A Playful, Flirty Splash In The Bath

Once I’d finished my paperwork for the morning, I found myself with nothing to do again.

Setia had gone into the forest to search for medicinal herbs, while Karan-san was busy with administrative work as usual.

Neither of them had time to keep me company.

And Aine was apparently battling those filthy toilets all by herself.

There were plenty of things I wanted to build, but today, I wanted to make something that would cheer Aine up.

As I flicked through the catalog looking for ideas, I found something promising.

A cabinet.

It was a type of box-shaped storage furniture.

Kinoshita Construction Company also accepted orders for custom-built homes complete with furnishings, so I could create things like this too.

Magic really was ridiculously overpowered.

I decided to install one beside my bed right away.

Now, some of you might be wondering how a cabinet in my bedroom was supposed to benefit Aine.

That was a perfectly reasonable question.

You see, this particular cabinet had a built-in refrigerator.

Not a full-sized kitchen refrigerator, but a small one designed for bedside use.

Those of you who are quick on the uptake have probably figured it out already.

That’s right. The refrigerator was stocked with all sorts of wonderful things.

Just like the amenities in my toilet, its contents would automatically replenish themselves.

Better yet, it was thoughtfully designed to rotate its selection periodically so nobody would get bored.

I was certain seeing this would cheer Aine right up.

Still, if I gave Aine special treatment, Karan-san might get jealous.

Despite her outward appearance, that woman could be surprisingly jealous.

It was difficult to tell from her expression, but she often became irritated whenever I showed favoritism toward the other two.

I’d better invite Aine, Karan-san, and Setia for an unveiling, just like usual.

Some time after I’d started constructing the cabinet, I heard Aine calling to me from the study.

“Fortress Lord! Your bath is ready!”

Oh, right. Today was bath day.

It would be my first proper bath since arriving at Gaurea Fortress, so I’d been looking forward to it.

“Coming!”

I put the cabinet construction on hold and headed over to Aine.

Aine led me into a dimly lit room.

“This is the changing room. Please undress here.”

“All right. Thanks.”

I thanked her, but Aine showed absolutely no sign of leaving.

“Um, did you still need something?”

“Hm? Why, of course I’ll be assisting you with your bath, Fortress Lord.”

“Huh!? I don’t need help with that. I can bathe by myself.”

“Whatever are you saying? It’s only proper for someone of noble standing to receive assistance while bathing.”

Was that so?

It sounded more like helping an elderly person take a bath…

“Um, do you really have to help me?”

“Of course. Otherwise, Karan-san will punish me again. I was cleaning those toilets all by myself until just a little while ago, you know. If I neglect my duties here, she’ll definitely whip my bottom this time.”

That would be awful.

It was a little embarrassing, but I supposed I could just wrap a towel around my waist…

“All right. You can come into the bathroom with me, but please don’t stare too much.”

“Certainly. Ufufu…”

Perhaps because I was blushing and acting so awkwardly, Aine smiled with obvious delight.

“Now then, let’s get those clothes off.”

Moving behind me, Aine skillfully began removing my clothes.

She carefully folded each garment and placed it in a basket.

Once my upper body was bare, I picked up a towel and wrapped it around my waist.

“Oh? Whatever are you doing?”

“I’m embarrassed about being seen naked. Wouldn’t you be, Aine?”

“I’ve never seen one before, but if it’s yours, Fortress Lord, I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“No, no, please spare me.”

“Very well. I won’t look below your waist. I’ll just watch your adorable, embarrassed face instead.”

Aine stared directly at me without averting her gaze.

This was incredibly embarrassing in its own way!

Still, I supposed it was better than having her look below my waist.

Once I’d finished undressing, Aine quickly began removing her maid uniform as well.

“W-Whoa! What are you doing!?”

“My clothes would get wet otherwise. Don’t worry. I won’t take everything off.”

Oh, that was a relief… Wait, no, it wasn’t reassuring at all!

What she was wearing underneath was made of rather thin fabric, and the outline of her body was clearly visible.

Whoa… I hadn’t realized Aine’s breasts were that large…

“Now then, this way, please.”

I followed her into the bathroom on rather unsteady feet, feeling as though my head were floating.

It was a kind of bathroom I’d never encountered before.

A large bathtub stood prominently in the center of a room measuring approximately sixteen square meters, but there were no faucets or water heaters in sight.

There wasn’t even a separate washing area, and I couldn’t see a single bathing bucket or stool.

The windows here were small too, leaving the room rather dim.

At least that meant Aine wouldn’t be able to see my private parts.

Unfortunately, it also meant I wouldn’t be able to see much of Aine…

So this was what they called a dilemma.

“This is a pretty simple bathroom, isn’t it?”

“Is it? I think it’s quite ordinary. Although commoners don’t have bathrooms in their homes, of course.”

“People in town don’t take baths?”

“That’s not true. There are proper public bathhouses in town.”

Apparently, bathing was an important form of recreation for the townspeople as well.

“Hmm. Maybe I’ll visit one of the town’s bathhouses sometime. I bet they’re bigger than this one.”

“I wouldn’t recommend that.”

“Why not?”

“Because the water in the town bathhouses isn’t nearly as clean as this.”

They probably didn’t have any water circulation or filtration systems, so maybe the water was full of floating dirt and dead skin.

I’d rather avoid that…

After stirring the water with her hand, Aine gestured for me to enter the bathtub.

“The water temperature seems just right. Please, get in.”

Perhaps because it had been so long since my last bath, or maybe because of the water quality, my skin tingled when I submerged myself.

“Where did you get this hot water?”

“It was prepared by soldiers who can use Water Magic and Flame Magic. Heating this much water is quite a difficult task.”

Apparently, it had taken six soldiers working together to prepare the bath.

“Do the bathhouses in town heat their water with magic too?”

“In town, they heat the water by burning fuel. I’ve heard they sometimes use magic to make small adjustments to the temperature.”

So the town bathhouses used a hybrid system.

Either way, bathing in this world wasn’t particularly appealing.

I’d definitely have to build my own bathroom.

After all, I had the power of Construction Company at my disposal.

“Well then, allow me to wash your back.”

Aine gently pressed the sponge she was holding against my back.

“Is this amount of pressure comfortable?”

“Yeah, it’s just right. Thank you…”

This was my first time having a woman wash my back.

I was so nervous that my entire body had gone stiff.

Aine carefully scrubbed my back, moving from the tops of my shoulders to my shoulder blades and then down toward my waist.

Wait, the sponge had moved around to the front of my neck!

It continued down over my collarbones and began scrubbing my chest.

“I-I can wash the front myself. It’s fine.”

“I’m afraid that won’t do. Do you want to see Karan-san whip me?”

“N-No, of course not, but…”

Aine continued moving her hands while gazing intently at my face.

“W-Wait a minute… Any farther than that…”

“Ufufu, you’re so adorable, Fortress Lord.”

“Wait! Not below there!”

“Oh my, this one’s quite formidable.”

“Stooop, Aine!”

“I’m afraid not♡”

I’d ended up thoroughly enjoying a playful, flirty bath together.

“You look wonderfully refreshed.”

“Thanks to you, I’m all clean now. I feel like my body’s gotten lighter.”

She had washed my entire body, after all…

“I’m very glad to hear that.”

All right, there was still some time before evening, so I could get back to constructing the cabinet.

I’d probably be able to finish it before nightfall.

Once it was complete, I’d invite everyone over for a little party.

“Aine, could you come to my bedroom tonight? There’s something I want to show you.”

Aine covered her mouth with one hand and let out a small gasp of surprise.

“At night? Understood… In that case, I’ll make myself presentable before coming to see you.”

Perhaps thanks to the bath, my mana had recovered too, so I needed to concentrate on my work from here on.

I had to make sure everything was ready by tonight.

“Ufufu, I do adore you when you’re flustered, Fortress Lord, but this assertive side of you is rather wonderful too.”

Aine said something, but I was pulling my shirt over my head at the time, so I couldn’t quite hear her.