"Ahhh... That hits the spot."
Going to school is pretty tiring than expected. Though we don't really have to be mindful of the academic factor, it tires me when I use my mana in magic practice. I've been training to control my mana consumption, but I have a hard time doing so. After all, in VLF, you just use magic without a care in the world. I have a huge mana pool and all, but the exhaustion still hits me when it counts. How troublesome.
And that is why getting in the bath after all the works really does hit the spot. I don't want to delay everything, and the time we spend here is quite long already. I want to hurry up and find my created labyrinth base, but the information is just...
"I'm glad that there's a bath in this mansion, I could relax... Haaaa..."
*Click.
"That was a long sigh you let out there, Guren-kun. Mind if I join in?"
"Oh, Sir Duke...? Please do."
Have I been spacing out? I did not notice the door open.
"Don't be so stiff. Just call me Ellsworth or Ell. You saved our lives and you have been staying here with us for about two-weeks already. Drop that formality already, will you?"
He said as he walked to the washing area.
"Oh, no. You're the Duke, right? I can't possibly do that."
"Then how about you call me father-in-law then?"
"The water is nice here right, Elly?"
"Pfft! HAHAHAHA! You really are interesting fellow Guren-kun!"
This old man...
"Sigh, you forced me into it."
"What, you hate our Ellisbeth that much? She's a fine girl you, know? I can vouch for her."
He dip himself beside me as he said that. What the hell is this guy even talking about?!
"Oi old man, she's your daughter, you know? What the hell are you doing pushing her to a man you barely know? And besides, it is not about liking or hating, It's about feelings. It's rude for Ellisbeth for us to be talking this on our own without her consent. That girl hates me quite a bit, you see."
"What a serious young man. While I agree about what you said that it is rude for Ellisbeth, I don't think that girl hates you. Get a hint, boy!"
"But, even so—"
I'm starting to get flustered. I don't think I can dodge the bullet anymore if he push this further.
"Haha, I'm just kidding! Besides, Beth will kill me if she heard about this... though I don't really think she has something against you."
"Then why say all those in the first place?!"
"HAHAHA! just want to see how you react when teased!"
"You're cruel, man!"
I submerge myself below nose level, and started bubbling the water to hide my embarrassment. Damn it, he's got me real one. And what does he even mean about Maam Beth killing him if we are heard having this conversation? Dang it, I'm starting to overthink again!
"Well, sorry about that. Mai-chan seems she always have fun when teasing you, so..."
"Man. Give me a break, will you?"
"Haha. Got it, got it. Phew..."
He let out a breath while making a smirking face. The steams oozing out the water shows the temperature of the bath quite high. I'm feeling dizzy but I can still last for about 10 minutes. He seem to say something else, so I have to endure a bit more.
"About school... how was it."
That sure came out of nowhere.
"That's a parent-like thing to ask, ain't it? How about you ask that question to your dear daughter?"
"You idiot! To ask such thing to your own daughter is embarrassing!"
He suddenly stood up, followed by a swish gesture of his arm.
"You are the idiot one here?! I know I am watching her close, but it will sound creepy if I know every detail of her school life! Get that in you head, dumbass!"
As a respond, I also stood suddenly. Splashing the water adding hype to the scene. I'm not gonna lose to you in something like this old man!
"You're the dumbass one here!
"Stupid! Idiot!"
"Hah! Hah! Hah!" *Panting
"Hah! Hah! Hah!" *Panting
(While they both don't realize, they have engage in a parent/child conflict just not.)
Wait, what the hell is happening here?!
"Pfftt! Hahahahahaha!"
"Heh... Hahahaha!"
I don't know what the hell just happened, but it seems the distance between us men have shortened a bit.
After bursting into laughter, we sit back the bath. My dizziness was also gone.
"By the way old man, you have a nice body for your age, huh. I don't see you train often, so I thought you would have an average structure at most. But heck, you have six pack!"
*Splash
"Heh..."
He turned to me after splashing water on his face.
"...says you? You, are still very young but you sure pack a heck of a whatcha-macallit!"
"Wha—Hey, stop that! Thats... embarrassing..."
"Hahaha."
Wait, now that I remember it...
"Hey, old man... when you were ambushed at the forest but those bandits, why did you not use any magic? You are a Duchy household right? You should have a very strong elemental magic."
"..."
He was silenced by my question. Then after shifting his eyes on the baths' ceiling. He answered...
"It's not that I did not use magic... It's more like, I could not use it that time."
Could not use it? I don't get it.
"What do you..."
"Nobles are not suppose to go against bandits. That is the rule. Subjugating bandits are the job of the Imperial knights and soldiers. If you are not a knight and a Soldier, you can't do anything about them(bandits). That's how it is. And that is the reason why we nobles have always knights when we go out of the kingdom."
"..."
What the hell is with that?! A direct counter system?! This is one hell of a massive loophole! What the hell are the game developers doing neglecting such a very big in-game malfunction?
"Then..."
"It's as what you think it is. That attack was planned. They know that I could do nothing if they use bandits as a medium. Those nasty bastards! They even hurt my dear Ellisbeth!"
Politics, huh? Nobles does have it also rough.
"Do you have any idea who did that?"
"I sure do. But let's drop it for now... I don't want you to be involve in this."
"Hah?! Well, you already have! You know about that Afton goon and that Crown Prince right?! You did involve me in much more troublesome stuff that letting me in with some political matter! I'm always at my edge in school because of that!"
"Haha, don't be so angry about it. I'll leave my daughter to you as always."
He said that as he stepped out of the bath.
"Please take good care of her for me."
He opened the door and left the room completely.
"Haaa... I fell like I am a corporate slave trying so hard to please my superiors. I really have to hurry up and find my base as soon as possible!"
Each and everyone of them... they sure make me work more than I have to.
"I'm already feeling dizzy from the heat after finishing our talk. I'll leave as well. I'll head straight to my bed and sleep. I hope tomorrow is another peaceful day."
That moment... I did not realize that what I just said in my sleepy mind just jinx the flag out of me...
(The next morning.)
"I've heard about you peasant living with my fiance! Your luck ran out!"
Damn this isekai world!
...To be Continued...