GILF Hunter

Chapter 446: 446 Hot Spring

Heat that warmed the skin radiated outward, and dense steam rose from all directions.

Frenda took a deep breath within it.

Surprisingly...

There was a perfect hot spring there, so undeniable it was impossible to refute. And right in the middle of the city at that.

’How...’

A hot spring sprouting in a place that wasn’t even a geothermal zone. She wondered how such a thing could be possible... but seeing it with her own eyes, she had no choice but to believe it.

Of course, it was small as she had heard from Ian, but that wasn’t a significant drawback.

Having witnessed the hot spring firsthand, Frenda spoke with a startled face.

’It really is a hot spring...!’

’Ahahaha... everyone has that reaction when they first come here.’

Tanya, standing behind her, laughed awkwardly.

She had accompanied Frenda here at Ian’s request to drop her off and guide her on how to use the facility.

No matter how you looked at it, Ian taking Frenda inside the hot spring himself would have looked strange to those around them.

Ultimately, the task of guiding Frenda fell to Tanya, who was responsible for managing the hot spring facility.

Management of this hot spring was solely Tanya’s responsibility.

Only someone who could converse with spirits could hear the spirit’s requests, and because of Epirnoa, who visited occasionally, it couldn’t be left to ordinary staff.

Tanya didn’t particularly have a complaint about it, but very rarely, guests like this would visit, putting a bit of a strain on her heart.

A high priest this time...

Tanya, who had received an explanation from Ian about who Frenda was, couldn’t help but keep her expression stiff.

’It truly is a wonderful hot spring...’

Frenda muttered as she observed the hot spring’s appearance.

Even without entering directly, she could tell just from the energy felt from a distance.

A hot spring of this caliber was something you might only find by heading deep into nature where few people tread, so how on earth did one sprout in the middle of the city?

Feeling curious, Frenda asked Tanya.

’Perhaps this Labyrinth is... actually an area where a massive hot spring is buried?’

’Actually, after the hot spring sprouted here, hot spring excavation became a trend for a while... but I heard not a single other place found one.’

Not to mention the wealthy. Even ordinary residents felt it was enough to raise the question: ’Could there be one under my house too?’ Of course, the investigations were all failures.

Since this hot spring was buried in a way that precisely avoided the underground waterways, and thanks to the spirit that was slumbering with it, the effects could be preserved intact. It could only be described as a stroke of immense luck.

For such a miraculous thing to happen... one would have to accumulate a great deal of good deeds to encounter such a thing.

Frenda, quietly recalling Ian’s face, wore a subtle expression.

In the meantime, Tanya, who was in charge of guiding, watched Frenda’s reaction before quietly putting down a towel and speaking.

Since she had introduced the interior, Tanya’s job was done once she allowed her to use the hot spring.

’Well then, I’ll leave the towels here... please call me when you’re finished.’

’Ah, wait a moment.’

’Yes?’

Frenda spoke with a smile toward Tanya, who answered with a slightly surprised face.

’Come in with me! A hot spring is only fun when there’s someone to go in with.’

’Ye... Yes?’

Tanya stepped back, asking in reflex with a shocked face. Then she soon realized her mistake.

Oh no... was that reaction just now a bit rude?

Thinking so, Tanya stole a glance at Frenda.

Fortunately, Frenda didn’t seem to mind Tanya’s reaction at all.

From Frenda’s perspective, a reaction like Tanya’s was rather common. Ordinary people found even regular priests difficult to deal with, let alone a high priest.

Frenda was used to receiving such reactions and to dealing with such people.

In the end, Tanya couldn’t refuse the guest’s suggestion and had no choice but to nod.

＊ ＊ ＊

’Haa...’

Frenda submerged herself deep into the hot spring water.

She could feel the energy soaking in along with the heat, restoring her depleted stamina and rapidly accumulating within her body.

It was truly an amazing hot spring.

Frenda had been to quite a few places, but those of this level could be counted on one hand.

Beside Frenda, who was stretched out with an involuntary smile, sat Tanya with a stiff face.

It was a bath with a high priest guest that had come upon her without any expectation or mental preparation.

Frenda turned to her side and asked Tanya, who was frozen like ice.

’How long has it been since you became a mercenary?’

’Yes... well, it hasn’t been that long...’

Tanya briefly told Frenda about that time, recalling her memories of when she first became a mercenary.

Though she had never been a mercenary herself... even to Frenda’s ears, it was an absurdly short period.

’I heard it’s a mercenary group slated for A-rank promotion, to do that in such a short time... that’s incredible!’

’Eh... no, I didn’t do anything. Almost everything was planned by the Leader, and I just followed along...’

’Leader Ian?’

’Yes. I just, well, should I say I realized I had ended up like this before I knew it...’

She still couldn’t quite believe the talk about A-rank or B-rank.

It was a story that her self from a year ago wouldn’t have believed, let alone when she first started her mercenary life. Tanya’s mercenary life was a series of unbelievable events to that extent.

Frenda, who had been listening quietly, asked Tanya.

’I have something I’m curious about. If it’s not rude, may I ask a little about your life as a mercenary?’

’Ah, yes. That’s fine.’

As Tanya nodded, Frenda pondered for a moment before asking Tanya the question she was most curious about.

’Don’t you think entering the labyrinth is scary?’

’Well, of course it’s scary.’

’Then why do you enter? You could have refused.’

’Hmm... it’s a bit hard to explain. It’s because the Leader is going.’

She wasn’t doing such things because of some grand will or conviction.

She felt a bit embarrassed to say such a thing to someone as high-ranking as a high priest, but Tanya answered honestly.

’Because of Leader Ian?’

’He said investigating that place is absolutely necessary. That it won’t do unless he does it directly... Besides, he always puts our safety as the top priority, so even though it’s scary, it’s okay.’

Tanya explained while blushing slightly.

It was something she always thought, but saying it directly in front of another person made her feel quite sheepish.

But thanks to that, Frenda felt that Tanya was sincere. It didn’t feel like a made-up story or empty praise.

Frenda realized that the members, including Tanya, trusted Ian’s decisions immensely.

A heartfelt trust felt toward someone who cares for them.

Frenda, who had often seen such sights while working at the temple, could clearly feel that emotion from Tanya.

Perhaps... those words might be true.

Frenda, feeling her mind become complicated, submerged herself a little deeper into the hot spring.

When she first saw Rin and Ian, she thought Ian, coveting the power of the demonic sword, was using Rin.

No matter how important a combat asset Rin was, if he truly cared for his member, he should not have let Rin fight any further. The more she did, the greater the demonic sword’s power would grow, and it would gnaw away at Rin’s sanity.

It was impossible for a human to control the power of such a horrific demonic sword. Everyone who deluded themselves into thinking they could do so became a sacrifice to the demonic sword.

But... as she got to know more about Ian, the thought that it wasn’t the case grew stronger.

He wasn’t a person who wouldn’t know about that danger, nor was he the kind of person to do such a thing.

Frenda felt that perhaps... the claim that he had taken measures so Rin wouldn’t be in danger might be true.

Since he couldn’t properly explain the method to Frenda and kept dodging the question, she thought it was definitely a lie.

...I’ll need to look into it more closely.

Frenda, recalling Rin’s face, decided she should have a more detailed conversation with Rin later.

And Tanya also let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed she had navigated the questions well.

’...?’

Tanya, who had relaxed and slightly turned her gaze, accidentally spotted a familiar face in one part of the hot spring.

...It was a face that shouldn’t be seen right now.

’W-wait... just a moment!’

’Yes? Ah... yes. Take your time.’

Tanya knew what kind of misunderstanding Frenda was making, but she didn’t have time to correct it.

With a slightly flushed face, Tanya hurriedly left the hot spring and walked outside.

A chaotic space filled with various furniture and decorations, connected to the corridor leading to the hot spring.

Strangely, Epirnoa was there in that place the spirits favored. Tanya hurriedly approached her.

’Ah. Hello.’

’Hello... Wh-what brings you here today? It wasn’t your day to come.’

’Hmm? Because I was bored.’

She specifically left the days Epirnoa visited regularly empty without taking guests, but occasionally she would visit like this on other days as she pleased.

As expected, was it too much to ask a spirit to even follow dates and days for their visits?

To begin with, since it was a space that received a portion of Epirnoa’s power, even just granting the request to avoid people’s eyes was something to be extremely grateful for.

Epirnoa glanced at Frenda’s back as she was in the hot spring and asked.

’Who is that? A human I’m seeing for the first time. Is she Ian’s new female?’

’A-ah, no! No!’

Tanya denied Epirnoa’s words in horror.

Epirnoa tilted her head with a truly puzzled expression.

’That’s strange... It seems like the number hasn’t increased at all since I saw them last. Is there perhaps something wrong with his reproductive ability...?’

’Th-that side is already sufficient!’

Tanya shook her head violently as she tried to stop Epirnoa.