Rischel Hot Springs (3)
After briefly touring the inn, Tatiana headed to the hot springs with a staff member's guidance.
"See you later, President!"
"Yeah."
I saw her off with a wave and made my way to my room.
"Oh? Didn't you like the hot springs?"
"No, I just wanted to take it slow."
I asked the staff member, who was tidying up the room, for some light refreshments, then resumed my ongoing training.
To draw out infinite power, I need the perfect ratio of aura.
The golden rectangle symbolizing infinity comes from perfect proportions in output and control.
A divine feat no one can reach without godlike precision.
If the aura ratio for the technique is even slightly off, the fragile balance would crumble like a sandcastle.
Move carefully. No need to rush.
Whoooosh—
Extreme aura control extending to the body's extremities.
How long had I maintained this delicate work, vulnerable to the slightest mistake?
Knock knock—
"Excuse me for a moment."
"……."
The staff member knocked and entered with a tray of refreshments.
I couldn't keep training in this situation.
I unclenched my fist, dispelling the aura, stood up, and took the tray.
"N-No...! You don't have to! I can...!"
"It's fine. I'll handle the rest."
"...Um, alright."
"You can go now. I'll call if I need anything."
I shooed out the staff member, who looked back with lingering reluctance, and let out a light sigh as I picked up a snack.
Crunch—
.
.
.
After spending some time nibbling on the refreshments, the staff member came to announce dinner.
"...Dinner? I thought we'd eat in the room."
"We can serve it in your room if you prefer. But since you've come all this way, how about our inn's signature course?"
They'd prepared a full course meal on purpose.
It would be tricky to bring something like that to the room.
"Got it. I'll go with Tatiana."
Time had passed, so she was probably resting in her room.
We could meet up and head there together.
But contrary to my expectation, the staff member looked troubled.
"Um... Lady Tatiana enjoyed the hot springs for so long that she said she'd eat later on her own."
"Hm. Is she feeling that unwell?"
"N-No! Just a bit dizzy!"
"I see."
Nothing to be done about it.
I couldn't drag her out if she wasn't feeling well.
"Should I head over now?"
"Yes, sir! I'll guide you!"
Maybe because I'd changed into comfortable clothes upon reaching the room.
The staff member, unable to meet my eyes, flushed bright red and blurted out hastily.
"P-Please follow me!"
"Alright."
I followed her out of the room, down the hall, and into a large chamber.
Designed as a dining hall, long low tables lined the space, adorned with intricately carved ornaments everywhere. The elegant wallpaper featured framed portraits idealizing past queens like Aser and the Knights of the Round Table.
"Pretty spacious."
Sitting alone at the vast table made it feel even emptier.
No food yet amplified the emptiness.
The carvings and artwork drew the eye, preventing it from feeling totally barren, but the loneliness lingered.
"Please wait a moment. We'll bring the food right away."
"Sure, I'll wait."
What dishes would they serve?
As Rischel's finest inn, I expected top-notch cuisine.
Fiddling with the provided knife, I anticipated the courses when the door opened, and a new staff member entered.
She entered carefully with a mobile tray, met my gaze, and bowed quickly.
"……?"
Impressed by her swift movements, I watched as she approached, opened the tray, and began setting out the dishes one by one.
But I ignored the food entirely, staring fixedly at her.
Something feels off...
She was a stranger, yet my instincts screamed familiarity.
Not just looks—her habits too. No one matches.
Why the sense of wrongness?
"……."
How long had I stared?
"S-Sir... customer?"
Unable to withstand my gaze, she trembled and met my eyes.
Her faintly quivering blue eyes intensified the unease.
"...Have we met before?"
"N-Nooo?! F-First time seeing you?!"
Now shaking all over, her eyes darted wildly as she desperately protested.
"I've never served you directly even once!?"
"Hmmm……."
...Suspicious.
So blatantly suspicious it almost seemed like a mistake.
Though if it were someone I know, they wouldn't use such a sloppy method.
Lancelot or Gareth would plan meticulously.
Am I just tired from training?
Dismissing it as fatigue, I decided to unwind in the hot springs later and looked away from her.
───
"Enjoy your meal."
Slide—clack—
She closed the door carefully and sighed deeply, glancing at the tray.
"As expected of Master."
To see through Merlin's disguise.
Not fully, but not fooled either.
Appearance, breathing, posture, habits, speech—all changed, yet nearly caught.
Truly Master.
Gawain nodded in awe toward the door.
But that awe faded quickly.
Her face turned gloomy as she sighed again.
"What now."
I planned to introduce the dishes naturally while serving, getting close...
But flustered by Master's words, she'd fled after just dropping off the food.
Now she needed a new plan.
The others will move soon too. Gotta hurry with a backup.
Reflecting on the first failure, Gawain began plotting the next.
───
After sending away the uneasy staff member, I tasted the food.
Worth the title of Rischel's best inn—exceptional cuisine.
Just the appetizer, yet so refined it was hard to believe.
As I finished most of it, the next courses arrived one by one.
And with each new staff member, an inexplicable unease washed over me, tilting my head.
Not one or two, but every single one. Must be fatigue.
If only some felt off, I'd suspect them.
But all of them? I couldn't trust my senses anymore.
I shooed them away with familiar efficiency, and finally, a woman claiming to be the head chef entered with dessert.
"Hehe, did it suit your taste?"
"Yes, excellent cooking."
Another faint sense of familiarity from the chef, who smiled warmly and placed ice cream before me.
"Sorbet made with premium milk and nuts. You'll love it."
Her clasped hands in prayer-like gesture gathered her ample bosom, drawing my eyes.
"Ahem! I'll enjoy it."
I turned to the dessert, spoon in hand, and brought the sorbet to my mouth...
"Wait."
...then set it down.
My instincts rang alarm bells the instant it neared my lips.
"Chef, what ingredients are in this?"
"...Eh, um?"
"Just checking... no aphrodisiacs, stimulants, sedatives, or the like?"
"H-Haha. Such a joke. We'd never use sinister drugs like that."
"Good."
Watching her calmly lie, I swiftly fed her the sorbet.
No way she could track my near-divine speed.
"……!?"
Her eyes widened at the foreign texture in her mouth.
Her throat twitched reflexively, swallowing unwittingly, and her face paled as she clutched her mouth.
"Eep...!"
She stumbled back, hands over her mouth, head bowed.
I pushed the sorbet aside and addressed her.
"How is it? It looked tasty, so I shared."
"U-Urgh...!?"
Her face flushed instantly, tears welling, and she dropped her hands to cry out in a trembling voice.
"H-How... Hic! The plan was... Hic!?... p-perfect!!?"
I trained my senses to detect even odorless, tasteless poisons because of you.
She flinched at her bare skin brushing cloth, then collapsed as her legs gave out.
I approached and whispered in her ear.
"...You're a century early to drug me, Merlin."
"……?!!?!"
Her eyes rolled back at the voice in her ear.
Ignoring the fluid trickling between her legs, I called other staff and had her removed.