After we finished managing the Miasma Land, we returned to the management hut using Space Magic and walked straight through to the backyard. A covered walkway stretched out from the exit, leading to a newly constructed building at its end. A magnificent tiled roof sat atop the structure, which bore a sign reading "Restful Waters." A sento awaited us, its noren curtain draped over the sliding door.
"That’s the new public bathhouse I built. Though, since it's entirely for my own personal hobby, I suppose it isn't strictly 'public'..."
"I noticed a door that wasn't there before, but I didn't realize such a thing had been built," Sebas remarked.
"The landscaping along the corridor is also quite different from the usual style, but it’s calm and full of charm," Master Rosenberg added.
"I thought you’d like it. I had Yudam-san finish it to match my requests."
"It’s nothing I can really boast about," Yudam said, sounding a bit bashful. "I just did my best to imitate what I saw my father do."
Yudam didn't seem satisfied with his own work, likely because he knew the skill level of his father, who was talented enough to serve as a gardener for the royal court. Personally, I thought it was magnificent. Even though I had provided feedback and requested corrections at every step, Yudam had managed to create a Japanese-style tsuboniwa—a small courtyard garden—starting from zero knowledge.
I thought this every time I worked with him, but the man was incredibly flexible in both his thinking and his actions. While he possessed a fair amount of local technical and botanical knowledge, he accepted a style of gardening that wasn't common here without any stubbornness. The fact that this restful space had been completed in just one month was largely thanks to his cooperation.
Feeling a sense of satisfaction at being able to show off a project I’d poured my heart and hobbies into, I opened the sliding door and led them inside.
"I’ll go get things ready, so please wait here for a moment. Ah, please take off your shoes before you come in."
"Please put your shoes in these lockers and use these slippers instead," Yudam instructed.
Sebas looked around the interior. "I could tell from the exterior, but this matches the architectural style of a dragonewt village."
"The same as the O-Jizo-sama... Sebas-dono, you are quite knowledgeable about architecture as well," Rosenberg noted.
"As the butler of a ducal house, it is necessary to have at least some familiarity with the cultures of other lands. That said, I rarely have the opportunity to see it in person. This is quite a rare treat."
"I’ve added some of my own touches, so it’s not a perfect replica," I clarified. "I only used the style as a reference."
I was happy with the result, but I didn't want them thinking this was an authentic representation of a dragonewt village—especially since their culture likely developed in its own unique direction.
Furthermore, the layout of this sento was closer to a so-called "Super Sento" than the traditional, older style. Past the entrance was a grand hall; the right half was a Western-style area with sofas and a place for a refrigerator filled with drinks, while the left half was a Japanese-style area with raised tatami seating.
The raised area was, of course, floored with tatami. Though they were currently open, I had installed fusuma—sliding doors—to partition the entrance from the hall. To create the Japanese-style interior, I had combined whatever materials I could find to replicate the look and feel. These two features were my pride and joy, and I felt even more confident in them after receiving a seal of approval from Asagi-san.
"Please, make yourselves at home. Yudam-san, I'll leave them in your hands for a bit."
"Got it."
Leaving the two guests with him, I entered the boiler room through a door at the bandai—the attendant's counter—which separated the men's and women's dressing rooms. There was a large stove here for heating, but since I had plenty of mana today, I simply used magic to fill the tank with hot water all at once. Once I opened the main valve, the preparations were complete.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Please, come inside."
As we stepped into the dressing room after passing under the men's bath noren, the two newcomers shared their impressions once again.
"This is quite a spacious area," Sebas said.
"The scent of wood is pleasant," Rosenberg noted. "However, if you use this much timber, won't the humidity damage it over time?"
"Please don't worry. From this dressing room to the bathroom in the back, I used the leftovers of the heat-radiating trees I brought back for the incense. Since those trees naturally grow in high-humidity areas, they are incredibly resistant to moisture. They have a wonderful scent, too. Oh, I've stocked this shelf with towels, soap, and yukata—clothes to wear after the bath—so please feel free to use them. Alternatively, there's a Cleaner Slime waiting inside the box next to the shelf. If you put your discarded clothes in there, it will clean them while you bathe. They'll be ready to wear again by the time you're done."
"You have truly thought of everything," Sebas said with an appreciative nod.
As I watched them prepare for the bath with interest, Yudam and I got ready as well. Since this country already had a culture of public baths and soaking in tubs with others, neither of them had any hesitation about the shared space, and we were soon ready to enter.
When I opened the door to the bathroom, a thick mist of steam rose from the tub, carrying the rich scent of the heat-radiating trees. It was remarkably close to the cypress bath I had envisioned.
"It’s getting a bit dark, so I’ll turn on the lights," I said.
While the skylight provided natural light during the day, the sun had evidently set during the few minutes we spent in the dressing room. I activated the lighting magic tools installed on the walls, filling the room with a warm glow.
"My, my, this is quite luxurious," Sebas breathed.
"A bathtub of this size for personal use... even in noble estates, there wouldn't be many that could compare," Rosenberg added.
"If I was going to make one anyway, I wanted it to be big."
There was just something special about the idea of "a large cypress bath at home." I had given up on ever owning a house in my previous life, but I’m sure many people have dreamed of it at least once. Here, I had finally realized that dream.
"Now then, let's get in before we catch a chill."
There was nothing left to explain from that point; we simply washed up and settled into the water.
"Haaa... Warming up to the core like this is pure bliss," Rosenberg sighed. "It feels as if the day's fatigue is melting away."
"The scent of wood drifting through the steam is so soothing," Sebas agreed. "I heard the purification incense was also made from the heat-radiating tree, but the fragrance is quite different from when it is burned."
It seemed the wood had a potent relaxation effect. Both men, who usually maintained a strictly professional air, were now leaning their heads back against the edge of the tub with completely relaxed expressions. As the butler of a ducal house, Sebas likely carried a lot of mental strain, and Master Rosenberg practically radiated the aura of an exhausted corporate drone.
I hoped they would both use this time to heal, if only a little.
"At this rate," Yudam joked, "I’ll find myself wanting to visit frequently under the pretext of 'overseeing' Ryoma-kun's instruction."
"Please, come whenever you like. It makes it easier for me to ask questions about curse magic, too."
"Oh? Is there something else you're looking to try?" Rosenberg asked.
"For now... since the incense experiments were successful, I’d like to see if I can expand the concept. I want to make varieties for curse removal and countermeasures against the undead as well. It would be convenient if I could pack all those effects into one, but considering the risk of the spells interfering with each other, it’s probably safer to create specialized types for each purpose."
"It is wise to prepare in advance, but can incense really be utilized so broadly?"
"Incense is traditionally used to ward off impurity and offer prayers for the deceased. In fact, I actually learned smoke techniques for undead offerings before I learned them for purification. According to Kormi, the mana that composes an undead's body is very 'close to a curse,' so I suspect the mana's function won't be much different from curse removal."
"It is said that those who die in gruesome ways are prone to becoming undead," Rosenberg said, his voice echoing through the bathroom as he nodded slowly. "If you can already see the path to success, then I have no doubt you can achieve it."
He paused, then added, "Ryoma-kun, if you have any stock remaining, would you sell me some of that purification incense? I have to return to that facility again soon, and I’d like to have it just in case."
"In that case, I’ll just give you the rest of what I have from this batch. It’s not a huge amount, so consider it part of my tuition."
"Is that so? Then I’ll gladly take you up on that. In exchange, I can tell you this: if I use that incense over there, others will undoubtedly start asking for it. When that happens, I think it would be a good idea for you to sell the surplus at a high price."
"Is there really that much demand?"
"Without a doubt."
Rosenberg went on to explain that many curse specialists have surprisingly deep pockets.
"Curses are born from human malice and negative emotions. As long as humanity exists and suffers through hardship, they will continue to be born in every era. We may be buried in work, but we will never run out of it. Furthermore, the rewards for curse specialists are naturally high. Often our clients are nobles, and the work is dangerous for everyone involved. However, because we are constantly so busy, many specialists find they have no time to spend the wealth they accrue."
"So people would be willing to pay just to reduce their own workload?"
"Indeed. Quite a few people use their abundant funds to hire inexperienced specialists as support staff. Even if each individual's power is weak, many tasks can be handled if they work as a group. This is actually recommended for younger specialists to gain experience while securing an income. Ryoma-kun, your smoke techniques are perfectly suited for wide-area purification, meaning they could be used for managing large-scale miasma lands. You might even receive a formal order from the House of Karshel, entirely separate from the misangas."
"I wonder about that..."
I had received a letter of appreciation, but they were still an outside noble family—a ducal house, no less. They might be good customers, but I had no idea how to interact with them. I realized then that all I really knew about the House of Karshel was that they coordinated curse specialists and focused on training.
"This is a bit late to ask, but what kind of family is the House of Karshel, exactly?"
"Their defining traits are their specialization in curse magic and their absolute political neutrality," Rosenberg explained. "By nature, curses have always been a tool in power struggles. For nobles, they are both a powerful weapon and a constant threat. In every era, there is a demand for curse specialists, whether to cast a curse on a rival or to protect oneself from one. Now, here's a question: what do you think would happen if one faction managed to buy off the majority of curse specialists and monopolize that power?"
"The opposing faction would be at a total disadvantage," I replied. "Without specialists, they couldn't cast or defend effectively. The side with the monopoly could do whatever they wanted."
"Precisely. The House of Karshel’s role is to prevent such a situation by managing the majority of curse specialists in advance. In exchange for maintaining their neutrality, the family is granted special guarantees and privileges by the state. Furthermore, to ensure they don't break that pact—and to mitigate the damage if they ever did—the House of Lyumiel exists as a counterweight, serving as the coordinators for exorcists."
The House of Karshel and the House of Lyumiel. They maintained a relationship of mutual oversight and cooperation. Both seemed to be unique among the nobility, functioning as a mix between a religious organization like a church and a professional guild.
I learned many other things as well. After hearing Yudam-san's perspective as a general noble and Sebas-san's view from within the Jamil Ducal House, the consensus was that both houses were powerful but faithful to their duties. They had no scandalous rumors and were considered safe, reliable partners.
"Unless you're planning to go work for them full-time, I don't think you need to worry about doing a bit of business with them," Yudam said. "Anyway, shouldn't we get out soon? We've been talking so long we're going to get dizzy from the heat."
"Come to think of it, how long has it been?"
"I have no idea..."
"Ah, could it be that Master Rosenberg is already—"
"No, no, I’m not that far gone," Rosenberg said weakly. "It just feels so good that I was starting to drift off..."
"That’s dangerous in its own way," I said.
"I am getting on in years, so I suppose I should get out before I overdo it."
"If you'd like another soak, you can have a morning bath tomorrow as well," I offered.
"That sounds wonderful..."
Since Master Rosenberg looked like he was truly on the verge of falling asleep, I coaxed him out of the tub. Everyone chose a yukata for their post-bath clothing, and we decided to cool off in the raised tatami area. That meant it was time for that. I retrieved four well-chilled bottles from the refrigerator in the corner.
"Everyone, please have this."
"Chilled milk? Don't mind if I do... Ah, it seeps right into my flushed body," Rosenberg sighed.
"It flows so pleasantly down a parched throat," Sebas added.
"Right? Milk after a soak in a big bath—that’s the tradition."
"The Owner went out of his way to buy expensive magic tools just for today and even sourced fresh milk..." Yudam said with a chuckle. "I don't know what tradition you're talking about, but it definitely hits the spot."
Because fresh milk was hard to supply consistently, the culture of drinking milk after a bath didn't really exist here, even if public baths did. But the appeal was universal. And speaking of delicious things, it was time for dinner.
As I was about to head off to prepare the meal while the others cooled down, Sebas stopped me.
"I missed the chance to give this to you earlier, but the prototypes for the retort food made from your recipes have arrived. The manufacturing staff asked for a taste test and feedback, so perhaps we could have this for dinner?"
"They’re already done? That would be perfect."
This was the retort food I intended to hand over to Glen when he arrived. While the Jamil house would handle future transactions, we wanted to verify the quality and taste now. I was more than happy to use them.
"And this is a personal matter," Sebas continued, "but please try this if you like. It’s a retort pouch made from a recipe supervised by Batts, the head chef of the Jamil household."
"Wait, you already made that thing we talked about?"
"I spoke with the Master and Batts, and they both found the idea 'truly interesting,' so we made a trial batch. Batts mentioned that it includes a soup you were particularly fond of, Ryoma-sama."
"That’s great! I wonder which one it is... I’ve eaten his cooking so many times, and it’s always delicious."
"I was told it is a soup with an extreme heat. He warned that if you were to serve it to others, you should exercise caution."
"Oh! Was it that extreme heat soup?"
It was a dish I had been allowed to sample when it was prepared for a noble's party. I had grown used to spicy food in my previous life, but that one definitely required a warning. I decided I would enjoy that one by myself.
I set up a magic stove and a pot on the table to warm the pouches... and while we waited, I decided to offer one more thing.
I went back to the refrigerator and grabbed four ice-cold glasses and two bottles. When I returned and poured the contents, the glasses filled with a liquid that shimmered with a pale golden light.
"There's an alcohol called grut beer; would you like some? It was a thank-you from the church for the misanga work. They said it's the first batch made from this year's harvest. I tried some earlier, and it was quite good."
"Alcohol from the church? And the first batch of the season? That's quite lucky. I'll take a glass," Rosenberg said.
"I shall join you," Sebas said.
"I'll take one too," Yudam added.
"Here you go. Thank you for your hard work today, everyone. Cheers!"
The drink had the sweetness of barley with a hint of acidity—not an unpleasant sourness, but one accompanied by a faint herbal aroma. It was lightly carbonated and went down easy. It felt more like a juice-based cocktail than a standard beer, but it was refreshing. It was interesting how the fragrance opened up and the flavor shifted as it warmed up slightly.
Historically, even in my previous life, churches had been centers for brewing, and this world was no different. Especially with Tekun being worshipped as the God of Wine, brewing was considered part of a clergyman's training and a major source of income for the church alongside donations. As Rosenberg had noted, it also carried the prestige of being a lucky charm.
"I'm scheduled to attend a meeting I was invited to quite some time ago in three days—"
"Curse specialists who rely on movement, like dancers, often retire due to injury rather than age—"
"The Duke and Duchess are well, but they are busy preparing for the social season. There is much to do this year—"
"That horse I bought recently is finally used to me. He's a bit skittish, but he's strong enough to pull a heavy carriage without any trouble—"
We ate the dinner, which seemed even more delicious now that the food had finished heating. With a warm meal and a bit of alcohol, the conversation became even livelier. It felt like a small, cozy banquet.
But as always, the fun times passed all too quickly.
"Master Rosenberg?"
"..."
"No use," Yudam said with a grin. "He’s out like a light."
"He looked sleepy even back in the bath," Sebas noted. "With a full stomach and a bit of drink, it was inevitable."
"I suppose so... Let’s let him sleep. I’ll go get a futon and a pillow."
"I’ll clear the table while you do that."
"I shall assist you."
As Master Rosenberg’s peaceful snoring filled the room in a steady rhythm, we moved quietly, careful not to disturb the tranquility that had finally arrived.