The water temperature of the hot spring was just right—neither too hot nor too cool. The moment the body gently slid into the soothing water, a wave of warm energy surged through the limbs, spreading rapidly through every muscle, every fiber, every cell.
A sense of melting relaxation blanketed them all.
Steam coiled upward in lazy spirals, curling around their faces like a fine, translucent veil. It softened their surroundings, turning the world into a hazy dreamscape. The dim lighting, the gentle sound of bubbling water, the faint fragrance of minerals—it was like a brief escape from the dungeon's constant tension.
Through this mystical layer of mist, Akira beheld a scene so surreal it might as well have been a painting.
Right before his eyes, Alise was draped languidly over the edge of the spring, her back arched slightly out of the water. Her bare skin gleamed pale under the glow of magic light—soft, smooth. Not the slightest effort was made to hide it from Akira's sight.
Her cheeks, flushed from the heat, added an intoxicating charm to her dazed expression.
"Hahh… This is heavenly." Alise murmured in bliss, her voice dreamy and muffled as her body slowly sank deeper into the spring. "It's like… all the exhaustion of the day just disappeared into the steam…"
Not just Alise—one after another, the rest of the girls eased into the embrace of the spring, letting themselves melt into relaxation.
Every so often, someone would let out a satisfied moan or sigh, completely absorbed in the moment.
Only Kaguya and the two older girls kept their graceful posture, sitting upright and composed.
Meanwhile, Ais, who was notoriously afraid of water, sat obediently on the step Akira had specially raised for her, her towel neatly wrapped around her tiny frame.
Beside Alise, Noin mumbled with a lazy smile, "Yeah… I feel like I could just fall asleep right here."
She yawned, long and loud, eyelids drooping as though she might actually doze off at any moment.
At that moment, Kaguya scooped up a handful of steaming water and watched it slip through her fingers. The ripple of the surface reflected the soft light, casting playful shadows on her expression. Then, as if reminded of something, she turned to Akira—who sat with his eyes closed, basking quietly in the warmth.
Her voice was soft but clear. "Come to think of it, it's not complete without something else. Akira, help me get the sake I brought this morning."
It was a small request, yet it added a luxurious touch to their indulgence.
Truthfully, if not for the recent system update that greatly expanded the storage slots in Akira's [Backpack], it would've been impossible to bring so many miscellaneous items on this expedition.
They'd already packed quite a bit.
Hearing Kaguya's request, Akira gave a small nod. "Got it."
He raised a hand and made a grasping motion in the air. Instantly, a beautifully carved glass bottle materialized in his palm.
He stood and walked toward Kaguya with light steps, but before he could reach her, Maryuu shifted slightly to the side and patted the empty space beside her with a warm smile, motioning for him to sit down.
Akira hesitated, a bit overwhelmed by the invitation but it was hard to refuse.
So, after a small pause, he squeezed into the space between Maryuu and Kaguya, carefully settling in.
As soon as he sat down, the warmth of two soft bodies pressed against him from both sides. The sensation was… distracting. His heartbeat quickened, and he had to consciously calm his breathing.
Trying not to focus on it, he handed the sake bottle to Kaguya.
She took it casually and raised her voice slightly, "Hey, anyone else want a drink?"
Akira reached into his [Backpack] again and pulled out a set of small, elegant wine glasses, placing them gently on a floating tray he had conjured beside the spring.
"I'll drink! No way I'm missing out on sake in a hot spring!"
"Me too! Pour me a cup!"
The voices of agreement rang out enthusiastically.
Ryuu, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed, utterly baffled. "Wait… Kaguya, you actually asked Akira to bring sake? Seriously? We're on an expedition."
Her disbelief echoed through the mist.
Kaguya chuckled, her tone playful. "Come on, don't be so uptight. It's just a little sip to relax. Won't affect our performance."
Watching the scene unfold, Lyra sighed with a tired smile. "Unbelievable. You're all too carefree. Enjoying the start of the expedition …"
Alise, previously melting from relaxation, instantly snapped back to her usual lively self.
She clapped Lyra on the back and laughed boisterously, "Hahaha! It's fine! Just a little drink before bed—what's wrong with that? Don't tell me you don't want a glass."
"…I never said that." Lyra reached out and accepted a cup, her expression reluctant but her hand steady. "Just a small amount. I don't want my sharp mind turning as soft as Alise's."
"Hah?! That's rude! I'm plenty smart, thank you very much!" Alise shouted, raising her cup with pride. "Definitely smarter than Ryuu!"
"Hey—Alise! Why are you always dragging me into this!?" Ryuu snapped, her composure cracking at last.
She had tried her best to ignore the bathhouse chaos and just enjoy the peaceful water, but Alise's jab hit her pride like a hammer. Her ears turned red.
"For the record—I am not an idiot!"
"Yeah, sure." Akira chimed in from the middle, smirking. "If I hang around Ryuu long enough, I'll turn into a moron myself."
"Hah!? Are you serious, Akira?!"
"You won't really become dumb, right?!"
Laughter echoed off the cave walls, bright and carefree.
Even though they were deep in the dangerous and unpredictable dungeon, for this one fleeting night, joy filled the atmosphere.
After soaking to their hearts' content, it was finally time to settle down.
They moved to decide on sleeping arrangements.
There were four tents, each capable of holding four people—but with thirteen members, the math was simple.
Akira would have no tent to himself. And so, inevitably, he had to share with three girls.