Chapter 67 Hot spring

She unwrapped the towel and stepped into the bath. The steam rising from the water surrounded her, creating a serene and peaceful environment. The sounds of the hot springs and the warmth of the water created a wonderful, calming atmosphere. Suzuka closed her eyes, savoring the moment, and let out a contented sigh as she rested in the warm embrace of the hot spring.

Suzuka finally found rest in a warm bath of a hot spring. The heat of the water enveloped her, relaxing her tired muscles and washing away the stress. The sensation of the warm water was heavenly, and she felt completely at peace.

The water was a little deeper than knee-deep, and Suzuka lay down on the bottom, allowing her body to fully submerge underwater. Only her hair and eyes were visible above the surface, she closed her eyes, letting the warm water soothe her. 

The water was a perfect temperature, she felt herself relaxing completely. The surroundings were peaceful and quiet. Suzuka felt as if she was the only person in the world, surrounded by the calm serenity of the hot spring.

 After a long relaxation, Suzuka stood up. The warm water cascaded over her body, and she began to wash, gently rubbing her skin. She moved slowly, savoring the sensation of the water on her skin. 

Her muscles relaxed under the gentle touch, and she felt a sense of calm wash over her. The act of bathing was a purely relaxing experience for her, and she made sure to clean every inch of her body.

  But wait! As she was washing her body, her keen ears picked up a faint sound, someone was heavily breathing in the distance. She gently turned around scanning the area and noticed a tree. It was too dark even for her to see on this night. The sky was covered in dark clouds making the night especially dark. But she could make out a human-like shadow shape hiding in that tree. 

Suzuka suddenly felt a familiar, intense gaze upon her. It was as if she could physically feel the person's eyes upon her as if each spot where his gaze fell was being touched by an invisible hand. 

Suzuka remained in the bath, even though she was aware that someone was secretly watching her. The peeping individual was positioned at a considerable distance, making it difficult for him to see clearly through the steam rising from the hot water. Despite the presence of a peeping voyeur, Suzuka remained unfazed and continued to soak in the warm water, allowing herself to relax and unwind.

After several minutes of indulging in the relaxing and soothing warmth of the hot spring, she finally felt completely satisfied and ready to retire to her room. She slowly stood up from the hot spring, taking a moment to savor the sensation of the warm water as it dripped down her skin. With a contented sigh, she dried herself off.

Suzuka picked up her fluffy towel, wrapping it around her body. Her skin was rosy from the warmth, and the scent of minerals filled the air. 

She walked towards the dressing room, her footsteps echoing against the stone floor. As she entered the room, she began to get dressed, starting with her leather armor. The cool touch of the material felt good against her skin, and she carefully fastened each buckle, making sure the armor fit snugly against her body. With a satisfied sigh, she grabbed her belongings and stepped out of the dressing room.

As Suzuka returned to her room, she closed the door behind her and locked it securely. She then walked over to the window and peered outside into the dark street. Despite the lack of light, she had a distinct feeling that someone or something was watching her. 

As she gazed out into the shadows, she caught a glimpse of a mysterious figure lurking in the darkness. The figure seemed familiar to her, and she realized with a start that it was the same shadowy figure that she had seen peeping at her in the bath earlier. However, it was still too dark to make out any distinct features or identify who it was.

Despite being aware of the peeping tom, she refused to let him spoil her moment of rest. She made her way over to the soft bed and, without hesitation, sank into its comfortable embrace. She let out a contented sigh as she adjusted herself to get comfortable. Her eyes grew heavy and soon enough, she was fast asleep.

The bright sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the room, stirring Suzuka from her slumber. With a yawn, she rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms, reluctantly getting out of bed. The mattress was soft and comfortable, and she had to force herself to leave its warm embrace. It was the morning of a new day.

She knew that there was much to be done today and that she couldn't afford to stay in bed any longer. Her first stop was the Hunter's Guild, where she needed to pick up her badge. From there, she would visit the blacksmith to have her weapons and armor repaired. After that, she would visit the armor shop, the clothing shop, and several other stores, to purchase any supplies she might need for her journey. 

Despite feeling groggy and sluggish, Suzuka got out of bed and counted her funds. She spilled the coins on the table and counted them, she has 496.3 coins worth of silver which is almost 5 gold coins. She has 1300 copper coins for small purchases in variety from 1 copper coin to 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. The rest was 396 silver in a variety of 1 coin to 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100.  

Coin ratio: 1 Gold coin = 100 Silver coins, 1 Silver coin = 1000 Copper coins  

Suzuka was getting ready to head out for the day, and after carefully packing her coins, she made her way down the stairs to the cafe. She ordered her meal, taking her time to enjoy the delicious food and the peaceful atmosphere of the cafe.

 With her hunger satisfied, Suzuka left the cafe and made her way to the hunters guild. She was there to meet with Lisanna, her quest coordinator, and she was eager to get her MBPU badge.

 As she entered the guild, she was greeted by the sound of chatter and the bustle of people going about their business. She spotted Lisanna at a desk and made her way over, she was talking with David. 

Lisanna handed him his adventurer's card and said, "Here is your card, now shoo, shoo! I am busy." She whispered to herself, "Get lost in the forest."

David was facing away from Suzuka, ready to leave when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching him. He spun around and saw Suzuka walking towards him. As she got closer, he took a step forward, his nerves getting the better of him.

 In a soft, hesitant voice, he greeted her, "Hi! Hello Helen," he hesitantly continue speaking, "I got my adventurer's card, I was wondering, maybe, you and I could go on an adventure together? An easy one, nothing special." His hands were fidgeting at his side, as he nervously awaited her response. David's eyes were fixed on Suzuka, and she could see the hope and anticipation in them.

Suzuka walked past him toward Lisanna as she answered him, "Sorry, no can do, lots of things to take care of first, maybe next time."

David was about to ask Suzuka again but a boisterous laugh interrupted him, "Hahaha! Hey! Hey! Adventuring people, what's cooking yo? Laughing Larry heard a rumor, we have some new people who joined."

Laughing Larry's gaze glued on David right away, "Hey! David, finally you join up! Buddy, let's go on an adventure, no time to waste, let's kick off that card of yours with some easy title, eh?"

David walked toward Larry and said, "Okay, we can go but only If you promise not to leave me to die."

Larry exclaimed his shock, "What! Me! Leave someone to die? Laughing Larry leaves no one behind, David, buddy. Stop with the joke, that's my gimmick."

They both left the guild building as Suzuka was greeting Lisanna, "Hello Lisanna, I'm here for my badge, is it ready?"

Lisanna said with a warm smile, "Hello there, Helen. Yes, it is ready, here you go."

Lisanna handed Suzuka a badge and explained its significance. "This is the MBPU badge," she said. "As you can see, there are three empty spots for stars. Currently, they're unoccupied, but as you progress and increase your rank, you'll earn additional stars to fill those spaces." She looked at Suzuka with a smile, "It's a visual representation of your status as a magic box power user."

Suzuka gazed at the badge, taking in the intricacies of its design.

 The woman continued, "So, Helen. can I interest you in a quest?" 

Suzuka answered, "Oh no, definitely not today. I have so many places to go. I am really short on time. I have to find a blacksmith, armor shop, weapon shop, clothing, alchemic for potions and so much more." 

Lisanna smiled and said, "Hey, I have a little tip for you! You know, we have a shop inside our guild, however, I have to warn you, our guild shop can be a bit overpriced in comparison to the other stores in the area. I highly suggest taking a walk around the stores near our guild. You never know, you might just stumble upon a better deal and save yourself some money. All of the stores are conveniently located near the guild building in order to attract more customers."

"Thanks for the information Lisanna, It was nice talking but I have to go, I will check in tomorrow. Bye"

Lisanna said goodbye and waved at Suzuka as she walked out of the building. 

  Suzuka stepped out of the Hunter's Guild and began making her way toward the armor store. The journey was not a long one, as the store was located just a few minutes walk down the main street. Suzuka easily found the shop thanks to the attractive sign hanging above its doors.

As she approached, she couldn't help but admire the detail and craftsmanship that had gone into the sign. The letters were carved with care and painted in bright, eye-catching colors, making them impossible to miss. The doors to the armor store were equally impressive, made of heavy, polished wood and brass fixtures. Suzuka took a deep breath, ready to see what kind of gear awaited her inside. 

 As Suzuka stepped into the armor shop, she was struck by the sight before her. The room was filled with an array of glittering armor and weapons, displayed on stands and hanging from the walls. The walls themselves were made of rough-hewn stone, giving the room a solid, earthy feel. Large windows let in streams of sunlight, illuminating the various displays and casting a warm glow over the space.

In the center of the room stood a massive wooden counter. In the backroom was a grizzled old blacksmith working at his forge with doors open to the main room. The sound of his hammer striking metal echoed through the room, adding to the ambiance of the space. 

On the shelves behind the counter, a variety of tools and supplies were neatly arranged, and in the corners of the room, leather armchairs and low tables offered customers a comfortable place to wait and ponder their purchases.

The air had the slight smell of oil, smoke, and metal, and Suzuka couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as she gazed around the shop, "Wow, even old man Gunther didn't have this many goods in his shop." 

She had never seen such a magnificent collection of armor and weapons in one place, and she felt certain that she would find exactly what she was looking for here.