Bathhouse Revelations and the Seed of Desire
The next day of the NPC quest, Eli headed to the nearby bathhouse. A pristine white-tiled bath filled with crystal-clear water. It had been so long since she'd seen a proper bath since starting her journey that she couldn't even recall.
Until now, what passed for bathing was just splashing water on herself—no real soaking to wash away the fatigue.
"Eh? Who's... there?"
As she entered the bathhouse and approached the water's edge, a voice echoed from within. Through the faint mist, she glimpsed peach-colored skin. At first, Eli thought it was human, but the small horn atop the head and the jet-black sclera revealed it as a monster.
"Succubi aren't all purple-skinned, huh."
"Eh? Ah. Yeah, everyone thinks that."
The succubus splashed water playfully as she spoke.
"It's still morning, so it isn't warm yet. Gotta heat it up now."
"Don't you start it heated?"
"Not many folks use it. Usually treat it like a swimming pool."
The succubus paddled around, and sure enough, the bathhouse felt deserted—just Eli and this succubus. No one else in sight or sound.
Eli slowly dipped her foot into the water. A slight chill crept up from her toes.
"What's up?"
"Huh?"
"First time swimming or something?"
Watching Eli pause with just her foot in, the succubus tilted her head curiously. After pondering for a moment, rocking her head side to side, she stretched both arms forward in the water and flashed a small smile.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you everything."
The succubus spoke with a subtle, alluring smile. Eli just stared at her quietly.
"Pfft."
Splash!
Eli chuckled lightly and leaped into the water. It was pretty deep, just like she'd said—not wrong about the pool comparison. But nearer the walls, it sloped into stairs, perfect for regular bathing too. Some magical treatment must've expanded it; the inside looked way bigger than the exterior.
"Getting warmer."
"Yeah, it's a bathhouse after all. It'll hit around 40 degrees."
"Mmm, perfect."
Eli swam freely through the gradually warming water.
It really had been ages since a proper bath. Holy spells and cleansing magic kept off dirt, grime, and filth, but there was something about the feeling.
Luxuriating like this was last done back in the Holy Kingdom or at the academy.
"When was the last hot spring I hit...?"
Paddling across to the opposite wall, Eli leaned back against it and murmured softly.
"Was gonna enjoy a nice soak in the capital, but then Rahatrik's invasion hit right after business there—straight to the front lines."
After that, she'd holed up without going out, just fucking nonstop.
Self-inflicted in a way, but no need to sweat the small stuff.
"Once it's all over, maybe a hot spring tour...?"
The water's temperature rose steadily, stabilizing around 40 degrees. Her knotted muscles began to melt away. Gentle water pressure bubbled against her back, dissolving the fatigue. As her brain turned to mush, the succubus sidled up beside her and spoke cautiously.
"You know how to swim. No need to teach ya."
"..."
"Got something on your mind?"
"This place..."
After a moment's hesitation at the succubus's question, Eli slowly opened her mouth.
"What is this place?"
"A good place."
The succubus gave a faint eye-smile.
"Hard to put into words, hmm. A good place. Sorry, that's all I got."
"A good place, got it."
"Mind if I ask something?"
The succubus gazed at Eli, who nodded.
"Human... you met Bellamorta, right?"
"...You know Bella?"
"Yeah. Succubus Queen and all. Our mother, teacher, center of our faith. Also a friend and comrade."
The succubus added with an "ah" of realization.
"Just so you know, this isn't about her dying or anything. Bellamorta wanted death—ended it her way. Some of the girls might even be grateful."
"Grateful?"
"Yeah. As Succubus Queen, she's lived dozens of times longer than me. Born a goddess, fallen to become a succubus race... but an 'eternal' being."
The succubus gazed at the ceiling as she continued.
"Humans call 'eternity' the greatest blessing. Sorry, but that's wrong. 'Eternity' is a curse. A vicious one."
"..."
"When you get the chance, visit the village head. Lives in the central hall."
The succubus rose from the water, heading out as she spoke.
"You can learn about Bellamorta's divine tree she left behind."
Eli instinctively turned to look, but the thickening steam had already obscured her. Sitting there blankly for a bit, Eli enjoyed the bath a little longer before heading out—to the village hall.
After finishing her bath, Eli lightly dried off and made for the village hall. It was just a short walk from the bathhouse. Stepping inside, a red-skinned succubus with glasses smiled as if she'd been waiting.
Her skin wasn't purple like the previous succubus's—it was a vivid blood-red. A single black horn protruded outward, her ears were long, her sclera pitch-black, and her pupils gleamed golden. Wearing old-fashioned glasses, she set down her teacup and greeted Eli.
"Nice to see you again, Saintess."
"Hello?"
"Hehe. Yes, nice to meet you."
Eli sat in a chair at the table inside the hall, sipping the tea the village head succubus offered. The green brew seeped into her body, loosening her refreshed post-bath muscles even further.
"You like it."
"Ah, yeah. Love it."
"Hehe, I'll gift you some. Pick 'em up later."
The village head succubus spoke with a kindly smile and took the seat opposite Eli.
"Straight to business, then."
After brief greetings, she cut right to it.
"You're here about Bellamorta's divine tree, right?"
"Yes. A sprout's emerged—what next?"
"Oh my. Already sprouted?"
The head's eyes widened in surprise. In response, Eli pulled the divine tree seed from her inventory to show it—a tiny sprout poking from a split in the golden seed. Undeniably the real deal.
Confirming the sprout, the head's eyes grew even wider.
"Goodness. Thought it was still just a seed... This reacted to your desire, Saintess. Phase one complete."
"What is it? Divine tree seed, right? Never heard of one rejecting holy power."
"Well, divine trees share the same seed, but forms and types vary wildly."
The village head succubus sipped her green tea before continuing.
"Take the elves' World Tree—massive thing piercing the heavens, maybe even beyond the world. That's the shape of their wishes."
"...Nature?"
"Exactly. The World Tree is nature itself. That's why bountiful harvests surround it always, disasters veer away."
She gazed at Eli.
"What's your desire, Saintess?"
"My... desire...?"
"Or a wish works too. The tree's form shifts based on your desire or wish. No worries—Bellamorta held you in favor, so her divine tree will too."
The village head succubus smiled brightly.
"A foundation of your intense, unwavering desire or wish. Finding that is phase two."
She polished her glasses as she spoke.
"A 'Thousand-Year Lamia' lives in a cave on the village outskirts. She's our ally, lived as long as Bellamorta."
Her smile brightened further.
"She might prove helpful."
"Thanks."
"No biggie—we live to help. Humans thrive, so do we. After all, we're a race that feeds on your lust and pleasure."
Licking her lips with a red tongue, the village head fixed her shining golden eyes on Eli.
"Saintess, that divine tree will surely aid you greatly."
"Huh?"
"Hehe. No need to fret. The future I glimpsed for you was filled with nothing but radiant light."
After that, Eli had lunch at the hall before stepping out. She considered heading back to the mansion with Kairan, but her saintess intuition screamed otherwise.
"...Gotta check out that lamia while I'm here."
Eli trusted her gut. It was a saintess's intuition, after all—wrong would be weirder.
"Kairan."
"...Yeah."
"Got something to say?"
"...Sorry."
Meanwhile, at the mansion, Kairan was getting an earful from the onahole trio. She'd left them out in the cold all night long.
No matter the buffs from holy spells or mana shields, nobody wanted a full night on the frigid street.
A carriage would've been nice, but the road was too narrow—they'd ditched it midway and walked, leaving zero shelter from the wind.
'Eli...! Hurry up!'
With no excuses, Kairan just desperately thought of Eli.
"Oi, daydreaming?"
"N-no? Nope!"
"...Nia. Get started."
"Ughhh... O-okay...!"