Chapter 256: A Friend of a Friend

The "Gambler" and Tsumuri had met only once before.

—That was during the battle against the "King" in Akihabara, where they had been allies.

"Um..."

Tsumuri seemed about to ask something... but she placed her index finger against her lips.

"I know. Don't say anything right now."

Know what? What exactly—how much—does she understand?

"Anyway, it's a good thing you came at this timing....Apparently, whatever Himawari's dealing with is pretty serious. The more you think about it, the better, right?"

"What kind of serious situation are we talking about?"

"I don't know the details myself. But one thing's for sure—she took the risk of jeopardizing the months of effort she's quietly built here, just to step out."

That much, I already heard a moment ago.

The need for her power caused Baihua to personally head toward Sakagura.

As a result, the rendezvous ended up being slightly delayed.

"By the way, to be honest, I don't get along too well with Baihua. So if you're thinking of teaming up with her, I'd recommend you keep your distance from me as much as possible."

"……………"

"Or rather, just so you know—my eyes see right through you. I know exactly who you are. After all, a gambler never misses a con."

And she smiled, showing her teeth.

And now, let me say this—don't you dare run. Run, and I'll kill you. You're already past the point of no return.

Saying what she wanted to say, "Commentary Princess" also leaves the changing room.

Left behind were Konomi Asuka, her head filled with question marks, and Tenmi Tsumuri, her face twisted in a bitter grimace.

"Miss Asuka."

"?!"

"I'll leave it to you later, if you don't mind. Sorry."

"???"

Then the boy reached for the maid uniform he'd just offloaded in Akihabara, decisively stripped it off, and quickly wrapped himself in a bath towel.

"Woah, quick change!"

"Let's get going."

"Wait, wait, just a second, please!"

Leaving her frantically in the middle of undressing, he rushed toward the door leading to the bathhouse.

The door was automatic.

—Now that I think about it, this building actually has electricity. Since I can't keep using Thunder Type III indefinitely, this place must be fully converted into a base.

Which means there's definitely a "player" who knows the "Base Creation" skill around here... but...

All the while thinking vaguely to myself, I moved forward through the steam.

The spa area was so thick with vapor it reminded me of the censored scenes in late-night anime—luxurious enough that, under normal circumstances, I’d happily spend an hour relaxing here.

The shower room in Akihabara had been great, but this place took luxury to another level in its handling of water.

Surely, in this post-apocalyptic world, no other space would waste water so extravagantly as this one.

"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting~"

With Asuka catching up, the two of us quickly rinsed off with warm water and swiftly rewrapped ourselves in bath towels, striding into the bathroom with what I thought was quite an impressive demeanor.

"Y-You're going too fast... Sōri, you should wash more thoroughly."

"After all, we should cherish water when there are people out there suffering from thirst."

"I know, I know, but..."

Amano Tsuzuri had noticed something: it seemed that women, when confident in their bodies, subtly expose their skin in an attempt to assert dominance.

It was somewhat like the behavior of a fitness-enthusiast man showing off his abs.

Hey, Sutori, could you take a look down here under my breasts? I think I’ve got heat rash developing… maybe my bra doesn’t fit right?

The longer I stay next to her, the more I feel that moment coming—inevitably. A miracle is white.

"……Asuka."

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry, but could you please keep your skin coverage a bit lower?"

"Huh? In the bath? Coverage? That's ridiculous."

She stood there, stunned, and he silently reflected, "I suppose that was too much to ask." But there was no other way. Rather than the artistic, doll-like bodies of those "princesses," it was girls like Kuniyo Asuka—ordinary, close at hand—that stirred a man's desires.

—Yuuki. Please give me self-control.

Suzuri clutched her own forearm as if trying to tear it off, finally reaching the area where voices could be heard.

"Oh? You came. You're tired."

This is the first time I've met Renkai Hyakka.

We've just exchanged greetings for the first time, yet she still looks unreal, as if she's not quite real. There's something almost CGI-like about her, as if she's artificially perfected beauty.

She's exactly like an elf from the movie *The Lord of the Rings*, lounging in a bath up to her shoulders, showing no particular interest in me at all.

Apparently, in the timeline before Hakuha's reincarnation, she had already died young.

That means her existence is entirely irregular from her own perspective.

Hakuha looked one by one at her companions—though they weren't exactly close enough to be called friends—and said,

"Alright, all the actors have arrived."

Her voice echoed through the high-ceilinged Roman-style interior.

The spa area consisted of a circular hall with five hot tubs, each containing one "princess" immersed in bathwater.

After a brief hesitation, Satori carefully placed her foot into the tub where the "cardsharp" was soaking.

Even though she'd just been told not to get too familiar, it felt safer to stay near someone whose true identity was already known.

—Sorry, sorry, sorry—I'm only doing foot soak, please forgive me.

"…………………"

The gambler said nothing. That silence was somehow more unsettling.

"Then, let's begin the conversation. About the crisis currently threatening this world."