Volume 4 Chapter 121: Mixed Bathing

The inn that Noel and I checked into had an incredibly straightforward name—”Love Nest.”

I had rented one of the rooms there, and right now, I was enjoying a bath.

Surprisingly, the facilities were well-equipped. The bathroom featured a circular stone bathtub large enough for two or three people, various bathing supplies neatly arranged, and smooth stone flooring and walls.

The lighting was thoughtfully designed as well. A slightly taller-than-me artificial tree stood in the corner, its trunk adorned with small, processed illumination stones.

Curious, I tapped on the tree trunk. Immediately, the main lights went out, leaving only the glow from the embedded stones in the bathtub. The dim light gave the place a somewhat mystical atmosphere.

“Fuum…”

With my arms crossed, I let out a hum as I examined the bathroom.

Yeah, this was nice.

The moment Noel and I entered the room and saw this bathroom, we got so excited that we ended up goofing around for a bit, forgetting the situation entirely. Even now, upon a second look, I couldn’t help but think it was still amazing.

I love baths. Or rather, I enjoy any space that lets me fully relax.

As a bath enthusiast, I have to admit—this bathroom was impressive. The grand bath at Spirit Wind was refined, open, and completely satisfying, yet a place like this had its own irresistible charm.

There was something about it—a private hideaway, a secret base, a personal oasis—that suited my tastes perfectly. If someone asked which bath I’d prefer for daily use, I’d choose this one in a heartbeat. For a self-deprecating guy like me, an overly spacious bath was something to enjoy only on rare occasions.

If I closed my eyes and ignored the assortment of mats and other mysterious gadgets propped against the walls, I could relax completely. Frankly, it wouldn’t be any worse than a high-end inn.

Of course, with the price being as steep as it was, that was to be expected. I’d left my wallet at Night Garden, so Noel was footing the bill. Scumbag, right?

No… just this once, it can’t be helped. Usually, I’m a leech who mooches off the manager, but this time I should be in the clear. Yet, why do I feel such overwhelming guilt?

No… I need to change my mindset. Right now, I should simply enjoy the bath without overthinking it. I locked the door, and since arriving at the inn, Noel hadn’t acted oddly. Surely, she brought me here purely for my sake. If that was the case, I should fully indulge in her kindness—after all, that’s just how I roll.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and turned back toward the bathtub. A grin naturally spread across my face.

Because—

it was a bubble bath.

The tub was filled with a cloud of soft, fluffy bubbles, and I couldn’t help but feel exhilarated. Just bubbles in water, yet why did they delight me so? Perhaps it was my childish nature.

Honestly, I’d always wanted to try this. Why had I never done it before? Now, I was going to enjoy the bubble bath to my heart’s content.

I quickly rinsed off and practically dove into the bubble bath.

“Oh ho…”

Hmm… not as amazing as I’d imagined. Once inside, it didn’t feel as special as it looked. After all, they were merely bubbles floating in water; their texture wasn’t that remarkable—in fact, they clung to my skin and made wiping my face a hassle.

“Hmph… just a childish gimmick, huh?” I muttered coolly. It seemed a bubble bath wasn’t quite my thing as an adult. Nonetheless, it wasn’t unpleasant. I scooped up bubbles with both hands, letting them fall, gathering them, even whipping them into more foam. After playing around for a while, I exhaled deeply and rested my hands on the tub’s edge, talking to myself.

“Maybe I’ll try this at White Road next time.”

I was in high spirits.

“Hmph, hmm-hmm-hmm, Ma-chan. Hmmm, Ma-chan.” I even started humming a tune. At first, I wasn’t sure about it, but somehow, this bath felt absolutely incredible—so relaxing that I was nearly lost in a dreamlike state. I felt bad for keeping Noel waiting, but I decided to stay in the bath a little longer. After all, I came here for the bath. Besides, if I looked at it another way, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Who knew if I’d ever find a place like this again? I intended to fully enjoy it.

“Hmm-hmm-hmm.”

“Noil, how’s the water?”

With my eyes closed and immersed in bliss, I heard Noel’s voice from the dressing room. Cheerfully, I replied, “Perfect.”

“Alright, then I’ll join you soon,” she said.

“Yeah, okay. Hmmm-hmm-hmm… No, not ‘okay!'” I snapped at myself, slapping my cheek. Wake up, you idiot! There was no time to be carefree.

What did she just say? Was something terribly wrong?

Peering through the frosted glass door, I could just make out Noel’s silhouette. At first, I thought she was joking, but unbelievably, she seemed to be undressing.

No—this is bad. Absolutely not.

“N-Noel! Wait! Please, don’t come in!” I shouted desperately.

…Silence.

Damn it—she wasn’t responding. I was sure she had heard me. And yet, why was she trying to get in? What could possibly be driving her to do this?

Before I knew it, her silhouette became increasingly exposed, and I frantically turned my back to the door.

Calm down. Calm down, Noil Arlens. Stay cool—I’m a cool guy. Besides, I locked the door, so there’s nothing to worry about. She couldn’t get in unless I unlocked it—

“Excuse me~”

Then, unmistakably, the sound of the door unlocking echoed behind me, followed by Noel’s voice:

“I’m coming in!”

I covered my face with both hands.

Why? Seriously, why? Why does the lock mean nothing? Why did she come in as if it were perfectly normal? Damn it—I’ll never trust locks again! Idiot! I don’t care anymore!

But still… it’s fine. Not fine, but fine. I just need to not see anything. Yes, if I keep my eyes shut, everything will be okay. It’s that simple. Besides, I have the blessing of my Iron Will (Sixfold). I won’t be shaken by this. I won’t lay a hand on her.

After all, did she really undress? Maybe it was just a little prank, and she was actually fully dressed. After all, that Noel wouldn’t really want to take a bath together. She’s not that strange.

Yeah, that must be it. It has to be a joke. Absolutely.

“What are you doing, Noil?”

“Struggling with my inner conflict.”

Should I dare to turn around or not?
Maybe it’s just a prank, but if—if by some astronomical chance Noel were really undressed, that would be a huge problem.

What should I do? Should I just keep my eyes closed and leave? Wander around with myself completely exposed? What a pervert!

……That’s it!

“Magis Gear――”

“If I use Hunter, I might end up telling everyone about today.”

Damn it. I reluctantly returned the mana I’d carefully molded.

“Ahaha, it’s fine. You think I’m naked?”

“…Really not?”

“Yeah, I’m just embarrassed. I only came to wash your back.”

“But earlier… didn’t it look like you were undressing?”

“You were watching, huh?”

“Ah, no…”

Damn it. That comment sounded downright perverted. It’s not that—I wasn’t staring intently, I swear.

“Hmm.”

Really sorry about that.

“Hehe, naughty.”

Her voice, laced with a lascivious tone, made my face heat up. Along with the shame and guilt, I could feel my heart pounding wildly.

This… is heading in a bad direction. This flow is dangerous. Absolutely dangerous.

We need to change the atmosphere. I’m convinced that if this isn’t diffused, it won’t just be a harmless prank.

“…You’re not naked, right?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s not a lie?”

“It’s not a lie.”

Then, it’s fine.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I lowered my hands and opened my eyes.
Doing my best to appear calm, I forced a cool smile. I’d turn around, say, “Geez, you really surprised me,” and then casually and swiftly leave.

I might be completely exposed, but she’s already seen me once. Too bad, but it’s too late now. Besides, Noel is a girl. She’s not likely to be gawking—most probably she’d cover her face with her hands.
Taking advantage of that moment, I’d make my escape.

With resolve, I turned around――

“Geez…”

“Hmm?”

“Aren’t you practically naked?”

“You’re wearing a towel, aren’t you?”

I ended up hastily turning away again.
Yes, Noel had only wrapped a white towel around her body. So earlier, she must have really undressed. Technically, she wasn’t naked, but what’s the difference? In this situation, it’s practically negligible.

No, wait—let’s think of it as that kind of outfit. I panicked a bit, but it’s fine. That wasn’t a thin towel; it was clothing.
So, it’s okay. Everything’s still proper.

But I couldn’t summon the courage to turn around again.
At this point, it was a siege. I was determined not to leave this bubble-protected bathtub. Noel said she came to wash my back, so if I stayed like this, I might as well give up――

“Maybe I’ll join in too.”

“……”

The situation worsened.

Whoever thought of a “siege strategy” is a real idiot.
Noel is coming this way—what am I going to do now?

“I—I’m about to…”

“Night Garden.”

“………”

So, you’re telling me not to leave, Noel?
Before I could even attempt an escape, her single word froze my movement.
While I was trying to figure out if I should break out—even if it meant being caught—tiny sounds of fabric rubbing reached my ears, and I completely froze.

“Um… could it be, why is the towel… why…”

“When you get into the tub, you take it off, right?”

Yeah, that’s right. It’s proper etiquette.
But do we really need to follow etiquette here?
You could’ve kept it on, you know?
Hey, why did you take it off?

Before I could react, the sound of splashing water echoed several times in the bathroom—probably Noel was splashing water around.
And then――

“Excuse me~”

Noel stepped into the same bathtub.

“Hey, Noil,”

“…What is it?”

“Look this way.”

“…I can’t.”

I’m a guy, you know.
Even now, I’m fighting hard to keep my self-control. Don’t toy with a man’s feelings any further—I just can’t take it.

……Lately, something feels off with me.
With the Mina incident and all, why do these trials keep coming? I always say it, but I feel like I’m really losing my mind.

I swore I wouldn’t stray, yet I’m on the verge of doing something I’ll regret. They say you shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you—so maybe this is fine? Maybe I should just…

“No, no, no.”

“Huh, what?”

That won’t do. What was I thinking?
Am I stupid? I need to think ahead—this could end disastrously. Stay cool, stay cool. I need to remain cool.

“Hmph!”

“Eh!?”

I accidentally hit my forehead on the tub’s edge—a welcome shock to my over-heated brain.

“You okay, Noil?”

“Ah, don’t worry about it.”

But then things escalated further.
Noel moved closer and touched my shoulder.
This is bad—this isn’t an appropriate distance.

“No! Show me!”

“Ah, alright.”

She grabbed my face with both hands and forced me to turn around. Her cheeks were flushed with worry, and I hurriedly closed my eyes. Fortunately, it only lasted a moment and, thanks to the bubble bath, I didn’t get a glimpse of her body—but my position was extremely precarious.

“Doesn’t hurt, does it? It might even swell up.”

“It… it hurts.”

I regret not saying it more firmly.
It was so close—I could feel something soft against my back. Any pain of this level was being completely blown away.

Noel gently placed her palm on my forehead.
As we drew closer, I could sense that I, Noil Arlens, was entering my growth spurt.

“N-Noel… you might be a bit too close.”

“…Ah… yeah, I suppose.”

Yet, even with that, Noel didn’t pull away.
With my eyes still shut, I couldn’t see her expression—but the rapid beat of her pulse, felt through my back, was like a drumroll.

“Hey, Noil,”
Noel whispered my name close to my ear.

“…What?”

“Have you ever taken a bath with someone other than Shiala-chan?”

“Well… never…”

Of course not—I mean, not even with the manager—wait, why is the manager coming into this? What’s gotten into me, Noil Arlens? I must be losing my mind.

“Hehe, then I suppose I’ll take the lead.”

Noel chuckled softly and, in turn, placed her hand first on my head and then on my chest.

“But—there’s still someone here. Right here, and here.”

“Huh?”

Murmuring quietly, Noel finally pulled away from me. What could be there… a parasite maybe?
In any case, I sighed in relief.

“I’m leaving now.”

“Ah, okay…”

Hearing her voice from behind, I nodded in a daze.

“For now, this is enough. You were so responsive, Noil—I wouldn’t want to trouble you further.”

“Eh…”

I couldn’t help but sneak a peek at my lower half. There, Noil was showing signs of quite impressive growth. I felt like dying.

“And besides—that wasn’t even my reason for coming here.”

“Eh?”

Noel stood up and said something outrageous. I didn’t see her, but I could tell from behind that she got out of the tub.

“I’ll be waiting in the room.”

With that, I heard the sound of the door opening and closing, and the bathroom fell silent.
I looked up at the ceiling and exhaled deeply.

“I won’t be getting out for a while…”

Feeling that Noil was still full of energy, I muttered that all to myself.

◇

“Hey Noel, have you seen my clothes?”

After taking plenty of time to calm down, I put on the bathrobe provided in the room and asked Noel, who was sitting on the bed.

“I threw them out.”

“Why would you do that?”

They were brand new.

“They got dirty.”

“No, that can’t be…”

“They were dirty.”

“Ah, okay.”

“Don’t worry—I kept your underwear safe.”

“Ah, okay.”

What am I supposed to be reassured about? How on earth am I going to get home from here? I had so many things to say, but Noel’s strangely intimidating smile made me hold my tongue.
She nodded contentedly and slowly stood up.

“Then, Noil—can you spare just a little bit of blood?”

“Why?”

Tilting her head cutely, that was her earnest request.