Chapter 265: The Public Bathhouse
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 265: The Public Bathhouse
Miro's rehabilitation training kicked into high gear.
Her goal was the preliminary match next week.
The venue was Beastalis Academy.
It was a familiar place for Miro, which gave her an advantage, but she wasn't entirely happy about it. The academy was full of talented students, so the competition would be fiercer than in other regions. More importantly, she would run into her former classmates there.
Miro was already afraid of how they would look at her.
I shouldn't have talked so big...
She considered taking it all back, admitting it was just a bluff and that she couldn't actually run, but Karami had offered her a carrot she couldn't refuse—a reward, so to speak.
"Miss Miro, you have younger siblings in Vestia, don't you?"
"Yeah... I wonder if they're all doing okay."
Her four younger siblings, whom she had left at an orphanage when she was sold as a slave.
There was a time, lost in self-pity, when she had blamed them. Being mentally cornered was no excuse. No one knew she'd had such thoughts, but she still carried the guilt.
"Every time you advance to a higher-level race, Miss Miro, I will bring one of your siblings here."
"Here?"
"You know how my slaves and servants are treated. I promise to treat your siblings the same way. What do you say? Is that enough motivation for you?"
She could bring her siblings here.
Just as he'd confidently stated, Miro had seen for herself how the people in his merchant group were treated.
If they were treated the same, they wouldn't have to worry about food, and her youngest sibling's illness could be cured.
With such conditions on the table, she had no choice but to try her best as their older sister. It would also help alleviate her guilt.
Let's do this.
Embarrassed by the thought of anyone watching, she went for a light run in a deserted field outside the city to check her condition.
As expected, her condition was top-notch.
With a goal pushing her forward, her once-heavy legs moved with ease.
Miro's current speed was about 30 km/h. Fast enough to get reported in a school zone, but for Miro, it was nothing more than a light stroll.
Should I try running a little faster?
She lowered her upper body.
Slowly, slowly, she picked up the pace.
Grass scattered and dust kicked up. Even as her speed increased, her breathing remained perfectly steady.
A stable posture.
Perfect balance.
Her footwork was as nimble as if she were skipping on clouds, so light it seemed she might take flight at any moment.
Something's... lighter than usual.
She was still far from her full speed.
She had intended to take her time and slowly heighten her senses.
But the passing scenery, the rushing wind, felt similar to when she was sprinting at full power.
The blessing bestowed upon those who became Karami's slaves. She could clearly feel her dramatically enhanced physical abilities. Perhaps because she wasn't going all out, her back didn't hurt either.
With this, maybe she could run again.
Filled with this hopeful thought, and running for the first time in a long while, Miro ran across the field until sunset, just like in the old days.
*
A bathhouse filled with hazy steam.
It was decorated with marble from ceiling to floor, with several small, angel-like statues installed.
The water filling the bath was made from spirits—an all-purpose water that improved one's skin, washed away fatigue, and even healed wounds upon soaking in it.
This place, reminiscent of a royal bath, was unbelievably a large, exclusive bathhouse for the slaves. It was spacious enough to easily accommodate a hundred people.
Only Karami's slaves could enter this sanctuary-like bath. It was a privilege granted only to the female slaves.
There were even several servants who had converted to being slaves for the sole reason of wanting to enter this place.
In this bath, the slaves soaked their naked bodies to relieve the day's fatigue. In one corner, Naredi was washing Mirabelle's hair.
Mirabelle's indigo hair spread out like waves; it was so long that when she crouched on a stool, it covered her entire back and touched the floor.
"Your hair has gotten so long. It must be inconvenient when you work, and summer's coming soon. Should we cut it?"
"I've been thinking about it, but what if the Master doesn't like it?"
"He wouldn't say that, would he? You're so pretty, Mirabelle, any hairstyle would look good on you. How about a bob cut while you're at it? A drastic image change would really surprise him."
"You think so?"
Naredi nodded.
"Let me give you a little tip from your mom: a woman's charm is in the nape of her neck, glimpsed between strands of hair. Men are helpless against that. It's how I bewitched your father, you know."
"Ooh..."
Mirabelle let out a small gasp of awe at her mother's advice, born from experience. In response, Naredi gave a bittersweet smile, despite having said it herself.
Until recently, Naredi had been vehemently against Mirabelle getting involved with Karami, but she had realized her efforts were meaningless.
She remembered how dizzy she'd felt when Mirabelle had boasted about making a contract to die on the same day Karami did.
Nothing could come between the two of them. So, Naredi had completely given up on persuading Mirabelle.
She had changed her mindset entirely. If her daughter wanted to live as Karami's slave, if she loved him enough to give her life for him, then as a mother, she would actively help her.
So that Mirabelle could become the most beloved slave.
While the witch mother and daughter washed their hair, Rin floated leisurely on her back, as if doing the backstroke. Her arms and legs were still, but her tail moved like a propeller underwater.
Alfia, however, was thoroughly displeased with Rin.
"Hey, you're being distracting, so hold still. And please, I'm begging you, can you turn over? What are you doing, shamelessly baring your chest in front of everyone?"
"Says the pervert who gets off on being choked."
"You're one to talk. You were the one getting a nosebleed from pleasure when I pinned you down and buried your face in the bed."
"If you don't like it, you can leave~ Anyway, what are you doing?"
Rin, having expertly ignored Alfia's nagging, spotted Azyeth concentrating on something, her hands moving back and forth. Azyeth tilted her head slightly and answered.
"Cat's cradle...?"
A long, pink thread was strung between Azyeth's fingers. She was playing cat's cradle with one of Rin's shed tail hairs.
"..."
Rin stopped swimming, hugged her tail, and sat down demurely.
"You're kinda creepy."
"...!"
As if dealt a heavy blow, Azyeth's hands dropped limply. A chill began to emanate from her, following her sunken emotions.
"Ugh! The water's freezing! Stop being a nuisance and go over there!"
"..."
Azyeth, now shooed away by Elize as well.
However, unlike with Rin, she didn't just look dejected. She narrowed her eyes and glared sharply at Elize.
And in a corner of the bath, slightly apart from the group, Miro quietly observed, still not used to the atmosphere.
Narsha glided up to her.
"It's a bit chaotic, isn't it?"
"A little?"
They all had such strong personalities, she didn't know who to adapt to. Rin, who stood out even among them, seemed to dislike her, which made her even more uncomfortable.
"There's no need to feel pressured. All of the Master's slaves are equal. You can do as you please, Miss Miro, without worrying about what anyone thinks."
"I guess so~"
Of course, even though she said that, Miro was still in the adjustment phase.
"Aren't they going to fight?"
"Well, emotions run high sometimes, but they never fight for real. Everyone's afraid of being scolded by the Master. No one wants to cause trouble."
"The trainer gets angry?"
"Of course. The Master is human, after all. Though it's always our fault."
"Is he scary? Does he, like, yell?"
"He gets angry in a very calm, quiet way. That's what makes it even scarier."
Miro couldn't quite picture Karami getting angry.
Scary for being calm and quiet when angry.
What would that be like?
She kind of wanted to see it once.
"Is your training going well?"
"Yeah. It's going better than I thought. And I'm getting amazing care."
"If you need any help, feel free to ask. I'm quite confident in my running, so I can help you when I have time. Since we're doing this, it'd be nice if a slave of the same Master won, right?"
Miro recalled watching Narsha run.
A speed that transcended cognition.
Having someone like Narsha help with her training might not be very helpful. She'd be lucky if it didn't just crush her morale.
*
A week flew by.
Before she knew it, the day of the race had arrived.
Miro returned to Vestia, her heart pounding with nervousness.
Beastalis Academy, where the race was being held.
Beastkin students in familiar uniforms milled about. She herself had worn one until recently... Miro's heart felt unsettled.
There were no specific dress code regulations for the current preliminaries. However, Karami, the organizer, had explained that for the main event, they would have to wear something called a "competition outfit."
He'd said something about it having to be pretty and sparkly.
He had told Miro not to worry and to focus on the race, as he would prepare the clothes himself.
How could I not worry?
She was already worried about what kind of strange outfit he would make her wear. She considered just getting eliminated, but she couldn't do that when she thought of her siblings at the orphanage.
"All contestants for the Group B preliminary race, please gather over here. We will confirm your participation and give you your numbers."
There were several preliminary races being held today. The just-announced Group B was the one Miro belonged to.
Miro headed over to where the administrative staff was to confirm her entry.
Can I do this...?
This is my first time on a real stage like this, I'm so nervous.
What if I run into someone I know?
Her tail stood on end with tension.
"Well, well? Who do we have here? Isn't it Miro?"
Just as she'd feared, someone recognized her.
Especially that shrill voice.
She knew who it was instantly without even seeing her face.
Of all the people it could have been, it had to be Rua, the one she felt most uncomfortable around.
Miro squeezed her eyes shut.