Chapter 30: Guild Baths

We arrived at the Guild’s baths. They resembled Japanese public baths, with walls decorated with rabbits, fairies, and dragons. They truly looked like traditional Japanese bathhouses. Mizu pointed to the place where we would bathe, and I followed her, asking:

— “Mizu, is that where we’re going to bathe?”

She laughed and replied:
— “Yes, silly. Where else would the two of us bathe together? It’s a private room for just two people, thirty minutes at a time. There are several of these, so everyone can bathe comfortably. By the way, I’ll show you some things about how to take better care of your hair and body while bathing. Pay close attention to what I do.”

I felt nervous as we stripped down with the little clothing we had until we were completely naked. Mizu glanced at me and said:
— “No way, Taiyaki. You’ve got a better body, curves, and chest than me—and we’re the same physical age.”

Blushing, I replied:
— “Stop saying things like that, Mizu. You’re embarrassing me. Please, let’s just bathe and get this over with quickly.”

She kept laughing at my flushed face and teased:
— “Alright, alright, let’s bathe. I just find it funny that you’re so embarrassed about your beautiful body. That’s all.”

I got ready while she poured soap into her hands and gently rubbed it across my body with such delicacy it felt like a massage.

— “Alright, now that I’ve washed your body, let’s move on to your hair. This part has to be done carefully, slowly. A girl’s hair is more delicate than a boy’s. Not that you’d understand that well… but you know why.”

She said this while working shampoo into my long hair. I closed my eyes so the suds wouldn’t sting, and when she finished, I asked:
— “How much longer until we’re done, Mizu?”

She answered calmly:
— “All that’s left is to rinse you off with cold water. After that, once we’re clean, we’ll soak in the hot bath.”

She poured cold water over me, and I shivered—it was freezing. Then she told me to get into the hot bath while she finished bathing. I climbed in and watched her as she washed. She clearly knew what she was doing. While waiting, my mind wandered to how tough training might be starting tomorrow.

Once she finished, she slipped into the bath with me. Smiling serenely, she asked:
— “Is this your first time bathing with a friend?”

Blushing again, I responded:
— “Don’t say things like that, Mizu. I just want to relax without you making me blush. Please?”

She chuckled playfully:
— “Relax, I know this is new to you. You’ll get used to it soon enough. And to think this is our first time bathing together—it’s something I’ve been wanting to do with you for weeks now.”

To her, it seemed completely normal, but I didn’t share her ease. After all, we weren’t really children but adults in our thirties mentally, reincarnated in this world by a goddess. At least we were alone, without the younger girls around. I couldn’t imagine being in a bath with minors—it would’ve felt wrong. Thankfully, the Guild had private baths for two, so I didn’t have to deal with that.

Then Mizu spoke to me telepathically:
— “I’ll ask you now that we’re alone, Taiyaki. Do you plan on taking the Demon Queen down with you, sacrificing yourself when the time comes to fight her? Are you truly sure about that decision? Because I doubt the goddess would want that. She gave you a second chance at life—don’t you want to use it?”

I went silent, unsure how to answer—or how she’d react if I told her everything.

Finally, I responded telepathically:
— “It’s just… I don’t feel comfortable in this world. My goal is to eliminate all demons, to save this world from the evil that threatens humanity. That’s all I care about.”

She smiled softly and replied in my mind:
— “Alright, I understand. If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. But we’ll do this together, not you alone. Still, let’s make sure that whenever we have free moments—if we even get any—we spend them as friends. Even though you were an 18-year-old guy in your past life, I know you’re starting to appreciate some things now that you have a girl’s body.”

Her words calmed me, and I answered:
— “Thanks for understanding, Mizu. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Then, aloud, she said:
— “Alright, it’s almost 8 PM. We need to dry off, get ready to pray to the Goddess, then have dinner before bedtime at 9.”

I agreed, and we stepped out to get dressed.

We helped each other into our underwear and casual clothes, then dropped our dirty laundry at the washing station. After that, we made our way to the seventh floor, where the prayer hall was.

Inside, we found Mizuki and Akane already sitting on the left side benches. They waved us over as we entered.

— “Where were you? Did you bathe without us?” Akane asked, sounding a little annoyed.

— “Next time, wait for us so we can do this together as a team,” Mizuki added, equally displeased.

Mizu quickly replied to them both:
— “Look, Taiyaki isn’t comfortable bathing with lots of people. She prefers doing it privately. I promised her it would just be the two of us. I hope you understand.”

That explanation seemed to calm them, and they said together:
— “Alright, we understand. No problem. Let’s just get ready now—the high priestess will arrive soon to start the Holy Goddess’s ceremony. I hope you’re prepared for a sacred time of silence and respect.”

I felt a little nervous. It was my first time attending one of these ceremonies. I didn’t know whether the goddess would appear herself or if it would just be like Christians praying to God.