Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 72: The Feminine Surrounding

Chapter 72: The Feminine Surrounding

I lay down, deciding it’s best not to move until the girls are done with their business. If I do, they’ll just keep nagging me, eating away at my brain cells. It’s always the same—questions, demands, teasing—never a moment of peace.

I close my eyes under a large white pillow, letting the noise fade into the background. My mind drifts, the weight of reality pressing against my thoughts. My enemies... Who will they be? What kind of people am I going to face? The strong? The cunning? The ones who hide in the shadows, waiting for a moment of weakness?

I exhale slowly, barely audible. I can’t attract too much attention. It only leads to more trouble. That’s the rule of survival. The moment you stand out, people start watching. And when people watch, they want things. They want answers. They want control. I have already faced enougj trouble thanks to it.

I lift my hand slightly, staring at it as if it holds some hidden truth. The dim light of hall casts faint shadows over my fingers, making them look almost unreal. A quiet sadness settles in my chest.

The reason... of my existence... why can’t I just...

The words form in my mind, unfinished. I don’t even know how to complete them.

I clench my fist, feeling the familiar emptiness creep in. It’s always there, lurking just beneath the surface. A void that no amount of strength, victory, or pleasure can seem to fill.

I exhale again, this time deeper, sinking further into my thoughts. The voices in the distance fade into nothing. For just this moment, I let myself exist in silence.

Serina and Hina went into the bath one after the other, steam rising from the doorway each time they switched places.

Serina emerged first, wrapping a towel around herself before slipping into the changing room. A few moments later, she stepped out, dressed in a red night one-piece that clung to her slender body.

The fabric ended just above her thighs, smooth and bare under the dim light. She ran a towel through her damp hair as she sat on the bed in the hall, waiting for Hina to finish.

I remained in my spot, laid on the bed and Billie crouched near the window on a chair, staring outside. The night was quiet, but her thoughts weren’t.

The faint sound of water stopped, followed by soft footsteps. Hina stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a towel. A very short towel.

The scent of shampoo filled the air—sweet, fresh, intoxicating. The girls...their wet hair sticking to their skin, the moisture catching the light in a way that made them look almost unreal. Hina, still wrapped in her towel, walked over to Serina, her tone casual as she held up a beauty product.

"What do you think? This one, or should I go for something lighter?" she asked, tilting the bottle in her hand.

Serina ran a hand through her damp hair, barely glancing at it. "That one’s good, but maybe try a shade warmer? It might suit your skin better."

I forced my gaze away from her but it was hard to do so, willing myself to think about anything else. I had already been called a pervert too many times. No need to add fuel to the fire.

Then, Hina turned toward me.

"Hey, Esther," she called, her voice smooth, unaware of the chaos she was about to create in my head. "What do you think? Would this color look good on me?"

I blinked, hesitant. "Uh..."

When I turned to look at her, she was already too close. Her damp skin glistened, the towel barely holding onto her frame. Her cleavage peeked through, with her chest tightly bulging up and my face warmed before I could stop it.

I gulped and quickly pointed at one of the options. "That one... I guess."

Hina’s eyes lit up. "Oh! I also loved this one!" She beamed, satisfied with my answer, then turned and walked back into the room to change.

I exhaled, rubbing my temple.

Surviving these girls was going to be harder than fighting any enemy.

Hina stepped out of the room, now dressed in a satin short and a matching satin top. The soft fabric clung to her body, reflecting the dim light as she ran a towel through her damp hair.

"You can go take a bath now, Esther," she said, tossing the towel aside.

"Finally..." I muttered under my breath, stretching as I stood up.

I walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. Stripping off my clothes, I tossed them into the laundry basket before stepping into the shower. The warm water cascaded over me, easing the tension in my muscles. I pushed my long hair back, feeling the heat seep into my skin. For a moment, I let myself just exist, breathing in the steam, letting it wash away everything else.

Once done, I grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my waist as I stepped out, running another through my hair. The scent of tea and something faintly sweet drifted through the air.

Hina stood in the kitchen, humming softly as she stirred something in a pot.

"What are you making?" I asked casually, my voice breaking the quiet.

"Oh, I’m making te—" She turned to answer, but the words froze in her throat the moment her eyes landed on me.

Her gaze flickered over my body—my abs, the sharp cuts of my muscles, the way the water still clung to my skin. Her face turned a deep shade of red, lips parting slightly as she struggled to find her words. I could hear her heartbeat pick up, fast and loud, like a drum against silence.

I tilted my head, slightly curious. "What happened?"

"N-nothing!" she stammered, gripping the edge of the counter. "I mean... I’m making tea for everyone."

"Ah, that’s great." I nodded, brushing past her and heading toward the hall.

As I stepped out, my focus was only on grabbing fresh clothes from my bag. I didn’t bother looking around. But I could feel their stares.

Serina and Billie had been lounging on the couch, but now their eyes were locked onto me. Their gazes trailed over my back, the muscles shifting as I moved. Serina gulped audibly. Billie’s fingers tightened around the book she had been holding, her face subtly turning pink.

I acted as if I hadn’t noticed, grabbing my undergarments without a second glance. Then, with the same casual ease, I walked into the changing room, shutting the door behind me.

Outside, I could still hear Hina fumbling with the teapot and together their mind said the word "HE’S SO HOT!"

I stepped out of the changing room, now dressed in a black t-shirt and matching track pants. The air in the room had shifted slightly—less flustered, more settled—as I joined the others.

By the time I sat down, Hina had already poured the tea, and the rich, comforting aroma filled the space. We each took a cup, the warmth seeping into our fingers as we sipped.

The food arrived shortly after, and we all gathered around, plates filled, the steam rising softly.

Billie and I ate in comfortable silence, while Hina and Serina kept the conversation alive, their voices overlapping in an endless stream of energy.

Hina, as always, was the mischievous one.

"You know, Esther," she started, a teasing glint in her eyes as she set down her chopsticks, "for someone so serious all the time, you sure have some dangerous* muscles."

I paused mid-bite, already sensing where this was going. "...And?"

Serina leaned forward, smirking. "And it makes me wonder..."

Hina grinned. "Yeah, do you secretly flex in front of the mirror when no one’s watching?"

I gave them a blank stare. "What?"

I sighed, stabbing my fork into my rice. "No, I don’t stand in front of the mirror flexing. I have better things to do."

Serina cupped her chin, acting like she was deep in thought. "Hmm... but that reaction makes me think otherwise. You are so hot..." she said, grazing her fingers on my hand.

"Oye! Serina!! Sit away from him." Said Hina as she pulled me by neck towards herself.

"Hehh. He is mine! You said you love him didn’t you?" Said Serina pulling me.

"Yeah, obviously I wouldn’t fall for a lazy guy but still don’t take him.." said Hina glaring at Serina and pulling me again.

"You guys can stop pulling me and let me eat. I am hungry..." I sighhhh*

Billie, who had been quietly sipping her tea, nearly choked, quickly covering her mouth to suppress her laughter. Her shoulders shook slightly as she failed to keep a straight face.

I smiled painfully to myself. There was no way to escape this.

The teasing went on, Hina and Serina throwing playful jabs at me while Billie sat back, quietly entertained. Eventually, the conversation drifted into lighter topics, the warmth of food and tea filling the room.

That was until I took a piece of crispy shrimp and, with one bite, broke my silence in a way that stopped their noise entirely.

"So..." I said, my tone suddenly serious, "how are we going to infiltrate this slave trade Billie mentioned and save her brother, Nox?"

The room stilled.

I locked eyes with Billie, watching as the teasing faded from her face, replaced by something heavier.