Bath Before War - Women's Side
This chapter is from the big breasted sage, Olivier's POV
"They're huge..."
"Yup, sure are."
"They're pretty much artillery class... Gununu."
"U, umm, please don't stare so much. It's embarrassing..."
"...I wish you could stop with the stare."
After we were done with our leveling session, we all went back to our inn and to bathhouse in order to wash away sweat. There, we met up with other training members.
We were all relaxing in the hot water together when their gazes gathered at my and Almatina-san's chests... I can't help standing out because they're floating on the water.
I understand we're all girls here, but getting all this attention is a bit...
"By the way, where'd hero gone off to? Is she still leveling, no way right?"
While I was panicking inwardly, Levia-san's big sister, Fifraila-san spoke to me.
Maybe she couldn't stand seeing us looking bashful and diverted the topic.
"Neora is at the men's side though?"
"H, haa!? I, is she, a pervert!?"
"No Fif-ane, he's a boy, you know?"
"Eh!?"
"Seriously!?"
"No waaay!?"
...All members of Fifraila-san's party looked so shocked their eyes were wide open.
I cannot blame them. I mistook him for a girl too on our first meeting.
I first met Neora-san when he and Levia-san brought back the medicine for my illness.
'Chronic Mana Deficiency' is an unusual syndrome that perpetually deprives me of mana. It can even lead to death in some cases.
I was actually active as an adventurer in a certain party until I was stricken by this illness after which they immediately turned their back on me.
They were not to blame. The only cure to the illness was either the highest grade panacea or a medicine specifically concocted for it. The latter requires an ingredient harvested in a magic beast-infested danger zone no ordinary adventurers could hope to traverse to.
The risk was far too great to justify for a single girl. I had abandoned all hope.
...No, in reality I didn't want to die I cried every single day.
My heart could only cling to an invisible hero who would come to my rescue.
Even though I was aware my situation won't improve even if I pinned my hope on something so vague.
Or so my belief until one day, father ran to my bedside in a hurry.
He cried in joy saying the people who took his request brought back the medicine.
Those people being Neora-san and Levia-san.
They likely had to brave deaths... In fact, they apparently died so many times and kept going back to the said danger zone.
The reward father offered was by no means paltry yet it just didn't reflect the degree of risk involved.
I told them I wanted to repay them no matter what and Neora-san asked me to join their party.
That he's actually the hero, and currently looking for people that will assist him on his mission to defeat Demon King.
My Job is 'Sage'.
A very rare Job that is said to be the higher tier version of Mage, requiring one to have learned four types of magic including Healing Magic, and Support Magic before coming of age.
I could see how this Job would be a great help for Hero.
Yet the fact that they saved my life remained even if they were aiming for my Job.
I'll wholeheartedly become his pawn if needs be.
I steeled my selfless resolve and gave my affirmation.
...In reality, there was never any need for such a grim resolve.
I was in shock when I found out Hero-sama, Neora-san was actually a boy.
...There were times when I thought he'd make me his plaything since he would steal glances at my chest every now and then.
Yet, he's actually a late bloomer who hesitates to proactively form a relationship with someone.
He's candid and down to earth despite being a hero. He'd extend a helping hand to people in need even all while grumbling about it.
As I kept watching Neora-san, my goal changed from repaying my debt to wanting to become his strength on my own free will.
Ah, I'm thankful for Levia-san as well of course.
...But whenever I think about Neora-san, I don't know why but my chest feels stuffy yet warming and full of joy.
...Neora-san... I'm....
"But, boy oh boy, those things are massive."
"...What kinda food does one eat for those..."
...They started talking about that again while my thought was derailed.
Hyumlassa-san and Rasfin-san conversed with their sight directed at me... Please just let me go.
"Maybe the meals hero made? Ah, nah, can't be it."
"Hey, I saw you glancing my way, Hyula, you wanna have a go? I'll take you on!"
Levia-san got mad at Hyumlassa-san.
I think Levia-san's aren't exactly small either.
"O, ou, my bad, calm down now. But if it's a fight you want, a fight you get, I'm ready when you are. You girls seem to have gotten plenty strong 'fter all."
"Sweating up already right off the bath? You battle junkies."
"Wanna tag along too? Rasfi."
"No thank you. I need to save for tomorrow."
"Oh, let me be the stand in. I've still got plenty of energy left."
"Ou, that works. Let's get outta there and onto it!"
"Owawa!? H-hold it Hyula-san, let's take it easy for now, err, are you listening...?"
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
Hyumlassa-san carried Reina-san off the hot bath.
I think she could use a bit more relaxation...
"Still, I can't believe how much stronger Levia and Alma have gotten in the short span I missed you two."
"...I mean, those two are prolly higher leveled than me yep. Your little sister needs to slow down in life."
"Hmph, what's you two's level now?"
"I'm 60."
"61."
"Six...!?"
"Y, you're already midway past Advanced Job...!?"
I understand their surprise after hearing Levia-san and Almatina-san's levels.
It's only been a year or two since their coming of age after all. Their growth is obviously abnormal.
"L-Levia, what kind of life have you been leading?"
"I've got the revival blessing as as a hero's companion so I've been going up against powerful beasts over and over again, getting revived again and again in the process."
"Getting revived...!? You can't mean!"
"...Yup. I've lost count how many times I died."
"I'm gonna wallop that girl-faced hero real hard. What does he think he's doing to my little sister...!"
"S-stop it! I volunteered to join Neora on my own, aware how dangerous the journey would be!"
"That's not the problem! He can't have been making you do all the dangerous work while he sits back and relaxes in the back, can he!?"
"No, the one who died most was Neora-san! We're still much better off than him okay!?"
"His tally must exceed thousands during our training with Sword King-sama and Archmage-sama and the Ruins of Trials alone..."
"E, eeh..."
"G, guy's got it real hard huh..."
The enraged Fifraila-san calmed down once we explained things to her.
...I get her. He never shows it on his face even though he's experienced worse pain (physically) than anyone else.
"So, how's Alma level even higher than these death-braving party of hero."
"You said it. I can't even see a trace of her from that time she was called a Failed Job..."
"I did my best to catch up to Hikaru and his incredible feats. I got like this before I realized."
"Ah, that dangerous old man huh... What's his level again anyway?"
"79."
"""Wha!?"""
Our surprised yelps echoed in the bath house.
Lv79 should be already in the realm of Special Job... Arriving at that domain in his 20s. Calling it abnormal doesn't even cut it.
I suppose this is expected of someone from Neora-san's world... I wonder what kind of haunted den is that world.
"B-but he was only Lv2 when we first saw him at Daijel. It's just weird..."
"Nah, considering that old man's ability, he's probably got a fake stats, no? I mean he even beat Hobgoblin to death bare handed."
"I guess you gotta be strong, like it or not, if you've been in that kind of monster's company. So tell me, how's it going with him?"
"? We get along well."
"No uh, I'm asking about your progress with him."
"..."
Almatina-san turned away and fell silent.
Looks like she doesn't want to talk about it.
"So you see, forget about baby making they haven't even kissed yet~."
"!?"
Someone joined the conversation from behind me.
It's Archmage-sama, Instructor Lunatiara. She's Almatina-san's mother... She's, pretty big herself.
She let her splendid objects float in the hot water and let out a sigh as Almatina-san glared at her.
"Please don't say anything weird."
"My oh my, mom's sorry. But it's been nearly a year since you met Hikaru-san, no? Isn't it about time you come out about your feelings?"
"...I'll be going on ahead."
Almatina-san got up the hot water and left the bath house like she was running away.
Her face is red, either from the heat or Archmage-sama's word.
"Arara, she got away ufufu."
"...Instructor, think you were being too direct."
"But, you know? I was just trying to enliven the conversation with a bit of love talk. Didn't expect her to be so vulnerable to it."
"...Serious talk, why did she choose that old man anyways."
"M-maybe she's into older men...?"
"Heck, that old man's got the will of steel if he's still keeping it clean... Or maybe he's just a dunce?"
"I think it's only a matter of time seeing them both though."
He's probably a late bloomer just like Neora-san.
I wonder if it's a trait shared between Japanese people.
...I could frankly say that I can understand Alma-san's feelings.
Here I'd have welcomed him anytime.
We'd have been in a much deeper relationship if only the rule that states men must propose didn't exist.
...I can't help myself slightly cursing the person who put forth this rule.
"Oh right, your party should take care if they're going to join the war, Fif-ane."
"We'll be fine... I dread the moment I have to join Kyano-ane though."
"Ah... My condolences."
Levia-san's eldest sister is apparently called 'Kyaranonno', she's also an Advanced Job.
...Seeing how hard Levia-san and Fifraila-san are shaking, she must be really scary.
Also, we've been told that Special Job holders from all over the world will join the mission this time.
It's hard to see us on the losing side if each and every one of those holders is as strong as our instructors.
And yet, I don't know why I can't expel this bad premonition I have.
I feel like I'm overlooking something about gathering all the powerful people in one place.
The only one who can concretely says what that is, is likely only that Kajikawa-san person.
...I wonder if we can truly put our trust on him.
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