Chapter 140

“Water just poured all over my head.”

After relaxing in warm water, I got out again to rinse off, and Ria joyfully came out to help me.

There was no actual body contact, but with her using a large wooden bucket to splash water on my head, it seemed like her earlier claim about being a maid was sincere.

I was tense the whole time. Once I got out of the water, the towel clung tightly to me, but I held on to it securely, fearing it would drop at the slightest movement.

“Honestly, you really are full of embarrassment.”

Ria placed her hand softly on my head with a smile.

It was a gesture she often made, but in my tense state, I shrank into myself like a turtle.

…Really, how frustrating.

Ria was acting this way to help me, yet I felt annoyed that I couldn’t yell at her or let my irritation show.

“Here.”

Ria set the empty wooden bucket beside me.

“Huh?”

“Since I helped you, you have to help me too.”

“……”

Her words threw me into another dilemma.

When I glanced back slightly, Ria was sitting with her back turned towards me.

It was quite strange; despite being so active, her skin was completely unburned. Was this some sort of blessing or ability?

Well, since Hunters are known to withstand the fire expelled by monsters, maybe a little bit of sunlight isn’t enough to tan their skin.

Slowly rising, I splashed water with the bucket.

Thud. The wet towel dropped to the ground.

…Well, Ria was looking the other way, so it was fine.

It was an outdoor bath, and with Ria in front of me, I felt a bit exposed, but I slowly lifted the bucket and gently poured some water over Ria’s head.

“Phew.”

Ria brushed her face with her hand and lightly sighed as she pushed her hair back.

Even this simple action made me feel strange.

Looking again, Ria’s skin wasn’t just pure white. The area around her neck was slightly flushed. It must have been because she’d been in warm water for a while.

That gentle pink hue—

When Ria slightly turned towards me, I quickly turned away. Then, in a hurry, I grabbed the towel that had fallen on the ground and—

“……!?”

Slipped.

Misstepping on the wet, slippery stone floor, I suddenly slid.

“Oops!”

Ria caught me from behind. I could feel her hands on my waist.

I couldn’t even make a proper sound as I yelped and jumped up. I then dashed straight into the bath like a cannonball.

Splash! Water erupted everywhere.

“……”

Hunched over with my back to Ria, I just sat there as I heard her bursts of laughter behind me.

Feeling my ears heat up from her laughter, I continued to huddle in the bath.

**

It wasn’t until we entered the bathroom that Ria realized she had been a bit unreasonable.

Anna was innocent and easily deceived, but that didn’t mean she was without embarrassment. In fact, perhaps her innocence made her even more sensitive about it.

It was only natural to feel embarrassed in front of someone who had never seen them naked, whether male or female.

After splashing some water on myself to rinse off and stepping into the tub, Ria buried her face in her hands and sighed deeply.

“What am I thinking…?”

What was she thinking, really?

Anna hadn’t really done anything wrong to be yelled at like that.

Was it really that annoying that Anna had said she wouldn’t come into the bathroom behind Ria?

Believing that, but then saying she just couldn’t share the space inside the bathroom—it was irksome.

But those thoughts didn’t linger long.

Moments later, Anna walked into the bathroom.

Seeing her walk in while covering herself with Saint Power made Ria feel all her previous annoyances wash away.

Anna was genuinely embarrassed. She was covering herself as if she wouldn’t let Ria see any important parts.

…To be honest, that was kind of cute.

She had managed to splash some water on her head from outside, though.

“……”

While Anna’s front was covered, it seemed she couldn’t quite manage her back.

In fact, I had seen her dressed in a swimsuit before, which wasn’t that different from what she was wearing now, with hardly any fabric covering her from the back.

So, the scene now wasn’t anything particularly special.

But her hunched shoulders, arms crossed to cover herself, and her slightly trembling body made strange thoughts swirl in Ria’s mind.

What exactly those strange thoughts were, she couldn’t pinpoint.

The more she tried to think, the more guilt arose.

Guilt over the huge burden laid on such small shoulders.

Even while she was so embarrassed, Anna was somehow trying to please Ria. Thinking about it, the reason they were here in this state was also due to Anna’s doing.

Realizing that, sympathy welled up in Ria. She wanted to hug her tightly and tell her everything would be okay. She didn’t need to do it all by herself. Anna had accepted Ria’s gentle touches when Ria stroked her head before.

But doing that now seemed a bit off.

Ria swallowed a sigh threatening to escape and gently splashed water on Anna’s head.

The pure white water rolled down her back. Her slender body beneath the clear water was a little—

…….

“Here.”

Watching that scene too long, Ria felt her thoughts might drift again, so she turned around this time.

“Huh?”

“Since I helped you, you have to help me too.”

“…….”

It was an excuse, but Ria really didn’t need anyone to splash water on her hair, since it wasn’t as long as Anna’s.

She just thought she couldn’t just keep on looking at Anna.

Anna didn’t run away or anything. Just like Ria had done, she gently splashed some water on Ria’s body.

By the time both bodies were sufficiently soaked, Ria found herself unconsciously turning towards Anna.

Anna looked startled, like a cat.

Jumping up from her spot, she quickly turned around to grab a towel and cover herself, only to end up falling backward. Her feet slid multiple times, making her look like a slapstick comedy character.

“Oops!”

Ria quickly reached out to catch Anna before she fell, but then realized something.

In her embarrassment of being seen, Anna was trying to cover herself as much as possible, and Ria’s hand accidentally landed right on her hips, right on her pelvis.

Though Ria loved to eat, Anna’s body had less flesh compared to hers. Was she perhaps pouring all her strength into her Saint Power—

And then, feeling the softness and warmth in her hand a little late. The slender waist that was easy to grip with two hands.

Anna squealed again, jumping up and plunging straight into the bath. Ria got splashed unexpectedly with water.

Now Anna was completely sunk in a corner of the bath, refusing to look back the entire bath time.

Seeing her curled up in the water with her back toward me, I thought she looked a bit cute, and for a moment, I contemplated teasing her, but ultimately I decided against it.

**

Luckily, we had brought our own clothes.

The clothes prepared here were too thin to the point that they might expose the color underneath.

“Still, it’s a bit chilly at night,”

Ria said with a laugh. She too was wearing the clothes we brought from the Church.

“But that outfit is white anyway, right? Wouldn’t it be fine for you to wear it? From a ‘culturally relative’ perspective, it might actually be more suitable for the climate here.”

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Ria.

Receiving my gaze, Ria chuckled.

“Just kidding, just kidding. Yeah, even though you’re not an actual Saintess, it might be kind of weird for you to wear that outfit. Our culture should be respected too.”

“Then how about you wear it too, Ria? I have an extra one.”

“Oh, should I? Should we wear them together?”

Seeing Ria throw the beans back at me, I ultimately shut my mouth again.

“Ugh!”

Then I ground my teeth.

Frustrating. So very frustrating.

In this area, Ria’s offensive power was way too strong.

What bothered me most was the fleeting thought I had when Ria spewed those words, for just a moment, wondering if I should play along seriously.

This is just too—

Saintess my foot.