With Frieren and Fern present, this hot spring trip was secure. Furthermore, Nozomi would keep an eye on the girls at all times.
The group arrived at their destination around ten o'clock.
The hot spring resort clung to a mountainside wrapped in cedar and old pine, the air thick with sulfur and wet earth. Morning mist still curled between the trees, diffusing the sunlight into soft gold. Stone steps wound upward through moss-covered lanterns, each exhale visible in the crisp mountain air.
Since Haruno-nee was tired from driving, Nozomi carried her up the mountain on his back.
Her thighs pressed warm against his sides through the thin fabric of her skirt, arms draped loosely around his neck. She smelled of jasmine perfume and the faint leather scent from her car's interior. Every few steps, she shifted her weight deliberately, her breasts cushioning soft against his shoulder blades.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see Haruno-nee was taking the opportunity to act spoiled in front of her fiancé. She had only driven for an hour—how tired could she really be?
But no one exposed her.
Chihiro felt uncomfortable. If she had known, she would have pretended to be tired too. She wanted to be carried up the mountain.
The girls chattered excitedly as they climbed.
Yui Yuigahama and Yumiko Miura walked side by side, anticipation bright in their eyes. Yuigahama had gained a little weight recently and hoped the mineral waters would help slim her down. Especially her legs—they had become soft and fleshy around the thighs. She hoped they could be as slender as Yukinoshita's and Yumiko's.
She had realized it long ago. Nozomi was a leg enthusiast.
He often took advantage of moments when she wasn't paying attention to place his hand on Yukinoshita's legs—fingers tracing idle patterns along her inner thigh while they sat together, thumb pressing circles into the muscle just above her knee. Sometimes his palm would slide higher, disappearing beneath the hem of her skirt while Yukinoshita's breath caught and her cheeks flushed pink.
However, Yuigahama wasn't blind. How could she not see?
Asuna Yuuki and Asada Shino walked together behind them. Sympathetic to Shino's experiences, the gentle Asuna kept striking up conversations with the relatively introverted girl. Shino's hair caught the dappled sunlight as she nodded along, her usual guarded expression softening.
Their friendship warmed rapidly. In no time, they became good friends.
Originally, Sasanqua was supposed to come too, but she wasn't available today.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura and Kasumigaoka Utaha bickered near the rear of the group. Seeing so many cute girls—all connected to Nozomi—made Eriri's jealousy flare hot beneath her ribs. She tried telling Utaha to give up on him, only to be utterly defeated by a few cutting words from the dark-haired upperclassman.
Eriri, embarrassed and angry, swung her blonde ponytail in attack—but accidentally struck Kato Megumi across the cheek instead.
Megumi had a good personality and didn't hold it against her. However, she glanced toward Nozomi, and her mood became complicated.
As expected, Nozomi is definitely the protagonist of a light novel.
She complained silently, but had no intention of leaving. The hot spring interested her. Besides, apart from Nozomi and his girlfriends, no one would really think of her, let alone extend such a rare invitation.
…
Before long, they arrived at the entrance.
The resort building was old wood and weathered tile, steam rising from vents in lazy white plumes. Bamboo wind chimes clinked softly. The smell of minerals and hinoki wood permeated everything.
The owner emerged to greet them—a handsome young man in a deep blue kimono, his black hair neatly combed. This was his ancestral bathhouse.
When he saw girls like Yukinoshita, Shiina, and Frieren—who looked like they had stepped straight from a manga page—his face flushed crimson and his eyes went wide.
Was he dreaming?
Hiss...
They were all so cute. And the ones in the lead had such incredible presence—wealthy young lady types, every single one.
"Welcome, lovely ladies." He suppressed his inner excitement and bowed politely. "I am the owner here. Are you here to soak in the hot spring?"
Shiina stepped forward with a smile, her silver-blonde hair cascading past her shoulders. "Yes, thank you for your trouble. Please give us a few bathhouses—the kind that can whiten and nourish the skin, okay?"
"N-no problem!"
Her sweet smile left the young owner stunned. He hurriedly averted his gaze, nodding respectfully.
It wasn't that he hadn't seen the world. It was just that these beauties were too charming.
"Everyone, our bathhouse has a five-hundred-year history." He led them along a stone path lined with moss. "My name is Kiba Yuya, and my family has inherited this bathhouse for generations."
"Does it really have skin-whitening effects?" Yui Yuigahama asked eagerly. "I heard even a black person could turn white after soaking in it."
*Offence taken
Kiba Yuya looked awkward. "Uh, it's not that exaggerated, but there definitely is a whitening effect. Otherwise I wouldn't dare charge such high fees."
"Lovely ladies, this is our bathhouse area. Men to the left, women to the right."
Steam billowed from behind wooden screens. The mineral water's scent—sulfur mixed with something floral from the bath additives—hung heavy in the humid air.
"After soaking, we provide accommodation and meals. If you need anything, just let me know." Kiba Yuya bowed again. "I won't disturb you further."
He left tactfully. Although he didn't understand why there was only one male among so many stunning beauties, that wasn't his business.
After Nozomi entered, he received a notification.
[Ding, congratulations to the player for triggering an Artifact Collection Quest.]
[This artifact is special; please explore it at night.]
[Successfully recovering the artifact will reward you with one skill entry draw or item draw, with a fixed reward of 1,000,000 yen.]
Since he could only explore at night, Nozomi wasn't in a hurry.
….
After changing, he entered a bathhouse alone.
The girls went in together.
Besides Yukinoshita and the others, other guests occupied the resort as well. Both men and women.
Among them, a long-haired, mustachioed blond man had been staring at Shiina and the others ever since they entered. His eyes crawled over their bodies like insects—lingering on breasts, hips, the curve of their thighs.
He rubbed his lower abdomen, mouth going dry.
So lucky today.
A group of such stunning female guests. His little brother would be blessed tonight.
"Yo, Yuya!" He called out to the owner nearby. "You've got good luck today! So many cute female guests—have you set your eyes on any?"
Kiba Yuya looked at the long-haired blond with undisguised disgust. The man's name was Ota Fukatoro. Greasy stubble clung to his weak chin. His yukata hung open to reveal a pale, soft chest.
"That's none of your business. Just go back after you're done soaking, Ota."
Ota chuckled, scratching at his mustache. "Yuya, if you want to run this bathhouse and carry forward your ancestral business, how could you do it without me? You've seen the results. Don't tell me you're planning to burn bridges after crossing?"
Kiba Yuya's expression shifted. "I naturally wouldn't do that. But didn't I already give you thirty percent of the bathhouse's revenue? Besides, without my family's bathhouse, you wouldn't have the opportunity to show off."
His face went cold. "Ota, I advise you to calm down. Do not harass the female guests—especially those angel-like girls."
"Pfft! Angels?" Ota's laughter was wet and ugly. "Kiba, oh Kiba. A virgin is just a virgin. You really don't understand women. Do you believe that tonight, the angels you speak of will come to my room voluntarily?"
"I don't believe it!" Kiba Yuya's face reddened with anger. "You'd better not do anything that will affect our reputation."
"Haha, don't worry. I know my limits."
….
Shiina soaked until her skin turned pink, then felt lightheaded from the heat.
She left the hot spring and changed into a cream-colored yukata, the fabric clinging slightly to her still-damp skin. Her silver-blonde hair hung loose and wet down her back. She was about to go find Nozomi when footsteps approached.
A blond, long-haired, mustachioed man stepped out from behind a wooden pillar.
"Hi, lovely lady." His voice oozed false charm. "I am a regular here—Ota Fukatoro. What is your name?"
Shiina frowned. His lecherous gaze made her skin crawl, eyes sliding over the curves visible through her thin yukata. The smell of stale tobacco and unwashed skin wafted from him.
She had no intention of dealing with such a person.
She turned to leave.
But Ota spread his arms and lunged forward, hands grasping for her waist.
He laughed in triumph, already imagining holding her close, kissing that pretty mouth, groping her perfect body through the thin fabric. This was his usual tactic. No woman could leave him after spending a night of passion together—
The scene he imagined did not happen.
Ota Fukatoro felt his body ignite.
Black flames erupted across his flesh without heat or sound—just an absolute, consuming darkness that devoured everything it touched. Before he could react, before he could even scream, he was reduced to ash.
Not even his soul remained.
…
Shiina blinked in confusion and was about to turn around when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Warm breath tickled her ear.
"Be good, Mahiru. Don't turn around."
"Nozomi..." She relaxed into his chest, looking up at him with shy relief. "Honestly, you scared me."
Nozomi chuckled low in his throat and lowered his head to kiss her cheek. His lips lingered, trailing warmth across her flushed skin.
"Why didn't you keep soaking? Feeling dizzy?"
"Mm, a little." She leaned back against him, her damp hair pressing to his chest. "Take me to rest."
"Alright."
He guided her away, one arm wrapped possessively around her waist. He didn't bother looking at the pile of ash scattered across the wooden floor behind them.
He had noticed that blond, mustachioed man the moment they arrived. The way his eyes had crawled over Mahiru's body. The sick anticipation in his expression.
If he dared to pounce on his Mahiru, he had to be prepared for death.
However—
For a bathhouse to harbor such a creature meant other monsters and demons lurked here too.
*Meaning the douches in NTR scenarios or probably literally
Perfect.
When he retrieved the artifact tonight, he would clean things up as well.