Dinner in the dining hall with Isis-san and her subordinates had been quite a delight. While her inner circle was full of eccentric, powerful personalities, they were all good people at heart, and the warmth of their camaraderie was palpable.
Isis-san spoke of them as her family, and the atmosphere truly bore that out. They felt remarkably different from the Ten Demons or the Five War Generals. Their dynamic was perhaps closer to Lilliwood-san’s Seven Princesses—the sort of group that enjoyed tea parties together or visited festivals in pairs.
The deep bond between the Death King's subordinates was likely a testament to Isis-san’s own gentle character.
"Kaito... the bath is ready. Would you like to go in?"
"Eh? Oh, right. We’ve finished dinner, so I’d love to freshen up."
After we finished eating, we moved to Isis-san’s room to relax, chatting lazily as we enjoyed a post-dinner break. That was when she made her proposal.
It was certainly the perfect time for a soak. Since the bath in Isis-san’s home was a hot spring, it would be wonderful to relax while gazing out at the snowy landscape.
"Mm... then... let's go."
"Eh? Oh, right... Yes, let's."
I was momentarily taken aback by her words, but looking back, her phrasing from the very start had carried the quiet assumption that we would be going in together.
In the past, I might have hesitated, but we were lovers now. Bathing together shouldn't have been an issue... though, of course, a lingering trace of bashfulness still remained.
"Ehehe... I’ve been with you all day today, Kaito. I’m so happy."
"I'm happy to hear that. I feel the same way."
Isis-san’s reactions were just adorable; she looked so genuinely blissful just to be with me that it made me feel both bashful and incredibly lucky.
Without a word, we naturally reached for each other’s hands and headed toward the baths.
I had thought this during my previous stay as well, but the view from the hot spring in Isis-san’s home was truly magnificent. Thanks to the barrier, it was impossible to see in from the outside, but we could see out perfectly to enjoy the scenery.
The extreme cold of the surrounding land didn't bother me because of Shiro-san’s Blessing, but apparently, the temperature within the barrier was kept constant to ensure it remained comfortable.
Indeed, despite being situated in a land of snow and ice, Isis-san’s castle didn't feel chilly at all, and the biting winds never reached the interior—all thanks to the layers of barriers.
"Come to think of it, Alice was the one who built this hot spring, wasn't she?"
"Mm... Gensen Kakenagashi... she called it."
Where on earth did she find a source out here? Then again, with her magic, anything was possible. During the Six Kings Festival, she had claimed there was a Gensen Kakenagashi at the top of a tower in a subspace... And knowing Alice, it wasn't just a term she was using loosely; there was a very real possibility she was literally teleporting the water in from an actual spring somewhere.
"Kaito... shall we... wash each other’s backs?"
"Eh? Ah, sure. Should I wash yours first?"
"Mm... thank you."
I nodded at Isis-san’s smiling suggestion. I watched as she sat down on a small bath stool, then used a magic tool that functioned like a shower to rinse her back.
"Is the water too hot?"
"No... it’s perfect... it feels good."
"I'm glad. You know, we did this same thing the first time I stayed over at your house."
"Mm... back then... I washed yours first... so the order was reversed. Next time... I’ll wash yours first."
"Ahaha, I see. So the order is part of the rotation too."
"Mm."
I remembered that first stay at Isis-san’s house quite vividly. Or rather, I mostly remembered being a nervous wreck.
Of course, I was still a bit nervous now, but being lovers made me feel much more composed than I had been back then.
"Now that I think about it... you got quite dizzy from the heat that time, Kaito."
"U-Um, well, it was less about the heat and more about the blood rushing to my head from embarrassment. Though I suppose the end result was the same."
"Kaito... is bathing with me... embarrassing?"
"I mean, I'm still a little bashful even now... but I think the happiness of being with you is much stronger. That’s why I’m more relaxed than I was that first time."
"I see... I’m also... happy to be with Kaito... and blissful... that’s why... we’re together."
"Yeah."
"Ehehe."
Isis-san had started smiling so much more often lately, and her charm only seemed to grow with every passing day. Whether it was her expressions or the joy evident in the tone of her voice, just being near her made my own face relax into a smile.
I still felt that slight prickle of embarrassment and a touch of tension, but just as I told her, the happiness and bliss I felt far outweighed them. I truly felt that from the bottom of my heart.
Serious-senpai: "Fughaaah! Th-these two... even though they've already bathed together plenty of times by now, they're still radiating this 'happy couple' aura... Gununu!"
???: "...Aren't they just a normal happy couple?"