Noin, who had never shown a shred of shyness in front of Akira, immediately cheered and waved her arms excitedly.
"Hey, Akira! What are you going to do? As long as there's a hot spring to bathe in, I don't mind bathing together with you."
Several of the girls laughed and nodded in agreement, though despite her bold claim, Noin's expression showed her true feelings. Her cheeks flushed a brilliant red, like ripe apples, and her eyes flitted around nervously, unable to meet Akira's gaze.
"Well, let Akira finish his meal first." Maryuu said gently with a smile, trying to calm the atmosphere before it got too chaotic.
"I'll say this in advance."
Akira added, raising a hand as he finished chewing his food, "The water's going to be made from my own magic power, so, uh… don't be grossed out."
...
Once dinner was over, Akira checked his pocket watch. The hands pointed to eight o'clock.
He stood and walked over to the open area beside the camp, wind magic swirling faintly around his hands. He raised his right arm like a blade and drove it straight into the ground.
With the windstorm twisting violently, the earth tore apart under its force. A square pit, three meters wide, quickly took shape under Akira's precise control.
Then, placing both hands on the edge of the pit, Akira released a surge of magic. The energy flowed outward and crystallized, forming a hard, glossy surface that spread evenly to line the bottom and sides.
But he didn't stop there.
A stream of crystal-clear water gushed from his palm, rapidly filling the newly formed pool. Once it reached the appropriate depth, Akira shifted his elemental control to fire, subtly heating the water's temperature.
He even tapped into the natural ground fire beneath the dungeon, igniting a low but steady flame under the hot spring to maintain an ideal warmth.
Steam slowly rose from the surface of the pool, the area now glowing softly in the dim torchlight.
When the final magical adjustments were complete, Akira turned around with a satisfied smile. The girls' eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"It's done. Go enjoy it." Akira said calmly, brushing his hands. "I'll be on guard outside."
He turned to walk toward the cave entrance, but before he could take more than a few steps, he felt two soft tugs at his arms.
He blinked and looked down—only to find Alise clinging to one side and Kaguya to the other. The girls behind them exchanged sly smiles, their intentions clearly written in their eyes.
Alise grinned mischievously, while Kaguya—though looking mildly annoyed—was clearly playing along.
"Eh?" Akira tilted his head slightly, confused. "Is there something wrong with the hot spring?"
Alise's lips curved into a dazzling smile. Her bright, expressive eyes shimmered with mischief.
"Nope, the hot spring's perfect!" She chirped. "But... this time, we've decided—you're joining us!"
Akira's eyes widened slightly. He looked toward Kaguya, half-expecting a sharp rebuke or a joking punch.
But instead, Kaguya raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Hmph. I just think it'd be unfair for you to miss out after setting everything up. Consider it a reward."
"Uhh… but…"
"Don't worry. We'll wear our towels properly. Right, everyone?" Alise winked and lightly patted Akira's chest to reassure him.
The rest of the girls chimed in with smiles and nods, their expressions innocent but filled with teasing delight.
Trapped between two determined beauties, Akira could only sigh in defeat and nod reluctantly.
Before entering the spring, he conjured a thick black mist barrier at the edge of the area. From the outside, it appeared like a dense wall—perfect for shielding their activity.
More importantly, it served a second purpose.
Monster deterrence.
While not universal, many dungeon creatures reacted with greater hostility toward unnatural light sources or changes in scenery—especially ones that glowed or flickered like flames or magical barriers. This curtain of mist would help mask the unusual activity and keep most threats at bay.
Inside the tent, the girls had already begun undressing, chatting and giggling as they wrapped themselves in towels.
Maryuu's gaze drifted quietly to Ais, who was slowly peeling off her outer layers with a blank expression, showing no signs of embarrassment.
"…Ais-chan." Maryuu asked softly, a hint of concern in her voice. "Are you really okay with Akira seeing you while we're bathing?"
Wrapped in a white towel, Ais lifted her head and looked at Maryuu with a tilt of her head. Her golden eyes were filled with childlike confusion.
"Akira… it's fine." She replied plainly.
It was as if the question itself didn't make sense to her.
Maryuu blinked, clearly taken aback by the blunt honesty.
Standing nearby, Ryana chuckled and reached out, gently ruffling Ais's hair. "Hehe, I don't understand how you two got so close."
Ais smiled faintly and replied, "Because Akira can use wind… and he teaches me to grow stronger."
"Eh? That's all?" Ryana laughed again.
She didn't understand the connection between those statements, but even so… she could tell that Ais genuinely liked Akira.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, Akira stood silently as steam from the hot spring curled into the air.
The magical lights within the tent illuminated the silhouettes of the girls behind the curtain. Their soft outlines flickered gently through the mist—smooth curves, graceful movements, and slender limbs danced before his eyes like a mirage.
The playful sway of their towels, the faint giggles, the delicate contours…
Akira gulped. His thoughts blurred for a moment before he mentally slapped himself back to clarity.
Are they really that unguarded?No… calm down. This is just an ordinary bath. Ordinary…
Still, as he stood guard, his heart couldn't help but whisper.
It's great to be part of the Astraea Familia. Thank you for the hospitality.
The hot spring wasn't massive, but it was spacious enough to comfortably fit thirteen people if they sat shoulder to shoulder.
After making sure the mist shield was secure, Akira wrapped a towel around his waist and entered the warm water.
Steam rose all around, and the soft red glow of Kaensekis reflected off the water's surface.
The girls had already taken their seats. Their faces relaxed, glowing with joy, laughter echoing gently through the cave.