Episode 30 – The Hidden Public Bath in Hot Spring Village – Beginning of Punishment Game

On the G.o.ddess of Love day, we finally crossed the Great River. We sailed straight to the south from the coast guard city by using their patrol s.h.i.+p, the negotiation was easy too.

The coast guard captain is the older brother of the border guard captain. He is similar to his younger brother in looks and personality, and he also knows about the letter that was issued in the border guard office.

Besides that, he also heard the rumor of my gun fight in the corn field city. He spent some time trying to invite me to become a soldier, but I refused him. We discussed about a way to cross the river after that.

The matter with the dragon seems to fit with Yuela and Kerebryl’s story. A merchant who was able to negotiate with the dragon has appeared, and the operation to subjugate the dragon is canceled. The blockade of the surrounding water had been lifted too now.

We then hopped on their patrol s.h.i.+p and crossed the river after they finished their patrol. There’s a reason for why we choose to do it this way, it doesn’t cost money, and of course there’s no extra condition attached.

Everything was possible thanks to Yuela and Kerebryl. They’re girlfriends that I can be proud of.

“We have anch.o.r.ed. Everyone, be careful with your footing”

While standing on the wooden boat, the coast guard captain gave us a warning.

He has a good physique and wore better armor compared to the other crew members. He really looks similar with that border guard captain.

“Got it”

I answered the captain and jumped down carefully into the harbor’s quay. It’s just as the captain said, the quay that was composed of many stacked rocks is wet because of the waves, it seems  people can slip easily here.

“Yuela, grab my hand”

I looked back and stretched my right hand towards Yuela on the boat.

“Yes”

Yuela looks happy, she smiled while gazing at my hand and my face alternately. She then stretched her left hand to grab my right hand and jumped from the boat to the quay fearlessly.

“Sorry for that”

“It’s fine Yuela. This much is obvious right”

“Fufu”

Yuela stood next to me and thanked me. She keep holding my hand while smiling happily.

“……The wind sure is strong”

While looking at my face, Yuela murmured to herself. The wind that blows from the river side is scattering Yuela’s beautiful long black hair. She then raised her right hand, bent her elbow, and gently held her long hair in place.

“……Yeah”

I was fascinated by Yuela. I like this kind of girlish gesture. We were staring at each other affectionately for a while after that.

“Hey…… Cut that out and help me already……”

I could hear Rachel’s voice, so I turned my face toward the boat. A beautiful girl is glaring at me with a displeased face.

“What a bother. Here, grab my hand”

“……”

While sounding annoyed, Yuela stretched her right hand toward Rachel.

Rachel is staying silent, she looks like she doesn’t want to grab Yuela’s hand even if it kills her.

“Why do I get to grab Yuela’s hand?”

“It doesn’t matter who it is right. There are people waiting behind, come on, grab my hand quickly”

Rachel isn’t satisfied, Yuela then is urging her with her usual cool expressionless face.

“Muu…… I don’t wanna. I’m also Kaoru’s girlfriend”

“……What a selfish person”

Yuela and Rachel are starting to argue. My sense of smell is picking up a dangerous scent in the air.

“Kaoruu, come onn……”

“……Yeah Rachel”

Rachel is looking at me while pouting and extended her right hand as much as she can. I think I need to avoid any risk here. I extended my free left hand toward Rachel.

“Thanks Kaoru”

Rachel looks happy and smiled with her lips forming into a crescent moon shape. She then grabbed my hand and jumped down softly from the boat to the quay.

“You’re really gentle”

“Am I?”

While still grabbing my outstretched hand, Rachel is smiling brightly. Whatever the situation is, smile suited this girl perfectly.

“Hmph……”

Yuela doesn’t seem to be satisfied, she turned her face away while pouting.

“You are. You’re totally different compared to Yuela”

Rachel said so while making a sharp glance at Yuela.

“……How come I’m not gentle, I gave my hand to you didn’t I?”

And Yuela too, is glaring at Rachel.

“You’re lying. You just want to get in my and Kaoru’s way……”

“You’re the one that’s wrong. The one who get in our way is you”

“What do you say……”

Yuela and Rachel started to argue with me caught in the middle. This kind of thing never happened with Yuela and Kerebryl.

“……”

I think I need to be the one who stop these two. After thinking desperately, I somehow ended with looking at Rachel.

“……”

Rachel is still doing fine, she’s currently complaining about something to Yuela. From my point of view, the scene looks like a fearless kitty trying to play with a Lion. Rachel, Yuela is very strong you know.

“Kaoru…… why are you grinning after looking at me”

“……I was smiling?”

Apparently I had ended up smiling. Rachel is glaring at me while narrowing down her big and intimidating eyes.

“Sorry. For some reason, Rachel looks really cute earlier”

“……Stu~pid”

Rachel then turned her face away while pouting but I still can see her cheeks turning red. Rachel has white skin, so when she’s blus.h.i.+ng it looks really conspicuous.

“Hey, next is me”

It’s Kerebryl’s voice.

“Catch me okay”

Kerebryl’s long slit eyes are smiling like she was currently thinking of a prank, then she suddenly made a great jump toward my spot. Her nimbleness made her looks like a fairy.

“H……”

I withdrew my hands from Yuela and Rachel immediately and then hugged Kerebryl inside my arms. There’s soft feeling b.u.mping against my chest.

“……Kerebryl, that’s dangerous”

“Ufufu. Its fine, I have you right?”

I turned my hands around Kerebryl’s waist and found her adorable face right in front of me. She is smiling and looking at me with eyes full of love.

“Kuh…… Kerebryl, that’s cunning. You’re the only one who get to do that”

Yuela is not satisfied. She’s glaring at us who are currently hugging each other with slightly upturned eyes.

“You think so? I was left on the boat by myself you know”

In response, Kerebryl answered Yuela while smiling mischievously.

“That’s why it’s fine for me to do this much right?”

And she then encircled her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“Whwh…… what are you guys doinggg……!”

Meanwhile, Rachel is yelling out a pitiful voice.

“All of you sure are close”

The coast guard captain also jumped down to the quay while laughing. Even though his body is bigger than the border guard captain, it seems he is very nimble too. He was watching our ruckus with pleasant look on his face.

“That’s right, all of us are on good terms”

Kerebryl is still hugging my neck with her arms, but she moved to the side so she could speak to the captain. She said so while smiling happily.

“Fumu…… It’s been a while since I last visited this harbor”

The captain is looking around. Our location is a small fis.h.i.+ng village located on the opposite side of the coast guard base. I can see the s.h.i.+p that we used in the distance. The water in this harbor is shallow, so we used a small wooden boat from the patrol s.h.i.+p to anchor instead.

“Captain, thank you very much. The trip was really nice”

I thanked the coast guard captain and offered my right hand.

“Don’t mind it, this much is nothing”

The coast guard captain grasped my right hand firmly. His hand is big and rugged, it’s clearly the hand of a soldier.

“The two of you had performed a heroic deed for the sake of our country. Compared to that, this stuff is nothing”

The captain is shaking my hand and said so while smiling and looking at Yuela and Kerebryl. As expected of siblings I guess, the way he’s smiling is exactly the same with the border guard captain.

“……We didn’t exactly did it for the sake of [Country of Industry]”

But then Yuela is responding the coast guard captain while looking uneasy for some reason. She is also looking at the horizon when speaking instead of looking at him.

“It’s just as Yuela says. We just did what we could do at that time……”

Kerebryl also looks uncomfortable somehow, I wonder why. She was looking at my face with an apologetic looks.

“……”

Somehow, inside my heart, I have a premonition of secret.

“Fumu……  They not only look beautiful, their heart is filled with modesty as well. You truly have wonderful girlfriends, I’m envious of you Musketeer-san”

“……”

The coast guard captain is smiling toward me this time, it’s making me recall the interrogation of the border guard captain.

“……That’s right, I’m really proud of them, of course I love them very much too”

I take my hand off from his and answered while smiling. My voice is filled with the feeling of pride.

“But still, are you really fine with taking off from this port? I can take you closer to the capital if you want……”

The Captain then touched his chin and spoke while sounding troubled. If we rode the patrol boat again to the west, we will arrive at the city located on the southern bank that was our original destination.

“We will attract some attention if we go to that city right now……”

Yuela then answered him with a tedious face. Yuela had helped the pa.s.sengers of the s.h.i.+p by making the dragon carrying them on its back, I’m sure the people in that city were surprised back then.

“It’s just as Yuela said. I’m sure things will be troublesome if we do that”

Kerebryl responded in the same way, she had rescued lots of people by using Spirit Magic. Both of them must be famous in that city now.

“Fumu. I guess it can’t be helped then”

It seems the captain is convinced now.

“Hey, this village also has a road going straight to the capital right?”

“You’re well informed Ojou-san. There’s a small road that lead to the capital from that mountain in the back”

Yuela tends to choose places that she has never gone to before, so she asked for direction to the Ojii-san at that city with the coast guard base.

“Speaking of a village, there’s one famous for its hot springs near the highway going to the capital”

“Is that so”

“EEh?”

Yuela answered cooly, but Rachel responded energetically when she heard the captain’s remark.

“Waah~, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never visited a hot spring before”

This girl is really sheltered isn’t she, she’s laughing in joy and looks really happy just from a visit to hot spring. Well, looking at Rachel like that makes me hyped for the hot spring too somehow.

“Hey, it’s fine going that way right?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind it”

I nodded at Yuela. It may have seemed that we decided on this after hearing the captain’s words, but in truth we have already decided to use this path since Yuela and Kerebryl are firmly insisting on it.

“Captain, thank you very much. ……You and your brother had helped us a lot”

“It is I who should say so. I’ve learned about Musketeer-san from my younger brother’s letter. He’s quite the sloppy guy, but I’m glad he managed to be of help to you”

The captain is smiling while making a fist with his hand and extended his little finger.

“……If you say so”

As expected of siblings I guess, these two are really similar to each other.

“I’m also glad that I managed to become an acquaintance with a famous musketeer”

“……No no, I’m not like that at all ”

The captain have heard the rumors of my duel. I don’t know what kind of stuff had he learned about me, but I pray that I won’t become famous as the Gunner who [Likes NTR].

“Fumu”

The captain then pressed his hand on his chin again and made a slightly difficult face.

“By the way Musketeer-san, where will you be staying at in the capital?”

“I wonder…… for the time being, I’m planning to visit the workshop of my acquaintance”

The captain then asked me a strange question.

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me the address of this acquaintance of yours?”

“Sure”

I tell him the address of Kantarou’s workshop.  I wonder what does he need it for, is the [Country of Industry] planning to give Yuela and Kerebryl some reward?

“Hoo…… So Musketeer-san is acquainted with a famous person”

“Captain, you know Kantarou?”

I’m a little surprised.

“No, I’m not acquainted with him myself, however that person is a popular man”

“……I see”

Kantarou seems to be a popular person, or perhaps the one that’s popular is the adult video that he sells and not the person himself. At least that’s what I think.

“Alright, if I have something to do with Musketeer-san, then I’m going to contact this place”

The captain said so while nodding for a few times.

“Okay captain. We’ll be off then”

“Take care, please remember that this country will always welcome young and excellent talents”

I smiled for bit. As expected of brothers, both of them are saying the same thing with almost the same face.

“Be careful too, all of you ladies”

“……We’re off”

“……Goodbye”

Yuela and Kerebryl said their farewell to the captain bluntly and walked quickly toward the fis.h.i.+ng village. I’m sure that’s because they recalled the interrogation from back then.

“Goodbye Captain”

“Byee”

Me and Rachel waved to the captain while saying our farewell.

“Goodbye everyone”

The captain jumped back to the wooden boat and said his farewell. The crews waiting on the boat start their rowing and the boat start to move toward their patrol s.h.i.+p.

“……”

I’m watching the wooden boat sailing away while still waving my hand. I feel like I saw the captain smiling before he went out of view.

“Huff”

I’m behaving in a bad manner, I blew the smoke of my cigarette toward the air in front of me while still holding it between my lips. When you’re used to smoking, doing this kind of thing feels normal to you. On top of that, I also had both of my hands thrusts inside the pocket of my coat.

“Onii-san, done with your walk?”

A grandpa working on the field is speaking out to me. This place is a small village located along the highway route over the mountain. There’s no accommodation in this place so we are going to stay at this grandpa’s house today.

“Yeah, this place is nice and quiet”

I turned and looked around the place. The scenery of this quiet village being illuminated by the setting sun is spread before me.

“Nah, this place is just a country side”

He might have said so, but this grandpa looks pleased when I praised his hometown.

“Onii-san, sorry for this, if you’re returning to the house can you take this with you?”

The grandpa is pointing to a basket near him, it’s filled with a lot of vegetables that he grew.

“It’s a bit heavy”

“Sure Jii-san. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine”

The vegetable basket is really heavy, but I’ll be fine. I can do this.

“Sorry for that”

The grandpa apologized again, he’s a good old man.

“Also, please tell Basan that I’ll be going to the river for a while”

He said so while waving the fis.h.i.+ng pole in his right hand. One side of this village is facing toward the river. Since the highway is built following the river, this place must be planned as a fis.h.i.+ng village from the very start.

“I’m looking forward to the dinner Jii-san”

“Leave it to me”

He replied to me confidently, he must be expert at fis.h.i.+ng.

“Basan, I’ll leave this here. Jii-san told me to bring it”

“Oo sorry for that”

I put the basket filled with vegetables in the corner of the kitchen.

“Jii-san is at the river right now, it seems he’s fis.h.i.+ng”

“Hoho…… then tonight’s dish will be fish”

This grandma is smiling nicely, so my guess that the grandpa is expert at fis.h.i.+ng should be correct.

“Thank you Onii-san, you can just stay in the room until dinner”

“Yeah, I’ll do so”

I’m a little tired, I’m going to take a rest together with everyone.

I’m walking toward the guest room. This house is as big as a mansion, but the one who lives here is only that grandpa and grandma. They let us use the biggest room in the house so everyone could stay together in one room.

“……”

When I arrived, I noticed that the door of the room is slightly open. There are voices coming from inside.

“We’re going to arrive at the hot spring village soon, I’m really looking forward to it”

“I agree”

“……”

I’m standing outside of the door, the girls’ casual conversation can be heard from the 5cm gap. It seems none of them are aware of me.

“Oh my, you’re also looking forward to it Yuela?”

“Of course, I like hot springs”

“That’s right, In the past Yuela enjoyed herself in a hot spring resort too”

“Wh……?”

“Ufufu…… You like it don’t you?”

“Didn’t you enjoy yourself too Kerebryl. You looked more amazing compared to me back then”

“Ara, really? Ufufu…… Even though Yuela is the one who moved your body until you splashed some water?”

“Kuh…… But Kerebryl……”

“Hey…… what are you guys talking about……?

“……”

Let me correct myself. The girls’ lewd conversation can be heard from the 5cm gap.

“……”

Yuela and Kerebryl don’t keep secret from each other. I’m sure they have talked to each other about various thing like this when I’m not together with them. I’m a little interested about it now.

“……It’s a story from before we met you”

“The three of us were staying at a hot spring resort”

“Heee……”

“In that resort, there’s a skilled sansuke……”

“What’s sansuke?”

“It’s people whose job is to clean the customer’s back and the likes”

“I never heard of it”

“It’s quite the unusual occupation, those people skill are definitely a unique one”

“Those people?”

“The master sansuke and the disciple”

“Hmm…… and these master and disciple are men?”

“Yes, the master is quite old while the disciple is still young”

“Uwahh……”

“……What’s with those eyes”

“Because……”

“Rachel, we didn’t do anything to feel guilty about. He is also together with us back then”

“Kaoru is there too?”

“……That’s right. We had our body washed in front of him”

“Hmm, I see…… Is it comfortable?”

“……it’s so so”

“Well, something like that. That master was amazing right?”

“Ufufu….. That’s right. The skill of professional is amazing Rachel”

“But Kerebryl preferred that young disciple don’t you?”

“Eh……? Mou, Yuela……”

“Fufu…… Kerebryl likes it intense after all”

“Mouuu, seriously Yuela……  The one I like the most is him, I truly love him. On top of that, it’s also the perfect fit for me…… And what about you Yuela? Don’t you like to be done persistently”

“Wha…… That’s wrong…… Even I like it the most with the person I love”

“Ufufu…… You’re cute Yuela”

“Kuh…… He’s the perfect fit for me too you know……”

“Seriously…… what the heck are you guys talking about……?”

“……”

My chest is turning hot. Even though eavesdropping like this is dangerous, I want to stay a little bit longer. I start to listen to their conversation again carefully.

“……It’s nothing important, it’s just about how our body were washed”

“Hmm…… Well, I don’t really get it, but isn’t it the best for Kaoru to wash it?”

“Obviously”

“Yuela got her body washed by him recently you know”

“Yes, that’s right. Fufu…… I washed him too at that time”

“Eeehh……?”

“Fufun~…… How’s that? I’m special after all”

“Why didn’t I know about this?”

“You were tired and already slept”

“Muuu……”

“Yes, that day is special, it’s only for Yuela. She also helped that Ojii-san at the inn with his rehabilitation back then”

“Wh……? Kerebryl……”

“Hee…… You’re kind Yuela. That Ojii-san always dragged his leg when he walk, it looks hard for him……”

“Kuhh…… Enough about me, we need to talk about you now”

“About me?”

“That’s right. Just like we’ve said before, you can consult us about anything if you’re troubled”

“By trouble, you mean……?”

“You don’t need to worry. Even I was worried at the beginning, but it’s for the sake of the man I love……”

“Yes, it’s for his sake too. So it can’t be helped Rachel……”

“You might be confused during your first time, but we’re going to do what we can and show you the rope”

“That’s right, we will help you”

“Muu…… I don’t really get it, but I feel like I’m being treated like a child right now……”

“……We won’t say this kind of stuff to a child”

“Me and Yuela are treating you like proper adult Rachel”

“……If you say so. ……Hey, is the stuff that you guys are talking about is something I need to talk with Kaoru too?”

“No. We have an, err…… We have some kind of an unspoken rule”

“Rule ?”

“That’s right. Which is why Rachel, you can consult us about anything instead. After all we can only share this feeling between the three of us in this whole world……”

“It’s just as Kerebryl said. The three of us are like sisters……”

“……”

I walked away from the door, my heart is full right now. I tried to move my leg slowly so I don’t make any noise. for the time being, I’ll head toward the kitchen.

“Oya, Onii-san. I thought you were resting with the other?”

“No, I was smoking outside”

I lied to the granny flatly.

“Shall I make some tea?”

“Thanks, but I’m planning to go to grandpa’s place”

I like tea, but right now I feel like wanting to go outside somehow.

“Hoho…… Onii-san, if that’s the case please take this with you”

The granny gave me a big basket, perhaps so I can carry the fish that the grandpa caught.

“……Okay. I’ll be off then”

I carried the draining basket with me, gave my greeting to granny, and then went outside.

“Hu-ff”

The big sun is sinking toward the ridgeline of the mountain, it must be a great time for fis.h.i.+ng right now. I walked toward the riverside while spitting out the smoke of my cigarette.

“……”

I think Yuela and Kerebryl are great women, they’re the best girlfriends I could ever ask. When Yuela worked her first part time, the old master at that inn told me to enjoy the curse.

No one knows what the future will bring, but everything had happened just like what the old master said. I’m still enjoying the [Curse of the G.o.ddess of Darkness] even right now.

“……”

I don’t know whether the [Curse of the G.o.ddess of Darkness] can be solved in the [Country of Freedom] or not. I don’t know the reason why the G.o.ddess of Darkness had summoned me.

But right now, I had one fantasy in my mind.

This is a different world with RPG style. It’s also quite the crazy one with its own G.o.ds and unusual curse. Since that is the case already, isn’t it okay for this world to become even crazier? That’s the thought I had.

“……”

The grandpa is holding his fis.h.i.+ng rod while standing beside the river. He is smiling toward me and has a proud look in his face. That’s great, it seems he got a big catch today. I smiled toward him too while waving the draining basket in my hand. I like to see the smiles of my girlfriends, so the first thing I shall do is helping with today’s dinner. Girls love delicious food after all.

On the G.o.d of Light day, we arrived at the hot spring village. This place is famous for its medical hot spring and also the tourist resort. There are many building that is packed densely on this small area of flat ground in the mountain.

If you’re taking a 360 degree look at the surrounding, you’ll only see another mountain no matter which way you’re facing. From all of those mountains, there are four large ridges that are connected with this village. So if you look at it from above, the area of this village can be likened to the shape of a hand with its five fingers stretched open.

This village had many inns, and on top of that there are also public baths that were built separately. They have 6 in total, and if we use the hand a.n.a.logy from earlier, one is located at the center of the palm while the other 5 are located at the base of each fingers. They all can be used by both locals and tourists.

There’s a reason for why this place is famous for its public baths. The hot spring water in all of those 6 places is all different. It ranges from one which had brown color and smells of sulfur to one that is transparent and odorless. It’s quite mysterious.

In order to conquer these 6 kinds of hot springs, tourists need to not only go to the hot spring inside their inn, but also to the public bath outside. It’s quite the interesting system, and of course, we’re going to conquer all 6 too.

For that reason, we’re staying in this village for four days.

“Ah, Yuela”

I just finished warming my body in the hot spring and am climbing the stairs of my inn in a good mood, but then I found Yuela standing alone near the bottom of the stairs.

“Hn? Aah, did you just take a bath?”

Yuela looked backward at me and then made a slightly happy expression.

“You too Yuela?”

“Yes, I have nothing else to do”

It seems Yuela had just finished taking her bath. Her beautiful long black hair that is extended until her waist is moist right now.

“Which one did you go to?”

“I used the one with transparent water”

Using this village map a.n.a.logy, that one is located at the base of the middle finger. Even thought the water there is normal and transparent, I like how it turns my skin all smooth.

“What about you Yuela?”

“I went to the one with milky water. The one at little finger position”

Yuela is a girl after all. For some reason, girls always like milky hot spring. During these past few days, all of us had been spending our free time visiting the hot spring that we prefer like this.

“……It’s raining”

Yuela then turned her face toward a gla.s.s window and pressed both of her hands on it.

“……Yeah. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop at any time soon”

I stand beside Yuela and peered at the scenery outside. Even though it’s noon right now, the sky of the village is dim. The rain is pouring down quite heavily.

“Just a bit more and we can reach the capital”

Yuela muttered while sounding bored. This rain has been continuing for three days, we have been staying in this hot spring village since the G.o.d of Light day and it’s the G.o.d of Knowledge day right now.

“It’s the weather, so it can’t be helped Yuela”

“……That’s right”

I tried to comfort Yuela. Unlike normal travelers, we don’t continue our journey during rainy days. The reason is because Yuela wears kimono. We’ve been keeping this habit ever since there were only the two of us in the group.

I also don’t like getting wet by the rain, Kerebryl and Rachel also don’t seems to be dissatisfied with this arrangement, so the result is our current situation where we would rest on rainy days and resume travelling when the day is clear. It might sounds relaxed, but you can totally call this our pace.

“Yuela, let’s go to the dining room. We can drink some tea while chatting”

“Yes, that sounds nice. We can spend our time relaxing”

I invited Yuela for some tea and then she answered happily while still pressing her hands on the gla.s.s window.

“Hn……”

Before I noticed, my gaze had been fixed at Yuela

“Yuela, can you stay like that for a while”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Yuela sounds a bit confused, but she still smiled.

“……”

I’m watching Yuela who is standing straight from the side. Her big b.r.e.a.s.t.s and upward pointing a.s.s are forming a beautiful S shaped line underneath her attractive kimono. You can really tell how beautiful Yuela’s figure is from her current posture.

“Maybe it’s because of your swordsmans.h.i.+p Yuela, your standing figure is beautiful”

“……Is that so?”

Yuela’s cheeks are turning red, I keep on talking while looking at her as it is.

“I’m really glad I’m going out with Yuela”

“……”

I don’t like meek and bland girls. In that regard, Yuela is totally my type. Of course there are other reason too, stuff like her cute face, her beautiful black hair, her good personality, and her big b.r.e.a.s.t.s. But anyway, my point is that I love girls with lively behavior like Yuela. I feel strong attraction to such thing. Even Kerebryl and Rachel have a side like that on them.

“……I’m also happy to become your girlfriend”

I can’t hold myself back after hearing Yuela said that and embraced her tightly within my arms.

She’s looking at my face with her big tsurime eyes which is sparkling and moist.

“……If only today is the G.o.d of Darkness day”

“……Yeah”

Yuela pressed her cheek against my shoulder and told me that while sighing.

It’s really unfortunate. We’re cursed by the [Curse of the G.o.ddess of Darkness], so we can’t show our love to each other except on the G.o.d of Darkness day.

“Hey, let’s go?”

“Yeah Yuela”

It’s even more unfortunate when you take today’s rainy weather into account, we can only take a dip in the hot spring or chatting while having a cup of tea like this. Oh wait, there’s another form of entertainment too I guess.

“Fufu…… I’m glad I’m doing swordsmans.h.i.+p”

Yuela who is crossing her arm with me said so while smiling happily. The two of us then headed toward the dining room.

“AAh-…… You two, you’re linking your arms……”

As soon as I entered the dining room, Rachel spotted me and Yuela.

I’ve come to realize this recently. Surprisingly, Rachel had a jealous side to her.

“Fufun~…… Both of us have good compatibility after all. We finished our bath at the same time”

“Muu……”

While clinging on my arm, Yuela spoke to Rachel with a slightly proud face. It’s the same case with Yuela, she also likes to compete with Rachel like this.

“Customers, all of you always looks close”

From behind the counter in the dining room, the Ojii-san who manages this inn speak out to us.

This Ojii-san has no front teeth and he has a stupid-looking face.

“It’s just as you said owner”

I responded back to him. I called this Ojii-san Owner.

“Hihih…… I’m envious of you customers, all of you are so young. I can’t even get mine up anymore”

The owner is making a creepy laugh, creepy enough for me at least. He also likes to mention incomprehensible thing with that stupid face of his. Basically he’s an old man that acts just like how he looks.

“I can no longer go with a woman anymore. My only pleasure left in life is only gambling…… the other is waiting for you customer”

This owner’s hobby is gambling. The dining room of this inn is open to everyone and not just the guests. People can gamble with the owner in here, and there’s a special s.p.a.ce for it in the corner. I moved my gaze toward that spot.

“Kaoruu, you should come over here instead”

“How about you too, Yuela?”

It seems Rachel and Kerebryl were playing cards with the locals and tourists. Both of them called out to us.

“Yuela, what do you want to do?”

“Anything is fine by me”

It seems Yuela really doesn’t mind. As for me, I’m quite indifferent to gambling.

“Onii-san, I’ve been waiting. Shall we continue where we left off yesterday?”

A tall middle aged Ojii-san spoke to me. We played some card games yesterday and I wiped all the betting money in the table. It’s just small amount though.

“Yuela, is it fine?”

“I don’t mind”

After getting Yuela’s consent, I headed toward the corner of the dining room.

“Come on, take your seat Onii-san. I have to erase my shame from yesterday”

The middle aged Ojii-san pointed at the seat in the corner of the table and speak while smiling.

“Okay scholar”

This man is a local, I called him scholar. Even though he’s middle aged, he has long hair that reached his shoulder and gives off the impression of a scholar. I answered him back and then sat on the corner seat together with Yuela.

“……This is just the usual member isn’t it”

“……Yes, nothing has changed”

Me and Yuela gave our honest impression. For these past four days, this long table always had the same five members. I even remembered the face of these people.

“Kerebryl-san, I think you should keep that card in the left”

The first member is this scholar who is looking at Kerebryl’s card in her hand from the side. He’s scratching his uncomfortable looking hair and gave advice to Kerebryl even though it’s a bad manner to do so.

“You think so?”

“Ah-……”

Kerebryl ignored the scholar advice. I think she’s going to win at this rate. The scholar talked big, but he’s actually bad at cards.

“This rain is troublesome……”

The second member is an Ojii-san who muttered beside me. This person seems to have come from the capital of [Country of Industry] together with his son for sightseeing. Just like us, they didn’t feel like travelling on rainy day.

“Aah, what a trouble……”

Even though he kept saying that he’s in trouble, he doesn’t look that way at all. He has a friendly face, but his body is unexpectedly stout. I don’t know what his job is.

“Hehe…… Rachel-chan, I’m going to win this time”

The third member is his son who is fighting against Kerebryl. Since I don’t know their job, I called the father and son as it is. I think the son is about Rachel’s age.

“Uh, sure. Do your best I guess”

“Hehehe…… watch this”

It seems the son wants to show his good points to Rachel, but she is treating him coldly and pay him no mind.

“Dehehe……”

The fourth member is a big Ojii-san who is sitting next to Kerebryl with a slovenly face. He’s engaged in agriculture and his body is the largest among us, however his head doesn’t seem to be very good.

“Ossan, no matter how big Kerebryl’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s is, you shouldn’t stare at it so blatantly.

And the fifth member is this thin Ojii-san who had just warned that farmer Ossan. His body is really thin like a crane. Since he ran a beekeeping business, I called him the Beekeeper.

“……”

Me and Yuela are seated at the short side of the table. I looked around at all the members once again. Everyone have bashful looks in their face. It’s to be expected, all my girlfriends are cute after all.

On the right side of the long table which is closer to me, there’s the father, son, and Rachel, while on the left side, there are the scholar, Kerebryl, and the farmer. The beekeeper sat on the opposite shorter side of the table.

//TL Note : Scholar : Gakushsan, Father : Oyaji-san, Son : Musuko-san, Farmer : Noka no Ossan,

Beekeper : Hachiysan//

“Hihih…… Everyone, want to drink?”

The owner came out from the counter and asked for everyone’s order.

“I want wine”

“Me too”

“I’ll take something strong”

“……I’ll have the same one with Yuela”

The girls ordered their drink one after another. I’m a bit lost, but decided to order the same thing with Yuela. The other members also ordered their favorite drink.

“That’s rare owner, isn’t alcohol banned during gambling?”

It seems the owner had such principle, so he never took an order during our gambling.

“It seems the rain will stop tonight. You will head to the capital when the day is clear don’t you customers? Today is special then”

The owner answered while being talkative.

“The rain is going to stop tonight?”

“Yes, there’s no doubt. I know this well”

“I concur Onii-chan. Weather is the partner of our business”

When I voiced my doubt, the Farmer and beekeeper answered with plenty of confidence. I wonder if that’s true.

“Ojii-san, all of you don’t seem to be working at all. How do you know?”

“It’s from experience, Rachel-chan. We’re the locals after all”

Rachel then asked the hard-to-say-question straightforwardly, however the beekeeper’s confident smile doesn’t waver.

“Don’t you guys have works to do even when it’s raining?”

Kerebryl asked with a pondering look on her face. That’s what I thought too actually. Shouldn’t a farmer and beekeeper have lots of stuff to do when it’s raining instead?

“All of us are good. Our wife are managing an inn, we don’t really need to go out of our way to work”

“It’s just as he said. We got a good wife, I’m really happy for that”

This farmer and beekeeper are awful. They’re useless husbands.

“Hmm……Ojii-san, you guys are the worst”

“Hihih…… You can’t be more correct”

Rachel told those guys off, and then the owner appeared while laughing creepily.

“Hihihihih……”

“……”

He’s laughing even more. I sensed a premonition of something.

“I’m fine with this hand”

“……Well then”

We’re playing poker. This is a different world with RPG style, but normal trump cards like this exist and knowledge of a game like poker is well spread too. Truly a mysterious world isn’t it.

“Two pairs”

The scholar shows his hand.

“Three cards”

“Aaah……”

And then I won. I’m not strong or something, it’s just that this scholar is unusually weak. He’s the type who loves something while being very bad at it.

“……Here you go”

The scholar gave me a coin. We’re playing an easy game with around 100 yet bet, it doesn’t have something like a thrill.

“You’re weak”

“……I’m just not doing well today”

The scholar answered Yuela quietly. Yuela is relaxing while drinking her alcohol.

“Yuela, fight me. Let’s decide which one of us is the best”

Rachel provoked Yuela to a fight. I wonder what does she even meant by the best.

“Fufu…… Sure, Rachel”

“Now we’re talking, you, go swap place with Yuela”

“Eeh……”

Yuela smiled daringly and accepted the fight. Rachel tell the son to give his seat to Yuela, and then he reluctantly stand up.

“Oi Kaoru, compete with me”

The son who sat next to me then issued a challenge.

“I don’t want to. It doesn’t sound interesting”

“Eeh……?”

I refused him. I’m not thrilled enough, and it’s not as if I like gambling that much.

“……Well, forget it then. Rather than that Kaoru, you’re going out with Yuelsan right?”

“That’s right”

The son had serious look in his face now, so I answered him normally.

“……”

I took a peek at Rachel, she’s staring at the card in her hands with a serious look.

She’s dressed in one piece dress with border pattern in white and light yellow color today.

It looks luxurious as usual.

“……”

Then I glanced at Kerebryl next. She wears a white one piece on top of her brown skin as usual. It’s an attractive one with open chest design where you can see cleavage of her big b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

“Then it’s fine for me to aim for Rachel-chan right?”

“No. Rachel and Kerebryl, the three of them are my girlfriends”

The son asked me a foolish thing. Of course I taught him about the cruel reality.

“Eeeeh, what the heck, how come……”

Noisy. The son just gave a loud yell.

“Oi, be quiet”

“……Sorry”

The father rebuked his son. he doesn’t seem like he can stand up to his father.

“Ufufu……. That’s the truth. All of us are going out with him. It’s like a harem right”

Kerebryl is smiling mischievously and explained it to the son.

I drink my bitter alcohol in single gulp. Harem, is it.

“By the way, Kaoru number one is me obviously”

“As if. It’s decided that it’s me”

“……”

With the confidence of a beautiful girl, Rachel said that bluntly. Yuela then disputed Rachel while giving her a m.u.f.fled look. Meanwhile, I’m staying silent. This is a dangerous topic.

“Tch…… How do you even get this popular anyway?”

“……I have my own individuality, and also a special skill”

It’s a difficult question to answer. I want to say that the quality of our face is on a different level, but I refrained. It’s not good to talk about someone’s appearance after all. Besides that, I’m also someone who came from a different world, can use a gun, and also special in many other ways.

“Your and Kaoru’s face are totally different. Kaoru is cool, kind, and he’s very strong too”

“Eeh……”

But then with a cruelty belonged only to a beautiful girl, Rachel said that to him flatly. The son, who just got told something like that by the girl he likes, looks like he’s going to cry. A cute girl will always be forgiven no matter what she says, it can’t be helped.

“If it’s a special skill, I also have one”

The scholar then scooped his hair and joined the conversation forcibly.

“My specialty is giving a speech. I won a contest in the capital once, giving an unique speech isn’t hard for someone with special tongue like me”

He said that proudly without anyone asking him. I don’t know about the scale of the event, but I think winning a contest is really amazing. I guess scholar isn’t just his nickname, he’s a genuine one.

“Here, look at this”

The scholar then let out his tongue after saying that. His tongue is very long and can stretch upward until he can lick his nose.

“……That’s an amazing feat scholar. I’m sure you can even enter human circus”

“……Thanks for that I guess”

The scholar has a delicate look after hearing my compliment. I think he get that I was half joking.

“Hihih…… You guys don’t look enthusiastic”

Before I noticed, the owner had come near.

“Customers, if you have gotten tired of playing cards, how about trying a popular gambling in this village?”

“Hmm…… What kind of game is it?”

The owner invited us to another gambling. Rachel then asked him innocently abotu the content of the game. She’s an honest child isn’t she.

“What’s the money’s rate?”

I asked the owner the most important thing. He had let us drunk some alcohol today, I think there’s something strange with that. Perhaps he had a plan to make us lose all our betting money.

Besides that, I have a hard time trusting someone without front teeth. A face is not something that can only be seen by yourself, but everyone else too. That’s why I can’t trust a person who can’t even take care of their face.

“Can we not use money this time? My pocket feels a little lonely since yesterday”

The scholar then interrupted from the side.

“Hihih…… Then how about the loser must go through a punishment game? Gambling is not fun unless there’s something at stake”

“Ooh, that sounds nice. It’s more wholesome too”

“I’m fine with that too. But still, a punishment game huh. I definitely don’t want that. I guess I have to get serious now”

The owner suggested that we do a punishment game instead of betting money, and then the farmer and beekeeper immediately agreed. The conversation is proceeding smoothly as if they had rehea.r.s.ed it beforehand.

“……”

It seems they’re not plotting for our money. So my premonition from before was right.

“That game huh. My arms are getting itchy”

The father is cracking his arms. It seems the owner and the other members are skillful at it.

“Hmm…… All of them seem to know it. I wonder if I should try it too”

Rachel then muttered innocently. This girl is a really good girl. She has a good head on her shoulder, but how come she’s this gullible.

“What’s the content of the punishment game?”

Just to make sure, I asked them that.

“Hihih…… How about we decide during the gamble?”

And the owner postponed the contents of the penalty game. There’s no mistake I guess.

“……”

“……”

It seems Yuela and Kerebryl had caught on to it already. They must have a guess of what the content of the punishment game will be. Their cheeks are red, and they’re staring silently at Rachel.

“Everyone is fine with joining right?”

The scholar asked while looking at Yuela and Kerebryl.

“……I’m fine with either”

“If he’s fine with it……”

Both of them answered while looking at me embarra.s.sedly.

“……Is it fine?”

The scholar then looked at the expression in my face and asked. My answer had been decided from the beginning.

“Hihih…… The rule is easy. I’m going to shake 3 dices in a bowl so that no one can see it, and then we’re going bet on the total number shown on the dices”

The owner sat next to the beekeeper and started to explain the game while holding 3 six-sided dice in his palm.

“Since we have many beginners this time, I’ll make the rule simple, 1 to 9 is small, 10 to 18 is big. That’s it”

//TL Note : Author calculated the small and big amount wrongly here//

I know a game similar to this one. It’s popular on the other side of the continent in the world I was born from.

“I will hand three tokens to all of you. If you guessed wrongly, you’ll lose one token, if you guessed correctly, you’ll obtain one token. The number of round shall be, let’s see…… how about 10 rounds?”

The owner is speaking while grinning. It seems he can make all of us lose in 10 rounds.

“Anyway, let’s start first”

The owner placed the three dices inside a bowl, shook it, and placed it upside down on the table. I place my bet on big.

“2, 3, 4. It’s small”

My choice is wrong, I lost one token. Yuela, Rachel, and the farmer is wrong too.

“I lost one token……”

The farmer is scratching his head, but he doesn’t look all that disappointed.

“Looks like everyone understood how to do this, let’s start the next round”

The owner rolled the dice again. I place my bet on big again.

“4, 5, 6. It’s big”

My guess is correct this time. The one who guessed it wrong are Rachel, Kerebryl, and the beekeeper. I think I understand now.

“Why did I choose that……”

The beekeeper snapped his finger and spoke regretfully. He looks like he’s acting though.

“Hihih…… What should we do about the penalty game?”

“I have a proposal”

The scholar then responded to the owner’s question in a hurry.

“As reward for winning, how about the winner decides the content of the punishment game?”

“Hihihih…… is that fine?”

All the members nodded together. They’re easy to understand people.

“By the way, this Village had a hidden hot spring right?”

“How do you know that Oyaji-san, it should be a secret known only by the locals”

The father and beekeeper purposely started a conversation.

“It’s fine Beekeeper. You’re correct, there’s a 7th public bath that is only known by the locals”

“Hoo……”

The farmer interrupted beekeeper and told us about the village’s secret.

“We call that place as the [Slippery Hot Spring]”

“Now that sounds like an unusual hot spring……”

The scholars also joined the conversation. I already understood everything now.

“I’m going to start the next round”

The owner rolled the dice again. I place my bet on small naturally.

“1, 3, 4. It’s small”

And of course, I’m correct. They’re using an easy sign. If the owner start his sentence with vowel, then it’s going to be small, if he starts with consonant, it’s big. This whole thing is fraud.

//TL Note : Lost in translation. The original used hiragana “Ss.h.i.+-su-se-so” for small and “Tchi-tsu-te-to” for big//

“Hihihih…… Customer, you’re lucky aren’t you”

The owner’s laugh is still creepy as usual.

“I am. My luck is good”

The owner’s face twitched when he heard my words.

“Aaah~, I lost”

Rachel muttered while sounding fed up. This girl is smart, but her life experience is overwhelmingly lacking.

“……Hmph”

“What about the penalty game?”

Both Yuela and Kerebryl lost too. The one who lose in this game are only my girlfriends.

“Let’s see…… How about the winner got their body washed in hot spring as reward”

“That’s a good idea scholar”

“I agree with that”

The locals are proceeding with the topic one-sidedly and without asking for permission.

“Eeh…… That’s kind of……”

Rachel sounds troubled. She stood up from her seat and turned her eyes toward me.

“Kaoru……”

“It’s fine Rachel, I’m going to be there too. You can hide your body with towel”

I stood up from my seat too and approached Rachel. I tried to relieve Rachel by hugging her.

“Yeah….. I’m still worried, but if you’re with me……”

Rachel seems uneasy, but she still nodded. I’m sorry Rachel.

“Dad,  I can come too right?”

“It’s too early for you, wait here”

“No way…… I’m already an adult”

Before I noticed, the son is discussing something with the father. The son has a face that looks like he’s going to cry.

“Oyaji-san, I feel sorry for your son”

“That’s right, everyone should get along”

The beekeeper and farmer are sending a help to the son.

“……Well, that might be so. You, make sure to listen to what everyone says okay?”

“Yes!”

After the father gave his permission, the son is yelling with joy.

“Yuelsan and Kerebryl-san, you’re fine with it right?”

The scholar then persistently confirmed it again with Yuela and Kerebryl.

“……What day is it today?”

And Yuela said the usual words.

“Today is the G.o.d of Knowledge day”

“If it’s the G.o.d of Knowledge day then, it can’t be helped……”

And Kerebryl, like usual, are saying that it can’t be helped. These words are like a ritual for those two to convince themselves.

“That’s right. It’s punishment game, so it can’t be helped……”

Both Yuela and Kerebryl’s face are flushed. And so just like this, all of us will head toward the hot spring.

“Oh, that’s right. Owner”

Before leaving the dining room, I called the owner so that I won’t forget.

“Hihih……. What’s wrong customer?”

The owner is sitting inside the counter. I guess he won’t go to the hot spring as expected. This person seems to be more “yellow” rather than “pink”.

“I know an interesting gamble myself. If tomorrow’s weather is sunny, how about gambling with me in place of saying farewell?”

“Ooh, that sounds nice. A gambling is perfect for farewell”

As expected, this owner who loves gambling is hooked to my words.

“How about everyone else?”

I asked the other five members.

“That sounds good”

“……Okay. It’s a promise then”

The scholar responded on behalf while the remaining members are nodding.

“The name of the game is Russian roulette. I’m sure you guys will find it thrilling”

And I said so while smiling thinly.

It’s still raining outside, but before I know it, the rain had become a gentle shower.

“I’m coming inside as well”

“Muuu……”

Kerebryl came under my umbrella and stick her body closely to me. Kerebryl is always aggressive, meanwhile Rachel is groaning in frustration.

“Where are we going?”

“Since it’s a rare occasion, we shall visit the hidden hot spring. It will be fine if you guys are with us”

The scholar answered Yuela’s question. It seems we’re going to visit the [Slippery Hot Spring].

“I wonder what kind of hot spring it is”

Kerebryl asked with a pondering tone.

“I think I have an idea”

I smiled for a bit and answered Kerebryl while looking at her beautiful face. Because our eyes are the same height, talking to Kerebryl is very easy.

“Ara, you’re familiar with slippery hot spring?”

“Of course Kerebryl”

Kerebryl is smiling mischievously. Of course I know about it Kerebryl, the soapland onee-san in my previous world had taught me a lot about it. I’m going to tell you about it someday.

//TL Note : The word used for slippery hot spring is “nuru nuru”, it’s onomatopoeic words and isn’t that literal if you compare it to the English equivalent//

“Oi Kaoru”

While climbing a narrow slope, the son came up to me. He’s quite the nuisance.

“What is your specialty?”

The son asked so while looking at my arm which is encircled around Kerebryl’s waist. It seems he want to know about my special skill so that he can use it as reference to be popular with girls. I think it will be in vain though.

“Hunting, and killing people”

“Nonsense, you’re kidding right?”

“……”

Kerebryl nodded normally after hearing my answer, but the son thinks that I’m exaggerating.

“There’s a reason behind it, but I’ve killed seven people so far. I think there are few people that can win against me in battle”

“……”

All the members were silenced. I think I went too far.

All of us walked the slope with only the sound of gentle rain around us.

“……This place is the [Slippery Hot Spring]”

The place where the members took us is located at the tip of the middle finger if we use the village map a.n.a.logy. I can see a small building that looks like a cabin in front of me……