May We Enter the Hot Springs?
The next day, we were on our way back to the royal capital together with Nat, Canal, and the Golden Wings members.
As for Lux Village, the ones heading there would be Ed, Ramon, and Linda—the three I’d spoken to yesterday—along with Rena, who could use Earth magic, four young folk mainly working in farming, and two beastkin who had the divine blessing of the Martial God and often traveled to the capital as guards. That made six beastkin in total.
Logan and his men would escort those six all the way to the capital and back, so I told them to get in touch if anything happened. That way, I wouldn’t have to go myself.
After all, I was still only nine years old. Making repeated trips that took two full days one way would be too much of a burden.
“Logan, I’ll ask Grandfather to let you stay a night in the new district in the capital. Take the beastkin with you and enjoy the hot springs there before you return.”
“Thank you. In that case, I’ll gladly take you up on the offer.”
Apparently eavesdropping on us, Allie piped up,
“Young Master Reinhardt, what’s a hot spring?”
“In the new district being built, there’s naturally heated water bubbling up from the ground. That’s what we call a hot spring. Soaking in it helps your body recover from fatigue more quickly. Once the district is complete, we’ll build lots of bathhouses where anyone can enter for a small fee. You should try it.”
“If we take on escort duty to Lux Village, can we go to the hot springs too?”
“What, you’re planning to go to Lux Village as well?”
“Well, Salem and the others said they wanted training from Logan and Marcus, so if we say we’re going, I think they’ll agree.”
Honestly, I’d been a bit worried about the six beastkin traveling far from the capital for the first time, but if Golden Wings came along too, that would be reassuring.
“If the rest of Golden Wings agrees, then yes. As companions, you’ll be allowed into the new district and can use the hot springs.”
“Understood. I’ll go ask the others,” Allie said, hurrying off to find Salem.
“She’s always right at your side, isn’t she,” Meyer remarked, riding alongside me. “Even though you don’t always have new magic to share.”
“Yeah, she must really love magic,” I said.
“True, but I think she also hopes to hear something that could benefit them. Not just new magic.”
“Well, there aren’t that many of either lying around,” I muttered.
Before long, Allie returned with Salem and Canal, smiling brightly. “Everyone wants to go.”
“I got Father’s permission, so I’m going to Lux Village too,” Canal added.
“It’ll be a large group. Will that be a problem?” Salem asked.
Logan just laughed and said there were seven guest rooms in the village’s assembly hall, so it would be fine—and also mentioned he’d be building a slime shed, asking them to help.
“Of course we’ll help. We’ll assist with forest hunts too,” Salem replied happily. Training under Logan and Marcus clearly had him excited.
“Canal, why are you going along?”
“I want to try the hot springs. And I heard the village is protected by fortress-like earthen walls built with Earth magic. Since I have Earth too, I want to see them for myself.”
Ah. Canal must be worried about Shinana Village’s walls. They were lower compared to Helios Village’s. Shinana hardly ever encountered monsters unless you went deep into the forest, but last year it had been attacked by orcs and goblins.
“All right then. I’ll get Grandfather to prepare a permit so you can stop by the new district on the way there and back.”
We arrived in the capital.
Tomorrow, Logan and the beastkin would leave for Lux Village. Logan and his men would stay at the knights’ quarters, so we parted ways with Canal and Golden Wings there.
Since there was one special slime with them, Logan and the beastkin would all stay at the knights’ quarters.
As for me, I went to Grandfather’s office to get the entry permit written up so Logan and the others could access the new district.
Once I handed Logan the permit, my part in the Guush project would be complete.
Finally, it was over.
What do you think about this chapter?
