Kasumireaz led Masumi out of Ark’s tent and into what could only be described as an enormous public bath.
Even the changing area alone was vast. Aside from the washstand with its mirror, every wall was lined with shelving, and at the center stood several square-cut stone blocks large enough for multiple people to sit and rest on. The stone was mottled brown and white, with a calm, grounding texture.
The atmosphere was unmistakably reminiscent of a hot spring.
From the entrance to the bathing area, steam drifted lazily into the air.
Judging by the scale, it could easily accommodate dozens of people at once. Masumi had to admit she hadn’t expected the culture here to be so developed.
“Wow… it’s huge.”
She tilted her head back, staring up at the high ceiling, her mouth hanging open.
“Use this.”
While she was still looking around, Kasumireaz tossed something toward her.
She caught it with both hands and unfolded it. It was a soft cloth, similar to terry fabric. Considerately, there were two sizes, one large and one small. A bath towel and a washing cloth, apparently.
“Only a handful of people are aware of your presence,” Kasumireaz said. “I will stand watch, but I cannot keep an eye on the open-air bath. Be careful.”
“Open-air? You mean there’s a露天風呂?”
Her bath-loving instincts immediately stirred, and she leaned forward without thinking. Kasumireaz frowned, ever serious.
“It is located at the rear, but there are no partitions or screens. This is an all-male facility, so such things are unnecessary.”
That made sense. Among men only, there would be no need for such considerations.
“So this is the men’s bath?”
“Yes. There are no female knights stationed at the Vestofa garrison. I understand this may be uncomfortable, but there is no alternative.”
“No, no, I’m not complaining or anything,” Masumi said quickly, scratching her head. “I just feel kind of bad about it.”
Kasumireaz only furrowed his brow, clearly not quite understanding her meaning.
“Sorry. I thought it’d be simpler.”
If she had known, she might have asked differently. Too late for that now. She hadn’t meant to cause trouble.
Granted, nine-tenths of the responsibility probably belonged to his superior, but there was no need to say that out loud.
“…No.”
Cutting the conversation short, Kasumireaz left in a hurry.
He had said he would keep watch. That meant she shouldn’t linger too long.
Without hesitation, Masumi shed her clothes and stepped into the bathhouse.
Inside was just as spacious as the changing area. Steam hazed her view, and the tall stone ceiling loomed overhead. There were no windows for scenery. Light came from two sources: several shafts of sunlight pouring down from skylights, and a number of mysterious floating spheres that glowed softly along the walls and in midair.
The spheres varied in size and color, from milky white to gentle amber. They drifted lazily up and down, like they were underwater.
…Right.
At this point, there was very little left that could truly surprise her.
People wore clothes, slept in beds. In the broad strokes, everyday life wasn’t so different. But the details were unmistakably foreign. Whether the technology level differed, or the laws of physics were slightly off, or whether this was simply another world altogether, she couldn’t say.
An otherworld with hot springs felt oddly surreal.
The area near the entrance was for washing, while deeper inside lay a massive bath, just like a true onsen.
The tub overflowed constantly, water spilling freely. The bath was faintly cloudy, pale white, looking every bit like natural hot spring water.
To be able to bathe in hot springs every day was an incredible luxury.
Honestly enviable.
She took one of the white wooden buckets stacked nearby, scooped hot water from the bath, and poured it over herself. Each time the pleasantly hot water slid down her body, her fatigue seemed to melt away with it.
First things first, she washed thoroughly at the washing area.
Jumping straight into the bath was unacceptable behavior.
As a proud member of a bath-loving nation, she prided herself on impeccable etiquette.
Even if there was no one around to appreciate it.
Setting aside the mysterious magic, the cultural level seemed comparable to home. The sheer scale of the bath alone spoke volumes. She didn’t have makeup remover, so she made do with soap, but surprisingly, her makeup came off easily without scrubbing. Whatever was mixed into it was a blessing for anyone doing dirty work.
What a strange place.
Despite being unfamiliar, she found herself adapting unnervingly well. Perhaps that was because she had already barreled headfirst into dealing with those two men.
Lost in thought, she scrubbed herself briskly, then headed for the bath, carefully returning the white bucket to its place along the way.
And now.
“Aaah…”
The groan that escaped her sounded like something from an old man, but it couldn’t be helped. The tension drained from her body all at once.
Before she even realized it, the aches she had been carrying were gone.
She had noticed it even before entering the bath. The pain in her back from being slammed into something, the abrasions on her wrists and ankles from the ropes, all of it. No doubt the blue light Ark had given her had done its work. From the sound of it, he had gone overboard.
Once she adjusted to the heat, she slowly opened her eyes.
The open-air bath was surrounded by rugged stone formations, steam drifting gently on the breeze. The water was pale and cloudy, like a true hot spring, but without the usual sulfur smell. Instead, there was a faint, refreshing citrus scent.
As Kasumireaz had said, there were no partitions or screens at all. It was a place for bathing completely unguarded.
Typical of an all-male environment.
Since it was tucked away at the back and there was no sign of anyone around, she had chosen the open-air bath over the enclosed one. It had been the right choice. The sense of openness was wonderful.
It was quiet.
Now and then, birds chirped cheerfully overhead.
She leaned her head against a rock and looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful blue. It felt as though the sky itself were blessing the young men who would begin a new chapter of their lives today.
“Blessing, huh…”
She murmured, recalling Kasumireaz’s explanation.
An investiture was a vow, a declaration of what it meant to be a knight. Perhaps something bold and dignified suited it better than a gentle, elegant melody.
“Something heroic… maybe a march?”
Marches were practically made for military settings.
There were many kinds. Some were celebratory, some honored generals, all aimed at stirring resolve, though their themes varied.
Johann Strauss I’s Radetzky March, for example.
Composed to honor a general, it began with a stirring drum and cymbal motif, followed by a brilliant orchestral introduction. Its ornate main theme was fitting for a military hero.
Incidentally, his son Johann Strauss II, known as the “Waltz King,” composed The Blue Danube.
That piece was also graceful and beautiful, but as a waltz, it didn’t quite fit the gravity of this moment. Perfect for a celebratory dance, perhaps.
Returning to marches.
John Philip Sousa’s Washington Post was light and catchy from the start. Though a march, it had been written for an awards ceremony, and its tone was more festive than martial.
Sousa, the “March King,” had written over a hundred marches, including The Stars and Stripes Forever and Thunderer.
“Radetzky is good, but…”
She pressed a hand to her lips, thinking.
The music was to be played after the knights received their swords and shields, at the moment they were granted magic. The culmination of the ceremony. A blessing from the supreme commander.
In that case, something dignified yet stirring would be best. A piece that honored the pride they would carry.
If the music were for the jousts afterward, she’d choose something with relentless momentum. But this was a solemn ritual.
Then…
“Pomp and Circumstance, by Elgar.”
She had it memorized, and it was perfect. Its structure made it easy to repeat sections and adjust the ending on the fly.
Thinking so hard made her shoulders tense. She stretched her arms in the bath, feeling the stiffness ease.
Which was why she noticed too late.
She had been thinking seriously, eyes closed for a while. Stretching without opening them didn’t help. The heat had also made her slightly lightheaded.
When the dizziness passed and she finally looked up—
Their eyes met.
Three young men in knightly attire stood there, frozen solid.
Their expressions were utterly stunned, like they had just discovered a mythical creature.
Masumi froze too.
The bath was deep enough that her lower body was submerged, and the water was cloudy, so that part was probably fine.
Unfortunately, her upper body was fully exposed.
This was, by any standard, not fine.
What was she supposed to do?
Scream? But she was the one bathing openly. That felt backwards.
Birds chirped happily overhead.
“Um…”
She crossed her arms over her chest.
And just as she drew breath to explain—
“W-waaaah?!”
The man in the middle let out a shriek and bolted.
“Hey!”
“Wait, Rik! Hey, wait!”
The other two scrambled after him, glancing back once, twice, maybe three times.
Left alone, Masumi exited the open-air bath, feeling oddly unsettled.
Was her body really that disappointing?
She wasn’t exactly voluptuous, but she thought she was at least… acceptable.
Apparently not.
No one was there to comfort her.
