I couldn't help but gasp at the sight spread before my eyes, my own lighting up with excitement.
Tino had almost never left the Imperial Capital. She was still in training, and most of the commissions she'd taken up until now had kept her within its borders.
So this was her first time staying at an inn of this caliber — the kind that Treasure Hunters certainly didn't frequent (Hunters spent their money on equipment, not lodgings). It was also her first time bathing in a hot spring this large.
After everything that had happened since leaving the capital, and the toll it had taken, seeing this sight now made her glad she'd come along on this vacation.
Even the spacious changing room, lit by warm-toned lanterns, was enough to make her feel intimidated. Nervously, she turned to the elder Citry beside her and asked about the thing that had been on her mind.
"Um… Lady Citry… the money, you know…?"
"Oh, don't you worry about that, Tino dear. No need to hold back — we earn far more than you do, so if anything, holding back here would be insulting to us, wouldn't it?"
"Th-thank you very much."
Citry's words came casually, but they carried an absolute confidence that brooked no argument.
She was right, of course. Tino was a mid-ranked Hunter, but the earnings of the Mourning Specter — a renowned Party even within the Imperial Capital — could easily be a hundred times greater. Being overly polite would cross the line into rudeness.
Lady Rizu had dashed off to look for the hot spring dragon, leaving only Citry and Tino in the changing room.
Tino was slightly intimidated by Citry, who in some ways was even more frightening than Lady Rizu. But Citry beside her showed no particular tension, casually unwinding her sash as she spoke to Tino in a gentle voice.
"You've been through a lot too, Tino dear. Make sure you rest up properly. You never know what might happen."
"Y-yes."
Tino glanced at Citry as she fumbled with her own sash.
She'd changed clothes in front of Lady Rizu before, but baring her skin to Lady Citry was a first. Feeling vaguely embarrassed, she undressed with clumsy hands. In front of her, Citry slipped out of her yukata without a shred of hesitation.
At the sight, Tino's eyes went wide and she drew a sharp breath.
Lady Citry was beautiful.
Tino had seen Rizu naked before. Lady Rizu was rough and carefree by nature — the type to strip down to her undergarments when bathing in a mountain stream.
Rizu's physique was impressive too. Her toned body carried almost no excess flesh, and her sun-kissed skin had a wild, animal-like beauty.
But Citry's body was different. Always wrapped in thick robes, Tino had never realized how good her figure actually was.
Her skin, barely tanned at all, was as white and flawless as snow. Her limbs were supple yet feminine, and her chest — the one area where Tino had always held a quiet sense of superiority over Lady Rizu — was larger than Tino's own.
A Thief and an Alchemist required different training and different abilities, so different body types were only natural. But for Tino, who had always harbored a delicate pride in her bust size over Lady Rizu, the sight was shocking.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Tino dear?"
"N-nothing… I just… didn't realize you were the type who looks different in clothes."
"…………Hee hee."
Citry stifled a laugh.
Those eyes seemed to see right through everything, and Tino felt she could have sunk into the floor from sheer embarrassment.
She did her best to cover herself with a towel and locked her locker. That was when she noticed what Citry was doing and blinked in confusion.
"Um… what are you…?"
Citry was wrapping a potion-stock band around her upper arm. Sealed glass vials attached to the band held liquids of various colors, sloshing gently — different from the ones Tino used during exploration.
After finishing her right arm, she moved to the left. Tino stared wide-eyed at the meticulous preparations that seemed wildly excessive for a simple bath, and Citry smiled serenely.
"You've seen that Lady Rizu always has her Origin of the Heavens equipped, right? A Hunter should always be prepared for battle — that's just how it is."
"Um… what could happen in a hot spring?"
"Something might happen, or it might not. That's what preparation is all about."
"I-I see…"
Tino forced herself to accept the answer that was both vague and oddly convincing. She'd never seen a Hunter go to such lengths for preparation, but there was no way the far more intelligent Lady Citry could be wrong. Top-tier Parties must just be like that.
Besides, unlike Tino, Citry was an Alchemist — a class that couldn't even fight properly without advance preparation. Taking precautions was probably second nature.
Once she'd finished her thorough preparations, Citry spoke with a radiant, melting smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go? I've been wanting to have a nice long chat with you, Tino dear."
§ Following Citry, Tino stepped hesitantly through the door. Steam-laden, pleasantly warm air enveloped her.
The main bath was just as splendid as the inn itself — unlike anything Tino had ever seen. The floor was made of smooth stone that felt wonderful under bare feet. The walls bore subtle but intricate carvings, and the enormous tub, big enough for dozens of people, was filled with crystal-clear water.
Aside from Tino and Citry, who had just entered, the bath was empty. The sound of flowing water echoed through the high-ceilinged space, giving it an inexplicable sense of openness.
At Lady Citry's suggestion, Tino squinted to check the outdoor bath as well, but there was no one outside or inside.
For Hunters, maintaining hygiene during a journey was always a hassle. Most of the time, the best they could do was wipe themselves down with a damp towel, or bathe in a stream if they found one.
Hunters didn't get particularly dirty thanks to the power of Mana Material, but that didn't mean stress didn't build up.
For Tino, who had been on edge ever since crossing the mountains, the sight before her now was paradise.
How… luxurious. This was Mastaa's generosity — I need to be careful not to get too used to this…
She admonished herself as she headed to the washing area. Being a high-class establishment, the washing station boasted an array of fine-smelling soaps — the kind that noble ladies or the daughters of great merchants would normally use.
She sat on the stool, buzzing with a little excitement, and picked up each bar to smell it. The soap Tino usually used was one that erased body odor as much as possible — natural for a Thief, but she figured it was nice to use something that smelled good for once.
She settled onto the stool and was about to lather up one of her carefully chosen bars when a voice called from behind her.
A slender arm reached past her, presenting something before her eyes. Between fingers as delicate as a white fish's was a small glass vial containing a light purple potion.
"Tino dear? Actually, this soap might suit Krai's tastes better than any ordinary soap."
"…Huh?"
Startled by the unexpected words, Tino turned around. Citry gazed down at her with narrowed eyes.
It was plainly obvious that Lady Citry harbored feelings for Mastaa. Perhaps not quite romantic love, but the bond between them was undeniable.
Would Lady Citry really extend her hand to something as trivial as a single disciple, without any ulterior motive?
"Want some? I always mix it myself. If you don't need it — that's fine too…"
It was a devil's temptation. Tino didn't know why Citry had gone to the trouble of crafting it, but Lady Citry, for all her eccentricities, was far too clever to tell spiteful lies. The potency of her potions was guaranteed by every Clan member.
No — more than anything, if Citry was always making it, she must be using it herself.
Tino's cheeks flushed as she shrank inwardly. Did she want it? Did she not? The answer was — she wanted it. She wanted to try it.
More than anyone else's praise, she wanted Mastaa's. Mastaa probably didn't even notice Tino's existence, but here was something that might catch his eye.
But the words wouldn't come. Consumed by a scorching frustration, she silently looked down. Lady Citry grinned and sat down behind her.
She hadn't turned her back on an enemy, yet for some reason a chill ran through her body, making her shiver involuntarily. Citry spoke slowly in a bright voice.
"That's right… you're exhausted, aren't you? Let me wash you, Tino dear. All you have to do is relax and not think about anything… Don't worry, I'm good at massages. Just think about me…"
This was bad. This was very bad. An alarm was blaring inside her head. Citry's fingertips touched her shoulder, and the ticklish sensation drew a small yelp from her lips.
Her heart was pounding. She had to run. But her feet wouldn't move. And honestly, what would running accomplish?
This was an unprecedented crisis. She had — made the wrong choice. In the mirror across from them, Lady Citry's lips were smiling, but her eyes were as cold and clinical as a surgeon performing an operation.
She should have refused. She should have refused immediately, wearing an expression that made it clear she had no idea what Citry was saying — that she didn't need this soap (which Citry had probably made just for her).
Citry's skillful manipulation was far more terrifying than Lady Rizu's violence.
She tried to stand, but a hand on her shoulder held her in place. With just her right hand, Citry popped the cap off a sealed glass vial. A thick, light purple liquid swirled inside.
It was spread generously across Citry's palm, and just as her fingertips were about to touch Tino's trembling back, a scream rang out from somewhere without warning.
"CI-TRYYYYYY! DRAGON! THERE'S A DRAGON! DRAGOOOON!"
"Drag… on?"
A crisis averted. For Tino, who had been at the absolute peak of tension, these were words of salvation.
She had no idea what they meant, but Citry's hands froze in place. The smile vanished from her face, and she let out a quiet sigh.
She quickly washed the potion off her hands and spoke to the dazed Tino.
"Come on, what are you doing? That's the men's side — but we've been called, so we have to go help — it should be close if we go through the outdoor bath."
"Huh? Yes. Wait, what?"
There was no way there was a dragon. Even the lowest-tier dragon was a formidable Monster capable of slaying humans with ease.
In any normal situation, a Monster approaching a town would cause an uproar.
Confused but figuring it was better than staying here, Tino stood up.
She ran after Lady Citry, who had already dashed ahead.
Stepping into the outdoor bath, Citry gazed up at the tall, sturdy wall with an appraising eye.
That was when Tino realized something horrifying.
"Lady Citry! We're — naked!"
"And? Would you be defenseless if we were attacked naked?"
"Well — that's…"
It was absolutely, completely true.
Frozen by the unexpected logic, Tino watched as Citry pulled a potion from her band and hurled it with full force at the wall.
§ § § None of this made any sense. Being attacked by a dragon in a hot spring definitely ranked in the top ten of the most incomprehensible moments of my Hunter career.
And this was supposed to be a populated area. What kind of security did this inn have if a dragon could invade the outdoor bath?
I'd like to think it was just going to blow me away and be satisfied, but the light-blue dragon rose from the outdoor bath and fixed me with a steady gaze. Perhaps it was trying to intimidate me — it spread the wings on its back wide.
Looking at it this way, even a small dragon was still a dragon. Those spread wings radiated considerable pressure. In hindsight, there was obviously no inn that kept dragons. I should have noticed before stepping into the outdoor bath. I'd fallen victim to the allure of hot springs.
The dragon climbed out of the outdoor bath on two legs, stepping over the glass I'd shattered when it blew me away, and entered the main bath.
Did it want to eat and bathe at the same time? What a luxurious dragon. If the innkeeper asked for my impressions, I'd recommend reinforcing the glass in the main bath. If I made it back alive.
I told my wobbly body to cooperate and stood up, slowly backing away from the dragon.
I still had my Barrier Ring, but it was useless without someone to mount an attack. The Chain of Hounds was bracing itself in front of me, but unfortunately it had zero offensive power.
The rational move was to flee into the inn. But if I ran, this hungry dragon would chase after me. The inn would be wrecked, and I was still a Hunter — I wanted to avoid civilian casualties. And besides, I probably couldn't outrun it anyway.
Citry had been called. She would surely come.
The light-blue dragon was closing the distance, inch by inch. I held up my palm, steadied my breathing, and tried to stall for time.
"Calm down! Can't you see what kind of Treasure Weapon I'm equipped with? ……Even if you ate me, it'd probably get caught in your throat and taste terrible…"
What a pathetic negotiation. This had to rank in the top ten of the most pathetic persuasion attempts of my Hunter career.
Completely losing my grip on reality, the light-blue dragon opened its jaws wide with a gaping "aaahn." Inside were rows of knife-sharp teeth. Despite having been relaxing in the hot spring, it possessed every characteristic of a dragon. Give me a break.
I surveyed my surroundings. This was a hot spring, so naturally there were no weapons in sight. Not that I'd know how to use one anyway. All that existed was the hot spring — which I hadn't even properly enjoyed yet.
With no other choice, I stepped into the hot spring.
The dragon tilted its head as if staring at something truly baffling. That vaguely human gesture made me burst out laughing.
I had completely lost it. The dragon slowly entered the hot spring like it was cornering its prey. The Chain of Hounds wrapped around its wing, but the dragon didn't care in the slightest.
There might be plenty of Hunters in the world, but I was probably the only one who'd ever shared a hot spring with a dragon. I was definitely bragging about this when I got back to the Clan House.
The instant that thought — the kind anyone would scoff at — crossed my mind, a flash of light burst from outside.
In that split second, my vision went white. The few remaining shards of glass were blown away by the impact, and a sound shook my brain.
The shockwave sent waves crashing through the hot spring, dousing me from the head down.
I wiped my face with my arm and opened my eyes. The dragon flinched and turned to look behind it.
The outdoor bath was unrecognizable. Stepping over the completely demolished wall came Citry and Tino, towels wrapped around their bodies.
Citry spotted me and smiled as always. I smiled back, nodding. Yeah, yeah… that's about right.
I was done with this… What kind of vacation was this?
I didn't skip this chapter.