Soaking in the Hot Spring

Passing through the last sparse coniferous forest, the sound of water gradually grew louder ahead. Thick white steam continuously poured out from the cracks in the rock walls, carrying with it the distinctive pungent smell of sulfur and humid heat, rushing towards us.

The Three-Headed Dragon carried the four people steadily into the misty area.

Visibility dropped instantly, leaving only a hazy white expanse all around. Moisture condensed on my eyelashes, bringing a slight coolness, but it was quickly dispelled by the warmth rising from below.

Frieren sat at the front, a slow smile curving her lips upwards. She didn't turn around, her voice carrying a deliberately lowered, mischievous lightness.

"Fern, we've arrived. Let's soak in the hot springs together."

Fern's voice came from behind, calm and steady.

"Okay."

She answered, but then fell silent for a moment, as if she had suddenly realized something.

"... etc."

There was a hint of wariness in her tone.

"Lady Frieren, the 'we' you mentioned..."

She paused, her voice carrying a clear question.

"You mean you, and Liletta, right?"

Frieren tilted her head slightly, her silver hair tracing a blurry arc in the mist. She blinked her emerald eyes, her expression exceptionally innocent.

"Lowell should definitely come along too."

"Huh?!"

Fern's voice rose slightly, shattering the calm. She could even sense a slight stiffness in her posture.

"How could this be! Lady Frieren, what are you saying?!"

Her speech quickened.

"That's absolutely impossible! You should have that kind of common sense too!"

Frieren's smile widened, appearing somewhat sly in the mist.

"Hmm... is that so?"

She dragged out the melody.

"But why do I have a feeling... Fern will definitely agree?"

"Impossible! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Fern immediately retorted, repeating "impossible" four times in a row, his voice resolute, and he even unconsciously clenched his hands into small fists and waved them forcefully in front of him.

"Lady Frieren, please don't speak nonsense!"

"Hmm..." Frieren pretended to ponder, then held up one finger, "How about this? If Fern thinks it's okay when we arrive, then let Lowell and me not have to get up early for a month. How about that?"

Fern was silent for two seconds.

I could hear her take a soft breath.

"... this!"

Annoyance mingled in her voice, but it seemed to be suppressed by a certain confidence that "this is simply impossible," ultimately turning into a defiant snort.

"Hmph! That's impossible anyway! But if... if Frieren loses, not only will she have to get up early Tenten, but she'll also have to braid my hair for a month!"

Frieren pouted.

"Fern really wants me to braid your hair?"

"I braid your hair Tenten, but sometimes I want to take a break," Fern's voice regained a little composure, but remained self-righteous. "There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Okay," Frieren agreed readily, "Then it's settled."

The Three-Headed Dragon took a few more steps forward and completely passed through the densest fog.

The scene before me became clear.

A natural rock pool, about ten square meters in size, is nestled in a recess in the mountainside. The water is crystal clear, with tiny bubbles rising to the surface. White steam rises from the water, and the smell of sulfur is even stronger.

But the water level...

Fern stared, stunned, at the water that barely covered the bottom of the rocks at the edge of the pool, which he estimated to be no more than twenty centimeters deep.

"... this?"

She uttered a short, confused syllable.

Frieren had nimbly slid off the dragon's back and landed on the warm rocks by the pool. She turned around, looked up at Fern still sitting on the dragon's back, and could no longer hide her mischievous smile; her eyes curved into crescents.

"This 'secret hot spring'..."

She spoke slowly, each word radiating a triumphant pleasure.

"It's a hot spring where you can only soak your feet. We came here once before with Lupa and the others."

Fern pressed his lips together.

Her fair cheeks bulged up at a visible speed, and her pale purple eyes stared at her grinning master below, clearly showing signs of being deceived and about to get angry.

Frieren immediately raised her hands in surrender, but the smile on her face didn't diminish at all.

"You have to accept the consequences of your bet!"

Fern stared at her for several seconds, his chest heaving. In the end, the long-held helplessness he felt towards his master prevailed. She turned her face away and gave a loud snort.

"Oh well."

His voice was muffled, carrying obvious resentment, but he accepted it.

Frieren grinned and flashed a peace sign near her cheek.

Lowell also dismounted from the dragon's back, smiled upon hearing this, and shook his head.

"Really..." His tone was a mix of admiration and amusement, "Frieren, you're getting better and better at it."

"I learned it from you," Frieren said matter-of-factly, then kicked off her shoes, pulled down her socks, revealing her fair and delicate feet. She first cautiously tested the water temperature with her toes, then squinted her eyes in satisfaction, immersed both feet in the warm pool, found a comfortable rock to sit on, and let out a contented sigh.

"Then, let's soak in the hot springs."

Ripples spread gently around her feet.

Fern also dawdled down the steps. She took off her boots and stockings, her movements still refined, but slow and sullen, as if she were being difficult. She imitated Frieren, testing the water temperature before immersing her feet in the water. The warm water enveloped her ankles, and she subtly relaxed her shoulders, but her face still held that "I'm angry" expression.

"Lowell, come join us!" Frieren called out, sitting by the pool and swinging her legs.

Lowell stood by the pool, motionless, and raised his hand to touch his chin.

"Wait, wait a minute."

Fern turned to look at him, her pale purple eyes filled with doubt.

"Eh? It's alright, Lord Lowell." She thought he was concerned about what she had said earlier; after all, the pool was shallow, and it was just for soaking feet, so she didn't mind.

Lowell coughed twice.

"That's not what I meant." He pointed to the steaming pool water, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat subtle, as if he had thought of some strange idea.

"I was thinking, after you soak for a while, I'll collect some of this hot spring water..."

Fern blinked, not understanding.

"Collect them?"

"Yes." Lowell nodded, his tone becoming serious, but a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.

"Then I'll sell it to my readers."

"'The Secret Hot Spring Where Frieren and Fern bathed,' a limited edition collectible... maybe I'll be able to afford the Frieren- themed keyboard and graphics card from the Rising Antivirus collaboration on March 20th."

Fern: "..."

"What kind of strange idea is this? Aren't we already rich?" Her expression slowly changed from doubt to undisguised disdain, her lips curling downwards, her voice flat.

"Besides, who would buy this kind of water?"

"Haha, just kidding, just kidding." Lowell chuckled, waved his hand, took off his shoes and socks, sat down by the pool, and dipped his feet into the water. A warm feeling spread from the soles of his feet, and he sighed comfortably.

He turned to look at Liletta, who had been standing quietly to the side, seemingly separated from the relaxed atmosphere by an invisible wall. She was still holding her sword, standing straight, her golden eyes gazing at the pool, her face expressionless.

"Liletta, come and soak in the tub too. Relax a bit," Lowell gestured to her.

Upon hearing this, Liletta turned to look at him and then nodded.

"Oh."

She responded, and with slightly stiff movements, put down her sword. Without taking off her shoes, she simply stepped her feet, boots and all, into the shallow water at the edge of the pool—after all, ordinary Demons clothing was just part of the body. Then she sat directly on the steaming rocks by the pool, her feet immersed in the water.

The water temperature seemed to have no effect on her, neither "comfortable" nor "uncomfortable." She simply sat quietly, her feet in the water, her gaze fixed on her blurry reflection on the surface.

After a few seconds, she lowered her head, her lips moving silently, and her monotonous recitation resumed. The volume wasn't loud, but it seemed somewhat abrupt amidst the babbling water and misty air, yet strangely blended into the tranquility of the mountains.

"I swear to help my brother knight. I swear to treat my friends with sincerity. I swear to be loyal to my loved ones until death..."

The Three-Headed Dragon lay down not far from the pool, its three heads resting quietly on its front paws, its six eyes half-closed, seemingly enjoying the tranquility and warmth of the area. The ferocious aura surrounding it had long since dissipated, and now it looked more like a majestic yet gentle mountain guardian stone sculpture.

The four of them sat by the shallow hot spring, soaking their feet.

Steam rose in wisps, blurring their faces.

Frieren squinted contentedly, occasionally kicking the water lightly, splashing tiny droplets.

Fern gradually relaxed, the slight sullenness on her face dissipating, replaced by a natural, soothing feeling of soaking in hot water. She tilted her head back slightly, letting the warm steam wash over her face.

Lowell leaned against the rock behind him, his posture languid, his eyes closed as if resting.

Liletta's recitation became a steady, monotonous syllable in the background, creating a somewhat strange scene with her posture as she soaked in the hot spring, yet didn't seem to be truly "relaxed."

In the distance, the snow line higher up in the Etovis Mountains gleamed a cold, greyish-white behind a thin mist. The wind swept across the ridges, bringing a faint whistling sound, but it couldn't dispel the white steam rising above this small, warm pool.

Only the sounds of water, soft breathing, and the persistent, repeated chanting of vows intertwined above this secret, shallow hot spring.