Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria

「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 relationship 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 .
Yosh!
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?」

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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

/>「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 repliedowner 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 shined 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 finishing 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?