GILF Hunter

Tanya opened the door to the hot spring and stepped inside.

As soon as she took a step, she felt a faint heat and moisture wafting through the air.

The warm air she inhaled seeped into her entire body, spreading a heated energy that felt as if it were warming her from the inside out.

It felt like stepping into a space completely different from the outside world. Much like entering a labyrinth.

Of course, it was in the exact opposite sense of a labyrinth. Unlike a labyrinth, which felt like a space one should not enter, this was a place that provided comfort and a sense of stability.

Tanya, who had entered first, turned back and spoke.

’It’s fine, so please come in.’

’Th-then, excuse me...’

The figure who had been hesitating at the door of the hot spring replied timidly and moved their steps cautiously.

A mercenary with a gloomy atmosphere wrapped in a large robe. It was Licia, the elementalist of the Frey Mercenary Group, whom they had met when entering the labyrinth’s treasure vault.

Since that expedition, Licia had become someone who occasionally exchanged contact with Tanya.

Perhaps because being an elementalist was a fairly rare profession, once they had introduced themselves, they had continued to stay in touch for various reasons.

’...Is it really okay?’

’Just come in already!’

When Licia hesitated again with one step left, Tanya grabbed her hand and pulled her into the hot spring.

’I’ve already received permission from the Leader, so don’t worry.’

’That’s not the problem...’

Tanya had brought Licia to the Spirit Hot Spring after getting Ian’s permission.

Considering the strengthening of Labyrinth’s power, the more people who utilized this place, the better, so Ian had no reason to refuse.

Tanya had made the suggestion first, thinking that Licia, being an elementalist, would have better efficiency than others.

Whenever Tanya, who knew almost nothing in detail about spirits, asked various questions, Licia would answer them quite sincerely. This was a gesture of gratitude for that.

’Ugh...’

Licia stepped into the hot spring with a flustered expression, but upon feeling the energy floating inside, her face turned startled.

Licia had heard rumors about spirits appearing, but no matter how she thought about it, this was not the level of an ordinary spirit.

A power that made her skin tingle. She could sufficiently feel what an incredible space this was just by taking one step inside.

To the point where she wondered how Tanya could walk around so nonchalantly.

Licia, who was moving with an incredibly intimidated face while sticking close behind Tanya, looked around and muttered.

’This place is like a temple...’

’A temple? You mean the place where they teach spirit arts?’

’Yeah. A regular student like me couldn’t enter the deep areas, but I occasionally passed nearby...’

This was a place that felt remarkably similar to the energy flowing from the off-limits areas deep within the Spirit Temple.

A place she could only get close to when passing by on an errand or when special classes were held nearby.

It was the energy of a High Spirit that had taken up residence in this location.

’Why are you so nervous? It’s just a hot spring.’

’I-is that so...?’

Licia followed Tanya while looking around restlessly with an anxious face, like someone who had entered a place they shouldn’t be.

＊　＊　＊

’Haa...’

It was about thirty minutes after entering the building that Tanya was finally able to get into the hot spring.

This was because she had spent time persuading Licia to enter after the latter had frozen stiff like ice upon seeing the hot spring water.

After Tanya’s long persuasion, Licia squeezed her eyes shut and immersed her body in the hot spring water with an expression as if she were stepping into magma.

...Does a real elementalist feel something different?

To be honest, Tanya, who could be called a fake elementalist, couldn’t understand Licia’s reaction at all and tilted her head.

Regardless, since she had gotten her to use the hot spring, there was nothing more to worry about.

Thinking that, Tanya finally let out a sigh and soaked herself in the hot spring.

In the meantime, Licia had also barely regained her composure and reached a state where she could hold a conversation.

Licia carefully scooped up the hot spring water with her hands, looked at it, and muttered.

’I take back what I said earlier... Even the temple definitely doesn’t have a place like this.’

’The Spirit Temple, you mean.’

Tanya replied upon hearing that murmur.

The Spirit Temple.

She had been hearing stories about that place from Licia occasionally.

How an ordinary person had to join that place and receive education if they wanted to learn spirit arts.

It seemed that place was generally the only location where one could meet spirits and form contracts.

For Tanya, who had lived her life without any connection to spirits until coming to Labyrinth, it was a place she had never even heard of.

’I guess I was the unusual one.’

’Forming a contract with a spirit in a labyrinth, I’ve never heard of such a thing. For such a ridiculous thing to happen...’

...No, rather, maybe it was possible because it was a labyrinth.

Thinking it over, Licia changed her mind slightly. If it was a labyrinth, maybe it could happen.

Of course, her thought that other people wouldn’t be able to replicate it remained the same.

Tanya, listening to Licia’s story, became slightly interested in the place called the Spirit Temple.

Of course, she had no intention of attending such a place now, and no reason to, but she became curious about how other people learned spirit arts.

Being completely self-taught and unable to study separately because spirit art books were simply unavailable on the market, Tanya couldn’t help but be interested in that temple.

’What is life like there? What do you learn?’

’It’s just like a monastery... the classes involve theory study and learning methods to contract with spirits.’

Licia recalled her memories of attending the temple and told her about some of the classes.

I really suffered because of the headache-inducing theory classes...

Recalling those memories, Licia felt that Tanya, who had become an elementalist without learning any of that, was very peculiar.

Thinking about how it might not have mattered even without doing all that made her feel a little bit resentful too.

Licia looked at Tanya with wonder and spoke.

’Tanya, you’re amazing. To handle spirit contracts so well without even learning.’

’A contract... I’m just asking for favors.’

’Favors?’

Licia, tilting her head slightly, asked Tanya in more detail.

’By any chance, under what conditions did you make the contract?’

’Conditions...?’

Tanya thought back carefully after hearing that.

Had they... made a contract?

She had asked for a favor at the spring in the very beginning, so if that was a contract, then it was a contract...

As Tanya fell into deep thought for a long while, Licia assumed Tanya was confused because she didn’t know the terminology used by elementalists.

’Then, what about the price? You know, what you give as a reward after making a spirit do something.’

’I give gifts...’

’Gifts?’

’I make cookies, or occasionally, if there’s a shop they want to visit, we go there together.’

’...?’

Licia tilted her head with a face that didn’t understand Tanya’s words at all.

This time, Tanya asked Licia in reverse.

’Then what do spirits usually receive?’

’With the Scales of Contract... you place mana or spirit stones that match the balance of what was requested...’

’...?’

Tanya and Licia looked at each other with faces that completely lacked understanding, then glanced at their respective spirits.

Likewise, their expressions said they didn’t understand at all.

...Just in case, should I try putting cookies on the scales next time? Licia glanced at her spirit while inwardly harboring such a thought.

Of course, it was a foolish plan that would immediately fail.

Sharing such stories for a while, Licia was able to confirm the effects of the hot spring more properly. It was thanks to her tension having relaxed moderately.

’Phew... To think there was a hot spring like this in the city.’

Licia realized that the very slight erosion remaining in her body had completely vanished.

To resolve erosion, one had to visit a temple or use various other bothersome methods, so small amounts like this are usually left alone even if they are bothersome.

Having such a convenient and good facility was something to be quite envious of.

The Frey Mercenary Group was no slouch, but because the scale was large and there were too many members, there were too many restrictions on using facilities.

It was said that Louise’s Workshop had started selling potions that treat erosion, but it was too expensive for a regular member to use easily.

’To think it’s over just by being inside, how convenient... This is why the Leader visited the hot spring every day. The Vice Guild Leader was getting very angry.’

’Pardon? Why? Isn’t it better if the erosion treatment is done quickly?’

’Because she goes to the labyrinth more often saying she can easily treat it with this...’

’Ah...’

Every time she heard about it, it was a truly incredible spirit of adventure. Ian’s occasional words about ’labyrinth addiction’ were not an exaggeration.

Licia spoke while recalling the image of Frey talking with a grin.

’If she could, she would have carried the water from here around with her.’

’The hot spring water?’

It seemed like a joke, but Tanya thought it was a surprisingly good idea.

’Carrying it in a container... seems like a good method?’

’What? Of course not. The effect of this hot spring water is the power of a spirit, so if you don’t get permission, it’ll just become regular water once you go outside, even if you scoop it up and take it.’

Licia dismissed Tanya’s idea as if it were common knowledge. This was basic knowledge taught at the temple, but Tanya wouldn’t have had any way of knowing such facts.

’There’s no way a spirit as great as this would permit such a thing, right?’

It was hard enough to cater to regular spirits, let alone a spirit with this much power...

Licia shook her head as if it were absolutely impossible.

＊　＊　＊

’Hmm? I don’t mind. Go ahead.’

On a day when the hot spring was not taking outside guests.

Tanya, who visited the hot spring on the day Epir Noah arrived and asked casually, received permission so easily it was almost anticlimactic.

Perhaps because it wasn’t her own territory anyway, Epir Noah gave permission nonchalantly.

...Of course, this hot spring had a separate spirit.

The spirit perched on Epir Noah’s shoulder also nodded belatedly.

Since Epir Noah had already permitted it, this side naturally had no choice but to give automatic permission as well.

’By the way, what are you going to use this for after taking it?’

’Et... w-well, I just thought there might be a better way to utilize it...’

’You have unique tastes.’

She was able to get permission much more easily than expected, but once she had it, how to utilize it was ambiguous.

If she were to use this, she would naturally have to use it inside the labyrinth.

However, it was impossible to carry enough hot spring water to take a bath.

Then again, drinking it as it is was also a bit much...

While harboring such worries, Tanya decided to leave the dilemma to someone else who might be able to use it better, rather than coming up with it alone.

If I take it to Ms. Louise, maybe she can make some good potions?

With that thought, Tanya carefully bottled the hot spring water.