Chapter 85

In the changing room, there was a wooden shelf with several baskets placed on it.

Inside the baskets were bath towels, which evoked a nostalgic feeling, more like a reminder of Japan rather than a sense of being in another world.

Stretching up on tiptoes, the penguin tried to support the basket with its flippers, but its legs trembled...

Clang.

The basket fell from the shelf.

"I had completely forgotten that I was a penguin. After all, I don't even wear clothes."

The penguin slapped its white belly with its flippers and opened its beak wide.

This was its way of doing the "scratching the head pose."

Even if it wanted to scratch its head, its flippers were too short; it couldn't even reach its head, let alone touch the tips of its flippers when it brought them in front of its belly.

The back of the changing room had a sliding door.

A penguin could open it with a bit of effort.

"Is this strange Japanese feeling because of Joshua?"

While muttering this, the penguin waddled into the room, flapping its flippers vigorously.

"Oh, oh!"

It was like a rock bath. The floor was polished smooth, and the surroundings were surrounded by rugged rocks.

Water flowed into the rock bath from a slanted wooden board.

This rock bath was large enough for four humans to fit in at the same time.

For a penguin, it was more than enough space.

At first, the penguin was captivated by the rock bath itself, its heart leaping at the thought of being able to swim and splash around.

However, its interest soon turned to something else.

Where was the water flowing into the rock bath coming from? The penguin had heard from Joshua that it was brought in by a magical device.

But there was no sign of any magical device.

"Perhaps it's behind the board. Maybe I can figure it out from here."

The penguin placed its flipper to its beak... but it couldn't reach, leaving it in an awkward position. Nonetheless, its interest in the magical device, which couldn't be explained by science, grew.

"First, I need to observe."

Trying to turn the faucet with its flippers, the penguin struggled but couldn't get a grip, only slipping.

"This is a problem."

While pondering what to do, its body naturally sought the water, and it waddled toward the bath.

Splash.

The penguin dove into the rock bath with a splash.

There, it reached an obvious conclusion.

"Joshua! Joshua!"

That's right. If it couldn't do it, it could ask someone who could.

The penguin splashed its feet in the water and muttered this to itself.

Soon, human footsteps approached, and a voice came from the other side of the sliding door.

"What's wrong, Penguin?"

"Joshua, it's an emergency!"

"Huh?"

"Please come in."

"O-Okay! I'm coming!"

The door slid open, and Joshua's eyes met the penguin, who was treading water and holding onto the rock.

Sweat dripped from Joshua's forehead. The penguin knew this wasn't due to the heat of the bath.

"You seem relaxed... there's no problem, is there?"

"There is!"

"You're swimming, aren't you?"

"I can't turn the faucet."

"Oh, with those hands, you can't even wash yourself, can you?"

"That's a blind spot. I didn't notice that."

"I'll get in too. I'll scrub you, Penguin."

"That would be great."

While talking normally with Joshua, the penguin continued to tread water.

Joshua quickly undressed and entered the bath, moving the penguin under the shower.

◇◇◇

"Hmm. Could you try turning the faucet again?"

After washing the penguin, Joshua washed himself and then repeatedly asked the penguin to turn the faucet to observe the water flow.

However, Joshua suddenly stopped responding.

"Joshua?"

The penguin called his name, finally realizing the emergency.

Joshua had fainted, lying on his back.

It seemed he had fainted from the heat.

Hmm, this is my fault.

The penguin apologized to him in its heart and opened its beak wide.

"Is anyone there? Joshua has fainted!"

Even though it knew no one would understand Japanese, the penguin hoped someone would understand from the tone of its voice and called out.

While calling, it started to waddle to get help when the sliding door opened.

"Oh, oh. Thank you. Joshua—"

"A, a, aah! No! I, I'm not looking!"

Elle, with a red face, covered her eyes and turned away.

"What's wrong, Elle?"

"No! Aruru. Don't let anyone else—"

Elle grabbed Aruru's hand and pulled her out of the changing room, carefully blocking her view of the bath.

After that, Bartholomew came to the bath, and Joshua was safely retrieved.

Did you enjoy the typical bath scene?