第５０８堀：必要な休息 (Part2)
"Yes. But if the proposal came from us, they would just turn it down, wouldn't they?"
"That is true."
"That’s why I thought it would be better for Kagura to let her guard down a bit. I intended to follow up afterward, but... it seems Sir George is more of a gentleman than I anticipated."
"I’ve been serving royalty for a long time, both now and in the past. I’ve had to endure quite a few unreasonable situations. Hahaha!"
"Well, Shera and Catherine are used to this kind of busy schedule, but Kagura is still a student, and everything happening here is a first for her. She needed a break somewhere. I assume that’s why Yuki brought her to Weed, isn't it?"
"Is that so? Since we are the ones hosting, that makes perfect sense."
If this were a serious business negotiation, Eris or Ratz would have been much better suited for the task. Though, perhaps there was also the concern that they might accidentally overwhelm Kagura to the point of collapse.
"Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll contact Yuki-san."
I stepped out of the room to update Yuki on the current situation.
『Hey there. Is something wrong, Shera?』
"Kagura-san has eaten so much that she can't move, so we’ll be late getting back."
『Ah, well, it’s going according to plan, so just let her rest for now. I imagine the fatigue from dealing with that fluffy princess is immense.』
"Understood. Was this what you were aiming for all along?"
『I wouldn't say I planned it that far. She might be the type who doesn't show her exhaustion, and if that were the case, ending the day early would have been a good breather for her. But since she’s just lounging around, you should take her to a hot spring or something later to help her relax. Well, it’s been a while since you all were in Weed, so I’ll leave the choice of hot springs and entertainment facilities to you.』
"Yes, understood."
『Take care. Oh, and you finished dinner outside, right?』
"Yes. That’s what left Kagura-san unable to move."
『Then I’ll have to let them know to save John’s pickles for tomorrow morning’s breakfast. And I need to tell the inn we won’t need dinner. I’ll handle the chores on this end, so I’ll leave the rest to you.』
"Yes, leave it to me."
The contact with Yuki-san went smoothly. I returned to the room to discuss which hot spring we should visit while waiting for Kagura-san to recover.
Weed already boasts several bathhouses and public baths, and it is no exaggeration to say they have become a symbol of entertainment in Weed. It feels strange to me that a bath meant for cleaning one's body is considered "entertainment," but to people from other countries, using large amounts of hot water to wash oneself is the height of luxury, hence why it’s categorized as such.
Naturally, various bathhouses have been built to suit different preferences. Of course, I used the Dungeon Master’s abilities to create the hot springs. I was worried about the efficacy of unknown springs, so I asked Luna-san to copy famous Japanese hot springs, and the results are, in a word, magnificent.
I’ve gotten quite passionate about the hot springs, but in the end, we headed to a model facility that offered a wide variety of baths. We decided to enjoy the classics: a cypress bath, a rock bath, a footbath, a bubble bath, an open-air bath, and a sauna.
"Ah... hot springs are amazing. My skin feels so smooth."
"...Yes. I never knew soaking in hot water could feel this good... I’ll have to buy some soap and shampoo later."
Kagura-san and Lady Catherine were melting into the hot spring. I’m glad they enjoyed it. Of course, I made sure to teach them the common sense of washing their bodies before entering.
Oh, and as for Sir George, Yuki-san sent Mauve and the others to escort him, so that’s taken care of. We, too, were enjoying a leisurely soak.
"It’s been a while since I’ve had a Weed hot spring."
"I haven't been since the school trip."
"Ah, that brings back memories. The open-air bath at home is nice, but this isn't bad either."
"Indeed. It’s lovely to enjoy all these different baths at a public bathhouse like this."
We were enjoying our long-awaited time in Weed.
"Eh? I have to drink this?"
"That's right!"
"You have to gulp it down in one go!!"
"With your hands on your hips!"
And so, after the bath, Kagura-san followed the instructions of the three, pouring milk into her already full stomach...
"M-my stomach!?"
It seems she spent the rest of the day becoming very close friends with the restroom. Everything in moderation, as they say. Kagura was quite at her limit.
Well, it couldn't be helped. Yuki had intended for her to have this time, even if the work was undeniably busy.