Dinner didn't last long. With the mutual teasing and hidden rivalry between Mab and Aesc, time passed quickly.
Then, the location moved to—
The large public bathhouse filled with steaming hot vapor.
Since they were staying overnight tonight, and counting that Naoki and Aesc hadn't bathed for two days, before going to the rooms Mab prepared, the two of them and Melusine decided to relax in a bath first.
Only....
"Naoki, is this necessary?"
Looking at the partition dividing the bathhouse into two sections, Aesc, who was in the pool, called out to Naoki on the other side—that partition had just been created by Naoki using Imaginary Manifestation.
The reason was very simple.
"You're holding Melusine back on that side, and I got rid of it. She's still hitting this partition, isn't she?"
"...."
Aesc looked at Melusine standing not far away, continuously hitting the partition as if digging a hole, and sighed in resignation.
As Naoki said, the partition was installed entirely to stop the antics of the little young dragon Melusine.
Originally, when deciding to bathe, the three of them planned to bathe separately. Since there was only one bathhouse, the plan was for Naoki to go first, then Melusine and Aesc.
But Melusine declared that she wanted to bathe with Naoki.
To be honest, Naoki quite liked Melusine. But even though he liked her, the mental burden of bathing with a little girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old was certainly not small.
Therefore, he initially firmly refused Melusine's request. But afterward, Melusine started acting spoiled, insisting on bathing together. Otherwise, she would go out and destroy Edinburgh.
In the end, the three of them had to bathe together like this, isolating Melusine with a partition, and asking Aesc to help supervise her—if not, Naoki was sure the partition would be destroyed by Melusine, even with the barrier.
In fact, Melusine was destroying it right now, wasn't she? If Naoki hadn't kept repairing it, the partition might have been gone long ago.
"I didn't expect you to still care about these things."
"Eh? Why do you say that?"
"Because in Pan-Human History you had many wives and concubines. I thought you were used to it." Aesc explained, "I didn't expect you to take the initiative to ask for separation now."
(Oh, that's what she meant.)
Naoki thought for a moment: "Well... If it were just you, I wouldn't install a partition."
"!"
These words immediately stunned Aesc on the spot.
(Just, just me? What does he mean? If it were just me and him, he wouldn't install a partition? Thinking about it, Naoki...)
"Naoki, do you like me?"
The straightforward Aesc directly asked.
Hearing Aesc say that, Melusine, who was diligently hitting the partition over there, immediately swam closer: "What? Naoki likes Aesc? Does Naoki not like me anymore?"
"I didn't say that. Melusine, don't misunderstand." Naoki hurriedly explained, afraid Melusine would destroy this place. The strongest dragon could truly easily destroy this place, "Regarding Aesc... Hmm, of course I like her."
"You have many wives and concubines in Pan-Human History, can't you still restrain yourself outside?"
"I used to be quite restrained. It's just that in recent years I've been badly influenced, so now I'm more blunt." Naoki smiled wryly, "But, I'm only blunt with people I know. With people I've just met and don't know well, I'll still restrain myself."
(Then, I haven't known him that long either...)
Aesc stopped thinking at that point.
Come to think of it, in a certain sense, she and Naoki had known each other for a long time.
Naoki and her Pan-Human History self had known each other for twenty years in Pan-Human History. After coming here, they had been together for six months. Meanwhile, she had known about him since three thousand six hundred years ago. Unilaterally, she had known him for that long.
Looking at it this way, the two were already very familiar.
"Then... Naoki, do you want to—"
"Don't discuss that for now, Aesc." Naoki interrupted Aesc's words, "You don't have spare time to think about your own affairs now, right? Saving fairies, saving Britain... I know all your thoughts are focused on that now, so you shouldn't be disturbed."
"After everything is finished, we'll properly discuss what you just wanted to say."
"You're really considerate of me, even though in my memories, you aren't the type to pay attention to others."
Aesc's comment made Naoki's eyebrow twitch. He began to wonder what he was like in Morgan's eyes. In Pan-Human History, Morgan always seemed to regard him as a junior. When meeting, she always called him Boy, Boy, sometimes jokingly calling him Lord King or King Arthur.
It seemed when talking about him to others, she would say That Child.
(To Morgan, me being under forty years old is truly a child....)
*SPLASH!*
The sound of water came from the other side, then Aesc's voice was heard: "I'm going out first, Naoki."
"Oh, don't forget to take Melusine."
"I know. Come on, Melusine."
"I want to go to Naoki's side! Aesc, don't block me—Let me go!"
The sound of feet scraping on the floor came from the other side. It seemed Melusine was being forcibly pulled by Aesc.
(Phew~~~ Finally gone.)
Naoki let out a slight sigh of relief.
He was actually quite happy to be considered a lover by Melusine. But even though happy, the challenge of bathing together that tested his mental limits was better not done for now. As he mentioned earlier, if Melusine's body were like Aesc's, he definitely wouldn't install any partition.
Unfortunately, the current Melusine was flat both top and bottom, even mentally. She was truly a little girl still wet behind the ears.
"Hmm? You're alone."
Suddenly, someone's voice came from behind Naoki, followed by the sound of someone entering the water on the other side.
"Queen Mab?"
"Just Mab. No need to add the Queen title."
Mab on the other side said: "But, what's with this partition? I don't remember there being this thing before."
"It's nothing, just a security precaution—More importantly, since you've come, I'll go out first."
"Wait."
Mab called out to Naoki who wanted to leave the water: "Don't rush. Aesc should have told you. I want to discuss some matters with you. Since we've met here, let's talk here. Saves time compared to me having to look for you later in your room."
"What do you want to discuss?"
"Matters related to Aesc." Said Mab, "You're definitely interested, right?"
"Of course."