Chapter 3
SKIN NOW PRUNEY from the long talk, Mira exited the bath and sat at a corner washing station with a wooden pail in hand. After she filled the pail with hot water and submerged a towel, she noticed her hair had suddenly been untied.
Mira looked up to see Aselia neatly folding the ribbon that had tied her hair. She also couldn’t fail to notice her magnificent breasts looming overhead.
“Urk… Ah, you again. Did you need anything else?”
“You did me a favor, sweetie. It’s the least I can do, but how about I wash your hair and back for you?” Celestial being or not, Mira still reminded Aselia of her little sister.
Though Aselia and Mariana had totally different personalities, she reminded Mira of her attendant. And now that she thought of it, it might feel nice to have someone else wash her hair. Mira had no reason to refuse.
“Do as you wish,” she answered.
Now armed with consent, Aselia grabbed the showerhead and began soaking Mira’s silver hair with practiced motions. Though at first it tickled when her fingers touched Mira’s scalp, soon the young summoner closed her eyes at the pleasure of it.
And Aselia got to enjoy the feeling of being a big sister again.
***
Once she was fully cleaned, Mira soaked her now-cool body in the tub again to warm up. She looked back toward the view of the garden. The rhythmic sound of the shishi-odoshi was all too soothing. After relaxing in the water a bit too long, she was once again pruned.
I’d best get out and have dinner.
Finally satisfied, Mira took the next bamboo tonk as her signal to get up. Aselia, who had been relaxing next to her, followed suit. As Mira carefully toweled herself off, Aselia swung her towel like a flail, drying herself off in slapdash swipes.
The two women departed the baths together. Aselia dodged the other patrons and snuck toward her shelf in the corner of the changing room.
Mira stood before a mirror and used Ethereal Arts to dry her hair as she gazed upon herself. She was amazed again by the visible speed with which her hair dried.
What a strange sight this is.
Her dripping silver hair regained its silky texture in a matter of seconds. Another quick flip of the hair sent more drops of water falling like a spring rain upon her flushed skin. Mira found her reflection quite alluring. When she swept her hair in front to hide her breasts, she was quite satisfied with how she looked—like a photo from a gravure shoot.
I’m…sexy.
After her moment of self-discovery, Mira grabbed a bath towel from her locker and savored its softness in the post-bath afterglow.
“Hm? Still haven’t changed clothes?” Aselia appeared before Mira again, now clothed and holding her basket under one arm. She wore a lavender yukata, the cleavage beneath its open top even more suggestive than when she was nude.
“Hrmm. No, not yet.” After tearing her eyes away from Aselia’s chest yet again, Mira grabbed a pair of underwear from a bag pulled from her inventory.
“Oh, incredible! You just used the Item Box of your User’s Bangle, right? Lucky! I want one, too!” Aselia sighed wistfully.
When Mira put it away, Aselia flushed and stared enviously at the gleaming silver bangle. To Aselia, an adventurer mere steps away from C-Rank, the User’s Bangle—essential proof that one was a veteran—was the symbol of everything she aspired to be.
“I’ll get myself one of those soon!” Aselia declared with a wide smile.
Mira looked fondly upon those who were willing to put in true effort to grow stronger, even if she’d never say it out loud.
Aselia watched as Mira reached for her usual outfit. “Hm? You don’t wanna wear a yukata?”
“Well, I don’t happen to own one.”
Aselia turned and dashed toward a closet in the corner of the room. She opened it, grabbed something inside, and ran back to Mira.
“This one ought to fit you!” Aselia handed over a pale green yukata.
“Am I allowed to simply wear it?”
“Of course! It’s in the changing room, after all.”
The ryokan had prepared them and set them there, sorted by size, for guests to use. Aselia also explained that they even had ones tailored to fit other races, such as miaos.
Mira finally assented, slightly amazed, and accepted the yukata.
So…how do I put this on?
Despite growing up in Japan, this was uncharted territory. Mira donned it sloppily, assuming that she could just put her arms in the sleeves and tie the sash. Aselia was right; it was the perfect length, the sleeves hanging just over the backs of Mira’s hands. After closing the lapels, she attempted to tie the sash.
“Hold on. You’ve got the collar folded backward.” Aselia circled in front of Mira and began tidying her up. She skillfully straightened out wrinkled parts and evened out the front. Finally, she tied the sash, made some minor adjustments, and stepped away to get a full view of Mira. Smiling at her handiwork, Aselia put a hand on Mira’s head. “There! All done.”
Mira knew she was being treated like a child, but she didn’t swat the woman’s hand away. Instead, she sighed and allowed Aselia to have her moment.
***
Upon changing and leaving the dressing room, Mira browsed the souvenir and table-game stalls just outside. Other customers who’d just left the baths sat around simply enjoying the calm.
What was this area lit by paper lanterns? Her old world? Her new world? Or somewhere in between? Mira felt as though she’d wandered into another dimension. She reached over to the table and picked up a familiar object: flat and round, with a stick attached.
A table tennis paddle. The owner of this inn is undoubtedly a former player!
The Japanese furnishings, the table tennis, the very concept of a ryokan full of old-fashioned staples…this must be the work of someone she once knew. Mira was amazed at how former players had advanced both technologically and culturally, and decided it was only right to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Aselia rushed over and offered Mira one of the bottles she had brought back. “Here, Mira, honey. Call this a token of my gratitude. It’s perfect when you’ve just gotten out of the bath.”
“Ooh. Very wellchilled!” Mira accepted the bottle, which was labeled COFFEE MILK. Truly an after-bath staple.
Aselia’s eyes alighted on the paddle in Mira’s other hand. “Ah! You wanna play?” Her eyes narrowed like a hawk who’d found its prey.
“Oh, erm, not especially,” Mira answered before putting the paddle back on the table, causing Aselia to deflate. “Do you know the game?”
“Of course! I’m pretty good, too!” Aselia picked up the paddle and took a practice swing. It whistled through the air as her yukata did a heroic job of restraining her bust. Upon seeing Mira’s gaze, Aselia smiled innocently. “Have you ever played, Mira, honey?”
“Hrmm, once in a while. But you’re quite knowledgeable. Do you come here often?”
Yukata, post-bath coffee milk, and table tennis—Aselia seemed well-acquainted with all of them. Mira liked the woman even more for loving the culture of her old home.
“It’s my first time at this ryokan, but Japanese-style places are common.”
“Japanese-style, hmm?”
“Oh, I love Japanese culture, y’know. It’s really calming. I know how to tie all kimonos—not just yukatas! My master taught me. Oh, and my master is the one who taught me about Japanese culture,” Aselia prattled on.
Mira was surprised at how her country’s culture had proliferated through this world, but she was happy to see it.
“C’mon, Mira, honey. Drink up before it gets warm! You have to put one hand on your hip and gulp it all down at once!” Aselia said, striking the pose. She motioned with her eyes for Mira to do the same.
Amused by her innocence, Mira struck the same pose. Feet shoulder-width apart, left hand on hip, she gulped down the coffee milk.
Something still feels a little off…
“Are you going by train tomorrow, Mira, honey?”
“Yes, that’s the plan.”
“Knew it! Which way are you going?”
“Off to Alisfarius. What of your plans? Do you plan on looking for a new shield?”
After the two finished their drinks, they tossed the bottles in the shop’s recycling bin. Nearly everyone staying at the inn was traveling by railroad. Aselia had been intending to head toward Ozstein the next day, but that was only because of her plan to buy a spirit blade. Now that she’d spoken to Mira and opted to find a ruby stone shield instead, that plan had undoubtedly changed.
“I was thinking of going to Lunatic Lake, His Majesty’s own city. They have a market full of elemental weapons. I should search there first.”
“Oho! I wasn’t aware such places existed.” Mira still hadn’t seen much of the capital. Smiling widely, she added the market to her mental list of places she’d need to visit.
“When I’m C-Rank, could you tell me more about His Majesty?” Aselia ventured.
“Very well. As a celebration, why don’t I teach you some of his training methods as well?”
“Really?! Yay! I’ll do my best!” Aselia jumped for joy at the counteroffer. Mira’s eyes were once again drawn to her bouncing breasts. “By the way…you’re traveling alone, right?”
“Uh, hrmm…yes,” Mira answered, trying to slowly slide her gaze away to avoid looking unnatural. She had built up some courage by now, but she still couldn’t converse with her eyes on the woman’s chest.
“You’re going to Alisfarius on a request? Will you be fine alone?”
Aselia could judge Mira’s strength based on the Adventurers’ Guild Union’s well-established C ranking. She also knew that, as a celestial being, this apparent child was older than her. But her sisterly instinct had been triggered.
Mira flashed a fearless grin. “You need not worry about me. I’m tougher than I look.”
***
“Okay. See you later!”
“Hrmm. May we meet again.”
Adventurers could contact each other through the Adventurers’ Guild Union at any time. After making Mira promise that they’d meet again after she became a C-Rank, Aselia departed with determination in her step. A textbook on shield techniques was apparently deep in her luggage, and she was about to dig it out and read every last word of it.
Now alone, Mira took a long, hard look at the sketched map affixed to the wall.
Where was my room, again?
She had followed the staff member here, but she didn’t remember the way back. SKY ROOM was written on her key, so she searched until she found it on the map. After a short while, Mira memorized the path to her lodgings and set off for dinner.
***
“Welcome back. Dinner will be ready soon. Please make yourself comfortable while you wait.”
When they saw Mira, the staff gathered in her room began setting out trays and other tableware. Mira nodded to them, sat in front of the table, and watched them work. Several colorful earthenware dishes were set out, all beautiful enough for even an amateur to appreciate.
Pickled vegetables and rolled omelets were placed before her. Mira watched the staff members’ tails swish busily as the sliding door opened and the main course was brought in. First came tempura, followed by miso soup, braised dishes, and finally white rice.
Mira’s heart leapt at the nostalgia-inducing foods. Even their presentation was luxurious. Truly, this meal did Japanese culture proud.
“Would you like an explanation of the dishes?” The miao staff asked once the food was perfectly arranged.
“Yes, please!” Mira replied. She was incredibly interested in how Japanese cuisine had been replicated in this world.
“Let us begin here. These rolled omelets are made from the eggs of garden birds and enriched with the stock of smoked black tuna. Next to them is frost bison meat simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger.” Her voice became more impassioned as she spoke at length about each and every item and their specialized preparations. Her attention to detail made Mira wonder if she’d made the meal herself.
Warming up to her subject, the staff member started digressing toward other culinary topics. Tearful rants about how their fresh-caught sushi boat had to be transported from faraway coasts. Miniature lectures about how dried fish is lovely but doesn’t measure up to fresh.
Another staff member interrupted before she could wind herself up any more, “Now, please enjoy your meal. Ring the bell once you have finished eating, and we will come to clear your dishes. Excuse us.”
With a refined bow, she dragged her coworker out of the Sky Room. It didn’t take long at all for Mira to hear them outside the door.
“How many times do I have to tell you to keep it short?!”
“I’m sorryyy!”
She snickered at their exchange and glanced toward the bell they had mentioned. It was exactly like the one Solomon had used to summon Suleiman. Beside it she spotted a wall scroll displaying the words PEACE OF MIND next to a lovely flower arrangement. Mira returned her gaze to the table and heaved a sigh.
The old world or the new…some hotel art stays the same.
Mira found her “peace of mind” by savoring Japanese food for the first time in so very long.
After pouring hot water from the kettle into her teapot, Mira watched the tea leaves unfurl and filled her teacup. The scent of tea wafted into her nostrils, and she took a sip before sticking her tongue out.
“Hot…”
Mira decided to take a breather after dinner to let the tea cool.
When she flicked the bell with her nail, she heard no noise. But soon the two staff members from before came to whisk her dishes away.
***
The miao woman opened the door to the next room and peeked in. “We’ve laid out a futon for you in the next room. When you wake in the morning, please call us with the bell, and we will bring you breakfast.”
“Hrmm, got it.”
Having a look for herself, Mira spied not only the futon, but a comfortable-looking quilt with a gorgeous dragon design on it.
By the time the staff had cleared dinner, she had downed her second cup of tea. Mira yawned and stretched.
“Time for bed,” she muttered to herself and headed for the bathroom to find a Japanese-style toilet. Amazed at how committed they were to the Japanese aesthetic, she hiked up the bottom of her yukata.
After finishing her business, she grabbed the complimentary toothbrush at the sink and prepared for bedtime.
After slipping into bed, she looked out at the twinkling stars through the wood-framed window. When she closed her eyes, she was enveloped in calm as the scent of incense wafted through the room.
Wrapped in a soft blanket on the futon, Mira’s breath turned into a quiet, peaceful rhythm.
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