Bathing Time

I haven't taken a proper bath since arriving in this world. The only time I took a semi bath was when I first obtained a humanoid form allowing me to place water on my selves removing some dirt from my body and hair.

But this was not a problem anymore due to the huge bathing room right in front of my eyes. It looked straight out of Japan because it was based on a hot spring. Even though it was inside it still gave off the same feeling. This wasn't the biggest part of the room though since right next to it was the waterfall that I found Homura in before. It was like the waterfall became one of the walls.

"Miss Homura told us to build a bath here since she thought you liked it," the maid said.

The actual source for the bath was from the waterfall which was heated by a…

"What is that thing that's heating the bath?" I ask.

"Oh, that's a type of ore that the miner team found. It is called a Fire Stone," the maid said.

When did we get a miner team…? Wait, couldn't I just have inspected it… well I wouldn't have found out about the miner team without asking the question.

"Can you inform me of any new jobs that were made while I was away,"

"As you wish. First Akio decided to split the builder team into 3 parts, the construction team, the design team, and the resource gathering team. The construction team makes houses for civilians that put in orders. The design team usually works with the construction team helping them make houses that fit the order and help design the interior. Finally, the resource-gathering team just cuts down trees and mines.

Miss Homura implemented a kind of currency. The following go from lowest to highest, bronze, iron, gold, and then obsidian…"

Hmmm, I do remember talking about implementing a currency system at the dinner table. It seems like Homura followed through with that idea. I didn't explain the stones I wanted to use though, I can't believe she made that decision without me. Or maybe it was because they needed to implement a currency system fast due to the builder team getting overworked.

"...The recent increase in hunters allowed them to split them into two groups, the adventurers, and the guards. The adventurers are the same as the hunters but the guards are citizens that make sure to protect the local area. There is a 1:2 ratio of guards to adventurers due to the need for more food for the kingdom.

Now moving onto the rest of the jobs. All of the leaders for the groups I did not describe decided to work here at the castle to serve you beside Aimi and Akito. First Aima decided to make her store that sells a variety of clothes. While Akito decided to become an adventurer because he wanted to explore and fight a variety of monsters that could improve his fighting capabilities. He was filled with motivation after hearing you defeated the phoenix guardian of the Mountain of Twilight," the maid described.

"I don't mind them doing their own thing since it will probably better themselves… Well, I'm going to take a dip in the pool/hot spring, bring Kumo here since we both need it," I ordered.

"As you wish," the maid says before bowing and leaving the room.

I never realized until now but all the maids in my castle are wearing proper maid outfits. Is that something people know about or was it made by one of the tailors here?

"I'll find out later…"

...

After about 10 minutes I saw Kumo enter through the door. Shocked by the room I gave her some time to check out her room with her eyes. It looked a lot like an underground hot spring… if that's a thing.

Taking off our clothes we entered the hot spring instantly making us sigh in relief. There was even a bar of soap that let us remove the dirt stains in our hair and on our bodies. Washing we saw the dirty water flowing to the opposite side of the waterfall, the water eventually went down small holes in the ground, flowing into the mountain.

When we finished washing each other I felt another presence in the room.

"Yin, what are you doing?"

"U-uh I was hoping to protect you and Kumo," Yin says while rising out of the shadows on a rock that neared the edge of the bath.

"If I can't protect myself, how do you expect to protect me. Do you need a punishment for entering here without my permission? Perhaps you want to be blindfolded and chained to the wall again…" I said while staring down at Yin.

"N-no. Please, anything but that. I'll accept a punishment but please not that torture again. I beg of you my queen," Yin pleads.

"Hmmm, then massage us,"

Taking off her clothes she enters the bath starting to massage my feet and then my back.

"So did you both have a nice reunion or is it still awkward?" I ask Kumo.

"I'm glad that she is alive and recognizes her wrongdoing but what is this torture Ina speaks of," Kumo asks.

"Well, you can say it was part of the reason she realized her mistakes. It didn't take her long to be crawling at my feet," I said.

"Well, I won't dive deep then since it restored our friendship-" Kumo says before getting interrupted by my lips.

Not resisting, we kissed a bit before Yin finished massaging me. Making her way in front of Kumo, Yin noticed Kumo had an awkward face on not liking this situation causing her to hesitate.

"It's fine," Kumo says, smiling at Yin.

Talking for a bit more on the plans for the future, I decided on what I wanted Yin to do.

"Yin, find some people who fit the role that I'm going to explain. They should be able to contain and hide their bloodlust in an instance. Must be proficient with the daggers or long daggers. Must be able to use [Shadow Magic] or [Shadow Control]. If they don't know how to use them properly I want you to teach them. Finally, they must be able to kill without hesitation," I describe.

"As you wish," Yin responds.

Before leaving the bath I wanted to poke my head out of the waterfall. Feeling cold water rush against the back of my head I soon see the same sight as when I, Kumo, and Homura jumped from the waterfall. I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of nostalgia even though it was not even that long ago.

The waterfall was an attraction that was made in the center of my kingdom. There were many families of different races admiring the huge waterfall. There were even… kids…

I never wanted kids in my past life because I thought they were pests, but maybe I could have them in this life. How would I even do that though…

Pulling my head back I wrapped a towel around myself which was provided by the bath. Telling Yin to immediately start the mission I gave her, I then opened the door a bit. I saw a maid waiting outside ready to take orders from me.

"Can you get me something new to wear," I ask the maid?

"As you wish," she responds.

Minutes pass by when Aika and some maids enter the bath with clothes for me and Kumo. They led me out of the bath and into another room beside it. The room had a wall that was an entire mirror with an elevated platform about 1 foot off the ground made for me to change on. They also had an array of shelves that were empty besides some that had my previous dresses on them.

The maids activated stones that made wind come out of them drying my body and hair. This time I inspected them so I don't look stupid.

[Wind Stone]

[A type of stone found anywhere with an abundance of wind. This stone produces a very little amount of wind.]

Pretty self-explanatory…

Once I finished drying they proceeded to put my underwear and bra on. They were pretty simple but then they dressed me in a very royal-looking black dress with long sleeves that went all the way down to my ankles.

Twirling around in my new dress I was satisfied and made my way to the throne room. Most of the leaders were here besides Aiso who was busy making tons of weapons for the incoming guards and adventurers and Aito who was helping prepare the food for our dinner.

The leaders greeted me for my return, and we talked for a while waiting for Kumo and Homura who were getting dressed at this moment in time.

Sitting down on my chair at the end of the dinner table Akito spoke.

"Master before you sit down I would suggest you look at your throne, there is a special gift from Aiso," Akito points out.

Getting out of my chair I walked up to my throne and right in front of my eyes was a blackish-purple crown that was engraved with different gemstones and gold.