Chapter 10.2: Tōsaku shita seijin

Ishi and Pil made their way to the inn, stopping along the way to ask a couple of fishermen for directions. It wasn’t hard to find, the inn was located on one of the only three wide streets in Soranoe that led to the village’s central square.

Ishi realized that she and Pil had rarely had the chance to be alone together, and their relationship hadn’t exactly started on the best terms. Perhaps this was a good opportunity to try and get along better with the forest spirit. The nymph always seemed to take pleasure in teasing her, especially when it came to Li-Jua, behaving in a way that was almost provocatively flirtatious toward the healer. Ishi didn’t understand why that should bother her, but the truth was, it did.

"Hey, Pil," Ishi called out as they walked, her voice breaking the silence between them.

The beautiful nymph, who was currently in her child form, turned around with a look of boredom. The silk scarf she always wore around her neck that when it come to her nymph form transformed into a translucent gown, was flowing like liquid in the wind. She arched a delicate brow, her expression one of pure disinterest.

“Uhh?” she muttered in a tone of utter disdain, as if nothing Ishi could say would ever be worth listening to.

"Have I done something to offend you?" Ishi asked, trying to keep her voice calm. "You’re always teasing me, always trying to get under my skin."

Pil’s expression changed slightly, her gaze sharpening with amusement as she looked over her shoulder. "Ohhh?" she hummed, intrigued. "Child, you’re not nearly important enough for an ancient spirit like me to be offended by."

She turned fully toward Ishi, smirking. "To put it in human terms, you’re no more special to me than any of these fishermen around us."

Ishi frowned but remained silent as Pil continued, her voice laced with mischief.

"Nymphs are naturally playful beings. We thrive on emotions, feelings are like food to us. And do you know which emotion is our absolute favorite?" She paused dramatically before grinning. "Jealousy. The more we feed on it, the more beautiful we become."

Ishi felt her irritation spike. "And why would I ever feel jealous of anything you do?" she scoffed, though a slight heat rose to her face. "It’s not like it bothers me when you throw yourself all over Li-Jua or anything."

Pil's grin widened knowingly. "Ohhh?" she purred, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don’t worry, little girl. The more oblivious you are to your own feelings, the better for me. At this rate, I’ll become the most stunning nymph in all the forests of the world!"

She laughed, the sound rich and melodic, before turning away and continuing toward the inn with a smug bounce in her step.

"And for the record," Pil continued, flipping her chestnut short hair with exaggerated elegance, "my foul mood has nothing to do with being stuck here with you, mediocre human. No, no. It’s because I am separated from my beloved, my exquisite Lady Li-Jua." She sighed dramatically, placing a delicate hand over her chest as if mourning a tragic loss. "How frustrating that I couldn’t join her for drinks… But it’s fine. We nymphs can create alcohol from the nectar we naturally secrete. Perhaps next time, I’ll share it with her... mouth to mouth, of course, when we’re alone."

Ishi clenched her jaw. Pil truly had a talent for getting under her skin. Every word, every smug little smirk, was designed to test her patience. But no, she wasn’t going to let the nymph get to her. She needed to stay composed, to try, at least, to get along with her travel companion.

The two walked in silence the rest of the way until they finally arrived at the inn. It was the only three-story building in the entire village. Though it wasn’t particularly well-maintained, it at least looked clean, and fresh flowers and decorations adorned the facade, signaling an upcoming celebration.

Without hesitation, they slid open the wooden door and stepped inside.

"Um… excuse me," Ishi said, approaching the woman at the front desk. "We’d like to book two rooms for the night, if possible."

The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with long black hair and a gentle face, offered them an apologetic smile.

"Oh, I’m so sorry, young ladies," she said kindly. "But we’re fully booked. The annual Grand Festival of Soranoe has filled the inn with acolytes sent by the Holy Church of Ordo Arcanis. We don’t have a single room left, I’m afraid."

Damn it. Ishi’s heart sank. They’d have to sleep outside again. She was exhausted. She desperately needed to wash up and sleep in a proper bed after so many days on the road. But it seemed they had no choice. Either they accepted their fate or found another place to stay.

"Alright… Thanks anyway—"

Before she could finish her sentence, something—no, someone—came crashing into her.

"REI-REIIII!"

A tall, slender girl practically tackled Ishi, wrapping her in a suffocating embrace.

"I’ve missed you so much!" the girl gushed, squeezing Ishi so tightly she could barely breathe.

Ishi barely had time to process what was happening. The girl was dressed in a flowing white silk robe that clung to her body with effortless elegance. Despite her towering height and delicate frame, she had curves that made her femininity impossible to ignore. Her long, wavy blonde hair shimmered in the dim light —so strikingly similar to Ishi’s own— and her deep, coal-black eyes stared at her with overwhelming emotion.

"Ari? What are you doing here?" Ishi asked, bewildered.

The tall gorl giggled, holding Ishi even closer as she ran her fingers affectionately through her hair. "I’m here for the Soranoe Festival, of course! You know I’m responsible for maintaining the seals on Nippurufisshu, I’ve told you this every year. I still remember when you were little and used to cry whenever I had to leave for a few days!" She sighed dramatically, her voice dripping with nostalgia. "You were so adorable!"

Ishi barely had time to react when, like a raging storm, the door of the inn burst open.

"ISHIIIII! THE SAINT IS HERE!!!"

Li-Jua and Miller came barreling in, shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Shhh! You’re disturbing the guests!" the innkeeper scolded, glaring at them.

"I know," Ishi said dryly, looking at them with a mix of irritation and disbelief. She jerked her thumb toward the tall girl still wrapped around her. "It's her. Meet my cousin, Aricia."

Aricia turned to them with a radiant smile, waving cheerfully at Li-Jua, Miller, and Pil, though the latter remained in the corner, observing the whole situation with utter disinterest.

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Li-Jua and Miller both screamed at the top of their lungs again, their faces frozen in sheer panic.

"Will you two shut up already?!" Ishi snapped.

Breaking free from Aricia’s grip, she raised her hand and, with a flick of her fingers, cast a gravitational spell.

WHAM!

In an instant, both Li-Jua and Miller were yanked down, their heads smacking against the wooden floor with a resounding thud.

Lady Li-Jua!" Pil cried out in alarm, rushing to help the healer, who was groaning in pain from the impact.

"Rei-Rei," Aricia chirped, ignoring the scene as she clung to Ishi once more. "I heard what the innkeeper said. You can stay in my room! But, of course, the boy will have to sleep outside with my guards."

"Really? That’s amazing! Thank you, Ari!" Ishi beamed.

"Come along, then! This way, girls!" Aricia said cheerfully, heading up the stairs.

Ishi followed closely behind, while Pil helped Li-Jua to her feet so they could join them.

Miller, still dazed from his earlier crash to the floor, remained sprawled out on the ground, barely conscious.

Later, in the shared bathhouse of the inn, the four young women, Aricia, Ishi, Li-Jua, and Pil, relaxed in the steaming waters of Soranoe’s natural hot springs. These baths, reserved for the most esteemed guests, shimmered under the soft glow of the moonlight. Pil, in her human-child form, sat near the edge, observing the scene with an air of mischief.

"Ahhh, this is the life," Ishi sighed, submerging herself deeper into the soothing heat of the water.

"Yes, yes, very nice," Li-Jua muttered, her tone far less relaxed. "But would someone mind explaining to me what the hell is going on?! Aren’t you a fugitive, Ishi? The entire empire is hunting you! So why in the world is the Saint, the so-called Holy Lady Aricia, your cousin and the fifth daughter of the emperor, not turning you in and dragging you back to the palace?"

"Because Aricia was the one who helped me escape," Ishi said matter-of-factly. "She also suggested I free you so you could come with me on my journey."

"Wait… what?" Li-Jua blinked, processing the revelation. "I knew someone had to have helped you get out, it was obvious. You’re smart, Ishi, but let’s be real, you’re also incredibly clumsy. What I didn’t expect was that your accomplice was someone so close to the emperor himself."

"Hmmf!" Aricia huffed proudly, lifting her chin. "Of course! But calling me ‘close’ to the emperor is a bit of a stretch. I think my father has acknowledged my existence as his daughter… maybe twice in my entire life?" She waved her hand dismissively.

"To me, Rei-Rei has always been the little sister I never had!" she declared dramatically before lunging at Ishi, wrapping her in a suffocating embrace. Her large, ample chest pressed tightly against Ishi’s face, nearly drowning the poor girl in softness. "I couldn’t stand seeing her suffer, locked away in that palace!"

"UuuuUuuuUuuu!" Ishi flailed, muffled against Aricia’s overwhelming assets, desperately trying to break free.

Li-Jua raised an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that you had at least thirteen sisters and a brother."

"Pfft!" Aricia scoffed, flipping her damp blonde hair over her shoulder. "Oh, please! Anyone can be called a ‘sibling’ these days! HAHAHA! Things don’t work the same way in the imperial court as they do in the rest of the world!"

Then, with a sudden glint of curiosity, she turned back to Ishi. "But let’s not dwell on such a dull topic. I’m far more interested in what you’re doing here!"

"UuuuUuuuUuuu!" Ishi continued her helpless struggle, still trapped in her cousin’s cleavage.

Aricia suddenly perked up, nodding as if she’d just heard a full explanation. "Ohhh, what a brilliant idea! Searching for Master Shigeru! I would have never thought of that! But I’m not so sure he’s actually in this region…"

Li-Jua’s eye twitched. "It’s impossible that you understood her!!!"

"Ohohoho! My darling white mage, are you jealous?" Aricia purred, turning her attention to Li-Jua with a wicked grin. "Don’t worry, I can shower you with gratitude too, for taking care of my precious cousin!"

Before anyone could react, Aricia pounced.

In an astonishingly swift motion, far too fast for someone in water, she lunged at Li-Jua, her hands shamelessly reaching out to grope the healer’s chest.

Li-Jua was stunned. She prided herself on her keen reflexes, her ability to sense even the slightest movement from monsters and beasts in the wild… and yet, she had failed to evade a human girl who clearly lacked any formal combat training.

Frozen in disbelief, she could only stare as Aricia shamelessly squeezed her breasts.

"AAAAHHHHHHH!"

Ishi and Pil both shrieked in unison.

"You pervert! Don’t do that!!!"

"Calm down, my dear young ones," Aricia said smugly, smirking at the horrified expressions of Ishi and Pil. "When you two finally grow a proper pair like Li-Jua, I’ll be happy to give you the same treatment! But for now, I reign supreme in this bath!"

"How dare you mock me and touch my beloved Lady Li-Jua, you heat-crazed mutt!" Pil snapped.

And then—

In an instant, the small, childlike form of the forest spirit shifted.

A brilliant glow enveloped Pil as her body transformed. The delicate, innocent shape of a little girl was no more.

Rising from the steaming water in her true nymph form, she stood before them, tall, ethereal, entirely bare.

Her flawless skin glistened under the moonlight, her long, flowing hair cascading down her back like a silken waterfall.

And most notably—

Her massive breasts rivaled Aricia’s in sheer volume and perfection.

A powerful aura radiated from her, as if nature itself had manifested its most divine and sensual creation.

The bathhouse fell into stunned silence.

Even Aricia, for the first time, seemed… genuinely speechless.

Aricia, of course, wasn’t about to back down, not when her pride and her title as the most well-endowed woman in the bath were at stake. Determined, she straightened up, stepping forward until she was standing directly in front of Pil. Without hesitation, she pressed her chest against the nymph’s, their soft flesh colliding in a battle of sheer volume.

A silent yet intense showdown began as they stared each other down, their breasts locked in a contest of dominance. The air around them seemed to crackle with tension.

For Ishi, however, it was all too much.

Steam practically poured from her head as her brain overheated, unable to handle the sheer level of debauchery unfolding before her. Her face turned beet red, her body trembled, and then—

"Gwahh!"

A violent river of blood gushed from her nose like a broken dam.

And with that, she collapsed, her body falling limp into the steamy water.

"Ishi!!" Li-Jua and Aricia shouted in unison.

Some time later, Ishi stirred awake. Her head was spinning slightly, her body heavy with exhaustion. The last thing she remembered was… the bath. The chaos.

Had she fainted?

Slowly, she sat up, glancing around the dimly lit room. The only illumination came from the faint glow of the moon filtering through the wooden shutters. The warm scent of fresh linens and the subtle aroma of incense filled the air.

Across from her, in the large double bed, Li-Jua and Pil were sound asleep.

They were… too close.

Ishi frowned slightly. Suspicious.

"Feeling better?" came a voice beside her.

Turning her head, she found Aricia lounging next to her, her golden hair cascading over the pillow, eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"Yeah… Sorry for the whole scene," Ishi muttered, rubbing her forehead.

Aricia chuckled. "No need to apologize! Your friends are hilarious, I can see why you haven’t sent a single message these past few weeks. You must be having the time of your life!" She smiled warmly. "I’m happy for you, Rei-Rei. Really."

"Thanks…" Ishi replied, though there was a faint unease in her voice.

Aricia, ever perceptive, tilted her head. "Something’s on your mind?"

Ishi hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You know that my goal has always been to destroy the status quo of this rotten empire. And you… you’ve always supported me in that."

"Of course," Aricia said simply.

"But…" Ishi’s fingers tightened around the blanket. "Before, I never hesitated. I didn’t care what it took as long as I could accomplish my goal. But now…" She exhaled. "What if I have something I don’t want to lose? What if my desires cost me you… or my companions? What’s the point of victory if it means losing everything I’ve come to care about?"

Aricia watched her for a long moment before a soft, knowing smile crossed her lips.

"Ahhh, so you’re afraid of losing the people you love." She leaned back slightly, gazing at the ceiling. "Well, it’s never too late to choose another path. Maybe one of peace. Who knows?" She turned back to Ishi, her expression gentle. "No matter what you decide, I’ll always support you, Rei-Rei."

Ishi swallowed, feeling a weight in her chest. "Yeah… I know…"

Aricia suddenly sat up and flicked Ishi’s forehead lightly. "But hey, no need to get all moody right now, it’s way too late for deep thoughts like that." She smirked mischievously. "Wouldn’t you rather hear how you survived the bathhouse after nearly drowning?"

Ishi blinked, confused. "…What?"

Aricia grinned. "Your precious little white mage had to perform mouth-to-mouth on you. I almost got jealous~."

A pause.

Then—

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!" Ishi’s scream practically shook the room.

Aricia burst into laughter, clutching her sides. "Hahahaha! Just kidding!" she wheezed, barely able to contain herself as tears of amusement gathered at the corners of her eyes.