61 – Surprise! A mixed-bathing hot spring filled with yanderes 1

Inside the carriage

So wholesome… so precious…

Megumi leaned against Freesia, basking in the joy of their reunion. Freesia stroked Megumi’s hair gently. Even while clarifying that she’s not the reincarnated me, Freesia doesn’t show any discomfort with the affection Megumi showered her with.

The carriage’s cabin feld like the interior of a local train in the modern world. Lily sat next to me, while Megumi and Freesia were across from us.

“I came to exterminate some terrifying plant monster, but to think it was just a human. What a waste of effort, honestly…”

“Hmm, Megumi’s not a monster! I’m a cedar, though~”

Cedar? Like the World Tree Yggdrasil or something?

The Million Cedar looks way more tree-like…

Megumi’s always been too smart for her own good, with a quirky, mysterious side that goes over my head. Even so, she’s still my adorable little sister. Even now, after reincarnating as Brad!

Still, based on my subordinates’ reports, I was convinced we were up against a formidable enemy. To think that “plant monster” was my past-life sister, Megumi…

Of course, I’m not like Siegfried, scheming to outdo others for glory. It’s just that this time, the threat felt too heavy to leave to Omoneil and the others.

Megumi rummaged through the navy-blue school bag on her lap.

“Look, a cedar!”

“…”

She held up two tree branches from her bag, raising them slightly above horizontal. Lily and I were left speechless, watching her perform like a grade-schooler in a play.

But…

“Megumi-sama, what a splendid cedar performance! I almost thought it was the real thing!”

“Thanks, Onii! I knew you’d get it~”

“Uh, Megumi-sama… I’m not your Onii, I’m Freesia…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!”

Megumi buried her face in Freesia’s ample chest, being affectionate.

“But that’s harsh, right? I was just trying to go see Onii, and when I tried to cross the border, they were like, ‘Suspicious person!’ and tried to arrest me.”

“That’s their job. Can’t be helped.”

I retorted calmly in Brad speech, but the fact that Megumi transferred to the world of Fortune Engage to reunite with me is honestly heartwarming…

“Brad-sama!?”

“Prince Brad?”

“Hm~ Is Brad crying?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Just got some dust in my eye!”

I brush it off with a lie to hide my embarrassment and keep Megumi from figuring me out.

Thermae Hot Spring Town

As we walk down the main street, people pass by wearing patterned robes that look more like yukata than bathrobes. In the original setting, this isn’t Europe but a romantic other world, so the details are honestly pretty loose.

What’s distinctly different from a Japanese hot spring town is that everyone—young and old, male and female—is strikingly attractive.

Megumi led us to Thermae, a hot spring town, saying she knew a great inn.

If I recall the original story…

“A long, long time ago, a noble’s son spotted a beautiful elf in the forest while hunting. When he chased after her, he found her bathing in a spring.”

As I try to recall the episode, Megumi started explaining it to us. She really must love Fortune Engage.

“I’m intrigued! Tell us more, Megumi-sama!”

“If you want to talk about it, I-I suppose I’ll listen!”

Freesia, eyes sparkling like an elf fangirl, and Lily, acting superior despite her obvious interest, latched onto Megumi’s story, probably expecting some love story.

Nodding, Megumi began telling the tale like she’s reading to children.

“The noble’s son was captivated by the elf’s beauty, but she was furious at being seen naked and tried to drive him away with forest magic. Unfortunately, her spell hit a minotaur instead, and it charged straight at her. Just as the minotaur’s horns were about to pierce her, he shielded her.”

“What happened to the noble’s son!?”

“Don’t drag it out, just tell us!”

“He died!”

““What!?””

“It’s okay, it’s okay, Professor Okay! With his last strength, he defeated the minotaur and protected the elf. After he passed, the elves took him to their home, buried him in sacred soil, and he was revived.”

Freesia and Lily let out huge sighs of relief, clutching their chests.

“After that, the two fell in love, and they lived happily ever after~”

Hearing Megumi’s story, Freesia dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, while Lily wiped hers with the back of her hand, only to snap, “I’m not touched or anything!” Megumi looked incredibly satisfied having entertained them.

Just as she finished, Megumi stepped forward to lead us to the inn.

“And their descendant is Freesia-chan.”

“What!?”

Muttering softly, she strode ahead toward the recommended inn.

That’s not a detail I know…

How did Megumi…?

Well, maybe it’s something only hardcore fans would know. I convinced myself of that.

I feel like I’m forgetting something important…

After thinking for a moment, a chill ran through me.

Could it be… Was she testing who’d bite at that original story episode? N-No, there’s no way Megumi knows I played Fortune Engage.

I just ignored the love talk because I’m a guy and not into it.

I can’t make excuses without digging myself deeper, so I stew in frustration. Conveniently, I spotted a sign for an open-air bath.

“I’m heading to the hot spring. You lot book the inn.”

“Megumi’ll take care of it, so take your time soaking, Brad!”

I expected them to insist on going to the inn first, but Megumi and the others easily agreed to my selfish request. To clear my head, I headed to the open-air bath, said to be a hidden elf spring.