Vol 3 Chapter 18 – Boyhood: Midsummer at Age Twelve・Part 3

As mentioned in the afterword of the previous chapter, I had failed to schedule the post.

I deeply apologize, and I will be careful to ensure that it does not happen again.

After lunch, I decided to get in one more task before it got too late and return. This time, so as not to get carried away, I entrusted the reins of Castor to Mika for the ride together. Placing my hand on his waist made my heart skip a beat—partly because of how we set off—but there was no typical “So you were a woman?!” scenario.

The curve of his waist and the shape of his hip bones were entirely different from when I last touched Margit. If one were a woman, no amount of a boyish appearance could hide it. Just as if I tried my best to cross-dress, if someone scrutinized the shape of my neck, knees, or wrists, the truth would be exposed instantly.

“By the way, Erich, are you going to let your hair grow?”

While I was relieved—talking about how summer makes sweating such a hassle—he remarked on my hair, which was only halfway grown and clinging with sweat.

Ah, ever since I started growing it out to appease the fairy’s mood, I’ve been enduring the annoyance and persevering with it. However, whether it’s my own doing or the fairy giving it an extra push, my hair has been growing rather quickly; before I left the manor, what used to be a short nape was nearly reaching my back.

…I’ve heard that the more lewd a person is, the faster their hair grows, but I want to believe that isn’t true. I’ve never engaged in any twisted, erotic text sessions or anything like that. I’m not lying.

“Well, I suppose hair has its significance in magic as well, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly. It’s excellent not only as a catalyst but also as a storage organ for magical power—second only to the magic crystals of demonic seeds. The male version is somewhat unimpressive, but that’s why all women take pride in their long hair.”

I see. Now that you mention it, all the eccentric ones I know have been growing theirs out. Agrippina-san’s hair must be a nightmare to maintain without magic, and Lady Reisen—even though she’s an undead—had a magnificent brunette mane, longer than her waist, reflecting her appearance from life.

Then, do I also have to go that far? That’s a bit of a hassle. Thanks to my “hands,” I might manage to braid it somehow, but I’d be overly burdened by it in the bath. I can’t just leave it soaking as is, and if I tie it up, my head will feel weighed down.

“How long do you plan to grow it?”

“…Well, at most, I’m thinking of letting it reach the middle of my back.”

“That’s good; your hair is beautiful. It will surely shine. You looked quite splendid today after all that sweat.”

…I might be worrying about this kid unnecessarily, but I’m starting to fret over his future. What are you trying to accomplish by complimenting me? And using phrases that make my heart skip a beat for just a moment like that! If I were a girl, this would be a straight shot to the heroine route. Scary…

That’s why handsome guys are so sly. Honestly.

“I think your hair is pretty good too. It’s not every day you see hair as lustrous as this black mane. I wonder what kind of care you give it.”

“I just wash it normally in the bath. Hair oil is expensive, so I can’t really go for that—though I do use a little extra soap. What about you?”

“Eh? I just wash it at the public bath and let it air dry.”

“…Don’t you dare say that in front of the ladies.”

He said it in such an oddly earnest tone, and it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve never been to a public bath with him.

In the imperial capital, there are as many as seven public baths! Among them, two are government-subsidized free baths—making it a very fortunate environment where one can bathe inexpensively. Additionally, there’s a bath where you can pay five As for a more leisurely experience, and if you splurge twenty As, you can fully enjoy a bathhouse equipped with a variety of unique tubs. Truly, a city irresistible to bath enthusiasts.

The other three are aimed at the wealthy, so I’ve never gone near them. Two of them have more the air of upscale spas than public baths; just entering requires a fortune in large silver coins, so if I ever succeed in the future, I definitely plan to visit. The last one is a bit peculiar, so it’s probably best to avoid it for now… though I must admit, it isn’t entirely uninteresting either.

“Hey, Mika, how about going to the bath when we get home? We’ve worked up a sweat, and using only magic to clean ourselves just wouldn’t be satisfying, would it?”

“Eh? Oh, a bath, huh… Sorry, but I’m just not comfortable with the idea of going to the bath together.”

Even though I had come up with the idea and invited him to share a moment of undressed camaraderie, the answer was NO. He said that when he bathes, he prefers to be left undisturbed—to stretch out his legs and soak in a meditative state. If an old man can savor gourmet food in solitude, it’s not unthinkable for a beautiful young man to relish a hot spring alone as well.

Hmm, that does sound pleasant in its own way, and one shouldn’t interfere with individual preferences. Going together only to bathe separately and not exchange a word until leaving would make you wonder why you even went in the first place.

Since there was no point in forcing the issue, I dropped the subject, and—with Castor being spurred along as practice for a brisk walk—we set off on our way home. We chased the sun as it began to tilt from the zenith, and by the time it was looming over our shoulders, his hooves were stamping on the paved stones of the town.

After returning a thoroughly satisfied Castor to the stables and carrying our load to the reception, we found it bustling with other students who had received assignments like we had.

“Ah, it’s bustling. Now then, I wonder how our little project will be of use.”

“That’s right. I definitely hope it will help us tap into the deeper mysteries of magic—not for the sake of gaining new knowledge, mind you.”

While exchanging jokes, we lined up and handed over our assignment slip and the target item to the receptionist. She accepted them with a smile and even gave each of us a candy. Infused with honey, it was probably an essential item for a receptionist to soothe the throat.

The sweet taste of honey was a comforting sensation that seeped into my sweat-soaked, tired body.

Now, the procedure is that the assignment is accepted at the reception, evaluated by them, and then payment is made.

Apparently, this is a measure taken by the senior students—those who have been at the Magic Academy for a long time—to prevent them from overworking the new students as errand runners. This is because, in the past, an incident got so heated that it nearly led to duels between the heads of academic factions, eventually escalating into a massive uproar with the emperor himself making an appearance. A quarrel that escalated from childish bickering to head-to-head mortal combat—as if you were samurai from Kamakura.

Anyway, aside from that eye-opening episode about humanity’s inherent savagery, we received our voucher of account noting that the adjudication and payment would take place after tomorrow. Licking the candy with a karakoro sound, we thanked the reception and departed.

“Well then, I’ll go take a bath before my evening duties.”

“I see. I want to compile what I learned today, so I’m heading to the library. See you later.”

And so, I went off to the bath while Mika headed off to study, and we parted ways in front of the Magic Academy. It’s hard to feel it after such a long summer day, but it was already evening. Presenting oneself neatly before one’s duties is not merely a matter of manners—it’s a basic human decency.

Moreover, after living here for two weeks, I’ve gradually begun to understand what Agrippina-san meant by 【The City of Vanity and Its Castle】. If that’s the case, then I’m by no means foolish or pessimistic enough to ignore the importance and necessity of conforming to the spirit of this city.

Carrying a towel, a bucket, and a scrubbing tool—from home (something like a metal rod used for scrubbing) to the government-subsidized bath—I could clearly see what this city was built for.

It’s essentially too pristine.

Admittedly, even the smaller cities I’ve visited were clean. In the Triple Empire, proper sewage and fresh-water infrastructure is mandated by law, and every city—even the smaller ones—has public toilets (of the bucket system, mind you) managed by official municipal attendants, making them far removed from the dark medieval Europe I had imagined.

However, even so, compared to the imperial capital, these cities fall short. There aren’t as many water fountains or wells as in the imperial capital, and even the emperor-subsidized free baths only appear in cities with populations exceeding 20,000. As a result, some residents scrimp on bath fees and end up with a rather pungent odor.

But the imperial capital doesn’t have that. It employs mages specializing in street cleaning and even provides two emperor-subsidized free baths, cultivating an ethos that anyone who doesn’t bathe is unworthy of being an imperial citizen—this is nothing but vanity.

After all, the very ability to indulge in luxury is the best means of showcasing a nation’s power.

The public bath—located in the working-class lower district not far from the magical quarter—was empty since it was still before the workers finished their shifts. It was perfect timing, as it would soon be so crowded that entry would be restricted. Even if you soaked in the water in a state akin to a summer public pool in a imoarai condition, it still worked wonders for relaxation.

At the counter, I showed my citizen voucher—which, by the way, left my pockets jingling with too many vouchers (a drawback of this city)—and received a locker key. Since the bath is basically free, the policy is to manage your valuables on your own.

I stowed my belongings in the locker with its fragile key—seemingly on the verge of breaking under any strain—and quickly shed my clothes. Judging by this haphazardness, the locker key seemed designed not so much to protect the bathers’ possessions as to count whether the regulated number of entrants had been reached.

Well, even if I pried open that locker, I’d only get a few copper coins’ worth—just enough for dinner. Considering the clientele that frequents this place, it’s hardly worth risking something like an iron shackle punishment—a form of public humiliation where you’re forced to live with chains binding your hands and feet.

Once inside the narrow, restricted entrance of the bathhouse, I found myself in a dim space dominated by steam.

The government-subsidized bathhouse, despite its vastness, is built in a simple style. A high ceiling towers overhead, and from several skylights carved into it, the vibrant summer light still pours in, casting illumination amid the billowing steam. In the bathtubs below, people spent their time as they pleased—seemingly dissolving their fatigue and worries in the hot water as they enjoyed it in their own way.

There are three tubs, filled respectively with cold water, lukewarm water, and hot water—a luxury you don’t see at the manor. After briefly rinsing at the wash area, one would first soak in the hot water to loosen the body and soften the buildup on the skin’s surface.

“Kuu… ah…”

Regardless of all the vanity, the bath was excellent. For us commoners, if we can partake in even a little of it, the actual details hardly matter.

More than that, I had things I wanted to ponder calmly since the morning.

As I let my body drift in the warm water and completely relaxed, I floated up. Being tall, as I gazed at the steam-shrouded ceiling, I summoned my status to check the day’s progress.

“…It really piled up, huh.”

Three months ago, that first “life-or-death” battle granted me an unexpected level of proficiency. If earnest practice yields good experience points, then it’s only natural that a desperate struggle—one that squeezes every last drop of life—would be even more efficient.

And now, the proficiency I have stockpiled is such that it could, for instance, elevate a <Superior> <Dexterity> to that of a <Favorite>, or bring a <Matured> <Battle Sword Technique> up to <Master> level plus something extra.

I was utterly shocked when I first checked. The necessary value—which I had thought would require endless tedious repeats like in a mobile game—had been achieved in one go, nearly causing me to fall out of bed in surprise. Perhaps it was because it was my first battle and a life-or-death struggle, with a bonus thrown in, and the prodigy consistently applying some brutal adjustments. It was the kind of proficiency you couldn’t help but hope future battles would grant as well.

In the past, I might have agonized over those two options… but now, fortunately, there are more choices available.

One option is to further enhance the strengths I’ve been building up.

The second is to shore up my weaknesses.

The third is to try something entirely new.

The second and third options will be available tomorrow. Ever since I received that letter, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them—even when I tried to focus on working with Mika.

Even if I’m laughed at for being unworthy of friendship, it can’t be helped. However, only those who have never turned down an invitation for a pre-ordered game should dare to criticize.

How could a “data manch” who’s amassed an enormous amount of experience points not be excited enough to throw caution to the wind?

The excellent hot water improved my blood circulation nicely, and I could feel my brain activity getting stimulated.

Well then, I’ll let myself sink into delightfully cheerful thoughts until I’m on the verge of getting lightheaded…………