When the Villain Joined the Knights to Avoid Doom Flags, but Somehow the Heroines Started Approaching Him - Chapter 31: The Bath

Chapter 31: The Bath

“Hahhh…“

The sound of water gently flowing and steam rising filled the enclosed space, creating a soothing atmosphere.

In this serene bathhouse, Yulis leaned back, a towel draped over his forehead, his expression completely relaxed.

(Baths really are the universal pleasure. No matter what world you’re in, they’re unbeatable.)

Although they had decided to move, it wasn’t something that could happen overnight. 

For now, Princess Fia was staying at the Knights’ quarters, and the actual packing and moving would begin tomorrow.

This meant no late-night tasks or back-to-back labor for Yulis, leaving him with some rare free time to enjoy a relaxing soak in the bath.

(Early retirement from the academy battlefield, check. Lots happened, but at least I avoided meeting the protagonist. Here’s hoping I can continue living in peace without crossing paths with them.)

And then—

“Master, let me wash your back!”

“Get out!!!”

Bang! The door suddenly flew open with a dramatic crash.

Standing there was Iris, his former maid, in a scene that every adolescent boy’s instincts would scream to look away from—but not before looking once.

“Hey, hey, you’re just one step away from being a shameless exhibitionist! A young lady shouldn’t be charging straight into that territory like it’s her goal in life.”

“For someone saying that, you sure haven’t stopped staring at me since I came in.”

“…Iris, you’ve developed really well, huh.”

“Master, I didn’t think even a perverted adolescent boy could reach such a pro-level of honesty. I’m honestly shocked.”

Yulis, ever the straightforward one, had no filter when it came to speaking his mind.

“Wait, seriously though, what are you doing here? This is the men’s bath!”

This wasn’t Yulis’s old residence—it was a shared facility. At any moment, someone else, a less-than-gentle “wolf,” could walk in.

And yet, here she was, this beautiful girl casually stepping into the men’s bath without a care in the world.

The lack of awareness—or sense of danger—was staggering. If anyone needed to leave immediately, it was her—

“Don’t worry! I just switched the men’s bath sign to the women’s bath sign earlier!”

“I’m leaving RIGHT NOW. MOVE IT!!!”

—except it seemed like Yulis was the one who had to make a hasty retreat instead.

“Wait, you’re serious?! Why am I suddenly the one who’s about to be labeled a pervert just because of one dumb move on your part? Fix it right now!”

“It’s fine! The only people back at the Knights’ quarters right now are Senior, the princess, and the fox lady!”

“That doesn’t make me feel better at all!!!”

Celia might just be a regular senior, but the other two were different—full-fledged heroines, people Yulis absolutely couldn’t afford to upset.

If word got out that he’d “deliberately” walked into the women’s bath after the sign was changed, he’d be branded a shameless pervert. Who knew what would happen to his favorability with them after that?

Yulis, having just been basking in the peaceful atmosphere of the bath, shot to his feet, determined to leave the bathhouse as quickly as possible.

But then—

“Fufu, I was just kidding.”

“Whoa!”

Before he could react, Iris had somehow snuck behind him and pushed at the back of his knees, forcing him to sit back down.

“The sign actually says ‘Under Cleaning.’ Unless the hero is someone who actively wishes for a lucky event, no one will come in.”

“…Yeah, but the thing is, the heroine who could trigger such an event is literally right here.”

“I’m just a cute little maid who wants to spend time with her Master, that’s all~♪”

Yulis glanced back cautiously.

Her smooth figure, a perfectly proportioned chest, and a well-defined waist… All subtly accentuated by the warm atmosphere, with her cheeks slightly flushed, giving off an alluring vibe.

And that was precisely why he immediately regretted turning around.

The sight definitely made his heart race, but more than that, it was the other reaction he was worried about—

“If it’s you, Master, I’m totally okay with it!”

“What part of me are you looking at to say that?!”

Even though he had gone to great lengths to keep himself covered with a towel, having her gaze fixed on certain areas made him visibly uncomfortable.

“Fufu, Master, you’re so shy… Have you washed your body yet?”

“…Not yet.”

“Then allow me to take care of it for you!”

Before he could respond, Iris had already grabbed some soap. Without hesitation, she began to work on his back, her hands quickly lathering up with bubbles.

The sensation of her cool, soapy hands against his warm skin made his back instinctively straighten.

But then—

She stuck strictly to what was appropriate for a maid, washing only his back and hair. Her touch was gentle and professional, spreading nothing but a soothing sense of comfort.

“……”

“……”

The bathhouse fell into a brief but noticeable silence.

It felt slightly awkward, so Yulis, trying to distract himself, spoke up.

“…Hey.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to keep doing maid duties anymore, you know? You’re a knight now, just like me. At this point, we’re basically equals.”

Iris’s lips curved into a small, soft smile.

“Taking care of Master is my exclusive privilege.”

“Privilege, huh…”

“No matter how far I go, I’m still just a commoner. Even if we’re technically equals, to stay by Master’s side, this is the role I have to play.”

Right now, that might be fine.
But in the future, it was uncertain whether Iris would always remain a knight.
For example, an injury could force her to retire, or she might start a family and leave voluntarily.
In such a scenario, the “equal” position she held now could vanish entirely.

If Iris wanted to stay by Yulis’s side, no matter what happened, then holding onto this role was something she couldn’t afford to give up.

“Besides, for girls, taking care of a boy they adore is secretly one of our favorite things. You know, like those people who offer lap pillows and say, ‘Go ahead and be spoiled, sweetie’?”

“That sounds more like motherly instincts than anything else.”

“Alright, let me rephrase it… I’m just a maiden who absolutely loves my master and loves taking care of him. Simple as that.”

With a splash, Yulis dumped a bucket of water over himself to rinse off the soap.

Wiping the droplets from his face, he scratched his cheek awkwardly as he stood up.

“…You’ve got some odd tastes.”

“Of course! I’m a beautiful girl, after all~♪”

Still, having someone so sincere and straightforwardly devoted wasn’t something he could dislike.

Turning back toward her, Yulis smirked and, in a teasing tone, said:

“Should I wash your back next?”

“Really!? Go ahead! Touch me wherever you like!”

“Sorry, I take it back—handle it on your own, please!”

Right… there’s no reasoning with her.

Seeing Iris rushing toward him, her towel barely staying in place, Yulis turned bright red.

“Yulis, Iris… You two disappeared together and came back together… Don’t tell me you were in the bath together?”

“”We were in the bath together.””

“Sit down over there right now. We need to have a talk.“

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