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  Vol 2 Chapter 23: Arymm

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  Having procured the necessary herbs, the group prepared to return to the inn.

  “Hmm? You’ve returned?”

  As they ehe inn, the proprietress noticed them.

  “We just went to purchase some medial herbs, as Miss Diana had fainted from drinking.”

  “I see. It appears that Marlyno has yet to return as well; she just took Mira and Sisi out, but has siepped out again.”

  “Is she still not back?”

  While Farkonia had been buying herbs in the shop, she had also takeime to teach Elyssa about potion-making, which had caused their visit to stretch lohan usual. Marlyno had gone back ahead of them, so by all ats, she ought to have returned by now.

  “Perhaps she’s still perusing her options? You know how she tends to be.”

  “...That is true.”

  During their previous issions, Marlyno had iaken siderable time to select the supplies. It was hardly surprising that she was te iurning now.

  “Well then, we shall head upstairs.”

  With the hrowihe group made their way to their rooms to prepare for some rest.

  As they still o brew potions, Farkonia went to Elyssa and Diana's room to offer her guidance, while Misako remained in her room with Farkonia, deep in thought about their steps.

  Meanwhile, Aris and Veridith were occupying the adjoining bathroom.

  For those capable of wielding magic, bathing was hardly a y; magic existed to se one’s body, a on substitute for adventurers who were uo bathe regurly due to their quests.

  Moreover, Aris had long been aced to harsh ditions duriime in the Abyss, particurly in that desert. There, every bit of magical energy was crucial; wasting it on washing was nothing short of a luxury, and she hardly had the time to spare for such activities.

  “Make sure you wash up properly, the some sleep.”

  On their way back, Farkonia had overheard Veridith mention that Aris hadn’t slept at all that night, promptio order the young dragon to rest, in a manner befitting a normal person.

  “Holy, sister, you not even mahis?”

  Standing unclothed, Veridith used soap to scrub Aris’s body.

  “You seem like a sheltered young dy, g in basic life skills.”

  While this remark held some truth, as Aris had indeed been a saintess prior to her dest into the Abyss-- despite being maniputed by the church hierarchy-- her quality of life had been quite high. She had access to her own bathing facilities and had attendants to assist with her ablutions, the most notable among them being a girl named Anastasia.

  However, both before her time as a sai and after losing that status, Aris's life had been far from pleasant: first, she ehe harsh enviro of an orphanage, and ter, she fought stantly in the Abyss.

  Iingly enough, throughout these experiences, Aris had tempted to bathe or wash herself, ating Veridith's assistance.

  “All done! You ow step into the bath.”

  Veridith poured a bowl of water over Aris, rinsing away the suds before tugging her into the bathtub.

  “Spsh, spsh!”

  Pupu floated oer’s surface, occasionally fpping the surface with his tiny limbs.

  “Oh? Is someoo py ier? e here!”

  As Veridith got spshed, she csped her hands together and pressed down. In an instant, a thi of water shot towards Pupu.

  By trolling the pressure, she avoided turning the water stream into a wall-splitting force.

  However, they had ed to sider that there was another oct iub.

  “Ah...”

  “Spsh...”

  A dragon and a tentacle pyed with the water, resulting in a spsh that hit Aris directly, the droplets casg slowly down her face.

  “...What’s the matter?”

  “Ah... I’m so sorry.”

  “Spsh, spsh...”

  Although Aris maintained her usual expressionless demeanor and showed no signs of anger, Veridith and Pupu still offered their apologies sincerely.

  “...By the way, shall I teach you how to use the water jet?”

  Veridith grasped Aris’s hand and adjusted her posture slightly.

  “Right, just bring your hands together like this. Don’t apply too much force, okay?”

  Following Veridith's instrus, Aris csped her hands together, and a stream of water shot out in front of her.

  “Hmm! Splendid, just like that…”

  ...

  After some time had passed, they finally finished bathing and emerged from the bathroom.

  “Mmm~ There’s nothing quite like flopping onto the bed after a good wash~”

  Perhaps it was the exhaustion of the day or merely the fact that Veridith was still just a child; she quickly succumbed to sleep after lying down.

  “Mmm... sister... go to sleep soon... huff...”

  Notig that Veridith had drifted off, Aris reached out to adjust her sister’s prone position, tug the b snugly around her.

  Though the inn was not particurly vish, even in a double room, a single double bed was all that rovided unless specifically requested otherwise.

  Veridith seemed to anticipate that Aris might suddenly wish to sleep, as she always left a space beside her when lying down.

  ‘...Even if I am enced to sleep, I simply ot, nor do I feel the o…’

  Aris sat in the empty spot Veridith had left, pting her course of a.

  “Why is this so bothersome!?”

  Suddenly, a voice echoed in Aris’s mind.

  ‘...Is that you, the inner demon... no, Arymm?’

  “Who else could it be?”

  The voice bore an uny resembo Aris’s own, so much so that it was as if they were twin voices. Yet, upon closer iion, Arymm's tone held a greater depth of emotion than Aris’s.

  “You should be uo sleep now, shouldn’t you?”

  ‘...Indeed.’

  “’t even manage something so simple; you truly are...”

  Aris could almost visualize Arymm facepalming in exasperation.

  “Rex and do not resist.”

  ‘...’

  Aris plied with Arymm's directive, allowing her mind to drift into a state of emptiness.

  “...How is it that when I instruct you, you ply without hesitation? Are you not afraid I might seize the opportunity to devour you?”

  ‘You wouldn’t do that.’

  “...What!?”

  If Arymm had inteo kill Aris, her sciousness would have faded long ago.

  “Pah!”

  Arymm clicked her tongue in frustration, and at that moment, Aris’s awareness began to sink into the darkness.

  “...You really are... such a fool...”

  Aris-- now effectively Arymm-- closed her eyes and y down, muttering softly in self-derision.

  By forcefully taking trol of Aris’s body, Arymm allowed her sciouso pluo the depths, achieving a sembnce of sleep.

  Arymm cast a g Veridith and Pupu, who y beside her.

  ‘...So, these are the two little creatures that always follow her around? How curious that they would sleep together...’

  For reasons unknoeculiar feeling arose within Arymm.

  ‘...Hmm? Someone’s outside?’

  Before she could ponder further, she sensed movement in the corridor beyond their room.

  ‘...Never mind, it poses no threat and is of no to me.’

  After a moment’s thought, Arymm decided to let the matter rest.