Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: The Departed, The Returned (4)
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After finishing a hearty meal, we each returned to our rooms for some rest. I asked the innkeeper to prepare bathwater, then sorted through my things in the room and gathered a change of clothes. Bath herbs and salts too.
‘A hot bath is the best after wrapping things up.’
By the standards of this pseudo-medieval land, I was on the excessively bath-happy side…. But as a modern person, it was only natural. I couldn’t stand feeling grimy without a bath—or at least a shower! Hygiene is the most important part of daily life, hygiene!
Unless we were in nonstop combat or some dire emergency with no time to spare, I had to bathe as soon as we had a breather. Infectious diseases ran rampant in this pseudo-medieval land, and dying from a mere cold was all too common.
‘No wonder nobles live longer.’
Better living conditions played a role, sure, but my theory was that hygiene made the biggest difference.
In this pseudo-medieval land, ‘soap’ was basically a luxury item. The skills, effort, and materials needed to make it weren’t widespread. Animal fats essential for soap were far more valuable as nutrition for the poor. When you’re starving, you eat it, not waste it on washing hands.
‘I make my own, so I’m fine….’
That alone put me in the ‘well-off’ class. At least middle-class living standards….
‘Things would change if mass production methods were invented.’
But I was too busy saving the world to tackle that now. For starters, I’d keep my hands clean and bathe diligently to maintain hygiene.
Fortunately, being a Druid was perfect for soap-making. Animal fats were easy to come by, and adding herbs was a breeze. Soap packed with herbs not only smelled great but also kept insects at bay—a win-win.
Whoosh!
“Whew….”
The air was no joke. Steam billowed out as I opened the door. After letting some out, I entered the bath and found the wooden tub filled with piping hot water, steam rising vigorously. It looked like it had just been boiling. I’d asked for hot water, but this might turn me into human hot pot if I jumped in.
I needed time to dissolve the salts and steep the herbs anyway. I sprinkled them over the steaming tub and waited for the water to infuse. Once it took on a faint green hue, I scooped some into two small ladles and floated them on the surface.
“You two get in too.”
Pii!
Grrr….
Ppippi dove aggressively into the ladle, while Legion—who’d been asleep the whole time and was still groggy—needed me to place him in myself.
“Theo. Water. Hot….”
“How hot is it?”
At Legion’s whine, I mixed in a bit of cold water to the ladle.
“Better now?”
“Theo. Water. Good.”
“Good, glad to hear it.”
Legion’s scales shivered pleasantly in the warm water, then he stretched out his legs.
‘…Still tired, huh.’
Worrying since he hadn’t eaten anything. If he stayed like that till tomorrow, I’d have to force-feed him.
I eased into the tub carefully. It had cooled a little but was still hot. Perfect. Did I take after Dad? I remembered his back in the bathhouse, toughing out scalding water I couldn’t endure for a minute. He seemed so strong back then.
‘Looking back, he was just exhausted.’
Ugh…. I groaned, sinking into the tub and leaning back. The hot water melted away the tension bit by bit. Ah, craving banana milk.
‘Bliss….’
Slightly hot was just right. I inhaled the soothing herb scent, closed my eyes briefly. Fatigue dissolving, melting away. I could drift off like this….
Zzz….
“…Huh!”
I’d actually dozed off. Jerking awake at the head droop, I shook myself and looked around. The bath was still steamy. Ppippi and Legion’s ladles bobbed in front….
“Yawn….”
Thanks to the Olapunt necklace, I hadn’t lost consciousness completely. But I was pretty wiped too. Makes sense—I’d been wrapped up in the Corin business for ages.
Ppippi and Legion were slumped in their ladles too. Yeah, they’d worked harder than me….
‘Meant to check my skills….’
Doze derailed that. Water cooling anyway.
I finished up, fished Ppippi and Legion out, and wrapped them in fluffy towels to dry off. Ppippi shook off water with wing flaps, then rolled on the towel. Legion lay still as I toweled between his scales.
“No catching cold.”
Bundled like newborns, I carried them back to the room. Neat bedding awaited: crisp sheets, soft pillow, warm blanket. Ppippi dove straight into the pillow—boom!—burying his face under a wing and conking out.
‘…Tempted to crash just like this.’
Snuggled next to Ppippi, blanket to my chin….
But skill check first. Instead of bed, I sat at the windowsill desk and lit a candle. No moon tonight….
Under the flickering flame, I opened the old book. New notes crammed every corner of the pages. Fresh info? As I focused to read—
Grumble….
…Huh?
What’s that noise?
“…Legion, you?”
I plucked drowsy Legion from my shoulder onto the desk. His eyes brighter post-bath, he licked his chops with a pink tongue, gazing up.
“Theo. Me.”
“Feeling hungry?”
“Theo. Me. Maybe.”
“Yeah, dinner time. You skipped dinner.”
But dinner was long over….
‘Can’t starve the kid though.’
Those pleading wet eyes—guts and gall, all yours. I lifted Legion carefully back to my shoulder and closed the book.
“Let’s check the kitchen. Might be something.”
“Theo. Me. Eat.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I crept downstairs quietly, not wanting to wake anyone. Sneaking like this felt just like….
‘…Midnight kimchi stew meat raid.’
Pretty much. In the kitchen, I lit the fire.
“Oh no….”
Bad luck—nothing much left. We’d devoured the innkeeper’s ingredients at dinner, and Ayla claimed the remaining meats. She’d mentioned dawn market run—right.
So all that remained was….
‘Flour, eggs, butter, milk, sugar….’
Basics only. Not much for a meal. And no quick sourcing now….
“…”
Staring at flour, eggs, butter, milk, sugar in thought, I smacked my forehead. Yes! Perfect for kids. Ideal. Post-bath munchies hitting me too….
Preheat oven, start dough. Stir half-melted butter vigorously, mix in yolks, flour to taste, pinch of salt. For myself, rough mix, but for Legion—silky smooth. Sift once….
“Been ages, hope it turns out.”
“Theo. Ages?”
“Yeah. Ages.”
I’d enjoyed gourmet eats here, but desserts? Rarely bothered. Never homemade. Effort went to booze: wine, cider….
‘Raising a kid drags you to sweets eventually.’
Yay or nay? Buttermilk into smooth dough, now meringue time. Whip whites till arms ache, fold into dough—looking good.
Into oven. While baking, whip cream: butter, milk, sugar, salt. And….
Vanilla, king of all. Lucky me—top-shelf vanilla beans and rum extract. Made for fishy smells, now repurposed.
All mixed: vanilla buttercream frosting. Rich, sweet, vanilla-kissed perfection.
Out comes bread, halved, slathered in cream. Thin slices of ripe Dimensional Garden bananas layered tight, more cream, bread, cream—repeat. Result: no beauty contest winner, but appetizing ‘cake.’
Small, but Legion-sized satisfaction. Plate delicately, to table.
“Worth the wait, Legion?”
There, eyes sparkling like a child’s, Legion awaited.