Chapter 537: The Scent of Gunpowder (Joke chapter)

**translator here. The original author appeared to race swap Duke and Gavinrad here for an orc and troll respectively. The story progression appears to be cannon to the story but the race swaps are not.**

"Cough! Saved at last," grumbled Duke, an orc, as he struggled to rise. He then noticed Vereesa, an elf, attempting to hide her disgust as she pinched her nose, eyeing him as if he were filth.

The instigator of the mess, the Red Dragon Queen, curled up like a sleeping cat, deep in slumber.

By the spirits!

He couldn't strike her, and scolding was pointless now.

With another elf, Vereesa, watching, Duke felt he had no choice but to admit defeat.

"Zug zug! Alright, I'll bathe. I'm going now, happy?" Duke grumbled, defeated, rolling his way to the bathroom.

This world didn't have running water. Having two barrels of clean water in a bathroom was a luxury.

Thankfully, the weather was warm. If it were winter, the thought of ice-cold water drenching him made him shudder.

Duke wasn't daunted by the lack of a showerhead.

His command over water elementals was adept. Away from that fire-imbued, drunken mage, his mana circuits worked normally. Sitting in the tub, he skillfully manipulated a water column from the barrel, pouring it evenly over himself.

Meanwhile, Vereesa stared disapprovingly at Alexstrasza, the Dragon Queen, snoozing next to Duke.

Without hesitation, she entered Duke's room to find Gavinrad and Vanessa, two trolls, staring in shock.

Gavinrad's jaw dropped. "Dis ain't right, mon! Didn't da boss just fight da Dragon Queen? Why's da Windrunner's sister here now? Ha, boss be mighty fierce, mon!"

"Hmph!" Vereesa's cold huff startled Gavinrad.

"Alexstrasza be drunk, mon. Now she sleeps. Help me carry her to da guest room."

The two trolls wore expressions of confusion. But, their roles as bodyguard and maid gave them no choice.

After some effort, they moved the Dragon Queen and replaced the soiled linens. When Vereesa returned to Duke's room, she noticed a lingering stench. After using the winds to clear the air, she discovered the source was from the bathroom...

Duke was still bathing.

Azeroth had no shampoos. Not even soap. Just a simple water wash.

But that smell!

Recalling Vereesa's feigned indifference yet obvious distaste, Duke wanted to scream.

Suddenly, as he faced away from the door, he heard it open. Soft fingers gently touched behind his ear.

"You missed a spot," whispered Vereesa.

Duke froze.

Though he knew of Vereesa's caring nature from past tales, he hadn't expected her to help him bathe.

"I'm not helping 'cause I want to," she clarified. "You're a hero now. I can't have the Alliance's champion stinking and shamed by others."

Duke was speechless, his mind sluggish.

Vereesa continued, diligently cleaning Duke. The scene wasn't inappropriate but rather tender and intimate.

It felt misplaced.

Such acts were reserved for deeply connected lovers, weren't they?

Duke felt his brain was muddled.

"Turn around," Vereesa softly commanded.

He complied, dazed.

As Vereesa's face turned crimson, she seemed overwhelmed with shyness. Yet, her focus never wavered.

"We owe Alexstrasza. She cured your severe life-draining curse. Look at your arm, the old, wrinkled skin is gone," she noted, detailing all the changes on Duke's body since the curse, things even he hadn't noticed.

Suddenly, she gave a satisfied smile. "All done. You're clean, and you've fully recovered."

Her genuine, heartfelt smile struck Duke's heart deeply.

"Vereesa."

"Hmm?"

She expected a 'thank you'. Instead, Duke gently caressed her face, leaning forward.

Vereesa trembled, closing her eyes in anticipation.

Though not their first kiss, it was the first initiated by Duke.

The significance was profound.

Their kiss, passionate and tangled, seemed to heat the bathroom.

When they parted, both gasped for breath.

Duke's thoughts drifted to Alleria, Vereesa's sister, as he saw Vereesa's features.

"Sorry, let's pause here. I need to talk to Alleria first," he murmured.

Suddenly, a familiar voice floated from outside, "Good, Duke. Show some decency. Or my sister might lose it, and I won't save you."

It was... Sylvanas Windrunner's voice!