Amphoreus, Okhema, Hall of Respite.
Aglaea led Lumina and Herta to a communal bathing area.
"Why does Okhema have bathhouses everywhere?" Herta raised an eyebrow, noting the bath's communal nature.
The more baths there are, the stronger Pervert Lumina's urge to bathe with beautiful girls becomes.
Though the surrounding bathers made it clear they were simply bathing—some even soaking in their regular clothes—Herta's mood improved only slightly.
While she respected local customs, she personally disliked this bathing culture. The only exception was when she and Lumina were alone together in the same bath—then, Herta would approve.
Otherwise, she disapproved of all other arrangements.
Especially the thought of Lumina bathing with other beautiful girls.
Herta detested that.
"The bathhouses are Okhema's most renowned cultural institution," Aglaea explained simply.
For the two newcomers from Beyond the Sky, providing too much detail would only confuse them.
Even so, it was important to convey the essential information clearly and concisely.
As Okhema's most famous cultural institution, the bathhouses are ubiquitous throughout the city—a concise explanation that leaves little room for misunderstanding.
The rest could be left to Time.
Since they would be staying in Okhema for some time, they would naturally gain some understanding of the bathhouse culture without needing excessive explanation.
In fact, providing too much detail might even be counterproductive.
After this brief explanation, Aglaea stopped walking, having reached their destination.
She led Lumina and Herta to a grand gate adorned with intricate black-gold patterns.
"Lumina, Herta, this is the residence I've prepared for you both."
The ornate gate, with its intricate black-gold designs, made it clear that Aglaea was treating them as honored guests.
"Mmm, thank you, Agy~" Lumina nodded with a smile, drawing out the "gy" in Aglaea's nickname.
"You're welcome. As newcomers to Okhema, it's my duty to assist you," Aglaea replied. For some reason, Lumina's drawn-out "gy..." stirred a feeling Aglaea had never experienced before.
Despite their brief acquaintance, Aglaea felt an unprecedented warmth emanating from Lumina.
Just as she had sensed earlier in the Hero's Bath, her fragmented spirit was gradually mending.
The humanity she had long abandoned was slowly returning.
Initially, Aglaea had dismissed this as mere illusion.
But now, she understood.
This was no illusion.
Who... who exactly is she?
Aglaea burned with curiosity about Lumina's true identity. Yet as the leader of the Chrysos Heirs and a guide hosting two honored guests from Beyond the Sky, she knew better than to ask directly.
At least, not until she had grown thoroughly familiar with Lumina.
Otherwise, accidentally stepping on some hidden trigger could unleash Lumina's wrath, which neither Okhema nor Amphoreus could possibly withstand.
Well...
Let's gradually build a good relationship with her.
Even if we can't become friends, even if we can't become allies, we absolutely must not offend her.
Aglaea isn't the type to fawn over others.
But she has no choice now.
As the leader of Okhema, the only City in Amphoreus unaffected by the Black Tide, Aglaea must set aside her pride to appease Lumina and Herta, the two "bombs" who have arrived in Okhema. She must do this for Okhema's Order to function, for its people to live in peace, and for the Flame-Chasing Journey to continue.
Fortunately,
Aside from Herta's eccentric behavior, Lumina seems quite approachable and unlikely to make unreasonable demands.
Treating her like any honored guest should suffice.
The two appear to defer to Lumina's lead.
In that case, focusing on managing the relationship with Lumina should be enough.
However, this doesn't mean neglecting Herta entirely.
Though she's somewhat strange, she's not beyond conversation.
Perhaps...
Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise amidst the sudden chaos.
"You two, please come in." Without hesitation, Aglaea touched the massive gate patterned with black and gold filigree before her.
A bright light flashed along the filigree, and the gate gradually began to open automatically.
Once the gate was fully open, Aglaea stood aside, gesturing for Lumina and Herta to enter.
"Mmm, thank you, Agy-gy~" Lumina cooed, stretching out the last syllable and using nauseatingly cutesy reduplicated words. Herta, standing beside her, immediately broke out in goosebumps.
When did Little Lumina become so nauseatingly cute? Herta thought, her eyes dropping as she glared at Lumina with undisguised disdain.
Clearly, Herta found Lumina's use of reduplicated words utterly repulsive.
Hmm...
If Lumina had called her "Herta-ta" instead of "Agy-gy," would Herta still be so disgusted?
Probably not, right?
Even if Herta refused to admit it to herself, she had to acknowledge the truth: when it came to Lumina, she was undeniably biased.
"Agy-gy..." Aglaea's heart skipped a beat at the sound of the nickname.
It wasn't dislike she felt, but a strange sense of novelty.
No one had ever called her Agy-gy before, and no one had ever dared to.
Hearing the name transported Aglaea back to her childhood—to a time before she had become one of the Chrysos Heirs.
Back then, when her humanity was still intact, she must have lived a life filled with joy and happiness, she thought.
But those childhood memories had long since faded during the arduous Flame-Chasing Journey.
Flame-Chasing was a journey of constant loss, where even life itself was considered insignificant.
If life held so little value, then childhood memories—memories utterly irrelevant to the Flame-Chasing Journey and the protection of Okheman people from the Black Tide—seemed even more insignificant.
Aglaea shook off her wild thoughts and led Lumina and Herta into the room.
"This is a large chamber used to entertain a small number of our most honored guests," she explained.
Upon entering the room, their eyes were immediately drawn to the opulent furnishings and a spacious bathtub.
Sensing their gazes, Aglaea began introducing the room.
"The furniture and fixtures inside are the finest Okhema has to offer."
"There are two beds in this room. If Lumina or Herta wish, they can share it. Okhema also has other rooms available."
"Each of you can have your own room."
Okhema had numerous rooms for honored guests, so Aglaea wasn't worried. Lumina and Herta weren't accustomed to sharing a room, even with two beds.
If they found it uncomfortable, they could simply request a different room.
One person per room.
Okhema has so many guest rooms for honored guests...
Why did Okhema build so many guest rooms in the past?
And why are so many of them now vacant?
In Aglaea's Divinity, which had begun to crack slightly with Lumina's arrival, an emotion called "sadness" gradually began to emanate.
The emotion struck her to the core, leaving her with an indescribable unease.
Yet she couldn't understand why this feeling made her so uncomfortable.
Perhaps it stemmed from memories she had long forgotten.
The time Aglaea spent pondering this within her mind was merely a fleeting moment, barely longer than the echoes of her previous words.
"Little Herta, what do you think?"
"Should we share a room or each have our own?"
Lumina turned her gaze to Herta, asking a question she already knew the answer to.
Though it was a rhetorical question, she still had to ask it.
After all...
Asking this question might just reveal a particularly endearing side of Madam Herta.
Lumina chuckled inwardly at the thought of the scene that was about to unfold.
Tsundere characters may have fallen out of favor in recent times, but Madam Herta's tsundere act remained at a T0-tier level of intensity.
There was no help for it; Beauty Value was justice itself.
To put it in gaming terms, it was like playing a fair PvP game with a hero ranked far below T10086, yet still managing to reach the highest tier and achieve the top score.
This was the exception.
If the hero's weak, what the hell is that my problem?
If tsunderes are out of meta, what's that got to do with Herta?
"..."
"Anything's fine."
Staring at Lumina's radiant smile for a moment, Herta knew exactly what Little Lumina was up to.
Thus, Herta uttered her nearly omnipotent and shameless reply:
"Anything's fine."
It was an answer that could easily backfire, but the risk was minimal.
After all, could anyone else's "Anything's fine" truly compare to Madam Herta's?
The air around Herta was sweet and intoxicating. Spending time with her, arguing over which "Anything's fine" scenarios were acceptable and which were not, was an entirely different experience from debating the same with anyone else.
Though Lumina was endlessly patient with everyone, her patience with Herta...
It was even more boundless.
Upon hearing Herta's casual "Anything's fine," Lumina turned her gaze back to Aglaea, nodded slightly, and smiled. "Agy, just give us two rooms."
"My Little Herta doesn't like sharing a room with others."
Herta: ?
A massive question mark immediately appeared above Herta's head.
Then it clicked.
That Lumina is pretending not to understand, teasing me!
The clever Madam Herta instantly saw through Lumina's ploy, but she didn't mind.
"Is that so? Then please call someone to take you to another room," Aglaea said, though she found the interaction between Lumina and Herta slightly odd.
Without giving it much thought, Aglaea nodded in acknowledgment and turned to leave the room.
"Wait."
As Aglaea brushed past them toward the door, Herta suddenly called out.
"I think Lumina and I can share a room. No need to waste Okhema's resources."
Under Lumina's expectant gaze and Aglaea's slightly puzzled stare, Herta delivered this statement with perfect composure.
Lumina: ?
Upon hearing this, the question mark that had been hovering above Herta's head instantly transferred to Lumina's.
Lumina had never imagined that the once proud and aloof Herta would humble herself so directly.
This was an outcome she hadn't anticipated.
Where did my precious, haughty Herta go?
Quick! Get out of my Little Herta's body right now!
You're definitely not my Little Herta—you're just a clumsy imposter!
(Spy-sus)
Lumina's words were merely a silent mental rant, never spoken aloud. Yet they revealed the sheer shock and disbelief Herta's actions had caused her.
"Heh." As if sensing Lumina's shock, astonishment, and confusion, Herta let out a soft snort, her lips curving upward with a hint of triumph, akin to the satisfaction of victory in battle.
But Lumina quickly regained her composure and retaliated.
With a solemn expression, like a righteous cultivator from a fantasy novel, she declared, "Aglaea, don't listen to her. She may object to sharing a room, but I don't."
"I'm not used to sharing a room with anyone else."
Herta: ?
Upon hearing Lumina's words, Herta's smug smile vanished instantly, replaced by a twitching corner of her mouth.
I'm~ not used to↑ sharing a room↓ with~ anyone~ else~
Herta mentally mimicked Lumina's words with mocking exaggeration.
That Little Lumina! She lies so smoothly, not even batting an eye!
Does she even believe her own claim that she's not used to sharing a room with anyone?
Just considering what Herta had personally witnessed:
Stelle, March 7th, Little Swarm, and Ruan Mei.
These were only the ones Herta had observed openly. What Lumina was truly like behind closed doors was something only she herself knew.
During Lumina's time on the Xianzhou Luofu, Herta often video-called her late at night.
After the initial few days, Herta could hear the sound of Lumina bathing through the screen every night.
After a while, she could even hear Lumina's voice.
Occasionally, Herta even caught glimpses of the young woman herself.
Fine, even setting all that aside...
How could Ruan Mei's situation be explained?
Herta refused to believe they hadn't done anything.
At the very least, they must have slept in the same bed.
As for anything beyond that... they probably kissed, right?
Herta mused to herself.
She knew Lumina's personality well, and she knew Ruan Mei's just as well.
Given Lumina's reserved nature, no matter how proactive Ruan Mei might be, they wouldn't have gone any further.
Herta was quite confident in that regard.
However, while she trusted Lumina wouldn't engage in anything too intimate with other girls, she was still deeply annoyed by Lumina and Ruan Mei's interactions.
"Just share a room. Don't listen to whatever Lumina says," Herta huffed to Aglaea.
Aglaea: ...
Watching the interaction between Lumina and Herta, she fell into silence.