The public bathhouse exuded an aura of ancient tradition, with steam curling lazily from the heated waters and mingling with the rich scent of mineral salts and natural oils. The moment I stepped inside, a wave of warmth enveloped me, dispelling the chill from the outside world.


    Amazons had public baths. Amazing.


    Despite coming from a country famous for its public baths, I have only been in one rarely but I couldn’t dispute the relaxation they brought. The bathhouse was a large, open space, its high ceilings supported by thick wooden beams that creaked softly with age. The walls were lined with smooth stone tiles. The air was thick with moisture, clinging to my skin and making every breath feel heavy yet cleansing.


    Thalia and some maids were rather too insistent on helping me bathe but I managed to reject all of them. Seriously, I can bathe myself.


    “Splash!”


    G?kb?rü, who was sleeping inside my shadow until now woke up and threw himself into one of the pools.


    “Your habit of waking up when you want to is really something.”


    He slept through my talk with the council and spar against the Queen but he opened his eyes as soon as I entered the bath. G?kb?rü resurfaced with a contented snort, his fur slicked back and glistening from the water. He paddled around lazily, clearly enjoying the warmth of the bath. The sight made me smile.


    “Enjoy it while you can. We will be working hard.”


    Settling down, I let the hot water engulf me, feeling the tension in my muscles begin to melt away. The warmth seeped into my bones, soothing the aches from the earlier battle with Penthesilea. I was the only person there. The bath was closed for my own use. While a part of me felt bad for closing an entire bath for my own personal use, another part of me felt like I deserved it.


    Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to simply be present in the moment. The sound of water lapping against the edges of the pool, the occasional drip from the ceiling, and the faint hum of activity elsewhere in the bathhouse all blended into a tranquil symphony. It was almost as good as the elven baths.


    I scrubbed my skin, letting the coarse sponge glide over my skin, washing away the grime and dirt. It was almost impressive how dirty I got even though our travel didn’t last long. I should ask Thalia to bring Larve to a bath too.


    Larve…


    I wondered if bringing her here was a mistake. Her appearance blended well with beastkin at Whifur and she had friends there. She probably would be isolated here due to her horns. But on the other hand, Quipax had better security and the mage guild here could help me understand her powers more effectively. Yet a part of me was afraid someone discovered she was part of a Calamity.


    I poured cold water down my head, shocking myself. It is okay. It will be okay. Aurora and Thalia will surely help me. Larve is a smart and good girl. She can also handle herself well.


    I will get the Amazons to support me. I will conquer War God’s Battle Area and rescue the Goddess of Freedom. I will defeat Moloch. Everything will be fine. I stood up, water dripping off my body. I moved towards the shampoos and soups. Water couldn’t get all the dirt by itself.


    “Damn. It is nice to know even in another world, in a warrior society, females still have unnecessary amounts of bath products.”


    Guess some things never change but which one I should use? I surveyed the rows of bottles, each labeled in the Amazonian script, which while I could read I could barely decipher. The variety of scents was overwhelming—floral, herbal, and even some that seemed more exotic, like spices or woodsy aromas.


    “G?kb?rü,” I called softly, watching as he lifted his head from the water, ears perked.


    “Which one I should use?”


    He exited the pool he was swimming with a single leap and rushed to my side, sniffing the rows before touching one with his nose.


    “Let’s see.”


    I muttered, picking up a bottle with a symbol that looked like a tree. The scent was earthy, with a hint of sweetness—probably something like cedarwood and honey. Not bad. I lathered up, feeling the tension in my muscles ease even further as I worked the shampoo into my hair.


    “Bork!”


    “You want it too? Okay.”


    I massaged the back of his ears, making sure that he had no fleas or something like that. His wet tail slapped the ground as he clearly enjoyed it.


    “Greeting, Champion. May I help you bathe?”


    I was so focused on washing G?kb?rü that I nearly jumped when a voice called out for me. I quickly grabbed a towel to cover my private areas. I cleared my shock with a cough.


    “I said I can bathe myself-“


    My voice stuck in my throat as I gazed upon the owner of the voice. She wore a towel that barely contained her sensual figure and showcased her fair, smooth skin.


    A fucking honey trap was the first thing I taught, my experience and coolheaded managed to overcome my lust. This wasn’t the first time something like this happened. I was a high-ranking official after all. I took a breath too deep for my liking, showing the lack of experience my teenage body had.


    “I already told that I want to bathe myself.”


    I managed to speak with a strong voice. Yet, the newcomer didn’t seem to be heartbroken with my tone.


    “This is my duty, Sweet Champion. I was assigned to make sure you look clean and presentable. I am sure someone as wise as yourself knows that first impressions are important. If you don’t look your best, how can you attract respect and awe from others?”


    Her voice was soft, fit to be an ASMR artist and I felt some of my resistance melt when I heard it. She made sense too. Maybe it was-


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    “Growl!”


    (Your partner wants to share the skill Abnormal Status Resistance.)


    G?kb?rü’s growl snapped me out of my trance. I regained my composure quickly, thankful for G?kb?rü’s timely intervention. The woman tilted her head slightly, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she stepped closer and I noticed that I couldn’t tear my gaze off her. That was unusual. Yeah, she had huge boobs and thick thighs but I never was the gawk at people. G?kb?rü also loves beautiful women and he was behaving hostile.


    This isn’t a simple honey trap.


    “G?kb?rü, don’t be rude to the nice lady.”


    The best way to trap a trapper is to make them think their prey fell into their trap. I pushed G?kb?rü inside my shadow with my hand while transmitting what I was thinking.


    “You’re right,” I admitted, keeping my voice steady. “First impressions are important and there are some places I can’t really clean properly myself.”


    I winked and shot my most lecherous smile. Let’s see what will she do.


    The woman''s eyes glimmered with satisfaction as she stepped closer, the scent of jasmine and some other intoxicating fragrance wafting from her skin. She reached out, her fingers grazing my arm with deliberate slowness, her touch sending a shiver down my spine. I could feel the subtle pulse of mana within her, barely noticeable yet insidious in its allure.


    "You''re very wise, Sweet Champion," she murmured, her voice smooth as silk. "Allow me to assist you. It would be an honor to ensure you are at your best."


    I nodded, playing along with the ruse. As she began to move behind me, I let my gaze drop, focusing on the pattern of the stone tiles beneath my feet. My mind worked quickly, assessing the situation. Whoever sent this woman underestimated me. But this was no ordinary seduction attempt. There was something else at play here—some kind of seduction skill. The way her presence seemed to command attention, the subtle haze that clouded my thoughts, and G?kb?rü''s reaction were all signs of something more sinister.


    I let her hands move to my shoulders, her touch feather-light as she began to massage my tense muscles. Her fingers danced with practiced ease, and I allowed myself to relax slightly, drawing in deep breaths as I prepared to stop whatever she was about to try.


    “You are pretty good at this. Where did you learn it?”


    The woman’s hands paused for a fraction of a second before continuing their gentle ministrations, her voice never losing its sultry tone. "I''ve been trained in many arts to serve those who come to our lands, Champion. It’s important to make guests feel welcomed and… cherished."


    I let out a low hum as if savoring the sensation. My mind, however, was elsewhere, focused on sensing every movement of her in case of an attack.


    "Really now?" I replied, injecting a bit of playful curiosity into my voice. "And who exactly decided I needed this kind of… attention?"


    She leaned in closer, her breath warm against the back of my neck. "Our Queen values your alliance greatly. She wishes for you to feel at home, and what better way than to ensure your utmost comfort?"


    So, it was Penthesilea’s doing—or at least that’s what she wanted me to believe. But I could smell the lie easily. She was already stronger than me. If she wanted something from me she didn’t need to use this kind of underhanded method.


    "Interesting," I mused, shifting slightly under her touch as if to get more comfortable. "But you know, comfort can be a poison to warriors like me. It leads to complacency and softness. A warrior can only be forged in a solid anvil, beaten by countless hammer swings.”


    Her fingers hesitated, just for a second, before resuming their slow, deliberate movement. "Wise words, Champion. But you should also realize that a sword must be left to cool down to be properly used. So, just relax and let me take care of you.”


    I leaned back slightly, letting her think she had me where she wanted as her hand traveled towards my private areas. The bathhouse''s soothing warmth combined with her skillful touch could easily lull anyone into a state of complete relaxation and I closed my eyes.


    At the same time, I watched her pull a needle from thin air through the eyes of G?kb?rü. The needle she produced, hidden within her elegant fingers, glinted ominously even in the dim, steamy light of the bathhouse. Its sleek design suggested it was meant for something precise—perhaps a quick injection or a targeted strike to incapacitate.


    "Just a little more, Champion," she whispered her voice a soothing lullaby that almost masked the danger she posed. I could sense the mana imbued in the needle, a subtle and insidious enchantment woven into its tip. Whatever she intended to do, it wasn''t good.


    G?kb?rü, still within my shadow, tensed, ready to strike at a moment''s notice. His awareness was now mine, and I could see through his eyes as he tracked her every movement. The slightest twitch of her muscles, the way her breathing subtly quickened as she prepared to strike—none of it escaped my attention. She was trained for this, I could see it clearly. But even trained individuals weren’t perfect.


    Her body tensed ever so slightly before she struck the needle. I saw it through G?kb?rü’s vision, and then, with a burst of speed, I grabbed her wrist with one hand and twisted her arm behind her back. G?kb?rü, exiting out of my shadow froze her legs together. The needle fell from her grasp, clattering harmlessly to the stone tiles. I saw the confidence in her face disappear as she tried to bite something in her mouth.


    Some kind of poison that would kill her in case of capture so information couldn’t be leaked out. I already predicted she would have something like this.


    With a swift motion, I snatched the object from her mouth by forcing my hand into her mouth, revealing a tiny vial filled with a dark, viscous liquid. The woman’s eyes widened with a mix of anger and resignation even as she bit me while retrieving the capsule, the allure in her demeanor dissipating like mist in the morning sun.


    “Will you speak?”


    I asked, letting the cold spread her naked body. Despite starting to shake due to the cold, she silently glared at me.


    “Very well then.”


    I dragged her out of the bath and called the guards. Looks like relaxing was not an option this night.