Flying magic makes travel fast and easy. Thanks to it, I managed to return to the estate while it was still bright outside.

"I'm back."

"Welcome home, Sai-sama!"

Seeing Artemis’s bright smile melts away all my fatigue. I reach out and gently pat her head.

"Master, Artemis is in the 'loli' category," Pal teases.

"That has nothing to do with it. She's just adorable."

I reply while continuing to pat Artemis’s head.

"Master is slowly being drawn into the 'loli' world. This is dangerous. Today, I must demonstrate the charm of a mature woman!"

Pal dramatically lifts and accentuates her ample bosom. Honestly, there's no need for her to do that—it’s already more than enough.

And just to clarify, I am not into 'loli.' On top of that, I’m fully aware of Pal’s charm (yes, those impressive assets), and I’m already captivated, okay?

Though Pal started to act a bit out of control, I managed to calm her down.

With a bit of time before dinner, I decided to try making soap using the rokai herb. Soap itself is simple to make, so I added a gel-like extract of the herb’s flesh to the mix.

This is where Analyze magic proves invaluable.

It determines the optimal amount of rokai to include: 8% for body soap and 17% for shampoo. Apparently, body soap and shampoo are entirely different products. Up until now, I had been washing everything with the same soap. From now on, I’ll need to separate them.

After dinner, I check the state of the soaps I made earlier.

The body soap has solidified nicely, but the shampoo remains a thick, gel-like substance. Turns out, this texture is its final form—Analyze really is convenient.

"Pal, let’s take a bath."

"Yes! I shall accompany you! Today, I’ll show you the full charm of a mature woman!"

Is she still competing with Artemis?

"Alright, alright. Come on, let’s go."

"Ah, Master is being assertive tonight! So, you plan to do this and that to me? Very well! My body and soul are yours, Master. Even if I am broken, I shall have no regrets!"

What exactly is she talking about? She’s such a handful…

Inside the bathroom, Pal’s eyes sparkle like a maiden’s.

She seems especially excited about the new soap, and that’s fine. Yes, let’s just go with that explanation.

"Pal, sit down. I’ll wash your hair."

"Having you wash my hair, Master, makes me so happy!"

It was a bit of a struggle to get Pal to sit still, as she kept mumbling and wriggling.

I wet her hair with warm water and applied the new shampoo. Because her hair is long, I use a generous amount and work it into a lather.

The texture of the foam is clearly different from the old soap—softer, fluffier. It bubbles luxuriously, releasing a subtle rose fragrance I had added earlier.

"It smells wonderful!"

"I added a rose extract to it."

"Master, you truly understand a woman’s heart. How delightful!"

After thoroughly lathering, I massage her scalp to ensure it’s clean, then rinse her hair thoroughly.

Next, it’s time for the body soap.

"I’ll wash your body now."

"Ah… where will you start, Master? My armpits? Or perhaps…"

"Everywhere."

"You’re going to ravish me, aren’t you!?"

Ignoring her suggestive words, I lather the soap in my hands, creating thick, rich foam.

I apply the foam to Pal’s smooth, bronze skin. Her skin is already soft, but the foam adheres perfectly, making the cleaning process even more effective.

I start at her shoulders, working down her back, and then to her waist. Naturally, Pal is completely nude.

When I move to her front, I apply foam to her armpits, which makes her let out a small sound. I wish she’d stop doing that—it’s distracting. I’m a man, after all.

I move to her arms, her chest… her chest… her chest… her stomach… lower abdomen… lower abdomen… her thighs… thighs… thighs… thighs… thighs…

"Master, you really love my thighs, don’t you?"

"No, I’m just washing them properly."

"And what about this!?"

Pal grabs me through the foam covering her lower body.

"H-Hey, stop that!"

"Now it’s my turn to wash you, Master."

Before I know it, she pushes me down onto a mat she somehow prepared earlier. She presses her soft, warm body against mine.

This cheeky elf… what is she doing?

As she rubs her soapy body against mine, it feels… surprisingly pleasant.

Baths are such wonderful things.

That sentiment encapsulates it all.