The Silent Pact of a Wolf Babysitter
Chapter 84: Bath Battle III

Chapter 84: Bath Battle III

"I don’t recall speaking to you," Tamayō muttered, eyes flicking toward me with disdain.

I waved her off lazily, fingers just above the surface of the steaming water.

"Calm yourself. Master Raven told us to relax... It was an order, remember?"

She stared a while longer, flowing irritation simmering behind her lashes.

But before she could retort, Shizuka brushed past in silence, sloping into the rocky basin with the refinement of a shadow.

"Hey!" Alicia snapped, splashing water in protest. "Go rinse that body at the stream before getting in!"

"...Shizuka... not dirty," came the soft, hushed reply—barely audible—as she dipped into the spring until only her nose remained above water.

"What’s that supposed to mean?!" Alicia barked again, but stopped short.

Shizuka’s nonchalance was too unnerving, too placid.

Though, it clashed wildly with the image of her earlier today—ripping Andras apart like he wasn’t a high-ranking Principality; like he wasn’t a Marquis-class devil.

Tamayō, at last, seemed to exhale some of that fiendish aura.

She moved toward the side stream with regal grace, feet quiet against the wet stone.

Every step was a study in pride and purpose.

This she-fox... She was familiar with this kind of place too.

Odd.

Considering she was made just yesterday.

Or is it possible that Master Raven is just reanimating the souls of the fallen?

It’s not beyond him, that wonder Fenrir.

After rinsing off, Tamayō stepped into the spring. The ripple of heat licked across her skin, and for the first time, her guarded face softened.

"It hit the spot, didn’t it?" I teased.

"Silence," she replied, though her closed eyes betrayed how much she was savoring it.

I leaned back against the rock, letting the natural heat crawl up my spine.

"How come you both have human forms now?"

Tamayō sat across from me, twelve feet away.

Shizuka floated aimlessly beside her, bobbing slightly like some object.

"We had no choice," Tamayō answered at last. "Those cursed Phantom Fangs were more assertive than expected. So we ought to become serious-minded."

"But it’s not complete yet," I pointed out. "Your ears and tails are still out."

"In a little while, I’ll master the transformation," she said coolly. "But I’d rather keep my tails visible—a simple reminder of my obvious superiority to the rest of you."

She spoke of superiority with such pride, yet the Phantom Fangs had mastered their transformations in mere minutes.

"What?" Tamayō hissed, noticing Jobina sculling her way over. "Has my glorious form stolen your allegiance?"

"N–No. It’s just..." Jobina’s eyes glued to Tamayo’s chest. "I was jealous of your big boobs."

Jobina. A little decency now and then wouldn’t kill you.

And wait—was Master Raven truly in agreement with her tailing him around like this?

Maybe Alicia had a point... I should probably just leave her in Coastelle as part of the wildlife.

"Naturally!" Tamayō preened, pushing her chest forward with pride. "Did you really think those malnourished ribs were any match for me? This is the human reflection of my fox form. I retain my mysticism in full."

Jobina glanced innocently at Tamayō’s chest again, then sneakily at mine.

"But Leviathan’s boobs are pretty big too..." she said, raising her hands in the air with a gesture that was utterly uncanny.

"Do not be deceived, child," Tamayō said gravely, as if bestowing divine knowledge. "Those lumps of hers are essentially mud stuffed into old leather. Fraud work, meant only to seduce the Supreme Lord."

Jobina blinked slowly, appearing genuinely captivated by Tamayō’s nonsense. Then she frowned slightly.

"But hers are floating. Actually... Big Sis Alicia’s too. And the blue-eyed lady."

Shizuka: "..."

Sadness. Pure, quiet sadness leaked from every utterance Jobina made.

Then Tamayō did something unexpected.

She moved closer and gently placed a hand on Jobina’s shoulder.

"In the theater of war," she counseled with a smile that looked almost kind, "not everyone gets to play. Some get thrown off stage. Some die. But you, my dear? You were never even on stage. So sit back... and observe how actual women handle the performance."

Jobina blinked again, her voice flat. "Ah. Yes. I’m sorry."

No, I’m sorry, Jobina.

"Come now, Tamayō," I rebuked, as Jobina swam up and clung to me like a child in need of comfort. "Cease your harassment. Even if she may never possess the charms needed to seduce Master Raven, she is one of us now."

Jobina trembled slightly against me. "Thank you, Leviathan... but you can stop now. This kind of pain doesn’t feel good," she whispered, voice low.

"Look, I’ve been silent long enough," Alicia cut in, her glare sharp enough to slash the soul. "Let’s make this clear: there will be no ’seducing Ruby,’ understood? And as the first wife, I must also be the first to sleep with him. That’s only proper, no?"

"I object!" Tamayō snapped back, sitting straighter. "I asked the Lord directly, and he told me he was a bachelor!"

"Wh–what?!" Alicia recoiled as if slapped. "He’s just timid! We were wed before our journey even began! My father officiated the union—and mind you, my father is God!"

Shizuka: "..."

"Ehh?! Alicia’s father is the Creator?!" Jobina gasped in awe.

"That has to be a ridiculous lie," Tamayō countered at once. "And even if by some impossible twist it’s true..."

Her shimmering, multicolored irises glinted faintly beneath the mist, "I’ll trounce that ’high and mighty’ Creator if he dares stand between me and my rightful place at the Supreme Lord’s side."

"Say what?!" Alicia was already halfway into a swing.

Chaos.

Yes. This hot spring had devolved into chaos. And maybe the fun kind.

But honestly, where does Tamayō get her confidence? Has she not... yet realized?

"Tamayō. Jobina. Shizuka," I called them to attention, voice steady with a hint of gravity. "By now, I’m certain you’ve all noticed it too... Tell me, what do you truly think of Alicia?"

By the change of atmosphere, I confirmed they understood what I meant.

I hadn’t, not at first. I was too wrapped in my own age-old power, too sure of my sight, which let to my swift defeat.

But Tamayō and Shizuka should’ve been with Alicia long enough to discern the obvious.

"This interference of a human?" Tamayō began, voice quieter now. "I see her as an unorthodox aberration... with strength even I cannot measure. A great mountain, nonetheless, in my path, barring me from becoming empress over all who call the Supreme Lord ’Lord.’ And yet..."

She looked to Alicia, "My Lord doesn’t seem to realize. She holds more control over her power than she ever lets on."

"Good," I nodded. "That’s mostly it. Alicia is a very dangerous individual—one I cannot even imagine to control. It’d take more than half of my former comrades—the Powers of Darkness themselves—to leave a meaningful scratch on her."

"I’m sitting right here, you know," Alicia mumbled from the side.

I ignored her and turned my head to the left. "What about you, Shizuka?"

Shizuka: "...Alicia-sama... strong..."

Like a fish gasping its final breath. Still, I suppose we’ll accept that.

"I agree with Big Sis Tamayō!"

What’s with the sudden Big Sis honorifics?

And why is she calling me without any?!

Insolent girl. I must discipline her.

She continued. "Big Sis Alicia’s magic is so dense, even the beads on her wrist can barely hold together. They’re absorbing around five hundred average human’s magic at a time. And it’s not even putting much of a dent in her reserves."

"Exactly," I replied, calmly. "Also, if you won’t call me Big Sis, then at least call me Levina, like everyone else."

"Okay!! Levina-like-everyone-else!!"

I will drown this dirty pig. And I’ll make it look like mercy.

"Despite everything you’re all saying," Alicia began, voice as lazy as her lounging posture, "I don’t actually care about this power. Though, to be honest... it’s still growing."

"YELP!" That was everyone’s collective reaction.

"You must be jesting," Tamayō narrowed her eyes, suspicious.

"I’m not, though." Alicia’s tone remained flat. "After my fight with Levina, I felt it surge again. Just like it did after I fought Pap—I mean, my father."

So Tamayō and the others don’t get to hear her say "Papa" like a child...

It pleases me, however, that she only calls him that when we’re alone.

"But regarding this power," Alicia continued, "unless it’s for shielding Ruby from unforeseen threats, or wiping out entire flocks of fools who’d dare disrespect him... I really don’t want it. I could honestly trade it for some aphrodisiac, or the like."

Alicia just casually, literally confessed that she’d willingly become a mass murderer.

"If Father, Mother, and Ruby were to vanish from this world," she said softly, "this power would never satisfy me. It wouldn’t fill the gap they’ll leave behind, you understand?"

Tamayō let out a sigh—one that hinted at faint approval.

Jobina wore a smug smile, like her kingpin of a sister had just delivered a perfect address to the masses.

But Shizuka: "..."

Still silently basking in the blessings of the spring.

I understood Alicia’s words, at any rate.

She would never crave power for its own sake... nor shoulder the weight of the world just because she could.

No. not just that—