Since the outer perimeter of the Dark Elf camp is almost entirely shrouded in hazy mist, it's difficult to determine what kind of terrain it's actually built on. In truth, that question doesn't really matter. The rough shapes beyond the fog are only symbolic, simply marking the boundaries of this small map.
But if you look closely, you can still tell the surroundings resemble a canyon.
To be honest, using such a compact yet fully functional camp as the setting for a campaign quest feels a bit stingy. On the eastern side, aside from the dining hall and living tents, there are even shops. A blacksmith for internal use would make sense, but there are also vendors selling jewelry, clothing, medicine, and even blessing-type buffs. NPCs even mention things like the Ruins of the Lyusulas Sanctuary.
It's more than enough to function as a small village or a proper base. And the fact that this map is generated based on the number of quest participants. That's honestly terrifying.
By the time Satoru returned, dusk had already settled in. Thanks to the spell Kizmel had cast on him earlier to ignore the dense fog, he was able to teleport in with ease.
The two Dark Elf guards at the entrance, as motionless as statues, seemed to recognize him now and showed no hostility at all.
He stretched lazily in the somewhat quiet camp, lightly rolling his shoulders as he made his way toward the bathhouse.
A strange fatigue slowly crept over him, weighing down his steps. Thinking about it, ever since arriving in this world, he hadn't truly rested, nor had he paid attention to anything beyond leveling.
Maybe he just wasn't the type who could calmly accept things as they came. Or perhaps when that drive to push forward eventually wore away with time, that would be the real hell.
Might as well take a bath.
It was a rare thought. Bathing a virtual character brought no real benefit. If it were one of those magical hot springs that gave buffs, he might go every day.
The comfort of warm water, the fullness from food and clean water, the satisfaction of smoking. All of it was fake, yet it soothed the only real thing here, the human mind. There was something faintly ironic about that.
No… I'm exactly the kind of person that irony fits.
Letting his thoughts drift, he arrived at the bathhouse. Though calling it that was generous. It was just a large tent with a tub big enough for a few people, along with stools and wooden basins nearby.
He lifted the curtain at the entrance.
Then immediately let go.
The moment he raised it slightly, the sound of splashing water came from inside.
The bathhouse, like an inn room, was designed as a small enclosed space. Once closed, it had absurdly good soundproofing. Despite being just a few layers of cloth, it worked like a professional recording studio. The silence had made him assume no one was inside. That had been his mistake.
But unlike an inn room, this was a public facility. Anyone could enter.
He tapped his forehead, then carefully lifted just a small corner of the curtain.
"Sorry."
He probably didn't even need to apologize. And if it were just a regular NPC inside, would they even respond?
"Is that Yurnero?"
Kizmel.
He gave a wry smile.
"Yeah, it's me. Sorry, I didn't realize you were already in there."
"It's fine. Aren't you coming in?"
Her voice came clearly through the sound of water.
"That… might not be a good idea…"
He wasn't sure whether the harassment system would still trigger if the NPC initiated it. And this game had a 15X rating… which meant… could it be that Kizmel's impressive figure was only detailed on the outside, with rough modeling underneath her clothes?
"I forgot humans aren't used to mixed bathing."
Completely unaware of his questionable thoughts, Kizmel continued kindly.
"Wait a moment. I'll come out right away."
"No need, really. Just take your time."
Satoru waved his hands quickly.
"That won't do. A bath after a long day can cleanse the soul."
Kizmel sounded troubled, as if trying to find a compromise.
"..."
Satoru scratched his head.
"On second thought, you should just come in."
After a pause, her voice came again, now sounding more certain.
"I remember you mentioned before… even though you're from the Lyusulan Kingdom, you don't really like mixed bathing?"
"That's true," Kizmel replied seriously. "But… I don't dislike you."
"Uh…"
"It's not that I dislike my fellow Lyusulan either. It's just that if it comes down to it, I won't make a fuss about it. Like…"
She sounded slightly flustered, her explanation a bit disjointed.
"Like how Sheeta bathed with me earlier."
"Yes. So if you, Yurnero, don't join, it would feel unfair. You're both human guests here. You shouldn't be treated differently."
"Mixed bathing in Lyusula is also part of warrior culture. A way to connect after battle."
The Dark Elf onee-san spoke with firm conviction.
"So, Yurnero. Come in."
"..."
Satoru felt a bit dazed.
It made sense. But something still felt off.
"Are you sure?" he asked cautiously.
"I respect your decision," Kizmel replied gently.
Well… if she didn't mind…
He lifted the curtain and ducked inside.
It should be mentioned that Satoru was already twenty-one or twenty-two. Yes, as you can see, he was long past the awkward high school phase where he couldn't even look at a girl he liked, or where getting caught with an adult book would leave him utterly mortified. Both his mind and experience had matured.
In other words, his thick-skinned stat had leveled up.
So being invited to bathe by a mature and elegant Dark Elf onee-san, yes, specifically a Dark Elf onee-san, it shouldn't make him panic or not know where to look. He had seen his fair share of gravure videos. Beach Angels, night hot spring trips, that kind of thing.
Stay calm.
He told himself.
He needed to act like a proper adult. Even if he was face-to-face with a topless Dark Elf onee-san, he had to remain composed, like a seasoned veteran. That way, there would be no awkwardness.
"Have you… turned around?" Satoru asked, covering his eyes with both hands.
"Mm."
Trembling slightly, he opened the interface and removed his equipment and underlayers. The moment his clothes vanished, the warm, humid air of the tent wrapped around him. He hunched slightly, shuffling forward with his feet turned inward.
"Could you wash my back for me?"
Kizmel suddenly turned her head.
Satoru reacted like he'd been struck, instantly covering himself again, this time his lower body.
"Sure, sure."
He nodded quickly, trying his best to ignore Kizmel's amused gaze.
A shy young man, huh.
He dismissed the thought as imagination.
Stay calm. Stay calm.
He sat down, facing Kizmel's smooth back. She had likely already rinsed herself. Water droplets still traced the curve of her spine. Against her pale violet skin, they took on a faint purple tint. Her back, toned from training, was firm yet delicately shaped.
The hazy steam softened the artificiality of it all.
"..."
Satoru stared for a moment.
Even if something felt off, he wouldn't notice.
After all, he had never really seen a girl's back in real life.
"Yurnero?"
"Oh. Sorry."
He picked up the cloth.
Brushing aside strands of damp hair clinging to her back, he began to wipe. Even through the cloth, her skin felt soft.
"You're very gentle," Kizmel murmured. "Much more than my sister."
"Is that so…"
"It's not a very attractive body, is it? Covered in scars. My sister's and Sheeta's are both better."
"I wouldn't know…"
What a strange fate.
Kizmel sighed softly.
"I devoted my life to Lyusula and the Sanctuary. I was chosen as a knight by the Queen, and I have no regrets. But sometimes… I wonder. If I hadn't taken up the sword back then, would my life have been different?"
Satoru fell silent.
Because no matter what, Kizmel, and this entire world, existed within the imagination of a single man.
"The distant lands… what are they like, I wonder? The world beyond."
"Probably just unreachable boundaries," Satoru said quietly. "The empty edge of the world, where no data had been built."
"What about you, Yurnero?"
"What?"
"Your goals. Humans live shorter lives, but in comparison, most of you live far more eventful ones than we Elfs."
"..."
His hand stopped.
"I don't have any goals. I'm just struggling to survive, following instinct."
If he had to imagine something ideal…
Maybe one day, he'd open a secondhand bookstore or a small café. Sit by the entrance, watching the flow of people outside. For someone insignificant like him, that would already be the greatest luxury.
And maybe, if he dreamed a little more, there would be a wife. Someone who would occasionally bring him homemade meals.
But the wife's face, the shop, even the bustling street outside, it was all blank.
Only the image of himself, sitting alone with a cigarette in an ashtray, was clear.
"That's different from what that child said," Kizmel said with a soft laugh.
"Who?"
"Sheeta."
"You asked her too?"
"Yes. Her answer was…"
Kizmel turned her head, looking at him gently as if repeating it exactly.
"I want to stay by Yurnero's side and turn his pale world into amber."
"..."
"That's a textbook naive, immature, airheaded beautiful girl line," Satoru said flatly.
"If it's a bond that wasn't easily gained, don't let it go so lightly," Kizmel said seriously.
"Even just holding on tightly takes great courage."
"You…"
Satoru suddenly wanted to say something.
But looking at Kizmel's calm profile, he found himself speechless once again.