A Bath, a Scheme, and Unforeseen Consequences

“My Lady! Lady Soronna! I know I was wrong; I shouldn’t have hidden anything from you! It’s Domu… Lady Domu is bathing, and Lady Domu didn’t want Lady Soronna to know, so she specifically told us not to tell you!”

Hearing Soronna’s threat, Karl immediately knelt, completely abandoning his integrity, and offered Domu up as a shield.

“Ka… Karl… Brother…” Os stared dumbfounded at Karl kneeling on the ground, his mind completely unable to process what was happening.

“Wha… what is this… So that’s it… hehe… Domu was waiting for me… cough, cough… Alright… Karl and Os, I forgive you now. I’m going to find Domu first to continue what we didn’t finish last night~ Hehehe~”

Upon hearing Karl’s words, Soronna’s face flushed with shyness. She became fidgety, her fingers intertwining in front of her chest as she drew circles, biting her lip to suppress her laughter.

Then, assuming a magnanimous expression, she raised her chin and spoke to Karl and Os with a hint of pride.

Watching Soronna skip happily toward the bathing area, Karl patted down his clothes and rose from the ground. He then leaned against the doorframe with unusual composure, hands in his pockets, gazing up at the ceiling at a forty-five-degree angle.

“Well, Os? Did you see that? That’s how you perfectly resolve a situation like this,” Karl declared in a profound tone, maintaining his forty-five-degree upward gaze.

Os clapped his hands, looking at Karl with an expression of utter astonishment and adoration. “Brother Karl… could it be… was that your strategy just now? It was simply brilliant! I was completely fooled. So that’s it—Brother used Lady Domu as a temporary excuse so Lady Soronna wouldn’t doubt what we said earlier!”

“Hehehe, precisely,” Karl responded with a mysterious smile, accepting Os’s praise without a trace of shame.

“However… Brother Karl, wasn’t our initial worry precisely about Lady Soronna’s special feelings for Lady Domu? Brother just told Lady Soronna where Lady Domu is… Is that alright?” Os hesitated, unsure whether to voice his concern. Yet, recalling Soronna’s demeanor just moments ago, Os sensed a very ominous development.

“………………Ah… I forgot… Damn it… Os, quickly!” Karl’s expression suddenly froze. He grabbed Os’s arm and rushed toward the bathroom.

“Brother Karl? Where are we going?” Os, being dragged along by Karl, asked without thinking.

“The bathroom!” Karl exclaimed, exasperated.

****

Having arrived at the bathroom, Domu absently deactivated the display for [Holy Suppression] and deftly stripped off all her undergarments. Although she had once been a boy, Domu had put on and taken off innerwear countless times since arriving in this world, making her movements more practiced and less clumsy than before.

However, her own body still made Domu, the former young boy, feel exceptionally shy. Ah… if my former guildmates saw me, they’d surely describe it with a strange phrase like “lewd bust size”…

Reaching out, she touched her breasts and the flesh on her buttocks. The full, elastic sensation transmitted through her fingertips made Domu sigh deeply. Why did my body have to become so voluptuous? And it feels like it’s grown even more. This sensation is so strange. Though I never felt this in “Tears of the Goddess,” that’s only natural, as age doesn’t increase in the game. I just hope it doesn’t keep getting bigger…

Shaking off these thoughts, Domu used one arm to cover her chest as she stepped into the bath. Submerging her entire body, she savored the warm, relaxing feeling that washed over her, letting out a comfortable groan.

There was still a mission to complete today, arranged by Mr. Tule. It was a charity performance in collaboration with the Morgan City Adventurers’ Guild. Even the Happy Arena’s most famous orchestra, the “Despair Symphony Grand Orchestra,” had been invited.

Domu was set to appear as the recently renowned legendary mercenary. This was a meticulously planned scheme by Mr. Tule, designed to help Domu gain fame and foster good relations.

Rumor had it that not only would many influential figures attend, but the Norachi Kingdom would even dispatch a legion commander to participate in the charity performance. Legion commanders of the Norachi Kingdom were said to be formidable beings, their strength approaching that of demigods.

Domu held high expectations for this event, eager to clearly understand the distribution of power in this world. Although the strongest person she had met seemed to be the now-deceased Mr. Stinkbug… ah, no, Mr. Soron, she always felt that Mr. Soron and the likes of Karl and Os didn’t differ much in strength.

How to describe this comparison… It’s like… um… a level 100 player tackling a level 50 dungeon… Even if the dungeon boss is a powerful level 55 entity, for a level 100 player, it’s merely the difference between defeating it with one skill or two…

As Domu closed her eyes in thought, a slippery body suddenly slipped into her embrace. Because Domu had been soaking in the warm pool for some time, the body that now nestled against her felt refreshingly cool, making Domu feel incredibly comfortable.

No… comfortable my foot! Domu opened her eyes, seeing Soronna writhing in her arms. She helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead. But I still don’t know what special state Soronna has fallen into… I can’t let my guard down yet…

Domu reached out and gently helped Soronna sit up in her arms, cautiously looking straight into her eyes.

“Soronna… are… are you alright? Do you feel anything… unusual…” Domu swallowed hard, then looked at Soronna with a serious expression.

Seeing Soronna’s face gradually brighten with delight, her eyes slowly closing, and her lips gently curving upward… Domu didn’t say anything more.

After a moment, Soronna, who still hadn’t received Domu’s kiss, opened her eyes with a hint of grievance, looking at Domu with an aggrieved expression.

“Soronna… do you feel particularly calm? Or have your personality or thoughts changed in any way?” Domu gently brushed the back of her hand against Soronna’s forehead, asking cautiously.

“Do… mu… mu… It’s the first time I’ve seen you so proactive, I’m so happy~ You like me too, don’t you?” Soronna, filled with bliss, savored Domu’s gentle touch. Like a demure young wife, she lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, and spoke softly.

“Ah… Soronna… do… do you… um… like me? Do you remember… last night… we…?” No way… no calmness… no reversal… no sadness… no delusion… no mischief… Although she seems as passionate as last night… there’s no mental infantilization… Could it really be… Domu, conflicted, tried to ask again.

“Domu… you’re so mean… asking when you already know… Although I don’t know why I suddenly fell asleep last night… but I… I love Domu the most! No… it’s not just liking, I love you, I love you, Domu! I want… want to… ah… be with you…” Soronna whispered, making Domu blush furiously as she covered her crimson face with both hands.

“Hoo… ha… hoo…” After saying this, Soronna reverted to her dazed state from last night. She reached out one hand, took Domu’s now somewhat stiff hand, and pressed it against her chest. Her other hand then reached again for Domu’s lower body.

“Stop… Soronna… you can’t… and now… it’s broad daylight…” Domu quickly clamped her legs together tightly, preventing Soronna’s mischievous hand from succeeding. Although her arm rested on Soronna’s chest, Domu didn’t understand why Soronna’s strength always became exceptionally powerful in this state.

Fearing she might hurt Soronna, Domu reluctantly tried to ignore the softness beneath her palm and the sensation beneath it.

“Heh… heheh… Does Domu mean… at night… at night is fine?” Soronna looked at Domu suggestively, rubbing her nose against Domu’s.

“Ye… yes… Soronna… let’s talk about it tonight… you can do anything you want tonight… alright…?” This is the only way… The effect of the [Strange Candy] should wear off by night, and Soronna will surely return to normal then…

“Then… alright~ Let’s quickly wash up and go out~ Don’t be so scared, Domu, I won’t eat you~” Hearing Domu’s words, Soronna obediently sat beside her, releasing her grip. The dazed look in her eyes vanished, replaced by a cute smile, and she winked.

“Phew… I’m saved… Um… Soronna… I’m done washing— Huh? Huh!!! Quick… stop it… Soronna… no!” Just as Domu was about to stand up and exit the bath, Soronna suddenly attacked her from behind.

“I was just tricking you, Domu! I love you so much… I love you so much…” Soronna embraced Domu from behind, whispering into her ear.

“There… not there!”

“Heheh, Domu… don’t worry, I’ll be very careful…”

“Ha… ha… no… Soronna… stop it now…”

“I won’t…”

Various indistinct sounds emanated from the bathroom, leaving Karl and Os, who stood outside, with stunned expressions.

“Brother Karl… although I feel like eavesdropping isn’t right… but… what should we do… it sounds like… it’s Lady Soronna’s problem…” Os stammered, his face flushed.

Karl, standing next to him, showed no reaction, which made Os feel uneasy. He turned to look at him.

“Brother! Brother Karl! You’re bleeding so much! Brother!!! Brother!!!”

Karl, standing before Os, was now bleeding profusely from his nose, the blood staining his entire chest crimson. Seeing this horrifying sight, Os cried out in alarm.