Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Slight Sense of Immorality
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Ever since I'd become somewhat aware of my tastes, there was one thing I often felt.
A slight sense of immorality.
I was definitely a woman now, but that didn't mean I had no awareness at all that I hadn't always been one.
Was that why?
"Young Lady, how is the water temperature?"
"It feels about the same as the temperature I always use when bathing."
"The weather has gotten chilly lately, hasn't it? If you'd like warmer water, I can raise the temperature a bit."
"It's fine. This temperature feels just right right now."
In situations like this, the corners of my mouth kept trying to turn up.
I was receiving a bath from Lize just like in the old days, but it was different now.
Before the break, I definitely wouldn't have felt anything special in this situation—I would have just let her attend to me.
Of course, regardless of my thoughts, Lize simply began washing my body starting from my arms, as usual.
Even though I was just sitting there comfortably being attended to, no different from normal, the situation felt amusing.
"Hoo...."
If I had any conscience, I really should have refrained from this kind of service to some degree.
Honestly, I wasn't a woman down to my core, and even though I saw Lize that way, I was receiving it because it was comfortable for me and fun for me.
There was a part of me that pricked at my conscience a bit.
"Young Lady, what time will you be returning today?"
"Hmm. What time should I come back?"
"How could I control the Young Lady's time out?"
"Hehe, true enough."
But how could it not feel good to have such a pretty girl like Lize attending to me like this?
On top of that, if I told her not to now, she'd probably be put in a tough spot.
It was unavoidable, separate from the slight immorality I felt in the situation.
That's just how I thought about it.
"By the way, Lize, isn't it uncomfortable serving me while dressed like that every time?"
"Uh.... Not particularly."
"Really?"
Lize was attending to me wearing just a thin layer of clothing.
I'd always wondered about it during bath service—why wear that outfit only for bathing?
She'd get wet anyway while washing my body, so wouldn't it be better to just go without for comfort?
Water splashed during bath service too.
And it wasn't the kind that didn't show through when wet.
It was essentially a simplified maid uniform made of plain white fabric, without any frills.
No black parts typical of maid outfits—just pure white clothing.
"Hmm.... You get wet anyway during the washing, so it doesn't even need to be white."
I'd felt that way for a while now.
Even if I mentioned it to Lize every time, she always came in dressed like this.
"But I can't exactly go without, can I?"
"Hmm...."
Was that so?
If I were truly just a woman, I figured there was nothing wrong with seeing each other's bodies.
Honestly, wasn't it not that big a deal for women to see each other naked?
And this was the bathroom, after all.
"I wouldn't mind at all if you came in without anything. Are you embarrassed, Lize?"
"...Young Lady."
"I'm just curious. I'm showing you everything anyway, right?"
With those words, I fully turned my body toward Lize and spread my arms wide.
So she could see my entire body.
My body had grown much more than before, with two mounds on my chest now, and not just there—it had developed in various ways.
"Right?"
"......."
"You've seen it all since I was little. What's there to be embarrassed about?"
"Well...."
"Exactly."
"Yes...."
It wasn't wrong, honestly.
Though it wasn't entirely right either?
"Pfft...."
Her embarrassed reaction.
Lize had always had low tolerance for this kind of teasing, but it felt even lower lately.
I'd teased her like this often since childhood, but recently it seemed even more so.
By now, she really should be used to it.
"I'm kidding, kidding. No need to go without."
"Ah...."
"You already bathed anyway, so getting wet again would just be a hassle, right?"
Of course, I'd been the one spouting nonsense first.
But in the end, I said it was fine, so that should be enough?
Honestly, I still felt she didn't need to wear it, but she was so embarrassed.
I lowered my spread arms and stopped exposing my front.
After finishing the bath and coming out, nothing much happened.
I put on underwear, the uniform, and finished preparing to go out.
*
"In today's lesson, we'll slowly delve into the basics of intermediate magic. It might still be difficult for you all who are learning low-tier magic, but eventually, when you reach second year......."
The teacher droned on like that.
And in the auditorium, the students focused intently on the teacher.
In that situation, I was at the very back, thinking nothing in particular.
"Yawn...."
"Once you enter second year, magic classes won't just be divided into low-tier and intermediate—you'll take them based on attributes and types, so use this opportunity to...."
"Yawwwn...."
It was roughly a preview of intermediate magic before second year.
More precisely, a class where we tried using intermediate magic once.
Of course, for me who already knew how, it was still boring, so I just yawned quietly.
Most of the other students were thrilled, which was honestly annoying.
While sitting quietly like that, Ivana's back came into view.
"Hmm...."
Unlike the other students, she seemed quite composed.
She didn't look like she had immense interest in the current lesson.
"Miss Ivana."
I moved behind Ivana, who was standing still, and spoke to her.
"You look bored. Shall we chat separately?"
She didn't seem very interested in the lesson.
Besides, the class was just students trying magic in the auditorium anyway.
So I made that suggestion to her.
At my proposal, Ivana nodded slightly. Even seeing just her back, I could tell she accepted.
After the explanation ended, we gathered in a corner of the auditorium.
"Yawwwn.... Still, today's class is a bit less boring."
"True."
"If we couldn't use intermediate magic, we might have enjoyed it."
"Since both of us can."
"Hehe, right?"
Both Ivana and I could use intermediate magic easily.
So it was natural we weren't finding much fun in the class.
Just casting intermediate magic idly didn't seem entertaining or anything, and it felt boring, so I'd brought Ivana here.
"By the way, in that spar with Camellia before. One of the spells you used was intermediate magic."
"Was it?"
"Yes. The one summoning plants."
"Ah, yes, I've used that. It was hard to just paralyze you at that point."
"When the teacher comes by later to check, we can show that spell."
"Hmm.... Is that so?"
It was intermediate magic, the one I used then.
I hadn't expected Ivana to still remember it.
It had been months already?
"Then it looks like we'll need to bind Miss Ivana."
"...?"
"Binding Plants, right? The spell from then."
"Yes."
"It's literally for restraining— it binds whatever's in the summoned spot. If there's nothing there, just a bit of plant sprouts and that's it."
"Ah."
Ivana realized what I meant.
As she'd said, when the teacher came to check, if I demonstrated Binding Plants, I'd need a target.
Since it was that kind of spell.
Not something fired or summoned elsewhere.
If cast blindly, it'd just activate and end.
"Hehe, want to relive those memories after so long?"
"No."
"You're more serious than I thought."
"...It felt bad being caught then."
"Ah."
No one likes being bound, sure.
I'd used it because Ivana was quick and recovered from paralysis fast.
But basically, no one would like that spell.
"Hehe, then I guess I'll have to show a different one."
Honestly, binding Ivana like back then sounded fun too.
She was so pretty, with a great figure.
Especially those pretty legs under her current skirt.
A bit fetishistic, maybe, but a beautiful woman struggling while bound... honestly, it'd be a sight.
I couldn't say that out loud, though.
"Ah. The thing we talked about before—we'll start it this winter right away. Father approved."
"That's good news."
Expanding connections to other regions was key for the business Ivana and I were starting.
Though it was a shame it wouldn't start until winter.
"After academy ends today, shall we talk more about it, just the two of us?"
"Sure."
"Hmm.... Someone who said they won't come to the club room today...."
Who was it.
I tried recalling.
Grace said she'd come... Ella said no....
"Let's go out."
"Pardon?"
"How about we go out and talk this time."
"After academy?"
"Yes, after academy. Chatting in a nice café. Or that room café we went to last time would be good."
"Hmm...."
It was business talk, after all.
Didn't feel right blabbing in a regular café.
That's why I'd thought about who was coming to the club room.
"Shall we do that?"
When a girl like Ivana suggested it first, it was convenient for me.
Honestly, such a pretty girl like Ivana suggesting we spend time alone in a private spot?
Hmm.
This feels a bit perverted.