Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume20 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 1===

"&mdash;The Water Elemental Shrine is ready. Please gather."

From on top of a glowing magic circle, Iseria Seaward spoke.

She had apparently created a small dimension in the gap between the human realm and Astral Zero. Safian had done something similar at the Demon King City before.

After standing on the magic circle according to her instructions, Team Scarlet's view was obscured by a flash of white light.

"Hwah!"

"W-What happened!?"

In the next instant, Kamito and the girls were tossed into the air, then they fell upon some sort of soft object.

"Hyah!"

"W-What is this room?"

Kamito looked around him and muttered.

They had fallen on top of a soft and fluffy bed. The bed did not have a canopy. With all kinds of spirit mosaic artwork, it was steeped in fantasy.

The floor, covered with artistic patterned tiles had a clear layer of water on it. Floating on the water was a dense plethora of roses in different colors such as red, white, pink and blue.

Decorating the walls were spirit crystals providing faint illumination to the room. Reflected by the large circular mirror embedded in the ceiling, the light caused the water surface to shimmer brilliantly.

The refreshing fragrance of incense was drifting in the air.

"This room is quite nice, do you agree? I created it based on ancient harems."

Iseria's voice echoed in the room.

"H-Harem!?"

"How you use this room is up to all of you. Well then, I shall make myself scarce to avoid getting in the way."

With a chuckle that echoed as it receded away, the Water Elemental Lord's voice disappeared.

"...What is going on?"

Kamito shrugged then turned his head to look back&mdash;

Claire and the girls were blushing to their ears, fidgeting awkwardly, exchanging glances with one another.

"W-We have to do it in this kind of place?"

"This is the dimension created by a great Elemental Lord, after all. It is practically flawless for conducting a ritual."

In response to Ellis' murmurs of unease, Fianna raised her index finger and explained.

"Th-That being said..."

"So, how is the ritual performed?"

"H-Hmm... First, a bath for purification."

With a nervous look, Claire read through the scroll that Restia had handed over to her.

After a while, she looked up and stared at Kamito as though she had something to say but was hesitant to say it.

"Uh, should I go away for a bit?"

"Th-That goes without saying... But, despite intentions&mdash;"

Claire looked around the Water Elemental Shrine.

Inside the cramped octagonal room, there was not a door in sight.

"...By the way, how do we exit outside?"

"Once the ritual is finished, it'll probably collapse automatically."

Fianna answered Kamito's mundane question.

"...Then what do I do?"

&mdash;''Don't tell me I'll have to watch them bathe''?

"Worry not. I brought this exactly because I guessed something like this might happen."

Fianna took out a black cloth from the bosom of her uniform.

"What is that cloth, Your Highness?"

"A blindfold prepared for Kamito-kun."

"Wha&mdash;"

Kamito could not help but stare wide-eyed.

"Your Highness, you keep that with you at all times!?"

"Fufu, after all, it is a royal hobby."

Winking, the princess smiled mischievously.

"Oh well, there's no other way. We'll just have to make do with what we have."

Claire coughed lightly and nodded.

"W-Wait a sec, is that really okay?"

"Come on, Kamito-kun, hold still now♪"

"Yes, my apologies, Kamito."

"It is all for the ritual's sake."

"...!?"

Held down by three young ladies, Kamito was thus blindfolded.