Chapter 29 - A Guided Tour of the Hot Spring Dungeon
“Alright, members of the First Unit, this is the Hot Spring Dungeon.
“The water on the first floor is the same as what you bathed in yesterday in the palace’s baths.
“Only this level’s water retains its effects when taken offsite, so workers are always stationed here to draw the water. That’s why bathing on this floor is not permitted.”
I, Vihita, was assigned to guide the members of the First Unit through the Hot Spring Dungeon, accompanied by a handful of my subordinates.
They all listened to my explanation with stony expressions, saying nothing. I couldn’t tell if they were angry, excited, or something else entirely—it was honestly a little scary.
There was also this constant undercurrent in their gaze, like they looked down on us for being a squad of delicate noble ladies. It made the entire atmosphere feel unwelcoming.
Normally, the captain of the Second Unit—my usual partner in dungeon exploration—would have been here, but she had taken the First Unit’s Thread Dungeon spoils and gone off with Her Majesty to negotiate somewhere. As a result, the burden of the tour had fallen to just me and a select few of my team.
“So then, bathing begins from the second floor. However, the baths on this level are extremely popular with guests from both inside and outside the kingdom, and the line tends to be very long.
While the effects are an enhanced version of the first floor’s water, an even stronger version awaits on the sixth floor. So skipping this level shouldn’t be a problem. How would you like to proceed?”
“Skip it,” Captain Touji said without the slightest hesitation.
Some members looked mildly disappointed, though only slightly.
Still, seeing even that small hint of a softer, more maiden-like emotion among the First Unit made me feel a little more at ease.
Even if it was just a few of them... it was something.
“Next, we have the third floor’s bath: the Blemish-Removing Spring.
“This one doesn’t require multiple visits, so it’s not very crowded—let’s just hop in and move on quickly.”
“How long do we need to soak?”
“I think once you can visibly confirm your spots are gone, that should be enough.”
Oh? No one’s saying, “Let’s skip this one”?
That was unexpected—but then Captain Touji’s answer made it all make sense.
“If something that could lead to illness can be removed, it’s best to do so.”
I see. If there’s a chance it could extend her functional lifespan, she’ll take the opportunity.
It’s not about beauty in the slightest—how very much like Captain Touji.
The First Unit members quickly stripped down and entered the bath.
...They all had incredible physiques.
Scars aside, the knots and bulges likely caused by armor shifting and pressing into their bodies were no joke.
What kind of intense lifestyle would mold a body like that?
After about five minutes, once the darkest spot had faded, the captain climbed out and gave a brisk, “Let’s go.”
So efficient. So completely rational—that’s Captain Touji in a nutshell.
“Next is the fourth floor. Here, there’s a bath that can make you three years younger—but only once. If you’re in your early twenties or younger, it’s best to avoid it.
For example, our sixteen-year-old Lilo from the Second Unit entered and came out looking thirteen.
Also, please be aware that your armor or footwear may not fit properly afterward.”
Luckily, there was no one in their growth years among the First Unit, so everyone entered without issue.
Everyone seemed to feel the effects clearly—faces lit up with expressions of amazement.
Captain Touji in particular widened her eyes and moved her arms about, testing their range. It seemed like she could feel her body becoming more limber.
As we proceeded toward the next bath on the fifth floor, a boss monster—one that resembled a large black panther—appeared before us.
Yes, on this floor only, abnormally strong boss monsters tend to spawn.
And while it did appear... Captain Touji didn’t even bother to draw her sword. She just punched the monster square in the head with her bare fist—and killed it.
One hit.
Its skull was driven straight into the ground, and it died instantly. Just what kind of strength did this woman possess?
“For the fifth floor... that’s quite the beast. Was that the boss for this level?”
“Y-yes. It used to appear only once every few days, but lately we see it every time. Because of this monster, we’ve had to increase escort numbers for noble daughters who want to visit the sixth floor.”
“I see... What about the bath on this floor?”
“We’ve found the tub, but the effects are unknown. We believe there’s a delayed benefit, so many—including myself—have bathed here repeatedly, but so far, we haven’t been able to confirm anything.”
“...”
Captain Touji narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
Well, of course she did. It’s natural to suspect a trap.
But given how many adventurers and staff have bathed here without issue, it’s unlikely to be harmful. We’ve confirmed it’s safe, at least.
Still, knowing her, Captain Touji would likely avoid this bath just in case.
“...I’ll get in. You all decide for yourselves.”
“What!”
“Captain?!”
Everyone was taken aback. The entire unit stirred at her unexpected decision.
“I’m old. My time as a soldier was never going to be that long to begin with.
If it’s a trap, I haven’t got much to lose. But if the bath holds some subtle effect that prolongs my prime, then I’ll have gained something.
Weighing the risk and reward—I’m going in. You younger ones decide for yourselves.”
Just like with the Blemish-Removing Spring. All she cared about was extending the time her body could still move—her active service years.
Even if it were a trap, the fact that we had bathed in it multiple times and remained perfectly healthy probably convinced her it wouldn’t do anything to shorten her own active years.
In the end, roughly a third of the First Unit, including the captain, entered the bath.
“Now then, we arrive at the most popular spot in the entire Hot Spring Dungeon: the sixth floor’s Moisture Spring! No matter how damaged your skin is, it’ll restore it to a flawless, radiant state in an instant!”
“Hold up... wait.”
“Yes, Captain Touji?”
“Are you telling me that if I go in there, I’ll end up with skin like yours—soft and supple?”
“No, to reach this level of smoothness, you’d need to visit the eleventh floor’s Youthful Skin Spring. But even the sixth floor is enough to make you look like a typical noble lady—”
At that moment, I noticed a deeply troubled look spreading across the captain’s face.
Was something wrong?
“My skin didn’t get this tough by accident. I trained it into a hardened shield. For health reasons, sure, it might be good to restore it—but in terms of defense and durability, don’t you dare turn me into a dainty maiden with soft skin!”
Tension swept across the faces of the First Unit.
Just like on the second floor, there was a looming sense that she might order them to skip the sixth—and even the eleventh—floor.
They didn’t show it outright, but the desperation was obvious.
They stared at her with pleading eyes—Please! Let us go in!—some even looked like they were on the verge of tears.
“It’s okay! While the appearance and texture do become smoother and softer, it doesn’t affect your durability or combat effectiveness in any way!”
I hurriedly reassured everyone in a firm voice.
In fact, not one of the girls in our unit had ever said that their fists lost power after softening up.
“We’ve conducted numerous durability tests after skin moisturization. There’s zero evidence that softer skin weakens strength. It’s completely safe!”
...Why that’s the case, I don’t know. But all tests point to that conclusion—so what else can I say?
Captain Touji still looked doubtful, like “Are you serious?”, but this was the truth.
“If anything, your skin remains tough while gaining flexibility. It actually improves grip when holding a sword. So, you could say it enhances performance!”
I started pitching every benefit I could think of for the sixth floor’s bath.
The knights around me watched with clenched fists, silently cheering me on—Go, Vihita! Convince her!
“...You swear the strength won’t drop?”
“It won’t!”
I declared it with conviction.
At last, the captain said—
“...Fine. We’ll get in.”
And so, she finally agreed to enter the sixth floor bath.
What kind of woman needs this much convincing to get into the most popular hot spring?
Thus, we began making our way to the sixth floor bath.
...Up to this point, I’d felt the eyes of the First Unit looking down on us, the “delicate noble lady” squad of the Second Unit.
But after this exchange, I noticed their gazes toward me had softened considerably.
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