The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"Okay. That was just to scare you... Here we go again!"

Tatia released Oz's wrist, and Oz removed his hand from Tatia's knee. The two separated again, looking for their next opportunity.

After several probing glances, it was Tatia who made the first move.

She quickly closed the distance, but when she was about half a meter in front of Oz, she suddenly stopped, squatted down, and kicked out a sweeping leg at Oz's ankle.

Oz's stance wasn't a lunge; if he only raised one leg, the other would still be hit. So Oz simply jumped up with both legs to dodge the attack. This resulted in one consequence: he couldn't move at all until he landed. And that was Tatia's intention. After delivering the low sweeping kick, Tatia immediately stood up and threw a punch at Oz in mid-air.

Body collided violently, producing a dull thud. But the one struck was not Oz.

As Tatia threw her punch, Oz, whose body hadn't yet landed, extended his right leg. Compared to his arm, the leg was naturally longer, and it struck Oz first. Tatia, expecting her punch to hit the unavoidable Oz, was instead unexpectedly kicked in the abdomen. Tatia quickly withdrew her fist and took several steps back to absorb the force of the kick. She managed to maintain her stance and avoid falling.

The impact to her abdomen caused her diaphragm to vibrate violently, the force even reaching her lungs. A strong feeling of tightness in her chest made it difficult for her to breathe. She only managed to calm down after punching her chest three times. Oz's quick reaction and judgment truly surprised Tatia. She sincerely praised him.

"You, you're amazing! You were able to launch a counterattack even under those circumstances."

"Hehehe. Don't think that heroes only know how to wield swords. When I didn't have money to buy weapons, I fought with just this body!"

Oz, flattered by the praise, looked smug and seemed to be on top of the world, wiping his nose with his index finger. However, Tatia wasn't bothered. After their formal encounter, she understood that Oz indeed had the right to look down on others and have such an inflated ego.

However, this doesn't mean Tatia has given up. Having received special training from Naka, she has witnessed far more sophisticated reactions and counterattacks from Naka. If Oz were only this much, it wouldn't be enough to intimidate Tatia.

"Okay, let's do it again!"

After nodding to each other, the two began a new round of attacks...

Oz, favored by the hero Fros, possessed astonishing fighting talent. Tatya's subsequent attacks repeatedly failed, and she was repeatedly countered. Unable to break free from her strikes, Tatya also tried using the joint attacks Naka had taught her, but she was repeatedly thwarted, and he quickly broke free.

Tatia finally understood why he was able to get into university for free through connections. If, as he claimed, he hadn't received any expert guidance or special training before, then Oz's astonishing battle intelligence, adaptability, and sense of rhythm were truly rare in the world.

In contrast, Oz was also surprised by Tatia's performance. Her ability to recover quickly even after being attacked, and her unwavering defense and willpower that prevented her from falling no matter how many times she was attacked, all amazed Oz.

Oz could also see that while Tatia's attacks included feints and counterattacks, her execution was extremely stiff and rigid, a mere recitation of a script. He figured Tatia was simply imitating someone. The person she was imitating was undoubtedly extraordinary, but Tatia herself had only grasped the form, not the essence. Oz clearly saw which of Tatia's attacks were genuine strikes and which were merely decoys to lure him into dodging or defending. Although their abilities were similar, Oz didn't believe that someone who survived solely through improvisation had even the slightest chance of losing to an opponent who relied on such rigid, formulaic tactics.

Just as Oz had predicted, the two initially managed to exchange blows, but gradually Tatsia began to clearly find herself at a disadvantage.

But after dozens of rounds, Oz still couldn't bring Tatia down even once. He couldn't help but wonder if taking her down three times to win was too much. At this rate, they would only fight until both of them were exhausted.

"There's no other way..."

Oz seized upon a fleeting lapse in Tatia's attack and delivered a powerful kick to her right Achilles tendon. Tatia lost her balance and fell backward with a scream.

This tactic would likely have worked if Tatsia hadn't encountered Naka. However, Naka had used the same method on her during their previous battle. Tatsia won't repeat that mistake now.

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, Tatia braced herself with her hands and used her left foot, which hadn't been kicked, as a fulcrum to stop herself. Then, she used both hands and her left foot to push off simultaneously, raising her right foot and kicking Oz squarely in the chin.

Oz, who had expected Tatia to fall obediently and deliver the final blow, was completely unprepared for such a counterattack. The force that sent the blow crashing from his chin to the top of his head left him momentarily dizzy. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

Female elf in the men's bathhouse

"Great! That's a knockout! I'm in the lead!"

Tatia, having nimbly flipped herself back to her standing position, jumped for joy. Looking at her high above, Oz finally realized that he was the one who had been knocked down. That brilliant counterattack had caught him completely off guard.

Dragging his still somewhat unsteady body, Oz managed to stand up. Seeing that Oz seemed able to continue, Tatia became more vigilant again, preparing for her next attack.

but...

"Haha, hahahahaha!"

Oz suddenly burst into laughter. Tadiya laughed so hard she wondered if she'd damaged his head with her kick. She tentatively asked...

"Um... classmate? Are you alright? Do you remember your name?"

"Of course I'm fine! I was just really startled by you. That kick was perfect. If it were a life-or-death battle, you probably would have killed me while I was on the ground... You're really amazing, Tatia. You're definitely a worthy rival. You won this time."

Oz stood up straight and sincerely bowed his head to Tatia, the victor, in defeat. Tatia, however, seemed unsatisfied, as if she hadn't had enough.

"No, wasn't it supposed to take three falls to determine the winner? There are still two more to go, let's keep going!"

The number of times he was knocked down wasn't the point. The key was that Oz had already learned something from this match. Tatia was a formidable opponent, and he still had room for improvement. Understanding this, there was no need to waste any more energy and time.

"No need. If it takes this long to beat someone just once they're down, we'll probably be too exhausted to even walk back to the dorm after the next two rounds. Let's call it a day."

He was unusually polite, stopping just once, which made Tatsia a little embarrassed. Since he didn't want to continue, Tatsia didn't press the matter further.

"Really? Then I guess I win this time."

"Well, I won't lose next time. Tatia, prepare yourself mentally."

"You too. Next time, I'll keep the winning streak!"

The two formidable rivals clasped hands tightly, vowing to improve together. The animosity and resentment of the past were gone, replaced by mutual respect for each other's abilities and a shared determination to succeed.

Both of them felt extremely exhilarated by the battle. Unconsciously, their clothes, already soaked with sweat from the flames, became even more damp with the sweat of the fight. Oz pinched the now sticky corner of his clothes and sighed.

"Sigh, I was so focused on fighting that I sweated so much. I need to make sure I drink plenty of water when I get back... Oh, and Tatia."

Then, Oz remembered something. It was something he had never done since starting school. It was also something that most people felt most comfortable after strenuous exercise, something almost everyone would eagerly anticipate.

"Let's take a bath together after class."

"Okay...wait, what did you say?"

"Oh my, I heard that the school's bathhouse is much more luxurious than the public bathhouses outside. I've always wanted to try it out, but since entering this school, I've been so busy avoiding Uncle Frost for the past few days that I almost forgot about it..."

"You, you.."

"We've worked up a good sweat, let's go take a shower."

"Wait a minute!"

If Oz continued talking, he would probably decide in a few words that she wanted to go to the bathhouse with him. Before that, Tatiana shrieked to stop his mutterings.

"What did you say? Repeat it again?"

"Didn't you hear me? I said, let's take a shower together after class."

Oz rubbed his slightly sore earlobe.

"We've sweated so much, are we just going to stay soaking in this sweat instead of taking a shower? Wouldn't it be better to go and have a good time?"

It wasn't that she didn't want to bathe. It was that she couldn't. Just imagining herself naked, bathing with other men, almost made Tatsia vomit up her dinner from the night before. Besides, that would expose her identity.

Therefore, Tatia could only firmly refuse Oz's invitation.

"don't want!"

"Huh? Why?"

"There's no reason! I said no, and that means no!"

"Hey, how can you be so heartless? How can we be good brothers if we don't take a shower together and be completely honest with each other?"

Taqia only wanted to hone her skills with him to improve herself. She never intended to be his best friend. But she couldn't bring herself to say those hurtful words. She could only stubbornly shake her head.

Oz had originally planned to soak in the pool with Tatia, chatting about all sorts of things, learning about each other's stories, and strengthening their friendship. Since Tatia was so averse to it, Oz didn't insist. He simply said regretfully...

"Really... If you don't want to shower together, then we won't. But you really should take a shower, you know."

As he spoke, Oz leaned closer to Tatsia, sniffing her scent. If a man does this knowingly, it's undeniable sexual harassment. This transgression startled Tatsia, causing her to retreat even further than when she'd been kicked in the stomach.

"What are you doing?!"

"You know it smells bad? I bet you haven't showered in even longer than I have, you reek of sweat."

"Stinky...stinky?"

Saying a girl smells bad is incredibly rude. But Tasia sniffed herself and indeed, a sour, pungent odor wafted up.

"If you're not going to shower with me, then I'll shower first tonight, and you can shower after I'm done. I don't want to sleep in the same room with someone who smells of sweat."

"..."

Even though Tatia was extremely unwilling, it was highly suspicious for her to insist on not bathing while covered in stench. It wasn't that she couldn't bathe, as long as they weren't bathing together, there was still room for negotiation. Tatia could only grit her teeth and nod. Then, she silently offered prayers for herself as she was about to face the most severe test.

"Dad, Mom... if there is a spirit in heaven, I hope your souls will bless your daughter so she can safely get through this difficult time..."

Oz, standing nearby, was naturally puzzled by Tatsia's gesture of clasping her hands together like a soldier going into battle, chanting something that sounded like scripture.

"It's just taking a shower, is it really that big of a deal?"

Fortunately, their private duel went unnoticed. However, their sweaty stench was unbearable not only for them, but also for their teacher, Worth. Upon receiving Oz and Tatia's report that their "magic power hadn't increased at all," she immediately sent them to take a shower.

The Adventurers' School's public bathhouse is open until 11 PM every day. Going too early would inevitably result in bumping into other men. To avoid this as much as possible, Tatsia decided to go just before closing time. That's when the bathhouse is least crowded, and no one else would come in while she was bathing. She figured she could just quickly wash away the sweat... that was her plan.

After discussing it, the two decided that Oz would go to shower first, and Tatia would shower later.

Not being able to bathe with a good rival was inevitably a bit disappointing. But the boy, full of anticipation for this unfamiliar and novel culture of "bathhouses," hummed a little tune and happily went to the bathhouse. When he actually saw this place he had only heard about in rumors, he couldn't hide his surprise. The vast area of ​​the bathhouse, the luxurious decorations, and the complete facilities all far exceeded his expectations.

Following the recommended procedure, Oz first went to the sauna to sweat profusely and expel toxins. Then she showered to wash away the sweat, washed her hair, and scrubbed away any dirt. Once she was completely clean, she immersed herself in the hot spring pool, fully enjoying the ultimate bathing experience.

Oz felt as if every pore of his body had been thoroughly cleansed; the slightly warm but not unbearable hot spring water swept away the fatigue accumulated over many days. He closed his eyes contentedly and let out a sigh of relief.

Compared to bathing in a river or a small waterfall in the wild, this was like living in paradise. Oz wasn't very educated, so he couldn't vividly describe how comfortable it felt. At that moment, he only had one word to describe it: "Awesome!"

He wanted to quickly share this wonderful feeling with Tatsia, so that she, who seemed to live a life of poverty just like him, could also experience this kind of beauty. Oz reluctantly emerged from the hot spring, quickly changed into clean clothes, and ran back to his dormitory.

"Takia! You really should give it a try..."

"May Dad bless me, may Mom bless me, may Sister Naka bless me..."

But when Oz opened the door, he saw Tatia, who, contrary to his own anticipation, was reciting some prayer as if taking a bath was a one-way battle, her face as gloomy as the midnight sun.

"Seriously? You're not mentally prepared yet?"

Oz didn't think taking a bath was such a terrible thing, requiring so much courage and awareness. Tatiana noticed his return and asked in a resentful whisper...

"Are you done washing?"

"Yeah, I'm done showering. Let me tell you, it felt so good, I never thought I'd experience anything so amazing in my life."

"Yeah?"

"Why would I lie to you! Sigh, I wish I could take a bath there forever. But unfortunately, we graduate in six months..."

"How many people were left there when you came back?"

"Probably three or four people."

"Really... then I'll wait a bit longer."

Tatsia turned to look at the sky, which was gradually turning as dark as her face. She sat motionless on the edge of the bed.

"I really don't know what you're waiting for. Don't you know you should go early and enjoy it? If you go late, you won't be able to soak in the hot spring for very long."

"..."

"Alright, whatever you want. But don't stay out too late; it's quite a walk to the bathhouse from here."

Since Tatsia refused to reply, Oz didn't want to interfere with her personal preferences and freedom any longer. He rolled over onto his bed and took out his favorite novel to read. Tatsia, meanwhile, remained in that position, gazing at the sky outside while muttering something Oz couldn't understand.

Time passed by, minute by minute. Oz didn't know how long he had been reading, but when his eyes felt a little dry and itchy, he put down the book and let out a big yawn.

"Heh... Tatsia, aren't you going?"

Sleepiness was creeping in, indicating that it was quite late. But Tatia remained seated. Oz, fearing she might forget the time, reminded her.

"If we don't go now, it might really be too late."

"What time is it now?"

"Well..."

Oz didn't have any gadgets to tell time. He didn't know how to answer the question either. He could only give a rough estimate based on his usual bedtime.

"It's probably between 10:00 and 10:20."

Tadiya had inquired beforehand and knew it would take about fifteen minutes to get from the dormitory to the bathhouse. Undressing would take about five minutes, meaning that going now would allow her to arrive just in time for the last twenty minutes before closing. At that time, there should be very few people left. So now was the perfect opportunity.

So Tatsia stood up, gathered her change of clothes, towel, student ID, and other essentials, and headed towards the main entrance.

"Hey, they have free disposable towels available over there, you don't need to bring your own."

"No, I still prefer to use my own."

"I really didn't realize you were so particular. Are you a germaphobe?"

"..."

"Never mind, go ahead. Heh... I'm going to sleep now."

Bringing your own towel would mean carrying it back and forth. A wet towel isn't very comfortable to hold, nor is it convenient for movement. So Oz kindly offered this suggestion. Since Tatya didn't appreciate it, he had nothing more to say. He already felt his eyelids growing heavy. After seeing Tatya off, he buried his head in the blankets and drifted off to sleep.

It wasn't that she had obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness. Although they were supposed to be disposable towels, Tatsia strongly suspected the school might be recycling the towels used by the men to save money. Even if the probability was only one in ten thousand, she didn't want to take that one-in-a-million risk. So she brought her own toiletries.

Tatsia tiptoed cautiously into the large public bathhouse. She had no time to admire its grand decor; she simply walked straight inside and went to the counter.