/
King: “Do you really think I will be satisfied with such a report!?”
Messenger: “M-my apologies!!”
There are nobles and a king in this kingdom, Beriscas. Nevertheless, the ones who make the decisions are the high-class nobles in a conference and not the king himself. Furthermore, compared with other kingdoms and empires, merchants have stronger influential voice here as well. That kind of thing obviously has its own merits and demerits. For the nobles, the merchants, the commoners and of course, even for the royalties

A miracle from the Goddess had occurred in a coastal provincial town.
A story that seems a little, no, quite fake about a little girl from a weak viscounty who was favored by the Goddess and received her help to defeat the enemy of her family and protect her house.
Usually, this kind of story would make anyone laugh but, a detailed report from the related party, that is the little girl who has succeeded the viscount title as well as a report about one’s opinion from the earl who happens to be her parent figure

have arrived.
Although the main policy can not be decided by the king’s selfish actions, if the legitimate successor has disposed the offender who committed a criminal act, the King can reply “Umu, there’s no problem” without consulting others first. That is because, it’s only to respect the rights of the weak nobles, hence there can not be a noble who complains about it.

However, this matter was not a normal case.
Goddess miracle!
A girl who has received the Goddess’ favor and is a beautiful young head of a noble household!!
Such delicious information cannot be brushed aside by the nobles.
It’s a great opportunity to receive the Goddess favor and bring in the girl so that it can strengthened the king’s authority and influence.
And, conversely, it can turn into a critical situation if she was taken by a powerful noble and used as a piece to raise the voice of the nobles.
Therefore, even though the King had sent one of his royal official earls as a messenger for immediate confirmation, the messenger returned without any satisfying outcome. It was natural for the king to be unhappy.
King: “We should move to the next plan, huh
. the nobles are also going to get this information any time now. If we don’t hurry
”
***************
Kaoru: “Let’s go to a hot spring!”
Emile & Bell: “”Yeah!””
Roland & Francette: “”Eh?””
Riette: “?”
Emile and Bell agreed with my suggestion unconditionally, mostly in reflex and thought nothing.
But, unexpectedly, Roland and Francette raised a voice full of doubt instead.
It seems that they probably don’t even know what 『Hot Spring』 is.
Emile & Bell: “”So, what’s 『Onsene』?””
So you guys as well!?
Kaoru: “Hot spring is a natural spring that gushes out hot water. it’s good for health and beauty-
”
Francette & Bell: “”Let’s go!””
Even though I haven’t finished talking yet, Francette and Bell express their intention immediately.
You girls sure replied fast
.
Thus, a hot spring trip was decided.


Roland’s opinion?
Such things were not considered from the start.
Anyway, it’s not good for humans do nothing but work. They need to enjoy doing something occasionally!
That’s why, it’s a refreshing trip for the employees plus volunteers of 『Convenient Store Bell』!
***************
Kaoru: “
and that’s why,  we came here in search for that kind of place
”
I have looked it up on the map, got some information from the hunter guild and merchant guild, also asked the old men who had traveled all over the place when they were young while giving them alcohol. Hence, I finally arrived at our objective, here, 『Fire Dragon Mountain belt』.
It does not mean that a dragon actually lives here. It is called so as there’s a place where white smoke rises and hot air blows up, which means that it’s a good candidate for “where the hot spring is”.
And
.
Uncle: “Hot spring? There is indeed one.”
Instant win.
I found it in an instant
. that’s too quick
.
Uncle: “But, I haven’t heard any story from those who have gone to that place
 as it’s quite far away, you see.”
I discovered
 or rather, it was the first reply that came from the old m-
 no no, uncle at the bar. Certainly, the hot spring was found, but it’s far from the town as it’s on the mountainous area. Hence, it will be meaningless to go and soak in the hot water, sweat, and loosen the stiff muscles as they will eventually become sweaty on the way back and got muscle pain again.
Yeah, that’s indeed true.
But I already came here, so I can’t go home with only this.
Besides, it’s not as if we are in a hurry, so we can just walk back slowly and camp along the way as the camping equipment are always in the item box.
In addition, we could find another hot spring in a nearer place as well. Yup, there’s no problem!
That’s why, we bought some local products for camouflage, carried the dummy bag and departed!
Kaoru: “Hmm~ I can’t find it

”
I muttered so while carrying the 『Hot Sprensor』 for searching the hot spring.
(TL Note: It’s “Onsensor”, Onsen Sensor, Hot Spring Sensor)

『Hot Sprensor』 refers to the previously used glasses-shaped target locator, 『Searcher』. What I did was just setting the target to 『Hot spring』. It’s truly a reusable and eco-friendly product.
And there was no sign that there might be another hot spring nearby from the 『Hot Sprensor』.

In the end, we arrived at the hot spring that was told before.
It’s obvious, I guess? The natives (the locals around the area) should have found one nearer already in these hundreds of years if there’s one. And yet, they didn’t find any, hence there can’t be one near as expected

.
And, thanks to the 『Hot Sprensor』, we finally reached the destination without losing our way and then installed the tents from the item box next to the hot spring. The girls’ tent, boys’ tent, a tent for cover and a table set.
The installation was performed by three people, Francette, Emile and Bell. Roland is useless, I see~

 me too, though.
Hot springs, of course, don’t have buildings around the area, and there are some water pools in which the hot water overflows from its bottom.
The overflowing hot water immediately cools down and forms a small stream flowing downward. I don’t know whether the water will be absorbed to the ground and disappear or will merge with a river.
From that water pool, the hot water passes through the artificially created ditch that flows into the bath area about four and a half tatami mats and was made using the dent of the rocky area. On the other side, there’s a drainage that merges with the small stream. Moreover, the bath area looks like a bathtub as it’s possible to adjust the amount of water flowing into the bathtub by moving the partition plates that covers the ordinary mountain water which flows to the bath area as well as the hot water.
Kaoru: “Wow, it’s well built indeed
. Well, if it has been hundreds years old, it should be devised this much, huh
.? Well anyway, Roland and Emile should go somewhere.”
Emile: “Yes!”
Roland: “

I understand.”
Yeah, as one would expect, they won’t complain about this.
After they left the spot, we took off our clothes and went to the hot spring!
Kaoru: “Uwa-hothothothot!!”
When I put my right foot into the bath softly, I felt a great deal of heat leaped from my foot.


 Yes, no one is controlling the water temperature, so it’s obvious that it was not in a suitable temperature. If I did try to jump in, I might as well be dead. My second life got burned in a hot spring and died, that’s a little disappointing.
I should close the hot water partition, then open the ordinary water partition and wait for a while, huh? It will take some time, but fortunately, the air temperature is not that low, there’s no wind blowing, and there’s hot water as well, so it’s not too cold to be naked.
In any case, we plan to camp here, so we have plenty of time. Emile and Roland are also looking for preys and fruits for dinner, so it’s fine to go at ease.
When I thought so and the four of us were talking carefreely while being naked
.
*Gasa*
Then, three men suddenly appeared from the bushes.
And they got petrified when they looked at us.
“””KYAAAAAAAAAAA~~!!”””
And then, screams were echoing around.


The men’s screams, that is.
Both mine and Francette’s chronological age are around thirty. No matter how my age is equal to the years with me having no boyfriend, it’s not the age where we will still make a noise and that kind of scream after being seen by children.
Bell had lived disorderly where boys and girls had to share a room together which it was not well protected by the wind and rain in a one and only abandoned house. And for Riette-chan’s case, she doesn’t know about this kind of thing yet.
Well, from my perspective, these children’s outward appearance are 『Males』, but from a racial perspective around here, they’re still children who are around 13 to 14 years old, maybe. Their physiques are just big. Well, you could say they’re 『Youths』.
And in front of the those three children, there stood Francette brandishing her divine sword, Ex-gram which was on her side.


and completely naked.
However, that 『Kyaa』
.
You guys have a high girl power, huh
?
Roland: “What happened!?”
Emile: “Kaoru-sama, are you all right!?”
And then they appeared, Roland and Emile.
Well, obviously they would come, right
.
Francette & Kaoru: “”GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!””
The screams this time came from Francette and me.
Yup, obviously Francette and I really don’t want to be seen naked by Roland.
However, although Francette let out her scream, Roland could not change his stance to protect us and instead, was shaking with a bright red face.


But, the scream that we raised was unexpectedly 『Gyaa』
.
Our girl power
.is low, it seems
.
And
 didn’t the two of them arrive a bit too fast?
Where exactly were you guys!?