Chapter 537 – The Sea Dwellers and the Hot Springs

“This is truly excellent water quality. It’s rich in magical power, and my fatigue is melting away.”

“Rather than just relieving fatigue, I feel as if my very energy is being replenished.”

So said Weltes and Eckels as they soaked in the Fire Spirit Hot Spring, voices tinged with admiration for the spring’s quality.

I had been worried they might dislike warm water, but as it turned out, far from disliking it, they seemed rather compatible. They sat quietly with their eyes closed, looking quite content.

“Hmm. If this is how it is, I imagine Queen Eldorene and the others are enjoying it as well?”

Seeing this, King Melvin broke into a smile.

“That would make me very happy.”

I replied to King Melvin with a smile of my own, drawing hot water into a bucket I had brought to the edge of the bath. As I did, a Flower Fairy came over to the bucket, dipped itself in, and looked utterly content.

For the Flower Fairies, the main bath is too deep. So, this is how we do it—drawing water into a bucket to serve as their bathtub.

Seraphina sometimes bathes this way too. So, I imagine a similar scene is unfolding in the women’s bath.

The Flower Fairies have water-breathing magic cast on them, so they shouldn’t drown in the hot spring. Although, fairies are beings closer to spirits, so it’s questionable whether their breathing and other life functions are the same as ordinary creatures. Well… it’s just a precaution.

“It’s become quite lively, hasn’t it?”

“I don’t mind this sort of thing, actually.”

So said Prince Helfried and Prince Josiah, but they seemed to be enjoying the current situation, drawing water into buckets for the fairies and replacing the water in buckets that had cooled down. Both of them are quite good at looking after others, you could say.

“Thanks, that helps.”

Elliot, having had the fairies rinse the shampoo from his hair, was thanking them.

The princes also had the fairies pour water over them from buckets when they washed their hair and bodies earlier. So, this is probably a bit of payback.

As for the Dwarves… some were under the waterfall shower, others were going back and forth between the cold plunge and the sauna. Well, that’s business as usual around here. In the jacuzzi-style bath, Pietro was relaxing… the men’s bath had a leisurely atmosphere.

“Hmm. A steam bath, is it?”

“Shall we give it a try?”

“Indeed. After that, perhaps the waterfall shower or the bubble bath?”

The facilities had already been explained. Weltes and the others seemed interested in the sauna and headed in together.

“Hmm. I don’t think they’ll try to compete or anything…”

Seeing this, Albert tilted his head.

“Well, I told them it’s not about testing one’s endurance.”

I also told them to come out immediately if it didn’t agree with them, and the Dwarves with them know how to use the sauna and the precautions, so I think it’s fine… but I’ll check on them later just in case.

After soaking for a while longer, I left the bath. For now, there was none of the competitive rivalry I had worried about. Going back and forth between the cold plunge and the sauna, Weltes and the others, along with the Dwarves, seemed to be enjoying the sauna in a perfectly proper manner.

“My, my, you lot are quite good conversationalists.”

“Hmm. I never thought I, too, would find myself conversing so well with land-dwellers like this.”

…It seems they’ve hit it off with the Dwarves… Well, they are straightforward in character. Their personalities probably mesh well with Dwarves.

“How are the three of you finding the steam bath? Are you feeling unwell at all?”

“Ah, Theodore-dono. Thanks to you, we are relaxing quite well.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Not at all. We’re with them, so no need to worry.”

So saying, Weltes and the others bowed slightly, and the Dwarf laughed heartily.

“Understood. I’ll leave it to you, then.”

Hmm. Their physical condition seems fine. If I leave Balor here just in case, it should be okay to leave the men’s bath.

Leaving the men’s bath, I headed to check the status of the facilities. This part is also routine.

The staff performs regular inspections, but it involves magic tools. If Caduceus and I split the work, we can finish quickly, so it’s best to get it done promptly.

So, stepping out from the men’s bath into the common area—I saw Queen Eldorene, Rovisa, and Marion sliding down the water slide and landing in the pool at the bottom.

“Ah. This is splendid.”

So said Queen Eldorene, surfacing from the water, pushing back her hair with a delighted laugh.

“The boys in Grantios do something similar using slopes… but in the sea, you can’t build up speed like this, right?”

“Indeed. It seems impossible without air, and this is something unique to this place.”

Rovisa and Marion also laughed happily together. Behind them, Princess Stephania, Princess Adriana, Princess Elham… and Tephra came sliding down.

I see. Princess Stephania and the others, or perhaps Tephra, must have shown them around.

Hmm… If the folks from Grantios are enjoying the slide with such a fresh sense of fun, maybe it would be good to build one on Moonlight Island too. Near the inlet, there seems to be space to build one. I’ll have it constructed the next time I visit the island.

“Ah, Theodore-dono. We are being well entertained.”

Queen Eldorene, noticing me, greeted me.

“That is most gratifying to hear.”

“Hehe. This hot spring is wonderful. It feels as if the water is enhancing my strength.”

“Ah. Sir Weltes and the others said the same.”

When I answered Rovisa, she broke into a smile and nodded.

“Theodore, are you doing inspections?”

“That’s right. That part is, shall we say, as usual.”

At Princess Stephania’s words, I looked towards the Lazy River Pool… and saw the animal group—Corulis, Belius, Alpha, Lavigne, Flamia—with Flower Fairies on their backs, circling around and around. The Flower Fairies were overjoyed. Ramriya is on Corulis’s head too.

…Yeah. It’s a surreal sight, but for now, let me finish the work.

“Well then, perhaps we should go to the swimming area over there in a little while. We’re usually at the palace, so we don’t get many chances to swim to our heart’s content.”

“Yes. See you later then.”

And so, I proceeded with the inspection around the Lazy River Pool.

Diving underwater, I checked around the drainage outlets. Having finished most of the work and about to close the cover… suddenly, I sensed a presence and turned around.

There were Marlene and Sheila. Meeting their gaze underwater, Marlene smiled a little disappointedly and exchanged a look with Sheila, who closed her eyes and nodded as if understanding.

Hmm. They might have been planning to surprise me just as I finished the work. Surfacing, Sheila said:

“As expected. We were even careful about Caduceus’s movements.”

“Ah… I sort of sensed it through magical power, you could say.”

So saying, I lightly stroked Marlene’s hair, and she gave me a beaming, carefree smile.

Caduceus was working on the opposite side of the pool, but in my case, I’ve made a habit of spreading a bit of magical power around my body. If something enters the detection range, I can sense it.

“We usually go to the rest area first, so we thought we’d come here today.”

“Theodore-sama always finishes bathing and starts inspections early, so we wondered if there was anything we could help with, and all came out a bit earlier.”

After a short pause, Grace and the others arrived as well. The fact that everyone is together suggests they were all watching the outcome of Marlene and Sheila’s prank.

Ah, yeah. The bath robes for the Fire Spirit Hot Spring aren’t that revealing… but shoulders and thighs are somewhat exposed, so with everyone gathered like this, it’s a bit harder to know where to look compared to usual. The modest exposure gives it a rather healthy feel, though…

“That’s right. If you’re not done yet, we can help.”

“Was it magic tool inspections?”

Claudia and Rosemary offered, but…

“No, with that, the work is finished too… Right. How about we swim and play a bit until dinner?”

“Yes.”

I thought that once everyone is in the water, they might feel a bit more at ease. At my words, Grace nodded with a gentle smile.