Chapter 69: Yui Yuigahama's idea
"You said... hot water?"
As soon as they heard Nanako say this, all the girls looked at her.
"That's right. There was a volcanic eruption on the neighboring island, so it wouldn't be strange if there was a hot spring on this island, either..."
Utaha said this as if she was thinking deeply about something.
"A hot spring... such a nostalgic word."
She remembered how, in Japan, it was a must to take a hot bath during the winter.
"Wait a minute. When Nanako says 'hot spring,' she doesn't mean a hot spring in the traditional sense."
Jun said this to calm the girls' excitement.
"Nanako, do you mean the hot water is like a small pool of warm steam?"
Yui immediately used her hands to describe the image in her mind.
"Yes, that's right,"
After thinking for a moment, Nanako replied and nodded her head in agreement.
"Amazing!"
Yui and Ginko shouted at the same time, happily cheering after receiving the answer they hoped for.
"Onsen..."
| Notice: Onsen in Japan are natural hot spring baths originating from volcanic hot water sources. The term is often associated with the relaxing and mineral-rich experience of soaking in hot water. Onsen is an important part of Japanese culture and is often visited for recreation, relaxation, and health benefits. |
Yukino also thought that bathing in hot water might be the best way to clean themselves in winter like this.
"Nanako, do you still remember the way there?"
They asked about the route, and they were starting to look into it more seriously.
"Wait a minute."
Jun interrupted the conversation again.
"The place Nanako mentioned is probably still in the barbarian tribe's territory. We can't just go there without thinking. It could be dangerous."
"No, it's okay. That's my own place. It's very far from the settlement. They have never been there before.
Nanako said this while remembering the difficult life she had in the Dragon Spine Tribe.
They were always being ignored and treated badly. They rarely got food, and had to deal with insults and beatings every day.
Compared to those times, living in this treehouse truly felt like paradise.
"It's okay, everything's over now,"
Yukino hugged Nanako, who suddenly looked sad.
While teaching Nanako to read, she had heard stories about the poor treatment the girl had received.
"Yukino-nee..."
Nanako returned Yukino's hug, smiling.
"Onii-chan, you've been acting strangely since earlier..."
Megumi noticed her brother trying to change the subject to something else.
He was definitely hiding something. Her small white hand pinched Jun's thigh again.
"That's right, why do you keep stopping us from going there? What do you really mean?"
Utaha joined in, pinching Jun's thigh from the other side.
Jun felt like he had no other choice. He held the hands of both girls, stopping them from doing what they were doing, and then gave in.
"Outside... there's another monster, similar to the giant bear we encountered before."
He finally told them about his encounter with the giant deer.
Yuigahama Yui listened closely and then started thinking.
The other girls also stopped talking. They sat around the round table, waiting for her to say something.
The night wind howled outside.
Snow was still falling quietly. The embers in the fireplace occasionally crackled softly.
"I don't know exactly what it's called, but it has the ability to freeze people, although it's not as aggressive as a bear. As long as it doesn't see us, it won't attack."
Yui explained her analysis.
"So Jun didn't tell me something this important, huh..."
Yukino made a noise that meant she was annoyed.
At that time, Jun had only seen the fur and antlers of the deer—he never looked directly into its eyes.
In theory, the creature didn't see him either. That's why he wasn't chased and the monster just walked away.
"It's clear that going outside is very dangerous. We better stay inside the house,"
Jun crushed the girls' hopes, as he had done before.
"But if that monster keeps wandering around the forest, does that mean we can never leave the house?"
Ginko lowered her head and sat with her chin resting on her hands.
"No, I have an idea!"
Yui stood up and felt excited.
"Really?"
Megumi asked, not believing her.
Could Yui have known the giant deer's weakness?
"We can use this!"
Yui pointed under the table at the white blanket made from bear fur that they had been using as a sleeping mat.
"That monster can't see well. As long as we cover ourselves with this blanket, it won't know we're there!"
Yui felt cold after she left the blanket, so she quickly buried herself in it again.
Utaha nodded slowly—the blanket was really like snow.
They then looked back at Jun with hopeful eyes.
"I understand..."
Jun scratched his head.
The blanket was almost the same color as snow.
"Okay, but we need to get supplies first. If the place is beyond the mountain, the journey there must be long."
He also realized that it was impossible to stop the girls from bathing all winter.
Regarding the deer monster, if the "expert" said it was safe, then it wouldn't hurt to try.
Also, at that time, the deer really didn't see him.
"Nanako, are you sure you can still find the hot spring's location? Everything outside is white, so it's hard to tell which way is north."
Jun asked Nanako.
"...Yes,"
Nanako replied gently.
That's right, Jun thought.
After all, she was from this island. She must have known how to navigate well.
Jun smiled when he saw the girls already dreaming about the warmth of hot water.
It's a really great feeling to be able to bathe in warm water, even if it's just once in this cold winter.
"Nanako, you're amazing!"
Yui, feeling happy, kissed Nanako on the cheek.
Nanako suddenly blushed.
But I don't want to have a baby with this woman, she thought.
The only one who could do that was him.
To stop Yui from getting too excited, Nanako quickly moved away from Utaha's hug and hid behind Jun.
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