Chapter 29: Let's Take a Bath

　Hirune entered the women's side of the "Healing Hot Spring" bathhouse.

　The changing room was simple, with individual lockers ay wooden keys.

(It's all made of wood, isn't it? You have to lock it up then hang it around your neck with a string. ...... hehe)

　Hirune gave a Hail Mary pose in an unusually quick movement, admiring the otherworldly bathhouse. 

　Then Jeanne took off her saint's clothes without saying a word.

　With brilliant hands, she folded Hirune's saint's clothes and put them in a locker, and then she took off her maid's uniform and put it in the same locker.

“Jeanne's movements are so artisanal.”

　Holly murmured with dismay and admiration, and Jeanne said, "Excuse me," then took off Holly's saint's clothes as well. Holly shuddered and covered herself with a towel as she was completely undressed in about thirty seconds.

“Hirune, the last person you want to offend is Jeanne. Okay?”

“Jeanne never gets angry, does she?”

　Holly nodded her head in agreement, seeing Hirune's reassurance.

　While this was going on, Jeanne took a hair tie and put up the hair of both Holly and Hirune. She put her own ponytail up as well. She also put Holly's saint's clothes in her locker, locked it, and hung the key around her neck.

“Holly, Jeanne, let's go in.”

　Hirune took the initiative and opened the door to the bathroom.

　The three girls walked into the steamy water.

(Whoa, whoa, whoa! A public bath! A public bath in another world!)

　The inside was spacious, with only one large bath in the center of the room.

The hot spring water was flowing from the stone baths.

　The women who were already in the bath looked as if they were in paradise. They looked like they were in heaven.

(I can't wait to get in. I can't wait to get into the bath. The hot water for washing your body is taken from the bath in the back. ...... There are no showers?)

　A large wooden bathtub was set up in the back, and several customers were sitting on chairs nearby, drawing hot water from the tub. They seemed to scrub their bodies with hand towels. No soap, apparently.

“Hirune-sama, Let's wash your body first.”

"That's right. This is a time-sensitive matter. Let's wash up quickly and get into that big bath.”

　As Hirune walked quickly, Holly called out from behind her.

“Hey, Hirune, don’t fall.”

“I'll be fine.”

　The girls walked in happily, and the guests looked on smiling.

　When Hirune sat down on a vacant chair, Jeanne fetched some hot water and washed her body with a hand towel she had.

"Jeanne. Jeanne, please pour the hot water over me.”

"Like this?"

　Jeanne generously poured hot water over Hirune and wiped her body.

“So good. We've been missing this."

“Maybe we were.”

　Jeanne giggled as she moves her hands.

(I always wipe with just hot water from a tub. ...... this is the best. ......)

 While Hirune was pondering this, Holly, who had fetched the water herself, sat down next to her.

“You've got the dumbest face in the world.”

"Really?"

“It’s a face that doesn’t look like a saint. You should be more careful.”

“No frowns in the bath.”

　Looking at the laughing Hirune made her feel like she was losing her mind, so Holly started wiping herself down with her mouth in a straight line, looking like a mechanic doing maintenance on a carriage. 

　Then Jeanne, who had finished washing Hirune, came up behind Holly, said "Excuse me," and began to wash her.

“I'll do it myself--"

　A startled Holly froze as she lifted the hand towel and eventually closed her eyes.

'Ah ...... ah .......'

　Holly began to squirm,  perhaps ticklish or maybe it felt good.

“Please let me know if it hurts, Okay?”

“...... doesn't hurt.”

“That's good to know."

　Jeanne happily polished Holly off.

　After a while, Holly slackened and relaxed her body.

“Hirune, do you get this done every day?”

'Yes, I do.”

“That's not fair. Jeanne is better at this than my maid.”

“Jeanne is the most powerful maid ever you know? So it can’t be helped.”

　 Hirune said this with a look on her face that said it was only natural.

　It was a bit of a joke, but it was true, as she had received more blessings from the goddess in her sleep than anyone else. Jeanne was embarrassed.

 "Well then, Jeanne, please lend me your hand towel. I'll wash you this time.”

“What? Oh, no! That's okay, I'll do it myself!”

“It’s my way of saying thank you for everything. Come on."

　Hirune took Jeanne's washcloth.

“I'll do it for you."

　Holly stood up, took Jeanne by the shoulders and sat her down in a chair.

"Oh."

　Hirune and Holly began to wash Jeanne's body carefully.

“Ah ...... it's ticklish ...... ahaha! I'll do my own armpits! No, no, no!"

　Jeanne started laughing, and Hirune and Holly looked at each other, pouring hot water over her and concentrating on her weak points with a hand towel.

　As they were washing her body, laughing and squealing, a lady in the hot water spoke up.

 "Ladies, after you wash, get into the hot water. It feels good.”

　At her words, the three of them stopped and replied with a simple "yes.”

　Carla was the owner of the store and the customers seemed to be friendly. 

　Hirune, Holly, and Jeanne approached the large bath, climbed up the stone steps, and stepped into the hot water.

　The three of them sank to their shoulders as they entered the water.

(The bath is great~...... It feels good~......)

“Huh. ...... It's so warm.”

"It feels so good. ......"

“It's so ......”

　The three of them narrowed their eyes.

(It's so deep, I wonder if I can sit down. ......)

　When Hirune opened her eyes, the woman who had called out to them told her that there was a step for children over here.

“Thank you."

　With a smile, Hirune replied and walked through the hot water and sat down on the high step for children.

　When she sat down, it was at shoulder height.

　She took Jeanne and Holly by the hand and they sat on either side of her.

(It's a nice bath. ......)

　The middle of the hot water bulged irregularly, probably because the hot spring water was coming out from the center of the large bath. The flow of the gushing hot water also changed the shape of the water against their shoulders. The slight change in texture was pleasant.

　When Hirune looked up at the ceiling, she saw a series of round droplets of water formed by steam.

(Those water droplets ...... look like chairs that ruin people. ......)

　The water droplets that she was staring at fell off and splashed into the hot water.

“I'm glad I came too......."

　Holly's large hanging eyes and Jeanne's steeple eyes made Hirune laugh.

　The hot bath made both of their cheeks rosy.

"That's right. I'm really glad we came. It's so nice and fun."

　Jeanne gave her a clear smile.

　Holly's mouth twitched, but eventually she gave up and pouted.

"Well, ...... I admit it feels good. ...... Thank you, Hirune."

“No. I'm sorry I'm always so selfish. Thank you for teaching me so much, Holly."

　Hirune smiled gratefully at Holly for always taking care of her, and Holly turned away.

“it’s okay. You don't seem to be able to do anything without me.”

"I'm counting on you, Holly."

“Oh, no. I'm always out of sorts when I'm with you. If Wanda knew I was doing this, I'd be cleaning the thousand hallway.”

　Holly looked up at the ceiling, and her face was happy unlike her words.

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