Chapter 80: Hot Spring(2)
Chapter 80: Hot Spring(2)
Kerry and the Undine were making a secret deal.
All while Victoria and Lina were still bickering about getting into the hot spring.
But I could guarantee Victoria wouldn't be able to win against Lina's stubbornness.
Looks like money is the only solution after all, Kerry thought, speaking to the Undine.
“Isn’t 40 silver a bit too expensive?”
“Huhu. If you don’t like the price, you don’t have to do it.”
“...What are you going to do with all that money? You’re a spirit.”
“As you can see, I am a free spirit who leisurely runs a hot spring in a cave. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get lonely. Sometimes, I feel the desire to be with a spirit contractor who has a beautiful soul color.”
“So?”
“But I don’t want to give up my freedom, either. That’s why I need money. With money, I can hire a spirit contractor to enjoy their company without being bound by a contract. Do you understand now why I’m saving up? Huhu.”
“...So, you’re saving money to hire spirit contractors you like and treat them like hosts from a host bar?”
“What’s a host bar?”
“No. It’s nothing...”
In any case, it had nothing to do with me, so I decided not to question it further.
Kerry handed the Undine 40 silver.
Back in my F-rank adventurer days, it was enough money to make my hands tremble, but now it didn’t feel like such a large sum.
If I can break down the Iron-Walled Lina, 40 silver is a small price to pay.
“Payment received. Thank you, customer.”
The Undine took the money from Kerry and smiled with satisfaction. It was a smile tainted by capitalism.
Now, to see what she would do.
The Undine approached Lina and Victoria, who were still squabbling.
“Honestly, Victoria. How can men and women bathe together in the same spring? By any common standard, that’s just too indecent.”
“What’s so indecent about simply getting in the water? And you can’t expect Kerry to get in all by his lonesome, can you? Besides, even if you decide not to go in, what reason do you have to stop me?”
The Undine carefully interjected.
“Excuse me...”
“?”
“Actually, my body isn’t in the best condition right now, so I don’t have much power to spare. I’m already using a lot of it to help your red-haired friend recover.”
“Ah... Undine. I see.”
“Yes. So, I would appreciate it if everyone could enjoy the hot spring together. It’s difficult for me to maintain the spring’s power for a long time. If you all enjoy it at once, it won’t be much of a burden on me.”
“...”
Lina seemed to be seriously contemplating the Undine’s words.
But as expected, the Iron-Walled Lina didn’t look like she would give in so easily.
“If that’s the case, it would be better for just Sir Kerry to enter while we sit out. Your spring has special properties, Undine, and Sir Kerry needs them more than we do.”
“What are you talking about, Lina? I want to get in the hot spring, too!”
“...Didn’t you hear her say it’s difficult for her?”
“The Undine said it would be fine if we all get in together.”
“...”
Just as Lina was pondering with a serious expression, the Undine gently set her hook.
“In any case, we provide special robes for our guests. If you wear them, you won’t feel uncomfortable even if men and women are bathing together. To be honest, as a spirit, I don’t really understand such distinctions in the first place.”
“...”
Seeing that Lina was still hesitating, the Undine nodded to the smaller spirits.
She’s clearly done this a few times before.
The small spirits bustled about and brought over robes for the hot spring.
“These are the hot spring robes. What do you think? This should be fine, shouldn’t it?”
“Yes. With these, there’s hardly any exposure, almost like everyday clothes. What do you think, Lina?”
“...”
Lina’s iron wall was sturdy. She still seemed to be mulling it over.
The robes might be acceptable, but the very idea of a man and a woman entering the same bath seemed to be the problem for her.
More importantly, the robes were so long and baggy that it felt like there would be no fun at all, even if we did get in together.
I paid a whole 40 silver for this. Surely she doesn't plan on handling things like this.
Kerry shot the Undine a look of discontent. She winked back as if to say, don’t worry.
For now, I’d have to trust her.
After a bit more persuasion, Victoria started to just bulldoze the hesitant Lina.
“Enough hesitating, let’s go. Didn’t the Undine say it’s hard for her to keep the spring going? Come on. Hurry.”
“But... but...”
Lina kept repeating “but,” but she was ultimately dragged off to the changing area.
Kerry also went to a separate spot to change into his robe.
The women hadn’t come out yet, probably still getting ready.
Kerry felt awkward just standing around, so he got into the hot spring first.
Steam gently rose from the water.
Though it was a cave, the air was fresh and the walls were smooth. The Undine must maintain it separately.
It had a nice atmosphere. If beautiful women were to join me here, it would surely be a paradise beyond compare.
“The water temperature is perfect. My body is melting... Haaaah.”
As soon as I entered the spring, the warm water began to make my body feel languid and relaxed. This was nice.
About twenty minutes after Kerry started enjoying the spring, he muttered.
“Why are the women taking so long?”
Isn’t it just a matter of tying up their hair and putting on a robe?
Just then, he saw Lina in the distance, half-dragged along with her arms linked through Victoria’s and the Undine’s.
It’s pretty obvious who’s responsible for the delay.
“Kerry, have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all. I just got in first, and it feels great. You should all come in, too. The water temperature is just right.”
“Hoholhol. It’s been a while since I’ve warmed these old bones.”
The old lady was the first one in. This wasn’t bad.
With her here, it felt less like a mixed bath and more like a family bath. It had surely played a part in breaking down Lina’s defenses.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Lina, having apparently given up, entered the water without protest. More than that, the sight of her in the robe exceeded my expectations.
I had only ever seen her in full armor or baggy casual clothes.
Unexpectedly, Lina was hiding some incredible weapons under her clothes. That kind of volume was anything but ordinary.
“I suppose I’ll get in, too.”
With Victoria joining, the beautiful picture was complete.
Across from Kerry, two peerlessly beautiful women sat in the water, wearing robes. The old lady was there too, but let’s just ignore her.
Lina entered the spring and spoke with admiration.
“The water really is amazing. The Undine’s power is imbued in this spring, so it helps to cleanse the impurities from one’s body. That alone is helpful for growth. Not only that, but for skin care...”
Lina went into full-on explanation mode.
To Kerry’s eyes, it looked as if she were making excuses by citing some greater cause. As if she wasn’t there for any other reason than because it was beneficial.
Speaking of which, where’s the Undine?
Kerry expressed his dissatisfaction with a look. If put into words, it would mean something like this:
[This isn’t what we agreed on. You said the robes would get shorter if I paid more! Do you think 40 silver is chump change?]
In response to Kerry’s protest, the Undine just smiled as if to say not to worry. Right. She must have a plan.
Kerry was chatting with the others and enjoying the hot spring when it happened.
A wind of change began to blow. I had no idea how long I’d been waiting for this moment.
Kerry saw it clearly.
The robes Lina and Victoria were wearing were changing, very slowly. Kerry had no idea what principle was at work.
The only reason he could tell their robes were changing was because the old lady’s robe next to them was perfectly normal.
Only then did the Undine’s grand design begin to reveal itself to Kerry.
He secretly gave the Undine a thumbs-up.
“Huhu. It would have been nice if Natasha could have joined us.”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea to come back after Natasha has recovered.”
Lina and Victoria chatted away.
They hadn’t noticed a thing yet. They had no idea that their robes were gradually turning into something much more risqué.
The fortress-like robe that had covered Lina’s entire body was slowly getting shorter.
The tightly tied sections began to loosen and part. Through the gap in the robe, Lina’s bare skin was visible.
Is that... is that Lina’s cleavage?!
Cleavage as perfectly formed as a painting. To create such a beautiful line, she had to be incredibly well-endowed.
Lina was even bustier than I had expected. I was sure of it.
The bottom of Lina’s robe was also getting shorter, now high enough to slyly reveal her thighs above the knee.
It was the first time I’d seen her bare skin in all the time we’d spent together.
Victoria and Lina still seemed oblivious.
“So, I asked Kerry if he wanted to learn magic formally since he wanted to become a mage. Do you know what he said?”
“What did he say?”
“Well, Kerry said...”
Victoria’s appearance was just as striking.
Unlike the demure Lina, Victoria was sitting with her legs comfortably spread.
The water was so clear that her legs were perfectly visible.
Just as Kerry cautiously glanced at Victoria’s parted legs, he saw it.
Between her legs, her neatly closed pussy was visible.
What! Fuck! She's not wearing any panties?!
Victoria’s revealing posture was so blatant it made me suspect she was doing it on purpose.
I was certain when I saw her glance at me and smile slyly while she talked.
She’s showing me on purpose! This lewd noblewoman!
Wait, if Victoria isn’t wearing panties...
No way!
No waaaaay!
Does that mean Lina isn’t wearing panties either?!
Calm down. I have to calm down.
The water in this spring was crystal clear. That meant my lower body was just as exposed.
Just as Victoria’s pussy was perfectly visible to my eyes right now.
If I get a boner, I’m fucked.
Filled with a longing for his homeland, Kerry passionately sang the national anthem in his mind.
Had he ever sung the national anthem with such fervor in his entire life?
Victoria seemed to have already noticed her robe was getting shorter.
But Lina? Lina hadn’t noticed yet.
Victoria was chattering away, keeping Lina from noticing.
“When I asked Kerry why he doesn’t learn magic formally, this is how he answered. He said, ‘I want to use magic, but I don’t want to suffer for it.’ Pfft. Don’t you think that’s incredibly shameless?”
“Hahaha. Yes. I’m sorry, Sir Kerry, but that is quite shameless.”
Victoria kept talking, preventing Lina’s attention from drifting to her robe.
Why is Victoria trying so hard when she’s not the one getting the view? Not that I’m complaining.
Lina’s robe continued to shrink.
Before long, the robe she was wearing looked like a miniskirt you’d see in the modern world.
The top was a deep V-neck, revealing her cleavage in full view. Lina’s skin is amazing. I expected as much from her face, but still.
Perhaps because the water was hot and she was wet, the sheen on her cleavage made it even more arousing.
A miniskirt on the bottom. A top that completely exposed her cleavage.
This was like the bitch version of the Iron-Walled Regressor!
The Undine hadn’t scammed me. She had executed a plan worthy of a round of applause.
To get a plan this good for 40 silver... it actually felt like a steal.
“The warm water feels so good. Hohol.”
Amidst it all, the old lady was leaning back, enjoying the leisure of the hot spring.
But it was only a matter of time before Lina noticed something was wrong with her robe.
Until then, I would feast my eyes.
Just as Kerry was enjoying the view, Lina, who had been completely engrossed in Victoria’s story, noticed something was off.
“Wait... Lady Victoria. Isn’t your robe a little too open? Your cleavage is showing. Sir Kerry is here, so you should cover up a bit.”
“Ah, is that so? But Lina, your robe is wide open, too.”
“What?”
Lina looked down.
And there, her own large, beautiful breasts were in plain sight. Below her slender waist, the line of her full hips was also clearly visible.
Because of Lina’s modest posture, I couldn’t see ‘that place’ between her legs, but her well-shaped legs alone were a feast for the eyes.
Lina let out a shriek that didn’t suit her.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
She screamed and started trying to cover her body with her arms.
Is the eye candy over now?
No, it wasn’t. Seeing Victoria playfully cling to Lina, Kerry had a hunch that the situation was far from over.