Hot Spring Bliss in the Depths
“Can you make me even happier?”
“Put me down! You're teasing me right now!”
“Teasing? I'm doing this because I love you.”
I even kissed the tiny hands covering her face. Mocked as a freak, but to me, they were the most precious hands in the world.
“I'm never taking it off for life. I'll even wear it in the bath.”
“Ughhh...”
Our eyes met through the gaps between her fingers. They sparkled with joy. If she had a tail, it would've been wagging like crazy.
==========================
After the commotion died down, we resumed our exploration.
“Mm. Mmm! I can feel it. It's around here.”
Elma groped along one side of the wall. The lantern light illuminated a crevice below.
“See how the geological structure here is unusual?”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
Honestly, I had no clue, but I played along. She seemed in high spirits, so why not humor her?
But then.
Clang! Clang!
Suddenly, Elma started hammering the wall with her pickaxe.
“Something's here!”
“Be careful. You might cause a collapse...”
Before I could stop her.
Crack!
A fissure split the wall. Cracks spiderwebbed out.
Creeeak! Crunch!
“Huh?”
Elma let out a dazed sound.
And then.
Rumble!
It came crashing down. Debris poured out—right above Elma.
“Elma!”
I lunged forward in a panic, scooping up her tiny body and rolling to the ground.
Thud! Wham! Boom!
Impacts rained down on my back. We got lucky—no big rocks. Just dirt piles and small fragments.
A cloud of dust billowed up.
“Cough! Hack! You okay, Elma?!”
I coughed, pushing myself up. Elma huddled in my arms.
“Y-yeah. I'm fine.”
She nodded tightly, eyes squeezed shut. Good, no visible injuries.
But her eyes were wide with panic.
“H-hubby! Blood! You're bleeding!”
She grabbed my forearm frantically. Must've been grazed by flying debris. Just a light scratch.
“I'm fine. It's just a scrape.”
“No, you're not! This is because of me...!”
“Elma. Look at me. I'm totally fine.”
I cupped her face in both hands, wiping away her scared tears with my thumbs. Calm her down first.
“Doesn't hurt at all. So no crying.”
“Ugh... Sorryyy...”
“Sorry? Saving the boss is a team member's duty.”
I stroked her hair. She finally nodded through sniffles.
The dust settled bit by bit. Catching my breath, I looked toward the collapse.
And we both froze.
“Huh...?”
“This is...”
From between the fallen rocks, something was billowing out.
Whoosh. White steam. Searing heat wafting over. A familiar scent.
“Hubby.”
Elma's eyes went wide. She sniffed deeply.
Her almond eyes sparkled.
“It's a hot spring!”
She brushed off her butt and stood, nose held high like she'd never cried.
“Hmph! This is my intuition at work! See?! I told you there was something here!”
Hand on hip, proud as can be. It was absurd, but her confidence was so cute I chuckled.
Glad she's bouncing back fast.
Elma waddled to the collapse.
“Whoa... So much water.”
Hot water gushed out steadily. But the floor was the issue—it wouldn't pool; it just drained away.
Foot bath at best.
“Too bad. If it pooled, we could've bathed.”
“If there's none, make one!”
What? Here? No golems or gear?
“Nah, don't push it. Just soak your feet. That's plenty nice.”
I tried to dissuade her—before she caused trouble. Her eyes were already gleaming dangerously.
“Alright, time to flex a little!”
Ignoring me, Elma rolled up her sleeves.
Flash!
Blue light poured from her body. Twin tails floated up.
The magic she used in class—for chalk or gear.
But this scale was different.
“...!”
Her hair split into dozens of tentacles.
Swish! Grab!
They snatched pickaxes and shovels. Over ten tools floated in the air.
“Go-go-go!”
With her shout.
Clang! Thud-thud! Clang!
The tools tore into the ground like mad. Dirt flew, rocks chipped away.
In barely ten minutes—a job that'd take days by hand—was done.
“Tadaa~!”
A wide, deep pool formed. Hot spring water filled it.
“PhDs with four doctorates are on another level.”
I stuck out my tongue in awe.
But.
Wobble.
“Ugh...”
Elma swayed. Her hair limp.
“Elma!”
I rushed to support her. She slumped into my arms, face pale, sweat beading on her forehead.
“You okay?!”
“After this... I get so... tired...”
Her eyes half-lidded, she wobbled.
Magic backlash? I can't handle this.
I sighed, scooping her up.
“Good job, boss. Let's wash up and rest.”
================================
I laid Elma on a flat rock. Still woozy.
“Stay still while I undress you.”
Off came the hardhat. Unbuckled the harness, vest, underclothes.
“Ugh... Hubby doing everything feels too gooood...”
Elma smiled lazily, entrusting her body to me. Like a pampered princess.
Naked Elma. Her pale barley skin dusted with dirt.
Of course, I stripped too. Then lifted her.
Splash.
Into the water. Warm and soothing—fatigue melting away.
“Ahhh... Melting...”
Elma let out a long sigh. Sounded like an old man, but whatever.
“Heeeng...”
She looked so blissful.
I sat her in the shallow edge. Grabbed body wash.
“I'll wash your back.”
“Mm.”
Like an obedient hamster, she turned. I lathered up, rinsing carefully with warm water.
Scratches from the collapse?
Scrub. Scrub.
“Doesn't hurt?”
“Nope. Hubby's hands feel amazing.”
She purred happily, leaning back against me.
“Glad you like it.”
Shoulders to waist, then the top of her plump butt. Gentle, to avoid aggravating wounds.
Whoosh.
Rinsed the suds. Her barley skin squeaky clean.
Squish.
“Hold still. Water might get in your nose.”
Cupped water to wash her face.
“All done.”
Elma beamed. Color returning to her cheeks. Hot spring magic?
“My turn!”
Reinvigorated, she snatched the body wash, forcing me to turn.
Rub-rub.
Pat. Two small palms on my back.
“So broad, seriously.”
Callused, rough little hands scrubbed vigorously.
Scrub. Scrub.
Busy little hands: on tiptoes for shoulders, squatting for lower back.
“That spot you got hurt earlier okay?”
“Yeah, you'll potion it later and it'll heal.”
“Duh. I'll apply it tonight.”
Skin on skin. Splashing water. Steamy mist.
Cozy and peaceful—hard to believe we were deep in an abandoned mine.
Her hands slid under my arms to my chest, then yanked my neck into a hug.
Squish. Stretch. Breasts pressed to my back.
“Done?”
“Yeah.”
I turned. Splash. Small waves.
Elma climbed onto my lap, facing me. Her stretchy butt settled on my thighs.
Water lapped at her chin. I wrapped my arms around her waist.
Squish. Stretch. Her breasts squished against my belly.
Our body heat mingled in the water.
“Warm, right.”
I stroked her wet cheek.
“Yeah. Super warm.”
She nuzzled my solar plexus.
Then, suddenly.
Glance. She looked up at the ceiling.
“Kinda dark, though.”
Small hand out of the water. Snapped her fingers.
Snap!
Flash!
Mana stone fragments embedded in the ceiling glowed blue.
“Whoa.”
I stared, dumbfounded. Shimmering lights like thousands of stars in the dark—like the Milky Way.
“What do you think? My magic.”
Under the starlight chasing away shadows, Elma grinned.
Her round almond eyes full of stars.
“The most beautiful in the world.”
“Heehee.”
She bashfully burrowed back into my chest.
“Hey, hubby.”
“Yeah.”
“I'm so incredibly happy right now.”
Whisper-soft.
“Feels like our own little nest, just us.”
Small hand stroked my chest.
“No one's staring at me here.”
She pressed her forehead to my solar plexus, steadying her breath. What was she getting at?
“Um, hubby.”
“Yes, Elma.”
“Wanna just live here forever?”
Her little lips moved, spilling her confession.
“No one sees me as weird here. Just us.”
Fists clenched white-knuckled.
“...”
Not serious, right? Just whining from her hurt, lonely heart.
“No one thinks you're weird, Elma.”
She looked up. Wet barley hair, starry eyes glistening.
“And I won't let them.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Tell me if anyone does. I'll smash their face in.”
Her eyes went huge. She stared blankly, then.
“Pfft.”
Giggled softly. Buried her face again, rubbing her cheek.
Tension melting away.
“For real? I trust only you, hubby.”
“Of course. That's what husbands are for.”
She tensed her short arms, hugging my neck tight. Pressed closer.
Smack. Light kiss under my jaw.
Sweet sigh as she whispered.
“I'm so happy 'cause of you, hubby.”
Pure affection. Starry glow above. My little queen sparkling.
How could I hold back?
I gripped the back of her head, pressing our lips together.
“Mmph...”
Water droplets splashed. Deep kiss, breathless. Tongues explored soft flesh, swallowing saliva.
Her thighs tensed. Breasts heaved.
“Hah... haa...”
Lips parted, ragged breaths.
Elma's face flushed crimson. Eyes unfocused, dazed.
Little lips parted, eyes fluttering.
“Hubby.”
“Yeah.”
“The stars here are so pretty.”
She twisted her hips. Soft skin grazed my lower half teasingly.
“Make me even happier?”
This seductive professor. No words—I just pulled her waist closer.