Chapter 253
"Fuu..."
"This hot water feels so good, Mr. Clael..."
They enjoyed skiing, and once night fell, they soaked in the hot springs.
The open-air bath at the hotel was spacious and filled with cloudy white water.
White snow was falling from the sky. It wasn't heavy, but rather helped highlight the comfort of the hot water and added charm to the snowy mountain view from the spring.
In that hot spring were Clael and Yurii.
Reina and her three friends were not present. It was the n's bath, after all.
"Indeed. I thought it might be cold to bathe outside in the snow, but it's surprisingly pleasant."
"Yes, it feels amazing... Thank you for inviting ."
"No... I was invited too, after all."
As he spoke, Clael gently turned his gaze toward Yurii.
Since they were bathing, it was only natural that Yurii was naked. Of course, so was Clael.
Yurii, with her pale pink skin in the water, stretching her slender limbs, looked incredibly alluring. If soone took a picture of this scene and put it in a travel magazine, this hotel would surely beco wildly popular.
(But he's a guy... Not that it really matters, though.)
Clael gave a bitter smile.
When the two had entered the open-air bath, there were other guests present, but upon seeing Yurii, they scread and ran away.
Even though it had been explained that she—no, he—was a man, they still couldn't handle it.
A staff mber ca over and it caused a bit of a commotion, but they finally managed to bathe in peace.
(Hot springs in a world with a dieval European setting... I thought it was odd, but even foreign countries have hot springs. Ancient Ro had them, so it's not that strange.)
"Ah, Mr. Clael. Over there, it says what the hot spring is good for. Shoulder stiffness and lower back pain... and it's also good for your skin. Smooth as silk!"
"That doesn't really matter to n... well, I guess that's a biased way of thinking."
There's even a term like 'beauty-conscious n.' It's perfectly fine for n to care about their appearance too.
"Mr. Clael, are you there?"
"Reina?"
A voice ca from the other side of the nearby wall. It was Reina's voice.
Apparently, the other side of the wall was the won's bath. Besides Reina, her friends' voices could also be heard.
"Wow, the water's white!"
"It's cold outside, but... ah, it's hot!"
"Everyone, rinse off your bodies first. That's basic manners."
"............"
The lively chatter of the girls echoed through.
Feeling vaguely awkward, Clael fell silent.
"How is it over there? Mr. Clael?"
"It feels great. Winter really is the perfect season for hot springs."
"Yes. Still... how does such warm water co from underground? Could it be the blessing of the goddess?"
"No, I don't think hot springs have anything to do with the goddess."
In response to Reina's voice through the wall, Clael offered an explanation.
"Hot springs are hot because magma flows underground—basically rivers of fire that heat underground water, which then gushes up to the surface. That said, the goddess is the one who created the laws of this world. So in that sense, it is her divine work."
"Ah, as expected of Mr. Clael. You're so knowledgeable."
"Really? I didn't know that either."
Hearing Clael's explanation, not only Reina but also Yurii voiced their admiration.
"Huh? Mr. Yurii, why are you in the n's bath?"
The one who asked the question was ili, one of Reina's friends.
"Why, you ask... I'm a man, so of course I'd be here."
"Ah, that's right."
"I just don't think of Mr. Yurii as a man. Since you weren't in the won's bath, I was wondering where you were."
Sharon and Vanessa also chid in with relaxed tones.
But... amidst that, Reina's tone dropped a level.
"Ah... that's right. Mr. Yurii is bathing with Mr. Clael..."
"Reina?"
"It's not fair... I haven't been able to bathe with him recently..."
Muffled grumbling could be heard.
It was true that up until a while ago, Clael and Reina used to bathe together.
But ever since Reina enrolled at the academy, that had stopped.
"Uh..."
"It's not fair... It's not fair..."
"L-Lady Reina?"
"Mr. Yurii is a man, you know."
"Easy now, please calm down. You can't go sprouting wings or anything!"
"What are you planning to do with that spear that looks like it governs sothing!? No breaking the wall!"
"A bear, a cat, a dog, a fox... huh!? What's with that plushie of a bird with such a lancholic face!?"
"Wait... what is even happening?"
Disturbing voices echoed from the won's bath... but it seed her friends managed to calm her down, and Reina didn't end up breaking through the wall.
Clael, though nervous, was able to enjoy the hot spring.
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