All-out participation
Evangeline and Kim Deok-Sung’s mixed bathing!
The news that Han Seo-Jin shared was shocking.
A chill fell over the accommodation.
No one doubted Han Seo-Jin’s information.
“Mixed bathing… I see…”
The first to speak was Olivia.
Her face turned bright red.
Evangeline Stewart.
She was the princess of the British royal family, rivaling France.
Unlike other heroines, Evangeline held a status that didn’t fall short of Olivia’s in terms of bloodline and identity, so Olivia couldn’t help but be concerned about her.
Until now, Evangeline hadn’t shown any signs of movement, so she was merely a potential threat.
But if Evangeline actually made a move, then things would change.
“Y-you can’t be serious! Mixed bathing with a princess from a far-off island nation of all people! How could you leave me, a noble princess of France, behind!!”
Olivia’s face flushed even redder.
“Miss Stewart… I thought you were being all quiet… This is an error on Eri’s part.”
Eri, sitting next to Olivia, puffed up her cheeks.
“I’ve never had a mixed bath with the Master either! I just wanted to give the Master a bubble bath!”
Eri shouted while fiddling with a collar.
Makoto, witnessing this, pursed her lips.
“Ugh…”
Makoto already had experience in mixed bathing with Kim Deok-Sung during her cross-dressing days, so she had no words in this situation.
In fact, if she opened her mouth and got found out as a mixed-bathing veteran, she would…
Just thinking about it made Makoto’s face turn red.
“That’s right. The only one who should be able to bathe with Deok-Sung oppa is my harmless and extremely cute gyaru little sister, Haru. The British princess is sneakier than I thought.”
Haru pouted beside her.
Originally, it was Haru who planned the mixed bathing.
However,
“Mixed bathing…”
Rin, sitting next to Haru, trailed off her words.
It had been Rin who encouraged Evangeline to comfort her and participate in the heroine race.
But even Rin hadn’t anticipated Evangeline would come charging in this quickly.
‘Miss Stewart…’
Rin bit her lip in silence.
“This isn’t good! If we don’t go to the large bathhouse right now! I can’t allow that idiot to be with a mere princess from some remote island nation!”
“I can’t allow that fool to be with a mere princess from a remote island!”
Olivia, blushing, stands up and starts making preparations.
This is a matter of pride between England and France.
If it were anyone else, it might be different, but the British princess taking him is absolutely unacceptable.
“I want to go too! I’ll serve the Master!”
Eri sticks close to Olivia.
At that moment, Han Seo-Jin is watching.
“Han Seo-Jin.”
Eri calls out to her.
“Yes, Nishizawa?”
“Let’s go together.”
Suddenly, Eri grabs Han Seo-Jin’s arm.
Together?
For a moment, Han Seo-Jin’s mind goes blank.
Her face slightly stiffens.
“What do you mean…?”
For the first time in front of the heroines, Han Seo-Jin trails off.
Eri laughs at the sight.
“Let’s do it together, Han Seo-Jin. With the Master, in a mixed bath.”
Eri emphasizes “mixed bath” with a wink, like she’s spelling it out.
Mixed bath.
At the mention of those words, Han Seo-Jin’s eyes flutter.
Han Seo-Jin.
Her ultimate purpose for being here has always been the Harem Plan.
She had no intention of fulfilling her own desires.
So, she had no plans to participate in the mixed bath.
But suddenly, Eri throws the suggestion at her.
‘With Kim Deok-Sung…?’
Imagining a mixed bath with him, something she never thought she could dare to dream about, unfolds in her mind thanks to Eri’s proposal.
A hot spring filled with steam.
Her and the Master, together, soaking.
Whoosh.
Han Seo-Jin’s cheeks flush red.
‘Yoo Se-Ra was right after all.’
Seeing this, Eri squints her eyes.
She remembers the conversation she had with Yoo Se-Ra after the cultural festival.
The only judge besides Kim Deok-Sung who gave her a 10 was Yoo Se-Ra.
“She said Han Seo-Jin actually likes the Master, right?”
Yoo Se-Ra, revealing that she was Han Seo-Jin’s childhood friend, claims Han Seo-Jin secretly liked the Master.
But she also said that Han Seo-Jin believed she didn’t qualify to step forward.
Since she couldn’t stay at the academy, Yoo Se-Ra wished that Eri would support Han Seo-Jin.
‘I must repay the favor of the 10 points Yoo Se-Ra gave me.’
Back then, Eri wasn’t sure.
Han Seo-Jin had a personality that didn’t easily express emotions.
But now her reaction gives Eri confidence.
Han Seo-Jin also likes him.
Eri clenches her fists.
‘Don’t worry, Yoo Se-Ra!’
In her heart, she calls out to Yoo Se-Ra, who isn’t here, and solidifies her resolve.
If it were someone else, she couldn’t accept it, but Eri can handle Han Seo-Jin.
Han Seo-Jin, who silently dedicates everything for Kim Deok-Sung from the shadows, is a capable career woman who also helped them; her devotion must be rewarded.
Eri thinks this and speaks up passionately.
“Are we going? Yes?”
At Eri’s urging, Han Seo-Jin’s eyes waver.
Does she even qualify to participate in a mixed bath?
Not a hero, nor someone who can even have children.
She believes she has no right to.
No standards apply.
Her cold rationality thought so.
But the desires trapped deep within Han Seo-Jin’s heart did not agree.
I want to stand beside her.
I want to bathe with everyone else.
I want to be embraced by her.
Those dark desires were creeping up.
Silence enveloped Han Seo-Jin.
Eri watched her, curling her body and saying, “Eri, I also want to bathe together with Han Seo-Jin.”
Han Seo-Jin’s heart wavered at Eri’s persistent request.
A devil’s voice echoed in her mind.
‘If it’s for managing the Harem Plan members, then bathing together isn’t a problem, right?’
With a plausible justification, the devil’s whisper made Han Seo-Jin bite her lip.
She couldn’t shake it off.
Holding onto her last shred of rationality, she spoke up.
“Then… if Nishizawa-san and the others agree, I will join as well…”
A smile appeared on Eri’s face at Han Seo-Jin’s words.
Checkmate.
She raised her hand and looked around.
“Is it okay for everyone if Han Seo-Jin joins us for the bath?”
A moment of silence fell at Eri’s words.
All the other heroines, excluding Eri, were seeing Han Seo-Jin’s normally cold demeanor in this light for the first time.
‘H-Han Seo-Jin too?!’
‘Han Seo-Jin… so it was like that.’
‘Heh… Han Seo-Jin…’
‘Haru, your rival just multiplied!’
Olivia, Makoto, Rin, and Haru all had different thoughts swirling in their eyes as they looked at Han Seo-Jin.
But all those present owed her a debt of gratitude, big or small.
Olivia had escaped an unwanted engagement thanks to Han Seo-Jin’s help, and both Rin and Makoto had been able to participate in the Harem Plan with her assistance. Haru was saved from Muramasa’s clutches and, with the National Intelligence Service’s active defense, reclaimed her identity as ‘Kurosawa Haru.’
They had no reason to oppose Han Seo-Jin’s participation in the bath.
“Alright… if it’s Han Seo-Jin…”
“There’s no helping it.”
“I’m okay with it too.”
“It’s annoying… but since the older sisters agree, I guess I can’t refuse. I’m on board too.”
Olivia, Makoto, Rin, and Haru gave their approval.
“Looks like it’s settled then, right? Han Seo-Jin, you’re going with Eri, right? Okay.”
Just like that.
Eri linked arms with Han Seo-Jin.
With everyone’s consent, Han Seo-Jin’s gaze wavered.
She placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
“There’s no helping it.”
Han Seo-Jin’s uncertain eyes sank heavily.
She declared, “Since you’re all going this far… I will also participate.”
Han Seo-Jin’s decision to join the bath changed everyone’s expressions instantly.
“Wait, what about… what about me…?”
Beatrice, who had been previously insignificant in the corner, mustered the courage to speak up.
Rin responded upon seeing her, “Hmm? Trixie, how about you wait by yourself?”
“That’s…”
Beatrice’s eyes flickered.
She didn’t want to be left alone.
But saying that out loud would hurt her pride even more.
“If you don’t want that, you can join the bath without any issue.”
“Don’t worry, you can join the mixed bath like this.”
At those words from Rin, Beatrice’s face turns red.
Kim Deok-Sung.
A mixed bath with him.
Memories of their time in the swimming pool flood Beatrice’s mind.
The kiss during resuscitation, and that bare, chiseled upper body without a single flaw.
Fire.
Beatrice’s face turns red.
But she doesn’t want to be alone.
Just when Beatrice is lost in thought.
“Whether you follow or stay, choose according to your heart.”
Rin, now ready, flips her ponytail and leaves the room.
Beatrice takes a step forward.
“Wait! Do not leave the Holy Maiden of the Crimson Lotus alone! You lowly beings!”
And just like that, everyone joins the mixed bath.
*
Why is this happening all of a sudden?
This is awkward.
I’m getting hungry, and after soaking in the hot water, I’m feeling sleepy, wanting to rest before dinner.
But being held back like this is confusing.
“Kim Deok-Sung······.”
Evangeline whispers in a pleading voice as she hugs me from behind.
I can feel her soft touch against my back.
No way, this can’t be skin-on-skin?
Let’s not think about it anymore.
I need to get out.
“Alright, I’m leaving now.”
I release her arms holding my waist and step out of the open-air bath.
My body, warmed by the hot spring, quickly cools in the cold outside air.
Steam rises from my flushed body.
Refreshing.
Just as I pause to enjoy the outside air.
“Kim Deok-Sung! One last time······.”
Evangeline calls to me with a longing voice and comes running over.
Now completely meaningless, the white skin visible between the wet towel layers.
No.
This feels ominous.
Large bathhouse, heroine, and a wet floor.
With all three in place, only one thing can happen in a light novel.
The same thing that happened in the summer school’s shower room.
Lucky skeb.
“Don’t you dare······.”
Just before I can say it.
Evangeline crashes into me.
Slip.
Stumble.
The wet floor causes Evangeline and me to tangle and start to fall.
“Hawa-wawa-wawa······!!”
Evangeline’s flushed face is directly in front of me.
Thud.
As I fall backward, my lips cover Evangeline’s.
I can feel her soft lips.
Evangeline’s face turns bright red.
This is the second kiss from falling since summer school.
Unlike with Aris, this time, I’m on top and she’s below.
It seems my towel has come off, as our bare skins touch.
Unbelievably stimulating sensations cause my blood to boil against my will.
Damn this light novel world.
Fortunately, unlike last time, I’m on top, so I can escape.
If I get up quickly now······.
Just as I think that.
Creak.
The door to the outdoor bath swings open.
“Kyahhhhhhh!!”
Along with it, a sharp scream pierces my ears.
It was Olivia’s voice.
Why at this timing of all times······.
I’m losing my mind.
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