Chapter 1-39 : The Girl And The Dark Elf Deepen Their Bond By Washing Each Other’s Bodies
While Ingrid was undressing, Elle took out a herbal soap bar from her magic bag and wet it to produce foam. She made the soap herself by mixing the extract of various herbs she found in the forest.
「By the way, where do you usually take a bath?」(Elle)
「There’s a public bathhouse near the central square. I usually go there to take a bath. It’s a bit pricey, but the place is nice and the water is clean.」(Ingrid)
「Near the central square? Isn’t it a bit far away from here? Are there no public baths in this area?」(Elle)
「There is one here in downtown, but I don’t recommend that place. It’s cheap, but it’s dirty, and the water is contaminated. Moreover… Elle, how old are you?」(Ingrid)
「Hm? I’m twelve.」(Elle)
「You’re still very young, but that’s why you need to know this… That place is actually a mixed bathhouse where young women can make money.」(Ingrid)
「A mixed bathhouse? And young women can make money there? …Aa!」(Elle)
Realizing what Ingrid meant, Elle opened her eyes wide.
「Judging from your reaction, you seem to understand what kind of place that bathhouse is.」(Ingrid)
「Prostitution… My master told me about that.」(Elle)
「That’s right. That place is a brothel. You should be grateful to your master for educating you properly. Sometimes, young girls from the countryside come to this city to work, but they end up working in a place like that before they know it.」(Ingrid)
「I see…」(Elle)
Thanks to Ingrid, Elle knew that she would be in big trouble if she chose to bathe in that kind of place just because it was cheap. She was grateful to Ingrid for explaining it without hiding anything.
She was also grateful to Moritz for educating her. Even though he was no longer in this world, he was still protecting Elle with the education and knowledge he gave to her.
After taking all of her clothes off, Ingrid put her hands on her waist, standing confidently while being completely naked. She used to bathe in a public bathhouse, so she didn’t mind at all being seen naked by Elle.
Ingrid was a bit muscular, especially her arms and stomach, but she had a beautiful, healthy body. Her dark skin was smooth, her breasts were large, her waist was slim, and her legs were long and slender. She had an ideal body for a grown woman.
Elle had no idea what her mother looked like. She grew up with only her dad, so she had never seen her before. Therefore, it was the first time she had seen an adult woman’s naked body, and she realized that it was completely different from hers.
When she was ready to bathe, Ingrid stepped into the wooden bathtub, bent her knees, and sat down, soaking her body in the water.
「Ahh~ The bathtub is a bit small for me, but it doesn’t feel bad at all.」(Ingrid)
「Glad to hear it. I’ll wash your hair.」(Elle)
「Thank you.」(Ingrid)
Elle put the foam she made from the herbal soap on Ingrid’s hair and started washing it. Howeverー
ーScratch scratch scratch
「Ouch! Elle, you’re doing it like you’re washing a dog. Can you do it more gently, please?」(Ingrid)
「Aaah! I’m sorry!」(Elle)
Elle had never washed someone’s hair before. She only knew how to wash Yoyo when he got fleas on him.
She apologized to Ingrid and started doing it more slowly.
「How about now?」(Elle)
「Ahh~ Yes, just like that. By the way, your soap smells nice. Where did you buy it?」(Ingrid)
「I didn’t buy it. I made it myself.」(Elle)
「I see. It smells like a forest. It reminds me of home.」(Ingrid)
「It’s probably because I used the ingredients from the forest. Do you like it?」(Elle)
「Yeah.」(Ingrid)
After washing Ingrid’s hair and massaging her scalp, Elle poured water on her head to wash off the soap.
「I’ll wash your back now. Can you bend forward a little?」(Elle)
「Alright.」(Ingrid)
As Ingrid bent forward, showing her back to Elle, Elle took out an organic scrubber she made herself from a dried sponge gourd that grew wild in the forest.
First, she soaked the scrubber in water, rubbed it against the soap bar until it was covered in foam, and then started scrubbing Ingrid’s back.
「Oww! It hurts! Elle, your scrubber is too rough!」(Ingrid)
「Yeah, I know, but it can get rid of dirt on your skin. It hurts a bit, but you’re a grown-up, so bear with it.」(Elle)
「Ow! Oww!!」(Ingrid)
Seeing Ingrid squirming in pain like a child, Elle couldn’t help but giggle.
「Fufu.」(Elle)
「Hey, it’s no laughing matter!」(Ingrid)
「Sorry, I’ll do it as gently as possible.」(Elle)
*/TL : Fun fact. A scrubber made of a dried gourd can be abrasive and hurt your skin a little, especially if you have sensitive skin like Ingrid.
Ingrid let out a big sigh of relief after Elle finished washing her entire body as if she were finally free from torture.
「Hahhhh… At last…」(Ingrid)
「Look at you. You’re very clean now as if you’ve shed a layer of skin.」(Elle)
「Well, it did feel like you were removing a layer of my skin by force… Butー」(Ingrid)
Ingrid stood up and stretched her arms upward.
「Ngghhh~! I feel so refreshed now. Thank you, Elle.」(Ingrid)
「You’re welcome.」(Elle)
「Alright. Now it’s your turn. Take your dress off.」(Ingrid)
「…Eh?」(Elle)
「You washed my body, so I’ll wash yours. Come on. Don’t be shy.」(Ingrid)
「A, alright, but… Can you look away while I’m undressing? It’s kinda embarrassing…」(Elle)
「Haha! I understand. I felt the same when I went to a public bathhouse for the first time.」(Ingrid)
Elle had never shown her naked body to someone other than her dad when he bathed her when she was still a child.
While Ingrid was facing the other way, Elle took off her dress and quickly soaked in the bathtub.
「Now you can start.」(Elle)
「Alright. I’ll wash your hair first.」(Ingrid)
「Un.」(Elle)
Ingrid took the soap and started washing Elle’s hair like she had just done to her.
Feeling the warmth of Ingrid’s hands on her head as she washed her hair, Elle couldn’t help but smile.
She couldn’t believe she would take a bath together with a woman she had just met, but she felt blessed to be able to meet someone as kind as her in this cruel city.
After they were finished bathing, Elle and Ingrid put their clothes on and returned to the bedroom.
「Ah, finally I can sleep~」(Ingrid)
After stretching a little, Ingrid lay down on the bed and exhaled.
She was waiting for Elle to get on the bed too, but she was just standing still.
「Elle, what’s wrong?」(Ingrid)
「Umm… On second thought, I think I’ll sleep on the floor.」(Elle)
「What? No, no, no! We agreed to sleep together on the bed. Are you embarrassed?」(Ingrid)
「Well…」(Elle)
「Hahaha! We saw each other naked and washed each other’s bodies. You don’t have to feel that way toward me anymore. Come on, hop in!」(Ingrid)
Ingrid moved a bit to the side and tapped on the bed, prompting Elle to get on the bed.
Although she was a bit hesitant, Elle nodded and lay down next to Ingrid.
「Sorry, it’s cramped because of me.」(Elle)
「What are you talking about? I don’t mind at all. Do you?」(Ingrid)
「Me neither.」(Elle)
「See? But, Mr. Cat and Mr. Bunny, we don’t have enough space for you two, so feel free to lie down on the floor.」(Ingrid)
「Yeah, yeah. I rarely sleep anyway.」(Yoyo)
「Me too. I’m just gonna chill in the corner.」(Neige)
「Alright then. Good night, everyone.」(Ingrid)
After saying that, Ingrid yawned and closed her eyes.
「Good night.」(Elle)
Elle quietly replied to her in a low voice and closed her eyes as well.
「…..」(Ingrid)
「…..」(Elle)
「…..」(Ingrid)
「…..」(Elle)
「…..」(Ingrid)
「…! Hk…!」(Elle)
「…..」(Ingrid)
「…! ….Hk…! Hk…!」(Elle)
The room was so quiet until a strange sound was heard. It seemed to come from Elle.
It made Ingrid open her eyes and turn her face toward Elle.
「…Hm…?」(Ingrid)
What she saw shocked her.
Elle was closing her eyes, but Ingrid could see tears running down her temple to her ear.
「E, Elle!?」(Ingrid)
「A, ahh… I’m sorry… Did I wake you up?」(Elle)
「Don’t mind me. What’s wrong? Are you feeling pain somewhere? Your stomach hurts?」(Ingrid)
「No, don’t worry… It’s just… I… I…..」(Elle)
Yoyo and Neige realized something was wrong. They approached the bed and saw Elle crying.
「Master? What’s the matter?」(Neige)
「Elle…」(Yoyo)
「I didn’t do anything to her! I swear!」(Ingrid)
「Geez, I know. I think she just feels relieved.」(Yoyo)
「What?」(Ingrid)
「You know… She has been through a lot in this past week…」(Yoyo)
「I see…」(Ingrid)
Ingrid returned her gaze to the girl crying next to her.
She thought Elle was more mature than she looked when she first saw her, but now that she saw her crying like that, she realized that Elle was just a normal child.
She put her hand on her head and gently stroked it.
「Elle, it’s alright. I have no idea what you’ve been through, but no one can hurt you here.」(Ingrid)
「…Thank you…」(Elle)
「Say… Would you mind telling me your story? Why did you come to this city?」(Ingrid)
Elle knew about Ingrid’s past, about how she was betrayed by the person she trusted the most. However, Ingrid didn’t know at all about Elle.
Elle thought it wasn’t fair, so she decided to tell her.
「…I came to look for my dad…」(Elle)
「Your dad?」(Ingrid)
「He works in this city, but… He hasn’t been home since two years ago…」(Elle)
When Moritz was still alive, he tried to convince Elle that her dad was dead, but she refused to believe. She had a strong feeling that her dad was still out there somewhere. He was the only family she had.
After telling her purpose for coming to the royal capital, Elle told Ingrid about what had happened to her.
After losing her master, Elle had no choice but to live on her own. She was planning to make a living by selling magic stones to the people in the village nearby, but it turned out horribly.
The villagers accused her of being a heretic. They even almost killed her by burning Mortiz’s house while she was sleeping in it.
Having nowhere to go, Elle decided to go on a journey.
She had been enduring pain and suffering since she lost her master. She was trying to act as mature as possible despite her young age. However, no matter how hard she tried, she was still a twelve-year-old child. She couldn’t help but burst into tears the moment she felt someone else’s warmth next to her when she closed her eyes.
Listening to Elle, Ingrid felt dull pain in her chest. She gently pressed Elle’s head against her chest and hugged her.
「I see… It must have been tough for you… But you have me now. You can always rely on me. You’re not alone.」(Ingrid)
「Ingrid…」(Elle)
「You don’t have to think about anything for now. Just close your eyes. There’s nothing to worry about.」(Ingrid)
「Thank you…….. Thank you………….」(Elle)
「Good night, Elle.」(Ingrid)
「……….」(Elle)
Ingrid’s warmth and the forest-like smell coming from her had calmed Elle down.
Elle had no memory of sleeping with someone else before, even with her dad. She had been sleeping alone ever since he was old enough to understand things.
Ingrid was the first person who slept in the same bed as her, but despite that, she completely trusted her.
She closed her eyes and fell asleep in Ingrid’s arms. It had been a while since she felt so peaceful.
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