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The party in Castle Seyfert eventually came to an end, and the participants began logging out.
Kou and Hijiri did the same, and then headed to take a rather late bath before going to sleep.

“Oww, everything hurts…I’m officially an old granny…”
“Aw Hijiri, that’s just your muscles being sore.”

As they washed off the sweat they built up during the day…Hijiri’s sore muscles flared up in pain, making her knees buckle and she had to use Kou’s shoulder as support, who gently helped her walk.
And then, when they made it to the open roof bath…

“Oh, someone got here before us.”
“Ah, Julia, you did really well today!”
“Ah…hello! And thank you too, Kou, and Hijiri!”

Julia was already soaking in the bath there, and Hijiri quickly greeted her.
Then when Kou and Hijiri joined her, they let out placid sighs.

“Umm…are you okay, Hijiri?”
“Yes, you don’t have to worry about me. But hmm…maybe I really should exercise more…”
“You also had to move a lot of muscles you usually don’t use, so it’s okay. How are you holding up, Julia?”
“Ah, I don’t really feel anything.”
“Unghh…and you’re fine too, Kou. Why is it just mee?”

Even Julia was getting worried for Hijiri, who tried to reassure her while sinking deeper into the water, prodding around her stomach to check how much fat there was, and Kou had to appease her.
But since Kou was fine, and so was Julia, who was as much of a beginner as herself, even if Reiji was holding her the entire time…it still weighed heavily on Hijiri, as she continued grumbling..

“By the way, why are you here alone?”
“I think all of the other children went to the sauna again.”

Earlier they had seen Sara and Hisui watching over the kids, making sure they did not overdo it with the sauna.
They really thought Julia would be there too.

“Umm, I’m not really good with heat, and my skin got all itchy when I tried yesterday.”
“Ahh, that happened to me too. I guess our skin reacts like that to heat. I should be careful about hot baths or saunas.”
“I know, that’s why having some cool air from an open roof bath is the best.”
After sharing their common hardships, all three girls leaned back and let out a collective long relaxed “Ahhhh…”
They all relished that moment, feeling their weariness fade away into the water.

“…Julia, did you have fun today?”

Then Kou suddenly broke the silence.
Obviously she was referring to their time inside Destiny Unchain Online. They had formed a whole army to escort her for two days in a row, so Kou was a bit worried that they had been too overbearing.

“Yes, I had a lot of fun! The castle was so beautiful, and the fairies and the octopus were really cute, I really enjoyed all of it!”
“I see, that’s good to know then.”
“You should be able to use the teleporter from now on too, so feel free to come hang out whenever you want, even if you’re in a different guild, okay?
“Okay!”

Julia replied with a wide smile, which finally showed her true age, which also made Kou and Hijiri feel good.

“Actually, there’s something else I’ve been wondering.”

Julia turned around, tilting her head not knowing what Kou wanted to ask.

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s a secret, but I noticed you had glowing wings when you used healing magic earlier today.”
“Ah! I was wondering that too. They were so beautiful!”

Hijiri had also noticed that. Three pairs of wings made of light appeared every time she used magic.
They showed up for a really short time, so Kou thought that maybe it was something else, but Hijiri also noticed them.

“W-what? Beautiful…no way, they’re nothing like my mother’s…”
“…Hm?”
“…Julia?”
“Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything!”

For just a moment Julia’s face became somber, something uncommon for a girl her age, making Kou and Hijiri frown…but then she quickly snapped out of it.
It was clear she was trying to hide something…but they did not want to pry too much, and decided to not ask anything further.

“You really don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to, but did you get a rare species or something?”
“Ah, yes. When I was making my character it said I could pick a unique species if I wanted.”

*…So it’s what happened to me too.*

It was only in March that year, which felt like ages ago to Kou, when she first started playing Destiny Unchain Online, and experienced the same thing, so she listened more attentively.

“And well…apparently my species is called Winged Light, and the main trait is that I get bonus healing power.”
“Ohh, so it’s a species meant for healers.”

They had actually seen that in effect when Julia healed that ogre, a species known for having large HP pools, and his health regenerated by 20% in one go, despite Julia still being a beginner and only having the basic Heal ability.

“And also…when my wings are out I can cleanse my surroundings or something like that.”
“…Cleanse?”
“…But what, and in what circumstances?”
“I-I don’t know, I haven’t had a chance to actually try it out yet…”

Julia struggled to give Kou a proper reply…but the first thing that came to mind was the World Tree Seyfert, the tree that cleansed tainted mana.

*This girl might end up becoming a key piece in whatever happens next.*

It was just a vague feeling, but Kou could not help but wonder…

Afterword:
I’m also jealous of how younger people can run around all day without getting sore muscles.