Published: September 9, 2025
Baths are wonderful things.
Master has given me many things, but I believe nothing offers such luxurious and blissful warmth as a bath.
Of course, meat is in a separate category.
"Huh? Ms. Liza, you're still in there? Isn't the water getting cold by now?"
"It's still warmer than my body temperature, so it's fine. Wasn't Mia supposed to clean the bath today? Did Arisa take over for her?"
"Hehe, just giving Master a punishment duty..."
...Again?
Probably Arisa, unrepentant as always, was harassing Master with some sort of "sexual harassment."
I think it’s natural for someone like Arisa to act in order to increase her descendants, but Master doesn’t seem very enthusiastic about leaving behind the next generation.
After all, he told Arisa and Lulu to wait five years.
Since I don’t want to interfere with the punishment duty, I decided to get out.
Arisa apologized with a mature tone, saying, "Sorry for kicking you out like that," but it was a trivial matter.
It’s a luxury for a slave, but after all, I can take a bath again tomorrow.
◇
"A 28-hour bath, huh?"
"Yeah, the teleportation hub in the mid-layer is cramped, so while building a new villa, I thought about installing a system that can supply warm water anytime in the bath. I’ve been asking everyone’s opinions. What do you think, Liza?"
"Of course, I’m in favor."
How wonderful!
To be able to soak in warm water anytime all day long!
The next day, we arrived at the section where many aquatic monsters live, planned as the site for the mid-layer villa. Labyrinth monstrous fish, cannon shells, clawed shrimp-crabs with accordion-like pincers, and leaping flounders attacked us, but they were no match for our appetite-driven determination.
We struggled a little with the labyrinth coral that spread paralyzing poisonous mist, but thanks to Master’s support and Arisa’s and Mia’s magical assistance, we achieved victory.
We trampled the sandy beach inhabited by eight-headed eels that scatter lightning orbs from gemstones on their foreheads, broke through the tough defenses of gem sea cucumbers and diamond shells, and finally reached the site planned for the villa.
"Are we building it here?"
"Yeah, there’s a heat source like a magma pool under this section."
I listened intently to the conversation between Arisa and Master.
I don’t know what a magma pool is, but it must be some kind of magical artifact to heat water.
My role is to build the villa according to Master’s instructions.
...Master opened holes for the plumbing using earth magic in no time.
He even quickly created drainage trenches with earth magic.
I waited nearby for orders, but there was no role for me.
What should I do?
When I asked Master, he gently said, "I opened the path this far, right? Resting is part of the work when you’re tired."
However, I think Master, who has ensured everyone’s safety up to this point, must be the most exhausted.
All I can do is help Lulu prepare lunch so I don’t get in Master’s way.
Instead of regretting my incompetence, I will do my best with what I can.
◇
After finishing the meal preparations and calling Master, I saw that the villa, which had been completed without me noticing, stood before me.
It was a far more splendid building than the villas in the four upper sections.
"Ah, Liza! Come here. The large public bath is finished; take a look."
I followed Master’s beckoning and came to the large bathhouse.
There was a large bathtub that had plenty of room even for all of us to enter together.
"Don’t get in yet, okay? We need to let the water flow out for a while to wash away dirt and sand."
When I dipped my hand into the bath, the temperature was just right.
I was tempted to strip off my clothes and jump in, but the first bath belongs to Master.
For a mere slave like me, taking the first bath would be overstepping.
When Master bathes, I have to wash his back to soothe the fatigue of the day.
Since Arisa screams with delight when her back is washed, I’m sure Master will be just as satisfied.
For that, first we need to fill our stomachs.