Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 130
At my involuntarily exclamation, the dwarf slightly widened his narrow eyes.
“Hmm? Aren’t you the adventurer who bought the fire-resistant gloves?”
The visitor enjoying the hot spring was the dwarf who ran a tool shop in the city of Eld.
Not only had I received his help before, but his blunt yet business-oriented demeanor for a dwarf had left a strong impression on me.
While I was curious about why he was here, there was something more pressing.
“So, this is a hot spring, right?”
“You can tell just by looking. But don’t jump right in, you’ll dirty the water. If you want to get in, pour water over yourself with that bucket over there first.”
Having obtained permission from the shopkeeper, I eagerly began to undress.
Upon appraising the water, I found it to be around forty degrees Celsius, a comfortable temperature for bathing.
After folding my clothes neatly, I received the bucket of water from the shopkeeper and poured it over myself.
Suddenly, there was a sizzling sound, causing both the shopkeeper and me to startle.
“What’s this? Was the water here really that hot?”
“Ah, sorry. I forgot I was surrounded by ice magic.”
Due to being enveloped in Blizzard magic, the collision with the hot water caused the sound.
I hurriedly dispelled the cold.
“Don’t startle me like that. Keeping it up constantly like that… you must have quite a confidence in your magic power.”
As I scooped up water with the bucket, I noticed it had a milky-white color, likely due to sulfur mixing in.
“The water may be a bit murky, but it doesn’t really affect the body. I’ve been coming here for nearly twenty years.”
And while this shopkeeper is generally blunt, he’s not a bad person.
He’s been giving me thorough instructions since it’s my first time here, after all.
Feeling the sulfuric smell, I pour the water over myself.
Sweat and dust accumulated in the cave are washed away by the water. It’s slightly hot, but the subtle adjustments in temperature make it feel truly natural.
Just by pouring water over myself repeatedly, I feel refreshed as the sweat washes away.
After cleaning myself thoroughly with the water, I slowly soak my feet.
“Ah…”
“Hurry up and get in. Try to imagine how impatient I am, waiting to leisurely observe a man’s bathing scene.”
“That might be so, but please spare me.”
Jumping into hot water suddenly can shock the body. It’s healthier to gradually acclimate to the water to avoid thermal shock. Well, I don’t think the shopkeeper would want to see that scene too much.
As I acclimate my body to the water temperature, I slowly submerge my entire body.
Being enveloped in warm water feels incredibly pleasant.
I can’t help but sigh in relief.
Although the steam rising from the water is intense, I can still see the distant scenery clearly.
It’s such a privilege to bathe in a hot spring with such a beautiful view.
“I never thought there would be a hot spring in the Ladeo volcano…”
“It’s information that only a few know. Don’t spread it around too much, alright? It’s annoying when too many people come.”
“I understand. I want to monopolize such a nice place, after all.”
“Well, there aren’t many who would come all the way here, braving this oppressive heat and the threat of monsters.”
That might be true. After all, the temperature inside the volcano is murderous.
Anyone who comes all the way here to bathe in the hot spring must really love it.
“…What did you come to the volcano for? Surely not to look for hot springs?”
“My objective was to bring back Volkanos eggs, but I got interrupted by monsters along the way. While looking for a detour route to avoid engaging with the monsters too much, I ended up here.”
“Back at it with another troublesome request, I see.”
“It’s tough, but I’m up for the challenge if it’s for materials.”
As I replied, the shopkeeper snorted.
He might have thought I was a weirdo, but that’s honestly how I felt.
While soaking in the hot water, my body warmed up, but my throat felt dry.
I decided to grab my water canteen and hydrate myself.
The cold water flowing into my overheated body felt refreshing.
As I was about to return the canteen, I noticed the shopkeeper looking at me.
“Want some?”
“…I’ll take it.”
Handing it over to the shopkeeper, he gulped down the spring water.
“…You’re drinking quite generously for someone who knows water is a lifeline in the volcano.”
“You can use water magic, so you’re fine.”
It made sense that someone constantly enveloped in cold magic wouldn’t worry about water. And it was true. I had barrels of water prepared in my magic bag, and I could drink using water magic. From my perspective, there was absolutely no need to worry about water even inside the volcano.
“If you’d like, would you care for some ice?”
“You’re quite considerate for a young person these days.”
“I’m just thinking about how to make the experience in the hot spring comfortable and enjoyable.”
I chuckled at the old-fashioned words of the shopkeeper.
Handing the shopkeeper a small ice ball, he tossed it into his mouth to savor.
Enjoying the cold ice while soaking in the hot spring, what luxury.
The hot steam was carried away by the pleasant mountain breeze, dissipating like threads.
“Ah… It would be perfect if we had some cold sake and snacks here.”
That was exactly what I had been thinking. Drinking cold sake while soaking in the hot spring would surely be amazing.
Of course, there was alcohol in the magic bag.
However, the magic bag wasn’t something to flaunt recklessly. But I didn’t think this shopkeeper was the type to do that.
“…What if I said I had some?”
“What did you say?”
Despite being a calm shopkeeper, he was still a dwarf.
When I mentioned having cold sake and snacks, he showed a big reaction.
I hurriedly moved and took out a barrel of ale from the magic bag, along with sake cups and some lazona meat skewers from a stall.
“So, here it is.”
“A magic bag holder, huh… Showing off something like that so casually, that’s amazing!”
The shopkeeper, who had been low-key, started to get excited in front of the alcohol.
After pouring ale into the cups and chilling them with ice magic, I handed one to the shopkeeper too.
“Cheers!”
We clinked our cups together to avoid spilling in the hot spring, then gulped down the cold ale.
The refreshing feeling of drinking cold ale after a bath was completely different.
“Ahh! Delicious!”
“Absolutely!”
Soaking leisurely in the natural hot spring while sipping cold sake.
In my past life, during busy days, this was something I could never do.
After sipping ale, I eat the meat skewers I bought in the town.
The meat, well seasoned with spices, is delicious. Despite encountering and defeating it just this morning, it’s still delicious.
However, it’s not permissible to spill it in the hot spring. Even though it’s natural and there’s no one else around, it’s basic manners not to spill. I eat it carefully to avoid spilling.
And when I wash down the rich flavor with ale, it’s refreshing. It’s an endless loop.
Neither I nor the shopkeeper engage in unnecessary conversation, simply eating, drinking, and enjoying the hot spring at our own pace.
At this point, the ale is being chilled in barrels with ice magic, so if we need more, we can just pour it ourselves.
The shopkeeper had already refilled his cup four times in this short time.
Truly, dwarves are something else.
“As a token of appreciation for providing us with good food and a good time, let me tell you something nice.”
As the cup empties and I finish the last of the meat skewers, the shopkeeper speaks up.
“Follow me.”
“Oh, wait. My clothes…”
“Not far. Just wrap yourself with a towel and the magic bag, that’s enough,” he said.
As I was fumbling with my clothes, I followed the shopkeeper, wrapping a towel and the magic bag around my waist as instructed.
Moving away from the sulfuric hot spring for a while, we came across a spot where mud was bubbling instead.
It was a large puddle of sticky gray mud, pulsating with bubbles, whether from the volcano or some gas component.
“What’s this?”
“Mud spring. The mud here is of good quality and good for the skin.”
“So, that means…”
“It sells well. Especially with women. The volcanic mud pack, a specialty of Eld, is made from this mud. I come here regularly not just for the hot spring, but also to collect this.”
The shopkeeper, who had a somewhat gentle demeanor, smirked with a mischievous smile.
Indeed, I thought again, this shopkeeper is quite business-minded for a dwarf.
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