By the time everything concluded and Leya’s transformation time finally ended, it was already eight in the evening when she returned to the tavern.
After ordering a meal without much thought, Leya decided a relaxing bath would be the perfect way to unwind once she finished eating.
Having once been a boy, Leya had always maintained the habit of bathing every few days, sometimes even once a week. Though only two days had passed since her last bath, a profound weariness seemed to cling to her.
‘Ah… I don’t recall ordering a drink, did I? Oh… it must be the one Elina and the others left unfinished last time…’
Leya wasn’t particularly fond of drinks; not that she disliked them, but she simply detested sweet things. A friend from her orphanage days once told her:
“Only the weak indulge in sweet flavors, for it allows them to forget bitterness and live within dreams they meticulously weave.”
However, Leya was no longer the ignorant boy she once was; she had grown up. Now, her aversion to sweets was more a nostalgic echo of the past than a firm principle.
Yet, even so, it would be a waste to simply discard it!
Her gaze settled on the red wine sitting nearby.
“If I mix these two, it shouldn’t be so sweet, right? Haha, I truly am a genius!”
And so, the fine red wine, valued at eight silver coins, was unceremoniously diluted by Leya with a drink worth a mere three copper coins.
****
The continuous sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.
“Ah… no matter how many times I see it, it still feels so beautiful!”
Lying comfortably in the bathtub, Leya held a perfectly smooth mirror crafted from crystal, speaking with a sigh of deep emotion.
“Hey, System, you think so too, don’t you?”
“…………”
“Hello, why aren’t you speaking? Am I not pretty? Are you blind?”
“…………”
“Well… it’s impossible to discuss such matters with a System that utterly lacks aesthetic judgment, guhehehehe…” Leya continued, clutching the mirror with an unnerving fervor as she giggled foolishly.
“…………”
Yet, the System remained silent.
But…
But it truly wanted to say something!
It wasn’t that it didn’t want to, but rather that it couldn’t, and dared not!
The reason for its silence traced back to the last time Leya had bathed.
It was a dark and stormy night, where all was silent, a night that felt particularly…
“Ne ne ne, System, what should I do? I’ve discovered I’m so beautiful, I’m almost conquering myself! What should I do? Will I develop narcissism because of this!?”
On that particular day, Leya was once again in the bathroom, completely naked, her face flushed crimson as she stood before a full-length mirror in a truly primal human pose.
“Host, please calm down. Didn’t you say you don’t like lolis? So, before your condition worsens, you still have a few years of buffer time to receive proper treatment. Of course, as you are now, you are indeed very beautiful, very cute…”
The System thought it was perfectly fine to butter up the host occasionally, just to make them happy.
However, the reply it received was utterly unexpected.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!—” Hearing the System’s reply, Leya suddenly squatted down, hugging her body tightly, and shrieked with an utterly girlish charm.
Startled, the System worried Leya might be hurt and quickly asked, “Host, what’s wrong? Why the sudden change? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“You, you, you, you, you, you, you!—” Leya’s face became even redder, and she furiously exclaimed, “How dare you peek at me bathing!? System, I originally thought you were a true gentleman, but I never expected you to be such a System! You’ve truly disappointed me!—”
“Ho-host, I…” The System tried to explain, feeling immensely wronged.
“No, you don’t need to explain! This time, considering it’s your first offense, I’ll forgive you. But you must remember, next time I bathe, no matter what happens, even if the sky falls, you must keep your eyes closed and not look! Do you hear me?”
“I…”
‘But Host, you were the one who asked me to comment! How can you just turn around and pretend not to know me?’ The System felt deeply heartbroken, truly heartbroken.
“You’re not even allowed to speak! Execute! Now, immediately, right this instant!—” Leya, her face even redder, roared imperiously.
****
“Ah… a bath truly makes one feel refreshed and invigorated…”
About an hour later, Leya finally emerged from the bathroom, her entire body flushed crimson, as vibrant and dewy as a rose, and emitting a thick cloud of steam. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say she resembled a self-propelled jet engine at that moment.
“It’s just… I feel a little dizzy…”
System: “…………”
‘Of course you’d be dizzy!’
‘What in the world! Who would actually spend an hour in a bathroom, with increasingly hot bathwater, just holding a mirror and gazing at themselves? Leya truly managed to shatter the System’s understanding of humanity today.’
And just as the System was lost in thought, momentarily stunned.
It snapped back to attention, only to suddenly realize Leya was doing something utterly bizarre!
Lying on the bed, she rolled to the left…
Then rolled to the right… left again… and right again.
‘Isn’t she just simply rolling around, you idiot!’
“Host… what exactly are you doing… hehe.” Despite the System’s best efforts to make its tone sound natural.
“What do you mean, ‘what am I doing’? I’m obviously rolling around…”
[咕噜咕噜——]
“Er…”
If the System had a face, it would undoubtedly be covered in ‘well’ symbols by now, signifying its extreme exasperation.
“So, why exactly are you rolling around then?”
“Why, it’s so I can better smell myself while I sleep! I’m sure I’ll have the sweetest dreams that way! Guhehehe…”
System: “…………”
‘This is hopeless!’
‘Completely hopeless!’
‘Beyond saving!’
‘This person is truly beyond saving!’
‘Seriously, narcissism is a sickness; it needs to be cured!’
****
As night deepened…
Leya had long since drifted into dreamland.
A blissful smile played upon her lips.
Suddenly, her expression shifted.
“Don’t run… I like you…” she mumbled in her sleep.
System: “…………”
‘Ha… just who does she like, I wonder? Truly laughable…’
“You… are all trash… Dare to touch my Erica… I’ll annihilate you all… hehehe…”
System: “…………”
This night was destined not to be quiet.
This night was destined not to be peaceful.
This night, the System was destined… not to rest in peace…