The Rich And The Poor

Viewpoint: ???

Several months ago, Overlord Fels issued a strict order to everyone in the castle.

“You are to eat at least two meals a day. Also, you are to bathe once a day. If you cannot bathe because of work such as an expedition, then at least wipe your body down. This is absolute for everyone in the castle. Incidentally, I said at least once, so anyone who wants to bathe more than that can bathe as many times a day as they like.”

This order bewildered many of those in the castle.

After all, until then, meals had been once a week… and as for baths, they had never taken one before.

However, there was no one in this castle who defied Fels’s words.

Everyone followed Fels’s words and put food in their mouths… and many of them were stunned.

An indescribable sense of satisfaction… no, a feeling of fullness.

A sense of fulfillment they had never experienced before, and strength welling up inside them…

Everyone understood.

Food was incredible… and Lord Fels, who had taught them that, was incredible…

While everyone once again recognized Fels’s greatness, many tilted their heads at the other order.

Why bathe once a day?

Naturally, everyone bathed according to the order.

However, this time was different from the meal.

They had bathed… but it did not feel as though anything had changed.

No, Overlord Fels’s deep schemes and far-reaching foresight were not within the scope of their understanding… In the first place, if they were told to do it, there was no option but to do it.

Surely, just like meals, baths had some kind of effect as well.

And as time passed, some of them realized it.

The comfort of washing sweat away with hot water.

The wonder of hot water warming a body chilled by rain.

The tingling comfort after alternating between the sauna and the cold bath to promote circulation…

And as time passed, some of them also realized something else.

That perhaps they were being told to keep themselves clean at all times so they would be ready whenever they were called to his bedchamber.

And before long, that realization became common understanding among most of them.

This was the Einheria Grand Bath… a place of rest for warriors, and also a battlefield, where they put their spirit into a direction somewhat different from their master’s intentions.

“Ah, this feels so nice.”

“It does. Before, I never paid attention to such things… but bathing after training gives me an indescribable sense of satisfaction.”

“Ah, I also think baths after training are the best!”

“I am not very fond of training, but… I think baths are the best for loosening up a body stiffened by paperwork.”

“…Is Ilmitt’s body stiff only because of a lack of exercise?”

“That may not be the only cause. If you would like, shall I pluck off those things floating in the bath?”

“Could you not pluck them off with the same casual tone as offering to carry someone’s luggage? Eisha, perhaps the day will come when you understand this hardship too, you know?”

“…”

“Well, bigger is not necessarily better, you know? If you press them down, it is uncomfortable, but if you do not secure them properly, it hurts when you move…”

“I do not exercise as much as Lynferia, but even when I just jog lightly while moving around the castle, sometimes the blood vessels at the base tear and bruise.”

“That is terrifying…”

“Would it not be better to pluck them off?”

“Eisha… These are not detachable, so you cannot pluck them off and put them back on.”

“…Oh, is that so? Then let us pluck them off.”

“Eisha, you are being a little scary.”

“Saria, you should understand how I feel, should you not?”

“No, well… mine are normal, so…”

“…Is Marie still not coming to the bath?”

“Hm? What’s wrong, Eisha? You have a rather serious look on your face.”

“…Otonoha. You should pluck yours off too.”

“Pluck? Pluck what?”

“…Those lumps of fat.”

“…Fat? These? Ah, I see. So that’s what this is about.”

“Eisha has fallen to the dark side.”

“No, Eisha is usually like this, isn’t she? Well, even I sometimes feel like tearing them off.”

“Is that so? I shall help.”

“No, if I leave it to you, you really seem like you’d tear them off, so I’ll pass…”

“Otonoha, when do you think they get in the way? Lynferia and Ilmitt said they are troublesome when exercising, but…”

“Ah, in my case… they get sweaty. Here, and here.”

“I understand that. Also, when I am doing paperwork, this area often gets dirty. I cannot see it myself, so it is troublesome. Though the hardest part is the stiff shoulders.”

“Stiff shoulders, huh? I move my body quite a bit, so maybe that’s why my shoulders haven’t gotten stiff yet… but apparently moving your shoulder blades is good.”

“How does one move their shoulder blades?”

“Things like rotating your shoulders while focusing on your back. I think Ilmitt’s shoulders get stiff more easily because of paperwork.”

“That must be it. Ah, but when I rest them on the desk while working, it becomes quite a bit easier.”

“I do that a lot too. When I’m making small things, my body feels more stable and lighter, so it’s a lot easier.”

“Is that so?”

“Lynferia mostly works standing, and even when you sit in a chair, your posture is good.”

“But Lynferia, you can’t see your feet, right?”

“Y-yes… That is true. Having a blind spot is a little troublesome.”

“Grrraaaaaaaaah!”

“E-Eisha!? What is wrong!?”

“What is wrong with all of you, when I have been quietly listening this whole time!? This does not sound like boasting about misfortune at all. It only sounds like straight-up bragging!”

“N-no, we didn’t mean it that way…”

“To those who do not have, every word from those who do have sounds like provocation! Your shoulders get stiff? Mine do not get stiff at all! Sweat builds up? Mine are very well ventilated! Your view is bad? I can see all the way to my ankles perfectly!”

“E-Eisha?”

“No, in the first place, those are merely lumps of fat… and if you ask whether I need them… well, perhaps I may need them in the future, but at present, I do not particularly need them… Yet if asked whether I would be fine without them, the answer is no…”

“Eisha, calm down. Your face is red, and you will get dizzy from the heat. You should get out soon…”

“That said, I also think using illusion magic like Kamila-san does is wrong… Well, I have no aptitude for the illusion attribute, and it would only feel empty, so I will not do it…”

“I would prefer that you not bring up Kamila right now.”

“No! More important than that is God—Lord Fels! What does God—Lord Fels think!?”

“Lord Fels is…”

“Hmm, the Chief is…”

“I do not think Lord Fels dislikes larger ones.”

“!?”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. However, I do not think he considers only that part important.”

“…Is that so?”

“If Lord Fels were that sort of person, then either I, Lynferia, Otonoha, or someone else would already have been called to his bedchamber. But unfortunately, including the maids, not a single person has been called.”

“…”

“…”

“Lord Fels has changed greatly recently, but in that regard, he remains the same as before.”

“Th-there is no way Lord Fels would indulge in carnal pleasures!”

“Y-yeah! The Chief is a serious person, and things like that are… yes, that’s right!”

“Oh? If I recall, Lynferia, after the meeting immediately after Lord Fels returned…”

“Stop, Ilmitt! That was different! That was, well! Lord Fels had returned, and I was overwhelmed by all sorts of emotions…”

“Ah… I was surprised back then too… Lynferia and Kamila… both at the same time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The story of how Lynferia and Kamila suddenly went into heat at the end of the meeting.”

“Eisha! What manner of phrasing is that!?”

“Ugh… What exactly does God—Lord Fels desire…?”

“…We could find out if we had Ururu investigate, but… that would be disrespectful.”

“I believe Kamila wears that illusion because she thinks he prefers larger ones… but does she have some kind of certainty?”

“Shall we ask Kamila?”

“…When Kamila soaked in the bath before, Ilmitt pointed out that those were not floating… and she stopped bathing with us after that.”

“Is that not a little too much?”

“I did not mean it that way. Besides, everyone already knows about Kamila.”

“That’s true, but… so that’s why Kamila didn’t come even when we invited her to the bath.”

“I suddenly want to see Kamila very badly.”

“Same here.”

“Achoo.”

“Kamila-chan, are you okay?”

“Yes, I am fine. I wonder if someone is talking about me.”

“Maybe the sweat from training got cold! You should warm up in the bath!”

“That is true. But there seem to be rather a lot of people at this hour.”

“…Bath… going?”

“Ah, it’s Ururu-chan!”

“Marie too… want to go together…?”

“I’m going!”

“O-oh? Um, I think I might go a little later.”

“…Business?”

“It feels better to wash sweat away in the bath! Kamila-chan should come with us!”

“…Could the two of you go ahead first? I have a little business with Ilmitt.”

“…Perfect timing. Ilmitt is… in the bath now.”

“Ilmitt-chan will get out, so hurry up and go!”

“…”