Chapter 84: Heartfelt Bracelet ⑨ Chives.

Feeling exhausted from everything, I decided to take a bath at the Witch’s House for the first time in a while.

It was the afternoon, and at this hour, no one else was around.

There were baths on the basement first and second floors, filled with thick steam.

The basement first floor had a moderately sized bath—the original bath of the Witch’s House.

The newly built basement second floor had a large bath and washing area that could easily fit more than ten people.

At the back was a huge black-and-white jar, constantly filled with hot water.

Yes, it was a jar bath. My oasis of life.

“Still, I’m surprised… ‘Torquetam’ actually left Hydrangea.”

I murmured this while washing at the washing area.

They had gone to the trade city Heizen around the time I entered the dungeon.

The reason was materials to strengthen Lupinus-san’s shield: Blue-Green Crystals.

The witch had apparently seen them at the Full Moon Bazaar in Heizen.

There wasn’t much time until the next full moon, so they prepared immediately and left.

“A trade city, huh…”

There was a river a little away from Hydrangea.

The Little Reeve River. I occasionally went fishing there.

Although, to be honest, I’d never caught a fish.

Lately, I hadn’t gone at all, for various reasons.

The Little Reeve River is a tributary of the Middle Reeve River, which is itself a tributary of the Great Reeve River.

The Great Reeve River originates from Reeve Lake—the kingdom’s largest lake, connected to the sea.

On the shores of Reeve Lake lies the trade city Heizen.

Heizen is an important trade hub and a neutral zone—not part of the kingdom’s territory, but autonomous.

“So they’re relying on someone the witch knows in Heizen?”

Exactly. Torquetam was told to depend on that acquaintance, so there was nothing to worry about.

“Someone the witch knows… huh.”

Even though she dislikes people, she has many acquaintances. She and the others should be fine.

I washed my hair. There was no conditioner in this world, but shampoo existed.

I lathered it up and washed thoroughly.

Instead of conditioner, I used plant oil to make my hair shine.

I liked washing my hair—lathering it up and scrubbing it thoroughly.

“Hmm-hmm♪ hmm-hmm-hmm♪”

I couldn’t help but hum a tune.

“Hmm-hmm~♪ hmm-hmm-hmm♪”

I rinsed my hair and lightly squeezed it with my hands.

“Hmm-hmm~♪”

“Heh, sounds like you’re having fun.”

“Oh, sorry… I just—!? Chive-san!?”

Startled by the voice, I opened my eyes. Chive-san was there.

Completely naked. Naturally so, because it was a bath, but still… she was a girl.

A girl, completely naked, sitting next to me.

Her grey, wet hair clinging to her from the steam.

Shorter than me, pale skin.

A small, rounded body, with ribs faintly visible—a frail, unhealthy thinness.

Her eyes were grey with reptilian-like irises.

Dark circles under her eyes, yet her face was cute and well-proportioned.

Her chest and hips were small—no doubt she was a girl—but I didn’t know her actual age.

A first-class explorer, known as a “sensible beast”—sensible in this situation?

She sat next to me and began washing herself.

Starting from her neck to her right shoulder and arm with a soapy towel. Then her left shoulder and arm, and then pressing the towel against her chest.

“Uh, well, it’s kinda embarrassing if someone sees…”

“Ah, s-sorry.”

“So… do you really want to see my naked body that much?”

“Uh, y-yes.”

“I-I see… but it’s still embarrassing, so don’t look.”

“S-sorry.”

What am I even doing?

Chive-san finished washing and rinsed herself. I had been waiting the whole time.

I didn’t know why I was waiting, but I had.

“Hey, Wolf-chi, did you wash your body?”

“Ah… n-no, not yet.”

For some reason, I lied instinctively. It felt like the right thing to do.

Chive-san laughed, teasing me.

“Then… should I wash you?”

“Is that okay?”

“Uh, just your back, though. The back is… tricky.”

“Then, please.”

“Uh… okay.”

Chive-san put the towel, lathered with soap, on my back and slowly began scrubbing. Somewhat awkwardly.

“Ah—”

“Huh, s-sorry. Did it hurt or anything?”

“No, it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

Speaking out loud—this was the first time anyone had washed my back in this world.

And it was being done by a completely naked beautiful girl.

I had no memory of this in my previous life.

And then it hit me—Chive-san might be nervous?

“Haa—haa… i-it’s surprisingly… wide…”

“W-what is it?”

“N-n-n-nothing! Nothing at all!”

“Y-yes.”

“Is this okay…? Alright, rinse now.”

“Please.”

Chive-san rinsed my back with hot water.

“Phew… hot, huh.”

“Are you okay?”

“W-wait, don’t look behind!”

“S-sorry.”

I instinctively turned around.

“See? Do the front yourself.”

“Yes.”

I took the towel and washed my body. Chive-san stayed behind me the whole time.

What was this—having a completely naked beautiful girl right behind me?

Feeling strange tension, I finished washing a second time.

“Finished? Then—let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“You know where—our usual spot.”

Chive-san grinned, held my hand, and pulled me along.

We headed to the jar baths—the large black and white jars.

Water slowly poured in from above, keeping them full.

Chive-san got into the white jar, and I got into the black one.

“Phew…”

“Ah—this feels nice.”

“Yes…”

I glanced at Chive-san.

When she grabbed my hand, I had been behind her.

Through the gaps in the steam, I kept looking at her butt, slightly swaying, faintly red like a ripe peach.

“Uh… Wof-chi, what? Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, uh… I mean… you’re cute.”

“Heh… you say that to all the girls, don’t you?”

“No, no. I only said it to you.”

I briefly thought about it—had I said it to others before? No… I think not.

“Uh… Wof-chi?”

“No, I didn’t. You’re the only one I said you’re cute to.”

“Oh… I see… okay.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“I see… ah, I-I’m getting out now!”

Flustered, Chive-san got out of the jar.

I had already seen more than I should, but there was nothing I could do now.

“Ah, um… Chive-san, after you change, could you wait in that room?”

“W-why?”

“I have something I want to give you.”

“O-okay… I’ll wait in the room.”

Chive-san left the bath. I stayed a bit longer in the jar bath, then got out before getting lightheaded, changed in the dressing area, and left the bath.

I went up to the second floor. Next to Munieka-san’s room was a guest room—that was Chive-san’s room.

Several black boxes were placed in the room.

Chive-san sat on the bed and stood when she saw me.

“Chive-san.”

“I’ve been waiting…”

She wore a yellow robe with the hood pulled low over her face.

“…Could you hold out your hand?”

“Huh… ah… y-yes.”

She awkwardly extended her arm. I couldn’t see well because of the hood, but her cheeks seemed flushed—maybe from the bath.

I took the bracelet from my pouch and slipped it onto her wrist.

It was a bracelet with a black band and white gemstones.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a token of my gratitude for all your help.”

“Oh… a black band with white gems… it’s like that jar bath from earlier.”

“Oh, yes, that’s true.”

Now that she mentioned it, it did resemble the jar bath.

Chive-san was examining the bracelet with genuine interest.

“Mm-hmm, yes. Nice. It’s a really good item. Where did you get this?”

“From a street vendor.”

“Oh, a real find! This is amazing. I love it! Truly!”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Thank you, Wolf-chi.”

She said that with a smile and hugged me.

“Eh?”

“Fufu—Wof-chi, your soap smells so nice… this is a thank-you for the bracelet, right?”

She pressed her lips to the back of my neck and kissed me.

Then she licked and sucked gently.

“Ch-Chive-san!?”

“Mmm—fufu… ah, I just feel like turning into a beast right now.”

“Beast, what!?”

As she clung to me, her hood flung off violently.

Large black animal ears had sprouted from her head.

At the same time, a black tail emerged from her lower back. Her skirt slid down with a soft thud.

“Grrrrr…”

“Ch-Chive-san…”

She growled lowly like a wild animal, staring straight at me.

Her grey eyes glowed mysteriously, reptilian-like pupils fully dilated.

I could see jagged teeth behind her pink lips.

Ah, this was the first stage—like the time I groomed her tail before… if that’s the case…

“I-I’m sorry!!”

I touched her animal ears with both hands and began stroking them vigorously.

“Hyaaah!?”

Chive-san moaned and went limp—this was my chance.

“Excuse me, I’ll be taking the liberty!”

I apologized, then wrapped my hands around her waist and reached for her tail.

I kneaded and stroked it.

“Nnhiiiaaaahhh!!?”

I felt bad, but this black beast was incredibly dangerous.

I hadn’t forgotten that night of grooming—couldn’t forget it.

It had been… truly intense. The “sensible beast” was clearly a lie—completely a beast, in every sense.

And right now, she had fully lost all restraint, becoming a pure beast.

Even more, I could sense a tremendous power emanating from deep within her.

A black beast far stronger than a Fenrir-transformed Juicy-san.

If I wasn’t careful, even Generous wouldn’t be enough.

I couldn’t use Rêve Form yet.

So I had to stop her here. I had to stop her, absolutely.

“Please forgive me, Chive-san.”

I began grooming her black beast tail with all my strength.

“All my strength” meant I was using the relic Rave Move at full power.

It was… intense. Especially the sound.

Her usual husky voice had vanished beyond the stars.

Even more outrageous than the previous tail-grooming. Truly the voice of a beast.

A few minutes later… she had fainted. Her black ears and tail had disappeared.

I did it. I actually did it. But… I had used Rêve Move three times—that was too much.

“Ai… au… ae… oe… aa… oa… ahe…”

“…”

I had overdone it.

Chive-san… would now need to take another bath.

I had overdone it.

But I couldn’t handle this on my own, so I left the room.

Munieka-san wasn’t around. The witch was asleep—she wasn’t waking up.

The only option left… was the storage room on the first floor, used by Shiro-san. I knocked.

“Come in. It’s open.”

Shiro-san was there.