It seemed like I didn’t have any means of escape from the mixed bathing anymore. No, I guess I never had any way from the beginning huh. To begin with, it was against four of the most powerful people in the world, including the one who stands at the peak, Kuro, and fighting against them is the little old me, who was only as strong as a slime…… It’s physically impossible for me to escape, and since I’m outnumbered, there’s no chance I could win democratically.

  Well, that’s enough of that. I’ve gathered my resolve…… I mean, mentally speaking, I’ve already been through a lot.

  I admit, the lineup I’m facing right now is the strongest I’ve ever seen. I’ve also been itching for a battle…… Perhaps, the shivers and chills running down my spine were just me trembling with excitement.

  However, it’s Alice I’m worried about. As far as I knew, even if she usually acts like that, she’s a really shy person. She also told me that she was traumatized by what happened before.

  That should have been the case, but Alice was convinced by Kuro’s few words…… What on earth did Kuro say to her?

  Tightly wrapping the towel around my waist, I took three deep breaths before opening the door.

  Considering how amazing the accommodation facility is, I expected the onsen to be amazing. However, I was surprised to find that it wasn’t just a pool, but a pond with various plants and a spectacular view…… I mean, I could even see a mountain in the distance, you know? Is this place really indoors?

  Overwhelmed by the huge hot spring, I walked along the stone floor and approached the waters…… Beyond the steam of the onsen, I could see “three” shadows, and they became clearer as I drew closer.

  [Ahh, Kaito-kun. This way, over here!]

  [Y- Yeah……]

  Kuro, who was soaking her body in the hot water waved at me when she spotted me…… and it’s safe for the eyes.

  [……Kaito……]

  [Sorry, I’m late.]

  Isis-san, looking as if she was feeling shy, was slightly waving her hand with a smile while sitting on the edge of the onsen with a large towel wrapped around her body. There’s also no dangerous parts visible here…… What a relief. She’s properly wrapped her towel too.

  [Geez, we’ve been waiting here a long time~~]

  […………………..]

  The one who said that was a “tall, blonde beauty with a glamorous figure”…… I see, so that’s what happened.

  She went with a strategy of alleviating the embarrassment she was feeling by transforming into a different person…… In addition, her body shape and height were clearly different from the original Alice. So, to put it another way, it’s as if she’s wearing a magical stuffed costume huh? I was surprised that she agreed so easily, so this is why……


  [Fufufu, you’re so charmed by the sexy Alice-chan in the hot spring that you’re speechless huh……]

  ……I’ll admit that her current form looked 100% sexier. But Alice…… or rather, are you even Alice!? You even borrowed your face from someone else!?

  N- No, well, if Alice was fine with that…… It’s not like she’s bothering anyone, so isn’t it fine? The smug smile on her face was annoying though.

  [You can look at them closer, you know? Ho-ree~~ Ho-ree~~]

  Alice seemed to be mentally composed and approached while trying to tease me. Just as she’s about to nudge me with her elbow……


  [N- No! Shalltear! That magic “is considered as being used to deceive” Kaito-kun, so it’s “considered hostile”……]

  [……Ehh?]

  When Kuro shouted in a panic, Alice’s elbow touched my body…… Immediately after, Alice’s magic broke along with the sound of shattering glass.

  At that moment, what do you think happened? Alice was transformed into a being with a body shape larger than her own, and a towel was wrapped around that body. When her magic shattered and her body shape returned to her original form, her towel would naturally fall off……


  [……Ahh, no……]

  Beautiful skin without a single blemish, and sensationally beautiful peach-colored protrusions…… Perhaps it was the unexpected situation that prevented me from thinking, or perhaps it was just my male instinct, but I couldn’t help but reflexively stare at them.

  After a short silence of less than a second, as if the air had frozen, Alice’s whole body turned as red as boiled octopus.

  [Hyaaaaaaaahhhhh!]

  [!? ]

  Thereupon, she went into the onsen at a speed I couldn’t even perceive. It seemed like she dove in the murky waters, as I could see bubbles coming out a short distance away.

  ……It was a disastrous incident in all sorts of ways. It was a surprise for Alice, but it was also a complete surprise for me…… The sight of Alice’s nude body, which had burned itself into my mind, made my little brother stand up from his seat, whether I wanted to or not.

  I think it was a fine play that I covered the lower half of my body as quickly as I could.

  Well, look here. I’m also a healthy young man…… Seeing a girl you like naked, it would be stranger for you not to have any reaction…… Unnn, I don’t think I’ll be entering the bath for a while.

  Above all, I don’t think I can look Alice directly in the face. For the time being, let’s wash away this heat I’m feeling with some cold water down my head.

  [……I- I’ll be…… washing my body for a while—— Unnn?]

  As I moved my gaze to get away from the scene, I saw something strange.

  It was such a shocking sight for me that I stopped in my tracks.

  [……H- Hey, Kuro?]

  [Unnn?]

  [If my eyes aren’t seeing things…… That person sitting in the corner with the “negative aura” while hugging her knees…… That’s “Ein-san”, right?]

  [U- Unnn…… I also forgot about her. I’m reflecting.]

  What I saw was Ein-san, looking like a bagworm with too many towels wrapped around her, hugging her knees as she faced the wall.

  How should I say this…… There’s such a negative aura around Ein-san that it almost gave the illusion that the area around her was dimly lit…… W- What in the world is happening with her?

  Looking at Ein-san who looked like a background character, far removed from her usual cool image, I walked up to her and called out.

  [U- Ummm…… Ein-san? Are you alright? A- Are you not feeling well……]

  […… –ase…… —-at me…….]

  [Eh?]

  […… Please don’t look at me…… Please don’t look at my wretched appearance, “this me who isn’t wearing my maid uniform”……]

  […………………]

  That’s what you’re troubled about!? Eh? What? So, that’s what this is about? The reason why Ein-san was very reluctant to go in the bath with me…… was because she didn’t want to be seen without her maid uniform?

  [E- Errr……]

  […… not a maid…… I’m not a maid…… I want to disappear…… so that no one can see me…… I want to disappear.]

  A fragile, feminine voice. ……What a negative aura she has…… Eh? Is this what Ein-san looks like when she takes off her maid uniform? W- Well, I certainly haven’t seen her wear anything other than a maid uniform but……


  Her heavy mood feels dreadful. I- I can’t stand this…… It seems like she doesn’t like others seeing her not in a maid uniform.

  W- What should I do? To be honest, I regret calling out to her. W- Well, I can’t just ignore her now and go back though……


  [……Ein-san, please listen to me.]

  [……Kaito-sama?]

  [Ein-san, you take pride in being a maid. You put in your heart and soul for this task…… Isn’t that right?]

  [Yes…… Being a maid is the very value of my existence…… without it…… I will……]

  [Is that the extent of your devotion as a maid, Ein-san?]

  [……Eh?]

  How should I say this…… As if I had been exposed to a strange atmosphere, I felt a strange heat in my tone as I continued to speak.

  [Does wearing a maid uniform make you a maid? It doesn’t, right!? Ein-san’s passion as a maid isn’t so weak that it would disappear just because of a change in appearance! It’s never what you wear that determines whether you are a maid or not!　No matter how you dress, if you have the pride of a maid inside your heart…… Then, you’re a maid!]

  […………………]

  To be honest, “I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore”! However, Ein-san looked like she was shocked by what I said. That’s enough! Let’s just keep the momentum going!

  [Please stand up, Ein-san! If you’re not wearing a maid uniform, then all you have to do is bring out the maid within your heart!]

  [Ahh…… Aahhh…… I- I am…… a maid!]

  [Yes, you are! You believe you’re a maid, therefore you’re a maid! Don’t just give up on being a maid! Please believe in the maid within you!]

  ……Maid, maid, I’ve been saying it so much, I don’t even know what a maid is anymore.

  While giving a consolation speech so pathetic that even I was confused by my own words, I still ended it with groove and vigor.

  In the end, the towel that had been wrapped around her, making her look like a bagworm, was reduced to a single piece, and Ein-san returned to her usual stern expression.

  […….You have my gratitude, Kaito-sama. It seems like I forgot the most important thing. “It’s not because I’m a maid that I’m Ein, it’s because I’m Ein that there are maids”!]

  [Eh? T- T- T- That’s right! It’s as you say!]

  [In short, “I am the maid, and the maid is me”…… I’m sorry to have shown you my unsightly self. I’m alright now.]

  [……I- Is that so……]

  It seemed that Ein is now completely lively, and I am very happy for her as well.

  But I just want to say one thing…… What the heck are those incomprehensible things that she was talking about!?

  Dear Mom, Dad————– Two events occurred right after the mixed bathing started. Alice, who self-destructed yet again, and Ein-san, who fell to the dark side. Well, it really is a difficult road ahead of us. I’m worried about the future…… but before worrying about it, I just want to ask one thing—————– In the end, what the heck is a maid!?

  **********