Queen Mab and Queen Snow

...It's fine.

Really. I will be just fine.

Go on and enjoy yourselves without me.

I am quite content to just relax in this guest room. Besides, I've always wanted to try wearing a yukata.

In fact, I quite like the climate here...

Hmm.

You heard the laer, queen. What do you think?

What do I think? I think it's ridiculous!

Listen up. When you go to a hot springs inn, there's only one thing to do!

Go in the hot springs! Go to the spa! Go in the hot springs! Drink alcohol! Go to the spa! Drink alcohol!

Jump the heroes and warriors you came with! Look for new Good-Looking Braves among the locals!

Eat lots of decadent food, then exercise to lose the weight!

And finally, when you've seized the day in every possible way, relax in hot springs to treat yourself!

(That's a lot more than only one thing...)

THAT'S what you're supposed to do at an inn like this! Why would you want to throw all that away by finishing up this trip with boring old R & R?

Come on, Scáthach, you can do that sort of thing anywhere.

No. I've had enough.

B-besides, you know, that wine you poured for me has made my Spirit Origin feel oddly hot.

Oh please. You're telling me you never had wine in Scandinavia?

... ...

...Yes, I suppose we did. Kvasir's bloodmead, did exist in my Scandinavia.

Or at least, it did during the Age of Gods.

Hm?

...

B-but never mind that. This is not the place to discuss such things. Forget I mentioned it.

More importantly, these hot springs are, well...how can I put this...

O-on second thought, never mind. It's nothing.

Um, you know what I feel like right now? Ice cream!

Yes, I have decided I desire ice cream! You there, with the sword! Go and get me some!

!!!

Uh-oh.

Fergus. Fergus! I don't care how turned on you are by the contrast in her appearance and demeanor, the answer is no!

You just caught yourself from thinking Scáthach was cute even though I'm right here, didn't you!?

I did.

So honest! Your candor is like a bullet between my eyes! No wonder you're my Ultra Brave!

But, the answer's still no.

I'll figure out what's going on with this non-Scáthach Scáthach!

You just stand guard to make sure no one bothers

...How long are you lot going to keep me waiting?

Come now. The hot springs await us.

Hehe, I think I will try a bottle of hot sake next. I trust you lot are ready to go?

Hell yes!

Oh? Are we doing mixed bathing today?

No! There is no mixed bathing happening here!

...Really?

Knowing you, Medb, I expected you to say you had held your tongue for the first bath...

...but from the second one on, you would allow mixed bathing. Heh, has something come over you?

... ...

...N-not especially, no.

It's just that, you know, this Scáthach seems like she's still taking a lot of stuff in, right?

So I guess I thought it'd probably be best if we avoided anything too stimulating? It's not like I was going out of my way to accommodate her or anything.

Hmm.

N-never mind that! What are you doing here with us, anyway!?

All I did was ask Scáthach if she wanted to go to a hot springs inn! But then you show up like you own the

Scáthach.

Scáthach?

...A-ahem.

Anyway, come on, Scáthach! We're going to the hot springs!

Did I not already say as much?

N-not you! I don't have to tell you to come along!

I-I told you, I'm fine. I really don't see

Haha. What is this?

You are surely not telling us you can't handle heat, are you?

Oh...

Is that what this is about? You can't deal with heat?

Oh man... I didn't think there was anything you couldn't handle! I'm honestly kind of shocked...

...No, I do not like heat.

!!!

Wh-what's going on here... How can Scáthach be this cute? I don't get it...

Oh crap! Fergus must have gone way over his limit!

E-easy, Fergus! I know how you feel, but you've got to hold back! You're MY brave, and no one else's!

RRRAAAAAAHHH!!!

Oh man, I'm too late! He's going on a rampage!

...Phew. That was quite the close call.

I understand that at Chaldea, Fergus is capable of being well-mannered...

I suppose, in the end, it must be his face that causes such confusion. Hehe.

Forgive me, my other self. I am sorry for the trouble I caused you.

(Sigh) If I had simply agreed to bathe in the hot springs again, this would never have happened.

Do you truly dislike hot water so much?

No, it is not that. I enjoy swimming, and I enjoy bathing.

But...I cannot get used to heat.

No matter how much time passes... Even though I understand intellectually that this fire poses no threat to me...

...I simply cannot bring myself to like it...

...I do not think I will ever like hot things...

Hmm.

...In that case, what about this?

Ah, there you are. Heeey! Missy!

Did you know?

They say eating ice cream while you're in a hot spring makes it seem colder and even more delicious.

Why don't you try it yourself sometime? Go ahead and tell the pharaoh guy about it, too.

Y-you fail to show me proper respect, Lord Arash!

But, very well. That does sound like something worth trying.

I will be sure to tell Pharaoh Ozymandias about it. ...And Lady Scheherazade, when I get the chance.

Great!

I am curious though, Lord Arash: where did you hear about this?

Just now, actually. I passed a queen in the hallway on my way here.

And she just happened to be talking about how wonderful it was...