Chapter 766 - Double Knockout
And then, approximately twenty minutes later.
“—Well, I was confident that nothing untoward would happen… but it seems you two are even more like children than I imagined.”
“……………………”
“……………………”
“My apologies. Perhaps I should have said you were pure, innocent, and adorable?”
Sora and I were both laid out on the floor, suffering from a magnificent case of overheating in the bath.
Well, I have a strong feeling it was caused by a different kind of heat than the hot spring, but in any case, our mixed bathing—or rather, our hot spring pool session—came to a swift end in just over ten minutes.
We had noticed each other’s changing condition instantly, and thinking this is bad, we helped each other out of the water and called for the maid. This was the result.
In our wobbly state, changing clothes was impossible. We had only managed to dry off with towels and were now collapsed in our swimsuits. We were in such a state that we couldn’t even muster a retort to the maid’s teasing.
The sight of a lovely swimsuit-clad girl getting a lap pillow from a maid (her sister) who wasn’t in uniform was picturesque enough to be acceptable. But a guy in swim trunks lying on the floor with a bath towel haphazardly thrown over him was just plain pathetic.
The gentlemanly older boy was now truly dead. You could say the gentleman had met his end—
“Kasuga-san.”
“I’m sorry.”
“…? I’m not sure what you’re apologizing for, but…”
That surprised me. For a second, I thought she had read my mind with an observational skill rivaling my partner's and had seen the dumb thoughts floating in my overheated head. …But anyway.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you unclothed.”
“What are you suddenly saying…???”
“You have quite a fine, toned body, I must say.”
“Seriously, what are you talking about…?!”
What is with Itsuki-san suddenly spouting such playful nonsense with a straight face?
Sora, who was even more groggy than I was and completely out of commission, seemed not to have heard, which was a relief, but seriously, what was she saying?
“Oh, excuse me. I was simply impressed. You’re the type who looks thinner in clothes, aren’t you?”
“You’re still going…?”
“I’m not teasing you, truly. I knew you worked hard during your high school days, but… do you still do some kind of training?”
It was only then that I realized she was asking out of simple curiosity. I see. Understanding that, I could guess what she was getting at.
“No, not anything in particular.”
And so, when I gave her the facts while still lying on the floor, it was no wonder the maid’s face grew even more puzzled. I could sympathize, because I myself had recently come to think, ‘Isn’t this whole thing a bit weird?’ It was one of those strange mysteries.
That’s right, I haven’t done anything at all. No weight training, nothing I could call physical conditioning—and yet, my body has maintained the same ridiculous vitality it had back in my part-time warrior days.
It goes without saying, but that’s strange. No matter how young and energetic an eighteen-year-old boy might be, after half a year of no real exercise, my stamina and strength should have declined at least a little.
“I see… I understand. So that’s how it is.”
“Yeah, that’s how it is.”
Itsuki-san had mentioned before that she had no interest in the virtual world and, despite serving the Yotsuya family, knew little about it. So her confusion was natural.
But I, who had become curious a while ago and scoured the internet for information, already knew.
And being as sharp as she is, if a question popped into her head, she would undoubtedly use that brilliant mind—which is on a completely different level from mine—to quickly arrive at a hypothesis.
She nodded once and smiled, amused.
“There are certainly strange things in this world, aren’t there?”
Namely, that all the ‘scientifically unexplainable phenomena’ in the world today all stem from a single anomaly—the magic ark, [Arcadia].
The logic is a complete mystery. But in reality, there’s data suggesting that Arcadia players, excluding those who suffer accidental infections, are free from illness.
Furthermore, just like the oddity I felt, their bodies don’t weaken even without exercise… In fact, it’s easier to maintain one’s physique and health than by exercising carelessly.
It sounds like a lie. A ridiculous joke.
But when asked which is more of a fairy tale compared to a ‘complete virtual world,’ the sheer absurdity of it all forces you to accept that such strange phenomena must exist. It’s a cruel joke.
You have no choice but to swallow it as fact, even if you can’t comprehend it.
“I wonder if they’d tell me if I asked.”
“Well, that is a matter beyond my knowledge.”
Despite him being her employer, Itsuki-san was surprisingly detached when it came to the ‘Master,’ as if to say, ‘My true master is this one.’ Showing a measure of understanding, she seemed to lose interest entirely and began to devotedly care for the ‘sister’ on her lap.
As I thought, this maid’s interests are refreshingly single-minded—
“Well then, leaving the topic of Kasuga-san’s physique aside.”
“Could you please stop phrasing it in such a vivid way?”
“I’d like to get the young mistress changed before she catches a cold.”
“Ah, yes, my apologies. I’ll leave.”
She must have been keeping an eye on my condition while we talked. Just as I started to recover, ahead of Sora, she gently prompted me to leave the room.
“Please take this.”
“Ah, thank you for everything…”
The flawless work of a maid.
She had thoughtfully prepared a men’s yukata, which she handed to me. I quickly put it on, successfully averting the future of a pervert in swim trunks prancing through the halls of a luxury inn.
And so, I scurried out of the room—
“By the way, Kasuga-san.”
Just before I left. A voice called out to stop me, just as I had half-expected. I reluctantly turned back…
“What did you think of my production?”
“……………………”
Gesturing to the ‘sister’ still limp on her lap, the mischievous maid wore a truly amused smile… and as for the answer I would give her, it was obvious.
Without a word, I gave her a deadpan thumbs-up. There was no other possible response.