After seeing the three of them off, we met up with our guide and headed to the estate in question. The people from the 『Amatsukuni Construction and Carpentry Guild』 were already there, setting up their tools and making preparations for the work ahead.
「Haah… If only Shiro were here right now…」
「Ahaha. Shiro-san isn’t around, which is why I was assigned to guard you, remember?」
「Then please stop me right now!」
「Ahaha, sorry, I can’t stop you unless you’re in actual danger~」
Now, as for my current situation.
「Hah?」
「Oh?」
I’m currently glaring at the foreman in an ongoing stare-down.
「Listen, you amateur. Don’t go saying things so lightly」
「Listen, you stubborn old man. I said I’m doing it」
「Hah?」
「Oh?」
We’ve been going back and forth like this for a while now.
He’s seriously the type who won’t listen to a word.
「You’ve got a lot of nerve, trying to butt into our work like this when you’re just some amateur!」
「You guys are in charge of the building, right? But you’re carpenters, you can’t handle the bathhouse. That’s why I’m saying I’ll do it」
「Hah?」
「Oh?」
I’m building the bathhouse.
I’m not backing down on that.
I’ll leave the building to them. But when it comes to the hot springs, there’s no way anyone’s passion can top mine.
「Who ‘is’ that guy, anyway? Arguing with the foreman like that…」
「He’s our Master, who really loves hot springs… Normally, he’s much calmer and more gentle, and avoids conflict, but…」
I’ve already made up my mind to welcome the girls back with the perfect hot spring.
There’s no way I’d leave that to someone else.
「Have you even ‘built’ a bathhouse before, huh?」
「Nope. And what kind of amateur has bathhouse-building experience, anyway?」
「Then you’re out. Get out of the way and go hit the town or something. Go have a little fun with some women or whatever」
「I’m ‘building this’ so I ‘can’ have fun with women, you idiot!」
Are you stupid?
Seriously, are you stupid?
I’m saying I’ll build this to bring the mixed bath dream to life sooner and better.
Clearly, he’s a fool. Stupid, stupid.
「…Don’t say that out loud, man. Aren’t you embarrassed? You’re an adult」
「I’m not embarrassed! I’m building this bathhouse! For the sake of mixed bathing!」
There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Because right now, my entire heart is focused on that goal!
I’m counting the days until they return, eagerly awaiting that moment of mixed-bath bliss!
「Man… you’re hopeless. Fine. If you’re that serious, go ahead and do it. But if you rush it and make some half-baked piece of junk, I’ll smash it to pieces myself」
「Bring it on, stubborn old man. And if ‘you’ put up some building that’s unworthy of my onsen, I’ll burn it to the ground on the spot」
We both ‘hmph’-ed and turned on our heels, walking off in opposite directions.
Then, behind us, the younger workers who had been watching our exchange suddenly burst into applause.
What the…? What’s going on?
Whatever. Just keep watching, you stubborn old man.
Watch as I bring my experience and years of hot spring-fueled daydreaming to life.
You think I haven’t soaked my stress away in countless hot springs back in my old world?
There were times when I ‘had’ to travel way out of my way just to soak in some remote onsen to stay sane!
「Wendy, we’re heading to the hot spring source」
「Y-Yes!」
「Ah, in that case, I should come along too, shouldn’t I?」
「Yeah, I’ll be counting on you, Guide-san」
「Yup-yup, leave it to me~」
Honestly, this guide still gives me a bit of anxiety, but Shiro had some errands to handle.
She seemed relieved when the guide volunteered to act as my bodyguard, so I suppose both her strength and personality are… well, not an issue.
「So, where exactly is this hot spring source?」
「It’s just beyond that grove over there」
「Hmm… In that case, it might actually fall within the estate’s boundaries」
「Huh? Isn’t the estate just the mansion and this area here?」
「I renegotiated yesterday and got a part of the mountain in the back added too! Will you praise me? Bonus me, maybe?」
Wow. Seriously impressive.
She’s scarily competent sometimes.
If it’s all within the estate grounds, it’ll make concealing everything a lot easier, huge help.
Still… she doesn’t actually know how I plan to route the spring water. So why did she bother negotiating for more land?
「Alright, fine. You’ll get your bonus, but I’m adding a new confidentiality clause. From here on out, you’re not allowed to talk about anything you see」
「Oho? I smell profit! Sounds good, I’m all in. I’ll keep my lips sealed, as long as the pay’s right」
Ah, the sweet bond of trust forged through money.
Though I’ve got a feeling this particular hush money’s going to cost me a bit…
「Oh, right. Foreman!」
「Hah? What now?」
「I need you to build a small shack first. Around here, near the bathhouse. Just something simple that can fit two or three people. Can you handle that?」
「You kidding me? Course I can. But what’s it for?」
「Temporary alchemy lab. I ‘did’ mention I’m an alchemist, didn’t I?」
「…Right, you did. Got it. I’ll have it built by the time you get back」
「Appreciate it. Alright, let’s move out!」
Now ‘that’s’ a craftsman.
No petty grudges, no dragging up the past.
He knows how to separate ‘this’ from ‘that’, just the kind of guy I can work with.
-0-
I entered the forest behind the mansion with Wendy and the guide in tow.
…Well, ‘trudged’ might be more accurate.
The path wasn’t paved, the slope was steep, and there were patches of lingering snow here and there, honestly, it was kind of brutal.
Using space magic to move ahead would’ve been ideal, but yeah… that might be pushing it.
No choice. I’ll climb it myself.
「We’re almost there. …Are you alright?」
「Haaa… huff… y-yeah… I-I’m fine…」
Are you serious right now?
Wendy was carrying two huge racks, and yet here she was, totally unfazed.
Unbelievable. When we’re in bed, she’s always the first one to wear out…
「You’re kind of lacking in stamina, huh? Maybe that means you’re not so impressive at ‘night’, either?」
「Haa… hey, now, that’s a whole different issue…」
「Exactly! Master is amazing, you know!」
「Hee~ hoo~ huuuh~ So the two of you ‘are’ already at ‘that’ stage, huh~」
The guide smirked, clearly having fun at my expense.
Meanwhile, she was ‘skipping’ up this ridiculous incline like it was nothing.
I swear, girls in this world are way too tough.
「Ah, here we are. Yup. The spring source is right beneath us」
「H-hehhh… haaa… wheeze… nghhhh…」
「Uh-oh, your breathing’s kinda scary there. Want me to give you mouth-to-mouth?」
「N-no thanks… But sorry, I need… just a little break…」
Nope. Nope nope nope.
This is just not possible.
I mean, I know I don’t get much exercise, but there’s no way I can casually hike through mountain trails like this!
And what’s with these two!? They’re ‘not even winded’!
I mean, sure, the guide is probably used to this, but Wendy!? ‘Wendy’!?
「Here, Master. Some water. I added a good-luck charm to boost your energy」
「Hah… thanks…」
I took the water Wendy offered and chugged it down, finally managing to calm my breath.
「Haaah… fuuuu…」
「Feeling better? So, what now? You gonna dig it up?」
「Nah…」
‘Area Pointing’, Spatial Coordinate Specification, activated.
Target: spring source.
Relative to my current location… let’s scan for anything directly below or nearby.
Got it. That’s the one.
Alright, ’Input’. Targeted intake into my magic space. Let’s keep the size small…
Oooh, it’s going in, it’s going in.
…Yikes. That’s a lot of volume. Might end up clogging the space.
Better register this position using the bookmarking function for future access.
Now then, time to test it with an ‘Output’. Let’s see what we’ve got.
I released the hot spring water I’d just absorbed, letting it pour out from the palm of my hand.
A burst of pure white steam rose as the liquid splashed forward.
「Ehhh!? What is ‘that’!? Why is hot spring water coming out of your palm!?」
「Secret. It’s magic. Sleight of hand.」
「Aww c’mon, just tell meee!」
「Nope. The price of your nondisclosure fee would shoot through the roof.」
「Tch. But still, with that power, you’d be in high demand all over this town! How about it? Fancy making a fortune together?」
「Pass. Sounds like a hassle…」
Besides, there’s no reason to overload my magic storage space just for that.
「Wendy, this is definitely a hot spring, right? No signs of harmful minerals or contamination?」
「Seems totally fine. The temperature’s a little high, but if we keep that in check, it should be perfect. It’s good for the skin too, probably helps with cuts, bruises, stiff shoulders, back pain, and poor circulation.」
「Nice. Alright, this’ll be the one then.」
Temperature control… I’ll figure that out later.
If I build a channel system like the ones I’ve seen at public springs, it can cool naturally to the right temperature as it flows.
Might need the old man’s help on that part, though…
「Wait, you’re heading back already? Shouldn’t we figure out how to route the spring water down to the bath?」
「Nah, we’ll head back for now. We’ve confirmed the source, so that’s enough for today.」
Alright, source: secured.
Next, I’ll need to draft the layout for the bathhouse, process the stones, and figure out the drainage system.
There’s a ‘lot’ to do… but they’re all working hard out there, so I’ve gotta keep up too.
「So, heading back down now… Do you want me to carry you?」
「…Sorry, I’ll take you up on that. Just help me on the rough patches.」
「Roger that! So, what’ll it be? Princess carry, piggyback, or bridal lift from the front~?」
「…Piggyback. Definitely piggyback…」
「Ano, ano, I’m……」
「No… that’d be a bit much for you…」
I mean, if Wendy tried to carry me, whether on her back or in her arms, I’d die of shame.
I’d probably lock myself in the alchemy lab for five or six hours, wallowing in mortification.
Please also refrain from ‘looking’ at me while I’m being carried.
I didn’t want to show any more uncool sides of myself in front of Wendy, but now that I think about it, I’ve already shown her quite a lot…
So I gave up and let the guide carry me on her back.
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