"This..."
As for taking a bath, Castorice, Polyxia, and Hyacine naturally had no objections.
After all, this was a relatively normal and traditional way of enjoyment within Okhema, so there was nothing surprising about it.
But... but the three of them had come here tonight to complete the task Sister Lumina wanted them to finish.
If they just went to enjoy a bath like this, it would be a little inappropriate.
They were here to complete a mission, not to enjoy themselves.
"Sister Lumina, we..."
"What's wrong? Does little sister Castorice want to wash up first, and then take a bath?"
Just as Castorice was about to say something, she was interrupted by Lumina.
Looking at Lumina's face, Castorice wanted to say something, but at this moment, her eyes met Lumina's.
"Ugh..."
In front of the humanoid Succubus, Castorice had almost no strength to resist. In just a short while, she was completely captivated by Lumina.
A blush spread across Castorice's skin like a swarm of locusts, creeping up from her neck. In just an instant, her entire fair little face was covered in a rosy glow.
She looked utterly delicious, as if a single bite would release the sweet juice of a "blooming" apple.
Lumina stared blankly, her mouth watering, fighting the urge to bite down on her right then and there.
But in the end, she didn't put it into practice.
After all, she wasn't a puppy. Biting someone... she'd better forget it.
"So, do you want to wash up first?" Lumina asked, looking at the three of them.
"There are two bathrooms in this room, so two of you can wash at once. When you're done, you can relax in the pool for a while."
Though this was the real world, it was a real world with "superpowers."
Whether it was Castorice, Polyxia, or Hyacine, their constitutions were all excellent. It was naturally impossible for their skin to become dry from soaking in water for too long.
Besides, the pool water in Okhema wasn't ordinary water, which made such a problem even less likely.
"Um..." Hearing this, Castorice and Hyacine seemed to recall a shameful memory. After glancing at each other, they quickly lowered their heads, their faces flushing crimson. They didn't dare look at Lumina, let alone meet her gaze.
"Mm-hmm~" Seeing this, Lumina nodded in satisfaction.
It seemed that experience had left a very deep impression on the two of them.
Lumina had achieved her goal.
Of course, since she had achieved one goal, she would naturally use it as a springboard to derive a second goal.
"?"
Polyxia was naturally unaware of what had happened between Castorice and Hyacine.
Therefore, although she blushed slightly upon hearing Lumina's words, she didn't say anything. After all, bathing was very normal in Okhema. Everyone was a girl, so no deeper issues would arise.
But as she looked at her Sister Castorice and Hyacine, Polyxia's expression immediately turned to one of confusion.
Bathing after washing up should be a normal thing, right? Why did Sister Castorice and Hyacine react like that?
Polyxia was utterly confused, but it didn't matter; she would soon understand.
In the end, she would become just like Castorice and Hyacine...
"Don't just stay silent. If you don't say anything, I'll assume you're all ready to wash up first and then bathe." Seeing Castorice and Hyacine's prolonged silence, Lumina urged them.
"Let's wash up first, then bathe." Before Castorice and Hyacine could even speak, Polyxia was the first to offer an answer.
Polyxia knew nothing of the situation. She only knew that Lumina and her Sister Castorice were very close, so she didn't think much of it.
Washing up before bathing was an extremely normal thing. One would do it when alone, let alone when sharing a pool with others.
Polyxia was slightly worried that if there was any dirt on her body, it might pollute the pool and cause her to make a fool of herself in front of everyone.
Wash up first to get rid of any dirt on the body, then go into the pool to bathe, ensuring one wouldn't make a fool of oneself.
Moreover, washing up before bathing meant that the body, already rinsed with hot water, would feel even more comfortable when soaking in the pool.
This was what Polyxia was thinking.
Castorice, Hyacine: "..."
But... the other two were not like this.
Hearing Polyxia's words, both Castorice and Hyacine's bodies trembled, and the blush on their fair faces seemed to deepen.
It felt as if their skin had turned transparent, completely exposing the blood within their bodies to the sunlight... While this was astonishing, it also gradually aroused the desires in their hearts.
Without a doubt, in this state, the allure that Castorice and Hyacine exuded seemed to have reached a new level.
Fortunately, the person present was Lumina, and fortunately, the one facing them in this state was Lumina.
Lumina's self-control was extremely strong, and she could withstand such temptation.
If it were anyone else, they would probably have thrown themselves upon the "tasty morsels" without regard for the consequences, starting a series of excessive actions that would meet with a disastrously severe retribution.
But such behavior would naturally never occur with Lumina.
Because she would weigh the consequences before taking any action. If the consequences were unbearable, she would temporarily abandon that course of action.
But if the consequences were bearable, then perhaps... Jie jie jie!
"Alright, then we'll bathe first, and then shower," Lumina said with a faint smile, finalizing this "itinerary."
But afterward, Lumina did not act immediately. Instead, she turned to look at Castorice and Hyacine by her side and asked, "Sister Castorice, Hyie, what do you think?"
Even though she had already decided, she still had to briefly ask for Castorice and Hyacine's opinions.
Lumina, you see, the thing she disliked most was forcing beautiful girls to do things.
So she definitely had to ask for Castorice and Hyacine's opinions.
If they agreed, then naturally there would be no problem. It was just a matter of wasting a few seconds to ask, a minor issue.
But if they did not agree... then naturally that wouldn't matter either.
Lumina simply would not accept their disagreement.
Lumina would continue her bamboozling (strike that) persuasion, making them agree.
This might take a few seconds, or perhaps a few minutes, but as long as she could get them to agree, there would naturally be no problem.
So, you see, Lumina was a beautiful girl who was wholeheartedly dedicated to treating other beautiful girls well.
With Lumina around, beautiful girls were bound to be happy!
"...N-No objections..." Hearing Lumina's words, Castorice and Hyacine both stammered and found themselves at a loss for words, but in the end, they lowered their small heads and agreed to this "plan."
And Lumina, with utter naturalness, revealed a satisfied and joyful smile.
It was as if she could already see the scene that would only appear in fairyland about to unfold before her eyes.
Herta: "..."
"Sigh..."
Seeing that the situation before her was already settled and no unexpected scenes could possibly arise, Herta silently sighed in her heart.
Although this had been within Herta's expectations all along, when it actually happened before her, Herta still couldn't help but feel a little desolate.
This Little Lumina really is...
"Hey, Little Herta."
While Herta was secretly grieving in her heart, Lumina suddenly turned her gaze upon Herta and called out to her with a full smile.
"What?"
"Okay." Hearing Herta's words that slipped out of her mouth, Lumina nodded.
Herta: "?"
"Ahem." Under Herta's speechless gaze, Lumina clenched her fist in front of her lips and coughed a few times, feeling somewhat awkward.
Her words just now indeed sounded a bit... extremely easy to misunderstand.
Or rather, this couldn't even be called a misunderstanding, it was too straightforward.
Words that were too straightforward were indeed a little hard to accept for Herta and anyone else present, including Lumina herself.
After slightly adjusting her facial expression, Lumina extended the most sincere invitation to Herta: "Um, Little Herta, would you like to join in this bath as well?"
Lumina's words were very sincere and also very flat, as if she were speaking about an ordinary, optional matter.
In fact, it was indeed so. Isn't beautiful girls bathing together an optional matter?
If it were anyone else, such as a man and a woman, or two men, then bathing together might need to be considered. But among several beautiful girls, this matter seemed very normal.
After all... beautiful girls bathing together would make the entire environment and atmosphere smell fragrant~
The changes that only occur when beautiful girls bathe together were simply a gift from the heavens!
All the above words came from a fantasy called self-indulgence in Lumina's heart.
On the sofa opposite, hearing Lumina's words, Herta rested her chin on her hand, lowered her head to think for a moment, then looked up at Lumina and asked: "So, Little Lumina, do you want me to bathe with you?"
Herta did not place the choice on herself, but on Lumina.
Because from beginning to end, she had never forgotten her purpose: she wanted Lumina to let down her guard against her, and then she would give her a vicious backstab...
So how could she make Lumina lower her guard?
Naturally, it would be to obey any of her words that were not too excessive, and in her heart, she would become a little white rabbit that everyone could pinch.
Although this was a bit embarrassing for Herta's pride.
But if she could give Lumina a lesson to remember, this price seemed somewhat insignificant.
The road to victory was originally full of thorns, Herta understood this truth very well.
Wasn't the original her, just walking like this step by step?
From a little girl on The Blue, to being known on the planet, until being known throughout the entire galaxy now, didn't Herta walk up step by step?
In that case, it was merely rewalking a path she had already traveled, nothing to worry about.
Herta could endure it.
Endure, endure... this wasn't about being some Ninja Turtle, but rather finding Lumina's weakness.
Having surfed the web for a while, Herta naturally knew what this behavior was called in slang.
But could Madam Herta's endurance be called being a Ninja Turtle?
That certainly wouldn't count.
Patiently waiting for a weakness to appear, how could that be called being a Ninja Turtle?
Herta's spirit could even be recorded in the galactic history books, passed down for eternity!
Of course, these were just wild thoughts in Herta's mind.
"Yes," Lumina said, without the slightest hesitation, stating her truest thoughts instantly.
Immediately after, before Herta could use the opportunity to say anything, Lumina added: "We're all good friends who know each other, and Little Herta, nothing's wrong with you."
"Taking a bath together, catching up, and feeling comfortable is a rare thing."
"So I hope Little Herta can join us in the pool and feel each other's warmth. This would be good for everyone."
Lumina smiled gently. To anyone else, her words would have sounded perfectly normal, but to Herta, they seemed as cunning as an old fox's schemes.
If Lumina had used any other reason or words to say this, Herta could have found an excuse to go along with her.
But for Lumina to say it this way, bringing up their relationship as friends, put Herta in a terribly passive position.
Lumina saw Herta's reaction and chose to press her advantage, saying: "Little Herta, if we're all bathing in the pool and you're the only one watching from the side, that... wouldn't be very good, would it?"
"It's not that your behavior would be bad, but that it would be bad for us."
"After all, it looks a bit like our little group is excluding you."
Lumina's voice was soft as she spoke gently.
"Sister Castorice, Hyie, and Sister Polyxia, don't you agree?" Seeing that Herta hadn't answered her question, Lumina didn't press her.
Instead, she turned her gaze to the three beside her and asked for their opinions.
But in this moment, how could they dare to express any opinion at all?
Castorice and Hyacine's minds went completely blank at the thought of what was about to happen.
Polyxia, seeing that Sister Castorice and Hyacine showed no intention of speaking, was momentarily puzzled. Fueled by this confusion, she also failed to give any answer.
Seeing this, Lumina understood that Castorice and Hyacine, in their current state, would be of no help.
So, she turned her gaze to Polyxia.
This little one had not yet experienced... well, been beaten down by society, so in this situation, she still retained the ability to think independently.
"Um... um, Sister Lumina is right. We're all friends, we can't exclude anyone." Under Lumina's gaze, Polyxia gave the answer Lumina wanted, just as she had hoped.
"Right? Right?" Hearing this, Lumina winked at Herta, signaling to her.
Herta: "..."
Herta did not reply, only lowering her head to think.
"Fine."
In the end, she gave in.
After all, it was just bathing together, nothing too difficult.