kscans

Chapter 766 - Double Knockout

And then, approximately twenty minutes later.

"—Well, I was confident that nothing untoward would happen… but it seems you were both more childish than I could have ever imagined."

"……………………"

"……………………"

"My apologies. Perhaps I should have said you were both purely innocent and adorable?"

Sora and I were both laid out on the floor, suffering from a magnificent case of overheating in the hot spring.

Well, I have a strong feeling it was caused by a different kind of heat than the onsen, but in any case, our mixed bathing—or rather, our time in the heated pool—came to a swift end after just over ten minutes.

We had both instantly noticed each other’s distress, realized this was bad, and climbed out of the water together to call for help via the maid-call button, which led to this whole situation.

Neither of us could possibly change clothes in our dizzy state. We were only able to towel off before collapsing in our swimsuits, leaving us in no condition to even retort to the maid's teasing.

At least the lovely swimsuit-clad beauty getting a lap pillow from the maid (her sister, who wasn't in her uniform) made for a picturesque scene. But the guy in swim trunks lying on the floor with a bath towel haphazardly thrown over him was just a sad, pathetic sight.

Just now, the gentleman who tried to act so suave truly died. A real gentle-man-down situation—

"Haru-san."

"I’m sorry."

"…? I’m not sure what you’re apologizing for, but…"

That startled me. I thought her partner-level powers of observation had seen right through the dumb thoughts swirling in my overheated brain. …Anyway, putting that aside.

"This is the first time I’ve seen you unclothed, but…"

"What are you suddenly talking about…???"

"You have a rather fine, toned body, don’t you?"

"Seriously, what are you saying…!?"

And now Itsuki-san had started spouting nonsense with a perfectly straight face.

Sora-san, who was even more groggy than I was and completely out of commission, didn’t seem to hear it, which was a blessing, but what on earth was she talking about?

"Oh, forgive me. I was simply impressed. You’re the type who looks slimmer with clothes on."

"You’re still going with this…?"

"I’m not teasing you, truly. I knew you worked hard during your high school days, but… do you still do some sort of training now?"

Hearing that, I realized she was asking a very simple question out of genuine curiosity. I see. Understanding that, I could guess what she was getting at.

"No, not… really… anything."

So, as I lay there collapsed, I gave her the facts. It was only natural that her face would contort with further confusion. I could sympathize, because this was a mystery that I myself had only recently begun to find strange.

Right, I don't really do anything. No weight training or anything else you could call exercise—and yet, my body has maintained the ridiculous vitality it had back in my part-timer days.

It goes without saying, but that’s strange. No matter how much of a youthfully energetic eighteen-year-old I am, after half a year of no real exercise, my stamina and muscle strength should have declined at least a little.

"I see… So that’s how it is. I see."

"Yeah, that’s how it is."

Itsuki-san had previously mentioned that she wasn’t interested in the virtual world and thus, despite serving the Yotsuya family, had little knowledge of it. In that case, her confusion was understandable.

But I, having pondered this question myself a while back and scoured the depths of the internet, knew the answer.

And knowing how brilliant she is, if a question popped into her head, she would undoubtedly arrive at a hypothesis far quicker than my own inferior brain could manage.

She nodded once and smiled, amused.

"Strange things do happen in this world, don’t they?"

Namely, that all the ‘scientifically unexplainable phenomena’ in the world today are all caused by a single anomaly—the magical ark, Arcadia.

The logic is completely unknown. But in reality, there’s apparently data showing that Arcadia players, excluding those who suffer accidental infections, are free from illness.

Furthermore, just like the incongruity I felt, their bodies don’t weaken without exercise… In fact, it’s said to be easier to maintain one’s physique and health than through clumsy attempts at exercise.

It sounds like a lie. A ridiculous joke.

But if you were asked which was more of a fairytale, a ‘perfect virtual world’ or these strange phenomena, the awful truth is that you’re forced to accept that such mysteries must exist.

Even if you can’t comprehend it, you just have to accept it as fact.

"I wonder if they'd tell me if I asked."

"Now, that is something beyond my knowledge."

Even though he was technically her employer, Itsuki-san was rather indifferent towards ‘the Master,’ as if to say, my true master is this one here. Showing a modicum of understanding, she seemed to lose interest in the topic and began to devotedly care for the “little sister” on her lap.

As expected, this maid’s interests are refreshingly single-minded—

"Well then, putting aside the discussion of your physique, Haru-san…"

"Could you please stop phrasing it in such a visceral way?"

"She will catch a cold if she stays like this, so I would like to change Ojou-sama soon."

"Ah, yes, sorry. I’ll leave."

It seemed she had been keeping an eye on my condition while we were talking. Just as I started to recover, slightly ahead of Sora, she gently prompted me to leave the room.

"Please take this."

"Ah, thank you for everything…"

The maid's work is flawless.

A men’s yukata had been prepared without a hitch. She handed it to me, and I quickly slipped it on, successfully pruning the future where a pervert in swim trunks bursts out into the hallway of a luxury inn.

And so, I quickly made to leave the room—

"By the way, Haru-san."

Just before I left. I reluctantly turned back at the voice that stopped me, which I had half-expected…

"What did you think of my little production?"

"…………………………"

She gestured to her “little sister” still stretched out on her lap, a truly delighted smile on her face. To this mischievous maid… there was, of course, only one answer I could give.

Wordlessly, with a deadpan expression, I gave her a thumbs-up. There was no other option.