Starting With The Sefirah Castle In The Anime World-Chapter 245: Hot Spring on the Mountainside

After the morning activities and lunch, everyone finally had time to relax.

Once everyone caught their breath, they all had the same goal.

Soaking in the hot springs!

After all, the main purpose of this trip was the hot springs. How could they not relax in the springs after a hearty lunch?

Before heading to the hot spring, Ren reviewed the layout and information provided in the room.

The largest hot spring here was a mixed bath, hidden deep within the bamboo forest behind the mountain. It could only be reached through a specially constructed corridor that connected the residential area to the back mountain.

This outdoor hot spring usually required a reservation to use.

However, since this trip had been privately booked in advance, they avoided the hassle of needing to reserve it.

Still, there was another matter to consider. The reason reservations were needed was precisely because of the mixed bathing system. This hot spring hotel was not designed for shady purposes. Its original intention was to allow guests to enjoy the natural hot spring experience more freely.

Thus, the mixed bathing was not intended for awkward encounters.

Everyone making use of the hot spring were acquaintances, which made it easier to relax even with the mixed setup.

There was no so-called inappropriate atmosphere.

Still, there was a practical issue. It was not proper to clean oneself completely naked in front of acquaintances in a mixed bath, even if everyone remained calm about it.

Therefore, it was best to do the cleansing beforehand in the rooms, and then head directly into the hot spring.

Even though it was a bit troublesome, Ren did not skip this step.

After washing up in his room, he put on a bathrobe and carried a pair of swim trunks in his hand.

Walking through the residential area, Ren easily found the path leading toward the back mountain.

The corridor was constructed from wood, open on both sides but enclosed with glass panels to block the cold wind, giving it a very warm feeling.

Looks like everyone is still cleansing themselves in their rooms.

Strolling down the corridor while admiring the scenery of the back mountain, Ren also kept an ear out for any sounds around him.

There were only his own footsteps echoing in the corridor. It seemed he was the first to arrive.

As he continued walking, enjoying the scenery through the glass walls, the air grew increasingly humid. The scent of fresh water vapor filled the air, and the temperature noticeably rose.

A faint sulfur smell, reminiscent of rotten eggs, began wafting into Ren's nose.

However, the smell had clearly been partially neutralized. Mixed within it were the scents of fresh bamboo and various floral fragrances.

It was evident that deliberate measures had been taken.

While online sources often said that the natural smell of a hot spring was part of the authentic experience, no one really wanted to torture their noses unnecessarily.

As Ren got closer to the hot spring, the smell intensified, but it remained bearable.

Part of the reason for the stronger smell was also the enclosed design of the corridor.

Because of the surrounding glass meant to block the cold, the air circulation was poor, causing the odor to linger.

After walking a while, the wooden corridor came to an end. Ahead was an entrance paved with polished pebbles.

Pulling open the sliding door, Ren officially stepped into the hot spring area.

There were two separate changing spaces near the entrance. The equipment looked very new, suggesting that the separation was recently arranged.

At least, there was no chance for anyone to feel embarrassed.

Ren walked to the changing area on the left carrying his swim trunks.

He selected a storage basket, took off his bathrobe and undergarments, placed them inside, then changed into his swim trunks and stepped into the outdoor hot spring.

Warm mist nearly obscured everything from view, but when a cool breeze occasionally swept by, it pushed away some of the thick fog, revealing the scene inside.

This was clearly a hot spring built into the mountainside.

The ground of the hot spring was paved with small stones, and the entire setting felt like a naturally formed spring.

There were no gaudy decorations, no statues to add visual flair. It was as if the design was intentionally signaling that this was a pure and authentic hot spring.

After surveying the area briefly, Ren moved toward the part of the hot spring closest to the edge, where large sheets of glass had been installed.

Walking further out, the mist faded, and it became clear that this wasn't just a simple boundary of glass.

It was a hot spring terrace jutting out from the mountainside.

The floor at the very edge was made of reinforced glass, and beyond it was a sheer drop into a deep canyon. Anyone who fell would surely meet a grim end.

But precisely because of the danger, the glass had been reinforced and thickened to ensure complete safety.

Stepping into the hot spring, Ren slowly made his way toward the edge.

Standing atop the frighteningly transparent glass floor, he looked out at the vast view before him. The mountain scenery and the distant hot spring town were fully visible.

"It really is a beautiful view."

Such a sight made Ren genuinely sigh in admiration.

"This place isn't particularly close to the town down below. The hot spring is located mid-mountain. The only direct connection is across the canyon. Plus, there are so many layers of protection here... it really is impossible for outsiders to enter."

Realizing this made Ren even more certain.

This hot spring hote definitely did not appear on any public maps.

Without a trusted introduction, it was impossible for anyone to even find their way here. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Ren could not help but sigh again.

"Having money is really quite useful sometimes."

"Pfft! Hahaha!"

A bright, cheerful laugh came from the entrance to the hot spring.

Ren turned around and saw Sonoko standing there, wearing a bold red bikini.

She had taken off her headband for the hot spring, letting her bangs fall naturally, giving her a slightly more glamorous air than usual.

It was something difficult to pull off unless one had very high facial attractiveness. Otherwise, loose bangs like that would just look awkward.

It was rare to see Sonoko in such a way. The swimsuit showed off her figure, which was far better than expected.

For a moment, Ren was genuinely stunned.

"Hehe~"

Seeing Ren's reaction, Sonoko felt even more confident that her choice of swimsuit was the right one.

She smiled and leaned slightly forward, emphasizing her curves even more.

"Ren, what do you think of my swimsuit?"

Ren took a deep breath and gave an honest compliment.

"Very beautiful. Far beyond what I imagined."

(To be continued.)

***

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