Rischel Hot Springs (5)
How did it come to this......
I'd barely managed to catch Aser as she collapsed defenselessly, my face filled with regret as I reflected on the past.
It was about an hour ago.
After chasing off the lecherously approaching Merlin and knocking out Agravain who came right after, I'd become convinced that the Knights of the Round Table were all gunning for me.
The reason was simple.
'Merlin and Agravain have zero connection to each other. And yet, by sheer coincidence, they both approached me on the same day, at the same time?'
As if.
Nine times out of ten, the entire Round Table was targeting me. That was the right assumption.
Of course, ever since that major incident in the past, the Round Table had never all moved together as a group.
So logically speaking, it made sense to think different factions had coincidentally set their sights on me independently......
'But is the Round Table some logical organization?'
If they were normal knights with any sense of chivalry, maybe.
Lancelot with his thing for married men.
Merlin and her masochistic tendencies.
Modred with her NTR fetish.
Gawain's voyeurism, and her sisters proposing a threesome.
Just the ones that came to mind off the top of my head were this bad—what about the rest?
And they didn't even try to hide their perversions, which made it all the worse.
'Not a knightly order—a den of perverts, plain and simple.'
Nothing else explained their depravity.
That's why I'd thrown logic out the window when it came to the Round Table.
And after questioning myself......
"...Escape is the answer."
The inn was under the Round Table's control. That was the conclusion.
A trap they'd set specifically for me.
Since directly recruiting me wouldn't work easily, their backup plan was to lure Tatiana.
They figured I'd follow if she went.
Perverted, but insightful.
In fact, they'd read me perfectly—I'd come here following Tatiana, just as they predicted.
This time, at least, they'd nailed my psychology.
'Good thing I realized before entering the hot springs.'
If I'd figured it out after dipping in, my spine would crawl just thinking about it.
By then, it'd be too late to escape their trap.
That was the problem.
In this situation, with Round Table eyes glinting everywhere.
How the hell was I supposed to get out of the inn?
───
"This won't work either."
I'd tried using a nighttime stroll as an excuse to slip out, but the staff blocked me with pleas.
And if I pushed to leave outright, they'd put on these heartbreaking faces, whining about how great the service was. Walking out wasn't an option.
Plus, Tatiana loved the place so much that a frontal approach wouldn't get me out easily.
"Hmm......"
What now?
That's when the hot springs crossed my mind.
'Wait, their goal is to target me in the hot springs anyway.'
Even if not, it's me at the inn they're after.
In other words, to them, Tatiana was just another guest!
'So I don't need to escape with Tatiana.'
On the contrary, since she liked it here so much, leaving her behind would be ideal.
And if so, I just needed to get myself out.
'Plenty of ways to escape solo.'
Until now, I'd been planning around escaping with her, but alone? Easy.
'Wait, should I use Tatiana as bait?'
A wicked idea popped up, and I grinned slyly as I hatched a plan.
'Send her in my place, then slip out during the gap.'
Nodding to myself, I sprang into action.
Left the room, asked the staff to prepare the hot springs.
Told Tatiana—who'd planned to hit the springs before bed—that I was heading there and suggested she go instead.
Back in the room, I spread out my senses.
'Lucky I didn't bring luggage—makes running easy.'
Just my body; wouldn't take long.
Sure enough, a faint scream echoed from afar. I vaulted out the window.
Kicked off the air lightly and shot into the sky.
Meanwhile, bounding through the air, I pondered my destination.
'Can't head straight to the dorm.'
With Tatiana showing up in my stead, the Round Table would realize their plan was busted and scramble.
'First place they'd search: the dorm.'
Obvious sequence.
If no one at the inn, next stop: where he was staying.
So suddenly, I was homeless.
'Time hanging—what to do......'
Might as well train.
That's when the royal palace caught my eye.
'Right, the palace has hot springs too.'
And better than expected, from what I remembered.
Not quite royal inn level, but still top-tier.
'Palace springs are barely used at night.'
Main users: mid-to-low nobles, right after work hours.
Basically, only around quitting time occasionally.
Servants sometimes, but rare. If empty, I could use it.
'Worst case, ask the maids.'
Luckily, I knew some palace maids; they'd happily help if I asked.
If paranoid, have them watch the entrance guards.
Honestly, I'd been looking forward to hot springs too—tonight, I craved a soak.
'The palace ones are legit......'
Not for nothing I'd recommended them to Tatiana.
Rischel's springs were that good—after all my ordeals, I couldn't help craving them.
"Can't hold out."
Thinking of hot springs made my body feel grimy.
Thud—
I landed before the palace, ignoring the startled guards, and headed inside.
"Gasp! M-Mu-Geuk-nim?!"
"Pardon the intrusion. Mind if I use the hot springs?"
"O-Of c-course!"
Calming the flustered maid, I asked for guard duty and a change of clothes, then entered the baths.
Sensing no presences inside—just in case—I stripped and headed to the springs.
'Good thing it's underused.'
Hot water hit my body; I felt grateful to the maid standing guard outside and started a quick shower.
'No signs in the springs.'
'Only worry: the maid coming in......'
But I'd offered her separate compensation, so no issue.
'Though that comp is a close-up twoshot...... a bit iffy.'
Still, without it, she might flip. No choice.
Shower done, I checked the pool temp.
'A bit hot.'
Not unbearable—could plunge in fine.
'But that's no fun.'
Always eased in foot-first with hot baths.
Superhuman body or not, habits die hard.
Perched on a big rock, I dipped my feet.
"Hmmm......"
The heat spread from my feet, coursing through veins, warming my whole body.
Lost in the addictive sensation, sighing softly—when the door suddenly opened.
"Hmmm, pardon. Is someone......?"
A familiar voice, mimicking a stiff tone unfit for her, approaching.
Her long white hair swayed with each step.
"Uh, ah, uh, eh......?"
Then Aser's eyes met mine on the rock.
Three seconds of silence.
"Wh-wh-wh-why are you......!"
Shaking like a frightened fawn, she pointed—and my frozen brain kicked back in.
'C-c-c-calm down. Calm down, Yeon Je-seong!'
How'd she get in?
Why?
Did she know?
Details later.
'First, break this situation...!'
But things moved faster than I thought.
"Lovely night."
Regaining composure, I tossed out a suave line—and
Plop—
"......!!"
The towel barely covering her dizzying figure dropped to the floor, searing her nude form into my retinas.
A split-second flash.
Max aura output surging instinctively, etching the sight forever.
Her body plunged into the pool, hiding her lower half.
And simultaneously, Aser spurted a nosebleed and collapsed.
Catching her fall swiftly, I let out a deep sigh.
'How did it come to this......'
My lamenting sigh blended with the steam, rising high into the sky.