I was here all night, alone, in the mountains, returning them to the inn.

　Cleaning up after the monsters.
　There might be other monsters out there that will be stronger than just ghouls. I've been here all night, trying to get ahead of them.

　I caught a glimpse of it at the edge of the developing magic circle and flew low with my flying magic to get closer to it, only to find a minotaur I hadn't manipulated (...) yet.

　The minotaur spotted me and brandished a huge axe to intercept me.
　Influenced by my magic dissolving in the mountains, just like the ghouls, the minotaur has more power and speed than when I fought it in the cave.

　I catch the axe that cleaves the tree with my wise men's sword, and with my return sword I detach the limbs from the body.
　Curses the paralyzed minotaur.

　The magic circle wraps around the minotaur and succeeds.
　Now the next time the minotaur is born, it will have a life span of three seconds.
　This is a breath of fresh air--

"------!

　Something was rapidly approaching from behind .
　A being approaching at once from the edge of the magic circle of sensing, fast!

　Turn around and let the wise man's sword slash with all its might--.

Ah.

　The slash cut through the sky, and I chuckled as I realized the true nature of what was coming.

　It was a red thread.
　A red thread of fortune telling, so popular these days.

　I couldn't cut it with my sword and it wrapped around my little finger.

"Someone told your fortune.

　I asked the wise man's sword about the crystal ball of red thread after the first time I did it with Angier.

As I recall ...... it flies from the ends of the world regardless of the distance.
(Pause)

　The wise man's sword, which has recently learned to make simple declarations of intent, answered.
　The red thread came from the city of Zealous, but I doubt it really came from Zealous.
　I wouldn't be surprised if it came from literally the edge of the world.

　After all, it's an SSS-ranked life, so a red thread doesn't surprise me anymore.

　Anyway--I made a crystal ball thinking that.
　Now that I understand it, I can create it whenever I want.

　When I touched the crystal ball, red threads came out of ten fingers.
　SSS rank life is full of red threads.

Yes, I'm a little relieved.

　Relieved to see that the red thread did not extend to the mountain, I continued to clean up after the monster.

　　　　　Stars

I'm home. Angier?

　When I came back to my room at the inn, the only thing in the room was Eliza relaxing in her yukata.

I had an errand to run.
"Messenger?
By imperial decree. She's the Imperial Princess.
I see. So the princess is the emperor's emissary. That sounds like a pretty serious imperial decree. Do you need help?
No, all you need is class. Angier is all you need.
"I see.

I'm just asking. Which do you like better, Alexander or Carlisle?
"Since they're both my names--wait, this is not the time to 'just ask,' are they?

　I had a bad feeling.
　I'm suddenly wondering where Angier is now.

The Beauty Springs are completely Alec's achievement, and I'm just going to tell my people about it. It's going to be either Alexander Hot Springs or Carlisle Hot Springs.
"That's a bit of a problem, it's hard to be embarrassed about it in the future.
"What is it now that people are enshrined in the statue of a god here?

　Smiling Eliza.
　That's true.

"Why do you have that, by the way?
"Hmm?　Oh this crystal ball?　I cut a little red thread earlier.
"You slashed!　Why?

　Eliza jumped up in a flash.
　She had been shouting and screaming, but now she started to panic.

"I thought we were under attack. We were on the lookout for a monster.
Oh, yeah. And you were able to cut it?
I couldn't cut it. Apparently a wise man's sword can't cut the red thread.
"Yeah, well, I guess there are some things that Alec can't do either: ............
I guess so.

　I'm rather a bit relieved.
　If I cut the red string, people might talk about it.

　Eliza, like your father, is determined to lift me up anyway.
　That's exactly what they're trying to name the hot springs after me now.

............-ho
What's going on?


"Hey, it's nothing,

　Eliza looked at me funny for a moment.
　I guess he's not happy he couldn't cut.

"More importantly, is the monster clear?
"Yes, it's all right. In the future, this Zeahorse should not be attacked by local monsters.
Yeah, good job. We should think of something to reward you.
It's ...... maybe not necessary.
Why?

　Eliza wonders.
　I put my crystal ball on the table in the middle of the room and go to the window.
　I hear a commotion.

　From the entrance of the city, a ostentatious imperial carriage rides in, and Angel, clad in her imperial dress, slowly makes its way through the city.
　By the emperor's order, the princess is an imperial envoy.

　It's like a big ceremony with Angel moving through the city.

　The inhabitants of Zealhose and bathers from all over the city.
　Nearly everyone was watching her.

My Angel was made even more beautiful by these hot springs.
"Say it to yourself, right?
"Of course I will.
"So .................. I'm jealous.
"Yeah, what did you just say?
I said we're going to name this place Alec Hot Springs.
"Yeah!
That's too bad. I would have thought about it if you had asked me to stop at 'reward' time.
That's just thinking.

　Thinking, but not saying stop.
　Sure enough, Eliza grins.

"Am I clear?
I'm used to it.

　I smile slightly, Eliza smiles.

"Well, I'm going to take a quick bath.
Yeah?
Yes, I want to be more beautiful.
"...... yeah

　The look on Eliza's face threw me for a moment.
　It's not her good looks or the effect of the beauty spa.

　I was thrilled to see Eliza's lustrous smile on her face.

　　　　　☆

　Thus, the matter of Hot Springs was settled.

　The hot spring was named after me and my lovely wife became even more beautiful.