episode_0072
by fnovelpiaAfter running for a while in Seoul, it was already past 5pm.
The luxury sedan that Ruina and I were riding in, along with Draconius’ bus that followed behind, stopped in the mountains.
“There are mountains all around. Are you saying there really are hot springs here?”
Ruina got out of the car, made a sunshade with her hands, and looked around.
As she said, there were mountains on all sides.
And between the mountains, the red sun was slowly melting away.
“This is a pretty famous hot spring area, teacher. Everyone asks if there really are hot springs in the mountains, as you said.”
“Oh. I see.”
Draconius’ additional explanation was heard from the back of my head.
Ruina opened her eyes wide and nodded slowly.
“I’ve already made the reservation, so all I have to do is check in.”
“Hehe. You’re always so well-prepared♡”
Ruina then showed a lovely smile and clung to me.
Well… should I say preparedness?
In fact, it was Team Leader Jang Se-hee who made all the arrangements, from reservations to transportation, as soon as the topic of hot springs was suddenly brought up.
“Then, please rest comfortably.”
In front of the sedan’s bonnet, Team Leader Jang Se-hee bowed his head toward us.
“Oh, weren’t you going with me?”
“I have a lot of work to do, like car maintenance and other things.”
Although she keeps beating around the bush, it’s definitely because of that maid outfit.
Didn’t you attract the attention of many people just a little while ago?
While talking to Draconius, I heard that he would do his best to keep our photos from being spread.
It would not be a good choice to draw aggro again here by wearing a maid outfit.
Having roughly grasped her intentions, I gently applied strength to the arm that Ruina was holding onto.
“Let’s go in.”
“Okay. Okay.”
However, it would be better for Ruina if Team Leader Jang Se-hee did not follow her.
He matched my footsteps with a bright smile.
That’s me and Ruina.
And to the giant Yong-in who follows us.
The three of them walked slowly and soon arrived at a building in the style of a Hanok reconstructed with a modern sensibility.
“Oh… … .”
“Hoo… … .”
The moment I entered the large entrance of the building.
Ruina and I both let out a gasp at the same time.
The interior was much larger and more comfortable than what I had seen in Internet videos.
I haven’t even seen the hot springs yet, I’ve only seen the lobby facilities for check-in, and it’s like this.
Although I came to the hot springs unexpectedly, I felt very glad that I did.
“Then shall we check in? Oh, teachers, what kind of room did you reserve?”
Draconius asks readily.
I recalled the room names that Team Leader Jang Se-hee had told me in the car, one by one.
“Double… . Deluxe… . Suite… .”
“Double Deluxe Suite Special Jacuzzi Room.”
“That, that was the name? Haha… .”
“I’m a regular here, so. Okay. If this is your first time using this hot spring, can I show you around?”
This is another unexpected harvest.
On this hot spring trip with this hero who is intertwined by fate, he is a regular here.
There is no reason to refuse if you insist on being kind.
“… … … … .”
But the idea of enjoying the hot springs with Draconius had to be quickly abandoned.
Because my girlfriend, who was hugging my arm tightly, was blowing air into her cheek and making a displeased expression.
“Thank you for your kindness, but… … . As you can see… … .”
“Ah! I’m really sorry about this. It was a cozy couple’s trip for the teachers.”
When he pointed at Ruina, who had an obviously crooked face, with his chin, Draconius quickly put his large hands together and offered an apology.
“I can’t dare to take away your precious time. Then, if the time is right for you to take a hot spring bath, I’ll meet you then.”
“Haha… . Come in.”
Until the very end, Draconius showed kindness and courtesy that did not match his size, and he walked towards the counter first with a stomp.
“Honey. You came to enjoy the hot springs with me today, right?”
“I’m sorry… … . I’ll stay with you forever, so calm down.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Really. It looks like mixed bathing is allowed here, so we can stay together forever.”
“Huh. Mixed bathing!?”
Ruina opened her eyes wide for a moment and raised her voice loudly.
Thanks to that, several people waiting in the lobby were looking at us.
Now, it’s as familiar as it gets.
It’s also receiving this much attention.
“Ehehe. Just the two of us taking a bath together… … ♡”
I wonder if you’re imagining a scene where we’re soaking in warm water together.
Ruina twisted her body, blushing brightly.
“Then let’s check in too.”
“Yeah yeah!”
After confirming that Draconius has checked in.
Then I headed to the check-in desk.
As we approached, the desk clerk flashed a bright sales smile.
“Welcome. Are you two checking in?”
“Oh, that’s it. Double… … . Deluxe… … .”
“Did you reserve the Double Deluxe Suite Special Jacuzzi Room?”
“Ah, yes. That was the name.”
It’s such a complicated name, but everyone says it so well…
“The names of the people who made the reservation are… …. Mr. Jo Seong-hoon and Ms. Lee Yu-ri.”
“Ah? Oh. Yes, yes.”
We were momentarily taken aback when our names were suddenly mentioned by an employee.
How do you know my name when I didn’t even tell you?
“The room you reserved is the only one left with an indoor jacuzzi.”
“Ah? Ah… … .”
While I was having such doubts.
As if he had read my thoughts from my expression, the employee answered my questions in a cheerful tone.
It’s a room with a jacuzzi with bubbles bubbling inside.
I think the room I’m about to stay in is probably the most luxurious room I’ve ever stayed in.
“Check-in is complete. You can use all facilities with this card key.”
“Thank you.”
Soon I received an orange card from the staff.
“Oh, by the way, over there.”
“Yes?”
“What is that? What time is the mixed bathing time in the open-air bath?”
It’s a question that’s a little embarrassing to ask to others.
For Ruina, this level of embarrassment is nothing.
When I asked that question, the check-in staff kept blinking.
“Sorry, Mr. Jo Seong-hoon.”
“Huh? Sorry?”
“Yes… … . There was an unpleasant voyeurism incident a while ago. To prevent a recurrence, mixed bathing time has been suspended for the time being… … .”
“Secret filming… … What the… … .”
This was also a completely unexpected disaster.
There is a jacuzzi so it can somewhat create a similar hot spring feeling, but… … .
“Huh? Honey, why~?”
I wonder what kind of expression the still cheerful Ruina will make when she hears this sad news.
I was starting to get really worried.
* * *
“Haaa… … .”
In the end, the dream of mixed bathing in an open-air bath did not come true.
When I told this fact to Ruina who had entered the room, she looked very depressed as expected.
She can’t even enjoy a normal bath unless I touch her.
So, if there was no mixed bathing time, Ruina wouldn’t be able to come to the hot spring and enjoy the open-air bath.
At least I consoled myself by seeing the large jacuzzi in the bathroom and thinking that we could wash together there…
Ruina’s awkward suggestion that he go to the hot springs just wouldn’t leave my mind.
I was now fully immersed in a hot spring bath with white steam rising from it.
“See you again, teacher. Bye.”
A huge wave once occurred in the hot spring.
“Ah. Draconius.”
A giant of 2.5 meters.
It was thanks to Draconius entering the bath.
“I’m really sorry that you can’t enjoy mixed bathing with your wife.”
“Oh, did you hear the story?”
“Hahaha. I caught that voyeur.”
Come to think of it, Draconius was a regular at this hot spring.
As the word regular suggests.
It seems that while stopping by this hot spring, he accidentally caught a voyeur.
“This is a great place to relieve fatigue. It’s especially great for people with mutated abilities like me.”
“Are you feeling unwell or anything?”
“I guess I should say that because my body is big, I am more affected by gravity. My enlarged muscles support me to some extent, but I still get muscle pain quickly.”
“Come to think of it, it seems like there are quite a few people with mutated abilities… … .”
Between the smoky clouds.
Although not as much as Draconius, there were still people with mutated bodies here and there.
“I guess it’s because I indirectly advertised it. Hahaha.”
Well, there’s no way a hot spring frequented by a mutant hero ranked 5th in the unofficial rankings wouldn’t become famous.
The hero, like any hero, relieves all the fatigue from his body.
The hot springs are generating operating profits.
This can also be seen as a mutually beneficial relationship in the hero industry.
“It’s great that I became a hero who protects everyone with this body, but sometimes I miss being a normal human.”
“Is Draconius like that too… … .”
As a civil servant of the Hero Nation, I was somewhat aware of the plight of mutant heroes.
I don’t care if I become as famous as Draconius.
There were quite a few cases where newbie mutant heroes were mistaken for villains because of their appearance and reported.
Because of such things, there were often cases where the hero gave up and gave up his career.
“Especially after seeing the teachers’ love affair today, I feel even more so. I’m sorry that a hero shouldn’t have such feelings.”
“Sorry, sorry… … . I think we’re the ones who frowned upon it too much… … .”
“Hahaha. That kind of sweetness is good.”
Draconius bursts into hearty laughter.
His long, slanted eyes soon stared down at me.
“The reason I have a hobby of liking cars is partly because of my body.”
“Didn’t you like tea from the beginning?”
“Of course, I was originally interested in it. Before becoming a hero, I dreamed of becoming a mechanic. However, since my arm mutated and grew this big, I couldn’t do precision work.”
In the water, the scaly arms of the dragon rose up, rippling.
It was roughly twice as thick as my arm.
“And one more thing… … . Is it because there is no one of the opposite sex who likes me as a human being in this state? Because of that, the only place I can look is my car.”
Draconius slowly closed his eyes and continued speaking quietly.
“Oh, sorry. I just blurted out some unpleasant things to someone I just met today.”
“Oh, no! I had no idea that a famous hero would be going through such hardships… … . Should I say I’m sorry for being rude… … .”
“The teacher is very kind. He is the husband of the owner of the S-Class 12-cylinder.”
Soon his large hand gently rested on my shoulder.
“You two are a really nice couple. And you have the money to drive a nice car as much as you want. To be honest, I’m really jealous of you.”
“Ah… … . I have something to tell you too.”
“Are you talking to me?”
“Because we’re not married yet… … .”
“Ah. So you were a prospective couple.”
To be exact, it wasn’t true that Ruina and I had decided to become a couple yet, but that wasn’t true either…
I nodded slowly.
If I continue to live with Ruina like this, I think I might do it someday.
“The owner teacher is a really good woman. Please don’t miss that opportunity. I will also cheer for the teachers.”
“Thank you Draconius.”
“And if you have a wedding, I hope you invite me too. Isn’t this all fate?”
“Hey, it’s a wedding… … . Haha… … .”
I wonder if the day when Ruina and I get married will ever come safely.
And on top of that, he invites the hero who was trying so hard to catch Ruina to the meal… … .
I could only laugh in vain at the complex inner workings of the hero before my eyes.
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