The impromptu mixed bath incident with Daniela was still in session . As there was no one else around, I decided to just enjoy myself . The steam had now parted, allowing us a great view of the cavern walls . There were a few things I hadn’t noticed before . There was a path that led deeper within, and there was no waterfall-like stream from where the water was coming . All of the splas.h.i.+ng sounds had made me a.s.sume there was some great waterfall here… I thought about it for a second, before looking over to Daniela, whose chin floated lazily above the water .

“Hey, Daniela . ”

“What, Asagi . ”

“I heard a lot of splas.h.i.+ng a moment ago…did something happen?”

“…I am not sure what you mean . ”

Daniela raised her face and looked at me confidently . However, it was clear that she had been up to something . There was no way that she didn’t hear it . I stare back at her . She wiped away the beads of sweat on her forehead and looked away . I moved in closer and stared harder . Daniela’s face grew redder and she averted her eyes again .

“Daniela . ”

“…”

“I won’t tell anyone, okay?

“…”

“…”

“…Ahh, fine, ugh, I will tell you!”

Daniela signaled her defeat with a raise of her hands . Mr . Asagi’s tenacity had won him the day .

“I will only say this once, as it is humiliating . ”

“Sure . ”

“I was overjoyed at being able to come here, and was not the most attentive, you see . And when I suddenly fell into the bath, the shock had nearly caused me to drown . ”

“Well, that was incredibly dangerous . ”

You really couldn’t see anything a moment ago with all that mist . I had been creeped out myself… But I guess this mist was serving a purpose at disguising the fact that it was a mixed bath . It was not likely to be changed any time soon . I grinned mischievously at this amusing blemish on the beautiful Daniela . And then the door opened .

“Huh? There is no steam . ”

It was a familiar voice .

“Oh, h.e.l.lo young man . Nice to see you again . ”

It was the busty broad from the bar . Why was she…she was coming in next to us, so I answered her while trying not to look .

“Ah, h.e.l.lo miss . Fancy seeing you here . ”

“Oh, how awkward!”

She laughed hysterically . But things were really not that funny . We were supposed to be in hot water, but it was below zero right next to me . You know, where Daniela was .

“Uhh, so what brought you here?”

“Ahh . This place was bought by our bar . You might say it’s where I work . ”

Was that bar so successful that they could go around buying property? Or maybe this place wasn’t worth much . Bar, inn, and hot spring . It was pretty impressive though .

Was that bar so successful that they could go around buying property? Or maybe this place wasn’t worth much . Bar, inn, and hot spring . It was pretty impressive though .

Hmm?  Where she works?

“So this is also a place for that kind of activity . ”

“Mmhyagh”

Something horrible was happening in the water!

“You are not a fast learner, are you!”

“Huh?”

The busty broad tilted her head to the side and then froze . Judging by her gaze, she had finally caught sight of Daniela .

“To make a move on my Asagi, you must have a death wish . ”

“Oh, this is, uh, oh, I, I just have a strong pa.s.sion for my work…!”

“Ho? So that is your will then . I will be sure to tell the bar owner . ‘She had a pa.s.sion for her work . '”

“I am so terribly sorry!! You must forgive me!!”

The busty broad was shaking, looking like she was going to attempt to grovel in the water at Daniela’s feet . I was feeling very sorry for her now . I was concerned about her lack of discernment and ability to learn, but it was not as if she had done anything wrong .

“Daniela, she was just doing her job . It’s just a matter of me refusing her, and this whole thing is settled . ”

“While that is the case… One does not enjoy seeing their man toyed with by another woman . ”

“While that is the case… One does not enjoy seeing their man toyed with by another woman . ”

“Then I will have to handle it better next time . Sorry about that . But you have to forgive her this time . ”

“Hmm… If you insist . ”

She did not seem enthusiastic about it, but Daniela seemed to have decided that she would let this one go . Ahh, what a relief . We were about to be in a literal bloodbath, otherwise . Even the busty broad seemed to have come to the realization that her head would no longer be flying off of her shoulders .

“Th-thank you!”

“Hey, stop that you idio-”

It is important to have a thankful heart . However, it was not necessary to express it through a tight embrace of my head . And then my vision was full of darkness .

“Mmm… Where am I…”

I was looking at some unfamiliar ceiling . I put a hand to my aching head as I got up from the bed . The room itself was familiar . Oh, it was room 303 . I just hadn’t looked at the ceiling before .

I looked dumbly at the security device that Daniela had told me about, as I consider what had happened . I must have fainted from over-excitement after being squished . The back of my head likely hurt because I had banged it on something… Ahh, maybe I’ll go back to sleep . I try to cover myself with the blankets, but I couldn’t sleep . I knew that not being able to sleep would negatively impact our trip tomorrow, but no matter how much I tossed and turned, I would not get drowsy .

“Ah, well . Might as well take a walk…”

I slipped out of the bed and took my key with me as I went out into the hall . I had to make sure that the door was securely locked before climbing down the stairs .

Seductive moaning leaked from one of the other rooms . Someone was clearly still working . I guess she really was pa.s.sionate, considering she was back so quickly after such an incident .

I pa.s.sed the room and went down to the first floor . The bar owner was still awake, and so I told him that I was going on a stroll .

Seductive moaning leaked from one of the other rooms . Someone was clearly still working . I guess she really was pa.s.sionate, considering she was back so quickly after such an incident .

I pa.s.sed the room and went down to the first floor . The bar owner was still awake, and so I told him that I was going on a stroll .

“That key is your room key, but it will also allow you to enter this inn . So you can use that when you come back . And well, I am sure you wouldn’t try anything fishy, but just know that it won’t work on any of the other rooms . ”

I wondered how it worked, but then realized that this was a world of magic, and gave up . I would never understand the mechanics of it . It was what it was . I thanked him and left the inn .

There were bonfires outside . The fires offered light and warmth, but the crackling of the firewood was explosive, making the night seem a little like a battlefield . Not that I’ve ever been in one .

I was sure to get lost in this complex town, and so I carefully noted the position of the inn in my head before starting my walk .

There were not many people out at night . People would work during the days and get proper rest when the sun would set . Or so a traveling pa.s.serby informed me . Well, you could still see lights from behind the windows of the houses, and the sounds of drunken voices, though . I avoided these lights and continued to walk . I walked in the sort of self-indulgent way one does when they only step on the white lines when crossing the road . Bonfires are safe . They are healing spots . I use magic to prevent the sparks from falling on me . I didn’t want to get burned . But it was cold here in the mountains . The wind was cool for a few minutes, but it would freeze you if you stayed out too long . And so I would need to heal myself occasionally at these bonfires .

Once I was warm enough, I would continue to walk aimlessly . I would go up any stairs that happened to be in front of me and go even further when there were even more stairs . I eventually found myself in the highest point in the town . It was the point where there were no more stairs to climb . And here you could look down at the rest of the town .

“Ahh…I should have gone over there . ”

On the other side, the eastern part of the town . There were more tall buildings . The tallest building on the west side was shorter than the tallest on the east .

“It’s important to plan, isn’t it?”

“Aye, it is . Very important!”

The voice suddenly sounded behind me, and I quickly turned around and stepped back . A pickaxe had been swung down in the place I was just standing . I look hard at the person who was wielding it . A beard and a face covered in dust . I overlaid the image with my memories . And finally, I realize that it was the leader of the gang in Fhiraldo, who had called me Black Rabbit .

The impromptu mixed bath incident with Daniela was still in session . As there was no one else around, I decided to just enjoy myself . The steam had now parted, allowing us a great view of the cavern walls . There were a few things I hadn’t noticed before . There was a path that led deeper within, and there was no waterfall-like stream from where the water was coming . All of the splas.h.i.+ng sounds had made me a.s.sume there was some great waterfall here… I thought about it for a second, before looking over to Daniela, whose chin floated lazily above the water

 .

“Hey, Daniela . ”.

“What, Asagi . ”.

“I heard a lot of splas.h.i.+ng a moment ago…did something happen?”.

“…I am not sure what you mean . ”.

 .

Daniela raised her face and looked at me confidently . However, it was clear that she had been up to something . There was no way that she didn’t hear it . I stare back at her . She wiped away the beads of sweat on her forehead and looked away . I moved in closer and stared harder . Daniela’s face grew redder and she averted her eyes again

 .

“Daniela . ”.

“…”.

“I won’t tell anyone, okay?.

“…”.

“…”.

“…Ahh, fine, ugh, I will tell you!”.

 .

Daniela signaled her defeat with a raise of her hands . Mr . Asagi’s tenacity had won him the day

 .

“I will only say this once, as it is humiliating . ”.

“Sure . ”.

“I was overjoyed at being able to come here, and was not the most attentive, you see . And when I suddenly fell into the bath, the shock had nearly caused me to drown . ”.

“Well, that was incredibly dangerous . ”.

 .

You really couldn’t see anything a moment ago with all that mist . I had been creeped out myself… But I guess this mist was serving a purpose at disguising the fact that it was a mixed bath . It was not likely to be changed any time soon . I grinned mischievously at this amusing blemish on the beautiful Daniela . And then the door opened

 .

“Huh? There is no steam . ”.

 .

It was a familiar voice

 .

“Oh, h.e.l.lo young man . Nice to see you again . ”.

 .

It was the busty broad from the bar . Why was she…she was coming in next to us, so I answered her while trying not to look

 .

“Ah, h.e.l.lo miss . Fancy seeing you here . ”.

“Oh, how awkward!”.

 .

She laughed hysterically . But things were really not that funny . We were supposed to be in hot water, but it was below zero right next to me . You know, where Daniela was

 .

“Uhh, so what brought you here?”.

“Ahh . This place was bought by our bar . You might say it’s where I work . ”.

 .

Was that bar so successful that they could go around buying property? Or maybe this place wasn’t worth much . Bar, inn, and hot spring . It was pretty impressive though

Hmm?  Where she works?.

 .

“So this is also a place for that kind of activity . ”.

“Mmhyagh”.

 .

Something horrible was happening in the water!.

 .

“You are not a fast learner, are you!”.

“Huh?”.

 .

The busty broad tilted her head to the side and then froze . Judging by her gaze, she had finally caught sight of Daniela

 .

“To make a move on my Asagi, you must have a death wish . ”.

“Oh, this is, uh, oh, I, I just have a strong pa.s.sion for my work…!”.

“Ho? So that is your will then . I will be sure to tell the bar owner . ‘She had a pa.s.sion for her work . '”.

“I am so terribly sorry!! You must forgive me!!”.

 .

The busty broad was shaking, looking like she was going to attempt to grovel in the water at Daniela’s feet . I was feeling very sorry for her now . I was concerned about her lack of discernment and ability to learn, but it was not as if she had done anything wrong

 .

“Daniela, she was just doing her job . It’s just a matter of me refusing her, and this whole thing is settled . ”.

“While that is the case… One does not enjoy seeing their man toyed with by another woman . ”.

“Then I will have to handle it better next time . Sorry about that . But you have to forgive her this time . ”.

“Hmm… If you insist . ”.

She did not seem enthusiastic about it, but Daniela seemed to have decided that she would let this one go . Ahh, what a relief . We were about to be in a literal bloodbath, otherwise . Even the busty broad seemed to have come to the realization that her head would no longer be flying off of her shoulders

 .

“Th-thank you!”.

“Hey, stop that you idio-”.

 .

It is important to have a thankful heart . However, it was not necessary to express it through a tight embrace of my head . And then my vision was full of darkness

 .

□ □ □ □.

 .

“Mmm… Where am I…”.

 .

I was looking at some unfamiliar ceiling . I put a hand to my aching head as I got up from the bed . The room itself was familiar . Oh, it was room 303 . I just hadn’t looked at the ceiling before

I looked dumbly at the security device that Daniela had told me about, as I consider what had happened . I must have fainted from over-excitement after being squished . The back of my head likely hurt because I had banged it on something… Ahh, maybe I’ll go back to sleep . I try to cover myself with the blankets, but I couldn’t sleep . I knew that not being able to sleep would negatively impact our trip tomorrow, but no matter how much I tossed and turned, I would not get drowsy

 .

“Ah, well . Might as well take a walk…”.

 .

I slipped out of the bed and took my key with me as I went out into the hall . I had to make sure that the door was securely locked before climbing down the stairs

Seductive moaning leaked from one of the other rooms . Someone was clearly still working . I guess she really was pa.s.sionate, considering she was back so quickly after such an incident

I pa.s.sed the room and went down to the first floor . The bar owner was still awake, and so I told him that I was going on a stroll

 .

“That key is your room key, but it will also allow you to enter this inn . So you can use that when you come back . And well, I am sure you wouldn’t try anything fishy, but just know that it won’t work on any of the other rooms . ”.

 .

I wondered how it worked, but then realized that this was a world of magic, and gave up . I would never understand the mechanics of it . It was what it was . I thanked him and left the inn

 .

There were bonfires outside . The fires offered light and warmth, but the crackling of the firewood was explosive, making the night seem a little like a battlefield . Not that I’ve ever been in one

I was sure to get lost in this complex town, and so I carefully noted the position of the inn in my head before starting my walk

There were not many people out at night . People would work during the days and get proper rest when the sun would set . Or so a traveling pa.s.serby informed me . Well, you could still see lights from behind the windows of the houses, and the sounds of drunken voices, though . I avoided these lights and continued to walk . I walked in the sort of self-indulgent way one does when they only step on the white lines when crossing the road . Bonfires are safe . They are healing spots . I use magic to prevent the sparks from falling on me . I didn’t want to get burned . But it was cold here in the mountains . The wind was cool for a few minutes, but it would freeze you if you stayed out too long . And so I would need to heal myself occasionally at these bonfires

 .

Once I was warm enough, I would continue to walk aimlessly . I would go up any stairs that happened to be in front of me and go even further when there were even more stairs . I eventually found myself in the highest point in the town . It was the point where there were no more stairs to climb . And here you could look down at the rest of the town

 .

“Ahh…I should have gone over there . ”.

 .

On the other side, the eastern part of the town . There were more tall buildings . The tallest building on the west side was shorter than the tallest on the east

 .

“It’s important to plan, isn’t it?”.

“Aye, it is . Very important!”.

 .

The voice suddenly sounded behind me, and I quickly turned around and stepped back . A pickaxe had been swung down in the place I was just standing . I look hard at the person who was wielding it . A beard and a face covered in dust . I overlaid the image with my memories . And finally, I realize that it was the leader of the gang in Fhiraldo, who had called me Black Rabbit