GILF Hunter

Chapter 385: 385 A Small Token of Gratitude

Epyre Noah spoke to the two people who were wearing flustered expressions.

’I heard an interesting story, so I decided to drop by for a bit.’

She meant she had come all the way from Mirshil just to visit this place.

The distance from there to the Labyrinth was no joke. Hearing Epyre Noah’s answer, Tanya asked in surprise.

’How did you get all the way here from such a distant place...?’

’It’s quick if the ley lines are connected.’

It was an answer given as if it were no big deal.

It seemed there was a long-distance movement method unique to her kind, different from the fairies’ teleportation.

Since Ian had heard she had lived in Mirshil since a very long time ago, he thought there was a specific reason for her to be bound there, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

’I thought you stayed there because of some special circumstances.’

’No, I just did that because places where many humans gather are suffocating. When human buildings are clustered together, the energy gets too stagnant...’

In that sense, the cave in Mirshil was a perfect place to live because there were no human structures nearby and the hot springs were abundant.

Actually, thinking about it that way, saying she didn’t leave that place wasn’t entirely wrong.

’I don’t usually come out of there, but...’

As Epyre Noah gestured while answering the two, the spirit of the hot spring flew closer.

The small hot spring spirit looked like a tiny lizard at a glance, or perhaps a dragon or a turtle.

The little spirit flew to Epyre Noah’s side and climbed onto her shoulder in a familiar manner.

Epyre Noah continued speaking while gently stroking the spirit’s head.

’Didn’t this child say that something interesting appeared here? I got curious because such a place was created in a human city.’

’If you mean something interesting... could it be this building?’

’That’s right. Human buildings are all built in a suffocating way, but I like this place for some reason.’ ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

If there was anything interesting, it could only be this building built over the hot spring.

When Ian asked, Epyre Noah answered that way and looked around the hot spring building once. It seemed she really liked this place.

’So you didn’t come here to see us then?’

’Yeah. I didn’t expect you two to be here. By any chance, did Ian build this place?’

Ian quietly nodded at that question. Hearing the answer, Epyre Noah let out a small, amused giggle.

’Fufu, I felt like we might get along well since we met last time.’

’...I’m glad you like it.’

Epyre Noah smiled brightly as she looked at Ian.

The hot spring spirit beside her also nodded its head.

Watching this, Tanya had a face full of very subtle emotions.

Did one have to get used to that kind of sensibility to become close with a spirit?

Tanya thought about the place Ian had made on one side of the hot spring for the spirit, a place she personally called the ’Spirit Room.’

When Ian wasn’t around, Tanya had looked around that ’Spirit Room’ alone and studied why the hot spring spirit liked this specific arrangement.

She even tried slightly changing the positions of things to see how the spirit’s reaction changed, but no matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t understand the principle at all.

Perhaps some kind of sense or talent that transcends human sensibility was needed.

A discouraged Tanya thought while glancing at Ian.

──!

’Hmph. That’s right. It’s a bit noisy outside, but it’s nice and quiet in here. It seems like it’ll be quite interesting.’

Meanwhile, Epyre Noah sat on a rock placed for decoration on one side of the hot spring while talking to the hot spring spirit sitting on her shoulder.

As she talked and played with the spirit, a faint humming song inadvertently flowed out.

...Watching that, Tanya had a strange premonition.

Even if appearing suddenly was one thing, looking at Epyre Noah’s current state, she somehow didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving anytime soon.

The Captain had been busy lately, so it was hard to find time together as it was.

Since the chance she had finally grabbed was at risk of disappearing at this rate, Tanya asked a question casually, as if nothing were wrong.

’U-Um... is it okay for you to stay here for a long time?’

’Hmm? Why?’

’Like managing the place you originally stayed at... or your power decreasing if you stay in the city... are there no such problems...?’

’Hahat. It’s not like two hundred years have passed; such a problem won’t happen in just a few years.’

’A few years...?’

Tanya was horrified, flustered by the spirit’s sense of time, which was on a completely different scale.

Watching Tanya’s reaction, Epyre Noah’s eyes narrowed.

’Hmph. It seems you’re uncomfortable with me being here?’

’Y-Yes? Ah, no... it’s absolutely not that, I was just worried if it would be okay...’

Tanya denied it in a hurry, flustered by those words.

But Epyre Noah did not miss such a large emotional agitation.

After pondering for a moment why Tanya might have such a thought, she recalled the scene of the two people she had seen earlier.

Epyre Noah, who hadn’t forgotten the appearance of the two when they first met, brought up the topic from that time.

’Come to think of it, you two seemed to be clinging together to do something earlier. Were you trying to mate?’

’...?!’

Tanya had thought she hadn’t noticed since she didn’t say anything, but when she suddenly brought up that topic, Tanya became visibly flustered.

’Is it because I interfered with that? You don’t have to force yourself to talk to me. If there’s work to do, don’t mind me and continue what you wanted to do.’

’A-Ah, no... we can’t do that.’

Tanya shook her head vigorously with a bright red face.

Epyre Noah thought it would be a good opportunity to see that act she had been interested in from up close. She backed off with a slightly disappointed expression.

’Hmm, I see.... I suppose it would be unsettling to have someone you’re not close with nearby during such a defenseless act. I understand.’

’No, it’s something we don’t show even to people we are close with! Please don’t treat it like the mating of wild animals...!’

Epyre Noah nodded with a face that said she understood everything and said,

’I’ll have to ask again later once we get closer.’

’You really don’t listen to anything you’re not interested in...’

Naturally ignoring Tanya’s murmur, Epyre Noah turned her face toward Ian and asked.

’Fufu. To build trust, we should see each other’s faces more often. Would it be okay if I come here once in a while? I like this place quite a bit.’

’Yes. If you like this place, please do so.’

If she went so far as to say that, it seemed this place was quite an interesting location even for her.

Although he was a bit flustered by her sudden appearance, Ian nodded, thinking that there was nothing particularly bad about a high-ranking spirit staying here.

Epyre Noah, having received permission from the building owner, smiled brightly.

She had discovered many places she liked while wandering through various locations, but this was her first time feeling something like this in a human-made artificial structure.

If she had to pick places more comfortable than this, there were so many it would be hard to remember them all, but among them, a place that piqued her interest to this extent was rare.

’Really? Thank you for giving permission. I should give you some kind of return gift.’

’A return gift? I didn’t do it because I wanted something like that...’

’No, if you’re going to use a place, you should naturally give a return gift to the original owner of the area. I also interfered with you two mating.’

Ian felt a bit uneasy and tried to refuse the return gift.

It was because he remembered what the gift he had received from Epyre Noah last time was.

However, Epyre Noah had already decided what to give as a gift.

Epyre Noah, who lived near the hot spring city of Mirshil, knew that many humans visited hot springs because they were good for recovering from fatigue.

Since humans seem to like going into hot springs, she thought she’d improve the quality of the hot spring a bit.

Epyre Noah, having decided on the return gift with that thought, leaned over and touched the hot spring water.

Her fingertips, burning like fire, were slightly submerged in the hot spring water.

The pure white flames flowing from Epyre Noah’s fingertips spread out as if melting into the water.

As white light rose from that spot, the hot spring burned so brightly it looked like flames rather than water.

’This is...’

’Waah!’

Ian and Tanya, who were inside the hot spring, were also caught in those pure white flames.

The flames enveloped their bodies, and a heat even stronger than the hot spring water flowed through them, but they didn’t feel hot at all.

Rather, it felt like a greater vitality was surging within them.

After a moment, the flames subsided and the hot spring returned to its original appearance.

However, the light of the hot spring seemed a bit more vivid than before.

Did... something change?

Ian couldn’t directly feel the energy of a spirit, but he still instinctively realized that something about the hot spring had changed.

Soaking in the hot spring, Ian could immediately verify that change.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- You have permanently obtained [Stamina +10].

- Stamina consumption is reduced.

- 20% of the recovery effect is maintained even after leaving the hot spring.

- Remaining duration: 7 days

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

’Now, this should be a bit better than before.’

The hot spring spirit rejoiced as it circled nearby. The power of the hot spring it resided in becoming stronger must be a good thing for the spirit as well.

Ian fell into deep thought as he looked at the hot spring effect, which he had never seen before—the energy of Epyre Noah.

...If I persuade Tanya and show her that thing she wants to see, wouldn’t she give me a bit more of a reward?

When Ian pondered with a serious face, Tanya, noticing his thoughts, shook her head vigorously with a face that had turned bright red.