Just as Ariane said, the rain that was on the verge of beginning in the forest was already pouring down quite hard over here.
Standing outside in this rain, I could hear the sound of a suikinkutsu ringing out.
“Since I have to go get some help for carrying and dismantling these things, you can wait in the house, Arc.”
Without waiting to hear my reply, she ran off to a congregation of houses in the village.
I see her back as she left before staring down at the animals at my feet.
The tails that were normal looking in the forest were now shining the pale blue color that was the supposed characteristic of the Haunting Wolves.
Watching the tails under the dark and cloudy sky made them seem more mysterious.
The fabric made from them would certainly make for a good gift.
While I thought about such things, Ponta began to shake out her fur that had been soaking in water all this time.
“Oh, sorry. I should probably let you inside after all.”
After knocking on the mansion’s door, a response came from inside as Glenys curiously opened the door.
“Oh? You’re back early.”
“Well, Ariane-dono obtained an item for her older sister’s wedding. So we came back to drop it off here.”
While explaining the situation to Glenys, I looked back at the Haunting Wolves in the garden and her eyes followed along.
“Oh, the excellent Haunting Wolf. Furthermore, there are three of them.”
Glenys admired the Haunting Wolves that were laid out in the garden while I looked up as the rain began heavier.
“Please come inside. Did Ariane go and ask the hunters for help?”
“It’s as you said.”
I entered the mansion I left the other day, and she guided me to the dining room on the second floor to serve tea.
I took off my helmet and began sipping tea. It was taken without any sugar, and its taste was similar to black tea.
In the next seat, Ponta was desperately trying to fix her wet fur.
I drunk my tea while watching her, and by the time I reached my third cup Ponta had begun to doze off.
“It’s rather late for this child. Since it’s raining outside, why don’t you stay here tonight.”
As she said, the rain has begun to fall in earnest as raindrops tapped against the dining room’s window, and despite it only being about eight o’clock it was already dark outside.
It might take some time before Ariane returned with the hunters to take care of the Haunting Wolves.
Since we came back to Ariane’s parent’s house, it’d be a good opportunity to accomplish one of my objectives.
With my determination alight, I call out to Glenys.
“Glenys-dono. This place has a bath in it right, so would it be alright if I used it? Of course, I’ll pay the price of boiling the water.”
“The bath? I don’t particularly mind. But there’s not really a price for it…… go ahead? Are you alright?”
She replied to my heartfelt plea for a bath with her head tilted to the side in confusion.
“Putting aside the fact that you are a skeleton and lack the need for warmth, how about bathing together with Ponta?”
“Hmm. I supposed it would be good to wash Ponta every once in awhile.”
I carry the sleeping Ponta as Glenys lead me to the bathroom on the first floor, that was invisible from the mansion’s front door.
Water was drawn from the river and stored in a container so that it could be heated by the bath furnace housed beneath the wooden tub. Apparently the furnace was a modern magic tool that used magic stones as fuel.
Only members of noble families seem to have access to the magic tool and water containers.
I entered the familiar looking bath with Ponta, and we stayed in the bath till my bones were warmed to the core and Ariane had returned.
Wearing the traditional garbs of the elves with Ponta on my skull and a towel over my shoulder, I went back to meet the returning Ariane in style.
“You seemed rather relaxed…… did something good happen to your boney body?”
“Yes! Baths are the refreshments of life!”
My answer was full of smiles; unfortunately I lacked the facial muscles to express my joy, so she simply replied with a tired “That’s good”.