I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 92

There was none.

No such sweet, romantic events. Not in my life.

“……”

Inside the men’s bathhouse. In a personal tub filled with lukewarm water.

I floated like a dumpling, my body submerged.

The bathhouse’s design was very similar to those of ancient Rome, which I had seen in books.

The tub wasn’t as scalding hot as the ones in Korea, but it was still warm and pleasant.

It’s nice to have a private bath as a lord.

“The water system is well-maintained.”

Lucas, who was attending to me beside my tub, immediately responded to my mutter.

“It is the pride of the Empire. We have become experts in water resource management due to the many floods we have experienced. We are the best in the world.”

“It’s also thanks to the small population of the city. It makes maintaining water quality easier.”

More importantly, aren’t you going to take a bath? You’re still attending to me even after coming all this way.

“It is a guard’s duty to stay by the lord’s side at all times.”

“If you say such admirable things all the time, it gets tiring. Enough, you should wash up too. There’s a big tub right next to you.”

At my urging, Lucas reluctantly bowed his head.

“Then I will go into the tub next to you.”

“Yes, yes. Go on in quickly……”

Lucas carefully entered the tub. I was momentarily speechless as I looked at his broad back.

Lucas’s muscular body was covered in scars and wounds. It was as if they summarized all the hardships he had endured in his life.

“You’ve been through a lot, Lucas.”

Lucas smiled at my words.

“Not at all, my lord.”

Meanwhile, Damian was floating right next to Lucas. Is he a corpse? Are you alive, dude?

“Are you okay, Damian?”

“Yes… Your Highness… I’m fine……”

No, you’re ascending. It looks like your soul is leaving your body.

“What on earth happened yesterday……?”

“……It would be better to bury what happened yesterday.”

Lucas replied, avoiding my gaze with a pale face. Seriously, what happened that made you like this?!

Anyway, I thought we could relax and chat, but.

Thump! Thump!

People poured into the men’s bathhouse.

It was the Twilight Brigade. The old men and grandfathers all made sounds like ‘Ugh~’ and began to occupy various parts of the bathhouse.

Thump! Thump!

Following the Twilight Brigade, even the regular mercenaries poured into the tub.

Soon, the men’s bathhouse was filled with men covered in beards and muscles.

“……”

It’s suffocating.

Being trapped in a small space with burly muscle pigs is making me dizzy.

Damn it, save me. I should have just used the bathroom in the mansion. I got caught up in the atmosphere and came here with them.

“Shall we go out soon……”

“Would you like to?”

“I want to go out too, ugh……”

The three of us got out of the tub and awkwardly headed out of the men’s bathhouse.

Clack!

Clack!

Clack!

Every time the mercenaries’ eyes met mine as I stepped out, they saluted me.

No, it’s awkward to receive a salute while naked, so don’t do it! I said don’t do it!

***

After drying off and putting on the gown provided by the public bathhouse, I entered the lounge.

A wide lounge area unfolded. It was a cool space connected to the outside.

“Oh ho……”

It’s just like a Korean jjimjilbang [a Korean public bathhouse with various saunas and relaxation areas].

Of course, there are no facilities for steaming, it’s just a wide hall with good ventilation.

People who had enjoyed the bath were lying or sitting comfortably, chatting in various places. Such advanced facilities existed.

‘I should reflect on myself for underestimating this fantasy world. It’s quite impressive.’

I lay down on the floor of the hall, lost in useless thoughts. My whole body felt relaxed after being warmed in the hot tub.

‘Ah~ I want some sikhye [a sweet Korean rice drink]…….’

Lying down in an environment similar to a jjimjilbang made me crave sikhye.

Cracking open a roasted egg and munching on it, then gulping down a bowl of ice-cold sikhye, that’s heaven.

I miss Earth at times like this…….

“Lucas!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Lucas, who was sitting comfortably next to me, answered immediately. I raised my head and looked around.

“Do they sell anything to eat or drink here?”

“I am sorry, my lord. Eating and drinking are prohibited here.”

Lucas had a look that said, ‘It’s common sense.’

This damn fantasy world! They’re so strict in places like this!

“Um… is there anywhere to get some water……”

Then, Damian, who was lying next to me, mumbled with a dying face.

He must be dehydrated after drinking and passing out, then sweating it out in the bath. Oh dear.

“Lucas, take him and get him some water.”

“But I am in charge of guarding Your Highness……”

“My subordinates are all around, what could happen? I can protect myself. Don’t worry and go.”

Lucas hesitated for a moment, but then got up.

“I will bring water for Your Highness as well.”

“Okay. You’re a good boy. Go on.”

Lucas and Damian left the lounge. I adjusted my lying position. Oh, this is comfortable.

Should I take a nap like this? I closed my eyes, thinking that.

“Ah!”

A familiar girl’s voice was heard.

“It’s Senior.”

“Huh.”

When I opened my eyes and looked over, Evangeline was trotting into the lounge.

Her wet platinum blonde hair was tied up in a towel on top of her head. She looks even smaller like that.

“Why are you here again?”

“I’m from this town. Of course, I’m a regular at this bathhouse.”

Even the lord’s daughter used this place.

Well, it would be stranger not to use such facilities in this tiny city.

Then, Lily, who was pulling a wheelchair behind Evangeline, made eye contact with me.

Lily, who made a ‘eek!’ sound, quickly bowed her head to me.

“Your Highness?! Why are you here?!”

“That’s what I should be asking… Did you two come together?”

Evangeline nodded with a giggle.

“I came to wash with Lily unnie!”

“When did you two get so close?”

“Isn’t it natural to become close when you’ve been through life and death together? Right, unnie?”

“Umm… yes, Miss……”

Lily awkwardly sweated. No, it seems like Evangeline is the only one unilaterally acting friendly.

‘Well, Lily is the only same-age female in the party.’

I understand why Evangeline is trying to get close.

Conversely, I understand why Lily is feeling uncomfortable.

She wants to leave the party… And Evangeline is the successor to the Border Count title, so she must feel burdened…….

“Ah, unnie! Let’s go take that spot! You can see the mountains from far away, it’s the best spot.”

“Okay, Miss.”

“Then, see you later, Senior. We’re going to have some girl talk~”

Ah, hey! Don’t go! Play with me! Save me from these dark men!

I screamed inwardly, but the two of them had already gone far away with a whoosh. How heartless.

“Hehe… It’s okay, I can have fun with just Lucas and Damian.”

…I said that, but these two haven’t come back. Where did they go to get water?

It was then.

“Your Highness?”

A clear female voice rang out.

“This is unexpected. I didn’t think a member of the Imperial Family would use such facilities.”

I widened my eyes and looked over there.

A young woman with long brown hair was squeezing the water out of her hair with a towel. I frowned. It seems like I’m meeting her for the first time.

“Who are you?”

“I am Margherita.”

“Huh?”

The other person was none other than the high priestess of the temple, Saint Margherita!

She was always wrapped up from head to toe in a dark priest’s robe.

Of course, I wouldn’t recognize her when she suddenly appears in such revealing attire.

I quickly paid my respects.

“Does the Saint also use the public bathhouse?”

Margherita tilted her head at my question.

“Is there a law that says priests can’t wash?”

“No, it’s not that……”

I had this image that priests don’t come out of the temple. It was just my prejudice.

“I had a major surgery yesterday. I wanted to wash my body.”

Ah, that’s right. She was the one who operated on Godhand yesterday.

Margherita’s hands were dark red.

Perhaps it was because she had spent her life digging through the blood and wounds of patients. It seems like it won’t wash off no matter how much she tries.

I stared blankly at her hands, then suddenly remembered and asked.

“Did the surgery go well?”

“Didn’t Your Highness send people several times during the banquet to ask about the progress?”

“Huh, I did……?”

I must have kept asking about Godhand’s condition while drunk. I don’t remember.

“It went well. He is recovering safely now. I cast healing magic on him this morning, and then I came to wash.”

Margherita adjusted her collar and looked around.

“I didn’t expect it to be this crowded.”

Well, the lounge was already packed with mercenaries and bustling.

The defense battle ended yesterday, and the banquet was held all night. It might be natural for the bathhouse to be crowded.

“You must have worked hard with the surgery, I’m sorry that my soldiers seem to be disturbing the Saint’s rest.”

Margherita shook her head, embarrassed by my words.

“War is a terrible and cruel thing, but I believe that the battles on this front are sacred.”

“Sacred, huh… Because it’s to protect people?”

Margherita nodded slightly instead of answering.

“Washing away the blood and sweat from fighting in the holy war is also valuable. If we can do it together, that is also a welcome thing.”

It sounds like a clergyman’s answer. It also sounds like a human answer.

I was pondering her answer when Margherita bowed her head to me again.

“Then I will be going now. I have to move with the other priests.”

“Ah, yes. Rest well.”

“I hope Your Highness also rests well.”

Margherita joined the group of priests, and they all laughed together and disappeared to the other side of the lounge.

Everyone is more normal than I thought (in a good way).

“My lord!”

“Your Highness!”

Then Lucas and Damian returned. I let out a sharp breath.

“What took you so long!”

Honestly, it was a bit awkward being alone!

“Well, it’s not that, but……”

Lucas looked around, checking the surroundings, and then approached me, showing me what he had brought in his gown.

“!”

I was surprised and widened my eyes.

It was… eggs!

Lucas nodded with a determined expression.

“They are boiled eggs. I bought them from a bathhouse peddler.”

“No, what’s a bathhouse peddler……”

Damian showed what he had brought in his gown. A bottle with water droplets was visible.

“This is cold honey water.”

The two nodded at the same time.

“Let’s eat it secretly!”

Cough. These amazing guys. How did they know what I wanted?

“You’re the only ones I need!”

I hugged them tightly. Lucas and Damian struggled, asking why I was doing this, but I didn’t care.

While the atmosphere was getting warm like this.

“Heh~ You brought something good.”

A cold voice was heard. What is it?!

Evangeline and Lily were approaching this way.

As if they had already noticed the snacks here, Evangeline’s green eyes flashed with appetite.

“They say you should share even a single bean, shouldn’t the five main party members share a bite?”

“I just want a sip of honey water……”

“You, you, you greedy guys!”

But I can’t chase them away. We’re all in the same boat.

In the end, the five of us in the main party took a corner of the lounge and secretly peeled and ate boiled eggs, keeping an eye on our surroundings.

There were six in total, so I ate two.

“Kuh~!”

When I swallowed the ice-cold honey water that quenched my egg-clogged throat, it was like heaven.

“This is good……”

I thought that I should add a public bathhouse item to the tourist city plan. This needs to be spread far and wide!