GILF Hunter

From early morning, people were gathered on the street.

The place that had been under construction behind barriers for some time. It was the Labyrinth Hot Spring, a location that no one in this city was now unaware of.

Although it hadn’t been long since full-scale construction began, the building was completed in an instant thanks to the unsparing mobilization of everyone from laborers to mages.

The people involved in the construction, Ian, and even passing onlookers all gathered together to look up at the finished building.

Jun, from the architects’ guild who was in charge of the construction, looked at the completed building and murmured with a proud face.

’It’s finally finished...’

’I don’t think it took long enough to say ’finally’?’

’It means I waited that much for it.’

Ian looked back at Jun, who was soaked in emotion, and spoke.

’Good work. I didn’t know it would be completed this quickly... did you overdo it?’

’Don’t worry! It was built very sturdily!’

It was the shortest construction period among all the projects Jun had ever handled. Despite that, the result of the construction was of the highest quality.

For one, the client was a VIP of the guild, and above all, it was a hot spring.

Architects and workers from the entire guild, and even guild employees, flocked to participate in this task.

When told to go back because the labor budget was exceeded, everyone even offered to participate for free just to squeeze into the construction.

It was to write ’Construction of Labyrinth Hot Spring’ in their work history.

Jun, who had experienced that massive chaos, laughed.

’Where else would there be someone in this city who has built a hot spring? It was a truly great experience. Thanks to this, I’ve even settled my promotion exam.’

Jun’s smile was likely due to that last reason.

Besides, where else would there be an architect with the experience of handling hot spring construction in this Labyrinth? Of course, there wouldn’t be another hot spring to build, but regardless, it would be a unique and stand-out career in the city.

’The only flaw is that it’s not a very large hot spring.’

And... excluding the interior facilities that the client decorated themselves, that is.

Jun kept his mouth shut, afraid he might mention that even by mistake.

Noticing that subtle pause and realizing what Jun was thinking, Tanya made an excuse while glancing at him.

’The facilities inside... couldn’t be helped because of the spirit.’

’...Right.’

When Ian said he would decorate the interior himself, he had received an explanation as to why. Something about the spirit wanting a specific interior.

He didn’t think it would turn out quite like that... but since that’s just how the spirit’s sensibilities were, it couldn’t be helped.

The client’s heart must be aching because the interior of the hot spring they built with such effort turned out that way. Jun felt sorry, thinking it was unavoidable.

’You won’t be opening the hot spring to the public, right?’

’It’s too small for that. Only the mercenary group will use it.’

Ian intended to invite only the members of the mercenary group and some other acquaintances.

...Then it doesn’t really matter.

Jun thought upon hearing those words. For now, the exterior of the building was built with maximum care, and most people would only see the outside. Even if the inside was like that, people wouldn’t notice.

The construction work of the hot spring was finalized with Ian finishing the signing.

Rin, who was waiting behind him, spoke with an excited expression.

’Let’s all go in together!’

’Ah, I have to go to the guild and the city hall. You guys go in first.’

’...Do you still have more work to do?’

’There’s still a lot.’

Unfortunately, Ian had a lot of work remaining.

Since a hot spring appearing in the city was a first, there were truly many things to verify here and there.

For starters, there were no regulations related to hot springs at all.

So he had no choice but to go to the city hall in person to talk, negotiate, and receive temporary permission.

’It’s a pain...’

’Tell me about it.’

Whenever this happened, a desire to finish complex procedures with a single click like a game surged within him.

Ian sent the members into the hot spring first and moved his steps toward the guild.

＊　＊　＊

Evening time, as the sun began to fall beyond the walls.

Ian, having walked through the streets, opened the locked door of the hot spring.

Since quite some time had passed, it seemed the members he had sent to the hot spring first had already returned. The inside of the building was very quiet.

As Ian stepped into the building, a thick heat and steam were felt from the entrance.

Faint clusters of light were floating inside the building. The spirit was probably wandering around.

After taking a look around, Ian walked into the inner area where the hot spring was located.

Since the scale of the hot spring wasn’t large, the size of the bathroom was also moderately small.

Even excluding the space where furniture was placed to boost the hot spring’s effects, the size of the lounge built next to it was much larger than the hot spring itself.

Ian passed the changing room and entered the hot spring area. Sparkling light was rising from the hot spring along with the steam.

Since the members would have all visited during the day, Ian was the last in line today.

Ian carefully entered the hot hot spring and soaked his body.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You have entered the Spirit’s Hot Spring.

- You have permanently obtained [All Stats +10].

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

’Phew...’

A message appeared before Ian stating that all his stats had increased. it was the first-use bonus of the hot spring.

Combined with the health that increased through stats, perhaps thanks to the hot spring’s own recovery effect, he felt his fatigue vanishing quickly.

The heat of the hot spring rose strongly, but it didn’t feel stifling. He felt like he could stay in it all day.

Ian, quietly submerged in the water, pondered for a moment about who he should distribute the passes for this place to.

The permanent 10 points to all stats received upon first use wasn’t a small figure, and the other effects were quite helpful when going out on requests. It would be especially meaningful for mercenaries who traverse the Labyrinth.

If possible, it was beneficial for other mercenaries to use this hot spring as well.

The city’s power increasing wasn’t a bad thing for Ian either. However, the downside was that the hot spring was small, so not that many people could use it.

While Ian was contemplating inside the hot spring, a suspicious footstep was heard from outside.

It was a small sound, but since it was a quiet building with no one there, it was easy to notice.

The person who entered didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding, making footsteps as they came into the hot spring area.

A moment later, the door to the changing room opened and Tanya peeked her head in.

’Tanya?’

’Hello.’

Tanya wore her usual playful smile and walked inside wrapped in a towel.

It seemed she had come to the hot spring on purpose to match Ian’s return.

’How did you know I came?’

’It’s a hunch.’

Tanya giggled as she said that, but her gaze shifted slightly elsewhere before she answered. Likely, the fairies had informed her that Ian had arrived.

Folding her towel and setting it aside, Tanya entered the hot spring and sat closely next to Ian.

Tanya wore a bright smile and leaned her body against Ian’s shoulder...

’Hoo...’

’?!’

Suddenly, someone’s voice was heard from behind.

Both Ian and Tanya stood up in surprise and looked back.

’Who...?!’

Beyond the thick steam and beams of light, someone was sitting on the water of the hot spring. There had been no presence at all, to the point where they didn’t know since when that person had been there.

’Don’t mind me, you can continue.’

Ian discovered something strange upon seeing that figure.

That suspicious individual wasn’t inside the hot spring, but sitting on top of the water.

Furthermore, something was flickering around that suspicious individual.

At first, he thought it was the steam and the light of the hot spring, but looking closely and calmly, he could see they were white flames.

’You are...’

’Hello. We meet again soon.’

The figure who spoke to Ian was a face Ian knew. And it was a face that shouldn’t be here.

A mysterious woman with pure white flames flickering about her.

It was the high-ranking spirit he had met in the hot spring city of Mirshil, Epyre Noah.

Tanya also seemed to recognize the opponent’s identity as she clung tightly to Ian’s side and shouted with a flustered expression.

’H-H-How are you here?’

’Hmm. I felt the child who was here wake up.’

Epyre Noah looked upward and pointed at something with her finger.

As Ian looked that way, he saw something flying above the hot spring. It was the spirit of the hot spring. It hadn’t been visible to Ian’s eyes until just now, but it seemed he could see it now because of Epyre Noah.

’And since that child sent a contact while being so happy, I thought it looked interesting and dropped by for a bit.’

Epyre Noah replied lightly in a tone as if she had just dropped by a friend’s house for a bit.

Come to think of it, Epyre Noah was also living in a hot spring area.

Ian roughly understood how it happened after hearing that explanation.

Apparently, spirits with similar inclinations had some ability to communicate even from afar.

When the hot spring that had been buried underground was excavated and came to the surface, it seemed the hot spring spirit sent that news to Epyre Noah.

Tanya, hearing that story, asked with a panicked face.

’Were you able to leave that place...?’

’Eh? I never said I couldn’t leave there.’

He thought she was sealed there or tied down due to special circumstances. It seems she was just staying there simply because she liked the place.

...What should we do? Tanya stared blankly at Ian with an expression that seemed to ask that.

Ian shook his head side to side.