Hot Spring Effect Appraisal
After dinner
“Hardt, have you figured out how to appraise the hot spring’s blessing effects?”
“No clue.”
I tried drinking the water, saying “appraise” while soaking, staring hard at the spring—everything I could think of. Nothing.
“Maybe it’s something simple.”
“Brother Gerald, every simple method failed.”
“No hints on the stone slab?”
“Nope. No mail either.”
“You can see the hot spring map on the slab.”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t opened the hot spring map on the slab yet.”
I take out the slab, press the hot spring button. Below the map button is an effect appraisal button. My hand freezes.
“Hardt, what’s wrong?”
“Brother Gerald, there’s an effect appraisal button on the slab.”
Pressing it reveals: hold the slab in the steam to appraise.
I read the instructions and droop.
All my effort—and embarrassing attempts—yet it’s this easy? Cruel.
“Hardt, you checked the slab after the gods spoke, but no appraisal mention?”
“They told me to check regularly, so I thought it was just for mana levels…”
“The gods did give a proper hint.”
They need to say it clearly.
They’re direct about demanding food, sweets, crafts…
Urged to test, I approach the spring, hold out the slab, press the button, and expose it to the steam. Words appeared.
—
35% effective on wounds, 5% on bruises, 60% on curses.
Adding recovery magic water, holy water, or World Tree leaves boosts power.
—
So what I did for Lucas a year ago ties to this boost.
“Hardt, what are the results?”
I explain to Brother Chris and the others.
“When we lifted Lucas’s curse, those effects became this spring’s power?”
Very possible.
I’ll check the other two when we get back.
From the Great Forest spring, via the World Tree, we returned to the clearing.
Here we parted with Ripka and Bianca’s families.
See you in two months.
Now the Cocotte nest hunt begins.
We split left and right, chasing Cocottes.
They split paths, so we do too, pursuing further.
One-horned rabbits and silver wolves attack en route; we fight while tracking.
Recovery teams collect kills, so we focus on not losing the Cocottes—but fighting means we finally do.
One-horned rabbits and silver wolves keep coming; feels the same every time.
“Regroup at the clearing?”
“No, search the area first.”
But today, while chasing Cocottes, we never ran into others.
We fight plenty from shallows to clearing.
Back at the clearing, Brother Gerald, Brother Chris, Captain Kyle—all returned.
“Hardt, have you found the nest?”
“No, lost them midway.”
“Same everywhere.”
“Did you encountere any other Cocottes while chasing?”
“Now that you mention it, no.”
“Shouldn’t we search closer to the shallows by the fort?”
“If near the fort, let’s return there and search again tomorrow.”
Next day, near the Great Forest entrance fort, we hunted for nests.
While chasing a Cocotte, but a One-horned Rabbit and another Cocotte charged from both sides. And we lost the one we followed.
Repeat that a few times—no nest-like spots.
“Hey, Cocottes obey those they recognize as strong, right?”
“Not after one fight.”
“Atre, Lucas—can’t you order a Cocotte to guide us to the nest?”
“Impossible.” “Can’t.”
“Can’t hold a conversation with them.”
Can’t talk, huh.
“Young Master Reinhardt, there are several small Cocottes deeper in.”
“Really?”
Following the knight silently, we saw Cocottes half adult size.
Maybe we can find the nest by following these.
Meyer and the others nodded. Stepped in front, which startled the chicks and they bolted the opposite way. We chased frantically but eventually lost them.
A big wall of rocks stood before us.
What do you think about this chapter?
