Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume13 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 6===

"...Wow!"

Taken to the bath by Mireille, Kamito could not help but exclaim.

Before his eyes was a massive open-air bath built from marble. Hot water was running nonstop from a wolf sculpture carved on a pillar. Steam hung in the air over the entire bath.

Although it was not a natural hot spring, this was a grand bath that rivaled the Academy's purification site.

"Are you really sure I can have this place all to myself?"

"Yes, no one uses it at this time. Feel free to swim in the bath."

"...No, I'm already past the age of swimming in baths."

"Oh my, but even nowadays, Onee-sama still practices swimming in the bath."

"Speaking of which, Rinslet can't swim..."

Kamito recalled teaching her to swim at Ragna Ys.

...That was perhaps the only weakness of this perfect well-bred lady who was able to do anything.

"Then please enjoy the Laurenfrost bath thoroughly, Onii-sama."

Smiling mischievously, Mireille returned to the corridor.

"Oh, thanks for showing me the way."

Kamito swiftly undressed, went to the purification area to cleanse his body, then soaked himself in the tub.

The water temperature was not too high and controlled just right. His cold skin quickly warmed up.

(...Phew.)

Soaked in the tub, Kamito breathed out in relief.

Looking up at the night sky where cold winds howled, he began to reminisce about her.

(...Seriously, will we meet again? Restia&mdash;)

Water Elemental Lord Iseria Seaward had brought a sliver of faint hope.

But no matter how faint, he had no choice but to gamble on it now.

Iseria's observation might have simply been mistaken. Besides, Restia should have no connection to the Laurenfrost region. Even if Restia was still alive, what reason was there for her to appear in this kind of forest on the border&mdash;

(...But if that's the case&mdash;)

Kamito murmured in his heart.

(&mdash;It wouldn't explain why the Holy Kingdom's knights are infiltrating this forest.)

The Sacred Spirit Knights had invaded this forest on the border even willingly bearing the risk of trespassing the Empire's boundary. Surely there must be some goal there.

Their presence served as counterfactual evidence that Restia might be here.

(Luminaris Saint Leisched&mdash;The sacred sword user huh.)

Kamito closed his eyes and recalled the opponent from three years ago.

A knight with brilliant and striking blonde hair and clear ice-blue eyes.

She had exhibited overwhelming power at the tournament three years ago.

Right now, she would be even more powerful. On the same level as Dracunia's Leonora Lancaster, possibly superior.

&mdash;Gurgle.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of water.

(...Hmm?)

Kamito frowned and turned towards the source.

He could see the water surface bubbling behind a thick pillar of stone.

"...What?"

Finding it strange, Kamito approached. The area near the pillar was in the shade so he could not see clearly.

The bubbling at the water surface intensified.

Feeling puzzled, Kamito reached towards the bubbling water.

...Boing. Suddenly, his fingers touched something soft.

"...?"

Boing.

Boing. Boing. Boing.

(...Wait a sec, this feeling, no way...!)

Just as Kamito realized in surprise...

Splash, something emerged from under the water.

"S-Stop... Stop it right now!"

"...!?"

A blizzard instantly swept through the bath.