57: Methods for Bonding with an Adorable Little Girl
“…Oh, it’s the bath.”
Rebecca, who had been wearing an expression of utter despair, looked relieved when she realized where I’d brought her.
“That’s right. What did you think it was?”
“W-well… you said something about getting naked and being covered in slimy ooze…”
Rebecca blushed, lowering her eyes and ears.
“How lewd. Ah, are you experienced? I’m a virgin, so please be gentle.”
“Lewd?! V-virgin?! Idiot! You’re shameless!”
“Yep, definitely sheltered. No doubt about it.”
“Just like Master.”
“You’ve gotten good at that, Liz.”
“I’ve had practice.”
“…Just so you know, I’m undead, so I don’t need to bathe.”
“Huh?” This soft, warm, blushing little girl…
…is undead?
“You’re not a… non-dark elf?”
“…I once was. But there are no more elves.” A flicker of ancient pain crossed Rebecca’s face, and her expression turned weary.
“Humans exterminated them…”
This was what I was doing. Wiping out an entire race.
A sorrow that couldn’t be expressed with tears.
A grief that remained, even after the tears had dried.
That was what I was doing.
But humans had already done this.
To the race she once belonged to.
To a race that had probably been full of cute, fair-skinned, elf-eared girls.
They had exterminated them.
“Those fools who couldn’t appreciate the beauty of elf ears…” I muttered.
“…Liz, could you explain? I don’t understand.”
“I don’t quite understand either.”
“One of the things I was happy about when I came to this world was being able to see real elf ears.”
“Hah… there are no elves or dark elves in your homeland, are there?”
“No. —Only humans.” Thinking back, it was a rather simple world compared to this one.
“No elves, no dark elves, no beastmen, no undead, no demons, no dragons. And no magical beasts like Black Hound Barghests.”
And yet, it was a world of endless conflict.
“Even in my world, humans have always been killing each other.”
I smiled brightly.
“So, I fully support this nation! For the sake of protecting all the elf-eared girls in the world!”
“Liz, do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I only understand that Master is insane.”
“I see. Me too.” I’d truly become accustomed to this world.
I repeatedly cast [Create Ooze] to fill the bath. As I dipped my hand in, channeling mana into the ooze to warm it, I spoke.
“This mansion has a nice, big bath. I think I would have gotten along with the previous owner.”
The bathtub was made of marble and quite spacious. They’d clearly spared no expense on the bathing facilities.
“Actually, I don’t think this was meant for personal use. Given the size of the mansion, it was probably designed for the servants and the master to use at different times. The servants would bathe together.”
“Ah, I see. Building separate baths for the master and servants would be a hassle.”
“It’s a master’s duty to ensure the cleanliness of their servants.”
“My maid is presentable enough to be seen anywhere.”
“Ehehe… I’m not really a maid, though.”
“I know. But it’s still an important job.”
“Really?”
“For my mental well-being.”
“Ah… yes.” I lifted my arm from the ooze.
“Alright, it’s ready. Let’s get in.”
An ooze bath. A common type of bath for demons, where you summoned ooze with [Create Ooze] and warmed it with magic.
From a Japanese perspective, it was incredibly bizarre.
“Ahhh…”
And yet, after a year in this world, I’d become accustomed to this type of bath, even finding it… comforting.
Especially after being summoned to the royal castle, dressed in formal attire, and maintaining a dignified demeanor as a supreme commander, a bath was particularly enjoyable. It felt like the stress of the day melted away.
I hadn’t been to the castle today, but I’d been busy with preparations for Rebecca’s arrival, and I’d been nervous about meeting her.
That tension was easing.
Seeing Liz’s healthy brown skin and Rebecca’s translucently white skin simultaneously in my field of vision further enhanced the relaxing effect. Incidentally, Rebecca was still wearing her tiara, even though she was naked.
“Rebecca, your skin is so pale.”
“It doesn’t tan.”
“…Master, do you prefer… pale skin?” Liz asked, sounding slightly insecure. I smiled at her.
“I love both brown skin and pale skin.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Rebecca, why are you so far away?” Rebecca had positioned herself as far away from me as possible in the spacious tub.
“Is it strange to be cautious?”
“It’s fine, I’m used to seeing naked girls younger than me.”
“I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean.”
“…Master, what kind of life have you lived?”
“A complicated one.”
“…And I’m older than you.”
“Really?”
“You said I was an experienced veteran. My military service dates back to the founding of this nation.”
I thought this nation was four hundred and twenty years old.
“I see. But it’s fine. I outrank you.”
“…I don’t see how that’s reassuring…” Rebecca said dryly.
“I’ve had enough. I’m getting out.”
“No, you’re not, Rebecca. You can’t leave until you count to ten thousand.”
“What kind of custom is that?”
“From my homeland.”
“Master, you told me I had to count to one hundred.”
“That’s another theory.”
“…………”
“…………”
“Besides, I haven’t washed myself yet.”
“I’m undead. I don’t have… waste products.”
“You still get dust and dirt on you.”
“The ooze bath is enough.”
“I can’t entrust the cleanliness of my cute subordinate to a mere summoned creature.”
I declared firmly, getting out of the bath and grabbing a towel.
“—Come on. I’ll wash you thoroughly.”
“…Do I have a choice?” Rebecca looked at Liz pleadingly.
Liz shook her head apologetically.
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