Chapter 4 - The First Visitors
Over 20 hours of minor earthquakes and atmospheric rumbling.
Signs of a new dungeon’s birth.
Immediate investigation requested.
This was written on a request notice posted at an adventurer’s inn, “Corner Inn,” in the Ohadano Region, east of the Kingdom of Sepans.
In the Kingdom of Sepans, the only dungeon that had existed for nearly 140 years was the “No-Hunger Dungeon,” which had eight layers.
It didn’t drop particularly valuable treasures, but since monsters occasionally dropped food, it was quite popular as a dungeon where adventurers could stay for long periods.
Honestly, in terms of profit, it wasn’t a great dungeon.
Still, staying in its eight layers for a long time could yield considerable earnings and serve as good training.
In fact, the Kingdom of Sepans even had a rank promotion exam for adventurers that required staying in this dungeon’s eighth layer for a week.
However, being a mid-level dungeon, it wasn’t particularly welcomed by high-level adventurers.
And for the past 40 years, there had been no signs of the dungeon growing further.
The newly emerged dungeon, being fresh, couldn’t be expected to yield much profit yet.
But it was crucial to determine whether this dungeon would bring future prosperity or disaster to the kingdom.
On the day the request was posted, two veteran adventurers quickly investigated the dungeon and returned.
Their report stated that it was an ordinary newborn dungeon, with the only notable feature being a hot spring-like pool of water deep inside.
Several days later.
Two female knights rode their horses slowly toward the dungeon.
They had come to verify the initial report and conduct a follow-up investigation.
“I hope it’s just a plain dungeon, as the report says~”
...said one of the knights, who had a relaxed demeanor.
In response, the female knight who seems to be her senior responded...
“Don’t you want a dungeon that could benefit our kingdom?”
“Well, you see, Senpai~ If a highly profitable dungeon appears, a bunch of shady adventurers will swarm in, and public safety will deteriorate, right?
Adventurers might rejoice, but for us public servants, a profitable dungeon isn’t necessarily a good thing~”
“...Haaa, you’re as carefree as ever. But you have a point.
Twenty years ago, a new dungeon appeared in the distant Kingdom of Kenma that dropped high-quality gems. But because of the influx of lowlife adventurers, public safety there has been on a steady decline.
...We’re here.”
At the dungeon’s entrance, words were carved into the stone:
“Hot Spring Dungeon.”
“Hm? ...Who carved this?”
“No idea... The report only mentioned a hot spring deep inside. Maybe the adventurers who first investigated it carved this?”
“I doubt veteran adventurers would casually carve a sign into a dungeon. But whatever... Let’s investigate.”
As they ventured deeper, they encountered the usual weak monsters found on the first layer: bats, rats, and insects.
They dealt with them effortlessly and pressed on.
“These dungeon monsters don’t drop anything, huh?”
“Seems like a no-drop type... Maybe it’s a dungeon where you search for treasure chests or vaults?”
“Or maybe it’s just a dungeon with a hot spring?”
\
“...That can’t be. I’ve never heard of such a dungeon.”
After about three hours of exploration, they had thoroughly checked every corner.
This dungeon truly had nothing but a hot spring.
The only challenge was fighting a few weak monsters on the way to the spring.
“...We’ve worked up a sweat.”
“...Yeah.”
“Shall we take a dip in the hot spring?”
“...Is it safe?”
“Well, the adventurers who first investigated it brought back some of the water, just in case it was dangerous. Tests showed it wasn’t toxic.”
“...Then... let’s go in.”
“Yay! Let’s do it!”
They had ridden horses for hours to reach the dungeon and then spent hours exploring the cave. They were drenched in sweat.
Moreover, they hadn’t been to a hot spring—or rather, had a proper bath—in a long time. Truth be told, they had been dying for one.
Though it might seem unbecoming of knights to relax in a bath during a mission, this was also part of their duty to investigate the dungeon’s nature.
For the sake of the kingdom, they would personally test the safety of the hot spring.
They removed their armor, stripped down, and placed their swords within reach.
Though they were slightly worried about other adventurers suddenly showing up, it was unlikely anyone would visit this newborn dungeon without a request, given its lack of profit potential.
And so, the two knights enjoyed the hot spring.
In conclusion, it felt amazing.
The water temperature and the depth of the bath were just perfect.
Most natural hot springs are either too hot or too cold, requiring human adjustment to be usable. The bath’s depth and footing are often unsuitable for humans.
But this place was perfect.
It felt like a hot spring resort, carefully managed by a merchant.
And what’s more...
Their skin felt incredibly smooth afterward...
...Or was it?
Was this... just their imagination?
The rough, calloused parts of their bodies felt moisturized.
Their hands, hardened and rough from gripping swords, and their feet, cracked and calloused from long marches, seemed to regain a hint of their former softness...
“Senpai... has your acne reduced?”
“You too... the heat rash under your armor is gone.”
“......”
“......”
“Isn’t this amazing? This hot spring...”
“Yeah... it might be incredible... We need to report this to Her Majesty immediately.”
“Ah... but let’s stay a bit longer... just a little more.”
“Ah... yeah... I can already see a future where this place gets too popular to enjoy.”
With that, they splashed the hot water on their faces and heads like mad, staying in the spring for so long that they eventually became lightheaded. In the end, they lay sprawled naked on the cave floor, utterly exhausted.
They didn’t return to the royal palace until late at night, long after the sun had set.
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