Chapter 72 – Pillow Fight
72 – Pillow Fight
Now then. We finally get to the main event. Apparently, when you go traveling as a group, people play a game called a pillow fight. As the name suggests, it is a game about fighting with pillows by throwing them.
Everyone gathered in my room for the purpose of letting me enjoy the normal trip experience. Much like during the snowball fight, Madge came close to protect me, knife at the ready; but Florence said「Do not cut up the pillows if you please.」and Madge reluctantly put her knife away.
The kids’ throwing strength is weak anyway – so even if you get hit by the pillow, it just goes puff; and the pillows themselves are soft, so this should be a peaceful affair, but…
「I still haven’t forgiven you for stealing the first date with Sir Rain…」 Lejie threw a pillow and it went boom as if it could break through a wall.
「…Hah!」
Eleanor was her target, but she avoided it by immediately teleporting.
The pillow went straight for the window and broke clean through the glass window…at least it would’ve if not for…
「That’s dangerous~. We’re all having fun here, so please be careful~」said Louto. Looks like Louto set up a barrier. It’s good that the building won’t be damaged, but the sound the pillow made when it bounced off the barrier was already frightening enough. The feathers stuffed in the pillow scattered about when it bounced off the barrier.
The kids were startled for a moment but then said『Oh it’s the seven ladies again…』with an exasperated look on their faces, and then they resumed their pillow fight. …They’re used to it.
「Please refrain from destroying the furniture!」 cried out Florence in anger.
「I-I shall make her pay full reparations.」said Ferris apologetically while bowing her head.
Eleanor picked up somebody’s pillow that was on the floor and adopted a throwing posture. She was still in her battle with Lejie.
「Forgive what? You all gained the right to go on one-on-one dat-…outings with Sir Rain after that! You should be thanking me!」
While giving her rebuttal, Eleanor throws her pillow at Lejie.
「Adack…」
The pillow hit her square in the chest, causing her breasts to wobble tremendously.
The impact loosened her yukata and her breasts nearly slipped out.
However, it seems I was the only one worried about that, since the others were focused on something else entirely.
「Wait a moment! That is information I know nothing about! 」
「That’s the first I’ve heard of that too… I could’ve…went on a date with Rain, huh…」
「I-it’s fine… Just fffine…if I didn’t get to have a date with him because I…I’m protecting him…」
Florence was surprised, Monana looked forlorn, and Madge’s shoulders drooped.
Seeing them like that made my chest ache, so I just blurted out…
「No, that happened before I reunited with you three. If you three don’t mind, let’s go out next time.」
The three of them instantly turned toward me.
「Please!」
「Y-yeah. I would be happy to…」
「I will absolutely go.」
They answered immediately.
Seeing this, Eleanor looked like she just made a huge mistake.
「Gr… Eleanor! You said too much!」 yelled Vivi.
Eleanor caught the pillow that Vivi threw at her. 「It could not be helped! Lejie was the one who brought past events up in the first place…」
「You’re getting preferential treatment cos you went and made yourself his guardian.」
「Not at all!」
Vivi, Eleanor, and Lejie were arguing about something. At that moment, Louto quietly leaned in close to me.
「Going on individual dates with the four of us was the first round, with the inclusion of Florence, Monana, and Madge, that would make it the start of the second round… In other words, what say you go on an outing with all of us once again~?」
『…Louto… Unlike those three having an unseemly argument, you work to exact terms that will benefit you as well… You are my friend, but you are also terrifying…!』
Mika spoke in a tone that was both surprised, and admiring.
In response to Louto’s opinion, the Florence gang of three were against it. The four on Eleanor’s side tried to get their opinion through using their superiority in numbers. It was a lively debate.
I decided to separate from the older group and have fun throwing pillows with the kids.
◇
After working up a sweat in the pillow fight, we head for the hot springs. The hot springs were divided into men and women sections, so I was by myself on the men’s side. The kids, and even Mika, were in the women’s baths.
At the Demon King Castle, it’s either the kids, Mika, the maid Ferris, or the intruder at the time causing a fuss, so being able to fully enjoy the hot water by myself is a treat. The hot water was pleasant and warmed me to my core.
I have no complaints, so why…?
Why do I feel…unsatisfied? Maybe…I’ve gotten used to situations where I’m always with somebody. So, this feeling that I’m feeling right now is…loneliness.
「Is this also…part of being normal?」 Just cos it’s a normal emotion doesn’t mean it’s all good.
「Savior or not, maybe everyone has it rough…」
Muttering to myself, I soaked in the bath all alone.
◇
After the bath, seeing the ladies with their flushed faces and damp hair made my heart race a little; but I calmed down when I gulped down some cold milk together with the kids.
After having our bodies warmed up in the hot springs, it was time for us to eat. While eating outside was good, being able to relax and savor hot food indoors prepared by others is unbeatable. With a warm body and a filled belly, I was starting to get sleepy.
While the kids were halfway to dreamland, we returned to our rooms. The floor of the room, called a Tatami, is special, and they say that you spread out a futon over it and sleep on it.
After rolling out the futons, the kids flopped onto them and fell asleep. We had lots of fun today, but I guess even the kids’ inexhaustible stamina has its limits. Only Carro and Ur stayed awake to talk to me, but they could only keep that up for about ten minutes.
I was sleepy too, so I said good night to Mika, who was leaning against a wall, and went to bed. I could feel my consciousness sinking, and my vision turned to black…
「Master Hero.」
…How much time had passed? I could hear the sound of the fireplace crackling. I opened my eyes and saw Ferris’s face illuminated by the pale light.
「Ferris?」
「Yes, Master Hero, it is I. Apologies for disturbing you in your sleep.」
「…Did something happen?」
I sat upright while being careful not to wake Ur, who climbed into my futon, and Carro, whose foot was on my chest from tossing and turning in her sleep.
「If it pleases you, I wish to speak with you in the hallway…」
I nod and I glance briefly at Mika.
『…Just go.』
It’s rare for Mika to not want to tag along. Puzzled and empty-handed, I went out to the hallway. I closed the door silently so that I wouldn’t wake the children.
「So? What’s up?」
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