Chapter 77 (1/2)

In the end, Fii ended up at the sauna without any ideas.

The problem hadn’t changed from an hour ago.

At this rate, she would have to enter the sauna with everyone else.

Not only that, but Doug was reaching the limits of his composure.

“What’s wrong, Doug? You’re all fidgety. Haha, are you looking forward to the sauna that much?” asked a carefree Slad.

“M-… Mn…” nodded Doug with a pale face.

It was fine since everyone here was dull, but someone sharp like Conrad-san would have seen through it with but a glance.

At any rate, this crowd of relaxed boys could finally see the sauna and the smoke rising from its chimney.

It was a large-ish wooden building, and quite a number of guests were coming and going.

There were two entrances and signs above them labelled them as men’s and women’s. Apparently they were separated by s.e.x, but that didn’t help Fii at all right now.

Before long, they arrived in front of the sauna.

“Phew~ We’re finally here.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The boys all wore expectant and relaxed expressions.

Fii had to come up with some reason to avoid entering the sauna.

Sickness? No, that would cause trouble in the future.

But suddenly remembering some errand would be a little too unnatural…

At that moment, before everyone’s eyes, a young boy and his mother walked into the women’s sauna.

One of the apprentice knights came up with a good joke and turned to Fii.

“Isn’t that great, Heath. You can still go into the women’s sauna. Guys under eleven are allowed in!”

Fii’s age was about the same as his.

In other words, if Fii lied about her age, she could still enter without a problem. That was the idea.

And of course, he was also teasing her because of her girly face.

“Oi, oi, peeping is no good, ain’t it.”

“Whoa, whoa, he’d just be entering from the front. That’s not peeking. You could even call it manly to stroll in boldly for a look at the women!” declared the boy who had first teased Fii.

But despite his joking tone, Fii pretended to think seriously for a moment before looking at him in the eyes and answering,

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll go have a look.”

“Eh…?”

Time stopped for the apprentice boys.

Gorms, Slad, everyone. They all stared at Fii’s face as though they couldn’t believe their ears.

Leaving the frozen boys aside, Fii kept her serious expression as she took off her apprentice knight’s jacket and handed it to her friends.

“If I wear my jacket in, even I’ll get busted, so take care of it for me. Well then, I’m going in.”

With that, Fii strode briskly towards the door to the women’s sauna.

“O-, Oi…!”

Gorms hurriedly tried to stop her, but Fii turned around with a serious expression and held a finger to her lips.

Don’t cause a fuss. They’ll find out.