Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Vol 2 Chapter 65

A+ A- Chapter 65
c65: Hot Spring’s Proper Action

「Des.h.i.+, why can’t we enter together! Come on in～」

Being badgered by Rin-chan, hurts my heart……

「I’m sorry. I have, a mission that I must not fail to complete……」

For Rin-chan as well the time will come when she’ll understand.
……No, maybe it must not come, fundamentally.

「Because we’re staying for two days, tomorrow we’ll enter together, Rin-chan.」
「Mu～, it’s a promise!」

And, while inflating her cheeks Rin-chan headed toward the hot spring with Ilya and the rest.
Furthermore, as Saira had said that she was going to go play, it seems she’d already entered the hot spring once.
She’s already wearing a yukata.
And so it seems like she’ll enter again with everyone.
That they seem to be enjoying themselves, that’s what’s most important.

「Nyafu…… it feels good nya, Alice-san’s back, tomorrow I’ll wash it!」
「U, un.」

Since Saira changed into a yukata I sensed an unexpected degree of allure for her age.
The special trait of a yukata, looking down from the head the triangle of white soft skin.
I see…… yukata are―――― not worn with underwear are they?
What a thing…… If the obi comes undone, there’d be a ma.s.sive accident!

「……Be careful, Saira.」
「? Hai desu?」

With a curious seeming face, Saira headed out of the room.
Yosh.
It’s time to go.
To the last oneechan went, you’re really doing this? Or rather she just made that sort face, the words aren’t repeated.

「……Depart!」

For one day at the hot spring travel lodge, my battle began.

Although it’s this way in every world, there isn’t any hot spring arranged so that the women’s bath is simple to peep into.
To peep into the women’s bath, without trespa.s.sing through the thickly wooded back mountain to circle toward the hot spring it’s no good.
Furthermore, between the back mountain and the hot spring there’s a river, that river has considerable width, and the flow is also fast.
Beyond that, surrounding the hot spring as the bather’s final stronghold stands a towering bamboo fence.
Without overcoming everything here then, arrival won’t happen.

「Magic…… isn’t using that no good? Ilya and…… I feel like Eclair probably also has magic detection.」

The path to the women’s bath, before that number one trial, the back mountain, I consider.
When I did my preliminary investigation of the course, I used magic to clear it with ease.
However an endurance challenge without magic, to clear the back mountain and the river and the fence, can I do it?
And there is, if I don’t proceed carefully…… Aim.
Clairvoyance is bad.

「What is this…… My nakama, this makes me realize that they’re like a group that absolutely must not be turned into an enemy.」

However, I will not lose.
Whatever enemy, I’ll exterminate them!
Encouraging the dull light of a heart within despair, I set foot upon the rugged mountain path.
Fundamentally, what’s called nature without maintenance such that people can enter is wondrous.
It isn’t particularly the case that this back mountain is something like an unreached precipitous cliff, even so deep gra.s.s grows underfoot and, the unthinned tree branches obstructed the me

ans of pa.s.sage.
As the inclination is also harsh, I advance through the trackless path while breathing roughly.

The sun had set, however within the mountains surrounded by trees where light couldn’t reach, something shook.
This darkness, maybe a normal human wouldn’t notice even after his eye adjusted but, I knew.
Is it a bear?
Is it a monster?
No, impossible.
Regardless of how it’s said to be within the mountains, this is inside a part of the city.
It’s hard to think it’s a monster or the like……
If it comes to it I might have no choice but to use magic.
Approaching that shadow carefully―――― I became exhausted.

「……What are you doing, old man.」
「Agh.」

The suspicious person with a physique like a bear…… was ossan.
No, this is really a suspicious person isn’t he, since he was found in this place.

「Though if you have an excuse I’m listening.」
「A, Alice-chan is…… not entering the hot spring?」

Letting out thick sweat ossan, strangely switched to a narrow eyed expression.

「……If I’d entered, what are you saying would have happened.」
「Not looking would…… be rude wouldn’t it!」
「Then should I report this to obasan.」
「Please let me off!!」

Don’t cry, it’s annoying!!

「Haa…… if you turn back here then, I’ll let you off.」
「Alice-chan……! As expected, too angeli――――Oguu!?」

As ossan fl.u.s.teredly came jumping toward me, I offered his abdomen a lightning punch.

「How is it, my punch? Unlike before, it’s effective isn’t it?」
「――It was, effective.」

As ossan burned out to pure white, he collapsed at that place.
Extermination――――Complete.
s.h.i.+tー, if it’s this much I won’t be noticed……Will I?
It’s not the case that I fired off magic……
That ossan.

It was quite the bone breaking course but somehow I traveled across the back mountain, and smashed a pervert.

「Next is, the river is it……」

Perhaps because it was upstream, the water’s flow was faster.
Alongside that the river has considerable width so, this is dangerous.
Though if I use magic one leap could reach the other sh.o.r.e, that’s like telling them please find me isn’t it.
Here and there the tops of rock footing protrude from the river, there’s nothing but going by straightforward jump until the other side.
Although difficult, compared to the endurance challenge traveling through the mountain, perhaps with my agility 4 to me this is preferable.

「Stop this, doing this would make Saira sad!」
「I know! But……I am, I am!!」

Before the river, two men were jostling eachother.

「……」

Approaching for the moment, I hit them from behind in the head as hard as I could.

「Oww.」
「Uu.」

The surprised pair turned toward me.

「A, anesan……!?」

As the two checked me, their faces were dyed in astonishment.

「Really…… if you’ve come this far there’s no way to excuse your objective.」
「Anesan…… sorry, but I……」
「Saira, what would she think about being peeped on? Please think of that child’s pure heart, and work your imagination.」

Wordless for a few moments, the imagined it together.
A veeery, guilty feeling filled up.

「Anesan…… I really, seem to have erred…… the worst isn’t it.」
「It’s good that you understand. Takes.h.i.+ and Kenji are at that age so, that sort of playfulness, can’t be helped. Though it’s not good.」

Saira is forbidden, Saira is.
If your going to peep, if it’s not Eclair then.

「That’s why I said, we should stop.」
「Naa, even though you also, wanted to go peep on anesan if things went well!」
「Baa, you!」

Hai?

「……Did you want to peek at, me?」
「That, that’s wrong! No…… that is.」

Kenji became frantic, Takes.h.i.+ also become frantic.

「I, I also, if I could see anesan then.」
「……」

Takes.h.i.+, Kenji……

「Right in front of the person in question, don’t boldly announce you’re going to peep.」
「Ah.」
「U.」

Bam, and the two were lightly pushed into the river.
They didn’t know what had happened, with that sort of face, the two fell into the fast flowing river.

「A, anesaaaaaann!」
「Kuu, is this punishment!」

That’s it, this is punishment.
They should flow to somewhere safely.
The penalties of worldly desire, are strict.
Extermination――――Complete!

「Ah, can you two properly swim? Are you okay～?」
「It’s okay, anesan! I’ve awakened!」
「Aah, I’ll thoroughly receive my punishment, and train my body!」

That sort of reply came back.
That’s youth isn’t itー.

And so I, finally arrived at the final trial.
Encircled in bamboo, the tall fence.
Standing before me blocking my path, a black shadow and I confronted eachother.

「Umm…… Solt-san, just what are you doing?」

Though I would think, it’s impossible.
Though he doesn’t seem like it, maybe?

「……」
「You, certainly have the right to remain silent. However, by being in this sort of place this can be ended with only circ.u.mstantial evidence, the punishment for peeping is heavy.」
「……」

Kurozuk.u.me, morosely fell into silence.

「Mou…… Who struck your eye? Oneechan? Or maybe, Ilya?」
「……Are you, not going to enter?」
「Ha?」
「No…… Forget about it.」

Eh…… What?

「To answer, I was only on lookout.」
「……U～n, that’s a painful excuse isn’t it.」
「Fu, it is isn’t it. I have no intention of defending myself.」

Though he had a cool smile, I think being apprehended for peeping is embarra.s.sing enough to dieー.

「But Solt-san also, really is a healthy boy isn’t he.」
「Don’t speak, like I’m your junior.」
「Fufu, does it hurt your feelings? Something like coming to peep, it’s cute……」
「That’s why, peeping isn’t…… it’s fine.」

However, this fence is too tall and I can’t climb it alone without borrowing the power of magic.
Uーmu.
Un?
Saying that, this kurozuk.u.me’s back is tall isn’t it.
Yosh……

「I understand, Solt-san, so, please let me ride your shoulders a little.」
「What?」
「Therefore, shoulder ride. I, want to check on the other side.」

As I pointed toward the fence, kurozuk.u.me faced me with a strange face.
Poorly expressing himself without saying anything, a strange face.

「You…… what are you saying? I a.s.sume this is impossible but, do you intend to peep?」
「No comment.」
「……It would be fine to enter normally.」
「Don’t complain about whether it’s four or five. Do you want to be reported, or do you want to let me ride your shoulders and be overlooked. Solt-san has no right to choose.」
「Really…… a indecipherable person.」

Don’t mind it.
For that reason, I had kurozuk.u.me squat, clutching his head I mounted his shoulders.
The stability seemed worse than I expected, scary.

「Nn, please hold firmly okay! I don’t want to fall off!」
「……」
「Solt-san! Do you hear me?」
「Ah, aah……」

While holding my legs and standing up kurozuk.u.me’s expression was strange.
U～n?
The, my skirt is extremely rolled up!
Checking below, I realized my own foolishness.
Embarra.s.sing!
This is no good!

「……Solt-san, though this is painful due to my own blunder…… I’m embarra.s.sed so jump into the river or, have me render you unconscious with lightning, would you choose one of these?」
「……Jump into the river. A little…… I want to cool my head.」
「So, that’s how it is is it. Then, have a nice trip.」

Placing a hand on top of the fence, I separated from kurozuk.u.me’s shoulder ride.
With this done, without waiting a moment kurozuk.u.me jumped into the river flowing behind us.
it was a beautiful dive like he was on level with a professional swimmer.

「……Extermination, completeー」

At this point, the impediments have all been removed.

「Gununununuu」

With the essentials of a pullup, I somehow got my foot on top of the fence and succeeded at climbing.
Since above else, dangling indefinitely, I don’t have that level of strength or endurance!
And so, checking the hot spring shrouded in steam――――It was at that moment!

「Tsu!??」

A bucket came flying with a lot of energy.
My body evaded reflexively so it missed――But, this time I couldn’t maintain my posture, I fell backwards into the fenced area.
Bad!
Below isn’t the hot spring, it’s a floor paved with stone!
Since it couldn’t be helped I softened the fall with lightning magic power, I landed.

「Nn? Just now something, felt like magic power?」

E, Eclair’s voice.

「……Before, there was something on top of that fence. I thought it could be a peeper but, there was no response.」

The one who threw the bucket was, Aim then!
Even without a bow, isn’t her aim way too accurate!
And so, I stealthily hid by the trunk of the splendid tree growing at the edge of the women’s bath.
Somehow it seems everyone is cleaning their bodies.

「……Ma, isn’t it just your imagination?」

Oneechan!
But, doesn’t this mean I’ve already exposed myself to oneechan, this!

「Nn, if s.h.i.+on says so.」
「Suppose so.」

Just how high is your credibility, oneechan!

「Has anything happened～, Saira?」
「It seems to be nothing important nya.」
「Kyahaa.」

Saira seems to be, looking after Rin-chan then.
……However, with this for now it means I secured my safety.
From here peeping behind me I can realize my divine wish but, the steam is too strong so……
Frankly this is, without reaching close range nothing is visible.
From the top of the fence or the like, it’s to the extent that it’s fundamentally impossible.
What would be a good way to get closer?

「――Ha?」
「……」

Though it’s distant, paying attention, I just noticed, in the hot spring right in front of me a human shape is entering.
That human shape is, looking over here while smiling.

――Ilya!!

That, wrong, that’s wrong Ilya!
It’s wrong!!
At my head shaking sideways in disagreement, Ilya went, right right, I understand it’s okay, and nodded.
Without raising a voice, the interchange was carried out through eye contact.
……However in just what manner have I, been understood?
As I was bewildered, Ilya stood up.
Leaving the bath, she approached here.

――The!!

Wai!?
Naked!
Bulging!
……More than before!?

「Ojousama also, if you take off your clothes and submerge yourself in the hot spring you’d be able to get in close.」

With an alluring voice, Ilya-san whispered into my ear.

「Ba ba ba, but, I, haven’t cleaned my body……it would be bad manners to immerse myself in the bath!」
「Fufuu! Having entered from the back, isn’t that quite an amusing thing to say, ojousama.」

Certainly!

「It’s okay……For ojousama, something like a dirty place isn’t anywhere.」
「～～～tsu.」

At this point like, is there really a point to going to other people’s places, like this?
Isn’t it fine already?
Isn’t the objective complete?

「Then, shouldn’t you strip～, ojousama.」
「Ha, hai.」

For some reason I crossed the fence from behind to infiltrate the hot spring, and then my clothes were stripped by Ilya in a corner.
Ilya beautifully folded the clothes, and placed them in a corner so they wouldn’t get wet.
This is……just what sort of situation is this, I really don’t understand!

「Umm…… even if it’s just bucket water.」
「Hai, ojousama.」

Ilya gathered water by scooping it from the hot spring, she dumped it over my body countless times.

「……」
「Then what shall we do, ojousama? Aim-sama? Or as expected, Eclair-sama?」

Just what is that as expected, as expected is……
I and Eclair, just how do we see eachother?
No, more importantly.

「Umm…… Ilya, you’re helping out?」
「Hai, that is already. It seems fun so I can’t stop.」

Somehow like this led by Ilya, why is it that nothing but a future of destruction comes to mind?

「I, I understand. Then, only stealthily and, almost like peeping I’ll steal a look, then quickly retreat.」
「Yes, my, lady.」

It’s not almost something like peeping, it really is peeping though.

「Nn? Did you say something～, Ilya?」
「It’s nothing at all, Eclair-sama.」
「That so? In such a corner, what were you doing?」
「A little off from the water, I was just cooling down. It was interesting beside the tree, so I unintentionally.」
「Fu～n? Don’t stay too long in the bath, please be sure not to overheat.」
「Hai, thank you very much.」

Eclair is…… Fundamentally, kind isn’t she.
But……!

「Target is, Eclair!」
「Fufu, as I thought.」

Right, after coming this far, like I’d pull back!
And so, I and Ilya commenced our last mission.
Having hid within Ilya’s shadow and inconspicuously entered the bath, I submerged and swam toward the was.h.i.+ng area as such.
I’ll close my eyes to the breach of manners in this case.
This is, a n.o.ble mission.
This is art.
Advancing within the water’s concealment, I arrived at the other end thinking this is most likely near the was.h.i.+ng area.
Stealthily surfacing, my head emerges.
Before my eyes is……Pure crimson hair!
Facing her back towards me, as Eclair’s body is covered in bubbles she’s partly through was.h.i.+ng herself!
U, u～n, this is complete?
Though from the back, and covered in bubbles so I can’t really tell, objective complete?

――――Nay!

Not yet!
Can it end in this half finished way!
The means exist!
If I circulate lightning magic through my body it’ll be fine!
Certainly if magic is used at this distance, Eclair will definitely notice!
And so――She’ll turn around!

――Then come, Eclair!

Pa.s.sing magic power through my body――

「!? It really! From directly behind!?」

The moment Eclair turned around――I submerged.
I’m sorry, for being a chicken……
What should I do……
Isn’t it fine, already.
I’ll retreat.

――Or so I thought, looking up from within the bath (while holding my nose), there’s a pure crimson silhouette!

「Who!? The one sneaking around all this while! You’re there aren’t you?」

Beneath the steam and the bath, Eclair caught sight of me.
Vaguely, though she shouldn’t know who it was, it wasn’t a situation I could run from.
Furthermore, at this rate my breath won’t last!

「……Gobou.」
「Just, please come out now! Aren’t you going to drown!」

Is she still worried for me after reaching this point, Eclair.
Within the bath I understood that Eclair was reaching her hand out toward me while seeming worried.
That――I thoughtlessly grabbed it and pulled it in.

「Wai, kyaaaa!」

Zaban, and Eclair came into the bath.
Oww!
Ramming into Eclair’s body――――furthermore, this impact is what, did I bite something……?

Somehow, Eclair’s surprise was conveyed.
This, it’s no good anymore!

「Buhaa!」
「Haaa! A, Alice!?」

Our faces came out of the bath together, as such my face was revealed.

「So, sorry, Eclair……I intended it to be a light joke……Eclair?」

Eclair had, turned completely red while holding one side of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, she’s shaking.

「Ah, well……come to think of it, I felt like I bit something just before…… That is, are you okay?」
「～～～～The, there’s no way I’m okay is there! Alice you, iiddiiooooott!!!」

Alongside her ma.s.sive shriek, pus.h.i.+ng through the bath the pure crimson girl was sent running.

「Good job, master.」

Aim having come to my side at some point had her thumb up.

「…………No, this isn’t good is it, this.」

A little, too much playing around…… repent.
In that manner, this relatively unworkable hot spring lodge episode came to its end.

Impossible………… is that, wrong?

At that place with too many worries boiling up in me, it was a while before Ilya came to collect me.