Inn, Suite Room 2

I let out a sigh of admiration.

"Truly… that was exquisite."

"Fufufu, I'm honored to hear that from Haku-nee-sama! It is my inn's pride and joy, the A-Rank Dinner, after all!"

Hmm, given the quality of these contents, simply calling it an A-Rank Dinner feels rather bland.

"Rokuko-chan, is there a name for this collection of dishes? It would be a waste to call something of this caliber just an A-Rank Dinner."

"… [Okos…]… No, wait, umm, it's the [Avarice Meal]!"

An answer to the desire of wanting to eat lots of delicious food, I suppose?

Deliberately keeping portions small to offer a great variety, all for greater satisfaction. Wonderful sensibility.

"[Avarice Meal], you say? It ties in nicely with [Cave of Desires]. Quite a good name."

"Right? Oh, Haku-nee-sama, can I have the flag? I'm collecting them."

"Oh my, of course. Here you go."

I handed the small flag that had been stuck in the [Omurice] to Rokuko-chan. Chloe's as well, while I was at it. Looking closely, I noticed the patterns on each flag were different.

I hadn't understood their purpose while eating, but I see. They're collectibles. Going so far as to stimulate the desire to collect… how formidable.

"Oh right, Haku-nee-sama, have you been in the hot spring yet? It feels amazing!"

"Not yet… It's been quite a while, hasn't it, since I've been to a hot spring. There's a bath at the castle, though."

"… Haku-nee-sama's home has a bath?! That's incredible!"

"Oh my, but you have a hot spring here too, don't you? Then we match."

"Ah, you're right! Fufufu, matching with Haku-nee-sama～"

Rokuko-chan beamed happily. Just watching her warmed my heart.

"Would you like to go in the hot spring together, Haku-nee-sama?"

"Oh my, that sounds lovely."

A hot spring… hmm, that sounds good. Very good indeed.

The private bath in the room is nice, but a large bath means I can bathe together with Rokuko-chan.

It was right after eating, but we decided to head there right away.

"As someone who has bathed in the authentic bath made by the Hero, let me teach you the proper way to bathe."

"There's a proper way to bathe?! I can't wait!"

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

It was a wonderful bath.

"… So you don't wear bathing clothes in an authentic bath."

"Oh my, Rokuko-chan, did you get dizzy from the heat? Your face is bright red."

For the record, they do wear bathing clothes at the bathhouses in the Imperial Capital.

But this is a hot spring, and a bath created by Kehma-san, a person from another world. Following otherworld customs when bathing is only proper… I got to see something lovely.

The only downside was the one other person who was in the bath. If that human hadn't been there, we could have had it all to ourselves… Ah, I'll just reserve it next time, fufufu. I look forward to my next visit.

"Well then, shall we head to bed? … Rokuko-chan, would you like to come along?"

"I'll join you!"

Come to think of it, we've never actually slept together before.

Of course, Dungeon Cores don't need sleep to begin with, so it's really just pseudo-metabolism for the human form and largely a matter of personal preference… Though it does speed up fatigue recovery.

When we returned to the room, Chloe was already lying on the bed.

… What is this child doing? Falling asleep before her master… and still in her butler uniform, no less.

"Chloe?"

"… Hah?! H-Haku-sama…!"

The moment I called out, she sprang up and dropped to the floor in a [Seiza].

… That posture is the precursor to [Dogeza], the time-honored apology method passed down from another world.

"… Well, it's fine. You do need sleep, after all."

"My deepest apologies…!"

Still, this is truly unusual for Chloe. What on earth happened?

"… The truth is, I was trying to check the bed that Haku-sama would be sleeping in beforehand, but… it had such a peculiar sensation that before I knew it, I had…"

"Hmm… it sounds almost as if you were charmed."

If it were the effect of a magic tool or something… I'd rather not think that Chloe, a succubus, could fall victim to a charm. She's a charm specialist, so it would have to be something advanced enough for even a succubus not to notice.

"You've already slept in this one, so just keep using it. There's another bed, after all."

"Yes, thank you very much."

"Heh, how unusual. I've never seen Chloe like this before. Well, this bed certainly is comfortable, though."

Rokuko-chan was patting the bed that Chloe had been sleeping on with soft thuds.

… She seemed to be hitting it fairly hard, but the sound was soft.

I, too, slowly reached out and touched the bed.

… My finger… sank in, softly…?

What is this? Cotton… no, it isn't?

Without thinking, I pressed my palm into it. Soft, yet with a springiness to it… Oops, I was about to get lost in it myself. I pulled my hand away and took another look at the bed.

The bed was decorated with tasteful carvings and seemed to have artistic value as well. Being a design from another world, that alone is probably worth around fifty silver coins. I myself would want one at that price.

However, wouldn't this comforter be too thin and cold to sleep under?

… Oh my. It's still warm… the body heat from when Chloe had just been lying in it still lingered.

Despite being so thin and light, it seems to have remarkable heat retention.

Hmm, I can see how even Chloe could lose herself in this. Succubi are quite particular about their bedding by nature, after all.

"Haku-nee-sama, this comforter would be too hot for two people, so let's use this [Towel Blanket] instead."

Saying that, Rokuko-chan brought over the nice-feeling cloth that had been on the [Massage Chair].

… She seems rather accustomed to this, doesn't she? Could Kehma-san have… He hasn't tried anything, has he?

"Ane-sama, over here～"

Having climbed into bed ahead of me, Rokuko-chan made space for me and patted the bed… I felt an indescribable happiness. Something warm welled up from within me, making me tremble with joy.

I got into bed as Rokuko-chan invited me, and like close sisters—which we truly are, at least I believe so—we snuggled together and fell into the happiest sleep I've ever known.

The bed itself was comfortable, but honestly, being able to sleep together with Rokuko-chan was what mattered most to me.

Dungeon Cores don't require sleep. But beyond that, Rokuko-chan hadn't had the luxury of being able to sleep until now.

Even if it was to avoid being found by the God's Vanguard, the one who made her live that kind of life was none other than me… Thinking about it that way, I suppose I should be grateful to Kehma-san. For now, at least.

If anything ever happens to make Rokuko-chan unhappy, I will absolutely never forgive you, understood?

Even a hundred gold coins wouldn't be enough for this… W-Well, this is separate from the lodging assessment, so perhaps I should give it separately as a tip? Maybe I could give it to Rokuko-chan directly as pocket money in DP.