The map buzzed impatiently as Kazuya held it aloft. It unfurled with dramatic flair, pointing them toward a sparkling oasis surrounded by towering palm trees.
"The Temple of Too Many Towels," Mika read aloud, raising an eyebrow. "That sounds... promising."
"Maybe it's a spa," Fergus said, rubbing his hands together. "I could use a break. My feet hurt."
"Your feet hurt because you keep forgetting to wear shoes," Kazuya muttered.
The group trudged toward the oasis, where a grand, glittering temple awaited them. The entrance was flanked by statues of scantily clad figures holding—unsurprisingly—towels.
"This feels like a trap," Mika said, eyeing the statues warily.
"It's always a trap," Kazuya replied, sighing.
The Temple's Welcome
The group entered cautiously, the air inside warm and fragrant. Steam billowed from hidden vents, and the walls were adorned with intricate carvings of towel-wielding warriors locked in battle.
"Why are there so many towels?" Lyria asked, running her fingers over one of the carvings.
Before anyone could answer, a sultry voice echoed through the temple.
"Welcome, travelers," it purred.
A woman stepped out of the steam, her long, flowing robe made entirely of towels. She moved with an ethereal grace, her every step leaving faint, damp footprints on the marble floor.
"I am Lavandia, Keeper of the Temple," she said, bowing slightly. Her robe shifted, revealing more skin than seemed strictly necessary.
Kazuya looked away, his face turning red.
"Why does every ancient guardian dress like they're auditioning for a romance novel cover?" Mika muttered, rolling her eyes.
The Trial of Towels
Lavandia gestured toward a large, glowing pool in the center of the temple. "To claim the treasure you seek, you must complete the Trial of Towels."
"Of course we must," Kazuya said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What does the trial involve?"
Lavandia smiled enigmatically. "You must fold these towels..." She clapped her hands, and piles of towels appeared around them. "…before the water in the pool runs out."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Fergus said, picking up a towel.
"Ah, but these are cursed towels," Lavandia added, her smile widening.
The towels suddenly sprang to life, wriggling like angry eels.
"Never mind!" Fergus yelped, dropping his towel as it tried to bite him.
Chaos Ensues
The group scrambled to gather the towels, which refused to stay folded. Fergus wrestled with one that kept slapping him in the face, while Lyria tried to pin down a particularly feisty one using a fire spell.
"This is ridiculous!" Mika shouted, chasing a towel that had wrapped itself around her leg.
Kazuya managed to fold a single towel before it unfolded itself and smacked him across the head. "I hate this temple," he muttered.
Lavandia watched from the sidelines, clearly amused. "You're doing wonderfully," she said, clapping politely.
"Are we?!" Mika snapped, glaring at her.
A Sudden Twist
Just as the group was starting to make progress, the temple began to rumble. The pool in the center of the room bubbled furiously, and a massive, towel-covered creature emerged.
"What is that?!" Kazuya yelled.
"The Towel Titan," Lavandia said, her tone casual. "You'll need to defeat it to complete the trial."
"Of course we will," Mika groaned.
The Towel Titan roared—a surprisingly muffled sound, given that its mouth was full of towels—and charged at them.
Fanservice Frenzy
In the chaos, the steam thickened, and the group's clothes began to cling uncomfortably to their skin.
"Why is it so hot in here?" Mika complained, fanning herself with a towel.
"It's the temple's magic," Lavandia said with a wink.
Kazuya tried to focus on the battle, but it was hard when everyone around him looked like they'd stepped out of a steamy drama. Fergus, oblivious as ever, had somehow managed to tie several towels around himself like a toga.
"Behold my warrior garb!" he announced, striking a pose.
"Fergus, help us fight!" Kazuya shouted.
"I am helping! I look intimidating!" Fergus replied, flexing.
Victory and Reward
After a chaotic battle involving enchanted towels, slippery floors, and an embarrassing incident where Kazuya tripped and accidentally knocked Mika into the pool, the Towel Titan was finally defeated.
Lavandia approached, clapping slowly. "Congratulations, travelers. You have proven yourselves worthy."
She handed Kazuya a small, ornate box. Inside was a glittering key shaped like a towel.
"This will unlock the next stage of your journey," Lavandia said, her voice tinged with mystery.
As the group left the temple, soaking wet and thoroughly embarrassed, the map buzzed again, revealing their next destination:
"The Festival of Fools."
"Why can't we ever have a normal quest?" Mika grumbled.
"Where's the fun in that?" Fergus replied, twirling in his towel toga.