Volume Three, Epilogue
In the midst of what had become quite the feast, we discussed various details—like how parties bringing food to the princess dragon would need a representative wearing an amulet from Mr. Rayer for identification, and how they should always be prepared to make hot spring eggs… After all, keeping Millie well-fed would probably keep her docile, right?
Ordered to visit occasionally, we descended the mountain, only to be met with an overwhelming storm of tasks on the human side.
Notifying the guild, counseling the confused Guildmaster, arranging restaurant rotations for menu submissions, selecting adventurers to deliver meals, submitting related paperwork, handling the amulet transfer procedures, meeting with various parties involved, etc…
What was originally planned as a one-night stay before departing for the royal capital turned into about a week-long delay by my calculations.
…But today, finally, by evening, all those procedures were complete…
“Ahhhhh… I feel like all my energy just drained away…!”
“Mm. Rin, you worked hard…!”
As I soak in the hot spring nestled among the exposed rocky terrain, a completely melted sigh escapes my lips. Sitting on the tub’s edge beside me, Ms. Aria gently pats my head in a comforting gesture.
That’s right! Thanks to the kindness of Melnoa’s Guildmaster, Ms. Aegis, we got exclusive access to a hot spring reserved for adventurers!
At last! A proper hot spring!
…That said, I should clarify that both Ms. Aria and I are wearing swimsuit-like attire. It’s not a full-on naked bonding experience… Because… men are relaxing nearby, some soaking in the water, others sitting on the rocks.
You see, this hot spring is mixed-bathing. The temperature is a bit lukewarm, and if you ask me, it feels more like a warm swimming pool than a proper "hot spring.”
Gomamiso refused to join us, apparently disliking the sensation of getting wet. It seems to prefer lounging on the geothermally heated rocks outside. Well, I suppose that’s kind of like stone spa therapy in its own way.
“Who would have thought we’d be held up so long by all the paperwork…”
“Oh come on, it’s fine! We got a hefty reward, and we also got the spring salt we came for in the first place.”
“Speaking of which, I heard you received a knife as a gift, Rin?”
As Mr. Ville, submerged up to his shoulders in the water, cracks his neck, Mr. Ed’s feet splash water from where he sits next to Ms. Aria.
Mr. Xenon blocks it with something like a magical barrier and looks my way, and I give him a small nod in return.
“I did! They say it’s a masterpiece of a skilled dwarven craftsman.”
As part of our reward… The Guildmaster introduced me to a shop where I received this knife as a gift. When the shop owner and master craftsman learned that I already had regular chef’s knives, he recommended this meat cleaver, saying "It’ll cut right through bone!”
The meat cleaver, with its characteristic thick blade—sometimes called a meat chopper or butcher’s knife—might be better described as a hatchet than a knife. It’s quite heavy, but when you grip the handle, that weight feels just right… the balance is excellent, making it seem very practical!
Well, when equipped with it, I probably look like "Which B-grade horror movie did this killer escape from?"… But if this means I can handle any size of meat that drops, then it’s not really a problem!
As I ponder which type of meat I should chop first, Mr. Ville, who seems to have regained some energy, sits up from the rock he has been leaning against.
“Still, she really took a liking to you, Rin.”
“Lady Meel must have been quite the gourmand.”
Mr. Ville’s gaze is directed at my head… or rather, at my hairpin. Until recently it was just a plain dragonfly bead hairpin, but a few days ago, a white scale was added, dangling and swaying at its tip.
The princess dragon threa… I mean, gave it to me along with the warning that "Thou must show thy face when nearby, or else…”
“At this rate, we’ll probably need to pay her a visit on our way back from the royal capital too, or she might get upset.”
“…Why do I have this feeling… that once we reach the royal capital, something else is bound to happen…”
Mr. Ville’s muttered words cause everyone to fall silent.
Honestly… I understand the feeling… If anything, I sometimes think that way too…!
“In any case, let’s rest well today… and think about the details tomorrow…!”
Mr. Ville sighs as he speaks these words, then sinks back into the hot spring with a splash.
Taking that as a cue, Ms. Aria, who has been sitting on the edge, also gets into the water. I too decide to sink shoulder-deep into the lukewarm spring.
The comfortable temperature enveloping my body, the moderate water pressure, and the somewhat viscous water that seems to seep into you…
I can feel my tense mind and body starting to relax.
Once again, someone splashes the water.
Just as Mr. Ville had said, our adventures are far from over. With that in mind, I figure I should make the most of this break—maybe find something like a fruit au lait once I got out of the bath.
Tomorrow, another adventure journey awaits our party.
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