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Chapter 214: Interlude – Spiders Are Cute
A hot spring set up in the underground of the Party Training Hall.
Though it’s called a hot spring, it’s not fed by natural hot spring water.
It’s just regular water heated up with a faint sulfur scent added to mimic the real thing.
But who cares whether it’s real or fake?
“Phew.”
I let out a languid sigh as I soaked my body in the hot water.
The water, heated to just the right point where it felt a bit too hot, combined with the subtle sulfur scent tickling my nose.
Although the underground hot spring lacked the stunning views I had experienced when I visited the Thermal region, the sheer luxury of being able to enjoy such a bath within the school grounds was more than enough.
Of course, there were far more luxurious experiences compared to this hot spring.
Creak.
“I’m coming in.”
The sound of the door opening was followed by splashing footsteps.
Gulp.
Swallowing dryly, I turned my head to see—
“Hehe, I brought so alcohol as well. Care to join ?”
Professor Elisha, clad in nothing but a single towel, was swaying a bottle of liquor in her hand.
“……”
Her bare, porcelain-white shoulders.
The ample presence evident even through the thick towel.
A slender waist and long, elegant legs that didn’t seem capable of supporting such generous assets.
And to top it off, her height rivaling that of most n.
In that mont, I found myself wondering if I was looking at a person or a masterpiece ticulously sculpted by a master artist.
“Hehe, your gaze is quite heated.”
Sensing my stare, Professor Elisha curled her lips into a sly smile.
She walked over with splashing steps and carefully entered the hot spring.
“Ahh, this feels nice.”
“Ahem. Y-yes, it does.”
“It’s quite satisfying to see Cadet Dale so flustered.”
Professor Elisha approached with a faint smile.
“Care for a drink?”
“…Sure.”
Glug.
I downed the drink she handed in one go.
The sharp aroma of alcohol made my already heated head feel even hotter.
“What do you think of the Party Training Hall?”
“It feels too grand just for our party to use.”
“It’s proof of how important a role you’re playing in the school. No need to hold back.”
“An important role, huh….”
Honestly, it didn’t feel real to yet.
In my previous life, I wasn’t soone who played an important role in school—I was just treated like a troublemaker.
And that’s still the case now, isn’t it?
I let out a small chuckle, recalling the other cadets whispering about in the central plaza.
“Well, others may not realize it, but I know.”
Professor Elisha held out her glass.
“I know how much Cadet Dale has accomplished… and what you will accomplish in the future.”
Clink.
The clear sound of glasses eting echoed.
“To be blunt, hasn’t Cadet Dale killed three Archbishops already?”
“Well… yeah.”
The Archbishop of Illusions, the Archbishop of Desires, and the Archbishop of Beasts.
Out of the six Archbishops at the pinnacle of the Demonic ranks, half had fallen by my hand.
And that was all within less than a year since my return.
“If you hadn’t kept that fact hidden, the gossips would have already proclaid you as one of the ‘Masters.’”
True.
Killing half of the Archbishops and not receiving the title of ‘Master’ would indeed seem strange.
“For the school, pulling soone as heroic as you onto their side with just this one Training Hall is an exceptionally good bargain.”
“Haha, thinking about it like that, I guess it’s not wrong.”
Having never received such treatnt in my life, it didn’t quite sink in.
But if you looked at it objectively, the school benefiting from turning into a “Special Cadet” in exchange for a single building was clearly a win-win for them.
Well, it’s mutually beneficial.
For , I could get full support from the school to accomplish tasks I would’ve done anyway.
And for the school, they gained an invaluable asset to discreetly handle troubleso issues while strengthening our relationship.
It was a beneficial arrangent for both sides.
“And one more thing.”
Splash.
Professor Elisha moved closer until our shoulders were touching.
The soft warmth of her skin was transmitted through the contact.
A faint, alluring scent pierced through the sulfurous aroma and tickled my nose.
“Now that you’ve taken on a ‘Special’ role like mine, we’ll be spending much more ti together.”
“…Aren’t our missions quite different?”
“Missions are rely formalities.”
She winked playfully as she continued.
“What matters is that you and I have been granted the authority to move freely, outside the school’s rules.”
Indeed, as she said, there were many overlapping aspects in our missions, so opportunities to work with Professor Elisha would likely increase.
“Do you dislike working with ?”
Professor Elisha looked at with a slightly anxious expression.
That subtle gap from her usual confident deanor made unconsciously smile.
“Of course not.”
“Hehe, that’s a relief.”
Professor Elisha stood up slowly, holding onto her towel.
“Follow .”
“Huh? Are you leaving already?”
“Of course not. Since we’re already in the hot spring together, I’ll personally help wash you.”
“W-wait, there’s no need for that….”
“Shush. Just follow .”
She gave a stern look as she grabbed my hand and pulled along.
I had no choice but to leave the bath and move to the washing area.
“Now, let’s start with your hair.”
Professor Elisha approached from behind as I sat on a bathing stool.
She generously squeezed shampoo into her palm and began to wash my hair gently.
“Ahhh.”
A groan escaped my lips.
The soft sensation on my scalp spread a soothing warmth through my entire body.
“Does it feel good?”
“…Yes.”
Why does having soone else wash your hair feel so drastically different from doing it yourself?
What I had always done as a mundane task suddenly felt addictive.
And to top it off—
Press.
The exquisite sensation of her ample assets pressing against my back.
Even through the thin towel, their softness was unmistakable, gnawing away at my rationality.
Hmm?
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But sothing feels….
As I waged a silent battle with my sanity, a fleeting thought crossed my mind about the odd sensation on my back.
But it was quickly overshadowed by Professor Elisha’s next words.
“Next, I’ll wash the rest of you.”
“Hmm. Now that I see it up close… Cadet Dale is quite muscular, isn’t he?”
“Ahem.”
“Oh? What’s the matter? Are you embarrassed?”
A playful voice whispered into my ear.
Professor Elisha chuckled softly, her shoulders shaking as though teasing was the most delightful thing in the world.
“When I look at Cadet Dale, it’s hard to believe… that you’re actually older than .”
“Are you saying I don’t seem reliable?”
“No, I’m saying you’re cute. Very cute.”
With a faint smile, Professor Elisha pinched my cheek lightly.
“…….”
Why was it?
Even though I knew her words weren’t malicious, I couldn’t help but feel a lump in my throat.
“There, all done now.”
“…No, it’s not done yet.”
I glanced at Professor Elisha and raised the corners of my lips.
“It’s my turn now.”
“Oh? Are you saying you’ll wash ?”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t just sit back and take this lying down.
“Heh.”
Professor Elisha looked at leisurely and then slowly stood up.
“Then I suppose I’ll have to take off my towel first.”
“N-No! You don’t need to take it off right away…!”
Before I could finish speaking, Professor Elisha undid the towel wrapped around her.
As the towel dropped, what was revealed was…
“Huh?”
A black strapless swimsuit.
“…A swimsuit?”
“Hahaha! Did you really think I walked in here with nothing but a towel on?”
“…….”
Sohow, that explained it.
When her chest brushed against my back earlier, I thought the sensation felt strangely odd.
So, she was wearing a swimsuit under the towel all along?
“Hehe. Cadet Dale, your reactions are just too cute.”
Professor Elisha laughed, her shoulders shaking as she watched my stunned expression.
“Well? If you don’t like the swimsuit, how about you take it off yourself, Cadet Dale?”
“…Take it off myself?”
“That’s right.”
She laced her fingers behind her head, striking a pose like a model, and spoke in a playful tone.
“It’s simple. Just untie the strap at the back, and the swimsuit cos right off. You can do it, can’t you?”
“…….”
Professor Elisha was being deliberately provocative.
I gulped as I stared at her, torn between whether to take her bait.
“Pfft!”
Professor Elisha released her clasped hands and burst into laughter.
“It’s a joke.”
“…A joke?”
“Yes. There’s no way Cadet Dale would actually take it off….”
Step.
I took a step toward Professor Elisha.
“Hm?”
“…….”
“W-Why, Cadet Dale? Your eyes look a bit intimidating.”
“…….”
“D-Don’t co closer! W-What are you doing?!”
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
You told to take it off.
“Eek!”
As I untied the strap of her swimsuit, Professor Elisha hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest and stepped back.
For the first ti, I heard a shriek escape from her lips.
“W-Wait a minute! I-It was a joke! A joke!”
“A joke?”
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Professor Elisha.
“You teased to no end, and now you’re saying it was just a joke?”
“Ugh… I-I’m sorry. I might have gone too far.”
Watching her tremble pitifully, I felt like I was experiencing cognitive dissonance.
“Are you teasing even now?”
“What?”
“The Professor Elisha I know wouldn’t act like this.”
That’s right.
Isn’t she always the one initiating playful physical contact whenever the opportunity arises?
This had to be an extension of the “joke” she ntioned earlier.
“I won’t be fooled this ti.”
“Ugh…!”
Biting her lip, Professor Elisha grabbed a towel and threw it at my face.
“What… What kind of person do you take for?! I do have so sha, you know!”
When I saw her face turn as red as a ripe cherry, I finally understood.
‘Ah.’
This wasn’t a joke—she was genuinely embarrassed.
“I see. So….”
Her offensive skills may be high, but her defensive skills are non-existent, is that it?
“Don’t tell you drank earlier because of this? To hide your nervousness?”
“…….”
“Well, I have to say… I feel like I’ve discovered a new side of Professor Elisha today.”
“Urgh….”
“You’re adorable.”
“Cadet Dale, you…!”
Professor Elisha bit her lip and quickly turned to leave the hot spring.
“I… I’ll rember this humiliation!”
Throwing out a line like a defeated villain, she hurried away.
Watching her retreating figure, I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer.
‘Co to think of it, soone once said this about spiders.’
They might look like fearso predators, unafraid of anything, but in reality, spiders are timid and surprisingly cute creatures.
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