NOVEL NEXT ch20 - With the Bath’s Flowers
20: With the Bath’s Flowers
So, the goal was to soothe Levi’s loneliness and have him return underground, just as winter would normally be.
“Is it not okay for the hot springs to remain like this?”
I looked at Fenrir with a downcast expression. The water felt incredibly comfortable. If possible, I’d love to take a bath every day.
“I’m sorry… El. But as I mentioned, Levi’s hot spring is too hot, even for me.”
“Even for Fenrir? Does the winter coat magic get melted away…?”
“Yes, probably. I was prepared to handle that to ease Levi’s loneliness.”
So, in other words, allowing an embrace. …I felt a bit of jealousy at the thought. It’s a rather ugly feeling, wanting to keep Fenrir all to myself. Fenrir had always seemed to be the only one allowed such closeness until now. Probably.
“Oh? If you hug for too long, doesn’t Fenrir’s magic seep too much and become dangerous for animals?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I was prepared for a draw.”
“You shouldn’t defeat Levi.”
“Wait, Levi, calm down!”
Levi’s anger made the hot spring water start bubbling furiously! Look, the surrounding snow is melting! Even I’m finding it too hot now!
“I was planning to pull away at the right time. Right, Fenrir?”
Yes, let’s go with that! Levi’s face might be showing “Worst case, I was thinking of compensating with other water maidens,” but that’s probably something only Grea and I would notice!
Levi’s anger subsided, and we all let out a sigh of relief.
“That creates a synergy effect, huh.”
That’s a troubling situation. Calm Levi isn’t a bad person; it seems that his natural disposition is causing trouble in this context.
“It would be great if we could adjust the water temperature more easily.”
“I see.”
I guess it’s not that they haven’t tried anything. Fenrir is so considerate. Maybe there’s an idea unique to someone from another world like me?
Hmm, hmm, I thought while soaking in the warm spring.
<…Lady El, are you enjoying the hot spring while pretending to think seriously?>
“I’m not! The desire to stay in the hot spring is precisely why I’m thinking seriously about how Levi can continue to exist!”
Grea is growling. It was a quick excuse, but I think I said something good. Now that I’ve said it, I hope I can come up with something.
I spotted a snow flower behind Grea. It’s the one that bloomed from my tears earlier.
“Wait… Levi, could you melt the decorative clasp of this bracelet?”
Fenrir made this bracelet with ice magic, but sorry, I need to melt it. It’s to resolve Fenrir’s worries.
Levi gave a gentle kiss.
W-what!? Is that how you release it!? Th-thank you.
The kiss was warm, melting even Fenrir’s ice magic. The pearls of tears that had formed into the bracelet scattered into the hot spring, floating gently.
“Snow flowers that don’t melt, bloom.”
I imagined a water lily—a flower with pure white, snow-like petals. The pearls turned into a delicate flower, wrapped in a cool aura that gently lowered the temperature of the hot spring.
“How is it?”
Levi let out a soothing sigh of contentment.
“Great! It seems effective. Fenrir, what do you think?”
I turned around and saw that Fenrir and Grea were staring with their mouths agape. They looked so adorable with their surprised expressions. It’s quite amusing.
When I waved my hand, they finally snapped out of their daze.
Fenrir slowly approached and dipped his toes into the hot spring. Grea’s scream of “Lord Fenrir!” echoed, but, calm down? Fenrir wouldn’t do something like this thoughtlessly.
Levi cupped her cheeks with both hands and warmed up, becoming gently heated.
“Oh!? You’re moved, and the temperature increase is so gentle.”
Though Levi’s tears were warm as she hugged me, the temperature was quite pleasant. Probably around 43°C, which is perfect for winter.
Fenrir grumbled at the request.
Levi twirled around, causing the hot spring to shrink. The expansive orange water clung around like a skirt. The lotus flowers adorned Levi like a headband and necklace. She gave an elegant bow.
“Brr, it’s cold!”
Suddenly, the hot spring disappeared. I scrambled to my feet and started hopping around in a panic.
Levi quickly came over and wrapped me in a warm embrace.
Ahhh, so warm!
Grea, who had been looking on with a disappointed expression, should remember this later!
“Thank you, Levi.”
Levi gave a gentle smile that warmed both body and soul.
Since we couldn’t move while hugging Levi, I stepped away for a moment and changed into my winter dress. Levi gazed nostalgically at the ground where the hot spring had appeared, as it used to spring up here.
Levi walked over to the hot spring’s remnants and picked something up.
She turned towards us holding what appeared to be…
“A disaster prevention bag?”
I took the bag from Levi and started to check its contents.
“Yeah, it contains emergency food and useful items for urgent situations. It’s a disaster prevention bag. It’s not something bad… Really!?”
Let’s hold off on those glaring eyes, claws, fangs, and horns for now, both of you! Why are they so on edge?
<…I see. If that’s the case, it’s fine.>
“Yes, it’s all good!”
We decided to take the disaster prevention bag with us. It seems that lost items from other worlds belong to the ones who find them.
Listening to Fenrir and Grea’s conversation, I felt a slight unease. The smartphone in my pouch seemed to weigh a bit more.
Whether Levi sensed my inner turmoil or not, she clung to me tightly. We walked on a makeshift ice bridge, created by Levi, and I couldn’t even count how many times we had hugged like this. The ice was melting each time we stopped, but I indulged in this warmth just a little bit.