Hilda crosses, cutting through the clouds of vapor as if delivering slashes to specters. She is sweating, both from the ambient heat and the exertion of appearing in seconds to help. The first thing she spots through the white curtain is Lynel, staring at a scene with his jaw dropped. Hilda follows the third captain's gaze, expecting to find a massacre, perhaps a giant monster causing the vapor, but instead...
Hot springs occupy the bulk of the area, born from underground sources. Submerged in the gentle waters are twelve naked men—the exact total of the members of the three squads assigned to guard the castle. Spread over a stone bench near the water are their armors, clothes, and weapons.
Finding them ignoring their duties is already cause for surprise and reprimand, but what makes Hilda's eye twitch and her grind her teeth in fury is their company. Next to each man, either clinging to an arm or hugging him from behind, are women with athletic bodies, sloping foreheads, and eyes that shine with a childish curiosity bordering on the stupid. In comparison, the soldiers pale and look at Hilda as if seeing Death personified.
"If you do not get out of that water in the next ten seconds, I will castrate you one by one!"
The twelve guards, soaked and naked, trembling despite the heat, line up on the shore, hands held straight near their foreheads in salute. In the background, Lynel tries to communicate with the women in the water and extends a hand to help them out.
"L-Ladies, I apologize, but this castle is no place for women of the night," the captain comments, stuttering, trying not to look at anything compromising. Lynel used to believe that at this point in his life, being a seasoned man, dealing with naked women wouldn't make him nervous like a rookie at his first tournament. But the truth is, despite their primitive features like tangled hair and thick eyebrows, the strangers are quite beautiful and voluptuous. The situation complicates when all of them, letting out giggles and murmurs, grab Lynel's arm and pull him with a force that surprises the captain. "Wait, no...! My late wife would never allow...!"
The captain falls into the water. Hilda catches the splash out of the corner of her eye but decides Lynel will have to fight that battle on his own. The woman's priority is punishing the fickle soldiers in front of her. Though soon, Hilda's eye drifts toward the ceiling, searching for an invisible presence to direct some fierce words at.
"Is this your way of trying to weaken us, dungeon, with such a vile trick?! Spreading the corruption and weakness of the flesh! You truly are diabolical!"
One of the soldiers, seeing a chance to get off the hook, steps forward and starts speaking rapidly.
"Exactly, Captain. The filthy core tried to corrupt our minds and spirits. But thanks to you—!"
Hilda's fist meets the man's face, cutting his words short. The guard, with a broken nose, rolled-back eyes, and one less tooth, falls backward into the water. Lynel and the cavewomen surrounding him watch the unconscious man float, completely dumbstruck.
Hilda pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs. She immediately realizes she is being naive. She wishes she could blame the Dungeon Core for all the kingdom's ills, but the weakness in the hearts of men is something that has existed since before Arrax was even born.
"You lot..." Hilda glares at the remaining 11 guards. The men flinch. "Run 100 laps around the castle. One lap less, or one lap more, and I'll make you start over from the beginning."
Given the order, the men nod and prepare to gather their clothes and armor, but Hilda stops them by raising her voice.
"When did I give you permission to dress? Get out, now!"
The terrified soldiers sprint toward the exit of the hot springs area. Dowmy comes from the opposite direction, carrying a stone bowl with more orange ovals: Mangoes. The imp sees the soldiers fleeing and understands what terrified them so much when her gaze meets Hilda's.
"You...!" The woman extends her arm and points at the girl.
"Me?" Dowmy places a hand on her chest and looks around.
"Imp, you and the crystal have a lot of explaining to do."
Dowmy swallows hard.
Jimbo watches everything with an annoyed expression. He hates it when people meddle in his business.