CH 14

Chapter 14: The fat aristocrat heads to the public bath

There are both humans and beastmen, but everyone looks like an adventurer.

“Thank you for coming with me to do my shopping first; I’m very satisfied. Let’s go shopping with Grace next.”

“As a matter of fact, I finished my shopping this morning.”

“Why?!”

“Well, even if you ask why, I’ve been active since the sun rose, so I had plenty of time until the rendezvous with Mitrof.”

“What a healthy lifestyle… I struggle just to wake up in the afternoon…”

“Well, that’s what hunters do—I have already made it a habit to go into the forest at dawn.”

“Then please tell me how much Grace’s shopping cost; I want to pay half of it.”

“That’s not necessary, we are a party after all.”

Grace’s lips trembled slightly. She seemed to be holding back a grin despite saying it herself.

Grace had a slightly special feeling towards Mitrof, as she had never had someone her age to have an equal relationship with since she was young.

In short, a party is a group of equal comrades. Help is given and received, joys and sorrows are shared, and the harvests and losses are divided.

Grace emerged from the forest alone to explore the labyrinth, feeling lonely.

There was no one to rely on and no one to care for Grace’s existence.

Days of risking her life to hunt monsters in the labyrinth and hide in the sunless underground had exhausted Grace.

It was a chance encounter that saved Mitrof’s life. At the same time, Grace’s dwindling spirit seemed to have been saved as well.

Yes, the two of them were a party. Grace was no longer alone.

It was so gratifying.

“Did you buy arrows?—Was there anything else?”

Mitrof asked, and Grace shook her head.

“I just replaced a few damaged shafts—it wasn’t much of an expense this time.”

“…I’m sorry—you just ended up buying me all these great things.”

“It’s more dangerous for Mitrof to be on the front lines—equipping oneself is natural, but that’s not it… Now, shall I ask for a bath?”

“Bath! Oh, right, there’s a public bath in the city!”

“Weren’t there any in the Mitrof household?”

“We had a steam bath at home—only the wealthier nobles have bathtubs at their homes.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better for commoners?”

“Are public baths really that good?”

Mitrof leaned in closer.

He knew that the commoners living in the town preferred to use the enormous bathing facilities called public baths.

However, in the Mitrof household, they would create steam by pouring hot water over heated stones in a closed chamber and using the steam to lift dirt from their skin and scrub themselves every day.

Although Mitrof was curious to try it, he didn’t have the chance to leave the house and go to a public bath.

In being kicked out of the house, he realized that he had gained that freedom and opportunity.

For the past few days, Mitrof had only been wiping his body with a wet towel. Dirt remained on his scalp and all over his body, and tiredness clung to his core.

“It’s not good if you’ve never taken a bath, Mitrof—a bath is like washing your life.”

Grace proudly said

“Washing your life?!”

Mitrof exclaimed.

“That’s right. Especially for adventurers, if they don’t clean away the dirt and mental exhaustion, it could be fatal. A bath and an adventurer are like two sides of the same coin.”

“Wow…”

Mitrof exclaimed in admiration.

He clenched his fist, determined to go to the public bath that he had only heard rumors about.