Chapter 57: Morning Wash

Letting out a yawn, I entered the living room to find Sierra sitting upright in her chair.

“Good morrow, Shirou, ‘tis such a fine morning.”

Somehow, it feels strange to hear a vampire say ‘a fine morning’.

“G’morning. Sierra, you’re really fine with the morning sun, huh?”

“Verily? I’d prefer thy not group me in with those old bats. Modern vampires find no issue with the sun.”

Oh yeah, come to think of it, she was also fine with being outside yesterday, while the sun was still up.

“That’s because in my previous world, the sunlight was a major weakness to them.”

“Mayhaps, shading magic has yet to be developed there. ‘Twas probably the reason.”

Sierra then explained that about 300 years ago, a genius vampire developed a revolutionary magic called Shade Magic. It is said to reduce the amount of light that reaches a vampire’s skin to a negligible level by wrapping the vampire’s surface with a thin veil of dark magic.

“And lo, the magic allows a vampire to continue their activity well into the daytime. However, some old dingbats and geezers are set in their ways and call it shameful for vampires to have activity when the sun is up.”

It seems like even vampires has their own generation gap problem.

“So, you’re using the shading magic at the moment?”

“Actually, no. Though I may be able to cast it for indefinite periods of time, I am currently using this item.” Sierra held out her right hand to show me a bracelet on her wrist. It had a silver-snake motif, like it was coiling around her wrist, with a dark purple jewel embedded in it.

“Wearing this item will automatically enchant the wearer with shading magic.”

“I see. Seems like it’s really convenient huh.”

“Recently, there exist a certain type of item that allows the maximum amount of sunlight that is still safe to reach the skin, which is particularly popular among vampire right now. Wearing it will allow us to become suntanned, which is quite a feat. Nonetheless, I have no interest in such folly.”

What’s that, a suntanned vampire? I want to see it! A Gyaru vampire, now isn’t that just something else? It could even be considered something really rare! [1]

However, I still think that white, pale skinned vampire is still the way to go. It’s more proper for them. The only race that I’m fine with being dark-skinned are the elves.

“By the by, Shirou, I would like to take a bath, can you provide one for me?”

“Sure. Do you need hot water?”

“Preferably so.”

“Alright, I’ll have the hot water ready soon, so please wait a bit.”

“My thanks. Oh, you needn’t prepare the fire. I can heat up the water with my magic, so all you need is to prepare the large pot.

As expected from a vampire, she’s really proficient with magic. Having this kind of guest is really great since taking care of their needs wouldn’t need so much time or preparation. I still need to prepare some towels and other necessities for her, though.

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I had Iwao to put a large pot on top of the furnace and fill it with water.

“Okay. You can start the fire to make the hot water anytime now…” As I turn around, Sierra was already undressed.

Her slender body seems to glow pale under the faint morning light leaking through the trees. The small bulge in her chest was covered by her flowing silver hair, as if to protect the sacred part from any unscrupulous gaze.

She really has the appearance of a little girl, which made me flushed with a sense of something morally inappropriate; as if I was looking at something I shouldn’t have seen. Why am I feeling racked with guilt?

“Is something wrong?” Sierra tilted her head slightly at how I’m reacting.

“Nothing. I’ve filled the pot with water, so the rest is up to you.”

I couldn’t help but getting flustered, so I faced to the other way and was about to leave.

“Hold on.”

“What is it?”

“Shirou… might it be possible that, you’re being bashful?”

I think, her remark is right on the spot. Rather than feeling lustful, I was feeling embarrassed. I think it’s because Sierra, while being nude, looks so beautiful and pure. As if to further prove to point, even my Little Joe didn’t give any reaction at all.

“Hmmmm…. Fufufu.” Sierra let out a small chuckle.

“What is it?”

“Heey… Onii-sama [2], can you please pour some warm water on me? I need help in washing my hair…”

Sierra hasn’t even start drinking yet, but she’s already switched into the playful younger sister mode.

“Sierra, I’m pretty sure you’re sober right now, right? Which means…”

“Thou couldst say I grew inebriated by the situation. Now, don’t be so tactless and do play into the scenario, won’t you?”

Really, what a troublesome vampire…

“As long as I only wash your hair, alright?”

“Verily, I wouldst nary tempt the fates.”

And so, I added some cooler water to the pot Sierra had boiled until the temperature was just above lukewarm. When washing your hair, it’s better for the water to have lower temperature to avoid damaging the scalp. [3]

“Alright. First, let’s pour some warm water into your hair before we start washing it.”

“Yes, Onii-sama.”

Now that I agree to play along with her, I feel like I want to put my heart in it.

“Do you usually wash your hair properly? You have such beautiful hair, you must put effort into taking care of it. Next, let’s lather in the shampoo. Here, put out your palm.”

I took the shampoo out of the jar and put it into her outstretched hand.

“What is this?”

“It’s shampoo; a liquid for washing your hair. Lather it up in your hand and then put it in your hair.”

Sierra rubbed her palms together as she was told. “It smells good…”

“For today, we will be using a special rose-scented shampoo, but we also have berry and tropical fruit scents, too.”

Gram likes the berry scented shampoo, while Lane likes the lavender scented one…

“It will sting if it gets into your eyes, so be careful.”

“Yes, Onii-sama.”

Surrounded by the fragrance of roses, I found myself admiring the line of Sierra’s back as it travelled from the nape of her neck to her buttocks.

To think that she’s 42 years old…

“Now then, let’s wash off the shampoo with warm water.”

Hot water containing bubbles flowed down the drainage route, setting the bath slimes atremble with joy. It seems the slimes also like the scent of roses.

“And there we have it. You’re spotless now, a glowing example of a fine lady.”

“Thank you, Onii-sama.”

That’s weird. Looking Sierra looks so gleeful like that, made me feel so warm in my chest.

“Now come here so I can dry up your hair.”

“Is that… really awright?”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to hold back.”

“Onii-sama!”

I hugged Sierra who happily jumped into my chest and made her to turn the other way. I then start to carefully dry her hair using the bath towel.

“We need to gently wipe your hair so as not to damage it.”

“Onii-sama, that tickles.   …!!”

Sierra’s face, which was blushing happily, suddenly returned to its serious look.

“Sierra?”

“Shirou, someone’s coming. I can feel a presence.”

Is it another guest? Or is it other pirates like Janice?

“Where are they now?”

“It will arrive here soon.”

I was getting anxious, but I then remember that Wonder No. 1 through 6 is here with me. Also, Sierra is beside me. There should be nothing to fear!

…right?

As I was watching the road from the shade of the trees, a woman walked by into the range of my vision.

And the sight of her made my heart flutter.

“Louise-san!”

“Shirou-san! It’s been awhile.”

The one who appeared was Louise-chan, a dragon rider from the Institute of National Land Management Survey.

“Woow. I’ve heard the report, but you’ve really made many improvements to the inn. It has become a really splendid establishment now!”

That’s right. The last time she came here, the inn only consisted of the cave portion.

By the way, it really brings back good memories of building the rock bath in a great hurry to see the scene of the three of them bathing at the same time. Captain Milano, Flirty Girl Leanne, and then the sweet and innocent Louise; all three lining naked on the rock bath, you could say that was the starting point for Shirou’s Inn…

…the starting point was really trivial, huh…

“Is something the matter?”

Whoops. No way I could tell her that I was reminiscing something erotic…

“I was reminiscing the day that all three of you were here, and I was feeling a bit nostalgic since it’s been quite some time after you all left the island. Are Captain Milano and Leanne-san doing well?”

“Yes, both of them are doing well. I was chosen as the liaison this time, and Leanne was very envious because of it.”

Yeah, I can just imagine how Leanne was reacting by the news…

“By the way, did you leave the capital in the middle of the night? Since you got to arrive this early in the morning.”

Lousie grimaced a bit. “This is really embarrassing. Actually I got lost and had to spend the night on a small reef. Luckily, at dawn, the cloud was finally breaking up and I was able to confirm my position, so I managed to continue my travel here. 

Come to think of it, it was cloudy last night. Since there is no GPS here, the wyvern riders are probably navigating by using the position of the starts and the moon, which is impossible to tell if the night sky is covered with cloud. [4]

“Seems like you’ve had it rough. Have you had anything to eat yet?”

“Not yet. I was looking forward to eating your cooking, that’s why I could keep flying all the way here.”

“That’s no good. Don’t worry, I’ll cook up something nice for you.” I tried to soothe her up by caressing her arm, and Louise’s face flushed up in embarrassment.

It’s exactly this kind of reaction, which made me want to take on a role of a cute, gentle, and bewitching Okami towards Louise.

“Shirou, do prepare a breakfast meal for mineself as well.” Sierra, who had been watching the exchange between Louise-chan and me until now, finally called out to me.

“Yup. I’ll prepare it right away. Oh, and Sierra, I have a little favor to ask of you.”

The blood that I’ve set with creation magic should be ready in seven minutes, and after dividing it into small portions, I’ll need Sierra’s help to freeze it, so it won’t go bad.

After that, I’ll make the bread. Thanks to the increase in level, I can now make one loaf in 44 seconds, which is much faster than manually baking a loaf of bread.

“Goku No.4, milk Koyuki, No. 3 check the eggs, No. 5 and 6, go feed the livestock. Meanwhile Goku No.1 and 2, help me prepare the breakfast.

With that said, the activity in Shirou’s inn finally began in earnest.

I’m certain that Louise must’ve come here bringing news from the Empire, which means that after breakfast, once she had settled down, she’ll inform it to me. I wonder what the Empire’s decision will be. Will they accept Gram-sama’s recommendation and open it to the public? Or will they dispatch another survey team instead?

As I tied my apron strings, my heart began beating with anticipation.

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1 Gyaru: a Japanese fashion style. Usually they have much darker/tanned skin and blonde/brown hair.

2 Onii-sama: Big brother. If you’ve read/watch enough manga/anime you’d know that any younger sister calling their big brother like this usually have brother complex.

I might be wrong tho.

3 It seems that if you shampoo your hair with the water too hot, it can damage and dry out the scalp where follicle resides, which in turn may cause loss of hair.

 4 Wouldn’t that mean that Louise was flying in total darkness? And she had to stop on a reef, in the middle of an ocean, waiting until morning.