#499 A Hot Spring in the Demon Kingdom

Thus, the Emperor fiasco came to an end, but Belphgamilia has yet to take his leave because he finds it troublesome. 

It took him ages before he decided to come here, and now that he’s here, he refuses to return to the capital.

In short, lazybones. 

What Belphgamilia likes most is our hot spring—one of the most elaborately designed facilities at our farm.

It’s originally designed for relaxation, so it must’ve suited his slothful nature.  He’s been so immersed in soaking himself for hours and days on end that I worry about the consequences he’ll face if he doesn’t go home soon. 

“Ahh... What a nice bath that was.”

“Please don’t come out naked!”

“I still plan on going back once my body has cooled down. Putting my clothes on in between is too much hassle to do.”

I almost agreed with him, but then I remembered I shouldn’t.

If I did, it would ruin the public morals of the farm!

“This place sure is equipped with all sorts of amenities. I can understand why His Majesty and his family often come here.”

“Oh, this is nothing...!”

“I especially fancy this hot spring! I wish we also had one like this in the capital!”

For a listless person Belphgamilia, he said that line quite assertively.

It makes me happy he wishes that.

We’ve had this hot spring for some time now, but it’s still endlessly appreciated by the residents.

It is bliss to know they enjoy the hot spring as its maker.

I also feel as if the built-up fatigue in my body is being released from every pore as I soak in the steaming hot water myself, much like everyone else washing away their daily exhaustion.

“...Oh, come to think of it.”

Looks like Belphgamilia remembered something.

“I think we can dig out a hot spring in the Demon Kingdom.”

“Huh? For real?” 

But why the unsure tone?

Aren’t you a Heavenly One? Don’t you have a good grasp of your nation’s affairs?

...Ah, probably not, knowing his laziness and all.

“I have a feeling you were thinking of something rude just now. Anyway, I don’t know everything in and about the Demon Kingdom. In the first place, the Heavenly Four is in charge of military affairs—that’s the only thing I know and can interfere with to the greatest extent possible.”

“I see...”

“I think I heard a rumor or two that His Majesty ordered his retainers to search for hot water underground. If that’s the case, I guess this experience must have been the trigger for it.”

Oh yeah, the Demon King almost always visits our hot spring whenever he drops by.

It’d be a reasonable action for a politician to plan to incorporate this luxury into his own country.

“But I suspect they’re having quite a bit of trouble with it. The rumor started long ago, but I haven’t heard anything significant progress yet.”

Digging for hot springs is not something that can be executed so easily, after all.

If you don’t know how to go about it, it’s only natural you’ll face a lot of hardship.

The Demon King could have asked us for advice, seriously...

Speak of the devil, he’s actually here.

‘‘Lord Saint, I would like to discuss something with you. It seems that mayonnaise tastes better when mixed with honey...!”

“Wouldn’t that make it disgustingly watery?!”

“Woah! Gotta go!”

And so, I decided to hear the rest of the story from the Demon King.

* * *

“That Belphgamilia... He’s always had a bit of a loose tongue...!”

However, the person in question left as soon as the Demon King arrived.

Belphgamilia found the act of leaving itself troublesome up to now, but he decided that staying here any longer would invite a more problematic situation.

Truly a man with sharp senses.

“Well, he wasn’t wrong; your hot spring is so wonderful I wanted to have the same in the Demon Kingdom.”

But as if to keep up appearances for a moment...

“Of course, I’m not doing this for my own sake. I want to share this luxury with my people. If I ever dig up a hot spring in my nation, I’d like to open it up to the public as a large-scale facility.”

“That sounds wonderful!”

A place of relaxation where many people can frequent!

If something like that could be built, the land would be a much more comfortable and enjoyable place to live!

“However, the reality is different from the ideal. With our poor technology, we have been unable to dig up the hot spring. Things have stalled and are moving slowly.”

I found myself agreeing with him deep inside.

I’m sure digging up hot springs must’ve been a challenging business even in my world.

After conducting a geological survey and carefully checking for the presence of hot springs deep underground, the work of “digging” itself must require a great deal of effort and skill. On top of that, they would have to build facilities to enjoy the water comfortably. Not to mention the additional legal issues would have been a hassle to deal with.

But here, the legal problems can be easily solved, leaving only the technical and labor issues a more prominent barrier.

The Demon King would have to bear a considerable burden in order to overcome this hurdle.

“To tell the truth, I think it is time we give up on this project.”

“Nooo!”

“The results have not been satisfactory, and the costs have only increased. Other projects need more attention and funds, such as merging with the Human Kingdom and establishing a new system... We’ve been starting to hear complaints left and right.”

And so, the Demon King decides to suspend the search for the hot spring.

“Leave it to us then!”

We were the ones who exposed him to the wonders of a hot spring in the first place, so we could easily handle the technical and labor problems.

“Oh, no, no! We can’t always take advantage of you and your kindness, Lord Saint...!”

The Demon King is a modest man, so he probably feels guilty about relying too much on us.

It would explain why he’s been conducting his business without me knowing about it. He knew I’d help him in a heartbeat.

I appreciate his modesty, but now that I know about the situation, I WILL help.

“We are the kind of people who can’t help but do what we want to once we set our mind to it! Besides, I think we’re the ones who are always in your debt! You grant us permission to execute our plans, and you’re always there to back us up!”

“O-Oh...!”

“Allow us to indulge your generosity!”

“I really am no match for you, Lord Saint...!”

Once I was able to convince the Demon King, I summoned a certain someone.

If it’s a hot spring we need to dig, we have just the person for the job...

* * *

“Horkosfon has arrived at your call, Master.”

Horkosfon is an angel and one of the most powerful people living on our farm, along with Veil and the others.

She is a terrifying being who, along with several other angels, almost burned the earth to the ground and made humanity go extinct.

Now, thousands of years later, she has forgotten her former mission and lives a peaceful life with us.

“We’d like you to do something for us, Horkosfon.”

“I am your sword and shield, Master. As long as you command it, I will destroy any enemy that comes my way. Who would you have me destroy this time?”

“We’re not doing any destroying here.”

I just introduced you as a harmless being living a peaceful life; why must your conduct be so disturbing?

I was thinking of entrusting the job of digging out another hot spring to you and all!

If Horkosfon has abilities far beyond that of mortals and can penetrate the earth, she would have no difficulty digging a water vein through the bedrock.

“We want you to dig out another hot spring, but outside the farm this time. We’d like you to use your skills again if you don’t mind.”

“Your orders are absolute, Master. If you wish, I can drown the entire continent in a sea of hot springs.”

“You don’t have to go that far!!!”

Is the word “moderation” not registered in this angel’s database?

Every single thing she says is terrifying.

At this rate, I fear she’ll smash through the core of a star to dig a hot spring.

Indifferent to my fears, Horkosfon successfully dug out a new hot spring.