CH. 220: Massage

The cold water touched Ryuu's skin. She leaned on the boundaries formed with white crystals and curiously watched the women joining her one by one.

"Lion," Alise said as she got closer with a not-so-nice smile. "You've grown."

"Grown?" Ryuu murmured, a puzzled look on her face.

Alise gave her no time to ponder and threw herself at Ryuu. Before she tried to push the woman, two hands reached to her breasts and gently kneaded them.

"Soft and tender. Just like Lion's heart."

"S-Stop."

"I envy the man who will have your permission to touch them every day."

Ryuu pried Alise's hand off her chest and glared at Alise, her eyes descending on the redhead's chest.

"Yours are bigger."

"...Just a little," Alise grumbled, looking at Kaguya enjoying the bath with her eyes closed. "She has the biggest."

Kaguya's lips lifted in a smirk. Alise cupped her chest. "Mine are perfect. Like look at them. You can easily hold them in one hand."

Lyra dipped into the water to hide her body. "Captain, why are we talking about this? Could it be... Captain finally found a man?"

Kaguya opened her eyes. "The only one near our Captain is Asahi-san… does that mean?"

Ryuu keenly observed Alise's reaction. The Captain fell in a trance as her cheeks flushed like her scarlet hair before she shook her head.

"N-No. Why the hell would I like a man tied to several women? You don't make any sense."

'Your reaction doesn't make any sense.'

Ryuu kept her thoughts under control. The sight of her Captain blushing while profusely denying the girls' 'allegations' was certainly a change from her narcissist boasts. It was all caused by the same man responsible for opening their Familia's doors to male. His strength, skills, and his nonchalant yet attentive—everything was new to her, who hailed from the forest of Elves.

'Is this… what Shiori called 'Power of love'?'

She recalled the time Asahi touched her hand and the times she found him gazing at her, or rather her sharp ears. Completely mesmerized by something.

'He can't be interested in me…'

Although the thought stuffed her chest with warmth, she ultimately shook the feeling. With the Evilus ready to bare their fangs any moment, this wasn't the best time to ponder on this stuff.

"Lion, what's up?"

"Nothing," Ryuu replied, shaking her head. "We must investigate the Rudra Familia."

Lyra raised her hand. "My friends are trailing their traces."

Ryuu gave a small nod before she closed her eyes and clenched her fists underwater.

'This will not be the repeat of last time. We will bring… Justice to them.'

"Ah, Master is too charming."

Natsumi's fervent voice brought Ryuu out of her trance. Sitting on the crystallized wall, Natsumi put no effort to hide her curvaceous figure. The black cat tattoo on her forearm stood out on her white skin.

Kaguya nodded her head. "He is a real charmer, okay."

Alise scooted closer to Natsumi. "And why do you work for Asahi even though you're a member of Apollo Familia? Isn't that a betrayal?"

Natsumi's eyes widened a tad. "Huh? Master didn't tell you?"

"What?"

"It's not my place to divulge Master's secrets. I am just a lowly slave."

Alise clicked her tongue. "He really likes to be all mysterious about his background."

"He needs to be, or people will take advantage of him…" Natsumi's blue eyes glowed intensely. She crossed her legs and took a deep breath. "Well, I will pull out their flesh before they do."

The cold voice made Ryuu shudder. Natsumi wasn't lying.

"Are you really a slave?" Kaguya asked. "Why would you become one with your power? Shouldn't you pursue him normally if you want to join his harem?"

"He enslaved me," Natsumi replied with a nod. "And don't try to pity me, fools. Master did nothing wrong. I completely deserved it… and a lot more for being such an asshole. I plan to repent until the end of my life… yeah, that's what I'm going to do."

The somber speech brought an awkward air to the atmosphere.

Ryuu had no idea what Natsumi and Asahi went through. But the curiosity to know more grew in her mind. She glanced at Alise, who seemed to be having the same thoughts.

"She is a lost cause."

[Asahi POV]

The next few minutes became a bit chaotic with the addition of little Chiaki. She had to get harassed by women for being cute. Well, Grayfia and Aimi talked about the pretty crystals, their breasts floating on the water.

"My Lord?" Grayfia asked. Noticing my gaze, she covered her chest and sighed. "Is there anything on my chest?"

"They look juicy?"

"My Lord…"

I smiled and made my way to her side. Aimi came over with a smile and leaned her back on my chest, relaxing her body completely.

"Asahi-sama, please."

She rarely showed her desire to be spoiled, so I had to fulfill them. She perhaps wants to show it to Grayfia.

Loosening the strings tying her grayish hair, I grabbed a shampoo bottle from my ring. Grayfia watched from the side as I gently washed Aimi's fluffy hair. Shiori glanced at us and pointed to her head.

"Wait in line."

She chuckled and slinked to Grayfia's left as if queueing for hair wash. Rika also noticed it and tried to squeeze between Grayfia and Shiori. But Shiori hugged the maid, nuzzling her face to Grayfia's breasts.

"Not happening."

"Fuck."

Shiori flicked Rika's forehead. "Don't curse before Chiaki."

"My bad, idiot."

Grayfia looked over the two with a warm smile. "Mistress Rika, do you want my place?"

"Nah. I'd feel bad stealing your place."

Grayfia shook her head. "I can wash my—"

"Why though? It's not like Aa-chan does it every day. Just enjoy it."

Grayfia replied with a soft smile, "Okay."

"Grayfia-chan listens to me more than her Lord," Rika said proudly and stretched her arms. "My arms are sore from carrying my gun all the time…"

"Asahi-Kun's massages are good. You should try," Nao said, approaching me with Chiaki on her shoulder.

"Massage, huh… sure. I'll do it tonight."

Nao's lips curled up. "Can I get one too?"

"Sure."

The headpats skill's effect should extend to massages. I could easily become the greatest masseur with it.

I rinsed the bubbles off Aimi's hair. Aimi slowly turned around and kissed me, looking natural as always. She tapped my cheeks with a heartwarming smile and returned beside Nao.

Grayfia untied her bun, and her long silver cascaded down. She got into the spot, looking a bit tense. I caressed her head with the intent of calming her. The Headpat skill did the magic, making her at complete ease.

She breathed out a hot sigh, entrusting her back to me. I washed her hair with my utmost care, even though there was nothing dirty about them. Things might have gone R-Rated if Chiaki wasn't here. That could've made us late.

While thinking of a bunch of things, I continued my job. Grayfia left, not before rewarding my efforts with a kiss on my cheek.

Then Shiori's turn came. She threw a naughty request to wash her whole body, which I denied, and washed her hair all the same.

Finishing up with the bath, I returned to the place where I parted with Alise's group. Well, there was no single soul in this place.

"The girls take more time in the bath," Shiori said. "What're you gonna do about Alise?"

I shook my head at her question. "I'll wait."

Nao let out a sigh. "I know I shouldn't try to bring more women into the family… but Alise has a deep crush on you. She probably fell for you after you treated her like a normal rather than an idol."

Nao felt bad for Alise…

"I know what I'm doing," I said, raising my hand to her head. She closed her eyes as I patted her head, grinning childishly.

Alise is charming and kind. Aside from the issue of her narcissism, she is a perfect woman in every regard. I just don't want to get into a relationship with her quickly, giving time to let it develop until Familia is done cleaning up the Evilus. Speaking of which, I should start tracking them down since they might attack sooner because of me. You never know the butterfly effect of a Fake God's presence.

"This guy never stops."

"Master is too affectionate to his wives, isn't he?"

Alise's group arrived, looking fresh and beautiful. Alise blushed a little and averted her gaze.

"Let's find a place to camp. The town here isn't a decent place," Alise ordered the adventurers.

Since this was a safe place where the monsters rarely came, the adventurers built a town. A town full of jerks if I may say, as shown in the series when they kidnapped Hestia just to bully Bell.

I found Ryuu looking at a giant tree that stretched into the sky or rather the ceiling of this floor. That might be the tree we saw on the next floors.

I touched her shoulder. "Missing your home?"

She shook her head. "I don't know the reason but I find it beautiful… I can't waste my time on missing hypocrites."

Hypocrites, huh. Elves in this world isolated themselves in a forest, thinking the other races as ugly and lesser beings. They perfectly fit the bill for the hypocrite.

"Asahi, come with me!"

"Aye, Captain!"

Ryuu chuckled a little. "She is fired up… take care of her."

She turned her back and dashed toward her group.

Even she wanted to push Alise on me. Oh boy, Alise got massive support from everyone around her.