We headed back to the house with the intention of resuming our drinks in my room, but as we arrived, Sieg-san made a suggestion.
"Kaito-san, if we start drinking again now, it will end up being quite late. Why don't we both finish our baths and get ready for bed first?"
"Ah, that’s true. We just got back from outside, anyway. If we bathe now... would meeting in my room in an hour work for you?"
"Yes. Well then, I’ll see you in a bit."
With that, we decided to get our bathing out of the way. We had already finished dinner, and by the time we were done drinking, it would likely be time for bed, so finishing our nightly routine beforehand was the most logical step.
I entered the house and headed straight for the bathroom, lightly touching the magic tool at the entrance before moving to my bedroom to grab a change of clothes. That device was a Bath-use Magic Tool; a convenient invention that automatically filled the tub once activated.
Lilia-san’s mansion was the same way, but the bath in my house was massive. Based on the common sense of my old world, it felt like a terrible waste of water, but since this world had magic tools, the situation was entirely different.
The Bath-use Magic Tool in my home was incredibly eco-friendly. It used magic to generate hot water and then featured a function to convert that water back into magic power after use. This meant I could have a fresh "first bath" of the day not just every morning, but as many times as I liked.
It was remarkably convenient, taking only a few minutes to fill the tub.
Incidentally, this same type of magic tool was installed in the baths at Lilia-san’s mansion as well. Apparently, they were quite popular among the high-ranking nobility; I’d heard that any estate belonging to a Count or someone of higher rank almost certainly had one.
They were useful, but they were also bulky, expensive devices. Shrinking the technology was a technical challenge, which meant the bathrooms themselves had to be large to accommodate them. Consequently, they were difficult to install unless you were a noble with significant financial resources.
One could say that these large-scale operations were the forte of magic tools. Conversely, Earth-style machinery was superior when it came to precision. Magic tools struggled with delicate temperature adjustments, particularly for climate control. Even a magic tool that functioned like a simple electric fan cost as much as a high-end air conditioner. While that might not be an issue in the Symphonia Kingdom where the climate stayed stable year-round, I heard that ordinary citizens in the freezing Arclesia Empire had a much harder time.
Then again, if someone could use magic, it was probably cheaper to just learn a spell to regulate the temperature around their own body.
With those thoughts drifting through my mind, I moved to my room and did a quick check of the sofa where Sieg-san and I would be drinking. Everything seemed fine, so I headed to the bathroom and hopped in.
Setting Sieg-san aside, it wouldn't take me an hour to finish, so I wondered if I should prepare anything else. I didn't need to worry about snacks, as Sieg-san was handling those, and as for the drinks, the remaining wine and the Ripple liquor would be plenty.
In that case, was there really nothing else to do? Ah, wait. I could listen to music using that cat-ear device Electrone-san gave me as a birthday present. Wouldn't it be a nice touch to have some atmospheric music playing?
An evening drink with my lover, wine glass in hand, in a room filled with tasteful music... that sounded like a great vibe. The only problem was my own lack of experience; the only thing I could think of that qualified as "tasteful" was classical music. Someone like Ozma-san would probably be able to casually select something with just the right atmosphere.
(I apologize for the sudden mental contact. Outputting an apology and explanation... "I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion, Kaito-sama. I felt you think of me for an instant just now, and I reflexively checked with my omniscience..." ...I apologize for the rudeness of peeking into your circumstances without permission after startling you.)
...Good evening, Electrone-san. No, don’t worry about it. I’m fairly used to this sort of thing because of Shiro-san, so it’s fine. Is this some kind of inter-world communication? Regardless, I’m happy to be able to talk to you again.
(Outputting deep emotion... "The kindness of my Oshi knows no bounds! My heart is melting so fast it hurts..." Outputting the main subject... "I am sorry. I shall return to the point. Regarding the device I gave you, even if you don't specify a song or genre, it has a mode that can play music to suit the atmosphere. It automatically selects something appropriate based on your mental state and mood. Just think 'Automatic Mode' and press the switch when you turn it on!" ...Explanation complete.)
I see, that’s a really handy feature. Thank you for going out of your way to tell me. I imagine it’s a lot of work to communicate between worlds, but please come visit again whenever you have the chance.
(Outputting great emotion... "The preciousness of my Oshi is overflowing. I feel like I could beat down ten Almighty Class gods right now"... Thank you for your kind words. On that occasion, I would be delighted to speak with you again. I thank you for the time you spent conversing with this unit... I shall end the communication now.)
Thank you as well.
...So communication from another world really is possible. Well, if you’re an omniscient and omnipotent god, I suppose that much is child’s play. If anything, she’s as remarkably polite as ever, making sure to start with an apology.
Cyber Angel: "Outputting intuition... 'Wait! My Oshi is thinking about me right now!'"
Pole Star God: "...Aren't you saying the exact same thing I was a little while ago?"
Cyber Angel: "I would appreciate it if you didn't equate me with your delusions. In this case, there is the undeniable fact that he actually brought my name to mind."
Pole Star God: "Is that so... Shall I call the Gorilla then?"
Cyber Angel: "Please cease your obstructive behavior. This unit must obtain permission from Shallow Vernal for inter-world communication for the noble purpose of answering Kaito-sama's questions. If the answer to Kaito-sama is delayed because you summoned a dangerous creature, shall I hold you responsible?"
Pole Star God: "Ugh... I cannot cause trouble for my Morning Star... Fine, it cannot be helped. It's frustratingly enviable, but I suppose I shall have to just sit back and watch for now..."