Was it spring yet? Or was it still winter? I’d been feeling quite conflicted about it lately.
I found myself growing restless, wondering if I could consider it spring and finally start the agricultural work. However, I couldn't afford to let my guard down; the weather could turn foul at a moment's notice, and the cold had a habit of rushing back. There were many ways to gauge the season's arrival, but for now, I was leaving it to the Nyunyu-daphne.
"Not yet. A little longer."
Spring was still far off.
Meanwhile, the Mountain Elves were busy modifying a chair I had built. It wasn't a rocking chair, but rather one equipped with a shoulder-tapping function. I’d tried to make it because I had some leftover springs, but... it lacked power. While I suspected the springs were a bit too stiff, the real issue was likely that it relied on water power. The Mountain Elves had begun tinkering with it after I’d essentially given up.
Currently, they were trying to supplement the power through the use of gears. That was all well and good, but I couldn't help but wonder who would actually use a chair with a shoulder-tapping function. I didn't think there was anyone in the village who really needed it... I certainly couldn't see Progenitor-san, Dos, or the Demon King using it.
At this stage, their goal seemed to be simply improving their technical skills. Yes. ... By the way, my dear Mountain Elves, did you happen to ignore my explanation? This isn't a torture device. A shoulder-tapper doesn't exactly need enough power to split a pumpkin.
Since Progenitor-san was away on business, I couldn't rely on his teleportation magic. It was inconvenient not being able to visit the hot spring casually, but I reflected that relying on him too much wasn't a good thing anyway. Instead, I headed toward the hot spring with Hakuren.
Lately, Hakuren had been in low spirits. The cause was Urza. Recently, Urza had begun to grow independent from Hakuren.
It all started with... the Beastman boys. To put it simply, they had gotten into a fight over Urza, and she had stopped them by punching them both and then bringing them together. Furthermore, Urza had involved Nart—the daughter of the Beastman couple, Gatto and his wife. She had even taken the Lizardman children under her wing. Urza had become the leader of the village's younger children.
This seemed to have awakened her maternal—or perhaps her big-sisterly—instincts and leadership qualities. Even though the Beastman boys were older than her, once she started taking care of them... she began to drift away from Hakuren. While Hakuren was happy to see Urza’s growth, she seemed bewildered and lonely.
I wondered if Lu and Tia would eventually go through something like this. I suppose everyone is different. Unable to bear seeing Hakuren so down, I invited her to the hot spring. I also wanted to check on the Death Knight, whom I had left in charge of the place.
I had intended for just the two of us to go and return quickly, but... Urza spotted us, and before I knew it, the Beastman boys, Nart, and the Lizardman children were all coming along. While I was debating what to do, Hakuren had already agreed to take them, seemingly overjoyed that Urza had approached her for the first time in a while.
You still sleep in the same room as Urza at night, don't you? I know that, you know.
Since Hakuren and I couldn't look after all the children ourselves, I asked the High Ogre Maid Ramurias and the Beastman Sena to accompany us. I also brought along the Lizardman Daga and the Beastman Galf—who had been watching us while doing warm-up exercises—to serve as escorts.
I figured we’d be fine in terms of combat power with Hakuren there, but then Beezel and Frau asked to join us as well. Apparently, they wanted to soak in the hot spring too.
"Since Beezel is here, should we travel using teleportation magic?"
"Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with the destination."
It turned out that Beezel's teleportation magic required him to have visited a location before he could warp there. In that case, had he walked here the first time he came to the village? He explained that he had reached the village by performing short-range teleports within his line of sight. I see.
I had Hakuren carry a board for transporting luggage on her back, and we made the trip riding on that. It was fast, but since the distance was significant, it still took some time. Hakuren's mood improved before we even reached the hot spring, so I suppose my goal was already achieved.
In any case, we arrived at the hot spring. The facility was perfectly intact. I wondered where the Death Knight was, only to find him soaking in the bath with his armor off. Upon seeing me, he tried to scramble out in a panic, but I told him to stay in. I could tell he had been working hard as a guardian. After all, the carcasses of defeated monsters and magic beasts were piled up in a corner of the hot spring grounds.
First, I explained how to use the hot spring to my companions. The men's and women's baths had to be strictly separated. I put Daga and Galf in charge of the men's bath. I left the women's bath to Ramurias and Sena. With that, everyone began their soak.
Now, I thought I’d finally... but before that, I had a task to attend to. There was one unplanned companion: the cat. It had been smuggled along, tucked into the children's arms. I wasn't particularly angry about it, but... Wouldn't it be bored at a hot spring? Just as I was thinking about making some toys for the cat, it seemed to show an interest in the water. However, the tub was far too deep for a cat to enter. ... I thought for a moment and used my tools to craft a small, shallow bath for the cat nearby. How about that? After a cautious check with one paw, it climbed in, looking quite nervous. Once its bottom was submerged and it felt the warmth, it seemed satisfied, eventually sprawling out with its head resting on the edge of the tub. Yeah, that was good.
Next, I dealt with the carcasses of the monsters and magic beasts the Death Knight had exterminated. Some were fresh, but others were quite old. I had assumed they wouldn't rot in the winter, but being a hot spring area, the temperature was higher. A faint smell of decay was coming from some of them. I decided to dispose of them. I tilled them into the soil with the Universal Farming Tool to return them to the earth... and found a Panic Caribou among the heap. The antlers were still perfectly intact. I made a mental note to praise the Death Knight later.
Finally, I thought it was time for my soak, but then I noticed the rust-covered armor left in the changing area. It was full-body armor called plate mail. The Death Knight's armor. I had thought it was in poor shape when we met before, but... had it always been this rusty? Was it because of the sulfur in the hot spring air? His sword, however, wasn't rusty at all. That one looked as good as new. Perhaps it was a Magic Sword? ... I headed into the nearby forest and gathered some timber. I decided to try making a set of wooden armor. I had the perfect model right in front of me, after all.
After a while, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Ramurias. It seemed it was already time to head back. I hadn't managed to finish the armor. It was a bit frustrating. And as for me... I hadn't even entered the hot spring myself. Good grief. Well, I suppose I can just come back another time.
The children looked like they still wanted to play in the water, but Ramurias and Sena herded them out. Daga and Galf also looked satisfied with their warmed bodies... though, is that sake in their hands? They intended to drink it while being carried by Hakuren on the way home. Since they had been patient as escorts until now, I didn't have the heart to say no.
Oh. I almost forgot the cat. I woke the cat, which was fast asleep in its bath, and wiped its body dry. Its fur was remarkably glossy. Wasn't it said that getting hair in hot spring water would damage it? Maybe animal fur is different. If it improved the coat, I guess there's no reason to worry.
I gathered the partially finished wooden armor and climbed onto Hakuren. The next time I came, I’d bring the finished product for him. While being seen off by the Death Knight, who was literally steaming from his bath, we headed back toward the village. It felt like a nice little field trip. Let's come again soon.
Once we arrived safely back at the village, a realization hit me. On the way back, wouldn't it have been fine to ask Beezel to use his teleportation magic?
"I thought it might be boorish to suggest it..."
"Since we ate on top of Hakuren-san on the way there, I assumed the plan was the same for the return trip."
Those were the excuses from Beezel and Frau. W-well, I suppose it's fine. It was fun, anyway.
Now, spring was just a little further away. I set to work finishing the wooden armor I had brought back. Mountain Elves, I'm happy you're helping, but we don't need any special gimmicks, okay? Installing strange devices is... a knife pops out of the gauntlet? And from the toes as well? This part is for storage? If you install iron plates here... it transforms into a small shield? ... It was pure romance. I truly hope the Death Knight will be pleased with it.