I anticipate that there will be those who may find this displeasing.

However, taking into consideration the upcoming development and interactions between characters, I have decided on this course of action.

Note that the payoff will be realized much later.

“——”

Vergil: “Come in.”

Aya: “Excuse me.”

As the discussion came to a close, there was a knock on the office door.

Upon Vergil-san’s permission, the one who entered was Aya-san.

Arata: “Why has Aya come?”

Aya: “Well, the other staff were too scared of Arata-san, so I had to come.”

It seemed that I had quickly made it onto the guild staff’s blacklist upon my arrival to the royal capital.

This was very regrettable.

Did I really seem like such a brutish individual?

However, it wasn’t hard to understand the feelings of the guild staff.

An adventurer who could go head-to-head with the muscular Vergil-san.

Having power means becoming a target of awe.

Vergil: “Hmm. Arata-dono, don’t you seem to be close with Aya?”

Arata: “Yes, Aya-san took care of me in Loine.”

Aya: “Arata-san was quite the character in Loine too, you know? On the very first day of his adventurer registration…”

 

＊＊＊

 

Returning to Rose-san’s mansion from the Adventurer’s Guild.

The battle against Vergil-san, a matter of concern, ended in a draw, and they were able to establish a cooperative relationship safely.

This would be a relief in case of any unexpected situation.

Moreover, I can now ask for Rose-san’s special training when I leave the royal capital.

Vergil-san seems hungry for battle, and I believe he would be happy to accept.

Feeling embarrassed to simply accept help, I decided to offer Rose-san as a ‘sacrifice’.

Either way, Vergil-san got a good training partner, or rather, a punching bag, and Rose-san got a teacher. This definitely establishes a win-win relationship.

Head Maid Dorothy: “Welcome back, Arata-sama.”

Dorothy-san, the head maid and house steward, greeted me.

Despite her youth of just under 40, she is in charge of this mansion.

She looks elegant in a Victorian maid’s uniform, and even her bowing is picturesque, revealing her excellence.

…Come to think of it, weren’t maid uniforms developed in the modern era?

It feels a bit anachronistic, but it’s not something to worry about.

Arata: “I’ve returned, Dorothy-san. Where is Rose-san?”

Head Maid Dorothy: “Rose is in the guest room. Just a little while ago, the seventh prince woke up, so she’s assessing the situation.”

It seems like the potion worked.

However, he probably won’t be in perfect condition right after waking up, so he will need to rest for a while.

In any case, this is a relief.

I thanked Dorothy-san for the report and entered the mansion.

I ended up being late because I was talking with Vergil-san and Aya-san.

Currently, it’s just past 18:00.

There’s still some time before dinner.

I’d like to take a shower to wash off the sweat from the duel.

I return once to the guest room I was given, prepare a change of clothes and a towel, and head to the bathhouse.

The mansion has an elaborate bathhouse built according to Rose-san’s tastes.

The devices for heating water and bath are magical tools.

With a shower and a large bathtub, it’s like the public bath of an inn or a hotel.

Naturally, the more sophisticated these facilities, the higher the required technology.

In a game with many players with crafting jobs, it would have been easy to design, but in this world, you have to pile up hefty rewards for skilled craftsmen.

Even so, bathing actions have many benefits, such as restoring health over a certain period of time depending on the facility level.

Thanks to this, life in the mansion is very comfortable, and I am grateful for it.

Upon reaching the bathhouse, I passed through the blue curtain marked 『Men』 – a feature that may have been Rose-san’s stylistic preference.

I too like the feeling of entering from this form, so I have no complaints.

I strip off my dirtied clothes stained with sweat and dust, take a towel, and reach for the door to the bathhouse.

That’s when…

Something catches my eye.

I get a bad feeling.

In terms of what I’ve experienced since coming to this world, this feeling is stronger than when I encountered a stampede in the town of Loine.

If I’m not careful, it might even rival the time when I foresaw Vergil-san’s 【Second Sword Strike】 during our duel.

And in such cases, intuition usually doesn’t fail.

Also, it typically involves something difficult to avoid.

But my judgment was delayed.

Why was there light coming from the men’s bath, which isn’t used by anyone in the mansion?

Why was the glass door separating the bathhouse and the dressing room fogged up?

Why didn’t I notice these irregularities?

Was it because the fatigue from the duel had dulled my thinking?

It must be.

Arata: “Oh, Rose-san. I was just about to say that it’s time to get out, and…”

“…”

Arata: “…”

Through the steam, I could see white skin.

How did it come to this?

In any case, even if it was an accidental incident, an apology is important.

It’s necessary to show remorse through words and attitude.

I apologize to the seventh prince — no, princess — who is frozen in shock.

Arata: “I’m… I’m sorry.”

Seventh Prince=> Seventh Princess: “AAAAAAAAA!!”

The princess’s scream echoed through the room.