Chapter 324
Chapter 324
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 324
Chapter Title: Treasure Hunt (3)
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“It’s a real hot spring.”
Following Ha-eun, he saw a hot spring steaming behind a wide boulder.
“What, did you think I was lying?”
“No, it’s just… finding a perfectly normal hot spring in a Magyeong is a bit unexpected.”
Of course, Magyeong had forests and streams, so there was no reason a hot spring couldn't exist.
But for some reason, when he imagined a hot spring in a Magyeong, he pictured a swamp of death with bubbling magma or toxic gas.
This one, however, looked so perfectly normal that, on the surface, he couldn't tell the difference between it and one on Earth.
“The temperature is just right, too.”
Perhaps because it was near a volcano, the water was a bit hot.
But for Oh-jin's group, with their superhuman bodies, the temperature wasn't a problem.
In fact, if it wasn't this hot, they might not have felt the stimulation.
“And if you look closely, doesn’t it seem to be glowing?”
“You’re right.”
The sun hadn’t set yet, so it wasn’t very visible.
But just as Ha-eun said, a faint aura of light was emanating from the hot spring water.
Oh-jin dipped his hand in the water and activated the Stigma of Canes Venatici.
“There’s Stigma mana dissolved in it.”
He’d heard that the gold from the black rock mine was unusually rich in stellar mana.
He never imagined that the mana would even permeate the nearby hot spring water.
‘Is there a dragon vein around here or something?’
Seeing this much mana overflowing, it seemed highly likely.
“Oh, what? So is this like in those wuxia novels where you soak in here and your magic power increases?”
“No, not to that extent.”
He could probably expect a fatigue-relieving effect at best.
“Hmm. Fatigue relief, huh.”
Ha-eun’s eyes narrowed as a grin spread across her lips.
“So?”
She nudged Oh-jin’s side, her gaze suggestive.
“So what?”
“You little punk, pretending you don’t know again.”
Just as she said.
Her gaze was so intense it was beyond blatant, practically telepathic; it wasn’t hard to guess her intentions.
But.
“I told you, we’re not here to play.”
“Who’s playing? I just mean, let’s just relax a bit and unwind~ Something like that. Tomorrow we’re heading to that Deimos place, or whatever it's called, right?”
She sure had a way with words.
“Alright, alright. I’ll go set up the tent, so you take Isabella and Vega and get in the hot spring first.”
“Aw, if we're going in, we should go in together.”
This girl…
“We didn’t even bring swimsuits.”
“We can just wrap a towel around ourselves. Why, or would you rather I go in completely naked with you?”
Ha-eun grinned mischievously and pulled on his arm.
Oh-jin sighed and shook his head.
It seemed her stubbornness wouldn't be easily swayed if he kept resisting.
“Fine. Let’s go in together, let’s go.”
It wasn’t like they were strangers.
And it wasn't exactly scandalous for a couple to get in a hot spring together, was it?
‘Of course, Vega and I aren't a couple yet.’
Well, anyway.
“At least wear your underwear.”
If she really went in with just a towel wrapped around her bare body, he wasn't confident he could maintain his composure.
“Ew. I don’t want my underwear to get wet.”
“You can just dry it later.”
With Ha-eun’s power, drying wet underwear would take mere seconds.
“Still, it feels gross.”
“Do you want to go in together wearing it, or separately without it?”
“Should I wear the black ones for you?”
Seemingly having no intention of being difficult, she quickly accepted his proposal.
“Alright! Then let’s hurry up and set up the tent!”
Ha-eun clenched her fists and ran toward the spot where Oh-jin had been setting up the tent.
After quickly finishing the setup.
Oh-jin's group changed and gathered in front of the hot spring.
“…You are wearing underwear, right?”
He narrowed his eyes, looking at Ha-eun and Isabella, who had towels wrapped around their bodies.
He had clearly told them to wear underwear, yet he couldn't see any straps over their white shoulders.
Isabella let out a soft laugh and approached Oh-jin.
“Instead of underwear, I cut up some sportswear I brought for training and wore that.”
[The leftover fabric was used to fashion a swimsuit for me!]
Vega, in her swimsuit, flew up with a buzz.
It was clearly a makeshift creation, cut from spandex sportswear material, but perhaps because she was such a great model, it didn't look awkward at all.
“By the way, where’s Riak?”
He turned his head and looked around, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“He said he didn’t want to join us, so he went on patrol with Poppy.”
“Does he hate water?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Isabella scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
“He said that staying here would just make him sick to his stomach…”
“……”
Well, fair enough.
Ha-eun and Isabella had been his lovers, and Vega was openly showing her affection for him. For a third party to enjoy a hot spring with them would be nothing short of torture.
There was no need to imagine the miserable feeling of a third wheel dragged along on a couples' date.
“Ahem. Then shall we get in first?”
Feeling awkward for unintentionally slighting Riak, Oh-jin cleared his throat and turned toward the steaming hot spring.
“Aaaah.”
As he submerged himself in the warm water, the groan of a middle-aged man exhausted from overtime escaped his lips.
The smell of sulfur tickled his nose as the fatigue seemed to melt away.
[Ooh, so this is a hot spring.]
Vega’s eyes sparkled as she dipped into the water.
Haaah.
Submerged in the hot spring, Vega’s body trembled as she let out a languid moan.
[This feels different from just soaking in hot water!]
“Right?”
Using Ha-eun’s power—or even without it—making hot water was simple.
But replicating this hot spring's unique sulfury smell and subtly different water quality was impossible.
[My child! Lift your hand for a moment!]
“Like this?”
[A little lower.]
Vega swam over to Oh-jin’s palm with a splash and lay down on it, half-submerged in the hot spring water, like she was lounging on a floatie.
[Hehe. This is perfect.]
The goddess smiled, completely satisfied.
Oh-jin chuckled, letting Vega rest on his palm as he leaned back.
The rough texture of the granite and the warmth spreading through his body.
The relaxing muscles sent a pleasant sensation through him.
“I can’t even remember the last time I soaked in a hot spring like this.”
“Were there no hot springs in Italy?”
“There were, but I never went out of my way to visit one.”
Isabella scooped up the waist-deep water with her hands and poured it over her body, a weary smile on her face.
She had been in countless baths filled with high-end oils and bath bombs, but this was her first time in a hot spring that seemed to contain nature itself.
“…This is nice.”
A picturesque hot spring bath enjoyed while watching the slowly setting sun.
And right next to her was the lover she adored more than anything. How could she be any happier?
“I feel like all my fatigue is melting away.”
Ha-eun kicked her feet with a splash, looking at the faintly glowing water.
Was it because the water was infused with mana, or was the atmosphere just that good?
Somehow, it felt like not just her body, but her heart was growing warm.
“Oh-jin, come give your big sis's shoulders a nice rub.”
Ha-eun swam over to Oh-jin and presented her back.
Although she was wearing underwear, she only had a towel wrapped around her, so her snow-white shoulders stole Oh-jin’s gaze.
“What, am I a bathhouse scrubber?”
“Close enough.”
“……”
Why did he have to fall in love with a woman like this?
“You should at least pay me for my troubles.”
“I’ll give you a hundred kisses later.”
“Ahem.”
Well, in that case.
[…Now I see why Riak chose not to join us.]
Vega sighed and shook her head.
Even though she was one of the women who loved Oh-jin, the scene was so cringeworthy she could hardly bear to watch.
“Just for five minutes.”
Any longer, and he honestly wasn't sure his sanity would hold.
Oh-jin placed his hands on her white shoulders and began to knead with just the right amount of pressure.
“Hah…”
“Don’t make weird noises.”
He pressed his thumbs into her tense muscles, rubbing them.
With every movement of his fingertips, Ha-eun let out a sensual moan and twisted her body.
“Oh, Oh-jin, you’re too rough… Hnngh!”
“Oh, come on.”
All sorts of wild thoughts kept crossing his mind.
“Done. Five minutes are up.”
Feeling his composure about to break, Oh-jin hastily pulled his hands away.
“Hmmmm. That’s a bit of a shame.”
“It’s always best to end when you’re left wanting more.”
He patted Ha-eun’s back and pushed her away.
He thought he could finally enjoy the hot spring in peace, but…
Isabella quickly slid into the empty spot Ha-eun had left.
“Oh-jin, I’d like one too…”
[M-Me too! Do me too!]
“……”
In the end, after giving a massage straight to Isabella and Vega (who returned to her true form to receive it), Oh-jin collapsed in complete exhaustion.
‘…I’m gonna die.’
It felt like not his body, but his sanity was dissolving and scattering into the hot spring water.
“I-It was my first time getting a massage, but… y-you’re very skilled.”
[A-A technician, you are.]
Having experienced Oh-jin’s “technician-like” handiwork, Isabella and Vega were as limp as raw eggs dropped in hot water.
“…I’m gonna get out first.”
Feeling his limit, Oh-jin tried to hastily get up.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Ha-eun grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the hot spring.
“What do you mean? I’m tired, so I’m getting out.”
“Besides, it’s not a good idea for you to get up right now, is it?”
Not a good idea?
What could possibly be worse than staying here?
“I mean, your ‘towel rack’ would be on full display, wouldn’t it?”
Ha-eun’s cheeks flushed slightly as she avoided his gaze.
Oh-jin’s eyes narrowed.
“Towel rack? What nonse— Ah.”
His gaze inadvertently drifted downward.
A grin spread across Ha-eun’s lips.
“Looks like you could hang about three on there, huh?”
“……”
Save me.
I think I’m going to lose my mind.