A Side Story in the Steam: A Revealed Secret of Origin
The hot spring, discovered through the guidance of the sacred beast, brought immense joy to the village. Akio and Dolgan quickly took the lead in planning the construction of gender-separated bathhouses, and the villagers were full of eager anticipation. However, one issue soon arose.
“Ugh… Boss, I don’t think I can handle this smell…”
Kina, sniffing around the source of the spring, tearfully voiced her complaint. For her, a wolf beastkin with an exceptional sense of smell, the strong sulfur odor was too much to bear for long. Akio was at a loss, but Sylvia offered a solution: “Why not build an additional bath a bit farther from the source, where the water is diluted and the smell is milder?” It was agreed that some villagers might also be sensitive to the smell, and the plan was adjusted to include two types of hot spring baths.
With the bathhouse locations decided, the villagers raised a celebratory toast—perhaps partly to express appreciation for their daily efforts. That night, some of the men—mainly newly arrived refugees, but with Dolgan and a few veteran villagers mixed in—got a little too carried away with their homemade fruit liquor. Singing loudly might have been forgivable, but minor squabbles and exaggerated boasting started to escalate into a real commotion.
Just then, out of nowhere, Sylvia appeared at the head of a group including Leonora, Ayane, Celestina, and several of the village’s more formidable (or at least very determined) women. They silently encircled the noisy men. The quiet but overwhelming pressure of their presence instantly sobered the rowdy group, which promptly dispersed.
“… The Girls-Only Gathering Network is terrifying.”
Akio muttered as he watched the whole scene unfold in stunned silence. Apparently, the women’s communication and unity were more effective than any force of arms in the village.
These incidents, along with repeated cultural misunderstandings with Kina (involving things like her tail and ears), left Akio deeply troubled. As the village grew and people from diverse backgrounds joined, he began to worry that his “otherworldly” perspective might lead to serious misunderstandings or problems in the future. He consulted Sylvia.
“Sylvia, I think… I should tell the key people the truth. That I came from a completely different world, and that I’m unfamiliar with many customs here.”
Sylvia looked into his earnest eyes and gave a calm nod. “Yes, Akio. If you’ve decided that, then it’s the right path. Everyone knows your sincerity. I’m sure they’ll understand.”
A few days later, Akio gathered Ayane, Celestina, Leonora, and Kina in one of the completed rooms of the Central Hall, still under construction but now able to provide shelter.
With a tense expression, Akio began to speak of his origins. That he came from an entirely different world called “Earth,” that he was unfamiliar with the customs and common sense of this world, and that this might have led him to unintentionally act rudely. He bowed deeply to Kina in particular, apologizing sincerely for any disrespect.
“So if I ever say or do anything weird, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I want you to help me learn more about this world.”
Ayane nodded quietly, both surprised and somehow reassured, showing even deeper trust in Akio. Celestina and Leonora accepted his confession with seriousness and responded with respect for his honesty.
The most shocked of all was Kina. She stared wide-eyed at Akio for a while, then suddenly softened her expression.
“Oh, so that’s what it was, Boss! I totally thought you were just messing with me… or seriously into me or something…! So you’re from another world, huh? Well, that explains a lot! In that case, I’ll just have to teach you everything there is to know about how things work around here!”
Kina’s carefree smile lifted the hearts of everyone in the room. For Akio, it felt like a great weight had finally been lifted.
That night, Sylvia came to Akio with a heartwarming report.
“Akio, about the children…”
Among the five original children (excluding Ayane), Alto and Miko, as well as Kenta and Yume, had apparently made solemn promises to “always be together” in the future, despite their young age. Ayane had been secretly told by Miko and Yume.
“I see… So they’re already starting to think about things like that.”
Akio felt both surprised and deeply moved. A new generation’s future was beginning to take root in the village.
With his secret revealed and bonds newly forged—or reaffirmed—Akio’s village continued to grow, becoming a stronger and warmer community with every challenge they overcame.
What do you think about this chapter?
