Volume 2 Chapter 16 Let's Make a Bath III
The roof and other parts were finished faster than expected, so Cain was preparing for tonight's unveiling. He set up the baskets for towels, soap (the fancy kind), and clothes──everything needed for using the bath. At the same time, he explained to the maids how to use the bath.
When Lydia and Alice used the bath, Cain briefly thought, "Hey, I could join and explain things," but then decided against it. It was just too embarrassing.
For now, since they couldn't install a shower, the bathwater had to be scooped with a bucket. Cain asked them to wash their bodies and hair thoroughly before getting into the bath.
He also cleaned up any construction mess and wood chips using a [Magic circle magic] [cleanup] spell, and set up a few [lights].
Since this was the first time, Cain was the one they relied on, but he had plans to improve it little by little. By the way, he hung a "noren" at the entrance to add to the atmosphere (though only Cain would notice).
Just before sunset, Luke and Benjamin, who had gone hunting, returned. Benjamin looked a bit tired, but Luke seemed unusually lively. Maybe he was feeling refreshed?
The hunting trip had gone very well. Luke proudly bragged that they had caught 15 guinea fowls. There were also some Wileyboars, and Cain was already looking forward to the feast for New Year's.
After showing off the catch, it was time to unveil the bath. Everyone was amazed by how well it turned out. Cain had thought that Luke, as the head of the family, would go in first, but Luke declared, "Lydia should go in first," so Lydia and Alice were the first to use it.
"Why haven't Lydia and the others come out yet?"
Luke said it again, for what seemed like the third time.
"Father, women with long hair take longer, you know. Let's just be patient."
Cain tried to calm Luke down, but it had already been about an hour and a half.
He wondered, 'Is there enough hot water?' Then Lydia and the others returned, their hair up, ready.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, dear."
Lydia, fresh from her bath, spoke to Luke with a sweeter voice than usual.
"Nah, wasn't waiting. It's fine. So, how was the 'bathhouse'?"
Luke replied, trying to sound calm, but a little flustered.
"Yes, it was even better than I imagined. My hair and body are cleaner than ever. I feel refreshed."
Lydia smiled as she shared her bath experience.
"Why didn't Cain come with us? I wanted to wash his hair in the bath."
Alice marched towards Cain.
"Elder Sister Alice, Cain is already 7 years old. It's embarrassing."
"Don't be so cheeky for a child. Next time, you're coming with us."
Cain just laughed Lydia's words off, "Ahaha."
"Come on, Father. Let's go to the 'bathhouse'. The water will get cold."
"Right, let's go, men! Arthur, Benjamin, Chris, Cain, let's go!"
Luke left the room, looking very happy. Arthur and the others reluctantly followed.
* * *
Cain explained to Luke and the others to take off their clothes and put them in the basket in the changing room. While they were doing that, he went into the bathroom still dressed, to add more hot water by chanting [HOT WATER].
Back in the changing room, he saw Chris, shirtless.
"Elder Brother Chris, even though you're thin, you have a lot of muscle. I'm still flabby, it's embarrassing."
"Cain, if you join the academy and trains, you'll get muscles in no time. Brother Arthur is covered in scars from training. Look?"
Turning his back on everyone, Arthur took off his pants, revealing countless scars on his back.
"Why do you have so many scars?"
"I guess the Knights' training is tough. Look, Elder Brother Ben is also training at the sorcery academy, so he's thin, but he has muscles. You can't stay flabby forever."
Chris laughed, thumping his own abs with his fist.
'Yeah, I'll just try not to get in anybody's way.'
Cain watched his brothers and set his resolve.
* * *
"First, warm rinse time. Use this bucket──scoop up hot water and pour it slowly over your feet. Then, pour it all over your body."
Luke and the others followed Cain's directions, rinsing from their feet up.
"Now for hair. After 2 or 3 rinse pours, lather some soap and scrub your hair well. Work the suds in──really massage. Once you're done, rinse all the foam out."
Cain explained as he washed his own hair, showing them. Sometimes he did use hot water, but he usually washed with just cold water, so it was easy for dirt to build up. Still, with magic handy, regular [cleanup] spells kept things clean, so he never worried much about it.
"Done with hair? Next, let's all wash backs. Elder Brother Arthur, wash Father's back. Elder Brother Ben, you'll wash Elder Brother Arthur's. Elder Brother Chris, wash Elder Brother Ben's. And I'll wash Elder Brother Chris's back. Everyone got it?"
They lined up, each taking a turn scrubbing the person in front's back. At first, everyone was awkward and embarrassed, but after a while the mood lightened and they started having fun.
"Alright, turn around and let's do the other side."
Cain turned and asked Chris to wash his back. With everyone now facing the other way, Luke scrubbed Arthur's back. Luke clearly enjoyed washing the eldest brother's big, grown-up back, telling him not to hold back. When everyone was done, Cain washed the rest of himself, rinsed off all the bubbles, and finished up.
"Whew. Soaking in the bath feels amazing. Like all my tiredness is melting out."
"I know what you mean. My body feels loose after all those hours doing paperwork."
"Feels like my Mana flows better when I'm warm, too."
"Probably helps sore muscles, right?"
Luke, Arthur, Benjamin, and Chris shared their thoughts after soaking in the hot bath.
'Phew, it's true what they say──soaking in a bath really helps with fatigue. Glad I made it.'
Watching his family relax in the bath, Cain once again felt glad he had made it.
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