Chapter – 59
Steamy Excitement! Akioâs Town Hot Spring Opening Festival
The long-awaited day had finally arrived in Akioâs town. It was the day the bathhouse at the base of the Tree of Lifeânamed âInochi no Yuâ (Hot Spring of Life)âwas opening to the public. For several days leading up to it, Ayane, Kina, Lady Celestina, and Lady Leonora had worked diligently as part of the operations team, preparing meticulously for this special occasion. At the entrance of the bathhouse, a simple yet charming wooden sign carved by Akio was displayed, and colorful wildflowers decorated the surroundings.
âAyane, are we ready? The villagers look like they canât wait another moment,â Akio said, addressing Ayane, who looked a bit nervous.
âYes, Lord Akio! Thanks to Kina-san and Lady Celestina, everything is perfectly prepared. Now, all thatâs left is to see whether everyone enjoys itâŚâ Ayane took a deep breath and nodded with a composed expression.
Then, as the bell at Dolganâs blacksmith shop rang at noon (specially rung for this day), Akio proudly declared the opening of the hot spring.
âEveryone, thank you for waiting! Our pride, Akioâs townâs very own âInochi no Yuâ, is officially open today! Enjoy the blessings of this land to your heartâs content!â
âââOoooooooh!!!âââ
A roar of cheers erupted from the villagers. Children dashed toward the bathhouse, eager to be the first inside, while adults followed with smiles on their faces.
Inside, the bathhouse was nothing short of paradise. The spacious indoor baths, separated by gender, had two pools: one with clear water drawn directly from the spring, and another with slightly milky, gently fragrant water. The air was filled with the pleasant scent of wood and the comforting steam rising from the baths. At the washing stations, a few prototype showers Akio had created were set up, and the villagers eagerly tried them out.
âWhoa! This water is so warm, and my body feels so light!â
âMy skinâs going to be so smooth after this!â
âThese showers are amazing! Water comes from aboveâwhat a brilliant idea!â
Excited exclamations and laughter echoed throughout the bathhouse.
The private baths were also a huge hit. In particular, the âMild-Scent Bathâ made from Silvermoon Wood for Kina was popular not just with the beastfolk, but also with human women and children, who praised its gentle fragrance. Kina herself exclaimed,
âYay, darling! Iâve never had a bath this comfortable in my life! I could stay in here every day!â
Her large tail swished happily as she beamed at Akio in gratitude.
Ayane stood at the entrance of the womenâs bath, kindly explaining the bathâs usage to the women and children streaming in, handing out towels and handmade soaps created by Sylvia from medicinal herbs. She moved with the grace of a true proprietress.
Lady Celestina, meanwhile, offered herbal tea to the villagers in the rest area, smiling gently as she listened to their stories. Naturally, people gravitated toward her, and cheerful conversation bloomed like flowers. Lady Leonora stayed close to Celestina, occasionally inspecting the baths and quietly helping those unfamiliar with the bathhouse, demonstrating her knightly attentiveness.
Of course, Sylvia shared in Akioâs joy over the opening. As she soaked in the baths, she examined the springâs qualities and potential applications for herbal baths.
âAkio, this hot spring⌠itâs truly wonderful. The Tree of Lifeâs power combined with the earthâs blessings seems to not only heal peopleâs bodies and minds but also purify the villageâs very energy,â Sylvia said, looking enchanted beside Akio.
That night, after the bathhouse had closed, Akio, Sylvia, Ayane, Kina, Lady Celestina, and Lady Leonora soaked together in the private Silvermoon Wood bath for the first time as a family.
âEveryone, thank you so much. Today was an amazing opening, all thanks to you,â Akio said, expressing his gratitude. His wives shared their joy in their own words.
Through the steam, the three moons looked softer and more gentle than usual. Akioâs town had gained a new treasureâInochi no Yuâwhich, along with the villagersâ smiles, marked the first step in its history.
