I have a bodyguard. His name is Shirasaki, and he has been with me for five years since my father assigned him to me when I was young.

I don't know his real name. He said it's because of the anonymity required of a bodyguard. Still, seeing his excellent skills and how he handles even menial tasks without complaint, I've come to think of him as a close friend.

Shirasaki is... how should I put it, he has a somewhat androgynous feel. He's small in stature, and if you look closely, his face is quite pretty. But he's always expressionless and speaks so little that at first, I thought, 'He's a very stoic person, he must be misunderstood a lot.'

Still, given the years we've spent together, he talks to me a bit more than he does to others. Of course, I usually have to speak first to get an answer, but the fact that a conversation happens at all is a huge step forward.

Shirasaki said he grew up poor. He's never told me his whole past, but he said he knows little else besides the sword because he's been in warrior training since he was a child. So, I often told him stories about the civilized world that I enjoy.

Among those, he showed a particular interest in stories about hot springs. He said he really wanted to go to a place where one could soak in warm water to wash away fatigue and relax with others.

So, the year I became an adult, I decided to go to a hot spring with him. There were no hot springs near the manor, so it took three full days to reach a high-end spring deep in the mountains. Nevertheless, our journey for two began.

On the night of the second day, I couldn't sleep because of the excitement of arriving at the hot spring the next day. I eventually woke up early at dawn and opened the sliding door, only to find Shirasaki already awake. He asked for my permission and headed to the stream to wash.

After he left, I followed him a moment later, thinking I'd wash my face and talk to him a bit more. And there, I was faced with the truth: Shirasaki was not the 'he' I knew, but a 'she'.

"My... My Lord...?"

Will Guest and Ayame be able to reach the hot spring safely?! The rest is up to you!