After parting with Magnawell-san, I stepped onto the icy plains alongside Lilliwood-san.
Even knowing that Shiro-san’s blessing protected me, I was still a little nervous as we plunged into that vast, silver world. However, I didn’t feel even a hint of a chill as I walked.
Come to think of it, with this much ice and snow around us, it would have been natural to feel the cold long before we even stepped onto the plains. Shiro-san’s blessing had clearly been working from the start.
After walking across the frozen landscape for a while, a massive castle appeared in the distance.
It was a beautiful residence that seemed to melt into the surrounding scenery. While it possessed a pale, ephemeral color like fresh snow, its design was majestic, carrying a mysterious air that reminded me of a temple.
So that’s where Isis-san lives...
"It’s come into view. Oh my, it seems she couldn't wait any longer and has come out to meet us."
"Ah..."
Lilliwood-san spoke with a voice that sounded exasperated yet warm. I followed her gaze to see the gates of the ice castle swinging open, revealing Isis-san.
"Isis-san!"
"...?! Kaito!"
Once I spotted her, I called out her name and waved. Isis-san responded with a radiant, blooming smile.
I soon reached the gate where she was waiting and stepped down from the floating wooden chair to approach her. She was dressed in a light blue gothic dress, different from her usual attire. Combined with her pearl-white hair that shimmered faintly in the light, she looked so lovely that she could have been mistaken for a snow fairy.
She really is incredibly cute... Man, my heart is starting to race a little.
"...Kaito... Welcome... I’m... so happy... you came."
"Not at all. I’m the one who’s happy to be visiting your home, Isis-san. Thank you for having me."
"...Mm!"
Isis-san looked genuinely delighted, nodding repeatedly with a smile so dangerously cute it made her cheeks flush pink.
"By the way... is it really all right for me to stay the night?"
"...Mm... If it’s Kaito... I want you to stay... forever... When Kaito is here... I’m happy."
"T-Thank you. Well then, I’ll be in your care for the next three days."
"Mm!"
That’s right—this trip wasn't a simple day visit. I was going to be staying at Isis-san's castle for two nights.
Originally, I had planned to head home the same day, but when I’d mentioned it to Kuro, she told me that the distance from the teleportation gate to Isis-san's castle was quite significant. She warned me that a day trip wouldn’t leave much time to actually relax.
When I brought this up to Isis-san, she suggested that I stay over.
At first, I hesitated. I thought it might be too much of an imposition—or rather, the thought of being alone with Isis-san under one roof made me incredibly nervous. But since there weren't any inns or even small villages in this frozen region, anything other than an overnight stay would have turned the visit into a whistle-stop tour.
I eventually gave in, and we settled on a three-day, two-night visit.
Considering it was already approaching evening even though I’d left for the Demon Realm just after noon, I think I made the right choice.
Besides, Lilliwood-san was with us, so it wasn't like we were completely alone—
"Well then, now that I have delivered Kaito-san, I shall be heading back."
"...Eh?"
"...Mm... Lilliwood... thank you."
"I will come back to fetch you when it is time to go home, Kaito-san. Until then."
"Wait! Hold on—!?"
Wh-What?! Wait a minute! You're leaving? Lilliwood-san, you're leaving already?!
I scrambled to stop her, but before I could get a word out, she vanished with teleportation magic.
Hold on... This is bad. This is very bad.
The situation was completely different from when Isis-san visited Lilia-san’s mansion. Back then, we might have been alone in a room, but there were plenty of other people in the building. Here, in this massive castle, no one lived besides Isis-san herself.
That meant we were truly, undeniably alone together. I was suddenly overwhelmed with nerves.
"...Kaito?"
"Y-Y-Yes?!"
"...Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine! Totally fine! I'm just... a little tired from the trip..."
Was this the plight of a guy who’s never had a girlfriend? My head was spinning with highly disrespectful delusions, and my thoughts were in total chaos. Before I realized it, Isis-san had leaned in close to peer into my face. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
I'm sorry, Isis-san. I'm sorry for having such weird thoughts...
Apologizing silently in my head, I followed her through the massive gates and into the castle.
To be honest, the interior was breathtaking. From the shimmering, beautiful floors to the opulent chandeliers, every single pillar was carved with the precision of a work of art. I had visited the castle where Chris-san lived before, but this place was even more vast and beautiful. It was exactly what you’d expect from the home of one of the Six Kings.
"It’s so incredibly spacious."
"...Mm... But... there are many rooms... I don’t use..."
Isis-san’s profile looked a little lonely as she said that.
Thinking about it, it made sense. She lived in this enormous castle all by herself. No matter how beautiful it was, such a space would feel empty and desolate.
I wondered why she had built such a large castle in the first place.
Perhaps it was a fragment of a dream she once held. Just like the other Kings, she might have built it in anticipation of a future where she had many subordinates and a lively home.
As I looked around the hollow grandeur of the castle, I turned to the woman walking beside me and gave her a smile.
"I haven't seen many castles like this before. If you don't mind, could you give me a tour later?"
"...Kaito... Mm... I’ll show you... everything."
Whether she sensed the intent behind my request or not, tears welled up in her eyes for a moment before she gave me a smile of pure, heartfelt joy.
I really do think a smile suits her best. At the very least, while I’m here, I want to make sure she doesn't feel lonely.
"...That’s right... Kaito... You said... you were tired."
"Eh? Oh, yes. A little bit."
"...Then... would you like... a bath?"
"A bath?"
I tilted my head at her sudden suggestion.
"...Mm... When you’re tired... a bath... is the best."
"Y-You’re right... Hmm. In that case, I’d love to take you up on that."
"...Mm... I’ll show you the way."
"Thank you."
It seemed Isis-san was genuinely worried about my fatigue from the journey. To be honest, I’d only said I was tired out of panic, but I appreciated her kindness. It was a wonderful offer, so I decided to accept.
"Phew..."
After thoroughly scrubbing myself, I sank into the tub and let out a long breath.
"...I can't believe it's an open-air bath. What a surprise."
I muttered to myself, stunned by the sight before me.
The bathtub was enormous—easily the size of a great hall—and it sat on a section of the castle that jutted out like a massive balcony. Looking out, I could see the sparkling white world and the gently falling snow.
I never expected to find an open-air bath in another world. When I’d asked her about it, Isis-san had just tilted her head and repeated "Open-air bath?" as if she’d never heard the term. It wasn't something introduced from Earth; she had simply built a tub outdoors.
Well, whether it had a specific name or not was a trivial matter. For now, I was going to savor this luxurious moment while taking in the stunning view.
Perhaps thanks to magic, even though the air temperature was definitely below freezing, there was no biting wind. Instead, a cool, pleasant breeze stroked my cheeks.
I might sound like an old man, but this is paradise...
I was just starting to relax and stretch out in the water when I heard the sound of a door opening. Eh?
"...Kaito... Is the water... too hot?"
"...Huh?"
Wait, wait, wait! Why am I hearing Isis-san’s voice?!
This is wrong! This is very wrong! Because if I’m hearing that, it means...
I see... I’m having an auditory hallucination!
Man, I’m pathetic. No matter how much of a loser I am with women, it’s really the end of the line if I’m having hallucinations on top of my delusions! It must be because the fatigue was deeper than I realized. Right, it’s just my imagination! It has to be! There’s no way anyone is there even if I turn around! No way—
"...I’ll... get in... too."
"!!??!!??"
As I spun around, a paradise of a completely different nature stretched out before my eyes.
Dear Mother, Father—no sooner had I arrived at Isis-san’s home than I was treated to a bath. The bath at her castle was a magnificent open-air one, and it was truly wonderful, but... how on earth did things end up like this? I mean, look—wasn't there supposed to be no Lucky Pervert in this world?!