I slid the wooden door shut behind me.
The room smelled of polished wood and hot water.
I set the towel and the clean yukata on the low bench.
I let the fabric slip to the floor.
I forced myself not to look away from the polished mirror.
Black hair clinging to my cheeks. Feminine curves. Pale skin.
I let the water slide over my body.
After a few minutes, the tension I was feeling slowly melted away.
I honestly didn't know what I'd been expecting.
I straightened up. It was time to take care of this body.
I knelt next to the steaming basin.
The hot water soaked my hands, then my forearms.
I grabbed a sponge and began to wash.
The movements came to me automatically. I knew exactly how to do it without effort.
A level of care I'd never needed before.
I noticed the length of my hair. Even though I'd had shorter hair before, I remembered the pain when it tangled.
I spent time carefully detangling it, smoothing it out with care.
I rinsed the suds away, scrubbing with my fingertips until my scalp felt clean.
Rei had come from a very traditional family. Allied to the Senju for generations.
Though she wasn't a kunoichi, she had a lot of knowledge about shrine work.
She knew the rituals, enough self-defense, and archery.
I suppose that's a discipline I should revisit.
When I was done, I wrapped myself in the yukata and returned to the bedroom.
I slid open the door. The cooler air of the room greeted me.
My eyes immediately fell on the furniture.
The wardrobe, broken open, splintered wood.
A mute testament to my earlier outburst.
— I'd forgotten about that. Lucky no one came in while I was gone.
If someone saw this, I had no idea how I'd explain it.
Is there an Ainz spell that could help me fix this?
The problem was, I didn't have his knowledge about my abilities.
I only knew part of what I'd seen in the anime.
As I searched for an option, the names of spells came to me on their own.
Like a mental catalog, complete with what I assumed was their in-game description.
I decided to pick one.
[Object Rewind]: a spell that partially restores an object's durability. Generally used on basic equipment, less effective on higher-level items.
The runes engraved themselves into my mind.
My mana followed suit, and I cast the spell.
I felt the mana surge, along with a rush of power.
The wood knitted back together. The hinges reforged.
However, the items that had been inside stayed scattered on the floor.
A big smile still spread across my face. It was so easy.
Having seen the Overlord anime, I knew there was so much more.
Spells, tactical effects and strategies; conceptual magic I theoretically had access to.
Maybe I should just disappear.
The world was big, and I didn't have the patience to play a role I hadn't asked for.
I forced that thought away quickly. I had no idea how much of Ainz's knowledge I actually remembered.
And considering how long it had taken me to process just the basics and cast it, I wouldn't last long in a real crisis.
I'd need time to analyze it all.
A violent sneeze reminded me I needed to get dressed.
I carefully dried off and grabbed the clothes.
A red hakama and a white kosode.
I silently thanked Rei for coming from such a proper family.
I put them on almost without thinking.
The gestures felt natural.
Adjusting the collar. Smoothing the folds. Tying the belt.
Securing the hakama.
I pulled my sandals toward me.
Before leaving, I stopped in front of the mirror.
I checked the hem, the line of the collar.
I brushed a damp black strand back into place.
I slid the door open.
The corridor welcomed me with its hushed calm.
A cooler breeze made the fabric shiver against my skin.
Tobirama had told me to familiarize myself with the residence a sign it wasn't familiar to Rei.
I could take my time and explore without worry because of that.
One step at a time, I set off to explore the estate.