After thoroughly enjoying the bedrock bath, we moved into the rest room. The space was kept cool, providing a pleasant contrast to my warmed body.
The sweat worked up during a bedrock bath is thin and clean, lacking any of the typical unpleasantness, which made the detox effect feel tangible. It was deeply relaxing.
"Kaito-sama, here is some water for you."
"Thank you."
I took the glass Illness-san had prepared. A hint of lemon juice gave the water a crisp, refreshing edge that tasted incredible in my parched state.
"What would you like to do next?"
"Hmm, I’m not quite sure. It's hard to choose."
"There is no rush. Why don't you rest here for a while? If you like, I can prepare a light snack as well."
"That sounds perfect. I am feeling a bit hungry, though maybe not for a full meal... some cookies or something light to nibble on would be great."
"Very well. Shall I brew some tea, then?"
"Yes, please. I’d like that."
I felt quite languid after the bath, so her suggestion was a godsend. After resting here for a bit, I figured I would try the jacuzzi or the aroma bath.
More than anything, though, having Illness-san there to tend to my needs felt wonderful. She provided a sense of security that made it easy to truly relax. She had been assigned as my exclusive attendant almost immediately after my summoning; that history of shared time had built a solid foundation of trust between us.
"Thank you for waiting. I have prepared cookies and herb tea."
"Oh, they look delicious. Are you an expert on herbal teas too, Illness-san?"
"I have a fair amount of knowledge. However, Milady doesn't care much for them, so I rarely have the chance to brew them."
"Ah, now that you mention it, I’ve almost never seen Lilia-san drink herb tea."
Lilia-san preferred orthodox, reliable black tea. Having spent quite a while at the estate now, I had come to understand her palate; she seemed to favor teas with deep, rich notes. Conversely, she wasn't fond of the sharp, refreshing aftertaste found in certain varieties, so she rarely drank them. It wasn't that she outright disliked them, I supposed; they just weren't her preference.
Personally, I wasn't refined enough to be that picky. If it tasted good, I was happy. I enjoyed coffee as well, so I really didn't have many dislikes when it came to drinks.
Food was the same story—with the exception of the Green Demon. Truly, that pepper was my only real enemy. However, I knew better than to carelessly wish for its extinction; with certain people around, that wish might actually come true. It was just a personal dislike, anyway—it wasn't as if I harbored a blood feud against the existence of green peppers.
"Since we're here, why don't you join me, Illness-san?"
"Then I shall join you."
It was as if she had expected me to say it. She smiled and took the seat opposite me the moment I made the offer.
"How was the Flying Board Tournament?"
"It was a much more interesting sport than I expected. Luck plays a part, of course, but there was a surprising amount of tactical maneuvering involved."
"I see... I only know the name of the sport, so I would love to hear all about it."
"Of course. It took place in the remote regions of the Hydra Kingdom..."
Telling Illness-san about something she didn't know felt like a bit of a rarity. She listened with a gentle smile, nodding at the right moments and proving herself to be an excellent conversationalist.
"...And that's how I made my final move. Luckily, fortune was on my side and we took the win."
"That is marvelous. Luck may have played its part, but if you hadn't taken the risk to begin with, fortune would have had nothing to act upon. It is a testament to everyone’s hard work."
"Hearing you say that makes it feel even more meaningful."
"Hehe. You did very well."
"Ahaha, thanks."
She offered her praise with genuine warmth. Even without Sympathy Magic, I could feel her sincerity. It was a cozy, slightly bashful feeling. Her maternal aura was truly something else; her capacity for acceptance made me feel completely at ease.
"The victory is a great achievement, but more than anything, I am as happy as if it were my own success to see you enjoy the sport and reach such a positive result."
"I think I'm even happier now that you've said that, Illness-san."
"Kuhihi, I am glad."
Her smile was unique, yet it radiated a softness and heat that seemed to heal not just my body, but my heart as well.
Serious-senpai: "...It’s okay... I’m still... fine."
???: "Senpai? Uh, your hands are turning stark white, you know?"
Serious-senpai: "Wh—?! Dammit, it’s March, so I’m changing into white chocolate?! At this rate..."
???: "Wait, you change based on the season?"