Chapter 32. Shadows of Ancient Blood
As I walked through the mountains, I found a hot spring in the area, just as requested. It was surrounded by large rocks, creating a warm, steaming atmosphere.
"Which one?"
When I dipped my finger in the hot spring, a faint warmth enveloped me. It was a perfect temperature for bathing, with a sulfurous smell indicating it was a natural hot spring.
But it couldn't be. I discovered six such hot springs within just 30 minutes of entering the mountain.
No, there were too many hot springs, no matter how you looked at it.
Anyway, if you walked around, you would find a hot spring. Or rather, the steam rising gave away their locations.
"What's going on with this mountain?" I wondered aloud.
"The mountain itself accumulates magical power and creates hot springs... I don't think so. I don't think it happened spontaneously," I muttered, shaking my head.
Lucia and Noelle were also puzzled, shaking their heads in agreement.
"Well, after all, could it be the work of a beautiful woman soaking in the hot spring?" Sakuya suggested, and Lucia began to growl.
"Even so, why would someone do this?"
"Well, maybe they just want to soak in the hot springs?"
"Such nonsense. Even if that were the case, how would they make so many hot springs in the first place?"
Noelle put her hand to her chin, thinking.
"I don't know what must be done, but I know how it can be done."
Naturally, the three of us paid attention to Noelle, waiting for her to
continue.
"It's creation magic. If it is creation magic that can create matter, it could also create a hot spring, couldn't it... Maybe not."
"Could you, Noelle?" Sakuya asked.
Noelle shook her head. "It's impossible. Creation magic should only be able to handle a small number of objects. They should only be able to make chains and simple objects like I do. No magic can create a hot spring itself, that's..."
"Look at that!" Noelle interrupted, and Lucia shouted.
"You can see a figure in the hot spring over there!"
It was true. At the end of Lucia's point, a figure could be seen soaking in the hot spring in the distance.
"Is that the culprit behind this situation?" I wondered aloud.
"It's possible. Let's go talk to them," Sakuya suggested, and we followed Lucia as she rushed out.
"If that figure is the culprit, I'd like to catch them. What if the identity of the culprit is as I guessed... It could be bad," Noelle said.
Then, we arrived at the hot spring where the figure was soaking. There were indeed people bathing in the hot springs.
She was a sexy beauty with long hair tied up to keep it from the water, exposing the nape of her neck. Her thin shoulders emerged from the hot water, and her skin had a faint cherry color. Her slender outline and big eyes looked at us.
"Do you know anything about the incident where there are several hot
springs on this mountain?" Lucia asked.
The beautiful woman soaking in the hot spring let out a long sigh. "It's a problem. If you don't soak in the hot springs slowly and quietly, you lose the atmosphere."
Saying this, the hot spring beauty stood up with a careless face, naturally naked. Her breasts were exposed. She had a slender body, but her curves were prominent, and hot water dripped erotically on her skin.
I couldn't help but stare, but Lucia...
"Isn't that completely visible? Please cover yourself!" she exclaimed.
Women in this world usually exposed their breasts, but it wasn't appropriate to show them in public. However, the naked hot spring beauty put her hands on her hips proudly.
"It's a hot spring, so naturally, you're naked. What do I need to hide?"
"Heh, you're a pervert!" Lucia screamed, tears in her eyes at the dignified statement.
Could this person be the culprit behind this hot spring phenomenon? Her imposing appearance exuded a commanding presence.
Just as I was thinking this, Sakuya suddenly stepped forward in front of me.
"Akira, please stay back."
Her voice trembled with nervousness. Sakuya slowly drew the sword she had slung around her waist, aiming the tip at the hot spring beauty.
"Everyone be careful. Her magic... It's probably Ancient Blood!"
"What, Ancient Blood!?" Lucia and Noelle jumped in surprise.
Ancient Blood... Lucia said it was a being that transcended people, said to have once ruled this world.
The hot spring beauty smiled proudly. "Oh, you've noticed who I am. Have you been doing some special training?"
"I'm the master of the Kaguya style of anti-Ancient Blood Annihilation
Demon Swordsmanship! Even if it's my first time seeing it, I can't miss the magical power of Ancient Blood!" Sakuya declared loudly.
Lucia and Noelle looked at each other in surprise.
"I thought you were strong, but did you have the skills to combat Ancient Blood?" Lucia asked.
"Magic swordsmanship was a style that made Ancient Blood its virtual enemy," Sakuya explained, nodding.
"That's right. My Kaguya style has been mastering its skills in preparation for the upcoming confrontation with the Ancient Blood!"
"So, what are you going to do with me? Fight Ancient Blood on your own?" the naked hot spring beauty, the Ancient Blood, asked with a grin.
"Of course, we're going to fight. Please keep Noelle down, Lucia! To combat the Ancient Blood, you need a special technique!"
"It doesn't come close!" Lucia said in an uncharacteristically strong voice, pointing her wand at the Ancient Blood.
"Because... Even though I'm an apprentice, I'm a goddess! I've already mastered the mysticism against Ancient Blood! Mystery! Sacred Reduce!"
A geometric pattern emerged at the feet of the Ancient Blood. From there, light emitted and enveloped the body of the Ancient Blood.
"This is...!? My power is being diminished!?" the Ancient Blood exclaimed, falling to one knee in surprise.
"This is the mystery of the goddess! It's a spell that seals the power of the Ancient Blood!"
"From the moment I met you, I felt like I was going to lose some kind of power, but you have already set up a mystical technique!"
"What? Oh, no, that's..." Lucia looked at me with a look of disagreement.
Why are you looking at me, Lucia?
Perhaps aiming for such an opportunity, the Ancient Blood slowly tried to stand up.
"Lucia, you're dealing with Ancient Blood! Chain Rock!" Noelle produced a chain that restrained the entire body of the Ancient Blood, compensating for Lucia's lapse.
"Is it creation magic!? Well, I never thought that humans could use the same magic as us!"
"I'm Noelle the Witch. You genius witches analyzed the creation magic of the Ancient Blood and made it your own! This restraint technique also has the effect of sealing the power of the Ancient Blood! Resistance is useless!"
Due to Lucia's mysticism and Noelle's restraint techniques, the Ancient Blood was unable to move at all. Lucia and Noelle turned to Sakuya.
"Come on, now, Sakuya!"
"Now that Lucia and I have set the stage, use your sword to defeat the Ancient Blood!"
The two of them encouraged, and Sakuya nodded with a smile of surprise and joy.
"Oh, thank you, Lucia, Noelle. I didn't expect you two to have the skills to fight the Ancient Blood! I found the best party!"
Sakuya's sword ignited with flames.
"Kaguya-style magic swordsmanship, one magic sword, scorching flame fire!"
Sakuya raised her sword and leaped towards the Ancient Blood... At that moment, the Ancient Blood screamed frantically.
"Wait a minute!"
"What? Where's the commanding presence from earlier?" I wondered as she frantically struggled with the chains that bound her.
Performance... It was too desperate for that. Her face was already filled with fear.
As expected, the three of us were stunned by the Ancient Blood's appearance.
"Uh... Aren't you an Ancient Blood?" I asked.
"That's right!"
"A grudge against mankind... isn't it?"
"Huh!? That's only true for some Ancient Bloods! I'm just an Ancient Blood who loves hot springs!"
"Oh, Ancient Blood loves hot springs!?" The four of us harmonized beautifully.
"Sort of...?" It was different from what I had heard from Lucia.