A few days later, Nell’s work was finally done, and she returned home to the dungeon.
“I’m home!”
Then, voices immediately replied.
“! Nell, you’re back!” (Illuna)
“Welcome home!” (Shii)“…Welcome home!” (Enne)
“Oh! You had a long day at work this time.” (Yuki)
“Yes, I’m back. From the look of you, it looks like you’ve had a long day as well.” (Nell)
“Welcome back! You certainly look tired.” (Lyuu)
“Welcome back, Nell, I’ll make you some tea right away.” (Layla)
“Thanks, Layla! This time we had to deal with a monster that was always on the run. I couldn’t find it at all.” (Nell)
Nell felt herself relaxing at the warm welcome she received from her family as she enjoyed the tea and sweets Layla had prepared for her, and they talked about their work.The little girls soon went out to play, but for the adults, the most enjoyable pastime was chatting with those who knew them well.
They continued to discuss all sorts of things without stopping, but Nell had a thought that she had been holding back for a long time, so when the conversation came to a close, she let it out.
“Okay, I want to take a bath! I hope to bathe in so much hot water! I would like to bathe so much that I’ll melt! I’m going to fill heaven and earth with hot water, and I will conquer the world!” (Nell)
“Calm down, Nell, your language is being eroded by the bathing. All you need to say is that you would like to take a bath.” (Yuki)
“I am Nell, a freedom fighter who wants a bath! If you don’t give me what I want, I’m prepared to use force!” (Nell)
“Oh, what kind of force are you going to use?” (Yuki)
“From now on, when I make pastries, I’m going to use the wrong amount of sugar and salt.” (Nell)
“That’s terrorism!” (Yuki)
“Even when Layla will be making the pastries, I will force myself to her side and tell her, [I’ll help you! I’ll help you!]” (Nell)
“That will be a problem, isn’t it?” (Layla)
Nell answered with a serious look on her face, Yuki made a face like, “Oh, come on,” and Layla looked at her smiling as usual.
“Husband, Nell is on a rampage. Please control her.” (Lyuu)
“Yes, Yuki, Nell is a woman who does what she says. You, her husband, must listen to her demands to prevent her from doing such a terrible thing.” (Lefi)
“Oh, oh. –Oh, oh, yes, yes, yes, Nell, the freedom fighter, we are ready to listen to your demands. If there is something more than a request to take a bath, let’s hear it.” (Yuki)
“Eh? Uh…” (Nell)
Normally, Nell would not think about anything else, as long as she could take a bath, but then an idea popped in her head.
“Well, then… I want to take a bath together with husband to heal the fatigue of fighting as warriors day after day! Oni-san, wash my back!”
“Okay, go ahead, he’s your hostage.”
“Hahaha, that’s a good one, a hostage.”
“Don’t call me a hostage. –I’ll go take a bath. As a husband, I’m going to relieve my wife of her daily fatigue.”
“Oh, um… thanks.”
“Why are you, the one who demanded it, acting embarrassed?”
And with that, Nell headed towards the Japanese Inn with Yuki, being warmly sent off by the other adults in the group.
Nell and Yuki enjoyed soaking in the bathtub side by side, feeling a little embarrassment and a sense of happiness welling up from the depths of their hearts.
–I think that a bath at home is the best after all.
