The Silent Pact of a Wolf Babysitter
Chapter 82: Bath Battle I

Chapter 82: Bath Battle I

"Argghhh!!!" I almost wanted to scratch my skull out of frustration. "Nothing! Nothing, okay! Just go! It’s an order!"

Hearing it was an order, they boosted away at inhuman speed. Leaving Jobina behind as she struggled to keep up.

But yikes... Alicia was faster than I thought...

Sigh...

I can’t believe they actually wanted to bathe in that lake, the one within eye range of camp.

Perverts, indeed.

{Master...}

(What?)

{When did you start becoming so disturbed by female human bodies?}

Eep!

How dare you ask me such a question, Platform?!

(N-Nothing! I just... I just don’t want to see anything w-weird!)

{Weird in what way?}

(Gahhh!!! What is this, an interrogation?! I’m not responding!)

{...Master truly is changing... Master is becoming...human.}

Hm?

(What’s that supposed to mean?)

{...}

Silent treatment again.

But me becoming human?

I feel like that was a very mean insult.

A great Fenrir like myself, reduced to some substandard human? Impossible!

Now that the ladies had gone to soak in the mountains, it was finally time for the main event—

C...C-Crab cooking!!

{Master’s drooling.}

(Shut up and bring out those recipes!)

Eh...?

I turned around—and froze.

Tamayō and Shizuka were gone.

Where did they go?!

Don’t tell me... they also went to take a bath?!

I meant the ladies with human forms when I said that!!

I really hoped a heated battle wouldn’t break out between them, until—

A kaleidoscope of murderous auras erupted like a volcano around the mountains.

GULP!

Maybe I should just let them bond a bit.

I hear fighting makes relationships stronger.

Just take a look at me and Platform!

*

LEVINA

"Would you care to cease that deathly aura?" I asked, eyes closed, as Alicia, Jobina, and I soaked in the mountain spring.

I sighed, slowly lifting my eyelids to the human-shaped women who had arrived shortly after us.

"This is why the others don’t appreciate your presence... Tamayō."

*

Just as Master Raven had finally accepted Jobina—albeit under pressure after her threat—he promptly sent us away to bathe in the mountains nearby.

Oddly flustered about it too.

I never realized he cared so much about cleanliness.

In Coastelle, mountains were abundant.

The one nearest our camp was about half a mile away, modest compared to the others, but high enough to feel the winds shift as we ascended.

At its peak, we stumbled upon an unexpected gift: a naturally formed spring.

The stone around it was smooth, appearing worn by time and water, carving out a shallow basin of steaming, clear water.

A narrow stream poured in from between the rocks, then spilled out through a crack at the far edge, keeping the water fresh and alive.

It felt almost deliberate. As if the mountain itself had offered this place to us.

Alicia and I arrived first.

Jobina lagged behind—still healing from that foolish scuffle with Master Raven, her usual speed dulled.

Alicia seemed familiar with this kind of place.

She called it a "hot spring," a term that meant little to me.

Or perhaps I had simply forgotten.

Following Alicia’s doctrines, I hardened [White Water], mixing in some lathering features, as a substitute for soap—scrubbing myself clean in the flowing stream before slipping into the carved pool.

Alicia followed, her expression brightening visibly.

The water was... luxurious.

To properly feel its warmth, I had to weaken the natural defenses of my body, allowing myself to be vulnerable.

But it was worth it.

The water seemed to have several magical healing effects.

However, it didn’t just soothe the body; it reached deeper—easing the mind as well.

Alicia relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen since we first met.

She was enjoying herself—her smile, real and unguarded, suited her far too well.

My gaze wandered: for a girl still so young, her figure was surprisingly mature.

The curve of her lashes framed those warm emerald eyes that fluttered open every so often, glancing around lazily.

It made me want to pull her close, to cuddle her like a treasured doll.

Of course, if I did, she might try to drown me—albeit pointless.

Alicia truly was beautiful.

"Y...y...you guys!"

Jobina finally stumbled up the slope, gasping for air.

"You just left me behind! Meanies!"

Without waiting for a reply, she began stripping off her clothes, clearly aiming to join us in the spring.

SMASH!

Alicia dashed and kicked her squarely in the stomach before she could get close, sending Jobina flying backwards into a boulder by the stream.

Her head sank deep into the rock, leaving her flailing helplessly.

"What do you think you’re doing," Alicia muttered, half-lidded eyes narrowing, "trying to dunk that dirty body into this sacred water?"

Jobina peeled her head out of the boulder, smiled without shame, and stumbled over to the stream.

I’d left some hardened White Water there earlier, so she used it, even going as far as to taste it with the tip of her tongue like some curious beast.

I sighed inwardly.

This entire realm... I don’t even recognize it anymore.

Even without our intervention, the land had begun healing itself.

And now, this area...

If I focused, tuning out the noise, I could sense veins of life running deep beneath the ground, like rivers of energy and water intertwined.

Maybe that was the source of this miraculous spring.

I had a feeling it could heal more than just simple wounds. Maybe even diseases.

"Jobina," I called gently. "Hurry and come in."

She blushed lightly and muttered back, "I’ll be there soon."

Her forehead still bore a small injury, the stubborn mark from her earlier scuffle.

I wanted to see if this water would heal it, like I suspected.

When I traced the veins underfoot, concentrating harder, I caught a glimpse—vague but real—of what felt like a "heart" pulsing deep within the world.

But, that I can only do so vaguely means... it’s hiding from me.

It didn’t want to be seen, and it was succeeding.

I wondered if Master Raven had sensed it, too...

But one thing was clear:

This place truly wasn’t [Marine Kingdom] anymore.

It’s... Alive.

With a splash and a giggle, Jobina finally plunged into the spring, sending waves lapping against the rocky edges.

She swam over and clung to my side like a mischievous child.

"D... Don’t think this is over between us!" she mumbled into my shoulder. "I will still slay you for what you did to my father."

I smiled, unable to help myself.

Her wound was already closing.

"Understood," I said softly. "Whenever you’re ready, come to me. But don’t expect me to lower my head so easily." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

*

For a while, silence stretched between us.

A little heavy, a little uncomfortable.

Then, out of nowhere, Jobina blurted:

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