Chapter 42, Bath

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

Three days after concluding negotiations with the Tower Conquest Guild, the official announcement was made: Wolf Fang would become an affiliate to Crown. Simultaneously, the building that had served as Wolf Fang’s headquarters would be converted into a Crown branch office.

 

The residents of Seichun accepted both developments without significant protest, perhaps because rumors had been circulating beforehand. While not everyone embraced the changes wholeheartedly, organized opposition came primarily from established adventurer guilds that had previously dominated the area.

 

The political landscape proved favorable to Crown’s expansion. Public guilds maintained their customary neutrality regarding private guild affairs. The Arena Guild offered no opposition, largely due to their new heroine Cory’s membership in Crown.

 

Though the Tower Conquest Guild remained diplomatically silent on the matter, their position became clear when they ignored all communications from opposing private guilds. Most significantly, the three major merchant guilds in Seichun voiced their support for establishing the Crown branch.

 

With these powerful allies aligned, even the most influential adventurer guilds found themselves unable to mount effective resistance. The fact that Wolf Fang had built its reputation as a respected adventurer guild before joining Crown further legitimized the transition.

 

Now that the Crown branch was firmly established, Kousuke’s responsibilities in Seichun had largely concluded. He could confidently delegate ongoing operations to his capable executives, Schmidt and Gazeran, while turning his attention to other matters.

 

With administrative concerns settled, Kousuke and his companions finally had the opportunity to conduct serious exploration of Gazenran Tower. This expedition would target Floors sixty-one and above, where high-level monsters posed significant challenges. Given the increased danger, Kouhi would accompany the party to provide additional support.

 

The team followed their established route to the teleportation gate on the first Floor, then transported directly to the sixtieth Floor. Having completed their investigation of that Floor previously, they immediately proceeded to the sixty-first Floor and began systematic exploration of each subsequent Floor.

 

Their thorough investigation of Floors sixty-one through sixty-five revealed intriguing developments. The magical springs now produced two distinct types of water: Aeris Water and Laspica Water, with encounters becoming noticeably more frequent. Where previous Floors might feature one special spring every two or three Floors, each Floor from sixty-one onward contained at least one magic spring.

 

The sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth Floors each boasted springs producing both types of enhanced water.

 

Standing before the spring on the sixty-fifth Floor, Kousuke voiced his puzzlement. “The frequency is clearly increasing.”

 

“Perhaps fewer people can actually go this high?” Lirica suggested in response to her observation.

 

Peach offered her own theory, building on Lirica’s comment. “I suspect it’s less about reduced foot traffic and more about fewer people actually harvesting water from these springs.”

 

“That raises another question,” Peach continued. “Why have the other springs reverted to producing ordinary water?”

 

“Maybe they simply degraded to normal water over time?” Lirica proposed.

 

“If that’s the case,” Kousuke replied thoughtfully, “then we must ask why this particular spring remains active.”

 

“Ah, I see your point,” Lirica said, her tone suggesting understanding.

 

Despite posing the question, Kousuke acknowledged the validity of Lirica’s reasoning. Something about the pattern nagged at him, a half-remembered detail that refused to surface completely.

 

“I feel like I’ve encountered something similar before…” He muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

 

He stood in contemplation for several minutes, but the elusive memory remained beyond his grasp.

 

“It’s no use,” he finally declared, shaking his head. “I can’t remember. Perhaps it will come to me later.”

 

…

 

After passing through the portal from the sixty-fifth to the sixty-sixth Floor, Kousuke’s party decided to return to the branch office. The Tower Conquest Guild’s official records now showed their highest achieved Floor as sixty-six, a milestone that would undoubtedly boost the Crown branch’s reputation and operational credibility.

 

While they planned to continue their ascent in future expeditions, they had no intention of publicizing subsequent record-breaking achievements. Though the decision might seem belated, excessive attention could create complications down the line.

 

After reporting their completion of the sixty-fifth Floor conquest to a surprised Tower Conquest Guild administration, the party returned to the Crown branch. Their new status as Crown members granted them unrestricted access to the teleportation gate system, a privilege that had already attracted considerable numbers of adventurers from the headquarters to the branch location.

 

The instantaneous travel capability of the teleportation gates meant that adventurers based at Amamiya Tower could now easily participate in Gazenran Tower expeditions.

 

Those aware of the connection were making full use of this advantage.

 

Rather than using the standard public teleportation gate, Kousuke’s party utilized executive access points. Given their established reputation in Seichun, no one questioned the preferential treatment.

 

The portal system’s design prevented others from determining their destination, allowing them to transport directly to the Administration Floor without arousing suspicion.

 

After briefing Schmidt and Gazeran on their findings from Floors sixty-one through sixty-five, Kousuke immediately returned to the Administration Floor. The residents there had anticipated his return once the Seichun branch was up and running, so his arrival generated little fanfare. Also, the knowledge that the portal system enabled travel between locations at will had eliminated any sense of permanent separation.

 

Following brief exchanges with various members, Kousuke headed directly to the bath. During his stays on the Administration Floor, his routine typically involved crafting, relaxation, or bathing. As with his previous return, a bath was his first priority.

 

The Administration Floor’s bathroom had undergone several customizations over time, resulting in remarkably luxurious accommodations. As Kousuke settled into the relaxing waters, he was surprised to discover an unexpected companion: Shrein.

 

“Oh? This is unusual,” Kousuke remarked with surprise.

 

While Shrein regularly used the bath facilities, she rarely bathed simultaneously with Kousuke. This was not due to any cultural taboo. Shrein had previously explained that she simply found it embarrassing.

 

As for the other girls, they frequently shared bathing time when convenient.

 

“I thought it might be nice for a change,” Shrein replied casually.

 

“Well, you’re always welcome to join me,” Kousuke responded, though his gaze lingered on his companion.

 

“Where exactly are you looking?” Shrein asked, though her expression seemed more pleased than offended. “And that commenting here is going too far. More importantly, you really do love baths, don’t you, Kousuke?”

 

“You are right. If there were a hot spring here, I’d love to connect it to the system… Oh  wait!” Kousuke’s expression suddenly brightened with realization. “A hot spring! That’s it!”

 

Shrein tilted his head at Kousuke’s sudden exclamation. “What is it? Did you figure something out?”

 

“Yes, I think I understand why the spring placement in Gazenran Tower appears so random.”

 

“Ah, that’s great.” Shrein replied, having heard fragments of Kousuke’s earlier theories.

 

Kousuke scratched his head. “Though it doesn’t make finding them any easier. It’s still progress.”

 

Having identified a potential explanation for the seemingly arbitrary distribution of magic springs, Kousuke felt considerably relieved. He settled back into the warm water, enjoying the rare opportunity to bathe with Shrein while savoring the satisfaction of a mystery being partially solved.