[Part 2/4]
Tamaki looked at Shirowakamaru's profile, seeking advice on the on-site procedure. And while tilting her head in confusion, she called out the name.
The young former boy was clearly shaken, beads of sweat running down her forehead...
Preparing a large amount of hot water is inherently a labor-intensive task. It goes without saying that drawing water from rivers or underground sources and heating it using a significant amount of firewood is necessary. It requires time, manpower, and, of course, money.
An exception is when warm water naturally springs forth, that is, when there is a hot spring. If geothermal heat or water heated by spiritual veins is used, it becomes much more cost-effective to prepare hot water compared to the continuous expense of heating cold water.
In the case of Fusō-kuni, most of the public baths operate using this system. While some of the remote baths reuse the same water for weeks in spite of relying mainly on steam baths and sometimes even neglecting to separate the bathhouses by gender, the ones in areas rich with the spiritual veins centered around the capital change the water every day, yet remain affordable even for children's pocket money.
As for the baths in Shiromoku Kan city, they are a bit unique. They utilize warm water from underground heat, unlike in many cases in the southern provinces where the spiritual veins are used. The distinct sulfur smell might be off-putting, but it's nourishing in its own way. There are even those who visit specialized baths for therapeutic purposes.
The bathhouse at the crucial coordinates was among the larger public baths in the city. Particularly for craftsmen and physical laborers, it not only provided bathing facilities but also served alcohol and light snacks, along with offering entertainment areas. Unofficial small gambling establishments were even set up.
"I can't. Absolutely can't!! I absolutely hate the idea of going alone!!"
Tamaki, who looked at the bustling entrance of the bathhouse from a distance, was perplexed by Shirowakamaru's shouting beside her. Perplexed and at a loss.
What could possibly be the reason for this? In normal circumstances, it should have been a simple matter for a single guest to enter the men's bath and be done with it. However, the boy in question (for Tamaki and Murasaki) continued to adamantly refuse, no matter how much he was told.
"Then what should we do!? Should we force ourselves into the men's bath? Or should we use some kind of authority? Stop being so selfish!!"
Murasaki was indignant. Forcibly entering while fully armed would undoubtedly cause problems. Even as guests? Even if they wrapped a cloth around their bodies, Tamaki couldn't just let that slide. Using the authority of the exorcist family would also be inappropriate. If Shirowakamaru were to go alone, that should settle things, but... why was he so stubborn about this?
"No... no... impossible, impossible..."
Shirowakamaru, squatting down, shook his head from side to side while his voice turned tearful. Seeing his pitiful appearance, even Tamaki and Murasaki were at a loss for words. What could he possibly be so afraid of... well, there was no time to dig into that now.
"Shirowakamaru-kun, you're the only one with the ability to divine the coordinates in here. So, it's absolutely necessary for you to go. You understand that... right?"
"Uu..."
With a sound that expressed extreme reluctance, Shirowakamaru nodded slightly. Tamaki leaned in gently and asked further.
"You don't want to go in alone, right? In that case, if we accompany you, can you tolerate it?"
"Tamaki-san, what are you saying!?"
Ignoring Murasaki's outcry, Tamaki waited for Shirowakamaru's response. After a moment... Shirowakamaru nodded again. It was a hesitant nod.
"...Please stop with spontant excuses. How do you intend to get in?"
"W-Well...!!?"
While Tamaki was caught off guard by Murasaki's sharp observation, she quickly gathered her thoughts and brought the idea into view.
"Hey, could this work...?"
"Huh? ...Are you serious?"
Murasaki turned her gaze to where Tamaki was pointing, then looked back at Tamaki with astonishment. What she got in return was Tamaki's nod, albeit a somewhat forced one...
In terms of scale alone, 'Gokujou Den' is a public bathhouse that rivals even the largest ones in Shiromoku Kan City. Today, it's bustling as usual, with the current time of being the peak. This is because men who have just finished work are entering in groups. They wash away the sweat from work, have a drink, and gather to play some games. Recently, there are also many day laborers from the countryside coming in.
Thanks to that, the hired workers in the shop are running around here and there. Footsteps are noisy, and angry voices can be heard. While this might be an unpleasant sight for some viewers, it's ultimately just an affordable public bathhouse. People could even say it lacks the pretentiousness for the well-off. The price is appropriate, and everyone knows what to expect, so there are no customers complaining. In fact, anyone who would complain about such things must not have much dignity.
"But raising the prices would be a real problem."
"They're probably taking advantage of the situation. Our wages aren't going up, but everything else is."
"Ugh, look, the prices for eggs and sake have gone up again..."
Three apprentice blacksmiths who have come to Shiromoku Kan City are discussing this while wearing only loincloths. In the past, they would enjoy a bath while savoring hot sake and warm eggs, but now...
"Doubling the previous price, huh?"
"Hey, what are those army and exorcists guys even doing?"
"No joke, it's getting ridiculous."
Although everything hasn't yet become scarce, prices have been steadily increasing. The cause of this is already known to the commoners: the deteriorating public order. As a result, their dissatisfaction is directed towards those responsible for maintaining law and order.
"Well, let's skip drinking today."
"I'm just an apprentice, so I don't have much money."
"At least let's get a good sweat going."
Grumbling, they make their way through the passage towards the bath.
In addition to the appropriately heated bath, there's also a hot bath and a steam room. Even the men's bath can accommodate a hundred or even two hundred people. However, due to this being an affordable public bathhouse, there are few lights to begin with. And to save even more, they've reduced the number of lights, making the interior very dim when combined with the steam.
"It's still so dark. They're being stingy with the lights. Someone might slip."
"Hey, I'm gonna start washing up first! Need to scrub off the grime."
"Where are those assistants? Hey, is anyone here!?"
Amidst the vague darkness of the bathhouse, the men shout.
There are individuals called "assistants" who work at the bathhouse. They wash the customers' bodies and also handle tasks like looking after footwear. More accurately, the term "assistant" is the highest rank among the men working at the bathhouse, but it's not something determined by law, so it's not strictly enforced. In fact, even the lower-ranking workers in this bathhouse are referred to as "assistants."
Unfortunately, perhaps due to the crowd, there didn't seem to be anyone willing to respond to them immediately.
"You know, customers are like gods... Oh! Found one!"
The man who clicked his tongue at the unresponsive employees grabs the arm of a person passing by. An employee's arm.
"Hey, what the...?"
"Don't say 'what the...'! Don't ignore us when we call you. We're paying money here. We deserve the service..."
He stops there, as he struggles to speak upon seeing the faintly lit appearance of the employee.
Very young. Probably in their early teens? Their body is too frail even for a boy. Their thin yukata hangs loosely on them. Their face, with a frightened look aimed at him, is far too delicate for a boy. It's more like a girl, and a beautiful one at that.
"Wha...?"
"Oh, come on...?"
He is equally unsure of how to react to the frightened response that looks as if he's seen a youkai, as he is by the storm-like instant of the situation. Who could this person, who resembles a kabuki actor, be? He frequents this bathhouse almost every day, yet he doesn't recognize them. They might be new, judging by their age.
"Shirowakamaru-kun...!? What are you doing!?"
As he tilts his head, another employee who returned from the darkness calls out. Surprisingly, this person also has a rather refined appearance. They might not surpass the first boy, but they might be cuter than those girls over there.
"Oh, s-sorry!! We're in a hurry...!!"
"Hey, come on...!!?"
Did they also start a sideline like running a teahouse in the back? He can't help but be suspicious. And as he's thinking about that, the second employee takes the first one and quickly leaves the scene. Even calling out to them was futile. It was an abrupt turn of events.
"...What the hell is going on?"
In the midst of the momentary storm, the man remains endlessly confused. He's left dumbfounded, then irritated by the employees' behavior, and discontent starts to brew within him.
"Damn, what kind of attitude is that towards customers? Seriously... you'd think so too, right?"
And so, the man turns back and calls out to his colleagues. In the steam-filled darkness, his voice echoes.
"Hey? What's going on? Where did they go...?"
Without realizing it, the two who disappeared were now gone, and the man searches the darkness by turning in different directions. Could they have left him behind and gone ahead...?
"If that's the case, that's really messed up. It's not a joke... ugh!"
Even though he's not sure, he starts to curse already. And then, he slips and nearly falls. The possibility of slipping on the wet floor is ever-present in the extreme darkness of the bath area. However...
*Splash.*
"What...?"
Feeling something unusual about the wetness of the floor, he crouches down in puzzlement. It's hard to describe... it doesn't feel like water. It's stickier and, to the extent that he starts to feel a sudden stench, even slightly unpleasant. He furrows his brow in confusion. And, driven by the unpleasant feeling that has been present since before, he crouches down.
...In the next moment, something shines in his peripheral vision as if glaring at him. There's a presence, stirring in the darkness. And then, it shivers.
"Ah...?"
Up until that fleeting moment, he never knows what it is.
"Ugh… My arm, I want to wash it..."
"Why are you saying such things like a sheltered girl!? You're a man, so be resolute!! ~~~!! The truly embarrassing one here is you...!!"
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