The Holy Sword-Steeped Bath
"If we use that method, I might actually die...!"
"The Goddess told me herself. You think she'd tell me just to kill you?"
"Even so... no matter how I think about it, I'm definitely gonna die...!"
Idwild recoiled in horror, flat-out refusing with every fiber of her being.
What I'd told her was the method the Goddess had revealed to me last night. She'd given me two options. The first was foolproof but would cost a fortune—way more than the profits from hiring Idwild could cover, so I scrapped it. The second cost nothing and was actually pretty great, if a bit of a hassle. The only problem? Idwild would hate it, no question.
I'd seen this meltdown coming a mile away.
"If we don't do this, there's no way to control your black magic power. And then you can't stay here."
"But..."
"Don't you wanna keep staying here?"
Idwild clamped her mouth shut. Tough choice, huh? Back to that dank basement or... But blindly jumping into my suggestion? No way—not after tasting the Holy Sword's power just a little and pissing herself from the pain.
"Just lie down and rest for now. Think it over. You hungry?"
"Not really..."
Idwild lay back on the bed with a gloomy look.
As I headed downstairs, Della came scurrying over.
"Is Idwild okay?"
"Yeah. She's fine."
"There was a huge wound on her neck. Shouldn't she see a doctor?"
"She'd probably collapse before making it to Bue. She'll recover if she rests here, so don't worry."
"What on earth happened?"
"Nothing much. I'll tell you later."
I gave Della some tasks, then slipped into the kitchen. Mollo was due today, so I needed to prep the orders ahead of time.
─────
Mollo arrived in the afternoon, dropped off the previous order, took the new one, and headed out. I offered him dinner and a bed since it was late, but he begged off, saying he was busy, and hurried his cart away.
By evening, the hall buzzed with diners and overnight guests, plus folks coming down from rooms. It wasn't that busy—half the tables sat empty in the big inn hall. Still, with zero experience running a place like this, it wasn't smooth sailing.
Della handled serving and dishes while I managed the kitchen, popping out to the hall now and then. But yeah, a pro head chef would make life easier. Kinda ridiculous to think that with this crowd... but the hall would fill up eventually. If things went well, I'd open branches. Then I couldn't be glued to the kitchen forever—a chef would be essential.
That was a problem for later.
The hectic dinner rush passed, guests trickled out, and things finally calmed. Della and I were eating late dinner from leftovers when Idwild shuffled down the stairs.
"Idwild! Come join us. Have some food."
Della spotted her and waved. Idwild crept over, looking like a kicked puppy.
"Sit. Eat."
"Uh..."
Della brought her a plate, but Idwild just poked at it listlessly.
"Not tasty?"
"N-no... it's fine..."
She fiddled with her spoon half-heartedly, then stole a glance at me.
"Um... about what you said earlier..."
"Made up your mind?"
"I don't really have a choice, do I...?"
Overcome her fear and stay? Or give up and slink back to the shadows? The answer was obvious.
"Come with me."
I stood. Della just blinked at us, confused.
I grabbed the Holy Sword from the wall and headed upstairs. Idwild spotted it and froze, trailing far behind in terror.
In the room, I propped the sword in the far corner of the tub filled with cold water. Most of the blade submerged at a slant.
"Magic."
Idwild flicked her fingers through the air, and steam soon rose from the water. I tested it—nicely hot, not scalding.
She stared at the sword half-bathing in the tub, face pale. This was the Goddess's second method: a weekly bath in Holy Sword-steeped water.
I'd thought she was joking at first. Steep a sword like teabags? Who'd believe that? But our Goddess doesn't mess around. No jokes.
"If... if I get in there... I might really die from the pain..."
Idwild shuddered, flashbacks of the sword's wrath hitting hard.
"It's fine. You're not touching the sword directly—the water neutralizes it enough. No pain."
"Who said...?"
"The Goddess."
"She probably just wants to purify the world by killing off evil black mages like me..."
I waited a bit longer, then pulled the sword out, tapping it against the tub to shake off the water.
"Get in."
"I really have to...?"
She backed to the room's end as I gripped the hilt, hesitating.
"If you don't wanna, go back where you came from."
Idwild flinched, giving me sad puppy eyes. I shook my head firmly.
"I won't let black magic pollute my inn, even if it kills me."
She bit her lip in silence. After gnawing it raw, she finally spoke.
"Fine... I'll do it. Just... get out."
"No can do. Gotta confirm you get in."
"Th-that's..."
Watching her bathe? Mortifying, sure. But necessary. Not like I'd stand right there gawking.
"I'll be behind the screen. Won't look. Go on."
"Okay..."
I stepped behind the partition. Rustling came from the other side as she walked over. The robe hit the floor—no underclothes, so that was it.
"G-gonna get in now..."
"Do it."
She lingered forever. Her hesitant footsteps on the wooden floor sounded utterly pathetic.
"Really... getting in now..."
"Got it."
Water splashed as her foot dipped in.
"Okay?"
"S-still... fine..."
She eased the rest in and stood there a moment. No reaction, so she lowered herself cautiously.
"Ngh...!"
The sudden groan had me bolting around the screen before I thought. If it was like the sword contact, this was dire—body moved first.
"What happened!?"
"N-nothing...! It's fine...!"
Idwild splashed, frantically covering her chest and curling up. In that split second, I'd seen it. Bigger than hinted under clothes—way bigger. Half-submerged, yet even arms couldn't hide it all; flesh spilled over sides and top.
I stared blankly.
"D-don't stare..."
She mumbled, head down. I snapped out of it.
"Uh...? S-sorry..."
I spun around, flustered. Awkward silence.
"Anyway... you good...?"
"Y-yeah... Stings a bit... but not bad... just a tingle..."
"Good... then... wash up..."
I slunk back behind the screen, that glimpse burned into my brain. Holy shit... never seen tits that massive... I'd faced down Aterugar the red dragon without blinking, but this?
Meanwhile, Idwild splashed away.
"This... kinda feels good... the prickling cleans well..."
"Glad to hear it. Goddess doesn't bullshit."
Silence again, just washing sounds. I broke it.
"So, you can work at the inn now?"
"Y-yeah... I can..."
"Not the time or place, but wages—what're you thinking?"
"Dunno... never really worked proper before... whatever you give is fine..."
"One gold a month okay?"
"Sure... don't care... as long as I eat and sleep here..."
Black mage or not, mages are mages. Hiring a real one costs over a hundred gold—and haughty pricks wouldn't slum it in a backwater inn anyway. Prideful assholes, all of 'em. The ones I'd partied with? Socially inept jerks.
One gold for a black mage? Basically free labor—slave wages, even. But if she's cool with it...
"Why're you grinning...?"
"Huh? Nah. Ignore it."
Listening to the busty black mage wash in sword-steeped water, I smirked at the bargain.
─────
Hired her on the spot. Next morning, problem.
"Della. Got anything bigger?"
"That's my biggest. It's loose for sleeping..."
"Right..."
Pre-dawn staff meeting in the hall before guests stirred. Idwild's only outfit: filthy black robe. Della lent hers.
But her figure turned it slutty—indecently so.
"Weird... it never looked like this..."
Della pouted, comparing. I averted my eyes, embarrassed. That scene from last night flashing...
"It's fine, Della... I'll wear it..."
"No way you can work in that. Ugh... everything shows."
Della grabbed a bar apron, tied it on Idwild, cinching the back. Waist slimmed, bust popped more. Still eye-straining, but at least nipples stayed hidden...
"B-better now...?"
She spun for me. Skirt hugged her ass blatantly.
That... no fix. Leave it.
Idwild got furnace duty, guest bath water, minor magic chores. Helped Della in the hall during rushes.
Soon after she started serving—apron over tight clothes—customers surged for some reason.