Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 87

「Nn～, good hot water isn't this～」

I mumbled to myself while entering the morning bath.
The mansion's bath is wide, keeping to myself is overly luxurious but this is already my everyday life.
If I say I'm used to it I'm used to it.
I have money.
I have a home.
I have labour.
Furthermore under Ilya's direction that labour――that is to say the maid-sans even do work at the guild and elsewhere gathering more and more money for me.
My current house is something like a single company.
And so I'm the president.
……No, am I the chairman?
I'm not particularly anything at all.
I'm a decoration.
Is the president Ilya?
In any case the maid-sans are a great help.
But whether those girls steal all of my work, that sort of thing is not the case.
Those girls do their work as something like employees so, I properly deliver them wages now.
Maa, the truth is that I've become the one gathering the most profits though.
Even so clothes food and housing are fully provided for.
One set of maid clothes and personal clothes are provisioned and, the food expenses for the residents of the mansion are delivered by me (the company).
Un, surely this isn't something like a tyranny.
There's no mistake in that.

「Un un.」

Working at convincing myself of this is important.
But being able to survive even without working has what's called a terrifying allure.

「The great sin called sloth, how terrifying……」

I tried floating while soaking in the bath.
I'm aware that it's bad manners but, this is my house, and furthermore there's no one but me.
It's human nature that I'd inadvertently want to try it.
Aah, feels good.
I'm meltingー.
Sloth is a sin but, I don't think I presently want to hikikomori like Till.
Maa, oneechan would also be angry at me so.
Is my current objective to rank up as an adventurer?
I have to properly create a place to be for the maid-sans.
Everyone will be troubled if the decoration doesn't act reliably as a decoration won't they.
If I don't properly display my authority, I can't become the maid-sans' patron for them.

「This side is already grateful but, that side is very grateful.」

A win win relations.h.i.+p isn't it.
The truth is that the maid-sans are all children without any relatives.
They were taken in by the country, trained up, and welcomed into my house as maids.
As the country couldn't look after them forever, they had to become independent somewhere.
But with neither a patron nor a home, and furthermore as those girls' races were scattered it wasn't something simple for them to become independent.
If things were handled poorly they would go to a brothel.
Then, what should be done?

「So, me is it. Kran is an pract.i.tioner of rationality issn't she.」

That is to say that one of those options was me.
I suppose this certainly isn't all of them though.
She secured exemplary human resources for me so, there's nothing to be more thankful for.
For that sort of reason, to the maid-sans this is their home.
The mansion's grounds are wide, we reside in the primary residence.
Separate from that, it was abandoned and unused.
That is the maid-sans' lodging……or rather, it became what is called their home.

「It's a heavy responsibility, bukubuku.」

I submerged.
Change of mood.
No, contrary to that this is what's called training, to see how long I can submerge and hold my breath.
Yos.h.!.+
Sucking in a ma.s.sive breath, I submerge within the bath.
The distinct sensation within the water.
For some reason they make you want to submerge don't they, baths.
Since I was able to count to 30 seconds yesterday, maybe I should aim for 60 seconds today?
I still have leeway and, surely I can still keep going.
If I bring out my seriousness I feel like I can surpa.s.s 60 seconds can't I.

「……Mu, ku.」

It's nothing.
Become nothing.
If I think about unnecessary things those thoughts will expend oxygen pointlessly.
I will master, the wisdom of clear and serene water here.

「……」

The count of 30 seconds pa.s.sed.
……It's unexpectedly, painful isn't it.

「Gobo.」

I slowly let out the air in my lungs.
I can keep going I can keep going.
I can still keep going.

「…………tsu.」

A silence that seems to ring in my ears.
Right now I'm, concentrating to my absolute limit.
It wouldn't be strange if I acquired some sort of skill.

「Gobogobogoboo.」

It's already becoming painful.
Driven by pain I ended up blowing out air.
If I blow all of this out, it'll finally become impossible to endure this.
Counting the time it'd reached 70.
Impressive, I'm impressive.
90.
I'll go until 90!
I thought up some sort of reward.
If I hold my breath until 90……I'll grope Ilya's b.r.e.a.s.t.s!!

「Gobaa!」

……The moment I thought of something stupid, I ended up surfacing.
My time is, 79.
I kept at it rather well.
I kept at it fairly well.

「……Wisdom of clear and serene water, truly difficult.」

When times become painful I end up thinking of unnecessary things.
Why is that, why is this so then?
Ah～ah, I don't get a reward do I～.
While my vision is opportunely dominated by Ilya's b.r.e.a.s.t.s, I regretfully move my hands and see what comes of it.
……Nn?

「That's a somehow indecent hand movement is it not, ojousama?」
「The real thing!?」

It was Ilya!
Ilya came inside the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around her plentiful flesh colored components!
Why!?

「I acted disrespectfully, ojousama. I had a.s.sumed that no one was inside.」
「Eh, eeh……I, was submerged. That's, not something that could be helped, possibly?」

It couldn't be helped, could it?
By Ilya?
Without noticing the clothes I left in the dressing room?
She was such a careless character?
To begin with Ilya does something like taking morning baths given how she concerns herself with position more than other people ?

「……That's a lie, isn't it?」
「Fufu, how is it?」

No maa……it fine though isn't it, I'm you know?
It's a blessing to the eyes you know, that sort of thing.
Un, I'm troubled where I should put my eyes……
While my gaze makes me want to stare I avert it using great sensibility.

「It's been a mystery since before but.」
「Un?」

While I fought my inner self, Ilya didn't rebuke me but, tilted her head.

「I think that ojousama is very elf like but.」
「Haa.」

Elf like?

「To begin with are things regarding yourself matters that do not bring out your interest?」
「……Myself?」

No, I understand what she wants to say.
Peeping at the women's bath, with Kran and Eclair that……going nyan nyan?
So why do you ignore those things about yourself, then.
Is it that sort of thing?

「Ilya.」
「Hai, ojousama.」
「If I stay unmovingly in front of a mirror, if I intently check my image reflected in a town's show window or such, how would you feel?」
「Like, uwaa.」

Uwaa……?

「Right, I am not a narcissist. I am myself, just most a.s.suredly myself.」

Up until now I've certainly bewildered a number of various faces though……
At such an answer of mine, Ilya nodded as if she had been convinced.

「That is a relief.」
「Please be relieved.」

But just what are we doing in the bathroom, us people.

「Be that as it may ojousama, are you always submerging yourself in the bath?」

U, come to think of it she saw something embarra.s.sing didn't she……
On top of that I was thinking something strange……

「……Since when was it, surely you've been pulled under the water before? So that, I can adapt whenever something happens, I train myself within my everyday life.」

Ehen.

「That is indeed as it is isn't it.」

……That is indeed as it is.
Right, that is certainly ojousama, but is that okay, Ilya?

「However ojousama, please keep your play in moderation. It would be troubling were you to accidentally collapse within the bath area.」
「Ah, hai……」

Even though she seemed to show a little naivete……

「I don't mind it, while you're here with me.」
「Ah, hai.」

……Hai?
Do I enter the bath together so often, with Ilya?
There's a problem there.

「If, if an accidental event happens what would you do?」
「Accidental event?」

With a wide smile, she darkly asked, just what sort thing is that.
Ilya youu, even though you understand!
……Shall I give you a taste of ojousama's fearsomeness?

「Ilya, I'll wash your body, down to every corner.」
「Please treat me well, ojousama.」
「……」
「……」
「Please excuse me.」
「Kusu, do not mind it.」

Expressing a gentle smile, Ilya sat and began cleaning her body.
Really, Ilya is quite the adult like person.
She's someone who's the sort that always has leeway.
Haa.
With that as it is, her hair is pretty isn't it……
Her skin's white too.
Even though she has such pride in her iron wall defense, she seems soft to the touch.

「Ojousama?」
「Haii.」

Stop stop!
I'm facing her too much with my heated gaze.
Since gazes can, be felt can't they.
Return to your right mind me!
No, in a sense I'm in my right mind already though……
Cutting my gaze, I submerged back deep into the bathtub once again.
After that I had a sudden thought.

「……Ilya, are you still, okay?」
「Hai, you worry too much, ojousama.」

U～, vexing.
Isn't it occasionally necessary to do something forceful like overpowering the other side right?

「I want to peek, inside Ilya's heart.」
「I would also, like to peek inside ojousama's heart.」

You'll be surprised so don't.
Heaven and earth will be overturned.

「Un, I feel that peeking really must not be done.」
「It may have been my imagination at the hot spring but, I feel like there was a peeping culprit there.」
「……」
「……」
「Ilya.」
「Hai, ojousama.」
「Men are life forms that seek romance.」
「Is that so.」
「……」
「……」

So?
Rather this air, could you stop it for me okay……
It was one scene in such an incoherent, normal day.

After my nonsense with Ilya was finished I changed and went out.
As the air temperature had become cold enough that it had to be endured a bit ago, I set out wearing an overcoat.
It was the case as always that I didn't have a particular objective but, I haven't lost interest in walking while looking at the other world townscape.
I suddenly felt like I'd stretch my legs all the way outside the walls for such a present day.
Being rocked while riding a carriage for a while, I arrived near the gate and I gave my thanks to the driver-san and got off.
And so I exited the gate and went out into the town beyond the wall.
Rather than being like the royal capital the tranquil townscape brought to mind Rinal or Rufin, I somehow had a sense of relief since I had been raised in the countryside.
Roaming such a townscape, a good scent floated over and tickled my nose.

「Nn, some sort of tasty seeming scent.」

Is it a food stand?
In the pa.s.sageway a little ahead, a store is set up there.
And so exactly as antic.i.p.ated I'm, approaching the food stand while being invited by the smell.
The true form of the good smell is……

「Corn?」

Is it fried corn!
It seems tasty!

「What's this nee-chan, want some?」

A sharp eyed kid is looking me over as if he's glaring.
He～, this child is the store owner?
Seems like a lot of spirit has gone into this store owner kid.

「Then maybe I'll take one.」

After taking my order it was fried up, this time is the time for the store owner and the customer to relax.

「Wait just a little okay.」

The young owner efficiently, layed the corn on top of an iron plate, dribbled on it and began frying it.
The even better smell stimulated my appet.i.te.

「You're used to this aren't you, did you boil it ahead of time at home?」
「……Nee-chan, aren't you well informed?」
「Not to that extent though.」

If he'd started frying it from the beginning in this place, it would take too much time for the fire to penetrate.
Fundamentally I suppose that if the work isn't limited to warmly frying goods boiled at home then it won't finish in time.

「Is this corn possibly, home grown?」
「Obviously, I'm not affluent enough to stock goods you know. So since I do the farmwork, I can guarantee its freshness so don't worry about it.」
「Fufu, I'll be looking forward to that.」

This child has good energy dooesn't he.
In terms of apparent age, it might be the same as Till?
In terms of apparent age.
Pa.s.sing this sort of time for a while while the young owner bluntly replied to my questions, fried corn with a nice feel was prepared.
One corn was grandly stabbed with a skewer, and handed over.
When that was accepted, the young owner put out his hand with a mischievous smile.

「Hai yo, one silver coin.」

……One silver coin for one fried corn, reeally?

「I see, so you look at the customer and decide the price, isn't that bold.」
「Ha? What are you saying, it's always this price.」

Speaking of the royal capital, the food stands outside the walls are welll.
Everyone's rather affluent or such arren't they.

「Does oneesan, look like an easy mark?」
「Han, don't pretend to be my elder, while going around with such a childlike body.」

Child……

「Miight not understand, this boy still miight not understand this.」

The great style that this me requested is.
Certainly oneechan or Ilya, have outstanding proportions don't they.
But I do not have something like a regret for my style!
Big doesn't fulfill the same role as small!

「This boy also, will understand once you grow a little bigger.」
「I'm not a boy! Don't treat me like a kid!」
「I suppose so then, please pardon me.」

As I easily switched to an apology, the young owner's eyes were bewildered.
In fact, he's working at this age.
Isn't treating him like a kid rude.

「Chii, copper coin――」
「Hai.」

I handed the young owner one silver coin.

「O, oi……」
「You're the one who said it right?」
「……Neechan, you're a person from inside right? You really do have surplus I suppose.」
「If you're lively enough to speak with twisted sarcasm, mature enough that you can come and hit me back for this silver coin someday okay.」
「……Fun, this sort of thing won't serve as an investment.」
「Fufu, if this can become material for your inspiration that's fine then.」
「Just you wait, I'll soon come and hit you back. So until then I'll hold onto this without using it alright!」

The young owner glared at me, while gripping the silver coin.
Those pupils s.h.i.+ned with overflowing dreams, they were indeed proper for a young man.

「Right, then oneesan, will wait with antic.i.p.ation.」
「Wait!」
「Nn, still haven't said enough?」

When I waved and separated from the food stand, I was told to stop.

「Tell me your, name. I am, Teo.」

I unintentionally leaked a smile at he seemed to shyly look away while giving his self introduction.
My mischievous heart bubbled up and, I answered while stabbing my index finger into the tip of his nose.

「It's Alice. Precocious kid-san.」
「――Baa!」
「See you then.」

This time I turned my back without listening to the words the young owner, Teo said.
People with dreams are blinding arren't they.
I did my best with the fried corn I carried in my hands while walking.

「Hoot, hafu.」

But, it's delicious.
That day somehow felt good so, I went back to my mansion finis.h.i.+ng my walk with a light gait.

――Come to think of it, I get the feeling that thanksgiving is really near.
A special day's, grand festival.
It seems like it would be fun to invite someone and go around doesn't it.
Who shoould I invite?