Though Nevia admired her own self-control, a flicker of embarrassment still crept in. Deep down, remnants of her past life as an otaku lingered—a conscience that, despite her flippant words, kept most true otaku kinder and far "purer" than those hypocrites who preached virtue but hid rot within.

So even after accepting her new reality as a girl, Nevia couldn’t bring herself to stare directly at such a stimulating sight: a beautiful girl’s naked body.

She forced calmness and turned her head away—only to immediately lock eyes with Nina, clad only in her underwear. The little girl blinked innocently, hands still moving. Thankfully, Nina had some decency left; she didn’t strip completely. Instead, she darted to the towel rack first before shedding her final layer.

Nevia hastily shifted her gaze again. This time, it landed on Alyssa standing frozen by the door. The girl’s face burned crimson, small hands fluttering uncertainly—clutching her chest one moment, dropping to her sides the next. Her eyes darted everywhere yet nowhere, radiating pure unease.

“Alyssa.” Nevia smoothed her expression, fighting her own blush, and beckoned. “Go change into your towel too.”

“Oh!” Alyssa jolted as if startled from a trance. She glanced at Nevia, flustered, then nodded obediently. Mimicking Nina, she scurried to the towel rack and began undressing.

Left with no safe place to look, Nevia tilted her head up, squinting curiously at the floating magic orb overhead.

Bright, near-white light streamed straight down from the wooden ceiling, illuminating every corner of the tiny bath. Suspended mid-air, Celia’s conjured orb glowed like a miniature sun.

Celia slowly wrapped the towel Nevia had tossed her around her bare, exquisite form. She shot a puzzled look at the little girl beside her—head bowed, face flushed an impossible shade of red. *Why’s she so shy? We’re both girls. And she’s just a child.* She couldn’t fathom Nevia’s inner turmoil.

Amidst the rustling of fabric, Nevia felt her long-dormant male soul stir. A strange sensation sprouted in her mind, threatening to spiral out of control.

Two figures materialized in her thoughts:

A radiant angel with snow-white wings, halo floating above its head, gripping a holy sword. *“How could you even consider peeping at girls bathing?!”*

Opposite it, a tiny demon with obsidian wings wreathed in dark mist, curled ram’s horns, a heart-shaped tail, and a trident. Its sultry voice dripped honey: *“You’re both girls. What’s there to fear? One little peek won’t hurt. No one will blame you…”*

*“But…”* Nevia hesitated.

The demon fluttered onto her shoulder, indignant. *“Lord Virgil! Ruler of Demons! Master of Darkness! How can you be so timid?”*

*“Demons aren’t inherently evil!”* the angel shot back.

*“And is this truly evil?”* the demon countered smoothly. *“Besides… a boy? Heh heh… Who but you believes that?”* It licked its purple-painted lips.

*“Even if no one knows, never forget your true heart,”* the angel urged.

Nevia agonized.

*“Admit it—you’re a girl now. This identity is the foundation of your grand destiny! A seraglio! The dream you clung to through countless lonely nights! The dream of becoming life’s ultimate winner! Opportunity stands before you. What holds you back?”*

The demon’s words struck deep. Nevia nodded inwardly. With an indignant *“Hmph!”*, the angel dissolved into smoke.

Temptation crushed her last shred of restraint. Nevia lowered her head, eyes wide—only to find Celia already wrapped in her robe. Disappointment flickered, though the damp towel still clung to her alluring curves.

Nevia swallowed hard. She tightened her own towel, dipped her right foot into the water, then her left. Ripples spread as she sank into the bath.

The temperature was perfect—geothermal spring water piped year-round.

The bath’s edge submerged the little girls completely, while Celia stood waist-deep near the center.

“Hmm…” Celia studied Nevia, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. “Shy even among girls? Our little princess has grown up.”

Nevia sank until only her head bobbed above water. “G-grown up…?”

“Hey-ya!”

Nina suddenly leaped from the edge, splashing high.

Celia chuckled softly, flicking water onto Nina’s head as she surfaced.

“Take this!” Nina dodged, but most of the water hit her—and the rest drenched Nevia behind her.

Nevia wiped her face, then splashed back. Celia retreated, dodging the spray. The missed water soaked Nina instead.

Undeterred, Nevia attacked again. Celia retaliated. Trapped between them, Nina refused to be a human shield and joined Celia’s side against Nevia.

Outnumbered, Nevia sputtered under the barrage. She spun toward Alyssa, who’d just finished wrapping her towel and was about to enter. “Alyssa! Help me!”

Peaceful bathing instantly erupted into all-out bath warfare.

After the playful chaos settled, the girls quieted. Nevia, face still flushed, let Celia comb her damp golden hair. Alyssa sat obediently beside her, knees hugged to her chest, tiny feet swaying gently in the water, tracing ripples. Nina darted through the bath like a mermaid, discovering a new game—though the pool was too small for proper laps.

Celia smoothed strands of Nevia’s hair, applying fragrant plant oil. *This is her daughter,* she thought, recalling the refined yet impassive face of Nevia’s mother. She couldn’t resist pinching the little girl’s soft cheek.

“Goodnight.” Celia extinguished the magic light. Darkness swallowed the room. Silence. Sweet dreams.

○

Time slipped by. The moon climbed to its zenith, then began its slow descent. Against the faintly glowing black sky, a streak of white light—like a falling star—shot toward Nevia’s house.

It halted at the second-floor window. The glow nudged the glass, finding it locked from within. A slender tendril of light slipped through the crack, twisting like a nimble hand to unlatch the window.

It eased the window open just enough to squeeze inside.

The orb “looked” at Nevia sleeping in bed, bobbing excitedly.

Its glow dimmed. A white sphere emerged—the same mysterious creature they’d met that day.

It drew its light inward. Then, radiance pulsed from within: first hands, then feet, a delicate body, a soft face—all unfolding from the glow into the form of a strangely pliant little girl.

Finally, the light gathered behind her, forming a pair of pitch-black, bat-like wings.

The child opened her mouth, revealing tiny fangs.

“Found you at last!”

Her heart-shaped tail condensed a pink heart. Flapping her demon wings, she floated gently, tail swaying. Pink sparkles drifted down like snowflakes, settling on the girls’ beds and skin.

A sweet, intoxicating fragrance filled the midnight air.