Once again, it looks good from a bird's eye view, doesn't it?
When you get out of the changing room and go through the stone pavement of the gravel pavement, the steam rising from the hot spring surrounded by rocks.
The sound of hot water flowing quietly into the hot spring surrounded by a bamboo fence.

This is it!　Japanese hot springs!

Huh. I'm glad I did my best....
Now for a memorable first bath!
I'm going to enjoy myself!

With a man!

It's funny. How did that happen?
Wasn't I trying hard enough to have a mixed bath?
No well, we're going to have a mixed bath, so I can't ask you to wait for it...
It's no use. We'll have plenty of time to enjoy it later.

"Huh........it's a nice hot water........
'Well...'

It's certainly a nice hot water.
It's deep enough to give you a little bit of shoulder room, and it's nice to sit down and not hurt when you put your back on it, so it feels so good that you almost feel like you're going to lose it.

'Brother, brother!　You're not going to peek!
I can hear that...
Ma-kun?
Hee....

The divider is just this one board, you know.....
I know that peeping is.........romantic, but since you're there today, I'm going to change my mind and make it romantic for adults.

I'm not going to be able to do that. Don't move too much. Don't make waves.
Yes!

He's only good at answering, right?
As you might expect, he dips into the water with great vigor and makes waves.
Well, whatever. Then let's get out what we got from the bargain with the landlady.

First, a wooden bucket. And two sake cups and a sake bottle.
In short, we know what's inside!
Yes. It's hot and warm.


I don't mind muddy sake, but it has a strong flavor, and I don't really like it warmed up.

Speaking of heated sake in hot springs, it's a very grown-up thing to do.
You may have seen it on a number of occasions, but I don't think many people have actually tried it.

Oh, I've seen it in a hot spring special!
'I've always wanted to try it. Warmed up in a hot spring!　Freed, since I'm not going to be drinking alone, will you join me?
Me?　I don't mind, but....

Hayato and True are underage.
I don't know how old the laws of this world allow you to drink from, but ethically I'll ask Fried to do it.
Perhaps knowing that, no complaints were raised from the two of them.

'Then I'll pour you a drink.
Sorry. Well I'll pay you back.
Oh, well, well it's a very beautiful drink.
In a way, it's the liquor most associated with us drifters, you know?

After all, it's got the name of the country in it.

Okay, cheers.
Yes. A toast.

We don't bump into each other with a clink, we just raise each other's heads in a toast.
The small cup feels even smaller when held by Freed.
Would it have been better to use a bowl........

I slowly bring my mouth up to the sake cup and bring a little bit of the hot, hot sake down my throat.
The sweetness and aroma unique to Japanese sake has passed through my nose, and a sensation that is steeped in alcohol passes through me later on.

This is........quite a strong sake.....
Yeah. So, a little bit.

A warmed-up bottle of wine at a hot spring resort will probably make you drunk right away.
But it's still delicious.
I'm starting to feel even warmer, and then I'm approached by a man who calls out to me.

Customer!　I'll take one of those!

The guide who is leaning over the top of the partition to appeal for a handout.

''Isn't it ... the other way around?''

Why are you peeking at me?
It's the other way around!
What fun is it to see a man naked........
That position, it looks like he's balancing himself well on his stomach, but I'd like to see him from the other side if I could.

Well, okay.......... True, I'm sorry, but give it to him.
Now you're being unreasonable.
Hmm?　.... uh ... oke.

Even though the guide is wrapped in a towel, her shoulders, shoulder blades, and cleavage are still clearly visible.......
........puberty!

Yes, sir. Don't drink too much. It's pretty strong. You'll fall down.

I approached the guide, who was trying hard to reach out to him and gave him a morinu and a boiler in another vat, and he took it while it was horizontal so as not to roll it over.

'I know. It's a local brew, you know!　See, you got to see the plumming up close and personal in return!

Yes, yes. Thank you for the treat.
More importantly, the guide was from Amatsukuni?
Come to think of it.......you don't even look like Ayame, do you?
I think it's safe to say that her personality is the exact opposite.

''Hmmm...!''

I tried to raise my body to recoil........

''.........Well, I can't get up if you hold my legs.......''

Along with the guide's voice, I hear a sound from the women's bathhouse side of the building.

Hmm.
No, hmm!　Not that!　Oh, no!　The towel!　Don't touch the towel!
We'll take it from here. It's not safe.
Thank you for this, not... not...!

Only the arms came out in a swoosh, and when the guide's tub was taken from him, he was left with only a fumbling guide.

'Hoore-hoore-'
'Gyahhhh!　Please don't!　Please don't put your hands on the towel!
Didn't I promise you not to color up my master?
I did, though!　What comes naturally can't be helped, geez!

The usher, whose arm is holding the slowly loosening towel, is in a helpless state.
Makoto watches the situation as if devouring it, and Hayato turns away to avoid looking at it as much as possible.

'It's time to put it back. You don't want the divider to break. Also, Shin's eyes are in trouble.
"Hm.
'Don't let go of me all of a sudden!　BALANCE HUGE!

I scoop the guide's shoulders, who is pulling while giggling and straining his spine, and slowly push him back that way.

''Oh, thank you!　Someday ... someday I'll do it back, oh, it's a lie, it's a lie!
Don't go too far.
""Yes!"

They say that three women are fornicating, but this time it's even more so with the addition of a guide.


"Oops........I guess it's cooled off.
I put the water in a tub to keep it cold.

Saying that, Fried takes a moral bottle and pours me a cup of sake.

The women's bath can still be heard with the sound of bashing and the girls' squeaky voices, but it's something I've gotten used to and has become like background music.

Well, I'm going to drag him down, though.

Now then, let's get down to business, shall we?

So, what's the matter...?
What do you mean?
'No, if Freed is coming all the way here this time, he must have something to do with it.　I thought.

When I went to call for Hayato, I thought that even if he were to come, it would be the usual members, but Freed is also coming here with me.

You can think of it as a fighting force, but it's odd that the man who is usually the head butler only comes out at times like this.

It could have been that he was trying to stop Hayato, who was on the verge of going out of control this time, but he didn't seem to stop.

So, I thought that he had something to do with me.

"Well...... I have a favor to ask--
'No, Hayato-sama. I'd like to say something. I think it makes sense...

When Hayato was about to talk to me with a serious face, Fried turned to me to interrupt me.
The seriousness of the face of Fried, who has straightened his seat and is sitting upright, can be seen on his face.

''I'm sorry to be rude, but I have a favor to ask of you.
Hmm, I owe Freed a favor, and I'll take some of that, but what?
Would you be willing to purchase one of the slaves?
"A slave does that mean you want me to buy you a slave?
'No, I'd like to ask you to purchase a certain slave for a customer, to be with him.

.... hmm?

A slave.... You mean you know him?　Wouldn't Hayato be better then?
''No, I'm not an acquaintance........ I heard from Hayato-sama about the previous auction...

Previous auctions........................

.........half-elf?
Yes.....
'Hmmm ... can I ask you why?　You don't know him, do you?
'Yes, I'm afraid so, but...'
...because you're half?
''Yes......... I was saved by Hayato-sama. But she is still young and I think she has a strong grudge against the world.... But if we can reach out to someone, I believe the world will change dramatically.


The discrimination is especially strong for the half-elves.
Does this mean that they didn't want to leave a girl who was in a similar situation, and who was still a young half-elf, alone?

''Next time, if she remains unsold, she will be sold to the Dark Slave City........ If that happens.........
''I see........
'I don't mind, though...'

Even so, as long as she is engaged to Chevalier, the daughter of the current king, it would be a bad idea to act in a way that would go against the public's feelings more than necessary.

Besides, Hayato is often away from home.
If a problem arose while he was away, Hayato, being an aristocrat, could have his position in jeopardy by itself....

''Ushi. I understand.
Are you sure?
Oh. On one condition.
Conditions?

I'm sorry, but I owe you something, and it's not something I can say I've figured out right away.
Naturally, I'll let you put the conditions ahead of time.

"Oh, first of all. If you do any harm to Wendy and the others, I'll put her up for sale at the next auction. Furthermore, if I don't get a buyer there, I'll put her up for sale on the black slave market as well.

Even though I owe him a debt, that is unacceptable in a stone.
If that half-elf is going to do any harm, I'll have to back off immediately.

''Next ... it seems that the boy is a habitual escapee, but even if he escapes, I won't pursue him. I'll give her a chance, but it's up to her to take it. Of course I'll do my best, and if she's willing to take my hand, I'll protect her responsibly.

Not many opportunities in life.
If this side reaches out and you don't take that hand, I'm not going to get involved any further.

For the last time I'm going to get everyone's consent.
Very well. That's fine on those terms. Feel free to disengage if it would inconvenience you.
That's good. So that's it. You heard the man.

The women's bathhouse is surprisingly quiet, and I'm sure our conversations can be heard.
I can't make a decision on this kind of issue on my own.
You have to listen to the opinions of everyone who will be living with you.

''........I think it's good. Even at the last auction, the master seemed to be concerned about it.
White too. As long as the Lord says it's okay.
I don't mind. I don't mind either. No, I'll defer to my lord's decision.
Hey, was she a pretty girl?
'Yes. Master called her a beautiful sister and...
''Ummm.......I don't think it's a good idea to have any more beauties, but it's helping people, so it can't be helped.......''
Right. Well, it's okay, isn't it?　We have conditions.

Apparently, they all agreed on that.
........My kids are really nice guys.

So it's settled then.
Now....!
''Ah. I'll attend the next auction and buy that half-elf.
Thank you....................
What? It all depends on the boy. I can't tell you what's going to happen.
'Yes. Still ... thank you ...

Freed bows his head to the very edge of the water several times and thanks him for his help.

''Itsuki-san. Thank you.........''
Okay. I had another request for Hayato, too.

It's not that I was embarrassed and wanted to go off topic.
It's really just that I have a favor to ask Hayato.
And this request is quite a big one.....

What is it?　If it's a request from Itzuki-san, I can take care of most of them!
Yeah. You know what, actually--

What I asked for was


When they heard my words, Fried nodded with glowing eyes, and Hayato, Makoto and everyone in the women's bathing area shouted in surprise.
And.........Hayato was willing to do it for me.