I spent three days and two nights here. On the second day, I enjoyed sightseeing around the city.
We all wandered out, snacking from food stalls, dining at restaurants, and visiting a temple called “Terra” in the Eastern country.
After enjoying ourselves thoroughly, we returned to the inn. That evening, I called Lombardia, and we decided to tackle a task I had been neglecting for a while.
Lombardia and I sat on zabutons, facing each other across a low table in a tatami-matted room.
“So, Lombardia, what’s this new skill you acquired?”
“Hmm, it’s called **Enslavement**.”
Lombardia, in her yukata form, sipped tea made from green tea leaves and casually mentioned the skill with the dreadful-sounding name.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t misheard.
Most of the skills I had learned recently, excluding **Maiden’s Blessing** and **Holy Smash**, were rather unremarkable.
Of the four skills acquired after defeating the Red Dragon, the other two were **Fire Resistance** and **Ice Resistance**.
These skills significantly reduce damage taken from attacks with fire or heat, and ice or cold attributes, and they seem to be passive skills.
It’s somewhat convenient that they also improve resistance to everyday heat and cold, but they don’t feel like particularly flashy skills.
I also learned a skill from defeating a Wyvern, which was named **Go Easy**.
It seems to be a skill that temporarily renders Lombardia blunt and harmless.
It probably wouldn’t increase my combat strength, but it might be useful if I ever fought an opponent I didn’t want to kill.
Well, up to this point, things were fine.
It’s natural to have some mediocre skills alongside good ones, and it’s not impossible for a skill I thought was useless to become very helpful depending on the situation.
However, I acquired another skill after defeating a Hill Giant.
This one was **Enslavement**, a name that was alarming just from hearing it.
“…And its effect?”
“Hmm. It’s a skill that turns anyone you’ve brought to climax through physical intimacy into your permanent slave, absolutely obedient to your commands. If the target tries to disobey a given order, their entire body will be electrocuted, causing immense pain.”
“I see, I see. So, it’s a skill to turn my wives into dolls that won’t defy me at all… Wait, how could I possibly use that, you idiot!”
It was an utterly terrible skill.
It was inhumane to the extreme.
I mean, I’ve heard that some countries still practice slavery in this world, but at least in the country where I grew up, the concept of “human rights” is widespread.
“What did you call me, idiot! And I’m telling you, I don’t care if you complain to me. Take your complaints to the gods who created me.”
“The gods… Please, honestly. How is this a Holy Axe…?”
I wondered what the creators of Lombardia were thinking.
Well, perhaps in the age of the gods, the concept of human rights didn’t exist.
In any case, this skill is definitely going to be sealed.
It’s even more useless than **Demon God Transformation**.
If I were a more depraved person, things could get truly terrible.
But then, Lombardia interjected.
“I believe your way of thinking is backward, my master.”
“Backward thinking…? What do you mean?”
“I am the Holy Axe Lombardia. Only those with a kind heart like yours can be my master and wield my power. Because I possess a power that could be misused, is it not true that such kindness is required of my master?”
“No, even with kindness, I’m just an ordinary human. I can still have evil thoughts.”
Besides, I have some reservations about being called kind.
If I were truly kind, would I be enjoying this harem situation with beautiful women every day?
Furthermore, if a truly kind person acquired the immense power of Lombardia, wouldn’t they aspire to be a superhero who works for the world, with great power comes great responsibility and all that?
In that regard, I’m fundamentally selfish.
My priority is myself and those important to me; everything else comes second.
It’s highly questionable whether such a person can be called kind.
But Lombardia seemed to have no doubts about my kindness—
“You think I would use me for your wicked purposes? I can barely imagine it. Well, if that were to happen, I might get angry and refuse to lend you my power.”
“Ah, I see.”
So there’s a limit.
As long as I can borrow Lombardia’s power, I’m considered kind for now.
“By the way, what would happen if I were to make my Lombardia climax and use **Enslavement** on her?”
“Wh-what are you talking about… I’m immune to **Enslavement** in the first place.”
Oh, so she can’t cheat.
She’s more thorough than I thought.
***
After enjoying the local delicacies of the Eastern country for dinner, it was time for a bath.
Naturally, the inn’s hot springs had separate bathing areas for men and women.
So yesterday, I leisurely enjoyed a solo bath, and the women had their own fun, apparently.
However, this inn actually has a secret optional course.
For an additional fee of ten gold coins, guests can reserve a *third* bathing area, neither male nor female, for a specific time.
And this private bath is co-ed.
I repeat, co-ed.
For me, there was no reason not to purchase this wonderful experience for ten gold coins.
And so, as night fell.
In the pitch darkness, illuminated only by a few lamplights, stood an open-air bath.
There, my wives and I appeared, clad only in bath towels.
“Whoa…! This is a nice open-air bath.”
Elen, wrapping her bath towel around herself to cover from the chest down, exclaimed in admiration as she surveyed the area.
The private bath was smaller than the main communal baths but had a charming design.
The area around the bath was not only enclosed by a wooden fence but also planted with greenery.
The bathing tub, located in a recess of the bath, was arranged in a circle with several large rocks.
Although smaller than those in the main baths, it was spacious enough for a large man like me to stretch out my legs.
Hot water constantly flowed from a rock shaped like a lion’s mouth.
Seraphina, Miina, and Lombardia, also clad in bath towels like Elen, looked around the bath with satisfied expressions.
“It truly has a wonderful atmosphere. More importantly, since we’re in this fantastic hot spring, I wanted to bathe with you, Douglas.”
“That’s right, Miina also thought it would be nice to bathe together, nya. Douglas, were you lonely bathing alone yesterday?”
“I enjoyed the solo bath, in its own way. But it would be a lie to say I didn’t want to bathe with you all.”
“Indeed. One can tell simply by looking at your lower body.”
“No, this is… It’s impossible not to react when I see you all in just bath towels, looking so sexy.”
I had also wrapped a bath towel from my waist down, but my son’s assertive display made it obvious to anyone that I was aroused in the bath.
But wait.
That doesn’t mean I want to have sex indiscriminately.
“Heh heh. Douglas, if you desire my service, please tell me anytime. I, Seraphina, will always respond with my whole heart and soul.”
“Ah, I appreciate that. But since we’re in a hot spring, let’s just get in the bath for now.”
And so, after a quick rinse, we all submerged ourselves in the tub.
” ” ” “Huuuuhh…” ” ” ”
The five of us soaked in the springs, gazing up at the night sky.
The stars twinkled in the beautiful night sky, and the moonlight shone particularly brightly.
The contrast between the cool night air of the cooling season and the comfortably hot spring water was soothing away the fatigue from our day’s sightseeing.
“This is a wonderful bath. I should have invited Aurelia too.”
“That’s right. She must be lonely bathing alone, too. Shall I go call her now?”
“Yes, let’s. Okay, I’ll get out for a moment and go call her.”
Elen said so, got out of the bath, wrung out her towel, and headed to the dressing room.
As expected, or rather, her decisiveness was truly remarkable.
“Elen, you’ve become quite close with Aurelia, nya. Like you’ve been best friends for ten years.”
“They seem to get along. If they’re both of that particular preference and kindred spirits, then it’s no wonder.”
“Um, Douglas. Would Aurelia also enjoy being teased with tentacles?”
“Possibly. …Wait, Seraphina, did you tease Elen with tentacles because you knew she’d enjoy it?”
“Of course, I did. It’s not fun to tease a girl who genuinely dislikes it, is it?”
“And you enjoyed doing it, as expected.”
“Ah…! I-I’m sorry… Sometimes, I just… my natural sadistic tendencies emerge…”
Seraphina sank into the water, trying to hide herself.
She seemed to wish she could disappear into the floor.
“Damn, she’s cute.”
I took Seraphina’s arm and pulled her towards me.
“Kya…! D-Douglas!?”
“Everything about you, including that, is cute, Seraphina.”
“Feee…! W-what is this…? I feel like I’m going to melt from happiness…”
When I hugged Seraphina close and stroked her head, her eyes rolled back.
Meanwhile, Miina and Lombardia, watching this,
“Nyaaaah… Seraphina and Elen both have such strong personalities… Miina is too ordinary, I feel like I’ll be overshadowed like this, nya…”
“…No, aren’t you overthinking it? Isn’t being ordinary fine?”
“Lombardia has a solid position, so it’s fine, nya. If Miina doesn’t try harder, she’ll become more and more of a background character, nya.”
“…Is that so?”
They were having a rather nonsensical conversation.
I thought Miina was overthinking it too.
While we chatted, leisurely soaking, or getting out to cool off, Elen returned with Aurelia.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, I brought her.”
“Ah, excuse me for intruding. …Whoa…! It’s true, men and women are bathing together… Amazing… Is this really allowed…?”
The beautiful Elf who appeared in the bathing area was quite impressed upon seeing us.
“Aurelia, don’t just stand there. Why don’t you get in?”
“Ah… Then, excuse me.”
Aurelia, with her blond hair tied up in a bun, rinsed herself and hesitantly stepped into the water, starting from her feet.
When she was submerged up to her shoulders, she let out a contented sigh, “Huuuh.”
Elen then joined, making us a total of six people.
Although the tub was spacious, our limbs occasionally touched, but the closeness wasn’t unpleasant.
At that moment, Aurelia let out a sigh and said,
“Honestly, I’m envious of Elen. I haven’t experienced this kind of warm, family-like atmosphere for a long time. I admire it a little.”
“Hmm? Then why don’t you become one of Douglas’s wives too, Aurelia? Hey, that sounds good too, doesn’t it Douglas?”
“Well, if Aurelia agrees, I’d be more than welcome.”
“Is… Is that so…? I… Please excuse me, but let me think about it. I’ve lived for over a hundred years, but this is… um… the first time.”
“Well, being a friend with benefits is fine too~”
We continued this kind of relaxed conversation as the serene time in the bath passed.
Although we didn’t have sex in the bath, I’ll add that we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves later with my wives in their yukatas in a room laid out with futons.
The next morning, we took another bath, had a delicious breakfast, packed our belongings, and checked out of the inn.
We received the payment for defeating the Hill Giant from the city, and together with Aurelia, who happened to be leaving at the same time, we departed from the hot spring town of Torrent.
Our next **destination** was the **Commercial city Belford**.
It’s the large city where Aurelia’s base of operations is located, and it’s also scheduled to host a **Fighting Tournament** soon.
