Pawahara Seijo no Osananajimi to Zetsuen Shitara, Nanimokamo ga Umaku Iku Yō ni Natte Saikyō no Bōke

[A Brief Rest]

After returning to Berqua, we decided to take a rest for a while.

Because with King Vale having ceased to exist, the situation of the people of Lastall wasn’t urgent as there was no one who could turn them into monster at their will anymore.

The situation had been hectic in the last few days too, hence we came to a decision to relax before setting off on our next journey.

Thus, I went to the royal family-exclusive large bath but,

――Slide.

“Umu, I came to wash your back.”

――Slide.

“I’ve come to wash your back…*blush*.”

――Slide.

“Ou, I came to wash yer back!”

――Slide.

“I thought I’d give your back a wash, so I came.”

――Slide.

“Please let me wash your back.”

“……”

No, why would you all feel like washing my back!?

I mean, I appreciated the feeling, but why was even Iris here!?

I was stupefied, but the same could be said for the girls, it seemed.

Arca said, “Oi, what are you all doing here?”

Magmell replied with a stutter, “T-that’s my line! Didn’t you said you were going to take a walk outside to get some fresh night air!?”

What was up with that cliché excuse…

“Well, my body got cold from the night air. Hence, I decided to go to the bath. Then I ‘happened’ to meet Exa. That’s all.”

“How could you lie through your teeth like that!? You were just trying to get a head start!”

Point, Magmell pointed to Arca but,

“No, ain’t ya the same? You said you were going to ‘pick some flowers’, didn’t cha?”

“Eh?”

Ophir immediately retorted her.

“Fuh, what a pathetic concubine.”

“Y-you have no right to say that!? You lied as well!?”

“Well, whatever do you mean?”

“You can argue all you want, but can you take it somewhere else? As the princess of Berqua, I would say I have the obligation to tend to Exa, our savior, so you can leave him to me.”

““““……””””

“W-what?”

Stare~, being stared at with half closed eyes by Arca and co, Zana flinched.

Then, Ophir plainly said, “Nothin’, just thinkin’ that you’re surprisingly the kind of person who would abuse their authority at such occasions.”

Mm-hm, the other two nodded.

“T-there’s nothing wrong with what I said, is there!? I just want repay the hero who has saved this country as its princess!?”

“““Hmm~”””

“Kh…”

Still being stared with half closed eyes by the three, Zana seemed about to fold—at that time.

“—In that case, please leave the task to me. Excuse me, Exa-san.”

“Eh, uh, yeah…”

““““—!?””””

Iris slipped past the sides of the four and kneeled behind me on the floor.

Then, she rubbed a hand towel with a soap until it formed bubbles before starting to wash my back.

“How is it? Does it not hurt?”

“Y-yeah. It feels so good. Thanks.”

“No, it’s my pleasure.”

““““……Haah.””””

Seeing us, the other girls resigned themselves and started washing each other’s backs.

Rather, you all planned to get into the bath along with me, huh…

◇ ◇

Afterwards, feeling a little bad, I asked Iris if she would like me to wash her back as well. She then shyly nodded while her face turned red.

Hence, without any wicked thought, I gently washed Iris’s small back.

““““……””””

――Stare~.

“……”

Uhh, girls, your eyes hurting me, you know…

Why were you looking at me like I was some dangerous guy…

I was just washing Iris’s back as a thanks for her washing mine.

Why did you all have a ‘maybe he’s into loli?’ look on your faces.

Well I mean, it was true that Iris was extremely cute, but my feeling about her was totally pure. There was no way I’d ever put my hand on little girls.

Seriously, you all so rude, was what I thought sulkily, but to be honest, the more I thought about it, the more I became unable to look at Iris’s delicate back directly.

I wondered why a man’s heart was like this…