The Silent Pact of a Wolf Babysitter
Chapter 85: Bath Battle IV

Chapter 85: Bath Battle IV

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.

She would even become the world’s enemy for the sake of those she loves.

And perhaps—just possibly—I have a seat among those she’d burn the skies for.

But there was one more thing:

"Alicia," I asked, tilting my head. "Did you and Master Raven come to Pison just to dwell here?"

"Hm? Not exactly," she replied. "Papa wanted us to leave earth—I think you folks call it Gihon—But Ruby has another objective in mind."

Ah, she said "Papa."

"Eh? You and Master Ruben are from Gihon? That other fragment of the Heavenly Piece?"

Someone, please, hand Jobina Volume One of the story.

Still, I’d always wondered.

If Master Raven simply wanted peace in Pison, why then did he carry such dreadful forces of Specters at his beck and call?

It felt like preparation—no, expectation—for something grander.

And I needed to know what that is.

Alicia continued. "Pluto, the god of death from Earth, made a Pact with Ruby. He asked him to slay someone..."

She rubbed her chin, feigning thought.

"Ah yes. Its name was Cthulhu."

The very term echoed.

Jobina sprang to her feet instinctively.

Tamayō flinched—though I’m certain she shouldn’t even know what the name means.

Shizuka: "..."

Alicia truly is a horror herself. To speak that name with such ease...

And refer to the Old One as merely "it."

"Cthulhu... As in the G-Great Old One, Cthulhu?" Jobina now wore the most serious expression I’d ever seen on her face.

"She’s not someone you plan to ’slay.’ She’s akin to Ragnarok itself... I have to talk Master Ruben out of it."

She was just about to step out of the basin when—

"Stay put!" Tamayō’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Are you trying to say the Supreme Lord is weak—and cannot defeat this threat?"

Despite the thick aura pouring off Tamayō like an incoming storm, Jobina stared her down.

"Master Ruben is anything but weak. But think about it—fighting the air, the sky, death itself... Those are literally impossible battles. Cthulhu is like that. She is impossible to defeat."

"You know..." Alicia cut in, sounding almost bored. "I really hate pessimistic lines of thought like that."

That was... the first thing she ever said to me too.

"If it exists," Alicia declared, "I believe it can be slain."

She flicked a finger through the steam. "Of course, I wouldn’t go to war with a spoon or a piece of rag. Likewise, Ruby will have to equip himself—body, mind, and soul. But..."

She smiled darkly. "Ruby won’t lose to some one-dimensional villain."

I understood her point. I think.

But... Cthulhu isn’t one-dimensional. Not even close.

Honestly, I feel Alicia and her would be compatible with each other. Their murderous tendencies alone...

If I could say... Cthulhu is comparable to Alicia, but without a leash.

But what in all existence was that idiot, Pluto, thinking—sending my beloved to wrestle with something that cannot be wrestled by any known or sane means!?

I swear—if I ever find Pluto, I’ll end him!

Jobina seemed to cool down. She slowly lowered herself back into the bath’s warmth.

"...I’m sorry," she murmured. "You’re right."

Her voice steadied. "I, of all people, should understand the thrill of leaping into something bigger than your capacity—and still emerging victorious!"

Says the girl who threw herself at something bigger than life—Master Raven—and almost bit the dust.

"Either way," Alicia shrugged, casually sloshing water. "I’m sure this Cthulhu trash is basically fodder. Maybe her ’Big Four’ will be the real problem. But trust me, I’ve read enough stories to know—there’s always one small weakness for the last boss. Find it, and Ruby will crush them into the loam where they belong."

Ahhh... ignorance is such bliss...

If only I could be that carefree.

But no—knowledge carries weight.

A weight that never leaves you, not even in death.

Nevertheless, I gave up trying to convince Alicia otherwise.

Why?

Because I will make certain Master Raven achieves his goal.

It’s already a sealed deal: if a Pact binds my Master to the agreement, then he will forever be under Pluto’s thumb—until Cthulhu perishes.

Therefore, every preparation must be made.

And I will take it upon myself to empower my Master’s forces.

We will need more than just powerful allies—we’ll need an army of unnaturally skilled elites. And in a short amount of time, too.

Cthulhu commands legions—diverse, ancient, terrifying.

To face her, we must field a force of comparable might.

We’ll have to put pride aside. We’ll have to train until we vomit blood.

If it comes to it, I’ll personally conquer a human kingdom—or two—and turn every last citizen into a high-ranked Sea Demon of my own.

If I turn them while they’re still alive, they’ll be stronger.

At least 100,000 PV... Base Champion level.

I would prefer for Master Raven to focus solely on refining his power for the final confrontation. I’ll speak to him—to relieve him of the burden of gathering forces.

I will use everything I am to serve my Master.

...My first love.

This... I, Levina, vow—

I raised my head, confused by the heavy silence around me.

They were all staring at me.

Oh no.

I had... been thinking out loud!

For the past few minutes.

How disconcerting.

"Hmph." Alicia dramatically tossed her hair. "You serpentine swine—"

"Swin—!! Excuse me?!"

"—I knew I could count on you to have his back."

She smiled, genuinely. "I’m happy I didn’t choose wrongly."

"Well, I can’t let you hog all the honor!" Jobina burst in. "Even if I just showed up a few Chapters ago, I’ll also do my best to assist!"

"Hahhh," Tamayō sighed. "I’m rather pleased the Supreme Lord has such worthy followers like you. Now do as you have vowed. For me, and for my Lord. Understood?"

Shizuka: "..."

Heh... the blush on her supposedly emotionless face says it all.

I became so bashful and self-conscious, I futilely attempted to obscure my red face in the water.

Wh-who do they think they are?! Reducing me to this?!

If any of my old comrades were to see me—the honored sea sovereign—like this, they’d never believe their eyes.

They’ll frantically search for the psychological spell which was supposedly employed to make me mad.

"Arrgghhh!! You fools!!" I shot up from the water, splashing them all. "Let’s all do our best, okay?!"

"And where do you get off giving orders? Take that!" Tamayō exclaimed, retaliating with a splash.

Jobina dove into the splash war, bombarding Alicia like a dolphin on liquor.

Eventually, even Alicia joined in with a grin that promised damnation.

Shizuka?

"..."

Still nose-down, buried in the tub like some melancholic overgrown otter.

To be frank, it was just harmless, lighthearted splashing with giggles, at first.

Until Jobina started adding rocks to the mix...

Then somewhere along the line—we all got serious.

All four of us—excluding that lazy wolf—travelled in a flash of motion and slammed our fists together.

The collision created a destructive shockwave that rippled through the mountain’s foundation.

Jobina was blown off the mountain immediately.

But I could’ve sworn I saw a disgustingly gleeful smile on her face as she flew.

The waters evaporated from the impact. Mist swirled and hissed in the air.

The area around Shizuka had been frozen in reality—literally.

Only a small slice of the hot spring remained untouched, debris floating around her midair, suspended by her freezing aura.

What a shame though.

I had planned to bring Master Raven here...

Maybe get away with rubbing our naked bodies together in the silence of the night. And maybe get away with one mischief or two.

But now?

...I’m not even sure there’ll be a mountain left in the next few minutes.

Alicia had discarded her beads, her magic energy ripping through boulders in the distance like liquid flames, turning rocks into high-quality minerals worth fortunes—only to obliterate them just as quickly.

Tamayō had also unleashed her full life-consuming power, ready to throw down at a moment’s notice.

Well, I suppose we’re doing this: a three-way battle between three naked women atop a mountain, for no reason in particular.

But of course, I’ll use this as an opportunity to see how far Alicia can really go, how strong Tamayō actually is, and how I can handle battling two Supreme-level beings.

"Let me warn both of you," Alicia began, her green aura flickering darkly at the edges. "I’m not used to fighting, so I’m not sure how much power I should hold back. Someone might die."

"Hah! You upstart!" Tamayō scoffed. "I’ll educate you, puny human. Magic power isn’t true strength!"

Sigh...

These children.

Tamayō was literally born yesterday, and she’s here running her mouth.

"You both are still very young," I said, my own black and purple energy turning the area into a wasteland of ash. "Let me show you... the true authority of the ancient horror—Leviathan of Envy."

And so, the real after-bath battle began.

Hehe...

Master Raven’s going to be so upset.

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