INTERLUDE: SCENE 4

—Aqua-sama, I Was Truly Blessed!—

In the kitchen of Axis Cult.

"Cecily-san, what happened? You look very happy."

Lord Zesta asked with a grin, as I was washing the dishes and smiling like a goddess.

"Your usual criminally cool smile is especially disgusting today."

"Lord Zesta, I'm about to spray detergent into your eyes… Heheh. Do you want to know why I'm so happy today? Do you want to know? Should I tell you~"

"…I'll go take a bath. You finish up the dish washing."

"Lord Zesta, this is too much. You're the one who asked the question."

I grabbed hold of Lord Zesta's sleeve as he prepared to leave.

"…Actually, I have a date with Megumin-san to bathe together."

"!?"

Hearing my special announcement, Lord Zesta halted and swallowed his saliva.

"…Cecily-san. You mean, you are going to bathe with that loli mage girl and wash each other's back?"

"That's what I mean. This is Aqua-sama's reward for my daily persistence in disturbing the Eris Cult!"

For some reason, Lord Zesta smiled scornfully at me as I excitedly announced that.

"Cecily-san, it seems you have forgotten! Who is responsible for cleaning the source of the hot springs today? …That's right. It's you, Cecily-san!"

"!?"

Lord Zesta's words instantly sent me to hell.

"An honest cultist like me is the one most worthy of Aqua-sama's reward! Since Cecily-san is busy and can't make it to the date, I will go to the bath in your place…"

"Your logic is too weird, Lord Zesta! If you do that, you'll be arrested! Ri-Right, Lord Zesta! Do you like Tokoroten Slime? Actually, I have been hoarding a huge amount of grape-flavored Tokoroten Slime…"

I retrieved my secret cache of Tokoroten Slime from the kitchen, planning to use it as bribe to let someone else take on the cleaning duty for me.

Lord Zesta raised his hand to stop me as I lifted the sack of Tokoroten Slime.

"Cecily-san, let's make a deal."

"Deal, huh? …You want my voluptuous body…!"

"I'm not interested in your body, Cecily-san. That's not what I mean… Since you are bathing with Megumin-san— You understand what I'm saying, right!?"

I looked at Lord Zesta who was itching for a try, and understood what he wanted.

"…I see. Leave it to me!"

"Cecily-san, your insight is remarkable! Leave the cleaning duty to me! I'll make it spotlessly clean! In return— You know, Cecily-san. Megumin-san… the state of that and that… the details of every nook and cranny… "

"I know, of course I understand, Lord Zesta! No need for details. I already understand your intentions fully! Then, I, Cecily, will proceed to battle!"

I gave Lord Zesta a deep bow.

"It's up to you, Cecily-san! …Ah, right, Cecily-san, I have never cleaned the source of the hot springs before. Where is the detergent used for cleaning…"

I couldn't contain my emotions any longer, and simply ignored Lord Zesta.

"Megumin Megumin Megumin Megumin Megumin! You must wait for me. Onee-san will definitely clean every corner of your body…!"

"Ce-Cecily-san, the detergent… Is it this!? This is the sack, right, Cecily-san!?"

I ignored Lord Zesta and flew out of the kitchen.

Really, I didn't think Lord Zesta was also interested in counting the ceramic tile patterns on the floor.

I thought I was the only one who would count the floor pattern when I was cleaning the bath.

After bathing, I would tell him the number of patterns I counted.

—Aqua-sama, I Was Truly Blessed!