Chapter 10

“Your ‘master’…? Are you referring to Might?” Lystie asked. “Didn’t you get in the bath with Might?” Platinum frowned. “I know you’re not human, but it still feels uncomfortable to be stared at so intently.” “I was only thinking that you look beautiful. Girls are creatures who become more beautiful the more they’re looked at. And honestly…” “Wh-what is it?” “You’re the type who enjoys being looked at, aren’t you? Try imagining Might looking at you. How does that make you feel?” Almost inadvertently, Platinum’s mind followed Ursula’s playful suggestion. “Would you mind if I called you ‘Ms. Platinum’?” “Noooo, Might, that’s not actually my real—” “Ur, you shouldn’t tease your elders. Ah, sorry, I suppose you’re actually our elder. But you’re still small…” “You’re a kind girl, Lystie. In my opinion, it’s pure and innocent girls like you who suit the dancing outfit best. I’m pretty sure my master feels the same way.” “You talk like you know Mr. Might better than us… Speaking of, why do you call him your master?” “It makes sense to acknowledge him as my master because he’s the one who freed me. We’re all the same in that we serve the same master, aren’t we? Or does putting it that way bother you?” “That’s, well… If anything, we’re more like party members. I like how we are right now, but…” “Ms. Lystie, don’t worry too much about it. You can think about who’s higher or lower only when Mr. Might actually asks.” “Indeed. I don’t mind if Might orders me around or gives me a talking-to, but our current relationship of being equals feels really good.” “Why did you have to put it in such an indecent way, Platinum? Don’t do that in front of Might, okay? He’s a proper, respectable man, so he’s bound to get creeped out.” “Indecent?! That’s not what I intended!” The flustered reactions all around evoked another chuckle from Ursula, and Lystie glared at him like an upset puppy. “Since you’re already in here, how about I wash your back for you, Ur?” “There’s no need. I’m—” “How about I do it?” Platinum offered. “You may not be able to tell from my appearance, but I do have an established reputation for it.” “Ms. Platinum does always wash Ms. Lystie’s back.” “Though I always want to return the favor and do the same for Platinum…” Urged by Platinum, Ursula finally sat on the small wooden stool and let her wash his back. Before long, soap bubbles had swallowed up Ursula’s pale skin. “…You really are good at this, Platinum. Though it still feels strange to have someone else wash me.” “Nothing beats Nanase’s secret herbal potion when it comes to washing hair. It foams up just the right amount, and after you wash it off, your hair is left silky smooth.” “Thank you. You’re right—this does feel wonderful. Have you ever done this for my master?” “Th-th-th-that’s not something I’ll ever do! How can you even ask something like that?!” “You called him proper, Lystie, but it can be said that a proper healthy boy is one who shows interest in girls. I like them better that way, too.” “I can see how deeply grateful you are to Mr. Might. No, maybe it’s more fitting to say you’ve grown attached to him…” “I have. After all, he put his key in my lock.” All three girls instantly turned bright red from the neck up. “Ur, that’s… There’s a very adult meaning when you phrase it like that…so you shouldn’t use it, okay?” Lystie said. “But that’s exactly what happened.” Suddenly, now that Ursula wasn’t wearing his previous tattered clothing, something occurred to Platinum. “…What’s wrong? Why’d you stop?” “It’s just, um, there’s something I want to clarify. Are you, uh…?” Ursula slowly turned around. A clump of bubbles fell off, revealing a chest that wasn’t flat. Lystie’s eyes widened. “What?!” “I’m a girl, in case that’s what you were wondering,” Ursula said matter-of-factly. “Girls can like watching other girls dance, too, can’t they?” Clearly, all three had thought that Ursula was a boy. Ursula grinned at her dumbstruck audience. “Guess I’ll leave the whole thing about washing my master’s back to the future. It’d be a bigger surprise if I wait a little longer, don’t you think?” “But that’s… You…” “Age is no problem, obviously. And I have an ace up my sleeve. If you all keep dragging your feet, I just might snatch him up before you do.” “…! I—I don’t feel that way about Mr. Might!” “G-goodness, what are you saying? No one’s doing any snatching; we’re all just party members!” “I blanked out for a moment from surprise, but I now get that it’s a bad thing to make assumptions about people!” Lystie nodded, looking like she’d just learned a lesson. Ursula burst out laughing. Not as a being who had lived much longer than any human, but as an innocent young girl.