New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (2/2 chapters)

 

 

Gentoku’s Hot Spring Tour

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The day after the Super Public Bath Project.

I was enjoying the villa’s hot spring since early morning. After waking up and eating a little breakfast, I first savored my home hot spring at leisure. Then, I put into practice something I had long wanted to try.

“Kukuku. Scenes like this appeared many times in old comics and anime about hot spring tours. The young people these days probably would not know them.” (Gentoku)

I floated a bucket in the open-air bath and placed a sake flask and a small cup inside. The flask and the cup were purchased from a pottery shop I heard about from Aries right after we finished our talk yesterday. I thought this town, which embraced eastern culture, might have such things, and indeed it did.

Taking the flask in hand, I poured sake into the cup.

“A drink in the hot spring. Kuuu, delicious.” (Gentoku)

People might say drinking early in the morning is bad for the body or that it is an old-fashioned thing to do. But I do not care. This is the freedom of a bachelor. I can do what I want. Moreover, this is another world. Take that.

Well, forgive me this once. At last, I have been freed from everything and can enjoy the hot spring town of Leredore.

“Kuaa. Morning sake tastes so good.” (Gentoku)

Too much drinking would be dangerous. Children, do not imitate me.

I stopped after half a flask and got out of the bath, changing into a yukata. Thanks to the hot spring and the sake, my body was warm to the core. I felt wonderful.

“All right. Today, I shall finally go on a tour of the hot spring district.” (Gentoku)

“Nnaa~go.” (Daifuku)

“Hm? Oh, Daifuku, can I leave the house in your care?” (Gentoku)

“Gororo.” (Daifuku)

I patted Daifuku’s head and headed out into the town.

 

—

 

I was walking while holding the hot spring map I had received from the town’s tourist information center. My villa was in another district, so I was walking through the opposite side, following the map as I went.

“Let me see. The Adventurer Guild Hot Spring, operated by the Adventurer Guild itself. But the rating is only one star. The reason says, ‘Since adventurers use it, some part of the facility is always broken. Last time, seven out of 10 showers were broken, leading to fights’. That sounds intense.” (Gentoku)

However, the Adventurer Guild Hot Spring had an exceptionally large sauna, which alone received a ten-star rating. Apparently, adventurers liked saunas even more than hot springs.

“Oh, the Super Natural Open-Air Bath. Wait a moment, it is a mixed bath with no blinds or partitions?” (Gentoku)

It was an open-air bath only, but it was mixed, and not only did it lack partitions, the changing room was shared as well. It seemed that mostly beastkin visited that place. That was intriguing in its own way.

“Then, there is the Rock Bath Hot Spring, the Underwater Hot Spring, and the Scorching Hot Spring. Each sounds impressive.” (Gentoku)

The Rock Bath Hot Spring was carved directly into rock, allowing water to flow inside. The Underwater Hot Spring was literally within water, while the Scorching Hot Spring had a temperature of two hundred degrees Celsius. They all seemed like extremes.

What even is an Underwater Hot Spring? And the Scorching Hot Spring sounded fatal to enter.

Just looking at the map was entertaining. As I pondered which to visit first.

“Kya.” (??)

“Whoa.” (Gentoku)

I had bumped into someone. Hastily closing the map, I bowed my head.

“M-my apologies. Are you alright?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. I should be the one apologizing, Oji-sama.” (??)

It was a woman, young, perhaps around Sandrone’s age. She wore a pale peach-colored dress, had peach-pink hair styled in long twin buns, and gave off an elegant yet cute air. Her hair carried a faint scent of peaches.

Supporting her was a man, handsome as well.

“Michaela, are you unharmed?” (??)

“Yes, thank you, Abel.” (Michaela)

So, the woman is Michaela and the man is Abel. They look like a couple, a very attractive one. Perhaps they are on a trip.

Michaela picked up her fallen parasol and smiled.

“Oji-sama, are you injured?” (Michaela)

“Ah, I am fine. My apologies. I was so excited about the hot spring tour that I ended up walking straight down the street while staring at the map like a fool.” (Gentoku)

“Fufu. I am much the same. I finished a large job in the Snowden Kingdom and came to take a long-awaited rest in the hot springs. I must have been too excited and let my guard down.” (Michaela)

Michaela bowed politely, and I also bowed again. Then she tilted her head while looking at me.

“Are you also here for sightseeing, Oji-sama?” (Michaela)

“Yes. I bought a villa here, and after finishing various jobs, I can finally relax and go touring the hot springs.” (Gentoku)

“My, you are working even on vacation?” (Michaela)

“I had not planned to, but the work came to me instead.” (Gentoku)

“Fufu, what an amusing gentleman you are.” (Michaela)

Michaela smiled. It was an adorable smile.

“Are you two a couple?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. Ah, allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Michaela, and this is my escort and lover, Abel.” (Michaela)

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Abel.” (Abel)

“I am Gentoku, a humble magical technician. I run a magical tool development workshop in the Edelstein Kingdom.” (Gentoku)

We shook hands. Michaela looked surprised.

“My, magical tool development in the Edelstein Kingdom?” (Michaela)

“Yes. Do you know the Alexandrite Company? I am their exclusive magical technician.” (Gentoku)

“My, my.” (Michaela)

For an instant, it seemed her eyes changed color. Abel appeared surprised too, but he gently patted her shoulder.

“Michaela, you are on vacation, remember?” (Abel)

“Ah, yes, you are right. Fufu. Gentoku-san, when will you return to the capital?” (Michaela)

“Let me see. Perhaps after December begins. I have yet to do any real sightseeing.” (Gentoku)

“I see. Then perhaps we shall meet again in the capital.” (Michaela)

“Perhaps. If you ever need consultation about magical tool development, contact the Alexandrite Company. For repairs, I can do them at a discount, and I also take on-site repair requests.” (Gentoku)

“I shall keep that in mind.” (Michaela)

Then, from a nearby shop, a boy and a girl came running out.

“One-san, we finally found you.” (Unknown boy)

“Found you? We are the ones who wandered off.” (Unknown girl)

The girl had blonde hair in a ponytail, wrapped her chest in sarashi, wore a jacket, gloves at her waist, and heavy, rugged boots. Her jacket was tattered, a fighter’s attire. I could tell because I had some experience myself.

The boy had spiky purple hair, twin thin swords crossed on his back, and wore a purple jacket with matching pants and boots, and a long purple scarf. He stared at me intently.

“Who is this old man?” (??)

“Fufu, a magical technician we just met.” (Michaela)

“Really? Hey, Occhan, are you any good? Huh? Are you?” (??)

“W-what are you doing?” (Gentoku)

The girl got too close. And those were quite large, larger than Snow’s.

“My boots and gloves break so quickly. Can you do something about them?” (??)

“What?” (Gentoku)

“Hey, Lind, that is too sudden.” (??)

“But the weapon shop said there is no harder material, and they also said magical tools might reduce the strain from my attacks. Come on, Ung, help me ask.” (Lind)

“So troublesome. Oyaji, you can refuse.” (Ung)

Suddenly so many new people had appeared that I felt overwhelmed. Then, Abel clapped his hands.

“You two, that is enough. You are troubling Gentoku-san.” (Abel)

“Uu.” (Lind)

“Hahaha, you are being scolded.” (??)

“Fufufu. Well then, shall we go?” (Michaela)

With Michaela’s words, the four began walking.

“Then, Gentoku-sama, until we meet again.” (Michaela)

“Yes, until then.” (Gentoku)

“See ya. I am Lind, the Yellow of the Arc-en-Ciel, and this is Ung the Purple.” (Lind)

“Hey, stop introducing us like that, idiot.” (Ung)

The four left. I thought I heard something about Arc-en-Ciel.

“Well, whatever. Let us visit the Underwater Hot Spring first.” (Gentoku)

Thus, I resumed my hot spring tour. As would later be revealed, this encounter would drag me into a troublesome affair.

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)