At night, in the inn’s women’s bath.

Milora washed off the sweat she’d built up during the day. She’d always been pretty casual about bathing, and she hadn’t brought the skincare magic potion Torina had given her.

She couldn’t help looking at her body in the mirror.

Torina had dragged her to beauty salons a few times. The calluses and dead skin from years of hard labor in childhood had all been cleaned away. After being treated with the best medicines, her skin had returned to the fair tone it should’ve had. And her silver hair... that was probably from the noble blood on her father’s side? After repeated care, it now shone brilliantly too.

When she changed in the dressing area, she’d already felt many eyes on her. She’d even heard people saying things like, “Who’s that girl?” “She’s so pretty.” “I wanna hug her.” It left her feeling very conflicted.

The future version of herself she’d imagined was a battle-hardened powerhouse. A weathered face, fitted combat wear, an aura as deep as the abyss. Like those super-cool lone heroes in storybooks who’d been through countless hardships.

Not some soft, delicate, fair-skinned, beautiful silver-haired doll.

But... unexpectedly, she didn’t seem to hate it that much?

[She’s already succeeded. Comfort has made you weak, Milora Sistem.]

And of course, the system chose that exact moment to speak.

“I’m not... I know where I stand! But... when you’ve accepted someone’s help... for now, I still...”

Milora’s rebuttal was obviously lacking confidence.

[Do you need me to tell you what the era I lived in was like? The weak were all nourishment. The strong were all enemies. Only one supreme being could stand at the top, so you must not be bound by so-called loyalty or sentiment! The one who wins in the end is always the cruelest!]

“I-I know! So I—”

“Hi, you came to bathe too?”

“!!”

And of course, Torina showed up right then.

Her hair was damp and glossy from the steam. Tiny droplets covered skin even fairer than Milora’s. Her grand symbols of motherhood asserted their presence without the slightest restraint. Her waist was just as slim as Milora’s, but her upper and lower curves weren’t even in the same league... Was that really the body of a seventeen-year-old? What had she even eaten to develop like that?

And in Torina’s eyes, Milora was just as much of a feast for the eyes.

Her silver-white hair was wrapped in a towel, but the steam made her fair skin look even more enticing. Her slender, delicate body made people want to pull her into a tight hug. The modestly sized parts of her figure overflowed with youthful vitality. And those smooth little calves were especially— ahem, no, can’t look anymore. This kid wasn’t even sixteen yet. This was a crime, an actual crime.

What? In another world, you can get married at fourteen?

Nice! Thank you, isekai!

“Let’s wash together. I’ll help wash your hair.”

“N-no need! And cover yourself! You’re totally exposed!”

“We’re both girls, what’s there to care about? Come on, don’t be shy~”

“Wait—”

Torina advanced step by step. Milora retreated step by step. In the end, she was forced against the bathhouse wall with nowhere left to hide. Torina used her extra head of height to block every possible escape route.

“W-what are you trying to do?”

“Hehe, what do you think I’m trying to do?”

Torina brushed back her gorgeous black hair, lowered her head, and slowly moved closer to Milora’s face. Milora trembled slightly as she watched those approaching lips. Her body wouldn’t move at all, as if that demonic beauty had bewitched her—

“Gah, urk...”

“...Huh?”

At that moment, Torina suddenly stopped.

She shoved a hand into her own mouth and used her fingers to dig at her throat.

“Urk, ngh, urk urk...”

“What are you doing...?”

“Urk urk urk... ngh... hey!”

She suddenly yanked her hand out of her mouth.

Along with an entire bouquet of roses.

“Ta-da~ Look!”

Like a magician, she gave a little bow and very gentlemanly offered the saliva-covered bouquet to Milora.

“...What are you doing?”

“House Dewell’s secret little magic trick~♪”

“Doing magic tricks to make girls happy” — that was a classic move guys used to chase girls in the previous century, according to memories from her past life. And now she finally had a chance to use it in this life. Truly a perfect trick.

“It’s for you!”

“…………”

Milora looked at the bouquet, covered in saliva, somehow both gorgeous and wilted at the same time. Her expression turned awkward. After a brief hesitation, she carefully pinched the stem with her thumb and index finger and took it.

It felt sticky.

It smelled really nice.

But was that the scent of roses, or her saliva?

Thinking about it that way made it kind of... disgusting.

Was this some new harassment tactic from the yuri playbook!?

As for the other women bathing there and witnessing the scene—

(What kind of play is this?)

(That’s kinda gross...)

(They’re really wild...)

(Aren’t they from the Shepherd Moon Adventurers?)

(What is that, some girls-love club?)

(This is a public place...)

(I know that captain. She’s no ordinary person.)

(Sounds like a super aggressive lesbian.)

Without realizing it, Torina had gained another weird title.

...

...

...

Ten minutes later, both of them were soaking in the bath. Torina happily enjoyed the bliss of bathing with a beautiful girl, while Milora’s ears had gone completely red.

Then, as if asking casually, Torina said—

“Why were you so stubborn about not practicing any other sword styles before?”

“Ah? Th-that... didn’t I already explain that to you?”

“I’m just curious who taught you that sword style. There’s no way you figured it out all by yourself, right?”

“……………… I have a... ‘friend.’ It taught me.”

“Can it be trusted?”

“Of course it can.”

Milora answered in an instant.

When she’d been lonely and lost, it was the system she’d picked up that showed her the way. When she wanted to achieve great things, it was the system that helped her make plans. The system was her only companion, and her most reliable guide. Of course she trusted it. It was the only thing she could trust.

“...Then what else has that friend taught you?”

“That’s none of your business...”

“Where is that friend now? Can you let me meet them?”

“That’s... not very convenient. It’s my old... uh... childhood friend? Right, childhood friend!”

“‘Childhood friend,’ hm? I see... Then can you add me too? You can never have too many friends. Let me become your friend too.”

“But...”

“I told you before. The things you’ve never experienced, the joys you’ve never known, I’ll teach them to you one by one. And if you’re eager to grow stronger, I also have more than enough money to support you.”

“...I don’t get it. I really don’t. Didn’t you dislike me before? Why did your attitude change so fast? Why are you being so good to me?”

“The world is changing, and I’m changing too. I nearly brushed past death because of my own carelessness before. After that, I thought about a lot of things. I think people should cherish life more. Not just their own life, but other people’s lives too. That’s the only way the world can become more beautiful.”

“Such a noble reason...”

It was such outrageous nonsense that it almost didn’t sound fake.

“So, can we truly make up? If you still think it’s not enough, I’ll compensate you however you want. I just hope you can understand how I feel.”

“………… Don’t push so fast. I never said I trusted you already.”

Milora hurriedly climbed out of the bath, threw on a bath towel, and left.

It was practically an escape.

Because she knew that for someone as lonely and withdrawn as she’d been since childhood, the words “friend” were far too tempting.

If she kept listening to that woman, she would definitely start to waver—