Ah!

　Chris's glasses fogged up from the steam, and he stepped on the soap and slipped.

　Chris fell down and hated himself for being so pathetic.

　As he tried to get up, Greg reached out to him.

　Chris turned away from him at the act.

'I don't need your help. You and I are enemies.

　This is a public bath in the Arzer Republic.

　The time was around the time that Marie kicked me out of the mansion.

　Chris and Greg were being taken care of at the public bathhouse where they could live and work.

　There was a lot of hard work and food was provided, but the hourly wage wasn't bad either.

　It was more lucrative than a normal part-time job - but the work was hard.

'What kind of enemies we are, you idiots!　You're slowing me down, and I'm helping you!
What are you doing?

　In the morning, I clean the bathrooms and put the hot water on.

　At lunch I head to the school for a make-up lesson and when I get back it's a quick job for office hours.

　Even after they're done, they're busy cleaning up and cleaning up.

　The two of them who usually work out are also showing signs of fatigue from their unaccustomed work day after day.

''I didn't want to work with you in the first place!
It's the same for me!

　Two people who are constantly fighting.

　It was that time.

　Clément, who had come to the public bathhouse, called out to them.

'You two over there, did you forget that you have a visitor?

　Clément, who had finished washing her hair, talked with her back to me as she ran the lather out of the hot water.

''We came all the way to the public baths, but this doesn't make me feel good. It's good to fight, but do your job well.''

　They look down.

　Yes - it's business hours now.

　Why are the two of them in the bathroom at such a time?

　It was because of the service at the store.

　Clement held up two fingers so that they could see him.

'And while we're at it, why don't we let you two flush your backsides?

　After being told, the two of them hold the tools.

　The service at this public bathhouse was that they could pay to have their backs washed.

　Chris and Greg silently began to wash Clement's large, muscular back.

'Oh, good. It's great. I love the way Gregg washes with such force, and the way Chris washes with such a strange, methodical way. It creeps me out.

　Some of the surrounding guests felt a chill at the way Clément said it.

　But I don't know if Chris and Gregg noticed.

Greg, you need to wash up more carefully!
'I don't know how to wash squishy stuff like you!　A man's skin has to be scrubbed!
That's why you can't talk to me like that.
'What?　Some of my customers tell me they like the way I wash!

　This service, while a small amount, is half for both of us.

　The shop is half.

　Cheap service, but when the dust settles.

　Greg wasn't making much money.

　The customers are dismayed at the two men resuming their fight.

　Then Clément gave them some advice.

'Hmmm, you two are no good.'

What?

What do you mean, old man?

　Greg called him old man, and Clement yelled at him, veins appearing on his forehead.

'Don't call me old man!　--Oh, excuse me. But you two are still no good. This one was better than the last one.

　Clement seems to be a regular at this bathhouse.

''The girl before me made more money than you guys. He was even called upon every day during business hours.

　They both look down at Clement's words.

'I--what are we missing?
'Shit!　I don't have to look like this to fit in with Marie.

　Clement stood up.

　The important parts are obscured by bubbles.

'You two make up for what you lack and you're finally on your own. However, if you continue to fight with each other, I'm afraid you'll have a hard time getting ahead of yourself. It's better to compete with each other than to fight with each other.

Compete?

　Chris was looking at Clément with the lenses of his glasses fogging up.

　He was looking at Clement, who didn't hide his front.

　The important part of him was hidden by bubbles that made it impossible to see.

'Yes, you're not the enemy. We're rivals.'

　Greg heard that and looked like he realized something.

'Oh, I see. We don't have time for a fight here. For Marie's sake, and for my own, right now--'

　Chris did the same.

　He took off his glasses and tucked them away so he could put them on his loincloth.

'It's not just the two of us. You have three other rivals. I don't want to let them win, so now...

　Their voices came together and then echoed in the bathroom.

'Polishing a man!'

　The two men flushed out Clement with renewed determination.

'Oh, you guys!　Oh, no. It's so sensitive there--noo-hoo!

　Clement's strange voice echoes in the bathroom.

　The next day, they began to work together to polish their customers.

　With all their strength, they polish up their customers with all their strength they have.

　Rumors spread, and before long...

◇

Hey, isn't this public bathhouse a bit weird?

That's what I was thinking, too.

　For the first time, the two men who came to the store were small as they looked at the customers around them.

　Everywhere they looked, they were all muscular customers.

　The atmosphere was different from other public bathrooms.

　However, they weren't staring at him, nor were they doing anything to him.

　At best, the men just looked like they were waiting for something to be waited on or soaked.

　When they got into the bath, they thought it was just their imagination and went about their normal day.

'The water feels good,'

I like it here.

　The two men are greeted by a slender, old man who says to them.

"You've never been here before, have you?

Hmm?　Yeah, it is.

I see. You'll be careful.

　After saying that much, the old man gets up and leaves the bathroom.

　As they were craning their necks - two clerks in loincloths came in by mistake.

　They are much younger and have good looks.

''Come to think of it, I heard you can wash your back for a fee here.

Is that so?

　The next time the two of them have such a conversation - the next thing you know - they're talking.

'Greg, I need your back.'
'I'm Chris!　Take care of the front!
A double!　I need a double today, please!

　--the men suddenly began to get excited.

　They were dumbfounded on the spot where they were in May.

　The red-haired man twisted and hatched.

''Heh!　Just wait and see. I'm going to polish the gun today!

　The blue-haired man took off his glasses and draped them over his loincloth.

'I'm going to wash you all over and remove all the grime and stuff!

　As it was, they began to wash the men, but the men were swooning over the seriousness of the two men.

'Double awesome!'

　A muscular, blue-jawed man was screaming.

　The two men, wobbling and shaking, look around.

　Then they realize.

'So, let's get out!'
We're not staying here. We're going home!

　Greg and Chris grabbed the hands of the two men who were running away in a hurry - Greg and Chris grabbed their hands.

'Oh, you're a new customer. Well then, I've got a service for you today. I'll give you a free wash!
Greg, I don't like your language. But let's get this over with. Let me wash up for the store's appeal.

　Two well-meaning clerks.

　But to the two men, they looked like they were dragging him into a swamp.

'Ya, stop!　Don't wash us!
Somebody help me...

　The surrounding guests seize them and polish them off.

◇

　--and now.

　Back in Einhorn's bathhouse back in the kingdom, Leon was in with Chris and Gregg.

'Come to think of it, what did you guys do to earn your money?　See, after Marie kicked me out. You're not scamming or anything like Zirk, are you?

　Chris and Greg gave Leon a skeptical look, and Chris and Greg gave him a smile and a thumbs up.

'Don't put it together. We've honed our men!

'Quite. We've honed our men, unlike Zirk!

　Leon was in the bathtub with a towel on and was playing with a balloon.

'I don't see the point,'

　Then.

Hey, Baltophalt, don't put your towel in the tub.

Yes. That's bad manners.

　Rion was dismayed by the fact that the two of them had become rather strict about their bathing etiquette lately.

'You guys were playing around not long ago. Well, okay.''

　As I was about to leave, I heard a voice from both of them.

'You're leaving?　Do you want me to wash you up?

We're good at that.

　Rion felt a chill at those words--

''No thanks.''

　-- and they looked disappointed when I said that.