Hot Spring Mega Explosion
"Kuhahaha! I am now a full-head-of-hair man!!!"
"Feels great, doesn't it?"
"Saying that while you're slyly slipping into the bath yourself, Dragon Mask?"
"...Ahem. This bath seems to have the most suitable effects for me here, that's all. No other reason. Ahem... I can feel my inner energy surging rapidly..."
The two middle-aged men were soaking in the newly created baldness-treatment bath.
As expected of elixirs fit for an emperor, everyone who tried this bath once was completely hooked on its effects.
Of course, I was soaking in it too... I could feel my blood circulating swiftly throughout my body, and mana accumulating in my heart's mana core much faster than usual.
But the bath's effects weren't infinite.
Regrettably, after a certain point, your body built up tolerance, and the effects wore off quickly.
It took about ten minutes for tolerance to max out.
Then you had to rest for at least a few days to feel the elixir bath's effects again.
That was something I'd learned from repeated use of the elixir baths.
In short, no need to worry about crowds overwhelming a single bath anymore.
I worried for nothing about people flocking to the good baths.
The most efficient way to use the hot springs was to rotate through all of them.
Anyway...
"Siiiip~"
"Dungeon Master, how did you acquire such elixirs? Baldness-curing elixirs were just rumors in the past—no one ever confirmed their existence."
Everyone turned to me curiously at Yeomje's question.
"Got lucky from a friend. She said it was a family heirloom."
Better not mention the sticky one.
Before leaving, she'd given me a few parting words.
"Before I go, let this lady meddle once more as your friend, Dungeon Master. As the shelter's situation improves, people like me will emerge, trying to use you to seize power. They might already be plotting ways to win you over."
Her expression was unusually serious, unlike her usual demeanor.
"Leisure breeds that. Understand? When everyone's starving, survival is all they think about. But now that survival's secured, won't greed for the future arise? You're the endpoint of all those desires. Heed my words."
To sum up her sticky advice: If word of this got out, it'd spark a rush of people approaching me.
Once one side makes the first move, the prepared factions would scramble.
True or not, with her artifact insight, it wasn't bad advice.
So I'd keep this quiet. I wasn't ready yet.
"Hoo..."
I tilted my head back, sighing at the crystal cave ceiling.
The sticky one had urged me to be more cautious.
Why my obvious enemy gave such advice, I couldn't say. Maybe she really saw me as a friend.
But in her worldview, friends were probably expendable for her cause.
Just speculation—I couldn't understand others, let alone a weirdo like her.
And her final words:
"If someone approaches you with good intentions, suspect them. Humans don't act at a loss. They move for gain, so read their hidden motives. Those demanding no price seek what you can't give."
To that, I'd quipped, "So watch out for Joodak types?"
All she'd asked was for me to run dungeons to sustain the shelter.
Joodak had helped me massively without real compensation.
I'd mentioned her expecting Sticky to squirm...
But she affirmed it, deadly serious.
"Yes, especially those like Joodak who help greatly without cost. Their motives are unknowable. I've spoken to her a few times, but couldn't read her at all—like facing a living corpse."
Her assessment was harsher than expected, so I asked why.
"To me, she seemed desireless. More precisely, empty inside despite her facade. Point is, no desires means no life—desire is life's fuel. So Joodak clings to life via duty-like zeal, not desire."
She paused, then continued.
"Living because you can't die is no different from a corpse. For her to overcome apathy and aid you, it's tied to her mission. Listen: I'm a madwoman, but she's a ghost possessed. Ghosts harm the living, so distance yourself from Joodak someday."
With that, she left the dungeon. Hearing it, I...
"This feels so creepy..."
My mood soured for no reason.
I'd usually ignore it, but lately Joodak had seemed off.
* * *
* * *
Lennon, one of the mid-layer conquest tournament winners.
He had great talent but was stuck at a wall due to his innate constitution.
Born with twisted meridians, over 30% of his mana pathways were non-functional—essentially mana-crippled. Despite enlightenments, he couldn't advance realms.
He looked around. A mountain range terrain.
Visible areas teemed with life—vibrant grasses and trees in multicolored autumn splendor.
Magnificent.
This was the hot spring dungeon entrance. Surprisingly, the hot springs were midway up this high peak, carved into the mountain itself.
Other winners gathered around him.
Buzzing murmurs—mid-layer+ explorers chatting in groups. Mid-layers lacked fierce monster competition, fostering bonds. Solo hunting was tough, so pairs were common.
Mid-upper+ was for the blessed few: pinnacle realm for transmigrator martial artists, master-grade for natives.
"Phew... Hot springs make the conquest effort worthwhile."
Winners got golden tickets—plenty of time to enjoy.
* * *
"Hello everyone. High-Performance Eraser here for the new dungeon experience broadcast."
The broadcast proper started, and High-Performance Eraser led the experience team along a mountain path for about three minutes.
A building appeared, with a large cave beside it.
"Here we are—the hot spring dungeon!"
"No worries, everyone. Swimsuits are provided—no eye trauma like last time."
Second broadcast, so it progressed quickly.
They changed in the outer lodging building and entered the cave.
Steam-filled crystal cave from hot springs. Ceiling crystals scattered rainbow lights through the mist.
The cavern was stadium-sized...
The team was awestruck by the grandeur and beauty.
"This is..."
"Hoo... Never seen anything like this in my life..."
"Everyone washed at the entrance, right? Freely enjoy the hot springs. Dungeon Master says various effects—go wild."
The team screamed like kids at lunch recess, charging the baths.
"Freeeedom!!!"
"Kyahoooouuuu!!!!"
"Don't run—the floors are slippery!"
Signboards fronted the dozens of baths.
Lennon read one.
"Great for rhinitis, nourishes skin for beauty... Hmm? Expands mana pathways... Greatly aids constitution improvement...?"
He snorted.
"Yeah right... How effective can hot springs be?"
But all hot springs hype effects for business.
"These are oddly specific though..."
Besides beauty, unfamiliar effects.
Usually healing wounds, muscle pain relief—not this.
More like elixir effects than hot springs.
"Whatever, here for the soak—effects don't matter."
No hot spring could fix his constitution anyway.
He sank in. Warm water melted fatigue.
Condition improving oddly... First soak in ages?
A 30s man sidled up.
"Hoo... Nice. Dungeon Hwang's grace, right?"
"You...?"
Remembered from broadcast—Vera's Dad?
"Heard you muttering. Said Dungeon Master's hot springs ineffective?"
"Yeah, common sense—the listed effects are hype. Real impact minimal."
"Heh... You don't know Dungeon Master yet. You'll learn soon."
Didn't know? He'd surprised before, but this seemed it.
No big prep.
"Hmmm... Even so. Already public—what more...?"
- Graaaaaah!!! Body heating up howwww!!!!!!
- Ooooooh!!! Look my Neo Armstrong revived!!!!!!!!
- Huh...? Old injury healed! What!!!
- Wtf!!! Nothing done but mana... mana gathering fast!!!!
Explorers' shouts everywhere as Lennon retorted.
"Wha...?"
"See now?"
"No way..."
Half-doubting, Lennon sat cross-legged, circulating mana to check.
...Mana pathways clearly expanded.
Even closed ones stirring... Then—
Baaang-!!!
Massive aura erupted from Lennon, splashing waves.
Vera's Dad retreated, assessing.
"Hah! This, breakthrough attempt!!!?"
Unsettled aura drew distant High-Performance Eraser.
"Wh-what's this?"
* * *
I'd expected big reactions to the elixir baths, but...
Not this. I grabbed Kkomangi's cheeks, wailing.
"Wtf is that!!! What is it Kkomangi!!!!!!"
"Hek hek..."
Viewers and gallery exploded at the absurdity.