The Secret Hot Spring

Northern Lands

Etovis Mountains.

"Well."

Rienta sighed helplessly.

[The magic of turning a red apple into a green apple] is actually just a simple change in color and flavor.

It wasn't at all what he had imagined—the kind of time travel that would turn back time for Apple.

Instead, a new state was superimposed.

Since obtaining that magic book, Stark has heard Rienta sigh several times.

He said, somewhat puzzled:

"Rienta, Frieren and Fern already said that the magic couldn't possibly have the effect you want, so why are you still so sullen?"

"You don't understand, Stark."

Rienta explained with a pained expression, "I'm not bothered by the magic book, but I completely overlooked the fact that the spell's name is [The Magic to Turn Red Apples into Green Apples], not [The Magic to Turn Red Apples Back into Green Apples]."

"O.0?"

Looking into Stark's clear eyes, Rienta sighed again.

I actually dared to presume to discuss topics like naming magic with a warrior.

I should say it but I won't.

Folk magic is very straightforward in both its naming and its uses.

But I overlooked this point.

He must have caught it from that bastard, Stark.

Yes, that must be it!

Fern glanced helplessly at the two playfully bickering behind him.

He said, "The weather has gotten much warmer lately."

Frieren explained, "This area is a volcanic region, and it's considered one of the warmer places among the Northern Lands."

"So, that means we'll be able to soak in the hot springs soon, right?" Fern looked at Frieren with some anticipation.

"That's right." Frieren nodded, then continued, "We'll reach the next village in a little while, and then we'll go soak in a hot spring."

The two people who were fooling around in the back immediately stopped when they heard that they could soak in the hot spring.

Rienta looked at Stark and said, "A truce for now."

"Agreed." Stark agreed to the proposal.

The two quickly walked over to Frieren and Fern.

The four of them began their journey towards the village that Frieren remembered.

Rienta and the others walked for quite a while but did not find the village that Frieren had mentioned.

All we saw was a small wooden cabin.

Frieren looked at the wooden house in front of her and murmured:

"I have a bad feeling..."

Rienta couldn't wait any longer and knocked on the door.

A middle-aged man opened the door after hearing the purpose of their visit.

He warmly invited the four of them into the house.

As soon as Stark entered the house, he started playing with the children.

The others were seated at the arrangement of the middle-aged man.

Everyone was seated.

Frieren asked, "I remember there's a fairly large village here, isn't there?"

The middle-aged man's father said with emotion, "You mean the village? I really miss it."

"Adventurers stopped coming here after the hot springs dried up. The village was abandoned about thirty years ago."

Frieren:(=ω=)

"What a pity, Lady Frieren," Fern said with some disappointment.

"Human villages can disappear in the blink of an eye."

"It seems we'll have to be patient until we reach the next town," Frieren said helplessly.

"How far is the next town from here?" Rienta asked.

After making an estimate, Frieren said, "It will probably take about another week."

"It'll take another week..."

At this moment, Stark, who was playing with the children, also asked:

Are there any other hot springs around here?

After thinking for a moment upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's father spoke:

"Speaking of which, my grandfather once told me that there seemed to be a secret hot spring in the mountains behind the village."

"However, that was thirty years ago."

"You mean the secret hot springs of Mount Etovis?" Frieren asked.

"That's right."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Frieren looked at Rienta and the others and said:

"I do know that place, but it's very likely gone too."

"If you want to soak in the hot springs sooner, you'd better head to the next town."

After listening to their conversation, Rienta was about to urge everyone to set off as soon as possible.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw Stark deep in thought.

Curious, he asked, "Stark?"

Stark only came to his senses after hearing Rienta's shout.

He looked at everyone and said, "I've heard about the 'Secret Hot Springs of Mount Etovis' from my master."

"Frieren, I want to see that secret hot spring."

"Lord Stark?" Fern looked at Stark with some confusion.

Frieren looked at Stark and said, "Stark, although there is indeed a secret hot spring there, the time and effort we put into getting there are completely disproportionate to the rewards."

"After all, that's where..."

Frieren was interrupted by Stark before she could finish speaking.

"Since we're already here..."

Let's go check out that secret hot spring in Mount Etovis.

"..." Rienta, who originally intended to head to the next town, stopped after hearing Stark's words.

The mouth was completely out of control, as if manipulated by some mysterious force.

As if possessed, I said, "Indeed, since we're already here, let's go check out that secret hot spring."

Frieren saw that Rienta also agreed with Stark's suggestion.

Smiling, he said, "Alright then, since Rienta and Stark both say so, let's go."

After saying that, Frieren looked at the old man and said, "Then, we'll take our leave now."

After saying that, he turned and left.

After saying goodbye to the owner of the cabin, Rienta and the other two followed Frieren.

For Frieren...

Eighty years is a very short time.

It was so short, it felt like I'd just been to this village a while ago.

But for people...

Eighty years is a long time.

It can grow so large that it can wipe out an entire village.

What should we eat today?

"Box lunch."

I want to eat stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers.

"Clear."

"I want crispy shredded potatoes."

"No problem."

"I want to eat fried potatoes, Rienta, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, chunks of potato."

"Stark, your demands are a bit too high."

"?"

In the end, Rienta complied with Stark's request.

Unfortunately, no ingredient in the world tastes quite similar to houttuynia cordata.

Otherwise, we could give Stark a shocking experience from another world.

And coincidentally, today is Rienta's monthly Chef's Day.

But they were on their way to find the secret hot springs of Mount Etovis.

So he didn't initially plan to cook many dishes.

However, Frieren reacted quickly and immediately started ordering.

It seems that Fern and Stark haven't forgotten this day either.

Rienta hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand and canceled the original plan to have a simple meal.

They immediately took out a lot more ingredients and called on Fern to prepare them together.

One hour later.

The originally planned boxed lunches have been replaced by a table full of stir-fries.

Everyone took their seats.

Just as they were about to start eating, Frieren noticed something was wrong.

The three of them—himself, Fern, Stark— were all facing the same thing.

But in front of Rienta was a unique dish.

"Rienta, what's that in front of you? It looks pretty good."

Rienta's expression turned serious. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and silently cast a black and red Special Effects Magic on herself.

He said:

"People say adding salt makes the double-fried scrambled eggs so delicious!"

"???"*3.

"Give me one too."

"OK."

I was referring to your dish!