#508 At the Hot Spring Inn

I’m me again, Lucife Focale.

I have decided to relax and take a vacation.

In order to ensure that there are no hindrances in my government affairs, I will take care of all the tasks ahead of time.

I have instructed my subordinates on what to do in my absence.

After preparing several manuals for contingencies, I finally took my leave.

“Trying to rest has made me awfully exhausted...!”

“What do you mean?”

For some reason, the Great Demon King Baal is accompanying me to my holiday destination.

He’s the one person I wanted gone in my life more than anyone else.

As long as this person is around me, I feel like I will never be at ease.

However, our destination is his through his good offices.

I wonder where he’ll take me?

“We’re here.”

“That was fast.”

We teleported to get here.

As always, this spell is useful. Its accessibility has been restricted for security reasons, but I may have to increase the number of people using it to make the office run more efficiently.

“This is where I wanted to take you.”

“You mean the place you wanted to go to.”

I couldn’t help myself from saying harsh words in the face of the Great Demon King, but...

The view spread out before me is enough to distract my mind.

“What is that building...?”

I can tell that we’re deep in the mountains.

Quiet and green, the terrain is so rich that looking at the scenery is more than pleasing to the eyes.

But what’s even more striking is the architecture towering over the natural surroundings.

Is that a tower, I wonder?

The eaves are so high up that one would think so.

How many stories are there?

Counting from the outside, I see one, two, three, four...?!

“It’s a six-story building.”

“Six?!”

How is it possible to build such a tall structure?

Not to mention, I can tell at a glance that no brick or stone was used for the exterior.

It’s wooden!

How did they build such a big building purely with wood?!

“Heh... Surprised, aren’t you? Bringing you here was already worth it then,” elatedly says the Great Demon King.

Seeing him flatter himself like that really irks me.

“The skill of those who built it is outstanding. But save your amazement for when we get inside. Come on, let’s go!”  

“Yes, yes.”

The Great Demon King urges me forward to the bizarre building.

First, we stop at a gate.

Beside it, there’s a wooden sign with the words “Those who pass through this gate, leave all fatigue behind” engraved on it.

“You see, this gate is enchanted so that anyone who tries to pass through it who is not particularly tired will be denied access.”

“Then doesn’t that apply to you?”

“That’s why I brought you here! After much begging and pleading, I got a deal that I could enter with you as my companion!”

There he goes causing trouble for others again.

I wish he gets stopped at the gate if it were really enchanted. Alas, we both managed to enter just fine.

“Yay! Now I can enjoy the hot spring inn!”

“Tsk.”

I didn’t click my tongue, mind.

But what is this hot spring ryokan all about?

The Great Demon King’s eye for discerning aesthetics is unmistakable. I, who have gone through many hardships because of this, understand it better than anyone else.

If he’s so fixated on something like this, there must be something remarkable waiting for us inside...

* * *

“Welcome, dear guests.”

We were greeted by a group of women dressed in strange attire.

They bowed reverently and paid their utmost courtesy.

“We are the hostesses of this inn. You must be Mr. Lucife Focale and his chaperone. We’ve confirmed your reservation, and your room has already been prepared. Let us show you the way.”

“Mm, no problem.”

Did they just call the Great Demon King a chaperone?

Although he has retired, Great Demon King Baal is the former ruler of the Demon Kingdom and the father of the current Demon King.

He’s still one of the most respected people in our nation, but to disregard that and treat him as a normal person is a courteous demeanor.

It’s not that they show respect to me because I’m the prime minister of the Demon Kingdom, right?  

If that were the case, the Great Demon King should’ve been given more importance.

My surmise became more and more certain as I entered the building. Inside, I passed many customers, but the employees, such as the hostess, were courteous and respectful to everyone.

For those who work here, the social status of the customers is irrelevant.

Everyone is treated with the utmost respect...!

“This is the Peony Room that we have prepared for Mr. Lugife Focale and company.”

The suite we were shown is a magnificent one!

“Ohhhhh...!”

“Please take off your shoes before entering the room.”

What is this...high-quality textured floor?!

It’s so comfortable on my soles!

“Tatami mats, sir.”

“Woahhhhhhh! The view from the window is incredibleeeee!”

“That’s because we’re currently on the fifth floor, sir.”

Stop acting like a little kid, Great Demon King.

Then again, even I, a simpleton, can understand how cozy this room feels.

I was overwhelmed even before I got to my room.

Not only the exterior but also the interior of this building is impressively well constructed. Despite being indoors, the lobby had a pond and was sophisticatedly decorated with flowers and furnishings, just the kind of design Lord Baal would like.

But, it’s not only the cultural aspect that surprised me but also the civilization aspect.

I heard that this room is on the fifth floor, but as I’ve already mentioned, I’m old. If I took the stairs to get here, I would be out of breath, and my legs and back would ache.

That didn’t happen, though.

I made it to the fifth floor without making a single step.

“Um... Excuse me. What did we use to get up here?”

“Are you talking about the elevator, sir?” 

Yes, that’s the one.

It was a very strange facility.

Just when we thought we had entered a small room, the room itself rose and took us to the upper floors!

“The owner of this inn has devised a machine that allows us to go to and from each floor effortlessly. It is powered by magic.”

“I-I see...!”

“Well then, please make yourselves at home until dinner time.”

With that, the hostess leaves the room, her movements impressively fluid, not a sound made.

“All right, Lucife! Let’s get into the hot spring right away! Hot spring!!!”

Lord Baal’s not even in the mood to calm down one bit.

But I wonder what’s this hot spring he’s been repeatedly saying?

“Soak yourself in one, and you’ll soon find out! I’ve already done my preliminary investigation! Let’s go to the sky bath first! I hear it’s on the top floor!”

“Understood...!”

Lord Baal leads me out of the room.

I think I’ve seen enough.

Is there anything more to be surprised about...?

* * *

“What is thissssssssssssssssssssss?!”

I didn’t know this was what a hot spring is all about!

I never thought soaking in hot water would feel this good!

And...! And...! This... tank that holds all the water...

Aren’t we supposed to be on the top floor?!

Why is there a large amount of hot water at the top of an overwhelming six-story building?!

“It seems that the hot water is pumped up to the top floor by a magic-powered pump. Apparently, this hot water is coming from deep underground. Every single one of the facilities created by Lord Saint is nothing short of amazing.”

Hm...?!

Everything is spectacular beyond words, from the building to the equipment associated with it.

Whoever thought of this is either a genius or a monster.

As the Prime Minister of the Demon Kingdom, my curiosity and attentiveness are at an all-time high...

But right now...

The hot spring feels so good I can’t even think straight...!

My body is melting...!

I’m melting in the hot waterrrr...

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lucife focale is probs a reference to lucifuge rofocale