Chapter 46

Delur is famous as a tourist destination that utilizes hot springs, with various unique hot spring facilities scattered throughout the town. Some even have water slides for children and large baths that generate water currents. I thought to myself that it might have been fun to come here as a child and play.

All the facilities provide bathrobes for bathing, but there are a few people who wear their own swimsuits. They must be regulars who come to the hot springs often. From the lobby of the hotel where we are staying, I could see many people enjoying drinks while soaking in the outdoor hot springs. As I had read in books, the baths are mixed-gender, but bathrobes are provided.

Actually experiencing it, it feels very... open, and I was a bit surprised. In Lindemen, there are public baths for ordinary citizens, but they are strictly separated by gender and do not provide bathrobes. In my family, each bedroom had its own bathroom, so I never had the habit of bathing with someone else.

Anna used the servants' bath, but she was moved, saying, "I've never seen such a large bath before."

"This room where I and Lady Reina will stay has a private hot spring... It's a very nice room."

"A private hot spring? That's... quite luxurious."

"Yes, it's not something that can be easily transported from far away."

After a short rest in the room, Anna and I looked at the hotel's map and checked out the facilities one by one. There are even spas and massage services. I thought it would be nice to give Anna and Fred a spa or massage as a gift since they always take care of me.

"I feel a bit hesitant about the mixed-gender baths, even with bathrobes... How about the women's-only bath?"

"Sure, I prefer that too. Wow... there's even a beauty bath... They say it's infused with herbs. I wonder what they use. It sounds interesting."

As we spent this pleasant, albeit trivial, time, the staff announced it was time for dinner, and we laughed together, saying, "It's already this late."

"There are so many baths, it might be hard to try them all during our stay."

"Yes, this is the largest facility in town."

I learned during dinner that Fred's room doesn't have a private hot spring. I wondered why it was different from ours, and he explained, "Rooms with private hot springs are for two or more people. They're probably for families to enjoy together." Indeed, it would take a real hot spring enthusiast to come alone. Since the hot springs are the main attraction, there's no demand for luxurious rooms with private hot springs.

"I was planning to try the large baths anyway, so it would have been a waste not to use them."

"Yes, Lady Reina and I will enjoy the unique hot springs here together."

We talked about our travel plans while enjoying Delur's specialty dishes, which use fruits. I had tried chicken with orange sauce before, but the other meat and fruit combinations were surprisingly delicious. The meat was surprisingly sweet, but the strong, sour maguey sauce and honey complemented the salty meat well.

"Lady Reina, you ate a lot more than usual."

"I guess I was more excited than usual, so the food went down well."

"Indeed, this sweet and salty flavor is quite addictive."

Although it was a new taste, it was stimulating, and all three of us really enjoyed Delur's cuisine.

"I'd like to get a recipe book and the spices needed to recreate these dishes."

"Really? I... I love Anna's cooking, so I'm looking forward to having her make them when we get back."

"Lady Reina, what a wonderful thing to say! I'll have to do my best!"

In the morning, I planned to search for minerals in the market of the craftsmen's district, but we also decided to look for a book with recipes and the spices used in Delur's cuisine. However, even as we enjoyed this time, I couldn't help but think about the incident at the guild during the day, and it left a lingering feeling in my chest.

I was just an onlooker, but I couldn't help but wonder if I could have done something if I had gotten involved. It's presumptuous of me to think that way. "I'm so happy," and yet, I felt a sense of guilt.

"...I'm really looking forward to it."

I said the words from the heart but avoided looking at him.

"Phew... I feel a bit overheated..."

After a long soak, which I don't usually do, my head felt as if it had boiled, and I was dazed. There were various baths made using the hot springs, and I couldn't help but try them all.

Anna was still energetic, but I had reached my limit and decided to return to the room first. It took me a long time just to change out of the bathrobe and into my clothes.

I need to dry my hair properly when I get back to the room.

"Huh... Mr. Fred?"

"Hey, Reina, good evening."

I looked in the direction where the women were glancing with interest and saw Fred sitting on a bench, half-slumped. He had just come out of the hot spring, and water droplets were dripping from his hair. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and he looked incredibly... sexy. Even though there were many half-naked men wandering around the adventurer's guild, seeing Fred like this made me feel as if I had seen something I shouldn't... my heart raced.

"Good evening... are you drinking?"

"There's a service where you can drink while soaking in the hot spring, and I ended up... you know..."

The mixed-gender baths had more entertainment options than the women's-only baths. Fred said he had been playing a game on a tile-made board at the edge of the bath with other male guests and, following the local rule of "drink a cup if you lose," he ended up in this state. He had been drinking during dinner, but I had never seen Fred so drunk. His face was bright red.

"No, I was winning... I was winning... I think I had the upper hand."

"You seem to have had a lot to drink... to the point where you can't walk..."

"No, not that much... not that much... just a little."

"The alcohol seems to have hit you harder because you were drinking while soaking in the hot spring. Should I bring you some cold water?"

"...Please..."

He had been winning the game but had to leave the bath because he felt overheated. He tried to justify it by saying, "I would have won if I wasn't in the hot spring." His usual composed and mature demeanor was gone, and I couldn't help but laugh. It was interesting to learn that there were tile and stone versions of the board and pieces for use in the water.

He had left the bath before completely overheating, but the alcohol had hit him hard before he could get back to the room. He had even broken out in a sweat. I decided to bring him not just water but also a citrus juice with a bit of salt, as it is a traditional local drink to have after a hot spring.

"Ugh... thank you..."

"?! Mr. Fred, you're spilling!"

"Mm, it's okay, it's okay."

"It's not okay, I'll wipe it up."

I handed him a glass of water, and he started drinking, spilling a fair amount from the corner of his mouth. I quickly wiped his face with a towel I had been holding. ...It was my towel, but the situation called for it.

Usually, I rely on him, but now he was so out of it that he couldn't even take care of himself. Seeing him like this made my heart race.

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I hope this translation captures the essence and nuances of the original text. If you need any further adjustments or have any specific preferences, please let me know!