"Aqua, your bath towel."
"No need—who brings a towel into the bath?"
"Artoria's here too."
"It's fine, we're all girls."
"And I'm here as well."
"You matter even less, Shichen," Aqua waved him off, then darted straight into the pool, bare and unbothered.
Shichen's gaze fell on her snow-white, perky butt—round and springy to the eye. Aqua didn't care in the slightest; she stepped in and, with a splash, jumped into the water.
Sploosh—!
He didn't have to look to know the poolside was drenched. Glancing at the motionless Artoria, he said, "Aren't you going to undress?"
"I… um…" A blush crept over Artoria's small, pretty face; she opened her mouth, then closed it again. It was all too sudden—she wasn't mentally prepared. If it were just Shichen, she could ease into it. But Aqua was here too. She barely knew Aqua, and the idea of bathing with both of them at once was hard to accept.
"Artoria, you're a king—how are you getting shy now?" Shichen teased.
"I'm still a girl," she countered.
"A 'girl,' huh… sounds like Iri's been guiding you a lot lately. What have you two been up to?"
"Just… strolling the city, reading, learning this world's history."
"Yeah? Not bad," Shichen nodded.
"Mm. I think… living like this is pretty nice," Artoria said, lips lifting slightly.
"Right? What's so great about fighting all the time… though there's one thing I should remind you," he added with a playful look.
"What is it?"
"You're not a girl anymore—you're a woman."
"W—" Artoria's face went scarlet as she recalled that night Shichen had worn her out.
"Heh. Nothing to be shy about. You and Aqua are both my women—no need to be embarrassed."
"So it's true," Artoria murmured, pressing her lips together. She had already noticed there was nothing ordinary about Shichen and Aqua. She didn't mind that he had other women—but some tiny, sour feeling still bubbled up. Jealousy?
"By the way, Aqua's a goddess—the Water Goddess," Shichen said.
"A goddess?" Artoria frowned.
"Mm. In your world, think Alaya or Gaia—something like that."
"Aqua is that formidable?"
"Yep—brain's a little underdeveloped, though."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't worry about it. Hurry up and undress—you should know why I called you here, right?"
"Now I do."
If Aqua was a goddess, then Shichen had called her here to purify the Holy Grail.
"Smart girl," Shichen said, ruffling her hair.
"...Don't treat me like a child," Artoria blinked, eyes downcast.
"You kind of still are—look at you, blushing," he chuckled.
"I was just—"
"Aqua's been waiting. If you won't undress, I'll help."
"I'll do it myself."
"Fair enough."
Shichen smiled, stripped quickly, and slid into the water first.
Once he wasn't looking, Artoria took a deep breath and began undressing.
At the pool's edge, Shichen saw Aqua lounging contentedly. He shook his head in amusement, then eased into the water beside her.
Aqua opened her eyes and smiled. "Shichen, this bath is great."
"I think so too." He slipped an arm around her waist, lifted her onto his lap, and held her there. Her waist was slender and smooth; he kept an arm wrapped around her.
Aqua loved being held like this. She sat obediently, hands resting on his in front of her belly, leaning back against his chest.
"By the way, from the outside the café looked small. Why is it so big inside?"
"Spatial magic."
"As expected of you, Shichen." Aqua swayed proudly, her soft little butt pressing on his thigh.
"Heh—though I can do it, this one wasn't me," Shichen said, hands drifting upward.
"Mm… not you? Then who?"
"Tohru."
"The dragon maid?"
"A real dragon—very strong."
"I see…"
"Shichen…" came Artoria's soft voice.
He turned to see her inching in with her legs together, a bath towel covering her front—only her collarbones and ankles showed.
"Come here." Shichen freed one arm and beckoned.
"O-okay…" Artoria shuffled closer.
"Over here," he said, patting the space at his side.
"Mm…" She hesitated, then came to him, testing the water with one dainty, pale foot before easing herself in. Once she was fully immersed, she exhaled in relief—only for Shichen to slide an arm around her.
"Eh? Shichen…"
"I'm not doing anything—just holding you," he said, hand firm at her waist.
"O-okay…" She stayed a little stiff.
"Aqua, let me introduce her properly: Artoria's true identity is King Arthur."
"Eh? King Arthur? Really?" Aqua stared at Artoria, surprised.
"Didn't see that coming, did you?" Shichen said.
"Does Artoria have Excalibur?"
"Of course."
"Show me!"
"Not yet—I need your help with something first."
"What is it?"
"This." Shichen let go of Aqua long enough to draw the Holy Grail from the Gate of Babylon.
"This is—!" With one look, Aqua's brow furrowed and her face turned solemn. She sensed the evil within at once.
"Can you purify it?"
"I can—I am the Water Goddess. But I'll need a little time."
"How long?"
"Ten minutes, maybe," Aqua said, uncertain.
"…That fast? I thought it'd take days."
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm a goddess. Petty 'human evil' is easy for me."
"I'll leave it to you." He handed her the Grail.
"No problem—leave it to me!" Aqua thumped her chest under the water, took the Grail, and began purifying it.
A holy white radiance enveloped the cup, and the miasma within visibly thinned. Trust Aqua—airheaded as she might be, her divine power was the real deal.
Artoria let out a small breath.
"See? I wasn't lying," Shichen smiled at her.
"Mm. In that case, it'll be fine."
"It was a small problem anyway. Worst case, I could have solved it the violent way—just smash it."
"Wouldn't that destroy the Grail?"
"I don't need it that much. The Grail isn't worth a ten-thousandth of you."
"Mm…" Artoria grew flustered.
Shichen winked, pulled her closer, and fixed her with a burning gaze.
"Shichen…" Her heart fluttered under his stare; nerves tightened.
He said nothing, leaning in until the tips of their noses touched. Artoria's lashes trembled; she slowly closed her eyes.
He kissed her.
"Mm…"
At the first touch, Shichen couldn't help himself and deepened it. Artoria couldn't resist; hands braced on his chest, she answered him passively.
The two acted like no one else was there. Aqua, still seated on his lap, focused on purifying the Grail.
Ten minutes later, Aqua exhaled deeply.
"Shichen, I'm done puri—hey! What are you two doing behind my back?!"
Sploosh—!
Artoria hurriedly broke away, turning her flushed face aside, unable to look at Aqua. Shichen, for his part, showed no shame. "All finished? As expected of Aqua."
He sensed the Grail—indeed, not a trace of malice remained, only a vast store of mana. Too bad this world had no 'Grail system'; it couldn't grant wishes. He stowed the cup away, planning to absorb the mana later.
"Hmph! I want some too!" Aqua pouted, then looped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Shichen, of course, didn't refuse—he held her so she could move more freely.
Artoria hadn't expected Aqua to ignore her completely and dive into such a fervent kiss with Shichen. Watching their absorbed affection, she felt a twinge of displeasure.
Just then, Shichen's arm tightened around her and drew her onto his other leg.
"Shichen…?"
He broke from Aqua and kissed Artoria. She went rigid, blinking at his face so close to hers—but didn't resist at all.
~~~
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