Friends (1)
The next day, a new quest registered in the shop.
Unforgettable Memories
📍 Objective: Create unforgettable memories with your spirits.
🎁 Reward: Growth for the Spirit User. Growth for the Spirits.
[This one we can achieve in no time!]
Aqua giggled happily.
[Every moment with you is an unforgettable one!]
"Same here."
We hugged each other tightly.
There was no fear or worry about our future.
The only issue was that quests from the second one onward weren't free.
We only had 10 coins left.
The result of devouring churros excitedly over the past few days.
[Are we beggars?]
Aqua's question left me speechless for a moment.
"No. We've got Healing Water, remember?"
[Healing Water?]
"There are people willing to buy it at a high price."
It was about my friend Jang Gilsan, whom I'd spoken to on the phone a few days ago.
'The guild harmony meeting starts today at Phoenix Resort.'
Phoenix Resort was at the northern end of Samcheok Beach, just a 10-minute walk from our house.
The guild harmony was a quarterly event where key figures from Korea's major guilds gathered to build rapport and discuss business.
'It rotates between resorts or hotels owned by the guilds each time, and this one's in Samcheok.'
For me, who had something to receive from my friend, it was perfect timing.
Plus, Phoenix Resort was the place I'd been planning to bring Aqua to.
There was something there she'd love.
"Aqua. Do you know what a bathhouse is?"
[A bathhouse?]
Aqua tilted her head, then clapped her palms together loudly.
[Ah! I've heard of it! Isn't it like a hot spring?]
"Wanna go to one?"
[Ooh! Yes! Let's go!]
Aqua bounced up and down in excitement.
The sea, bathhouses, and fountains were cheat codes for water spirits.
We rode the scooter to Phoenix Resort.
[Wow...! It's enormous!]
Aqua marveled at the resort's size, visible from afar.
Phoenix Resort was so massive it could be seen from anywhere on Samcheok Beach.
Even from our house, you could spot it just by turning your head.
'It's one of the largest in the country.'
But Aqua wasn't captivated by its size.
[Is that building shaped like the sea?]
Aqua's eyes sparkled as she pointed at the resort buildings' roofs.
They were white walls and blue roofs inspired by the buildings of Greece's Santorini beach.
[Is that a temple, perhaps?]
"Hahaha. No, this is Phoenix Resort."
[Resort? This place?]
Aqua looked around in bewilderment.
[It's so different from our guesthouse.]
Before leaving, when she'd asked what a resort was, I'd called it a giant guesthouse.
So she'd imagined a really big version of Haynaru Guesthouse.
"This one's way more luxurious."
I parked the scooter, removed Aqua's helmet, and placed her around my neck.
"Alright, shall we go bathe?"
[Hot!]
Aqua gasped as if she'd forgotten for a moment.
[Let's hurry!]
We skipped along excitedly.
True to its luxury resort status, Phoenix Resort's interior was meticulously designed.
As we walked through the high-ceilinged marble lobby, Aqua gazed around in awe.
[Ooh! So beautiful!]
The lobby was filled with people, many of them awakeners.
[Lady Aqua!]
[It's been a while!]
Just then, an undine called out to Aqua.
[You've come to the human world?]
[Heehee! I even made a contract!]
[Congratulations!]
The undine chatted briefly before returning to her spirit user.
We continued exploring the resort's interior.
[Ooooh! I can feel the water energy!]
As we neared the bathhouse, Aqua bobbed excitedly on my shoulder.
I showed my ID to the staff, snagged the local resident discount, and entered.
[There are so many hot springs!]
That was Aqua's first impression upon quickly changing and entering the bathhouse.
To her, all the pools looked like hot springs.
Phoenix Resort's bathhouse was enormous.
'Even water park guests have to wash up here.'
There were a few patrons, but since it was early and the baths vast, plenty were empty.
Lucky for us.
Water spirit users' bathing could be a nuisance to others.
I showered quickly and led Aqua to an empty hot bath.
Or tried to.
"Hold on."
I stopped Aqua, who was about to dive right in.
[Why?]
"The water's a bit dirty."
It wasn't that bad, actually.
Phoenix Resort maintained strict hygiene, far cleaner than public bathhouses elsewhere.
But I didn't want Aqua in even slightly impure water.
[Shall I clean it?]
"No. Let's use the shop."
I opened the Spirit Shop and quickly bought the item I'd saved for.
◈ Water from the deepest pond in the Spirit Realm, said to spring only there.
◈ Washes away all impurities and filth.
10 coins deducted from balance. Now we have zero.
But no worries.
'I'll meet Gilsan and get magic stones.'
For now, this took priority.
Under Aqua's expectant gaze, I uncapped the purification agent and poured it into the bath.
Splash. It dispersed, and soon the effects kicked in.
'Whoa.'
The tiles on the bath floor gleamed.
"Perfect. Let's wash."
[It's water!]
I carried Aqua into the bath.
The moment water touched her, she lit up.
[Warm! Is this hot spring water?]
Thrilled, Aqua left my arms and splashed around joyfully.
To her four-year-old size, the bathhouse was a swimming pool.
[Haaah... My body's melting...]
After splashing awhile, she floated belly-up.
"How's it compare to the Spirit Realm's hot springs?"
There were natural hot springs in the Spirit Realm too.
[Spirit Realm's better, obviously, but the human world's not bad!]
Aqua flipped over and kicked again.
[Especially dividing the water by temperature—brilliant!]
I recalled the Spirit Realm's hot springs: undines singing and playing together.
"Don't you miss having undines to play with?"
[You've got me instead!]
Her unexpected reply surprised me.
A ticklish warmth spread, bringing a smile to my lips.
Then, an overturned ladle floated by Aqua's face.
[Huh?]
Aqua righted herself, eyeing it curiously.
A plain white ladle, common in bathhouses.
But to Aqua, it sparkled with fascination.
Smoothly, she sank below the surface.
Then circled it stealthily, like a crocodile eyeing a bird.
'...Hunting?'
The sudden thrilling development made me swallow hard.
Submerged, Aqua faded her presence so much even I, her contractor, could barely spot her.
I gripped my hands, watching breathlessly.
The oblivious ladle drifted and bumped the wall lightly.
"...Gulp!"
In that instant, Aqua burst from below.
[Hunt!]
Splash! She covered it with her body.
Clinging tight with limbs, she dragged it under.
[Don't resist me!]
Using spirit power? The water around turned quagmire-like, pulling it down slowly.
[Struggling's pointless! Ahahaha!]
With a villainous laugh, Aqua sank clutching it.
"Ooh..."
Clap clap clap. I applauded involuntarily.
It felt like peeking at the wild side hidden in spirits.
Aqua's hunt seemed successful.
Until the ladle rebelled.
Suddenly, it surfaced like a submarine—with Aqua on top.
[Eek!]
Caught off-guard, Aqua floated dazed atop it.
Confused, like she didn't get it.
'Ah, air!'
I realized belatedly: trapped air in the upturned ladle.
'Then next...'
It flipped.
Unable to bear her weight.
[Eek!]
Splash! Face-first into the bath.
"Hahahahaha!"
Forgetting others around, I burst out laughing.
"Hoo..."
I leaned back in the warm water, gazing at the vast East Sea view through the window.
One-way glass: invisible from outside, but full view inside.
[Great scenery!]
Aqua, floating blissfully, agreed.
[Hot springs must please the eyes too!]
"Wow, who says spirits aren't cultured? You know all about leisure."
[In the Spirit Realm, hot springs are always in beautiful spots—common knowledge!]
The Spirit Realm was known as a utopia where nature harmonized perfectly.
One professor even claimed it was the utopia of "solitary purity and ascension to immortality" that Joseon ancestors craved.
Smiling, I placed the towel sheep I'd fiddled with on Aqua's head.
[What's this?]
A towel shaped like a sheep's head.
"A hat."
[Hat?]
Aqua checked her reflection in the glass, then beamed.
[Mm! It suits me!]
Even more excited, she splashed—then froze, plunging her hand underwater.
She pulled out a water-made sheep hat.
[Here, for you!]
A smile spread across my face.
I took her gift without hiding it and wore it.
Her spirit power kept the water hat intact on my head.
"Mm! Suits me perfectly!"
[Heehee!]
I scooped her up, rubbing cheeks.
Aqua smiled nonstop, delighted.
The bathhouse was paradise for a water spirit—and her spirit user.