boy. Because I heard it will be used for Mikado-san’s reception.”
Hearing the cheers coming from the male bath, the group nodded in agreement. Since it was used by 「Six Scars」, entering it would be fine.
Asuka and co. started to undress after entering into the dressing room, putting their clothes in the baskets.
At this time, Asuka suddenly found someone’s clothing.
(A Female yukata…? Had someone entered first?)
Probably a Community related to 「No Name」 or 「Six Scars」. Asuka did not pay much attention, and wrapped her body with her towel after undressing. Yō, Kuro Usagi and Alma also quickly undressed and made preparations.
They entered the bathhouse after everyone was ready, and all of them exclaimed in unison.
“This is so wonderful…!”
Alma who was the loudest marched forward quickly. To her who came from Western Europe, the open air bathhouse culture would be very rare. Her usually quiet self let out an unusual voice filled with passion.
“Alma, don’t tell me this is your first time coming to an open air bath?”
“Ei. Although I have heard about it before, this is the first time actually entering it. This is different from an indoor bath, it is interesting in other ways. The steam is thick, please watch your feet —— Master look out!”
Suddenly, Alma shouted and protected the three.
Lightning erupted from her right hand, repelling the flash strike from the serpens scorpius sword. Due to the low visibility, they could not determine whose slash it was, but the agility of the sword caused Alma to sharpen her gaze.
The flash just now was not intended to hurt people.
Most likely, it was to cut apart the towel covering them.
“Whip sword…! Possessing such swordsmanship but using it to reveal a lady’s skin, how shameless! Who exactly is it!? Even if it’s the public bath, there still are unforgivable acts!...There should be, right master?”
“Eh, that's right. But calm down first, Alma. The whip sword just now…”
The serpens scorpius sword was accurately aimed at a piece of thin cloth.
The trio from 「No Name」 had a clear memory of that strike. Or rather, there was only one knight that would use that kind of master swordsmanship to do such foolish things.
While focusing their gazes on the other side of the steam, Asuka calmly asked.
“Could it be...Faceless-san? What are you doing here?”
“——. That’s my line. Did I not reserve this place this period of time?”
Karan, the sound of a wooden bucket being hit came from the other side of the bathhouse. They couldn’t see the other side of the steam, but that voice undoubtedly belonged to the Queen’s knight; Faceless.
She normally had a calm and poised attitude, but for some reason she was anxious now. Asuka and co. who had spent quite some time with her, heard that kind of voice from her for the first time.
But no matter how one would look at it, Asuka’s side was the intruder.
They should have asked if they could enter the bath first.
Asuka fanned away the steam blocking the sight and advanced.
“—— !!?? Please halt, I already said I reserved here, why are you still coming over?”
“Entering without consent is our fault. But this is a good chance, I have some things to talk about with you. Thinking carefully, I had always been one-sidedly saved by you.”
Thinking back, ever since they met in 「Underwood」, it had always been like that.
During the battle of giants, she had saved Asuka three times.
She also came to her rescue in the battle against Aži Dakāha. And different from Asuka who couldn’t rush to the front lines, Faceless had been fighting there all this time.
Despite owning so many favors, she had never had the chance to say thanks.
“YES! Kuro Usagi also remembers how Faceless-sama had helped her! Although I don’t know if it can be considered as payback, at least let me wash your back!”
“Save it. I don’t remember helping you all, so no need to return the favor —— No, compared to that, listen to me first…!!!”
Splash, the sound of spring water being pushed away and someone leaving could be heard. It was so rare to see her flustered like that. At that moment, the youngest mondaiji·Kasukabe Yō’s heart for pranks was ignited.
Yō flashed a thought, and asked towards the other side of the steam.
“Faceless. Don’t tell me,right now… You aren’t wearing a mask?”
“——!!??”
At this moment. Everyone in the bathhouse received a sudden flash of realization.
Yes, that’s why she had to reserve it.
She, who would not take off her mask regardless of the situation, had her real face bared. The Mondaijis would never let go of such an interesting situation.
Faceless who immediately detected danger clicked her tongue, and wanted to escape, but was one step too slow. Asuka and Yō exchanged a glance in an instant and nodded in agreement.
“Kasukabe-san! Blow away the steam!”
“No problem!”
“Uu, there is a limit to how free ——!!!”
The anxiety of the Queen’s Knight had reached it’s peak at that moment.
It was not impossible to run out while covering her face with her physical ability, but she only had a towel around her body now.
No matter what, she could not run in the streets naked. Her knight rank would undoubtedly be stripped.
Despite so, there was no place to hide. The steam was instantly blown away by Yō’s hurricane.
—— With this, she was forced into a corner.
“Come! The true face beneath the mask, display it to your heart’s content in the public bathhouse ——!!!”
Their line of sight cleared up.
Everyone held their breaths.
On the other side of the steam, the face of the helpless Faceless was finally ——
—— Covered by the wooden bucket.
“...Tsk, there is still this trick…!”
「Masked Knight」 kai, 「Wooden bucket Knight」 was born. Even though there was no intention to hide the skin below the neck, she didn’t want her face to be seen.
Even normal people could also see how depressed Asuka and company were. They did not know when such a one in a thousand chance would come by again. Coming this far, they might as well be forceful, the thought flashed past their mind.
But that wicked thought...was suppressed by a rising dragon like aura.
“I might as well ask. This prank, can I take it that you already have the resolve to throw your lives away?”
「Wooden bucket Knight」 let her whip sword extend. The cypress wooden bucket completely covered the parts above the neck, they couldn’t see her expression, but right now she must be extremely mad. And what’s worse, their Gift Cards were left in the baskets inside the dressing room.
Asuka and company had nothing right now, they could be hacked by 「Wooden bucket Knight」 anytime.
“Wait...wait just a minute! We were just joking!”
“Y-YES! This is just the usual Mondaiji-sama pranks! I will lecture them well later, so please let Kuro Usagi off here.”
“Offer your usamimi.”
“Let’s leave, eh Yō-san!?”
“Alright. I will forgive you in exchange for your two usamimis.”
Kacha.
“What situation is this!? Why is the innocent Kuro Usagi’s usamimi being treated as hostage!?”
“In dire state[1]?”
“YES! This wasn’t the most skillful thing to do, you idiot!”
Zupan! Kuro Usagi’s usamimi started to hit Yō’s head.
Faceless sighed while listening to their conversation.
This was supposed to be a chance for her to take off her mask and relax peacefully, why did it get so noisy?
“......”
Kacha!
“OK, stop fooling around! Kuro Usagi does not have the spare time to continue fooling around with you girls! I must still go wash her back, alright, alright, please come over here!”
Kuro Usagi used a never-seen-before tactic and pulled Faceless’s hand, walking towards the bath stand. Probably because they could feel that she was really angry. Asuka and Alma had bitter smiles at the unexpected development.
“...Mah, that’s fine. I also wanted to talk with her.”
“Is it really ok?”
“Ei. Because I have booked an appointment.”
Asuka gazed at Alma, then walked towards Kuro Usagi’s side.
The female group washed one another’s back, then soaked in the hot spring.
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