The Hot Spring Incident

Ren, Kazuma, and Alex soaked in the hot spring, leaning back like they were melting into the water.

"Ahhh… this is heaven…" Kazuma sighed, his arms spread wide across the stone edge.

"The hot water's actually working," Alex mumbled. "My back was killing me…"

They all looked half-dead but at peace. Muscles relaxed. Brain empty.

Then— "Ahhh! Rachel, the water's so good! Just come in already!" Melissa's voice came loud and clear… from the other side of the wooden wall.

She and Lisa had already entered the water on the women's side of the hot spring.

"…Did you hear that?" Kazuma suddenly turned, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah," Alex nodded, eyes wide. "They're right next to us."

There was a pause. A dangerous silence.

Kazuma turned to Ren with a grin. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I'm not thinking anything," Ren replied instantly.

"Oh come on, don't be a killjoy." Kazuma's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Listen, the wall isn't that tall. If we work together, we can peek over. Alex gets down on all fours, you stand on him, I stand on you—simple pyramid plan."

He looked so into it. Like he was explaining an ancient tactical formation passed down from pervert warlords.

"I'm out," Ren said flatly. "You guys are nothing but trouble."

But Kazuma wasn't listening. He was busy outlining blueprints in the steam like a mad professor.

On the other side of the wall…

Rachel, Melissa, and Lisa had heard everything.

Melissa had her eyes half-lidded. Rachel looked like she'd already lost faith in humanity. Lisa just smiled and watched the circus unfold.

"Seriously? Do they really think we can't hear them?" Melissa muttered.

Rachel shook her head. "Let's teach them a lesson they'll never forget."

"I'm in," Melissa nodded.

"Lisa, you stay ready too," Melissa whispered.

Back on the boys' side—

"Okay, Alex, you get down on all fours right here near the wall," Kazuma ordered like he was leading a construction site. "Ren, stand on his back, then kneel so I can get on top of you."

Alex frowned. "What the hell? You trying to break my back?!"

Kazuma waved him off. "Relax, the weight will distribute. I can't stand on Ren's shoulders directly, or I'll crush him. This is perfectly calculated."

He looked so smug saying that. Like it was the greatest idea he'd ever had.

"And Ren," he added, "you can't back out. It's the bro code."

Ren sighed. "...Fine."

Ten minutes and way too much debate later, they were in position.

Alex on all fours. Ren standing on Alex's back, crouched down. Kazuma climbing on top like he was scaling Everest.

"Alright, now stand up, Ren," Kazuma ordered like a drill sergeant.

"I am trying," Ren grunted, wobbling. "You're heavy as hell."

Kazuma scoffed. "So much for someone from the Warrior Race…"

Eventually, Ren managed to stand fully upright with Kazuma on his shoulders.

Kazuma slowly peeked over the wooden wall…

Then—

WHAP.

A wooden bath mug smacked him square in the face.

Two others flew by and splashed into the water behind him.

Their balance vanished. Their dignity followed. The entire human pyramid toppled backward into the spring with a massive splash.

Kazuma resurfaced, groaning. A red mark stamped on his forehead in the perfect shape of a circular mug.

"…Was it worth it?" Ren asked, spitting out water.

Kazuma didn't say a word. He just held up a single trembling thumbs up.

From the other side, Melissa's voice rang out, loud and clear:

"Don't try anything else, fools!"

---

The boys weren’t doing anything pervy now. They just sat quietly in the hot spring, soaking in the warmth like saints.

On the other side, Melissa and Lisa were relaxing too. Rachel, though, hadn’t said a word to Lisa since they got in. She hadn’t forgotten how Lisa clung to Ren earlier.

“…Hey,” Lisa said, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry for that. For clinging to your boyfriend. I was just really scared.”

Rachel looked over. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she muttered sharply… but her voice wavered, almost shy.

The conversation drifted across the steam. The boys could hear it faintly now.

Ren sighed and slid deeper into the water, trying to disappear under the surface. Great. Just what he needed to hear.

“But seriously,” Lisa continued, “I didn’t mean anything. I just panicked, and he was there.”

“…It’s fine,” Rachel finally said. She didn’t sound mad anymore.

Trying to keep things light, Melissa chimed in, “So, Lisa—do you live in this town?”

Lisa shook her head. “No, I’ve just been staying here for about a week. Came for the hot springs. Best decision I’ve made in a while.”

“If you don’t have a destination in mind, why not travel with us?” Melissa offered.

Rachel shot her a look.

Lisa smiled. “Maybe. I’ll think about it.”

They all soaked for a while longer, letting the heat wash away any awkwardness left between them. By the time they stepped out, robes wrapped around their bodies and steam rising from their skin, everything felt… better. The tension had melted.

“Let’s get something to eat,” Melissa said.

“Yes! We feast tonight!” Kazuma added, arms wide like a declaration.

They headed to one of the guest rooms where food could be ordered. Everyone sat down on the soft floor mats and started talking while waiting for their meals.

As the food arrived, they chatted about their travels—sharing fun moments with Lisa, though skipping anything about the Immortals.

“You guys really are adventurers,” Lisa said, smiling. “I wish I had friends like this.”

“Where are you staying tonight?” Melissa asked. “If you’re alone, why not stay at our inn?”

“Sure. I’ll come by after I check out of mine.”

A while later, after eating to their hearts’ content, Melissa stood up. “I’m gonna hit the restroom. Rachel? Lisa? You coming?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Rachel said, and the three of them left together.

The boys were left alone. They lay back on the floor, full and lazy, just soaking in the after-meal peace.

Ren was relieved. Rachel hadn’t brought up the whole Lisa situation again. Maybe she’d let it go.

Minutes passed.

Then Melissa returned.

“…Wait, Rachel and Lisa aren’t back yet?” she asked, glancing around.

“Nope,” Alex mumbled, half-asleep.

“They left before me. That’s weird.”

Suddenly, a sharp scream cut through the quiet. It echoed through the hall—high-pitched, panicked.

It was Rachel’s voice.

Ren shot up. “That was—!”

Kazuma and Alex bolted up too. They all sprinted toward the source.

They turned a corner—and froze.

Rachel was standing there, her eyes wide with shock. At her feet was a body.

Blood pooled on the floor.

Others began to gather. Gasps filled the hallway.

Lisa appeared moments later, just as stunned.

“What… happened?” Ren asked, rushing to Rachel.

“I—I don’t know,” Rachel said. “I was just coming back to our room and I turned the corner and… he was here. Like this.”

“Michael…! MICHAEL!!” an employee ran up to the body, falling to their knees. “You… you killed him, didn’t you?!”

“I didn’t!” Rachel shouted. “I swear, I just found him like this!”

“Liar! You’re the only one here!”

“Hey—hold on,” Lisa said, stepping in. “She doesn’t have any blood on her. And that guy’s been stabbed. Look at him—do you see a knife on her? Anything?”

People murmured, unsure.

But it didn’t matter.

Someone was dead. And Rachel had been found right beside the body.

The hot springs owner quickly called for the royal guards assigned to this town. With killings already happening recently… this wasn’t going to end quietly.

To be continued...