「Nn～, good hot water isn’t this～」

I mumbled to myself while entering the morning bath .

The mansion’s bath is wide, keeping to myself is overly luxurious but this is already my everyday life .

If I say I’m used to it I’m used to it .

I have money .

I have a home .

I have labour .

Furthermore under Ilya’s direction that labour――that is to say the maid-sans even do work at the guild and elsewhere gathering more and more money for me .

My current house is something like a single company .

And so I’m the president .

……No, am I the chairman?

I’m not particularly anything at all .

I’m a decoration .

Is the president Ilya?

In any case the maid-sans are a great help .

But whether those girls steal all of my work, that sort of thing is not the case .

Those girls do their work as something like employees so, I properly deliver them wages now .

Maa, the truth is that I’ve become the one gathering the most profits though .

Even so clothes food and housing are fully provided for .

One set of maid clothes and personal clothes are provisioned and, the food expenses for the residents of the mansion are delivered by me (the company) .

Un, surely this isn’t something like a tyranny .

There’s no mistake in that .

「Un un . 」

Working at convincing myself of this is important .

But being able to survive even without working has what’s called a terrifying allure .

「The great sin called sloth, how terrifying……」

I tried floating while soaking in the bath .

I’m aware that it’s bad manners but, this is my house, and furthermore there’s no one but me .

It’s human nature that I’d inadvertently want to try it .

Aah, feels good .

I’m meltingー .

Sloth is a sin but, I don’t think I presently want to hikikomori like Till .

Maa, oneechan would also be angry at me so .

Is my current objective to rank up as an adventurer?

I have to properly create a place to be for the maid-sans .

Everyone will be troubled if the decoration doesn’t act reliably as a decoration won’t they .

If I don’t properly display my authority, I can’t become the maid-sans’ patron for them .

「This side is already grateful but, that side is very grateful . 」

A win win relations.h.i.+p isn’t it .

The truth is that the maid-sans are all children without any relatives .

They were taken in by the country, trained up, and welcomed into my house as maids .

As the country couldn’t look after them forever, they had to become independent somewhere .

But with neither a patron nor a home, and furthermore as those girls’ races were scattered it wasn’t something simple for them to become independent .

If things were handled poorly they would go to a brothel .

Then, what should be done?

「So, me is it . Kran is an pract.i.tioner of rationality issn’t she . 」

That is to say that one of those options was me .

I suppose this certainly isn’t all of them though .

She secured exemplary human resources for me so, there’s nothing to be more thankful for .

For that sort of reason, to the maid-sans this is their home .

The mansion’s grounds are wide, we reside in the primary residence .

Separate from

that, it was abandoned and unused .

That is the maid-sans’ lodging……or rather, it became what is called their home .

「It’s a heavy responsibility, bukubuku . 」

I submerged .

Change of mood .

No, contrary to that this is what’s called training, to see how long I can submerge and hold my breath .

Yos.h.!.+

Sucking in a ma.s.sive breath, I submerge within the bath .

The distinct sensation within the water .

For some reason they make you want to submerge don’t they, baths .

Since I was able to count to 30 seconds yesterday, maybe I should aim for 60 seconds today?

I still have leeway and, surely I can still keep going .

If I bring out my seriousness I feel like I can surpa.s.s 60 seconds can’t I .

「……Mu, ku . 」

It’s nothing .

Become nothing .

If I think about unnecessary things those thoughts will expend oxygen pointlessly .

I will master, the wisdom of clear and serene water here .

「……」

The count of 30 seconds pa.s.sed .

……It’s unexpectedly, painful isn’t it .

「Gobo . 」

I slowly let out the air in my lungs .

I can keep going I can keep going .

I can still keep going .

「…………tsu . 」

A silence that seems to ring in my ears .

Right now I’m, concentrating to my absolute limit .

It wouldn’t be strange if I acquired some sort of skill .

「Gobogobogoboo . 」

It’s already becoming painful .

Driven by pain I ended up blowing out air .

If I blow all of this out, it’ll finally become impossible to endure this .

Counting the time it’d reached 70 .

Impressive, I’m impressive .

90 .

I’ll go until 90!

I thought up some sort of reward .

If I hold my breath until 90……I’ll grope Ilya’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s!!

「Gobaa!」

……The moment I thought of something stupid, I ended up surfacing .

My time is, 79 .

I kept at it rather well .

I kept at it fairly well .

「……Wisdom of clear and serene water, truly difficult . 」

When times become painful I end up thinking of unnecessary things .

Why is that, why is this so then?

Ah～ah, I don’t get a reward do I～ .

While my vision is opportunely dominated by Ilya’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s, I regretfully move my hands and see what comes of it .

……Nn?

「That’s a somehow indecent hand movement is it not, ojousama?」

「The real thing!?」

It was Ilya!

Ilya came inside the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around her plentiful flesh colored components!

Why!?

「I acted disrespectfully, ojousama . I had a.s.sumed that no one was inside . 」

「Eh, eeh……I, was submerged . That’s, not something that could be helped, possibly?」

It couldn’t be helped, could it?

By Ilya?

Without noticing the clothes I left in the dressing room?

She was such a careless character?

To begin with Ilya does something like taking morning baths given how she concerns herself with position more than other people ?

「……That’s a lie, isn’t it?」

「Fufu, how is it?」

No maa……it fine though isn’t it, I’m you know?

It’s a blessing to the eyes you know, that sort of thing .

Un, I’m troubled where I should put my eyes……

While my gaze makes me want to stare I avert it using great sensibility .

「It’s been a mystery since before but . 」

「Un?」

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While I fought my inner self, Ilya didn’t rebuke me but, tilted her head .

「I think that ojousama is very elf like but . 」

「Haa . 」

Elf like?

「To begin with are things regarding yourself matters that do not bring out your interest?」

「……Myself?」

No, I understand what she wants to say .

Peeping at the women’s bath, with Kran and Eclair that……going nyan nyan?

So why do you ignore those things about yourself, then .

Is it that sort of thing?

「Ilya . 」

「Hai, ojousama . 」

「If I stay unmovingly in front of a mirror, if I intently check my image reflected in a town’s show window or such, how would you feel?」

「Like, uwaa . 」

Uwaa……?

「Right, I am not a narcissist . I am myself, just most a.s.suredly myself . 」

Up until now I’ve certainly bewildered a number of various faces though……

At such an answer of mine, Ilya nodded as if she had been convinced .

「That is a relief . 」

「Please be relieved . 」

But just what are we doing in the bathroom, us people .

「Be that as it may ojousama, are you always submerging yourself in the bath?」

U, come to think of it she saw something embarra.s.sing didn’t she……

On top of that I was thinking something strange……

「……Since when was it, surely you’ve been pulled under the water before? So that, I can adapt whenever something happens, I train myself within my everyday life . 」

Ehen .

「That is indeed as it is isn’t it . 」

……That is indeed as it is .

Right, that is certainly ojousama, but is that okay, Ilya?

「However ojousama, please keep your play in moderation . It would be troubling were you to accidentally collapse within the bath area . 」

「Ah, hai……」

Even though she seemed to show a little naivete……

「I don’t mind it, while you’re here with me . 」

「Ah, hai . 」

……Hai?

Do I enter the bath together so often, with Ilya?

There’s a problem there .

「If, if an accidental event happens what would you do?」

「Accidental event?」

With a wide smile, she darkly asked, just what sort thing is that .

Ilya youu, even though you understand!

……Shall I give you a taste of ojousama’s fearsomeness?

「Ilya, I’ll wash your body, down to every corner . 」

「Please treat me well, ojousama . 」

「……」

「……」

「Please excuse me . 」

「Kusu, do not mind it . 」

Expressing a gentle smile, Ilya sat and began cleaning her body .

Really, Ilya is quite the adult like person .

She’s someone who’s the sort that always has leeway .

Haa .

With that as it is, her hair is pretty isn’t it……

Her skin’s white too .

Even though she has such pride in her iron wall defense, she seems soft to the touch .

「Ojousama?」

「Haii . 」

Stop stop!

I’m facing her too much with my heated gaze .

Since gazes can, be felt can’t they .

Return to your right mind me!

No, in a sense I’m in my right mind already though……

Cutting my gaze, I submerged back deep into the bathtub once again .

After that I had a sudden thought .

「……Ilya, are you still, okay?」

「Hai, you worry too much, ojousama . 」

U～, vexing .

Isn’t it occasionally necessary to do something forceful like overpowering the other side right?

「I want to peek, inside Ilya’s heart . 」

「I would

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「I would also, like to peek inside ojousama’s heart . 」

You’ll be surprised so don’t .

Heaven and earth will be overturned .

「Un, I feel that peeking really must not be done . 」

「It may have been my imagination at the hot spring but, I feel like there was a peeping culprit there . 」

「……」

「……」

「Ilya . 」

「Hai, ojousama . 」

「Men are life forms that seek romance . 」

「Is that so . 」

「……」

「……」

So?

Rather this air, could you stop it for me okay……

It was one scene in such an incoherent, normal day .

After my nonsense with Ilya was finished I changed and went out .

As the air temperature had become cold enough that it had to be endured a bit ago, I set out wearing an overcoat .

It was the case as always that I didn’t have a particular objective but, I haven’t lost interest in walking while looking at the other world townscape .

I suddenly felt like I’d stretch my legs all the way outside the walls for such a present day .

Being rocked while riding a carriage for a while, I arrived near the gate and I gave my thanks to the driver-san and got off .

And so I exited the gate and went out into the town beyond the wall .

Rather than being like the royal capital the tranquil townscape brought to mind Rinal or Rufin, I somehow had a sense of relief since I had been raised in the countryside .

Roaming such a townscape, a good scent floated over and tickled my nose .

「Nn, some sort of tasty seeming scent . 」

Is it a food stand?

In the pa.s.sageway a little ahead, a store is set up there .

And so exactly as antic.i.p.ated I’m, approaching the food stand while being invited by the smell .

The true form of the good smell is……

「Corn?」

Is it fried corn!

It seems tasty!

「What’s this nee-chan, want some?」

A sharp eyed kid is looking me over as if he’s glaring .

He～, this child is the store owner?

Seems like a lot of spirit has gone into this store owner kid .

「Then maybe I’ll take one . 」

After taking my order it was fried up, this time is the time for the store owner and the customer to relax .

「Wait just a little okay . 」

The young owner efficiently, layed the corn on top of an iron plate, dribbled on it and began frying it .

The even better smell stimulated my appet.i.te .

「You’re used to this aren’t you, did you boil it ahead of time at home?」

「……Nee-chan, aren’t you well informed?」

「Not to that extent though . 」

If he’d started frying it from the beginning in this place, it would take too much time for the fire to penetrate .

Fundamentally I suppose that if the work isn’t limited to warmly frying goods boiled at home then it won’t finish in time .

「Is this corn possibly, home grown?」

「Obviously, I’m not affluent enough to stock goods you know . So since I do the farmwork, I can guarantee its freshness so don’t worry about it . 」

「Fufu, I’ll be looking forward to that . 」

This child has good energy dooesn’t he .

In terms of apparent age, it might be the same as Till?

In terms of apparent age .

Pa.s.sing this sort of time for a while while the young owner bluntly replied

owner bluntly replied to my questions, fried corn with a nice feel was prepared .

One corn was grandly stabbed with a skewer, and handed over .

When that was accepted, the young owner put out his hand with a mischievous smile .

「Hai yo, one silver coin . 」

……One silver coin for one fried corn, reeally?

「I see, so you look at the customer and decide the price, isn’t that bold . 」

「Ha? What are you saying, it’s always this price . 」

Speaking of the royal capital, the food stands outside the walls are welll .

Everyone’s rather affluent or such arren’t they .

「Does oneesan, look like an easy mark?」

「Han, don’t pretend to be my elder, while going around with such a childlike body . 」

Child……

「Miight not understand, this boy still miight not understand this . 」

The great style that this me requested is .

Certainly oneechan or Ilya, have outstanding proportions don’t they .

But I do not have something like a regret for my style!

Big doesn’t fulfill the same role as small!

「This boy also, will understand once you grow a little bigger . 」

「I’m not a boy! Don’t treat me like a kid!」

「I suppose so then, please pardon me . 」

As I easily switched to an apology, the young owner’s eyes were bewildered .

In fact, he’s working at this age .

Isn’t treating him like a kid rude .

「Chii, copper coin――」

「Hai . 」

I handed the young owner one silver coin .

「O, oi……」

「You’re the one who said it right?」

「……Neechan, you’re a person from inside right? You really do have surplus I suppose . 」

「If you’re lively enough to speak with twisted sarcasm, mature enough that you can come and hit me back for this silver coin someday okay . 」

「……Fun, this sort of thing won’t serve as an investment . 」

「Fufu, if this can become material for your inspiration that’s fine then . 」

「Just you wait, I’ll soon come and hit you back . So until then I’ll hold onto this without using it alright!」

The young owner glared at me, while gripping the silver coin .

Those pupils s.h.i.+ned with overflowing dreams, they were indeed proper for a young man .

「Right, then oneesan, will wait with antic.i.p.ation . 」

「Wait!」

「Nn, still haven’t said enough?」

When I waved and separated from the food stand, I was told to stop .

「Tell me your, name . I am, Teo . 」

I unintentionally leaked a smile at he seemed to shyly look away while giving his self introduction .

My mischievous heart bubbled up and, I answered while stabbing my index finger into the tip of his nose .

「It’s Alice . Precocious kid-san . 」

「――Baa!」

「See you then . 」

This time I turned my back without listening to the words the young owner, Teo said .

People with dreams are blinding arren’t they .

I did my best with the fried corn I carried in my hands while walking .

「Hoot, hafu . 」

But, it’s delicious .

That day somehow felt good so, I went back to my mansion finis.h.i.+ng my walk with a light gait .

――Come to think of it, I get the feeling that thanksgiving is really near .

A special day’s, grand festival .

It seems like it would be fun to invite someone and go around doesn’t it .

Who shoould I invite?