Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Shower

“Other inns are probably in a similar situation at this hour.”

The innkeeper, who had been listening to my conversation with Kaen, cut in, so I had no choice but to ask for that room.

“Then I will show you to the room.”

The innkeeper’s mouth stretched into a grin, and he said this as he led the way.

Kaen faltered and followed the innkeeper, and I began following them as well.

Since earlier, Sierra had been hugging me tightly, clinging to my back as she glared at Kaen.

Her chest was pressed completely against my back, and I walked while deliberately ignoring the soft sensation I felt with every movement.

After the innkeeper finished guiding us, Kaen and I opened the door and entered.

“For an inn that looked shabby, the room is better than I expected.”

Kaen looked around the room and smiled brightly.

Then Sierra also examined the room and glanced at the bed, muttering softly.

[ The bed... one... ]

As the innkeeper had explained, there was only one bed.

First, I unpacked our belongings in one corner of the room and leaned the swords against a nearby wall.

Kaen tried to sit on the bed to check how soft it was, but when she lowered her head and looked at her clothes, which were stained with a great deal of blood, she soon gave up on sitting on it.

Kaen, who clearly wanted to wash first, immediately headed toward the bathroom.

“The bathtub is already filled with water. Would it be all right if I washed first?”

Kaen opened the bathroom door, roughly checked inside, and asked me.

“Go ahead.”

My answer followed, and Kaen fully entered the bathroom.

—Click.

Soon, the bathroom door closed, and a rustling sound came from behind it.

Naturally, she seemed to be taking off her clothes.

—Shaaa.

Then the sound of falling water came, and after a short while, it changed into the sound of water striking skin and falling away.

“...”

Should I call it a side effect of Keen Senses?

Even though I was only listening to sound, I naturally inferred what was happening.

I swept my hair back for no reason and tried not to focus on the sound.

Blood does not wash off as easily as one might think.

It would probably take some time.

[ Why is there only one bed in such a spacious room... Why...! ]

Sierra, displeased with the situation, grumbled.

In any case, I had no intention of using the bed with Kaen.

I did not know about Kaen, but I did not necessarily need to sleep.

Thanks to the bracelet, I had plenty of stamina, and I was not mentally exhausted either.

Even if I spoke with Sierra now, Kaen, washing in the bathroom, might not hear it, but there was nothing certain, so it seemed better not to go out of my way to talk.

I decided to take this chance to examine my status window and look back on my progress.

<​Zeto> Lv.26

Skills Owned

-Demon Swordsmanship Lv.12

-Sierra Style: Rebellion Against Heaven (Incomplete) Lv.3 - Effect of [Demon Swordsmanship] currently applied

-Keen Senses Lv.7

-Weakness Detection Lv.MAX - Effect of [Blindfold of Piercing Insight] currently applied

-Acupuncture Lv.3

Remaining Skill Points: 6

Items Equipped

-Blindfold of Piercing Insight [Legendary]

-Bracelet Bearing Wishes [Epic]

-Cursed Blade “Sierra” [Bound]

-Necklace Containing the Hero’s Protection [Epic]

The status window had shown very clear changes over the past few days.

The greatest change was especially visible in level.

Perhaps because the experience gain increase was high, my level had risen greatly in a short time.

The opening of the Labyrinth had likely played a major role.

Now I had six skill points. Even if I invested four points into Demon Swordsmanship, two points would remain, a stable number.

“Judging by Sierra’s evaluation during this recent battle...”

It seemed she would not find it too strange if I raised the level of Rebellion Against Heaven and tried to learn Chapter Two.

My eyes fell on the luxurious ink-black coat hanging in one corner of the room.

It was the “Curtain of Night” I had obtained this time.

Perhaps because I was not wearing it, the Curtain of Night was not written in the status window.

“I still have not tried the Necklace Containing the Hero’s Protection, which will be helpful when facing undead...”

As I listened to Sierra’s grumbling that kept ringing in my head, I sank into deep thought about things that would happen in the future.

Unexpected events, as I had already experienced, were occurring frequently.

Many such things would happen from now on as well.

That did not mean I could stop out of fear that the future would change.

It was better to be able to respond in any situation.

Fortunately, I thought I had handled things well so far.

As I looked back on the things that had happened to me, time flowed and flowed again.

Perhaps Kaen had finished washing, because at some point, the sound of water from the bathroom could no longer be heard at all.

The bathroom door opened, and the steam filling the bathroom flowed out.

Soon, Kaen’s figure appeared.

Water dripped from her hair, now let down from its twin tails.

Kaen was wearing a bathrobe.

Thinking about it now, after washing her body clean, it would be difficult for her to put back on clothes stained with blood.

I thought it was fortunate there was at least a robe... but it was somewhat precarious.

The robe could not thoroughly hide her alluring figure.

It even seemed the thin robe was slightly see-through, perhaps because some moisture still remained.

The sight was quite stimulating.

The way something seemed about to be seen with every movement felt perhaps even more provocative than Sierra’s outfit.

Kaen, now clean and soft-looking, stared steadily at me.

To be precise, I could tell her gaze was fixed on the bandage around my eyes.

After hesitating for a short while in front of the bathroom, Kaen soon opened her mouth.

“...Um, I finished washing. The hot water seems to come out really well...! Thanks to that, it feels like all the fatigue built up in my body has washed away.”

Shyness was mixed into Kaen’s voice as she tried to speak brightly.

From her perspective, perhaps she thought that since I could not see, it would be stranger for her to be conscious of it.

She seemed deliberately trying not to mind me.

Even so, it looked like she could not help being a little embarrassed.

“It felt wrong to wear clothes covered in blood... There was a robe, so I wore it. That’s fine, right? Ehehe...”

When I was so distracted by her appearance that I did not answer, Kaen followed with awkward words, then laughed foolishly.

“Come to think of it, I forgot about clothes...”

I scratched my head and opened my mouth.

“When morning comes, I will go outside and buy clothes Miss Kaen can wear for a while. It seems better to do the laundry later.”

“That would be better, right?”

Kaen agreed with my words and smiled bashfully.

The blush had not left her cheeks.

Soon, Kaen approached the bed.

Each time she took a step, the robe fluttered.

It was dizzying and alluring.

Soon, Kaen sank softly onto the bed.

“Hwaaa, it’s so soft...”

Perhaps she liked the quality of the bed, because Kaen’s eyes grew round.

“Student Zeto, hurry and wash too...! Should I fill the bathtub for you?”

Kaen, who had been stroking the bedsheets, looked at me and asked.

“I was not splashed with much blood, so a shower is enough.”

I said that to Kaen and approached the bathroom.

In truth, I was escaping somewhere where Kaen’s dizzying body would not enter my sight.

—Click.

After entering the bathroom and closing the door, I was about to take off my clothes when Sierra stared at me with eyes full of curiosity.

I stopped taking off my clothes and turned my head toward Sierra. I began looking at her as well.

It meant I wanted her to stop watching and leave.

[ Ah, I understand. Wash comfortably, Disciple... ]

Unable to overcome my silent pressure, Sierra soon stammered and left the bathroom.

No matter what, I could not leave Sierra to watch me wash.

My body was one thing, but... I felt a little reluctant when it came time to remove the blindfold.

It would be fine if I handled my gaze carefully, but... it did not appeal to me.

This had already been discussed ever since I washed in the dormitory.

Sierra and I had promised that, at least when I washed, she would enter the cursed blade.

“Huu...”

I took off my clothes and untied the blindfold.

Blue-tinged eyes were reflected in the mirror.

“They feel awkward every time I see them.”

***

Nothing in particular happened while I was washing.

Sierra from earlier had simply been playing a prank, and she did not cross the line.

“Is that because she is still my master?”

For her, she could simply pass through the wall and come in.

[ You took long enough. ]

As soon as I left the bathroom while shaking out my wet hair, Sierra came out of the cursed blade and hugged me.

Soon, she naturally climbed onto my back.

When I checked the bed, Kaen was already asleep.

I had roughly expected it.

She had fought until late at night, then finished an enjoyable bath.

Sitting on a soft bed, she must have naturally lain down.

Moreover, I knew she slept a lot, so considering that, it was impressive she had held out until now.

Kaen, lying on the bed, had her robe precariously close to slipping off, which looked a little dangerous.

When I approached the bed, I saw Kaen sleeping deeply, breathing softly, in a completely defenseless state.

If the robe slipped any further, it would be dangerous for me, so I covered her body with a blanket.

[ There does not seem to be any room for my disciple and me to lie down, hm? ]

Leaving Sierra’s words behind, I sat down not on the bed, but on the chair beside the table.

Like that, I was quietly watching the moonlight coming through the window and the sight of Kaen sleeping.

Suddenly, the voice of Kaen, who should have been asleep, came.

“Mmm... Student Zeto...”

“...Yes?”

At Kaen’s sudden call, I rose from my seat and approached her.

“Miss Kaen...?”

“...”

“Miss Kaen?”

“...”

Even after I called her again, no answer returned.

Kaen’s eyes were tightly closed, and it seemed she was still deeply asleep.

[ She is sleeping just fine, so leave her be. It seems she is talking in her sleep. ]

Unable to watch any longer, Sierra’s voice rang in my head.

“Talking in her sleep...”

Well, people could sleep-talk...

“Student Zeto... As expected... you were after my body...!”

Eventually, Kaen raised only one eyebrow and said that.

Her eyes were still closed.

Kaen’s sleep-talk was so clear it felt as though she had awakened and was speaking.

I did not know what kind of dream she was having, but from my perspective as the person whose name was mentioned, there was nothing more bewildering.

Soon, Kaen’s face turned red, and she let out a somewhat strange, alluring sound.

“Hngh... Not there... Student Zeto... Stop... even if it is a promise...”

Kaen, lying in bed, twisted her body and kicked off the blanket.

Her sensual figure began to reveal itself once more.

[ Wh-what sort of obscene nonsense is she spouting...! Just sleep quietly! ]

At this, Sierra shouted at Kaen.

“...”

I watched Kaen for a moment, then returned to the chair without saying anything.

After that, Kaen continued talking in her sleep... and Sierra, standing before Kaen, pointed at her and scolded her.

“She knows Kaen cannot hear her, yet does she only feel satisfied if she says it aloud...?”

It was a dizzying situation.

When the words “something this big...” came from Kaen’s mouth, Sierra seemed unable to endure any longer and placed a hand on Kaen’s body.

Soon, Sierra’s hand passed through Kaen’s body, and she waved her arm around.

It was an action I had told her not to do to others, but this time, I did not stop Sierra.

“Ugh... cold...”

Immediately afterward, Kaen seemed to feel a chill, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, and began sleeping quietly.

[ Did you see? I protected my disciple. Hmhm. ]

Sierra crossed her arms, smiled proudly at me, and said this.

I did not know whether what had happened in Kaen’s dream was her taste or whether she feared it... but it seemed best to keep it a secret between me and Sierra.