Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair as he paced around the small, barely furnished room. His eyes drifted to the corner where Cia and Ariella sat. The problem of bathing gnawed in his mind, something so simple back on Earth, but here—without modern conveniences—it became a monumental challenge.

'How the hell did people survive like this back then?' he thought, recalling those history classes. Back in the day, people in certain ancient eras didn’t bathe the way he was used to. No showers, no hot baths. Instead, they wiped themselves down with rags and water primarily due to the lack of water—a method far from hygienic, but one that worked in a pinch. And while that seemed doable here, the real issue wasn’t himself. It was "them".

'How am I supposed to do that with two girls in the same room?' The thought alone made him uncomfortable. Cia, especially, posed a unique challenge. She couldn’t see, which meant she’d need assistance—and Kai wasn’t exactly keen on crossing that line.

To make matters worse, skipping the idea of bathing altogether wasn’t an option either. Hours of travel had left him and Cia sweaty despite just taking a bath this morning in the Lighthouse. That's why bath had to be taken daily, and the faint stench of sweat was starting to cling to his clothes. He couldn't ignore it forever, especially not in such close quarters. Of course, Ariella was the one exception—despite their journey, she remained somehow pristine, her divine aura keeping her clothes spotless and her scent as heavenly as ever. It was as if the filth of the mortal world couldn’t touch her.

'Lucky her'

He ended up spending hours mulling over the dilemma, trying to figure out a way around it. Finally, a solution finally dawned on him—'Why not just rent another room?' It wasn’t like money was an issue. He had enough gold to buy half the village if he wanted to. The luxury of having an extra private space for bathing, away from the girls, seemed like the most sensible solution.

The irony didn’t escape him.

'All this wealth, yet I’m struggling with something as simple as bathing.' He chuckled dryly at his predicament.

By the afternoon, he headed downstairs, ready to negotiate for another room. The innkeeper, Miss Lina, greeted him with a warm smile as he approached the counter and expressed his request.

"Another room, huh?" she mused. "For cleaning yourselves?"

"Yeah," Kai said, feeling a little embarrassed about the request.

Lina’s brow furrowed slightly before she let out a small laugh. "Oh dear, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. The water I sent isn’t meant for bathing. It’s just for wiping yourselves clean before bed or when you feel the need. We have a small bathhouse for guests, you can see the door if you go there." She pointed in a certain direction, guiding h where to go if ever they needed to.

Kai blinked. "Seriously?" His frustration bubbled up, and he muttered under his breath, "Damn those history classes. This is why we should leave the past behind."

Miss Lina’s confusion deepened at his odd remark, but she simply smiled and offered a sympathetic nod before moving on to continue the house chores she's doing. Kai, meanwhile, returned to the room in silent fury, recounting the embarrassing conversation with Cia and Ariella.

To his surprise, his rant made them burst into a fit of giggles. Cia covered her mouth, her body shaking with laughter, while Ariella let out a soft, melodic chuckle.

Kai’s frustration melted away in that moment, replaced by something else. Warmth. A flutter in his chest caught him off guard. It was strange how their joy—something as simple as their laughter—could make him feel so… content. He wasn’t used to this feeling, but it was nice. Even if he was the butt of the joke, seeing them happy made it worth it.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Kai muttered, though the smile tugging at his lips betrayed his attempt to appear annoyed.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Cia's gentle voice cut through the moment, her tone calm and thoughtful. "I think you’re overthinking things, Kai. Maybe you should try to rest more and give your mind a break."

Kai paused, Cia’s words were sinking in. She had a point, didn’t she? He had been so consumed with worry, constantly turning over every detail in his head, that he hadn’t realized how much it was affecting him. The weight of his responsibilities had begun to wear on him more than he’d like to admit. Taking care of others was something new to him—especially when it came to looking after these two vulnerable maidens. They relied on him, depended on his decisions, and that kind of pressure was starting to take its toll.

Was this how leaders felt?

He wasn't used to this—being the one who held it all together, the thread that kept their small group from unraveling. Every choice he made had to be the right one, with Cia sometimes offering advice. Even so, the responsibility felt heavy, like he was carrying the world on his shoulders. Yet, as exhausting as it was, he couldn't deny that he found a strange sense of fulfillment in it, a reason to keep going, something that made him feel needed.

It was exactly this overthinking that was his undoing. He worried so much about getting everything right that he ended up clouding his own judgment, overcomplicating even the simplest decisions.

With a weary sigh, Kai finally let go of those racing thoughts.

'She's right, I should give my mind a break and relax.'

He dropped down onto the mattress beside Cia and Ariella, the soft fabric cradling his tired body. He could feel the day's fatigue sinking into his bones, a mix of mental and physical exhaustion tugging him toward sleep.

As he lay there, eyes growing heavy, the sound of their gentle giggles still danced in his ears. For the first time in a long while, despite all the challenges, he felt a rare sense of calm wash over him—a feeling of peace he didn’t know he was missing.

With a slow, contented exhale, Kai finally drifted off to sleep.

Hours later, Kaiser woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. The aches from days of travel had eased, and his mind felt clearer than it had in a long time. He shifted his gaze toward the balcony just as the sun began its slow descent beyond the horizon, casting long shadows over the village. Down below, the villagers were still hard at work, butchering the beasts that the hunters had brought in earlier. Multiple tables were lined with the animals, their flames flickering as the people moved with purpose, cutting and preparing the meat and other usable organic material for whatever feast or trade lay ahead.

He couldn’t help but smile at the sight, appreciating the sense of community and diligence these villagers had. Amidst this Kaiser's attention notice a small house in the distance with a sign marked by a symbol of a cloth.

'New clothes, huh?' Come to think about it, they were in dire need of fresh garments. The three of them couldn’t keep walking around in the same old travel-worn outfits forever. With too much money in hand, why shy away from spending.

Stretching his stiff muscles, Kaiser announced, "Okay, girls, we're going out shopping."

Miss Lina, the innkeeper, seemed delighted by their plans and suggested a few reliable shops before sending them off with a cheerful wave. She even arranged for Ethan, her son, the young man they met earlier, to accompany them. His job was to guide them through the village and ensure they weren't swindled by any tricky merchants.

Ethan led them confidently, eventually stopping in front of what he claimed was the most trustworthy garment shop in town. Inside, as they browsed through the selection, Kai encouraged the girls to pick out whatever they liked. Which is a bit awkward... I mean, Cia is blind, so appearance and design does not matter to her taste unlike ordinary ladies. Ariella isn't normal either.

Fortunately, Cia, despite her blindness, had clear preferences. She insisted on clothing that was both flexible and durable—something that wouldn’t restrict her movements and could withstand the wear and tear of rugged environments.

'Might as well ask for an armor,' Kai thought wryly as he watched her touch the fabrics, assessing them with surprising accuracy.

In the end, Cia settled on two sets of attire that resembled an archer's outfit. It was slightly revealing but paired with a medium, red cloak and hood that draped over her figure, giving her a mysterious yet elegant look. The outfit complemented her pale blonde hair and lean frame, highlighting her natural grace.

Ariella, on the other hand, stubbornly refused to part with her iconic white dress. She acted as though any other attire was beneath her divine status. Helpless, Kai can only buy her a new, more refined hooded cloak to protect her from prying eyes and a monster mask that concealed her face—a purchase she visibly despised due to its scary design.

As they left the store, the shop owner bid them a grateful farewell, but Ariella was not pleased. She walked with her arms crossed, her expression one of silent fury.

Kai shook his head, amused and baffled by her behavior. 'Seriously, where is she picking up all these habits? And why can't she just learn to speak like a normal person, even though that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to teach her.'

He had long since given up on understanding the reasons behind Ariella’s silence. Despite his best efforts to teach her to talk, she remained stubbornly mute. It wasn’t a lack of intelligence or comprehension—she clearly understood every word he said from day one. Maybe it was tied to her divine nature, a mystery he, as a mere mortal, couldn't begin to unravel. So, he gave up prying the gods secrets.

"Just bear with it for now, I’ll get you something nicer when we reach a bigger town." He said, glancing over at the disgruntled goddess.

Ariella pointedly ignored him, her dissatisfaction evident.

Ethan chuckled at the scene. "Why are you so protective of them, anyway? It’s not like all men would die just for a pretty face."

Kai gave him a sideways glance and smirked inwardly. 'Fool, you haven’t even begun to understand what a goddess’s beauty is like.'

"I'd rather be cautious," he replied simply, leaving it at that.

As they continued walking, they approached another shop, this one marked by the clang of metal on metal. Weapons and armor, though sparse due to the impending migration. A few were still on display. Ethan pointed out that this was the local blacksmith, a place known for crafting sturdy gear.

Kai’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Finally, a chance for some proper upgrades."

The moment they pushed open the door, a small bell rang overhead, announcing their presence. However, a gust of air swept pass them, tinged by deadly sharpness.

His heartbeat hasten, recognizing the noise and subtle breeze a blade make when slashing.

'Crap...' His mood turned grim.