Women's Bath

Melty was being led away by Emilina, stripped of her clothes before she even had a chance to resist.

"I-Is this magic!?"

There shouldn't have been such a thing as undressing magic, but she was being stripped so effortlessly that it felt like nothing else could explain it.

"What are you talking about?" Emilina asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Apparently, it wasn't magic.

That just meant she was an incredibly skilled thief with some very questionable habits. Her smile looked suspiciously dark, and the way she whispered those sweet, coaxing words made it clear she was trying to pull some kind of scam.

"More importantly, let's hurry up."

"W-Where do you think you're taking me?! I-I'm not selling my body, you know!?"

"I’m not selling it; I’m cleaning it."

"T-That makes it sound like I’m filthy!?"

"Well, if you haven't washed, you are, aren't you?"

"I’m fine! I’ve been using cleaning magic—"

"So you really haven't taken a proper bath in ages. That settles it. You’re going in."

"That's why I said, with cleaning magic..."

"When was the last time you actually wiped your body down?"

"...A year ago?"

"Into the bath you go, right now! You’re grimy."

Melty found herself dragged along by Emilina’s Superhuman Strength.

"T-That’s why I’m saying, even without a bath, if I just wipe—besides, if I'm naked, I won't be able to react if we're suddenly attacked!"

"It’s fine. This is the women's bath; no one is going to attack you here."

"Um... I’m being attacked right now, though..."

"Ahaha, what a funny joke."

She’s not listening to a word I say...

"Now, let's go!"

Before she knew it, the Great Thief had undressed herself as well. Emilina shoved Melty from behind, forcing her into the bathhouse.

Steam rose from a massive bathtub, filled to the brim with an absurd amount of hot water—the kind one would only see in a high noble's mansion. I didn't even want to contemplate how much money had been sunk into this bathroom alone. If I was going to be forced into a place like this, a place I might never see again, I would have at least preferred to soak in peace and quiet.

But Emilina had been excessively touchy for a while now.

In the distance, I could see another girl under the guise of "carefully washing" a beastman child, but she was really just stroking the poor kid's body all over.

"Let's get you nice and clean."

"I-It tickles, Emma-san."

"Now, now. It’ll be a disaster if we miss a spot. We have to scrub every nook and cranny."

The girl was intensely fluffing the child’s fur while pretending to wash their tail. The beastman child tried desperately to squirm away, but they were eventually caught and subjected to an eternity of fluffing.

"See? This is just common sense in the bath!" Emilina declared with total confidence.

No matter how I looked at it, she was lying. And yet, perhaps this was simply the common sense of this territory. Since it was actually playing out right in front of my eyes, I didn't have enough evidence to refute her.

"I-Is this really common sense? Shouldn't a bath be a more... solemn experience?"

"This isn't a noble's bath, you know? It’s a bath for commoners, so the basic rule is to have fun while you soak."

"I am having zero fun."

"Then let's have fun together!"

"I-I’m getting out now..."

"You haven't even gotten in yet! Come on, hurry up!!"

"I told you, stop touching me so casually while you’re pushing!"

"That's because you won't just get in."

"I'll get in! I’m getting in!!"

In the end, Melty was not released from Emilina’s clutches until the moment they finally left the water.

---

"I... I truly can't get married anymore..."

"We'll just have Lord Yuri find a husband for you."

"Enough... I’m going to become a shut-in and spend the rest of my life buried in research."

"In that case, I’ll just take you for myself."

"I am never leaving my room again. Goodbye."

"Wait. We’re going to go look at clothes now, remember? Come on, let's go!"

"W-Wait a minute. I haven't even put my clothes back on..."

"Well, you can't try on new clothes if you're already wearing clothes, can you!?"

"B-But if I stay here like this, someone will see—"

"What on earth are you two doing?"

Having returned from the Muller Company, we were in the middle of guiding Marina to the inn. We just happened to run into Melty and the others as they emerged from the dressing room, but the timing couldn't have been worse.

For some reason, Melty was standing there in nothing but her underwear.

Well, considering she was dressed in a nearly identical fashion when we first met, she probably just feels more comfortable like that. I had wanted to consult her about the construction of the cooler, but this clearly wasn't the time.

"Sorry, I’ve intruded. Also, I don't care how much you like that 'outfit,' you’re going to catch a cold. At least put on a top."

I sighed and gently draped my jacket over Melty’s shoulders. The sizes didn't match at all, and it wasn't even close to fully covering her, but it was better than nothing.

"Wait! That makes it sound like I’m dressed like this because I want to be!"

"Is that not the case?"

"I-It isn't! Emilina is the one who—"

"We're just about to go pick out some clothes for Lady Melty. Would you like to join us, Lord Yuri?"

"No, I’ll pass. Just pick out as many as she needs."

"Of course, my lord."

"I-I only need one—"

"Now, now, we're wasting time just standing here. Let's go pick some out immediately."

Melty was hauled away. She certainly seemed occupied.

"Can I stop by your room later? There are a few things I’d like to discuss—"

"Don't wait until later, come right now—"

"...At least put some clothes on first."

Why do only crazy people gather in my territory...

They often say there’s a thin line between perversion and genius.

"This territory is unexpectedly... open, isn't it? No matter how hot it gets, people don't usually walk around naked—"

Even Marina, the local Pervert, looked like she was backing away from the sheer level of exhibitionism on display.

"Don't lump us in with her. She’s an exception."

"What was that? You’re making it sound like I’m always naked!?"

"..."

"Don't go silent on me!"

"For now, Fee, please stop pinching me."

"It’s because you won't stop staring, Lord Yuri!"

"A-Anyway, just let me know when you're finished changing."

"Understood."

"In that case, I'll help too," Emilina said, continuing to shove Melty along. Marina followed behind them with a bright smile.

"Help me! I’m innocent!"

Melty continued her frantic protest until the very end.

But really, if she were truly being forced, would she have actually stepped out of the dressing room without any clothes on? No, of course not.

In other words, it was easy to imagine that Melty understood exactly what she was doing and was just putting on a show to enjoy herself. For now, I decided to wait until she was decent.

---

"Lady Marina, since you've come all this way, I assume there's something you wish to discuss that you'd rather Lord Yuri didn't hear?" Emilina asked as she treated Melty like a living dress-up doll.

"You’re very perceptive. I thought it would be easier to consult with the Saint of this country beforehand."

"Um... could you please stop having an important conversation while you play with me like a toy?"

"Is this... regarding the Holy Principality?"

"Yes. We rule our nation in God's stead. You are aware of that, Lady Emilina?"

"Yes, I remember. That’s why you don't appoint a king..."

"Actually... I have discovered God."

Marina’s eyes sparkled with an unsettling intensity. Watching her, Emilina quickly grasped the gravity of the situation.

"I-I’m not listening! I didn't hear anything! So please, just let me go—"

Melty desperately tried to cover her ears. However, as she was being forced into different outfits, her hands were repeatedly pulled away, and the words reached her regardless.

"I wish for God... for Lord Yuri to rule over our country. I was wondering if you might know a good way to bring that about?"