Inside the Royal Capital of Univance, in the large bathhouse exclusively for female knights.
Many colleagues called out to Frea, who was walking with a slightly tired expression.
Although she was mostly on the field, due to being appointed as the vice-captain and administrative officer of her squad… her interaction with other squads was the highest within Noie’s squad.
However, today, conversations did not develop from greetings into standing chats, as everyone, having been exposed to heavy duties for half a day, wore expressions thick with fatigue.
She had learned well that even if Captain Noie took just half a day off, this summer season became hell.
No, it could also be said that the number of dragons was increasing that much. Either way… if such intense work continued, all the knights and soldiers belonging to the Kingdom would burn out.
Neatly folding her removed clothes, she placed them on a wooden shelf and closed the door. Since cash and valuables were entrusted to the reception at the entrance, there was no particular worry about theft. It seemed that clothes were sometimes hidden as harassment, but Frea had never experienced such behavior.
Hearing rumors like 『Look, look. It’s Crostpurge’s』『Eh! Is that the rumored man-killer?』『Anyway… I heard it’s amazing』, she almost stopped for a moment but continued walking with strong will.
Having briefly confirmed the faces of those speaking, she lightly thought about what kind of revenge she would take if anything happened next time.
Exchanging places with someone coming out, Frea entered the large bathhouse.
Basically, everyone was naked in this place. Upper or lower body, status—none of it mattered here. Even so, there were people who brought up their family’s status and treated those of lower rank like servants.
However, such people cut off their own paths to promotion with their foolish actions.
The familiar faces entering the corner of her vision were spies under the Royal Family.
Even they, who usually worked under Halfren, used this place to bring back information. It meant that eyes of surveillance were everywhere.
Sitting on a provided chair, she washed her body and hair. It was Frea’s habit to wash her hair more carefully than her body.
Long ago… she had been happy when someone she liked praised her hair, and since then, she had cherished it.
『Lutte… this is unusual. Coming over here.』『Yes. Today, I really didn’t want to just wipe myself off.』『Ah～ I understand. Sticky with sweat, right?』『Yes. And with sweets, fruit juice, and splattered blood…』『Except for the last one, I wonder about you as a knight apprentice? Hey, have they swollen again?』『Funya～. Please don’t touch!』
Her junior, who had returned earlier, was being played with by senior knights. Since it was a usual occurrence, Frea did not move particularly.
Apprentices were played with like that and gradually fit in with everyone.
From Lutte making an inadvertent remark like 『Don’t rub them so much just because yours are small!』 to 『You asked for it!』, turning a certain number of female knights against her, until she was dragged away while desperately begging for her life… apparently, this was one flow described by her superior, Argusta.
It was said that one must never interfere with what was called a ritual.
After finishing washing her face, Frea headed toward the bathtub.
The large bathhouse built for female knights was equipped with a huge tub.
However, since its operating hours were somewhat short, it was always a crowded place.
But today, one section of the tub was oddly empty.
Looking at it, she understood the reason, so Frea walked without hesitation toward the vacant spot.
「Who is it～? The fool who dares to violate my sanctuary～」
「Sink.」
She chanted lightly and touched the other person’s body with one hand.
Using magic to double the opponent’s weight, the idiot colleague who had been floating on the surface instantly sank and disappeared.
Confirming this, Frea sat down on a chair that resembled the sunken colleague, saying 『Heave-ho』.
「Boko boko bokoko!」
「Oh? Is it a bubble bath now?」
There shouldn’t have been such a function, but perhaps it had been introduced without her knowledge.
Coming to the large bathhouse instead of going to the mansion in the capital for a borrowed bath was the right choice after all.
In truth, she had found even going to the mansion in the capital troublesome.
「Ouch!」
Something entered a place where it absolutely should not, and Frea literally jumped up in panic.
Holding the part that felt strange, water surged from the back of the tub, rising and flowing down.
「I’m dying!」
「Oh, you were there? And why are you putting your finger in such a place!」
「Because it feels better that way!」
Coughing violently, the one who stood up was her colleague, Mische.
Known as the master of this large bathhouse… she was a god of plague with a legend that approaching her would delay one’s marriage prospects.
「I have no interest in that kind of hobby!」
「Heh～ Is that so?」
「Yes. If I were to be entered, I’d rather do the entering myself.」
At once, the young and inexperienced female knights in the tub pulled back, and instead, the more experienced ones stepped forward.
「Entering… Frea-san. The partner is a man, right? The rumored fiancé?」
「Yes, that’s right.」
The veterans leaned in eagerly, desperate to gain information they didn’t know.
「If you [Beep] his [Beep] into his [Beep] from behind while he resists, his [Beep] will explode.」
To Frea, who puffed out her chest, which was thinner than average, and boasted, Mische collapsed with a thud and pounded the bottom of the tub.
「What is that… [Beep]ing the [Beep]? You only do such things to perverts or as torture!」
「Ah! His Majesty did something similar… Cough cough!」
Perhaps an off-duty maid had mixed in, as an outrageous statement was heard, but everyone ignored it.
There were times when there was information one should not know.
Mische, eyes wide open, pointed at Frea and barked.
「You perverted vice-captain!」
「「Look at yourself in the mirror before saying that!」」
Mische’s criticism of Frea was drowned out by everyone’s retorts.
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