Chapter 376 : The Former Gang Leader’s Problems
「Ahh~ It felt so refreshing!」
「It’s been a while since I had such a good bath.」
「Can’t believe we can enjoy it every day now.」(hostesses)
「…..」(Mark)
I woke up to the voices of the ladies who had just come out of the bathroom. Seems like I had fallen asleep before I knew it.
I rubbed my eye and asked the ladies.
「Everyone, how was the bath?」(Mark)
「It was amazing!」
「It felt so nice!」
「I wish I could stay in that bathtub forever!」
「Thank you, Mark-kun! You’re the best!」(hostesses)
「I’m glad you like it.」(Mark)
The hostesses looked very happy. They replied to me by blinking and stroking my head, meanwhile Pamella just replied to me with a nod, but I could tell she was enjoying the bath as well from her bright expression.
「Mark-kun, I watched you fill the bathtub, and you didn’t add any potions into the water, right?」(Camilla)
Camilla-san asked with a slightly confused face as if she wanted to confirm something.
「Yeah, I didn’t.」(Mark)
「Then, why did it feel like I was bathing in a potion bath?」(Camilla)
「Actually, the bathtub was made from special wood called spirit wood, and it has some kind of healing effect.」(Mark)
「I see. That’s why it smelled nice too, unlike a normal wooden bathtub.」(Camilla)
「I was wondering why it smelled nice, but I see now.」
「Is it a rare kind of wood?」
「But unlike a potion bath that heals you instantly, this one felt like your tiredness was slowly going away.」
「Ah, I realized that too. If you’re going to take a long bath, this one is better!」(hostesses)
The ladies seem to like the bathtub a lot.
I couldn’t help but smile as I heard the positive feedback from them.
「Spirit wood, I see. What an amazing bathtub~ I wonder if I could use it to open a bathhouse business in this district. 」(Camilla)
「That’s not a bad idea.」(Mark)
It’s much cheaper than a potion bath since you don’t have to buy potions. I think this kind of business will boom.
『Muhehe~ When Mama Camilla said that, I can’t help but think of a completely different kind of bathhouse business~』(Nicola)
『…..』(Mark)
This perverted girl with dirty minds… It’s hard to believe that she used to be an angel living in heaven…
As I sighed at Nicola’s stupid telepathic message, Colette approached me and patted my head.
「Mark-kun, thank you for the bath! You really are an amazing kid! Aah~ If only I were a few years younger, I might have seriously fallen in love with you and become Pamella-chan’s love rival. Right, Pamella-chan~?」(Colette)
「Ehh!? That’s… Co-Colette onee-chan, stop teasing me!」(Pamella)
Pamella’s face turned as red as a tomato again as Colette teased her.
Trying to hide her embarrassment, she avoided looking me in the eye when I glanced at her.
「Myahaha! Pamella-chan, your reaction is cute as always~! Oh, right!」(Colette)
After giggling as she felt satisfied from teasing Pamella, Colette suddenly clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.
「Mark-kun, I’ve wanted to ask you. You and Delica-chan are childhood friends, right?」(Colette)
「Colette-san, you know Delica?」(Mark)
「Yup. A while ago, I encountered some persistent men trying to hit on me when I went shopping in the southern district, but Delica-chan rescued me. She was very brave for a young girl. She gave those men a good lesson. We became friends after that, and we chatted whenever we met when we went shopping there.」(Colette)
Delica has been training at the dojo to pursue her dream of becoming a guard, so she should be able to handle some thugs on her own.
It was a miracle that she had never gotten into any trouble while patrolling around the town when she was still with the Wolf Gang.
「She told me she would be taking the exam to become a guard soon. Do you know anything about it?」(Colette)
「Eh? No, I didn’t… I haven’t heard anything about the exam from her.」(Mark)
So the exam will be held soon? Why hasn’t Delica told me about it?
「I see… Umm, the thing is… For some reason, she looked down when she told me about the exam as if something was troubling her mind.」(Colette)
「Something troubling her mind?」(Mark)
「Yeah. She said she was alright, but judging from her expression, I’m pretty sure she has something in mind. Mark-kun, I want you to find out about it and help her with her trouble. Will you do it for her?」(Colette)
「I see… Of course, I will.」(Mark)
I had the feeling that something was off with Delica lately, but I thought I was just overthinking it. She seemed to have been trying to cover it with smiles, but now that Colette mentioned it, I realized I was right.
「Thank you, Mark-kun. I hope it’s nothing serious.」(Colette)
「Yeah, I hope so too.」(Mark)
I should ask her when I get home.
ーーーーー
ーThat night, after the peak hour endedー
「I’ve finished washing the dishes.」(Delica)
「Eh? Already?」(Mom)
「Yes.」(Delica)
「I notice your speed of completing your work has increased lately, especially when you wash dishes. Seems like you’re getting used to this work.」(Mom)
「Y, yeah… Seems so…」(Delica)
「Anyway, good job for today, Delica-chan. You can change and go home now.」(Mom)
Delica replied to Mom with a nod and went to the back room to change from her maid uniform to her own clothes.
But, as Mom said, she is really quick with work, especially washing dishes. She can finish it quickly as if using a dishwasher, but as a matter of course, we don’t have a dishwasher here.
「Well then, I’ll be going home now.」(Delica)
「Be careful on your way home.」(Mom)
「See you tomorrow, Delica-chan!」(Nei)
「Un. Good night, everyone.」(Delica)
After changing clothes, Delica ended her shift and left through the front door.
Oh, shoot! I forgot I had something to ask her!
「Mom, there’s something I need to talk about with Delica. I completely forgot about it.」(Mark)
「Ara, then you should hurry!」(Mom)
「Un. I’ll be back.」(Mark)
「Hyuu hyuu~ Good luck, Mark~!」(Nei)
As I approached the front door, Nei said that in a teasing tone.
「It’s not what you think. Hahh…」(Mark)
I replied to her with a sigh and went through the door, leaving her and Mom who were still wiping the tables.
The street was dark, but I could see Delica’s red ponytail. I ran toward her and shouted.
「Delica, wait!」(Mark)
「Mark? What’s wrong? Did I forget something?」(Delica)
She looked puzzled and immediately took a peek inside her sling bag to check her belongings.
「No, no. It’s just… There’s something I want to ask you.」(Mark)
「Hm?」(Delica)
She tilted her head. Seems like she really doesn’t have a slight idea about what I was going to ask.
「Say, Delica… Is there something troubling you lately?」(Mark)
「…Huh?」(Delica)
「I heard that the guard recruitment exam will be held soon, and I heard that it concerns you.」(Mark)
「How did youー Wait… You were in the Iris Bar this afternoon, right? I see… You heard from Colette-san, huh?」(Delica)
She was so sharp that I didn’t have to explain it.
「Yeah. You told her you were okay, but she could tell. She’s worrying about you, you know? Mind telling me the details?」(Mark)
「Uhh…」(Delica)
She looked away from me and hung her head. It seems like she doesn’t really want to tell me.
「Is it something hard to tell?」(Mark)
「No, I just… don’t want to make anyone worry about me.」(Delica)
Delica is a strong-willed girl. She has been trying to act tough in front of others ever since she became the leader of the Wolf Gang. Even now, after she left the gang, she still acts like the “Boss” I knew; stubborn, and doesn’t want to rely on someone else too much.
She kept quiet because she didn’t want to show her weakness. I can understand because I act tough too sometimes, but rather than acting tough like that, I think it’s better if she spills out so I can help her.
「Come on. Aren’t we friends? You don’t need to keep it for yourself. You’re not my ‘Boss’ anymore, so stop acting tough and let me help you.」(Mark)
「Mark…」(Delica)
After thinking for a while, Delica shook her head and looked me in the eye.
「You’re right. Alright, I’ll tell you.」(Delica)
「Good. So, what’s troubling you? Is it about the exam?」(Mark)
「Yeah… My parents… They are against me taking the exam. They don’t want me to become a guard.」(Delica)
「What!? But, they had been supportive about it, hadn’t they? They even let you train in the dojo, right?」(Mark)
「At first, yeah, but they changed their minds.」(Delica)
「Why?」(Mark)
「It’s because of… my Gift.」(Delica)
Wait… Did she just say ‘Gift’?
So, Delica is a Gifted? She has a Gift?
And that Gift changed her parents’ minds?
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Oh boy, what gift it is.. well regardless I am assuming they want her go higher position consider gift is rare?