Chapter 31: The Plight

Ritsuka was wondering what was she was doing here. Scratch it, she was wondering why she was bound into a chair of all things. By the looks of it she was well-tied and she couldn't escape from here. Also, in front of her was a mirror. Based from what she could see on the mirror, Ai, Mai, Mii where behind her, smiling contently.

Maybe they are the culprit. Yes, they are the culprit.

Now she missed Mashu, Ereshkigal and Ishtar's tour around the island. Such a waste, she was excited at the thought after all. She sighed at her own volition.

Looking beside was also a captured woman. She also knew who she was. She was the hired photographer of this tour and she was really uncomfortable being similarly bound like her.

Wait, that's not the norm here. Back at the Chaldea she, although not frequently, was bound by her own Servants, notoriously the Stalker Trio, her other Servants are also her savior too so there's that. She felt dread that she thought that she was used to it. Ironic.

The woman beside, although well bounded, was squirming and trying to get out like a crazy person, she was saying how she was supposed to be the strongest woman and other things like that, which are unlikely for someone who has the job of a photographer. However, Ritsuka wasn't focused on that notion.

She was still thinking how she ended up here in the first place: first, the trio approached her, then they talked about something she didn't remember about, and then she was pulled into some kind of a room that the trio must have found and then she sat and…

That's it. That's all she can remember and then currently she was tied onto some kind of a strong chair. Is it normal for her that she was very calm at this moment?

Then the trio produced all kinds of beauty product Ritsuka couldn't name of and they were eyeing the both of them who were bounded with glow in their eyes.

Is this the right time to use a command spell?

Nah, she couldn't. They are just human after all.

Dangerous humans. Her instincts are screaming. Why are they screaming? Only being exposed to death can make her instincts go awry.

Ah, Ritsuka might have hated this scene. Before death, this is her second most hated hobby. Chaldea did not have the luxury of beauty products and Ritsuka just admired the natural beauty of her own Servants, the likes of Marie Antoinette, Mata Hari, her own Senpai Yu Miayoi and many more. She did not have jealousy over their beauty because she didn't care about it.

And now, she realized she hated being have her face touched by those beauty products.

Hehe, she's in danger.

Now she has her life resigned.

It's now afternoon and it seemed that it was a good time to rest, and they have almost finished exploring the entire island in a day. Why not reserve the rest for the next day? Surely, Ritsuka will join them. Yes, Mashu thinks that it is time to relax now with the Goddesses. It just a shame Ritsuka still a haven't appear yet.

She looked outward to the seas and saw the sun casting outs its orange rays and it was beautiful to observe them.

Ishtar brought out her phone but her she was frowning. Mashu wanted to know.

"Ishtar? Is there any problem?"

"I've realized that there's no signal here." Ishtar said as she stretched out her arms as she tried to get a signal. As expected, nothing happened.

"You know where on an island, right?" Mashu reasoned.

"Island? You know that this world has already advanced technology and yet they didn't have a solution to this simple problem? I don't think so."

"I guess you are right? Do you think there's more to it?"

Ishtar just huffed and sighed. "Well, it doesn't matter anymore, there's no harm missing my social account for a day… yes, there's nothing to worry about." Ishtar whispered to herself as she let her phone retreat to her bag.

Ereshkigal meanwhile was still checking her photos on the camera that she managed to shot. Also, she didn't miss the setting sun by the way.

"Hey, why don't we go and relax in the hot bath? That would be great." Ishtar recommended. It is true that they've caught a glance of that building earlier on their tour and also, it was a miraculous incidence that they haven't encountered any students along the way (to the extent, they haven't encountered Shidou and the twins… yet).

Mashu thought for a moment and then finally agreed. Even Ereshkigal nodded.

"You know… that would be great." Ereshkigal remarked as she clapped her hand in glee.

This brings them the memories of Setsubun, a 100 floor tower, where they could rest after overcoming every floors filled with trials.

"Hmm… yes that would be it but first let us search for Master and Caster as well." Ishtar said then continued to whispering to herself. "Maybe… just maybe, I will forget that there is no connection here."

Then they went back to the building where Ritsuka was currently staying. Maybe, they will catch a glance of her there.

Shidou was dreading this moment. Whatever Reine said to the twins he was sure it would end up to something… disastrous or surreal, or whatever… why did Shidou ended up being pessimistic? Even he was questioning himself.

On the other hand, Reine warned him of something when they are still alone in that room. She told him that her connection to the Fraxinus got cut off for some reason and she needed to investigate. After that, It's all about the twins.

Well, his primary concern for a moment was the twins and the twins only. Whatever they were planning, he was sure that everything will go awry… again, when did he became pessimistic of the sudden?

He remembered that time why they were fighting over theirselves: its to decide who will become the major personality since they are originally single Spirit ages ago or that's what they claimed. He didn't know how and why but that thought saddened him. Couldn't they just be satisfied of who they are? Also, he can notice that they are enjoying each other company. If their original plan prevails, he was sure it will be disastrous to whoever the personality was winner as the other will be obliterated. That reason is enough to dictate that their original plan must be thrown out.

"Hey Shidou…"

"Oh, hi girls."

Shidou looked toward whoever was talking and it was one of the twins in front of a bath house with a large sign that reffered to what gender was supposed to enter to each door: the left was for the women while right was for the men. Even without even talking about it, Shidou was sure that it must be connected to the thing that was behind them.

"We give you the permission to get rid of the impurities and unclean spirits out of that earthly body." Kaguya said haughtily.

"Affirmative. Entering the bath will make you relaxed." Yuzuyu followed.

Shidou's eyebrow twitched in hesitation. What would Shido do? He can't just refuse their offer, can he?

"Oh, here is it." Ishtar said as she was now in front of the bath house as she pointed out the building. They could feel the heat emanating out from it. While on the island, they felt so cold after the sun sets, so feeling this comfortable heat was a welcomed option. Even Ereshkigal agreed to Ishtar's thought.

"It's too bad that Mashu decided not to join us." Ereshkigal was a little saddened since Mashu parted with them in order to search for their Master. They wanted to help but Mashu said they just couldn't waste their time in this perfect moment. They wanted to refute it but Mashu just insisted that they can go first, and they will join them a later if she managed to find their Master.

Well, Ishtar and Ereshkigal thought they couldn't just refuse Mashu so they immediately went straight to the bathhouse. The sign says that the bath for women was in the right entrance while the left entrance was for the men.

"Don't you think we need to wait for them?" Ereshkigal brought up an idea to which Ishtar waited for a meantime and then eventually ignore it. Ishtar knew that Ereshkigal would be happy to join with Mashu and their Master together but the red Devil of Venus refuted that idea. They can't just waste Mashu's sacrifice.

"I don't think so. We must respect Mashu's decision." Ishtar insisted as she brought her fist to her chest, as she prayed for Mashu to find Master at last and waste no time to go here.

Finally, they undressed themselves and neatly arranged their clothes in the basket.

"Do you think we need to use this towels?" Ereshkigal said as she grabbed the towel while currently naked. The steam from the bath made their skin glisten, as a result, they look so hot men would fall for their feet.

Ishtar smirked. "Why use it? We can't just let that simple towel cover our beauty." She recommended as she boldly show off her curvaceous body. Both Ishtar and Ereshkigal shared the same body of a certain individual so there's no need to measure up each other. In fact, they adored each other, in individuality and in their body. Their only difference was the color of their hair, which serves no other than to enhance the beauty of the body.

Since they are naturally, perpetually Goddesses, they have no shame nor embarrassment when showing off their body when needed. Ishtar claimed herself as an embodiedment of beauty and has no reserves in covering her body at all. Her Divine Clothing proves that. Even Ereshkigal, even though shy as she wanted to, being nude was something that is not a problem for them.

"Oh, someone's already here." Ereshkigal said as she heard some voice.

"Such a shame that we never got first." Ishtar remarked. "But its ok… at least, they can see our beauty."

"Really?" Ereshkigal questioned.

"O-of course, only those that are deserving." The Goddess of the Underworld noticed that she stuttered.

"You don't mean you'll obliterate someone who is not worthy?"

"I do not reach to that point, Sister. I don't want you to shouldered someone's unworthy soul." Ereshkigal then heard her laughed haughtily.

"…we should proceed now, sister." Ishtar added as she joined together's arm with Ereshkigal, towels be damned. They do not care if they could see their body in full view, as long as they rever them… and worship them. In the distance, they could see a trio already in the water, only they could see their silhouette. They must not have stirred yet since they walked steadily and could have not see them yet. The sounds of pitter patter from their feet was muffled by the crashing waves from the seas.

They've noticed that the fog was thick inside the bathhouse… well, outside, and this gets more exciting for Ereshkigal, since they could see the stars while relaxing. It's too bad that Master couldn't join them.

The fog quickly lifted and revealed Shidou and the twins clutching to his elbows.

They looked at the Goddesses with mixed emotions at the same time the Goddesses looked to the twin Spirits and Shidou as well. The sudden appearance of each other might have delayed the real reactions.

It was very, very quiet to the point that the time seemed to stilled, even the waves calmed to further reinforce the theory.

No one talked.

However, Shidou knew he was very, very screwed.