"KYAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"
Less than ten seconds after Hermes, Bell, and Welf made their rapid entry, the screams of women erupted from behind. Despite the chaos, Akumo walked calmly to the counter and spoke to the staff member.
"Three perverts just broke into the women's bath."
"T-The [Pioneer]!?"
"Shut it and get Amid on the line."
"Y-Yes, sir!!"
The staff member, initially paralyzed by Akumo's overwhelming presence, scrambled to comply. After a frantic moment of communication, the employee rushed back.
"Amid-san wants to speak with you!"
Akumo took the receiver.
—'What in the world is going on!?'
"Exactly what it sounds like. I came to enjoy the springs, but some perverted bastards decided to storm the women's side."
—'...Are you saying you'll help?'
"Yeah. I'm actually quite pissed off myself...."
Crack!
Akumo cracked his knuckles. The sound of shifting bone was loud enough to reach Amid on the other end, serving as a lethal warning to anyone nearby that crossing him meant death.
—'Okay! But whatever you do, stay away from the boiler room!!!'
"Got it."
After a moment of deliberation, Amid decided to authorize Akumo's intervention. Hanging up, Akumo made one final request to the staff.
"Give me a mask."
"Yes! We have these employee masks—"
"No. Give me a real mask."
"Pardon...?"
"Just give it to me!!"
Akumo grabbed several masks and tied them together, creating a makeshift hood that completely covered his head and face.
"Ah! But... you won't be able to see through that...!"
"I'll be fine."
Akumo addressed the staff member with unerring precision despite the blindfold. As he prepared to breach the women's bath, the staff member shouted again.
"Wait! Just a moment!"
"...What now?"
"You must remove your shirt before entering the bath area!"
"...What?"
"It is the law of the springs!"
"God damn it...!!!! Everyone's lost their minds!"
Akumo ripped his shirt off, leaving him bare-chested with his head wrapped in the makeshift hood. He sprinted toward the women's bath.
"Hehe...!"
'Success~'
Akumo likely didn't realize that the "staff member" he had been talking to wasn't the man from before, but a female employee who had been eavesdropping and waiting for her chance.
"Status inside?"
"According to plan. Security has thinned out everywhere."
"It seems Bell and the others are doing their part."
Miach, Naaza, Daphne, and Cassandra were carefully infiltrating through the back path of the bathhouse. Due to the commotion in the women's bath, the guard rotations were non-existent.
"But... did Akumo join the fray as well?"
"He didn't seem to know about the women's bath situation..."
"...May you rest in peace, Hermes."
The Miach Familia didn't for a second believe Akumo would fall for Hermes' scheme quietly. They simply offered a silent prayer for Hermes, Bell, and Welf, who were about to experience the wrath of an ancient warrior.
"It's poetic justice!!"
"Naaza-san..."
Naaza, however, seemed genuinely livid at the fact that Akumo had entered the women's bath at all.
Sprinting footsteps echoed through the halls.
"""""KYAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"""""
'This bull head blocks my peripheral vision!'
Welf was currently sprinting through the women's bath in a state of pure panic.
Fortunately, the mask's narrow field of vision prevented him from seeing the women's nudity clearly—not that he wanted to. The mere fact that he was in this situation was absurd and humiliating.
Then, he ran into someone.
"A-A man?"
'H-Hephaestus-sama!!!?'
Standing before him was the beautiful, red-haired goddess with her signature eyepatch—his former patron, Hephaestus.
Gulp, gulp!
"~♪"
Next to her was Tsubaki, casually chugging milk as if nothing was wrong.
"You! What do you think you're doing!?"
'S-She hasn't recognized me...! She hasn't, but...!!! How can I show such a pathetic display in front of the goddess I love!'
Hephaestus continued her lecture, unaware that the mysterious pervert was Welf, but Welf couldn't focus on her words.
"This is a crime!"
'But I want to look!'
"Have you no shame!"
'Ugh, I want to see, but—!'
Because the mask obscured his vision, he was actually more tempted to do something sacrilegious just to get a better look.
"But even if it's a crime, you can start over."
'N-No! Not like this!'
"Turn yourself in immediately and work on your rehabili—"
THOOM!
""!?""
A sudden chill swept through the air.
A terrifying, cold bloodlust radiated from behind, accompanied by a vibration that shook the very floor.
"..."
'Found you.'
"!!"
'A-Akumo-san...!?'
THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD.
Welf froze in shock at the sight of a shirtless Akumo. The veteran warrior charged toward him, radiating a murderous aura that made Welf's skin crawl.
"W-Wait—"
"No words needed."
'Die.'
There was no room for excuses. Even with his eyes covered, Akumo tracked him with surgical precision, closing the distance with lethal intent.
"Whoa!?"
Rumble!
"Hey, wait, Bull-mask! I'm not finished with you!!"
Hephaestus watched the shirtless, masked man chase the bull-masked pervert and blinked in surprise.
The scars on the man's body looked strangely familiar.
"I've seen those before..."
"Huh?"
"Tsubaki, do you recognize him?"
"...Isn't that Akumo?"
"..."
The two women burst into laughter simultaneously, finding the situation absurd.
"Hahaha!!"
The idea of Akumo coming to the bathhouse bare-chested and masked just to hunt perverts was the most ridiculous joke they'd ever seen.
Welf continued to run, his terror mounting as the heavy footsteps drew closer. Akumo had no intention of showing mercy.
'I don't mind being chased by women, but...'
""""""GET BACK HERE!!!!!""""""
'There are a bit too many of them!!!'
Hermes was in the middle of a high-stakes chase with dozens of female staff members. Feeling cornered, he frantically looked for a place to hide.
'I have to hide, now...!!'
"Otherwise, Akumo-kun is going to kill me!"
'I can handle a beating from the ladies, but a serious blow from Akumo-kun is out of the question...!!'
He spotted an alleyway ahead.
"!!"
'There! A hiding spot...!'
He dove into the alley, praying for an exit, but—
"Whoa!!?"
He was met with a dead end—a wall painted with Dian Cecht's face, looking as if it were mocking him.
"Damn it, a dead end!"
Rumble!
"D-Damn...!!"
The sound of numerous footsteps and shouting staff members grew louder. Cold sweat poured down Hermes' face as a sudden, terrifying realization struck him.
A shiver ran down his spine.
'H-He's coming... Akumo-kun is here!!'
"What...! What do I do!?"
Suddenly, someone grabbed him and shoved him into a large crate.
Thud!
"What the—!"
Hermes tried to see who his savior was, but he held his breath as the staff members arrived.
"What!?"
"Damn it, he got away!"
The staff members reached the dead end and stared at the Dian Cecht mural in frustration.
"Ugh...!! Let's head back!"
"..."
'Phew... thank goodness~ I'll just wait here and then slip out to—'
THOOM!
Hermes' relief was short-lived. His executioner had arrived.
An overwhelming presence filled the alley, causing both Hermes and the staff members to break out in a cold sweat. The staff members turned, their guard up.
"W-Who are you!?"
"Identify yourself!!!"
'What is this pressure...!!'
They soon realized that this newcomer was also shirtless, just like the perverts they were hunting.
"W-Wait!! Why aren't you wearing a shirt!?"
"...I have my reasons."
"Shut up! We're taking you in too—"
Crack.
"Taking... you... in..."
The staff members who approached Akumo suddenly lost their voices. As they got closer, they saw the intricate network of scars etched into his perfectly sculpted muscles. It was a physique forged in hell.
Gulp.
"A-Ahem...!!"
"I'll explain everything later. For now, just go!"
"Alright! You better explain yourself later, okay!?"
"....? Sure."
"""Us too!"""
"Uh... okay?"
For some reason, the women let him pass without a fight, scurrying away with flushed faces.
"...What was that about?"
Akumo shrugged and loosened his muscles with a series of sickening cracks.
"Well, I'll think about it later."
He approached the crate against the wall.
Grin.
"Ready or not, here I come~"
Hermes, hearing the approaching footsteps, entered a state of extreme tension. Akumo pulled off his makeshift mask for a moment to catch his breath.
"Ah~ much better..."
'P-Please.... don't come over here...!!'
"Hermes-sama~? If you come out now, I'll make it quick~"
'Liar!'
"Not coming out?"
"....."
Hermes desperately covered his own mouth to silence his breathing. Akumo smiled and stepped toward the crate.
"Hide and seek~"
Creak!
'!!!!!'
"I can see your hair~"
Suddenly, Akumo heard footsteps behind him. He spun around instantly, reaching out to grab the intruder.
THUD!
"Who—"
"Akumo-san!?"
Just as Akumo pinned the person against the wall by their wrist, a familiar girl's voice rang out.
"Asfi...?"
"What are you doing!?"
Asfi, having removed her Hades Head mask, stared at the situation in utter confusion. Her eyes darted around, unsure where to look given Akumo's bare chest.
CRASH!
"Now's my chance!!!!"
Hermes burst out of the crate and sprinted away at full speed.
"What!?"
WHACK!
"Where do you think you're going?"
Akumo had casually kicked the crate, which flew through the air and knocked Hermes flat on his face.
"...I think I understand the situation now."
"I'll leave him to you. I still have more bastards to catch."
"Can you even see in that thing?"
"I'm using my Mind's Eye."
"Heeh..."
Asfi watched with an exasperated expression as Akumo pulled the hood back over his head. He walked over to the fallen Hermes.
"H-Hey... Asfi..!"
"This is, uh... a very important mission—"
Akumo silenced Hermes by stuffing a cloth into his mouth. He handed the god over to Asfi.
"He's all yours."
"Understood."
"W-Wait!! Akumo-kun!!!"
"It's poetic justice~"
"SAVE MEEEEEE!!!!"
Akumo walked away with a refreshed expression, offering a silent prayer for Hermes' soul as bone-chilling sounds of physical correction echoed behind him.
CRACK! SNAP! CRUNCH!
"Honestly~ I never thought I'd be in a stone sauna with all of you...."
In the stone sauna area of the women's bath, Hestia, Lili, Haruhime, Tiona, Tione, Aiz, and Eina were relaxing.
"I thought it would just be our Familia, and then this commotion starts~"
"Well, why not? It's nice once in a while, isn't it, Hestia-sama?"
"But what is all this noise?"
"I wonder what could have caused such a stir...."
As they peered out to keep an eye out for perverts, a figure walked past them.
"Where are the peeping Toms!"
"Ganesha-sama?"
"Why are you in the women's bath!?"
Ganesha, roaming the women's bath with his usual confidence, simply laughed.
"A-A man's collarbones...."
"Wait, Haruhime-kun!"
Haruhime, as usual, succumbed to her lack of immunity to the opposite sex and fainted. Ganesha, undeterred, struck a pose.
"I am here, so all is well!"
"I!"
"The Lord of Masses!"
Slip!
"Ganesha is here!!"
However, his confidence was his downfall. The knot on his towel couldn't withstand his vigorous posing and came undone.
"""...!!"""
Lili, Haruhime, and Eina were horrified by the sight.
"An elephant above, and an elephant below...."
"I see nothing."
Tiona and Tione, being Amazons, were naturally immune. Aiz, whose eyes were covered, only cared about a certain rabbit, and Hestia, being a goddess, remained unfazed.
WHOOSH!
"!?"
At that moment, Akumo blurred into existence and delivered a devastating low kick to the "elephant," preventing further visual terrorism.
THWACK!
""""Ah....""""
"...!!"
It was a level of pain that even Ganesha couldn't simply laugh off.
Thud.
"..."
Akumo sighed, tightened Ganesha's towel back into a secure knot, and prepared to carry the unconscious god out.
"Akumo?"
"!!"
"Those scars on your body.... That's definitely Akumo, isn't it?"
"..."
Akumo tried to bolt the moment Tiona pinpointed his identity, but—
""""Stop.""""
"Shit!"
He was caught.
"I see, so that's what happened!?"
"It certainly isn't a normal hot spring."
"I suppose that's Hermes-sama for you..."
"I can't believe Miach-sama joined such a plan...."
"Yeah."
"Hawawa.... Akumo-sama's collarbones....!!"
After hearing Akumo's explanation, the women understood the situation and the mystery of the hot spring.
"Satisfied? I'm leaving now~"
"In the end, you saw everything too."
"...I'm wearing a blindfold, aren't I?"
"Then how did you see where you were going!"
"Mind's Eye."
"What does that even mean...."
"Anyway, I have to find the others."
'Glad I didn't mention Bell and Welf...'
Stare—
".....?"
As Akumo turned to leave, he felt a strange pressure from multiple directions. He looked around to see the female guests staring intently at his body.
"Whoa...."
"Incredible....!"
"The scars actually make him look sexier...?"
The guests began to edge closer, their gazes unabashed. Tiona, Hestia, and Lili looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"You're popular~"
"Must be nice?"
"A real hit with the ladies!"
"Give me a break.... I just want to get out of here...."
Akumo sighed, wishing someone would just end this farce. At that moment—
Splash!
".....?"
'Why is there a waterfall in a hot spring....'
Seeing the massive waterfall on the far side, a sudden realization struck him.
'Water with healing properties....'
'Infused... by a woman...?'
'And a waterfall flowing from top to bottom....'
"...No way! It was true!?"
'It was so insane I didn't even consider it!'
Reaching a conclusion, Akumo stood up and took a stance to head toward the waterfall.
"I'm leaving Ganesha-sama to you!"
Akumo dropped into a crouch and launched himself like an arrow toward the waterfall.
WHOOSH!
""""KYAAAAAAH!!!!""""
"Are we sure he can't see...?"
"Well, he didn't react to anything...."
'...'
Hestia couldn't say it.
"Ahem....!"
Having lived for eons, she had captured that outline. Even though he had tried to hide it by wearing multiple layers of pants, that outline had been exposed to her.
"Oh!!"
'You were already here, Bell!'
Akumo reached the forest near the waterfall. Standing on the stepping stones, he spotted Bell staring at the falls. He was about to call out to him.
"Be—"
"Oh my?"
Akumo's instincts flared.
"!!"
'This sticky aura....'
"S-Syr....?"
"What a coincidence~"
Syr traced a finger down Akumo's back with a meaningful smile. Bell noticed them as well.
"Syr-san....!? H-How did you find us so quickly...."
"What a coincidence for you too, Bell-san~"
"N-No, that's...!"
"This hot spring is very popular, isn't it?"
Before Bell could make an excuse, Syr walked toward him, her hand gripping Akumo's arm and dragging him along.
"The Sword Princess and her group are here, and I ran into Eina-san too."
"Then I'll be going—"
"Hephaestus-sama and Tsubaki-san are here as well."
"Why would I—"
Grip!
"...."
'Son of a...!'
The sheer pressure radiating from her—telling him to follow quietly before she unleashed the power of a certain goddess rather than Syr Flover—forced Akumo to make a choice.
"Phew.... Bell!"
Whoosh!
"Kyaa!?"
Akumo moved at high speed toward Bell. The resulting wind pressure was so intense that Syr's chest towel was blown right off. In the chaos, Syr tried to grab Akumo but ended up snatching the makeshift hood off his head.
'Syr-san's towel...!'
'F-Freya-sama....'
"...Since it's come to this, we're dropping!"
"What!?"
Both Bell and Akumo froze for a split second at the sight, but Akumo made his decision.
"UWAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Everyone!!!!"
"I don't care anymore!!!!!"
He chose to dive into the waterfall.
"ORA!!"
As they plummeted, Akumo spotted a red light and punched toward it without hesitation.
BOOM!
"Giyath!!??"
The floor shattered, revealing a hidden space below. Akumo and Bell landed safely, using a certain familiar old man as a cushion.
"Dian Cecht-sama....?"
"The whole place is flooded..."
After inadvertently crushing Dian Cecht, who was holding a strange sword, the two looked around and found Miach and Naaza struggling against the torrent of water.
"Miach-sama, Naaza-san!"
"Oh, perfect tim—"
Rip!
"...Uh-oh?"
Naaza's outfit had been torn in several precarious places, but there was no time for embarrassment.
"...Let's just go!!"
""O-Oh!!""
They rushed toward the boiler room. As they entered, the steam became thick enough to rival another hot spring.
"..."
"Hyung? What's wrong?"
"It's... nothing..."
'I don't know, I just don't know anymore~'
Akumo's expression grew increasingly grim.
Pshhhhhhh!
"This is it."
They reached the heart of the boiler room. There sat a massive tub, and inside was...
"No way...."
"Amid-san."
Miach and Bell stared in shock. Akumo and Naaza's faces hardened as they realized the secret.
"Hmm?"
"!? Naaza, Miach-sama... even Akumo!?"
"So.... it really was that....?"
"The broth was actually...."
"The water you bathed in!!!!!!"
Akumo shouted in utter disbelief. His shock wasn't just because of Amid.
"MY [GRAM]!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"I wondered where it went...."
"YOU WERE USING IT TO HEAT THE BATH WATER!!!!!"
Akumo was genuinely livid, seeing [Gram] plunged into the center of the tub where Amid sat.
"I.... I drank that...."
"You drank it!?"
"Don't tell me Akumo-san did too....?"
"No, I didn't. Why would I drink that?"
Amid turned beet-red with shame as Akumo answered Naaza's suspicion with cold finality.
"They said... they said no one would ever find out...."
"As if!!!?"
"Don't look... don't look!"
"Just get out of there!"
Akumo tried to pull the trembling Amid out of the tub, but at that moment—
Thrum!
As if reacting to Amid's emotions, [Gram] began to glow red, and the boiler room started to shudder.
"I'm begging you, don't look!!!!"
"Holy shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
'It's going to blow!!!!!!!!!!!!'
The screams of Amid and Akumo echoed through the springs just before a spectacular explosion lit up the Orario night.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the explosion, which fortunately only blew off the ceiling and walls, Akumo, Bell, Miach, Naaza, Daphne, Cassandra, Amid, and Dian Cecht sat in the remaining tub.
"You fools!"
"This happened because you acted on your own!"
Dian Cecht shouted at Miach and Naaza for ruining the springs, but—
"Shut your mouth, Dian Cecht-sama."
"This happened because you tried to make a petty profit off Amid's bathwater!"
"Bathwater!? How dare you! Don't make it sound so weird!"
"Oh, really....?"
Akumo stood up, a vein throbbing in his forehead.
"This whole mess is because of you. I should just end you!!"
"Eek!?"
"You brought this on yourself."
"And you! What were you thinking!!"
"Ugh!?"
Akumo began to lecture Naaza like the veteran he was.
"I could have just talked to Amid, but you had to! You just had to insist on infiltrating!"
"Hmph...."
"Amid!! You too!"
"Heek!?"
"I don't care if it was your god's order! Using [Gram] to run a hot spring business?"
"Hmph...."
Naaza and Amid were silenced by Akumo's scolding. Amid even began to tear up from shame and frustration.
"I'm so ashamed.... I'll never be able to get married now...."
"Don't say that, Amid! Once we rebuild, we can heal everyone with your sweat again!"
"I REFUSE!!!"
Amid vehemently rejected Dian Cecht's suggestion, and Akumo could only laugh hollowly.
Amid eventually shuffled over to sit between Akumo and Miach.
"I'm sorry....."
"As long as you understand."
"It's fine. Neither Akumo nor I knew the circumstances...."
Akumo sat back in the tub, letting the cool breeze and warm water soothe his weary mind as he stared at the sky.
Stare—
".....?"
'What now?'
"Is there something on my face?"
"No.... in front...."
Akumo looked down. The black shorts he had been wearing since the start of the plan were shredded.
"Ah, I borrowed these from the spring. I guess they finally gave out....."
'I hope I have a spare...'
Akumo sighed, worrying about his clothes. But Amid, Miach, Naaza, and even Dian Cecht were staring at him with wide eyes.
""""Ooh!!""""
'It's a Dragon....!'
"...Son of a—"
Between the chaos and the embarrassment, Akumo was officially done with hot springs.
========================
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