Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 204

204: The Reality of the Sixth Army’s Welcome

“…Hey, this is a ‘reparation,’ right?”

“That’s the idea.” I nodded at Aithys.

“Then why are we in a bath?! This is crazy, right? Yeah, it has to be!!”

“It’s not crazy. In my homeland, bathing together is a classic way for people of the same gender to bond.”

I declared to Aithys, who had finally grasped the situation after being led to the changing room.

“No, I get that, but?! —This is the ‘Sixth Army way’? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Liz and Rebecca, who were also getting ready to bathe, looked away.

“…Wait, it’s not crazy?”

“Well, yes… she does invite me to the bath from time to time.”

“I was thrown in on my first day.”

Liz and Rebecca nodded.

“What she says is often strange… but she’s a supreme commander… and I am her bodyguard…” Liz’s gaze was distant.

“Well, we’re just bathing… and I had the same doubts at first…” Rebecca’s gaze was also distant.

“Come on, let’s get in. Oh, Liz, I’ll help you undress!”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Rebecca…”

“Unnecessary.”

“…Aithys?”

“I-I… I can decline… right?”

“Of course you can.”

“Of course you can.”

“No, this is a reparation…”

“What did you do, Master?” Rebecca, who had been pushed along by my enthusiasm without fully understanding the situation, looked at me with suspicion.

“Me? If anything, it was Aithys who—”

“I’m sure our Master did something terrible.” A remarkable level of trust.

“I won’t deny it.”

“Well, flying is tiring. A bath will help you relax.” Rebecca smiled at Aithys.

“Ah, yes… um…”

“You can call me Rebecca.”

“Rebecca, you’re… a normal person.”

“I’m honored that you think so.”

And then Rebecca’s expression turned to one of understanding.

“…Ah, so you were talking bad about our Master again. In front of them.”

“Ah… yeah… sorry…”

“Well, it’s Master, so it can’t be helped. Don’t worry about it.”

“Wait, you’re not angry?”

“I understand the feeling. But she is a supreme commander. And she has subordinates who admire her. As long as you understand that, it’s fine.”

“What about Rebecca?”

“Ask your own heart.”

“So you love her too?”

“…………” Rebecca looked away and sighed. Her expression was a mask.

“Honestly… ah, before we get undressed, let’s do your hair.” I reached for Rebecca’s hair. I scooped it up, and the smooth strands slipped through my fingers like sand. I repeated the motion a few times, enjoying the sensation.

“Your hair is so soft.”

“Just get it over with.”

“As you wish.”

As requested, I quickly tied her hair back with a ribbon, then twisted it into a bun.

“It’s loose, so it’ll be easy to take down when you wash your hair.”

“Mmm.”

“…What was that?” Aithys looked at us, her expression one of bewilderment.

“It’s convenient.”

“Being treated like a convenience store.”

“It suits you, don’t you think?” Rebecca said, her tone teasing.

A beautiful girl’s smile really was unfair.

“I used to just leave it down when I washed my body, but it’s easier to wash with it up.”

“Well, I don’t think it would be a problem for an undead. And the ooze is good for your hair.”

I believed that the regular use of ooze for bathing was one of the reasons the women of Listrea had such beautiful hair.

“I don’t like the feeling of the ooze-covered hair sticking to my skin…”

“Actually, I kind of like that feeling.”

“You pervert.”

“Oh? So, a pervert can do this and that?”

“If Master has forgotten that I’m an assassin, then by all means.” I could feel the pressure from Liz behind me.

“—I’ve never forgotten.”

I turned to Liz and gently took a strand of her hair.

“So, what about doing this and that with my assassin?”

Liz smiled.

“That’s outside my job description.”

“Are you going to stop using that as a catch-all excuse?”

“Accepting that request is also outside my job description.”

A beautiful girl’s smile really was unfair.

“…Hey, are they… close?” Aithys asked Rebecca.

Rebecca’s expression was one of exasperation.

“If you think they’re not close, then I’m surprised.”