The enjoyable Flying Board after-party had finally wound down. I spent the last bit of the evening exchanging Hummingbird contacts with several people I’d befriended. My contact list was starting to get pretty crowded, nearing its storage limit, so it might be time to invest in a new Hummingbird magic tool soon.
"That was so much fun! I definitely want to enter again next year!"
"Haha, it just ended and you're already talking about next year? It sounds like you've really fallen for Flying Board, Hina-chan."
"Team sports are just the best! Plus, getting to play together with you on equal footing, Kaito-senpai... that's the best part."
"It is a sport where raw combat power and physical ability don't matter much, after all."
Just as Hina-chan said with a beaming smile, Flying Board really had been a fantastic sport, all things considered. Even though my individual combat prowess and magic-enhanced physical abilities were far below those of Hina and Aoi, we were able to cooperate on the same level without any issues. That experience was truly invaluable.
"Fufu, but it really was fun, just like Hina-chan said. Maybe we should even aim for a second consecutive victory?"
"Well, I can certainly see why people get so obsessed with it. I met quite a few interesting people at the party, too. It makes me want to come back just for the atmosphere."
"I totally get that! Everyone was so nice. It felt like a sport where the main goal was for everyone to have a great time. Even after the match, everything felt so fresh and pleasant."
The after-party really had been a blast. I’d hit it off with An-san and Gurin-san, and the conversation had been lively. I found myself quite fond of that large-scale village festival vibe. Just as Aoi-chan suggested, I was hooked enough to hope we could participate again next year if our schedules allowed.
The three of us chatted happily about the day’s events on the way home. Since Aoi and Hina were staying in guest rooms at Lilia-san’s mansion, we parted ways at the entrance, and I returned to my own quarters.
However, as much fun as I’d had, the day had been long—stretching from the qualifiers all the way through the party. I was feeling the weight of the day’s fatigue. I wanted to take a bath and unwind, but before that, I felt like a light cup of tea, so I put in a request with Illness-san. Using the Hummingbird was the quickest way to handle things like this.
Technically, there was a handbell for summoning—the kind you’d see in movies or manga—and apparently Illness-san could hear it from anywhere in the mansion. But having her walk all the way over just for me to tell her what I wanted felt redundant. The Hummingbird was a lifesaver because it let me convey the request directly.
A short while later, I heard a rhythmic knock. After I called out, Illness-san entered, pushing a cart.
"I’ve brought your tea..."
"Thank you very much."
"You look... a bit tired, don't you...?"
"Yeah, it’s been a long day. I’m pretty wiped out."
I thanked Illness-san as she poured the tea with a gentle smile, and I gave her a brief summary of the day—how I’d entered the Flying Board tournament and actually won.
She listened with her usual tranquil smile, nodding occasionally. She was as kind and maternal as ever.
"...I see. You must be quite exhausted. In that case... perhaps I should prepare the 'Relaxation Room' for you today...?"
"The... Relaxation Room?"
"It’s a relaxation room hidden behind a secret door in the dressing room..."
"Wait, what? I didn't know about that."
"Oh...?"
This was completely news to me. A secret door in the dressing room? Seriously, how many hidden gimmicks are there in this house that I don't know about?
More importantly, why did Illness-san know about it when I didn't?
"...Alice-sama told me about it... when she gave me a tour of the mansion..."
"I-Is that so?"
"Yes. I suppose it hasn’t been used once... because you weren’t aware of it, was it...?"
"Y-Yeah. So, what kind of place is it?"
"It has a sauna and a bedrock bath... It’s designed specifically to soothe physical fatigue. According to Alice-sama... there is even something called an 'otherworld jacuzzi'..."
"This is the first I'm hearing of this. Can it be used right away?"
"It will take a little time to get ready... but I can have it prepared for you in thirty minutes..."
That sounded genuinely incredible. Bedrock bathing and a jacuzzi at home? Why was Alice hiding this from me...?
"Well then, could I ask you to get it ready?"
"As you wish. I will come to fetch you... once the preparations are complete."
"Okay, thanks."
After Illness-san left the room, I immediately turned my attention to Alice.
"...Alice, why were you hiding a room like that?"
"Humph. There are deep, complex reasons for this. Now, promise you won't get angry before you hear them."
"Yeah?"
"...Well, I was so excited to show you the basement rooms that it slipped my mind, and then I accidentally convinced myself I'd already told you! So, basically, I just plain forgot! Tehe-pero— Ow!?"
"There weren't any deep reasons at all!"
Apparently, she really had just forgotten to explain it. Why even bother making the entrance a hidden door in the first place? She’d probably claim it was for 'romance' or something...
Serious-senpai: "...You know, for things like bedrock baths, beginners usually need someone to teach them the ropes, right?"
???: "Well, Pandemonium is right there, isn't she?"
Serious-senpai: "...I knew it. I knew it was going to turn into that kind of development... Can I go home now?"
???: "No."