It seemed like I didn't have any means of escape from the mixed bathing
anymore. No, I guess I never had any way from the beginning huh. To
begin with, it was against four of the most powerful people in the
world, including the one who stands at the peak, Kuro, and fighting
against them is the little old me, who was only as strong as a slime… It's
physically impossible for me to escape, and since I'm outnumbered,
there's no chance I could win democratically.
Well, that's enough of that. I've gathered my resolve… I mean, mentally
speaking, I've already been through a lot.
I admit, the lineup I'm facing right now is the strongest I've ever seen.
I've also been itching for a battle… Perhaps, the shivers and chills
running down my spine were just me trembling with excitement.
However, it's Alice I'm worried about. As far as I knew, even if she
usually acts like that, she's a really shy person. She also told me that she
was traumatized by what happened before.
That should have been the case, but Alice was convinced by Kuro's few
words… What on earth did Kuro say to her?
Tightly wrapping the towel around my waist, I took three deep breaths
before opening the door.
Considering how amazing the accommodation facility is, I expected the
onsen to be amazing. However, I was surprised to find that it wasn't just
a pool, but a pond with various plants and a spectacular view… I mean, I
could even see a mountain in the distance, you know? Is this place
really indoors?
Overwhelmed by the huge hot spring, I walked along the stone floor
and approached the waters… Beyond the steam of the onsen, I could
see "three" shadows, and they became clearer as I drew closer.
[Ahh, Kaito-kun. This way, over here!]
[Y- Yeah…]
Kuro, who was soaking her body in the hot water waved at me when
she spotted me… and it's safe for the eyes.
[…Kaito…]
[Sorry, I'm late.]
Isis-san, looking as if she was feeling shy, was slightly waving her hand
with a smile while sitting on the edge of the onsen with a large towel
wrapped around her body. There's also no dangerous parts visible
here… What a relief. She's properly wrapped her towel too.
[Geez, we've been waiting here a long time~~]
[......]
The one who said that was a "tall, blonde beauty with a glamorous
figure"…I see, so that's what happened.
She went with a strategy of alleviating the embarrassment she was
feeling by transforming into a different person… In addition, her body
shape and height were clearly different from the original Alice. So, to
put it another way, it's as if she's wearing a magical stuffed costume
huh? I was surprised that she agreed so easily, so this is why…
[Fufufu, you're so charmed by the sexy Alice-chan in the hot spring that
you're speechless huh…]
…I'll admit that her current form looked 100% sexier. But Alice… or
rather, are you even Alice!? You even borrowed your face from someone
else!?
N- No, well, if Alice was fine with that… It's not like she's bothering
anyone, so isn't it fine? The smug smile on her face was annoying
though.
[You can look at them closer, you know? Ho-ree~~ Ho-ree~~]
Alice seemed to be mentally composed and approached while trying to
tease me. Just as she's about to nudge me with her elbow…
[N- No! Shalltear! That magic "is considered as being used to deceive"
Kaito-kun, so it's "considered hostile"…]
[…Ehh?]
When Kuro shouted in a panic, Alice's elbow touched my body…
Immediately after, Alice's magic broke along with the sound of
shattering glass.
At that moment, what do you think happened? Alice was transformed
into a being with a body shape larger than her own, and a towel was
wrapped around that body. When her magic shattered and her body
shape returned to her original form, her towel would naturally fall off…
[…Ahh, no…]
Beautiful skin without a single blemish, and sensationally beautiful
peach-colored protrusions… Perhaps it was the unexpected situation
that prevented me from thinking, or perhaps it was just my male
instinct, but I couldn't help but reflexively stare at them.
After a short silence of less than a second, as if the air had frozen,
Alice's whole body turned as red as boiled octopus.
[Hyaaaaaaaahhhhh!]
[ ! ? ]
Thereupon, she went into the onsen at a speed I couldn't even perceive.
It seemed like she dove in the murky waters, as I could see bubbles
coming out a short distance away.
…It was a disastrous incident in all sorts of ways. It was a surprise for
Alice, but it was also a complete surprise for me… The sight of Alice's
nude body, which had burned itself into my mind, made my little
brother stand up from his seat, whether I wanted to or not.
I think it was a fine play that I covered the lower half of my body as
quickly as I could.
Well, look here. I'm also a healthy young man… Seeing a girl you like
naked, it would be stranger for you not to have any reaction… Unnn, I
don't think I'll be entering the bath for a while.
Above all, I don't think I can look Alice directly in the face. For the time
being, let's wash away this heat I'm feeling with some cold water down
my head.
[…I- I'll be… washing my body for a while—— Unnn?]
As I moved my gaze to get away from the scene, I saw something
strange.
It was such a shocking sight for me that I stopped in my tracks.
[…H- Hey, Kuro?]
[Unnn?]
[If my eyes aren't seeing things… That person sitting in the corner with
the "negative aura" while hugging her knees… That's "Ein-san", right?]
[U- Unnn… I also forgot about her. I'm reflecting.]
What I saw was Ein-san, looking like a bagworm with too many towels
wrapped around her, hugging her knees as she faced the wall.
How should I say this… There's such a negative aura around Ein-san
that it almost gave the illusion that the area around her was dimly lit…
W- What in the world is happening with her?
Looking at Ein-san who looked like a background character, far
removed from her usual cool image, I walked up to her and called out.
[U- Ummm… Ein-san? Are you alright? A- Are you not feeling well…]
[…–ase… —-at me…]
[Eh?]
[…Please don't look at me… Please don't look at my wretched
appearance, "this me who isn't wearing my maid uniform"…]
[......]
That's what you're troubled about!? Eh? What? So, that's what this is
about? The reason why Ein-san was very reluctant to go in the bath
with me… was because she didn't want to be seen without her maid
uniform?
[E- Errr…]
[…not a maid… I'm not a maid… I want to disappear… so that no one can
see me… I want to disappear.]
A fragile, feminine voice… What a negative aura she has… Eh? Is this
what Ein-san looks like when she takes off her maid uniform? W- Well, I
certainly haven't seen her wear anything other than a maid uniform
but…
Her heavy mood feels dreadful. I- I can't stand this… It seems like she
doesn't like others seeing her not in a maid uniform.
W- What should I do? To be honest, I regret calling out to her. W- Well, I
can't just ignore her now and go back though…
[…Ein-san, please listen to me.]
[…Kaito-sama?]
[Ein-san, you take pride in being a maid. You put in your heart and soul
for this task… Isn't that right?]
[Yes… Being a maid is the very value of my existence… without it… I
will…]
[Is that the extent of your devotion as a maid, Ein-san?]
[…Eh?]
How should I say this… As if I had been exposed to a strange
atmosphere, I felt a strange heat in my tone as I continued to speak.
[Does wearing a maid uniform make you a maid? It doesn't, right!? Einsan's passion as a maid isn't so weak that it would disappear just
because of a change in appearance! It's never what you wear that
determines whether you are a maid or not! No matter how you dress,
if you have the pride of a maid inside your heart… Then, you're a maid!]
[......]
To be honest, "I don't even know what I'm saying anymore"! However,
Ein-san looked like she was shocked by what I said. That's enough! Let's
just keep the momentum going!
[Please stand up, Ein-san! If you're not wearing a maid uniform, then all
you have to do is bring out the maid within your heart!]
[Ahh… Aahhh… I- I am… a maid!]
[Yes, you are! You believe you're a maid, therefore you're a maid! Don't
just give up on being a maid! Please believe in the maid within you!]
…Maid, maid, I've been saying it so much, I don't even know what a
maid is anymore.
While giving a consolation speech so pathetic that even I was confused
by my own words, I still ended it with groove and vigor.
In the end, the towel that had been wrapped around her, making her
look like a bagworm, was reduced to a single piece, and Ein-san
returned to her usual stern expression.
[…You have my gratitude, Kaito-sama. It seems like I forgot the most
important thing. "It's not because I'm a maid that I'm Ein, it's because
I'm Ein that there are maids"!]
[Eh? T- T- T- That's right! It's as you say!]
[In short, "I am the maid, and the maid is me"…I'm sorry to have shown
you my unsightly self. I'm alright now.]
[…I- Is that so…]
It seemed that Ein is now completely lively, and I am very happy for her
as well.
But I just want to say one thing… What the heck are those
incomprehensible things that she was talking about!?
Dear Mom, Dad——– Two events occurred right after the mixed
bathing started. Alice, who self-destructed yet again, and Ein-san, who
fell to the dark side. Well, it really is a difficult road ahead of us. I'm
worried about the future… but before worrying about it, I just want to
ask one thing———– In the end, what the heck is a maid!?