Seeker 328

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Chapter 328. The Two In The Bath

The baths of Oedo Castle are divided by gender.

Compared to the men's bath where men sweat, the women's bath is somewhat cramped and simple.

Nevertheless, it has enough tubs and washing areas for four or five people to enter at once.

Right now, in one of those washing areas, Sword Saint Mikoto is washing Princess Kushina's body.

Currently, they have the place to themselves, with no one else around to see...

"Hey, sto...stop it... Mikoto... No, I said...!"

"Hehehe... Princess Kushina, you've grown so beautifully. Let me, Mikoto, thoroughly enjoy... I mean, wash your body from top to bottom."

"I knew Mikoto was a womanizer...! But I didn't think it would be this shameless—ahhh!"

"It's regrettable that you think I'm shameless. It's because you're Princess Kushina that I cherish you. Besides, I'm just washing your body. It's you who's making those strange sounds."

"Stooop, don't wash me so meticulously there...!"

They're just washing the body.

Although it might seem like the graceful and voluptuous Sword Saint's body is entwined with that of a young girl from behind, it's not strange to wash each other closely.

After a while, when they finish washing their entire bodies and Mikoto rinses Kushina with water from a bucket, Kushina relaxes her entire body, her face blank with bliss.

Her cheeks are flushed red, undoubtedly from bathing several times.

After a while, Kushina suddenly awakens.

Then, with a somewhat sulky look, she glares at Mononofu, a beautiful female warrior about a decade older than her.

"...Mikoto. I said not to attack."

"Hehehe, I've said it many times, but I only washed your body."

"You're evading the issue. Besides, I said I would wash myself."

"Then next time, let Kushina-sama wash me."

"Fine, I get it."

This time, Kushina washes Mikoto's body.

While gently stroking the splendidly developed body with a cloth soaked in soap, Kushina compares it with her own undeveloped body.

"...I could never be like Mikoto."

When she finishes washing Mikoto's body and rinsing it with water, Kushina mutters these words.

Mikoto, upon hearing this, loses the playful atmosphere she had before and looks down.

She tries to speak but then seems to change her mind and stays silent.

Mikoto repeats this several times.

It was Kushina who broke the silence.

"...Sorry, I slipped up. Shouldn't we soak in the bath soon, Mikoto?"

"Yes, Kushina-sama."

The two of them, having finished washing their bodies, soak in the tub.

Although the tub can accommodate four or five people, it's quite spacious for just the two of them.

Kushina, submerged up to her chest in the hot water, starts speaking again, little by little.

"Hey, Mikoto. When we met in the corridor earlier, you said you knew my character well and trusted me. But I might have betrayed that trust..."

"..."

Mikoto avoids eye contact and doesn't look at Kushina's face.

Nevertheless, Kushina continued speaking, ignoring Mikoto's reaction, her face flushed from the hot water.

"I didn't intend to run away. But maybe I was reckless. There was a moment when I thought it didn't matter what happened. If I hadn't encountered them, I might not have been able to return to this castle now. I might have been locked up in the underground dungeons of Etigoya like the abducted town girls..."

"...Who are 'they'? And what are the underground dungeons of Etigoya?"

"Oh, right. I haven't told anyone except Father about this yet. It happened during our journey..."

Two days ago, Kushina told Mikoto about the encounter she had.

That the "spirited away" phenomenon was actually just a case of kidnapping, that she was caught by those kidnappers and found herself in a desperate situation, that those kidnappers were Mononofu hired by the unscrupulous merchant Etigoya, and that she was rescued from that predicament by adventurers who had come from the west...

"Those adventurers were amazing. Just three of them, but they defeated six seasoned Mononofu warriors effortlessly. It's unbelievable, but it seems all three of them had already 'pushed their limits' by then."

As Kushina recounts the events, Mikoto's eyes, which had been listening with a gloomy expression, suddenly light up.

Without noticing this, Kushina continues talking.

"Daitchi-dono, Kazane-dono, and Hotalu-dono... Each of them was a skilled warrior who could match Mikoto... Well, maybe that's an exaggeration. But really, they were amazing."

"Princess Kushina! Is that true!?"

Mikoto, rising with a splash, grabs the princess's shoulders with both hands.

Kushina, taken aback by the suddenness, is flustered.

"Oh... S-sorry. But more importantly, about those adventurers. Where are they now?"

"Uh, well... I met them in the western town just two days ago, but I don't know where they went after that..."

"Ugh...! Princess, why, why didn't you bring them here! You should've dragged them here even if you had to!"

"What... What are you so angry about, Mikoto? I don't understand why you're so upset with me. Explain it to me."

"It depends on their abilities. But there's hope. If I and those adventurers are here—maybe we can defeat that monster, Yamata no Orochi."

"Oh..."

Kushina shows a face of surprise she didn't expect.

Until now, Kushina had only heard stories about the legendary monster Yamata no Orochi, which had overwhelmed the country's forces and ended up causing nothing but casualties.

Moreover, the resignation was strong within her, and she had never even thought of the kind of idea Mikoto just proposed.

"Ugh...! Even though Orochi is said to appear tomorrow, to chase after adventurers whose whereabouts are unknown... Princess, anything else. Do you have any memories that could be clues to where they went?"

"Uh, well... They said they were serving as guards for a merchant named Wolf, but I didn't ask where they were going..."

"──! So, adventurers who came from the west were serving as guards for a merchant. That's what you're saying."

"Yeah, but..."

"In that case, there's still hope. If adventurers serving as guards for a merchant from another country come, they must visit the capital of Oedo. Kushina-sama, please tell me the characteristics of those adventurers from another country."

"Ah, um... All three are around the same age as me or slightly older, one man and two women. Their hair and eye color are black like the people of Yamatai, and they have pets..."

Pushed by Mikoto's momentum, Kushina lists the characteristics she can remember.

After extracting information from Kushina, Mikoto appeals to her beloved princess.

"Princess, we must find those adventurers at all costs. We can't let this go on like this. Right now—"

Mikoto tries to leave the bathtub without a moment's delay.

But Kushina grabs her arm.

Kushina, with her head bowed, says this.

"...It's fine, Mikoto. It's enough with just that feeling. I'm satisfied."

Kushina's words are full of resignation.

Mikoto stops her footsteps for a moment.

But Mikoto does not obediently follow the words of her lord's daughter.

"There's no excuse. If there's hope, I—"

"I don't want that. Even if they were found. If Mikoto or they were to challenge Orochi and lose their lives for my sake, I couldn't bear it this time."

"What...! When did the princess become such a coward!"

"What...!? Wh-what do you mean by 'coward'! Even I am prepared to sacrifice my life for the people of this country—"

"That's enough! I'll search for them myself! The cowardly princess can stay here and sulk!"

"Ah..."

Mikoto shakes off the princess's hand and leaves the bath.

Kushina reaches out, "Wait, wait, Mikoto," but that's after her companion has already left.

Left behind by the one she admires, Kushina curls up in the water like a baby.

While immersed in the water up to her mouth, the girl sheds tears.

"It's fine... If I become a sacrifice, that'll be the end of it... Before me, seven girls about the same age as me have already been sacrificed... It's not fair for me to be treated specially... Don't call me a coward, Mikoto... Don't abandon me... If I have hope, I really can't bear it this time... Uwaaaaah!"

In the bathhouse where no one else is present, Kushina cries out alone.

At this moment, she cannot realize how contradictory her words are.