Shower

"I'm sure the other inns are just as busy at this time of night."

The innkeeper, who had been listening to mine and Kaen's conversation, interrupted.

"In that case, I'll show you to a room."

The innkeeper's lips curled into a smile and he led the way.

Kaen hesitantly followed the innkeeper, and I started to follow them.

Sierra has been holding me tightly since earlier, clinging to my back and glaring at Kaen. Her breasts are pressed firmly against my back, and I try to ignore the tingling sensation that comes with every movement.

After the innkeeper's introduction, Kaen and I opened the door and entered.

"For a shabby looking inn, your room is nicer than I expected, isn't it?"

Kaen smiled as she looked around the room.

Sierra looks around the room as well, glancing at the bed and muttering in a low voice.

[There is… one… bed…]

There was only one bed, just as the innkeeper had described.

She unpacked her things in one corner of the room and leaned her sword against a nearby wall.

Kaen tried to sit down on the bed to see how soft it was, but when she looked down and saw her clothes were covered in blood, she gave up trying to sit on the bed.

Eager to get clean, Kaen headed straight for the bathroom.

"There's already water in the tub, do you mind if I wash up first?"

Kaen asked me after opening the bathroom door and taking a quick look inside.

"Sure."

I reply, and Kaen steps fully into the bathroom.

[Bam.]

The bathroom door closes, and I hear a rustling sound behind it. Of course, she's taking off her clothes.

Then I hear the sound of dripping water, which is quickly replaced by the sound of water hitting flesh.

"…"

It's a side effect of my extraordinary senses so even though I only heard the sound, I naturally inferred what was happening.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying not to focus on the sound.

Blood is harder to remove than I thought so maybe it would take a while.

[Why is there only one bed in such a large room… why… why…?]

Sierra grumbled, not liking this situation but I wasn't planning on sharing a bed with Kaen anyway.

I don't know about Kaen, but I didn't really need to sleep since the bracelet kept me going, and I wasn't mentally exhausted.

If I talked to Sierra now, I might not be heard by Kaen, who was washing up in the bathroom, but I wasn't sure, so it seemed like a good idea not to.

I decided to check my status and review my progress.

<Zetto> Lv.26

Skills:

-Ghost Slayer Technique Lv.12

-Sierra Reverse Heaven (Incomplete) Lv.3 – [Ghost Slayer Technique] in effect

-Superior Senses Lv.7

-Weakness Detection lv.MAX – [Blindfold That is Beyond Reason] in effect

-Acupuncture Lv.3

Skill Points remaining: 6

Items in use:

– Blindfold That is Beyond Reason. [Legendary]

– Bracelet of Origin [Epic]

-Spectral Sword Sierra [Inheritance]

-The Hero's Favor Necklace[Epic]

The status window has been changing quite dramatically over the past few days. In particular, I've noticed a big change in level.

I've been leveling up quite a bit in a short amount of time due to the high experience gain. Perhaps the opening of the Labyrinth had a lot to do with it.

I now have 6 skill points. It was a stable figure, with two points left over after investing four points in Ghost Slayer Technique.

'When I heard Sierra's assessment of this battle…'

I don't think Sierra would be too surprised if I leveled up and started learning Chapter 2.

I see a dark, fine coat hanging in the center of the room. It's the Cloak of Night that I've obtained and since I'm not wearing it it's not listed in the status window.

'I haven't yet tried out the Hero's Favor Necklace, which will help me deal with the undead…'

Sierra's grumbling continued to echo in my head as I pondered what the future held.

Unexpected things happen often, as I have already experienced.

There will be many more in the future. However, I couldn't stop myself from changing the future.

It's better to be prepared for any situation. Fortunately, I think I've been able to cope well so far.

As I reflected on what happened to me, time passed and the sound of water in the bathroom had stopped, as Kaen had finished washing up.

The bathroom door opened, letting out the steam that had been filling the room and Kaen's face was revealed.

Water was dripping from her parted hair.

Kaen was wearing a bathrobe. Now that I think about it, I don't think I'd want to put blood-stained clothes back on after cleaning myself up.

It was a good thing she had a robe, but… It was a little close.

The robe didn't do a good job of covering her exquisite body. It was even showing a bit of her dampness through the sheer fabric.

The sight was quite arousing.

With every movement, something seemed to reveal itself, perhaps even more erotic than Sierra's outfit.

Kaen stares at me, her face flushed. Or, more accurately, her gaze is on the blindfold over my eyes.

After a moment of contemplation in front of the bathroom, Kaen opens her mouth.

"…I washed up, and the warm water seemed to work really well…! I feel like I've gotten rid of all my fatigue."

There was a hint of shyness in Kaen's voice as she tried to sound cheerful.

I wonder if she thinks it's even weirder that I care because I can't see her.

She seemed to be deliberately trying not to notice me. But I can't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"It's a little weird to wear something with blood on it… I had a robe, so I put it on, hope you don't mind, ehehe…"

When I don't answer, too distracted by her visuals, Kaen's shaky voice takes over and she grins like an idiot.

'Come to think of it, I didn't think of clothes…'

I scratch my head, then speak up.

"As soon as it's light, I'll go out and get something for Kaen to wear for a while, and we can do the laundry later."

"That would be good, wouldn't it?"

Kaen smiles sheepishly in affirmation of my words but the blush on her cheeks doesn't fade.

Soon, Kaen is approaching the bed and her robe flutters with each step she takes. It was both giddy and seductive.

Kaen sits down on the bed.

"Mmm, it's fluffy…"

Her eyes widened at the quality of the bed.

"Go ahead and wash up, Cadet Zetto…! Do you want me to get the water for the bathtub?"

Kaen, who was fiddling with the bedspread, looks at me and asks.

"I didn't get splashed with a lot of blood, so a shower will suffice."

I tell her and head toward the bathroom. Actually, I was taking refuge in a place where I couldn't see Kaen's dizzying body.

After that, I went into the bathroom, closed the door, and started to undress, but Sierra was staring at me curiously.

I stopped undressing and turned to face her, and she started looking at me, too. I wanted her to stop watching me and leave.

[Ah, I see, I see, wash at your leisure, apprentice…]

Unable to resist my unspoken pressure, Sierra stammers and slips out of the bathroom. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't let her watch me wash myself.

A body is a body, but… I was a little reluctant to take off my blindfold.

I know I can handle it, but I don't like it.

We talked about this when I washed up in the dorm and Sierra had promised me that she would stay inside the sword while I was washing.

"Whoa…"

I stripped off my clothes and pulled off my blindfold.

In the mirror, I caught a reflection of my blue eyes.

'It's awkward every time I see it.'

***

Not much else happened while I was washing up.

Sierra has been playing around, but she hasn't crossed the line.

'Still, she's my teacher.'

All she had to do was walk through the wall.

[Took you long enough.]

As soon as I'm out of the bathroom, shaking out my wet hair, Sierra slips out of the sword and into my arms. Soon, she's on my back.

I look over at the bed and Kaen is already asleep.

I had expected that since we fought late into the night, and we had a nice bath.

She was sitting on a fluffy bed, so it was only natural that she would lay down. Plus, she knew she was a light sleeper, so it was only fair that she stayed up this long.

Kaen's robe, lying on the bed, looked a little dangerous, as if it was about to fall off.

As I approached the bed, I saw Kaen, completely defenseless, tossing and turning in her sleep.

It was not safe for me to allow the robe to be removed any further, so I pulled the covers over her body.

[Looks like there's no room for my apprentice to lie down, huh.]

I turned away from Sierra's words and sat down in a chair by the table, not on the bed.

I was quietly watching the moonlight stream in through the window and Kaen, who was sleeping when suddenly, I heard Kaen's voice.

"Mmm… Cadet Zetto…"

"…What?"

At Kaen's unexpected call, I stood up from my seat and approached her.

"Miss Kaen…?"

"…"

"Miss Kaen…?"

"…"

I called again, but no answer came and Kaen's eyes were tightly closed, as if she was still in a deep sleep.

[She's sleeping well, leave her alone, she's probably just talking in her sleep.]

Sierra's voice rang in my head.

'Talking in her sleep…'

Well, people can talk in their sleep…

"Cadet Zetto… I see… My body was the purpose…!"

Kaen said abruptly, raising only one eyebrow but her eyes were still closed.

Kaen's sleep talk was so clear, as if she could wake up and speak.

I don't know what she was dreaming about, but as the person whose name had been mentioned, I couldn't have been more embarrassed.

Kaen's face flushed and she let out a rather strange sound.

"Hmph… Not there… Cadet Zetto… Stop… Even if it's a promise…"

Kaen's body twists in her bed and she kicks the covers off. Her colorful body was once again on display.

[What are you talking about…? You should have been asleep!]

Sierra yelled at Kaen.

"…"

I looked at Kaen, then went back to my chair and sat down without saying anything.

After that, Kaen continued to talk in her sleep… and Sierra, who was standing in front of Kaen, scolded her.

'Even if you know she can't hear you, do you have to say it out loud to release your tension?'

It was a messy situation.

When the words "something big…" came out of Kaen's mouth, Sierra couldn't take it anymore and put her hand on Kaen's body.

Soon, Sierra's hand is through Kaen's body, and she's flailing her arms.

It was something I told her not to do, but for once, I didn't stop Sierra.

"Mmm… I'm cold…"

Immediately, Kaen felt a chill run down her spine, and she wrapped the blankets around her and began to sleep quietly.

[Behold, I have stopped her disciple. Hmph.]

Sierra crossed her arms and gave me a proud smile.

I don't know if what happened in Kaen's dream was her cup of tea, or if it was because she was afraid of it, but…I think it's best to keep it a secret between me and Sierra.