Chapter 339: Hot Spring Trap (1/2)
“And that’s how it is.”
Due to the elevation, the hot spring resort in the demonic mountains still had snow here and there.
I heard a few days ago that Tomoe and Mio invited Lisa-san.
But I didn’t expect that even Rembrandt-san would want to come to the hot springs.
Even Morris-san was with him, and he looked pretty excited about it.
We didn’t really have any plans to advertise this place as a resort spot, so this wasn’t in the schedule.
Even though there’s this much abundance in hot water, the ones currently using it are 4 men.
It really feels like it is reserved for us.
There’s the need for people to work here in order to maintain its functions as a facility, so we currently have people from Asora.
It is in essence an exclusive health preservation facility for Asora (super bathhouse), and it pained me a bit that we had them open it at a slightly earlier time than usual.
“Hnn! It feels as if my fatigue is all melting away… This is splendid…” (Rembrandt)
“…No wonder Lisa-sama praised it greatly. I feel like the poisons accumulated inside my body for years are being purified.” (Morris)
Morris-san is saying something slightly scary.
However, I feel like even our words are being melted by the hot water.
Shiki sent me a look of ‘let’s watch their state for a little bit’.
The first hot spring today is green…no, a light green that’s slightly creamy.
There’s no sweet scent.
I personally would be fine with just warming up here and ending it like this.
But this is the first time in a hot spring for Rembrandt-san and the others.
In that case, I am sure they will be going around a variety of hot springs.
It is not that I am against it, but…there’s hot, warm, waterfall hot spring, sauna, cold bath…hinoki cypress bathtub, rock hot spring, jar bathtub…people can get tired even if it is just taking a bath…
I have experienced this before in the demonic mountains, but my body is attacked by a crazy amount of fatigue after tagging along on that for half a day.
It is on the level where there’s no way I would be able to do paperwork after that, and the day would end.
I can at least practice with my bow, but if it is work, I wouldn’t be able to…
Can’t be helped, I should prepare myself.
We have a wide variety of ways to rehydrate. Let’s be careful of getting dizzy from the heat.
“It is our first time in hot springs. It can’t be helped that we would want to soak in the pleasure.” (Rembrandt)
“Even after we finish our talk, you will still continue to bath, right?” (Makoto)
“Yes, first…” (Rembrandt)
“Let’s get properly rehydrated. Hot springs can get unexpectedly dangerous if you don’t after all.” (Makoto)
“That’s true. Waka-sama has gotten dizzy from the heat a number of times already. He understands that it is a good thing to keep this in mind so it doesn’t reach a bad situation.” (Shiki)
“…That was the fault of Tomoe and Mio. It is not like I love hot springs so much that I show no control and end up constantly dizzy, okay?” (Makoto)
“…If it is drinks to keep you hydrated, we have: coffee milk, strawberry milk, banana milk, and cola. A perfect battle formation.” (Shiki)
Kuh! Shiki just can’t deal with topics about Tomoe and Mio.
Also, that line-up of drinks is terrible.
“No, uhm, we have water, barley tea, and normal milk, right? We do, right?” (Makoto)
“What’s ‘normal milk’?” (Shiki)
“The plain one that’s not sweet!” (Makoto)
“…Well, we do have that, but isn’t coffee milk the staple?” (Shiki)
“The females aside from the forest onis would get all giddy saying that it beautified them and would often order it, right?” (Makoto)
The forest onis -regardless of age and gender- would all go for banana milk after coming out from the hot springs.
I don’t know if they come here to use the hot springs, or come to drink banana milk.
“Aah…diluted fruit extract, drinkable yogurt, the carbonated energy drink that’s even on shelves in the store, and the regular carbonated water… Good grief, such an evil course.” (Shiki)
Shiki spits that out from the bottom of his heart.
Evil course, he says.
Your line-up that was basically just milk with one carbonated beverage slipped in was plenty evil of a course too.
Barley tea is the staple!
“No no, to be able to make a facility of this scale for the sake of entertaining your employees, the Kuzunoha Company truly knows no bounds. I can’t read you at all.” (Rembrandt)
Ah.
Rembrandt-san has regained his senses.
Morris-san seems to still be melting there a bit.
“When you suddenly told me you wanted to go to a hot spring with a straight face, I was wondering what was going on, Rembrandt-san.” (Makoto)
Like, seriously.
At the time when I was thinking what to do for the job change of Shima-san, I thought I would consult with Rembrandt-san about it, and he came out with that which doubled my surprise.
“My wife was praising it to high heavens after all. She was talking about how to permanently commute to this place. I wanted to experience it at least once, but because you were way too busy, you wouldn’t invite me at all. I thought, at this point, I should just plunge in myself.” (Rembrandt)
Permanently.
It sounds fine to let her come here every now and then.
But men and women look for different things from hot springs.
I am fine with taking away my fatigue like this, but it seems like it is different for women.
Maybe I should have Shima-san change her job to this place.
I was thinking that she could also fit the bill of being the make-up queen of Tsige though…
“Well, it is also because of the location, but you are even busier than I, Rembrandt-san, so it is pretty hard to invite you to take a bath with me, you know…” (Makoto)
It isn’t something I can say.
We are in the middle of a war right now.
I thought he would get angry at me for even proposing the idea.
“The comfort and even the effects are different depending on the color of the water and the types, right?” (Rembrandt)
“Yeah. There’s ones that are good for your skin, ones that relieve stiff shoulders, ones that maintain the heat of your body.” (Makoto)
Even though the source of the hot springs is only one… I wonder why?
It is not like we are putting any bath additives.
“! Nice! Isn’t that nice?! I am looking forward to enjoying them. Right, Morris?” (Rembrandt)
“…Yeah, I even feel like I am getting younger here.” (Morris)
This is not the fountain of youth, Morris-san.
“Umu, it has been a while since Morris and I have taken time to relax. Staying for several days doesn’t sound bad!” (Rembrandt)
“It is true that it would be a shame to let this bliss go for just one day. Thank you very much, Danna-sama.” (Morris)
“Eh?!” (Makoto)
Is that okay?!
“…That was a joke.” (Rembrandt)
“Phew!” (Makoto)
“It isn’t just a ‘doesn’t sound bad’, I am actually going to stay.” (Rembrandt)
“Of co—eh?” (Makoto)
That was the part that was a joke?!
“It seems like our movements are being hindered. It is frustrating, but it seems like there’s still one or several spies still in hiding. I have secured a group of people that are certainly on the green, but…that state of being listened to from a pretty central part still doesn’t disappear. You could say that’s to be expected from Aion.” (Rembrandt)
“…”
“At these kinds of times, the best move is to set a trap. ‘We hurriedly left the city because of an unexpected situation, and for several days to top it off’, when that’s known, they will definitely make a move. Of course, I will not allow them to eat more than just the bait… Now then, I wonder what big fish we will be pulling out this time around. I left announcing that I will be taking a vacation of several days in an arrogant way like that of a rich person.” (Rembrandt)
“I think there was a report about Aion getting the assistance of the Goddess. Is that okay? Even if it is a bait, isn’t it way too bold of a move?” (Makoto)
That’s right, we captured a spy from the Aion Kingdom in the event at the Dusk Street.
We finally finished our interrogation.
Looks like the biggest reason why the Aion Kingdom managed to make a big comeback from their numerical inferiority was mostly because of the assistance of the Goddess.
It wasn’t the heroes, but reinforcements from the Goddess.
But it seems like the spies that came here didn’t know the details of it, so the only thing we could learn was that it was one woman.
There haven’t been any movements at all from the church in Tsige, so we still have no idea if that woman is a genius strategist, a one-man army, or a stealthy enemy.
We have also confirmed that, sadly, the Kingdom has no intentions at all in allowing the independence of Tsige.
“We were slightly anxious about it, you know. Just a bit ago, that is. But the magic construction that I saw at the Weitz Orphanage, the building materials that held special endurance, the ability of the mercenaries you brought, the favorable relationship with the adventurers; the result of the newly obtained information has led me to believe that this is the time to make our move.” (Rembrandt)