253 Together From Now On

“This feels wonderful, doesn’t it? Cynthia-chan, Lilith-chan—it’s been quite a while since that last bath we shared.”

“It really has! This is actually my first time in a hot spring, and it feels absolutely incredible!”

“Weiss mentioned something about this being a mixed bath, but I never imagined Senior Eva would actually be here.”

In the end, the four of us settled into the water together in surprising harmony.

Thank the gods for this natural, milky-white water, I thought, letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. If the water were clear and I could actually see anything, my heart would probably stop for the sake of my own sanity.

The water was a bit on the hotter side, but the heat did wonders for warming my core. We were tucked away in a dense forest, yet this specific spot formed a perfect natural hollow. The area was surrounded by smooth, weathered rocks, so there wasn't even a risk of scraping a knee.

And then, there was the magic.

“This is incredible... I can feel the power.”

“Fufufu, it’s a lovely feeling, isn't it?”

Mana was rising from the bodies of Eva, Cynthia, Lilith, and myself like thick plumes of steam. It was exactly as the rumors described. If I had to put it into words, it felt as if I were constantly leveling up, over and over again.

Wait... could this be the secret to the overwhelming strength of the woman known as the 'Bug Cheat' and the 'Original Story Destroyer'?

“I hate to break it to you, but the moment you step out of this water, your mana levels will start dropping back to normal.”

Eva spoke up as if she’d just read my mind. I winced.

“...I see. That figures.”

“Oh? You look so disappointed.”

“No, I just realized that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. More importantly, how do you even know about this place, Senior?”

“Because I know everything. —Just kidding. I happened to sense a massive surge of mana and decided to fly down for a look, only to find Teacher Milk already here.”

“...Eh?”

I blinked, stunned by the casual bombshell. Teacher Milk and Eva... met here?

“It was a long time ago, though. I think it was before I even enrolled at Noblesse. Back then, there was still a war raging in this region.”

“...What happened? Between you two, I mean.”

“We fought, of course. Teacher Milk launched a preemptive strike the second she saw me.”

This was a piece of lore I’d never heard before. To think such an epic clash had occurred right where we were sitting. Still, I wasn't surprised that Teacher Milk attacked the moment she spotted Eva. That woman really does live for the initiative, doesn’t she?

“Wait! Who won?!” Lilith shouted, suddenly standing straight up in the water.

“Lilith, sit down! You’ll catch a chill!” Cynthia scolded.

“Oh! Right!”

I had to admit, I was dying to know the outcome myself. If that fight were ever held as an official match, the tickets would probably sell for a fortune on the black market. I’d pay anything to watch a replay of that in the arena.

“We never really settled it. But it was so much fun! I’d love a rematch, but the whole teacher-student dynamic makes things so complicated, don't you think?”

Is there a recording of that? A memory crystal? Anything? I’d give my right arm to see that fight...

Then again, if I could just lure a member of the Demon Race here and have them fight her, she’d surely win. No, wait. If the demons soaked in this water too, we’d be in serious trouble.

“But never mind that. How have things been lately? You all seem to be enjoying yourselves, you little Intermediate-year Students.”

“I’m not sure ‘enjoying’ is the word I’d use. We’re just training every day because we never know when the Demon Race might strike again.”

“Fufufu, I’m personally looking forward to your showdown with Allen-kun.”

“Is that because you gave him those pointers?”

“He’s going to give you a real run for your money next time.”

Allen’s performance during his fight with Neil had definitely been on a whole different level compared to before. But I couldn't figure out what Eva was getting out of this. Does she want to see me lose? I honestly can't tell what goes on in that woman's head.

Lilith turned to Eva with a serious expression. “Senior Eva... if the Demon Race attacks, will you fight?”

Lilith was clearly thinking about Nell. I’d heard they were old friends, but the fact that they looked identical was still a shock. Then again, fighting enemies with the same character model wasn't exactly rare in games. It was entirely possible the lore behind their identical looks was buried in some obscure fanbook I hadn't read.

Eva smiled quietly, pouring a handful of warm water over her shoulder.

“I suppose. Fighting the Demon Race is quite entertaining, after all. But... I think I prefer watching Allen-kun and Weiss-kun struggle and grow. Even the sight of Cynthia-chan and Lilith-chan fighting for their lives gives me those wonderful, tingly chills.”

The terrifying part was that she wasn't lying. Knowing that those were her sincere, unfiltered feelings sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the temperature.

“We’re counting on you regardless, Senior Eva,” Cynthia said firmly.

“Ufufu. I’ll tell you one thing, though. —Nell is my prey. Don't go meddling with her too much.”

Eva’s voice turned flat and cold at the end. There was clearly some deep history between them. I made a mental note to try and pry that story out of her eventually.

Suddenly, Cynthia stood up and looked at me with a sweet, sharp smile. I immediately diverted my gaze down to the water.

Yes. White. Beautiful. I’m talking about the water. Definitely the water.

“I think I’ll head out now,” Eva announced. “You three enjoy the rest of your soak. Oh, and this is just a hunch, but I think the Demon Race will be showing up again soon.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Who knows? It’s just a feeling I get from the way the Pseudo-Demons have been acting lately.”

Even now, Pseudo-Demons were popping up all over the world. Eva’s intuitions were usually spot on, and if I recalled the Original Story correctly, a demon attack was supposed to follow the events with Neil and Priscilla.

As Eva stepped out, my head turned on its own—completely against my will, I swear—and for a fleeting second, I caught a glimpse of her pale skin and her black underwear.

“Perverted underclassman-kun. See you later.”

With nothing but her top draped loosely over her shoulders, Eva took to the sky with Flight Magic and vanished.

I felt a sudden, localized drop in temperature. I slowly turned my head back to find Cynthia smiling at me. It was the kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes.

“I’m a one-woman man!” I blurted out, my voice cracking with sincerity. “I only have eyes for you, Cynthia!”

“...I suppose I shall forgive you. This time.”

————————————————————

Afterword

The Hot Spring Arc will conclude in the next chapter, which will also mark the end of Chapter Eight. After that, we’ll be moving on to the next major arc.

I’m hoping to squeeze in an interlude if possible. The Demon Race will likely make their move soon (that’s the plan, anyway).

The Neil & Priscilla Arc ended, and we’ve had a few chapters that felt a bit like a side story, so it might have felt a little slow, but I personally had a blast writing this section! (^^)/

I’ll have some new information regarding the published books in March, so look forward to that update. For Chapter Nine, I’m thinking about focusing a bit more on Cecil, though I’m still working out the details. Stay tuned!

Pre-orders for the light novel are now open! If you’d like to see the series continue, I’d be incredibly grateful if you could put in a reservation...!

Title: I Reincarnated as a Lazy and Evil Noble, and After I Destroyed the Scenario, I Became the Strongest with Extraordinary Magic Power Release Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2024 (Physical & Digital) Label: Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko Illustrator: Reine Kuwashima-sama

Thank you for all your support! ☺