The Mascot of the Hot Spring Village
"Nngh... Nngh..."
A dainty creature was wandering in circles inside the staff breakroom. The hot spring spirit, currently in the form of a golden hatchling, was clutching a single piece of parchment tightly with its short front paws.
'If I only collect 50 stamps...'
On its head sat a cute uniform cap emblazoned with the Wintervalt crest. A sash was draped diagonally across its small shoulders. Every time the oversized cap slid down to cover its eyes, the spirit would push it back up with a stubby paw, its tiny nose twitching.
A few hours ago.
Kailan had held out a large fragment of a magic stone toward the spirit. "This is the magic stone of a King Slime. If a water spirit consumes it, you can shave off decades of training time."
A rich, heady fragrance wafted from the blue gem. It smelled like honey mixed with perfectly ripened fruit. The spirit’s short tail began to flap uncontrollably, and a thin line of hot drool leaked from its mouth.
'D-delicious smell...! If I eat that, maybe I can become a real dragon too...!'
Its trembling front paws reached out toward the jewel. 'My snack...!'
Just as its paws were about to touch the gem—whoosh.
"...?"
The jewel in front of its eyes vanished in an instant. The spirit’s round eyes searched the empty air.
"Did you not hear what I said?" Kailan’s cold voice dropped from above. "I said rewards are given to those who prove their value."
"Va, value..."
"Prove your usefulness. Then this magic stone will be yours."
"My, my snack...!"
The spirit flailed its short paws, desperately clinging to Kailan’s robes. The manners it had been force-fed all night were already tossed out the window. It looked up with the most pitiful expression it could muster, but the person in front of it wasn't Eleanor—it was Kailan. He never went easy on anyone.
"From today, your position is the hot spring inn’s water quality manager and security guard. Use your power to purify the springs, and chase out anyone who tries to sneak in without paying."
"...?"
"Every time you complete a task, I will stamp this parchment. Once you fill it up, the magic stone is yours."
The spirit took the parchment Kailan offered and nodded slowly. If it meant getting a magic stone that big and delicious, what couldn't it do?
Kailan then tossed over a tiny uniform cap and a sash, adding nonchalantly, "And as for your name. Since you’ve become a citizen of Wintervalt, I shall name you myself."
The spirit’s round eyes sparkled. It immediately pressed a paw to its head, swearing loyalty. 'My... name!'
Gulp. It swallowed hard. How cool would the name be? Invincible Dragon? Gold Dragon? Its heart swelled with anticipation, but then Kailan opened his mouth.
"Yongyong."
"...Yo, Yongyong?!" The spirit’s expression crumpled instantly.
"You don't seem to like it. Well, you like bananas, so how about Banana? Or Monkey?"
"..."
"Choose one of the three."
"..."
The spirit had to choose the least humiliating name, tears welling in its eyes. This wicked man never gave people much time.
"...Yong, Yongyong is fine..."
"Decision made. I’ll be counting on you, Yongyong. Heh... to make you a mascot, the name has to be cute and familiar."
What was a mascot? Kailan tossed out those incomprehensible words and heartlessly left the room.
"Nngh... to think my name is Yongyong..."
Yongyong pressed down on its slipping uniform cap with a paw to fix it. "But still... I will work hard and get that magic stone...!"
Just as Yongyong was muttering while staring intently at the parchment in its arms, a voice boomed.
"That’s right. A male must have ambition!"
"Ung?"
A large hand suddenly appeared from behind and hoisted Yongyong into the air, placing it right on top of a broad shoulder. It was Krok, the hot spring inn’s scrubber.
"I’m working hard to collect stamps, too. We’re all friends here. Let’s rely on each other and do our best."
"Fri... friend? Hehe." Yongyong smiled. Its face was brighter than when it ate banana milk.
"I’m Krok."
"I’m Yongyong!"
Yongyong was secretly happy to have made a friend. Its short tail wagged furiously. 'Oh, oh! I’ve made a friend...!'
Yongyong clenched its short front paw and thought, 'Yes! Look at my majestic form! Anyone can see I am a great dragon! Protecting a small nest like this is nothing...!'
Completely forgetting that it was quite small itself, Yongyong burned with motivation. It just had to collect stamps. Just 50 of them. If it did that...
'Magic stone...! Banana milk...! I can have them all...!'
Flap flap! The great first day of work for Yongyong, the hot spring mascot, water quality manager, and security guard, had begun.
In front of the hot spring inn’s souvenir shop.
"Aria, there are so many people here!?"
"I... I didn't expect this many."
Aria, the Master of the Green Magic Tower, and Lumiella, the Master of the Northern Magic Workshop, gulped as they looked at the long line.
"I guess the people of the North have really become rich. The aroma bath salts we made cost 6 silver per bottle, you know."
"They’re buying the face masks in bulk, too. I don't even need to look further."
They had come to see if their inventions were selling well, but it was already a massive success without needing further inspection. There was only one thing left to do.
"By the way, Lumiella. Did you hear? They say if adventurers soak in this hot spring, old injuries heal and all their fatigue vanishes."
"Ah... actually, I’ve been exhausted lately from overworking."
"Who isn't? Then... since we’re here, shall we enjoy it too?"
"Hehe. Sounds good. This is my first time coming to a place like this with a friend."
"Wait!? I never said I’d be your friend!"
"Hing. That’s mean."
In truth, both of them had been so excited since last night that they had even packed their own underwear.
In the breakroom. The two of them, having finished their scrubbing, were eating boiled eggs in the hallway. Both had sheep-horn-shaped towels on their heads.
"Lumiella! The hot spring was so good, wasn't it!?"
"I know, right...! All my fatigue is gone...! I want to come every week!"
"I loved the scrubbing. My skin feels like a baby's! I feel like I’ve gone back ten years!"
"Aria, by any chance, how old are you...?"
"Ah, probably about the same as you?"
"Aha! I’m twenty-four."
"..."
Aria quietly shoved an egg into her mouth and walked down the hallway as if nothing had happened.
A moment later, Lumiella, who was following behind, grabbed Aria’s arm and pointed at the sky.
"Aria! Look at that!"
"Yes?"
She looked up to see something floating in the sky. It was a golden hatchling. The baby dragon, wearing a sash with the name 'Yongyong' on it, was scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes, as if on patrol.
Soon, Yongyong’s eyes met theirs. After hesitating for a moment as if surprised, Yongyong raised a short paw and gave an awkward greeting.
"Wel, welcome to our inn..."
It was a very awkward greeting. However.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"It’s so cute!!"
The two of them stomped their feet, unable to handle Yongyong’s cuteness.
"Is that hatchling...?" When Aria asked, a passing orc employee answered kindly.
"Hohoho. You’ve heard the rumors that the Grand Duke succeeded in dragon hunting, right?"
"Huck...! Was that true?" Lumiella’s eyes widened.
"Of course. It’s true. That dragon is working under the Grand Duke right now. Isn't it adorable and precious? We’re even selling related merchandise over there."
The shop the orc pointed to was filled with goods featuring the cute baby dragon—statues, aprons, handkerchiefs, and more. People were lining up to buy them.
"Why won't you sell it when I’m offering money!?"
"Kuruk! No! Too many people want to buy! One per person!"
"I came from far away...! Can't you give me three? Just three? I’ll spread the word in the South!"
"Kuruk! I said no!"
It was such a boom that even scalpers had appeared.
"Hmm... they’re just ordinary handkerchiefs and aprons, but people are acting so strange, right?" Aria said, yet she couldn't take her eyes off the Yongyong depicted on the souvenirs.
Meanwhile, the real Yongyong was blowing air from its small mouth to dust off the display shelf.
"Mom! Look, it’s Yongyong! Yongyong!"
"Oh my! A real dragon is working at the inn!"
As people’s gazes focused on it, Yongyong hid in the corner of the ceiling, feeling shy.
"Nngh... I can't take it!" Lumiella eventually couldn't hold back and stood in the line at the back.
"Sh, should I... buy just one handkerchief...?"
Aria opened her wallet as if she couldn't help it. Yongyong, peeking down from the corner of the ceiling, wagged its tail, feeling both shy and happy.
"Nngh! I am not cute! I am great!"
"Let's look around everything since we’re here. We can buy the souvenirs next time."
"Yes!"
As the two passed through the hallway, they heard a shout from somewhere.
"Uoooooh!"
"It’s already been 6 hours!!"
It was a place with a sign that read 'Bulgama Sauna'.
"What is it this time?"
"Let's go quickly! Aria!"
Driven by curiosity, the two went inside to find a crowd gathered to watch. An orc employee was selling tickets in front of them, speaking very fluently.
"Come! Come! Who will be the last one standing? Place your bets!"
Inside the massive sauna. Amidst the sweltering heat, five people were sitting cross-legged in meditation. Cedric, the Captain of the 1st Knights, drenched in sweat. Sir Walter, the one-eyed knight, trembling violently. Two Southern adventurers on the verge of collapsing. And Hans, a Mithril-rank adventurer, sitting peacefully without a single change in expression.
"Gueeeh..."
"Bro, brother... I’m going out first. I, I think I’m really going to die..."
Thump. One of the Southern adventurers collapsed first and crawled toward the breakroom. Then, Hans opened his eyes with a relaxed face.
"Oh, Rick. Leaving already? You have to endure longer for it to be training."
"..."
As they watched the scene blankly, an orc approached Aria.
"So, who will you bet on? If you bet on Mithril-rank Hans, it’s 1.5x. The Great Shield of the North, Captain Cedric, is 2x! Guild Master Sir Walter is 3x. Gold-rank adventurer Gale is 7x! By the way, you cannot bet more than 10 silver. It’s the Grand Duke’s guideline."
"Hmm... then I’ll bet 10 silver on Captain Cedric!"
"Hey. No matter how great the Captain is, he’s getting on in years... I’ll bet on Hans!"
"Ag, age doesn't matter! Captain Cedric! Do your best!"
For some reason, Aria was rooting for Captain Cedric. But despite the two women’s cheers, it didn't take long for the outcome to be decided.