Chapter 144 – Onsen Ryokan (1)
After the fierce investigation on the first day of dispatch.
We were at a hot spring ryokan in Nagoya that Clan 〈 Man’s Condition 〉 had booked.
A traditional ryokan located on the outskirts of Minato-ku.
The antique atmosphere and colorful forms came into view at a glance.
According to Shimizu, the place was deliberately chosen to avoid a lot of tourists. As expected from the locals, it was quiet and had all the amenities a ryokan should have.
“Did you say that the Fire Judgment went east?”
For your reference, the lodgings were separated from the hunting team 5.
According to the direction of the investigation, which will begin in earnest tomorrow, 〈 Judgment of Fire 〉 and 〈 Anti-Villain 〉 set up lodgings in the East.
Of course, we also divide the team and investigate within it.
Shimizu, who served as the guide, nodded her head at my question.
“Yes. It’s called Mizuho-gu in the inland direction, but Mr. Kwon Oh-jun has visited our clan a few times, so he must be familiar with the geography.”
In a word, there is no need for guidance over there.
〈 Men’s Conditions 〉 Even in the clan, there were accommodations in Nagoya that they signed agreements with and used frequently, and Kwon Oh-jun, who had been dispatched to Japan several times, seemed to know about them quite well.
After checking in the accommodation like that.
I thanked Shimizu at the entrance.
“Thanks for helping us guide us late in the evening.”
“No. As long as we promised to cooperate, we should do our best to help. This matter is considered very important to our clan as well.”
I guess so.
Because there is not enough manpower to directly lead the investigation.
〈 Man’s condition 〉 It is also important to clear up the smuggling crime.
It is a problem that can be directly or indirectly related to their profits.
However, considering the fact that Akiba, who has both literary and martial arts backgrounds, has not been able to conduct a field investigation even though he has collected this far… I could see how frustrating the situation was until we arrived.
‘Wouldn’t it be okay if we cut out the escort team?’
I thought so, but from the perspective of the clan, it seemed to be an unacceptable range.
Moreover, although the smuggling crime is a problem that needs to be solved on a grand scale, they did not solve this information.
The reason is probably to monopolize the benefits of fighting smuggling yourself.
Considering all of those hidden circumstances, 〈 man’s condition 〉 was just one of the ordinary clans working for profit.
Well, it wasn’t a problem for us who came to collaborate.
“If you have any problems last night, you can call me here.”
Shimizu took out a business card and handed it to me.
It was a business card with fancy decorations, a clan logo, and a cell phone number.
“Thank you.”
“Yes, then have a good night.”
After that, Shimizu left the ryokan.
I put the business card in my wallet and walked to the reserved men’s quarters.
Ryokans in Japan vary greatly in composition and design, but our accommodation on the outskirts of Nagoya was an authentic two-story ryokan.
According to Shimizu, it is an old private house renovated in a modern style, but honestly, I don’t know what it means, but it just looked like a hanok hotel in Korea.
In particular, perhaps because of the atmosphere and style, it exudes a luxurious feeling that cannot be found in ordinary lodgings.
Among the quarters divided into two sides, the men’s room is on the left.
With the help of the receptionist, I was able to quickly get to our room on the second floor.
“Oh. Are you here?”
Naturally, there were passengers in the room.
While I was talking with Shimizu for a while, it was Park Jin-woo, who had been guided beforehand and was resting.
He lay sprawled in the middle of the living room, muttering without even looking at me.
Well, this is nothing new.
“What are you doing?”
“What are you doing? You are lying down.”
“Why don’t you go into the room and do this here?”
“I don’t have the energy to go to my room. I haven’t even unpacked.”
Looking around for a moment, there was really a bunch of luggage in one corner of the living room.
Wow…
Solitary bastard.
Were you doing this right here as soon as you arrived?
“Hey. It’s dry. Wash up and rest.”
“Oh… Annoying. And since it’s so spacious here, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sleeping like this.”
As Park Jin-woo said, our room was quite spacious.
Starting with this large living room where the guy lies sprawled, two rooms equipped to sleep separately, a multi-purpose room where you can eat or talk lightly, and a shower room and toilet.
It’s too big for a double room.
It seems that the ryokan gave us the highest-class special room.
Even after admiring its enormous size, I sighed when I saw Park Jin-woo lying in the living room and trying to sleep until he came to such an inn.
After shaking my head, I went into the room and unpacked my things.
“Wow….”
Like the living room, the private room was large and tidy.
Although it was a bit low, the bed was placed, and there were many accessories provided for convenience, such as mood lights and sofas.
Only the exterior design and interior followed the traditional style, and it was virtually no different from a hotel.
As a very modern person, I am naturally much more comfortable with this structure.
“Um, just unpacking….”
I unpacked my luggage in one corner of the room and started getting ready to leave.
A yukata exclusively for ryokan hanging in the closet.
It’s a sophisticated and simple design, so it’s not burdensome to wear.
“I’ll have to go to the hot springs sometime.”
I came to a hot spring ryokan, but not going to the hot spring is too big a loss.
When you work, focus on your work, and when you rest, rest properly.
It was a necessary work for tomorrow’s investigation.
Drooling-
When I finished preparing and opened the door, there was Park Jin-woo, who did not even move from his previous posture.
Park Jin-woo, who seems to have no intention of waking up at all.
I even close my eyes…
Is this kid sleeping?
“Hey, are you sleeping?”
“No.”
“Mistress, I’m surprised.”
Park Jin-woo, who was lying down, opened his eyes and answered.
Fuck.
I was about to fall
Well, this isn’t even a cursed doll….
“Hey. Let’s go to the hot spring.”
I calmed my startled heart and spoke to him.
Then Park Jin-woo gave a knife-like answer.
“I’m not going.”
“Oh, why again?”
“Annoying. I will sleep like this.”
“Crazy bastard. There are no blankets, it’s the floor. And wash up.”
“Oh… Do you like it warm and cozy? Is this the tatami mat or something?”
There’s no answer.
No matter who comes, Park Jin-woo’s stubbornness cannot be defeated.
He didn’t even take Professor Tak Won-ho’s class to take the same class as me, but he wouldn’t try to do something he thought was annoying.
I scratched my head and changed my persuasion direction.
“Hey, does it make sense to come all the way to the ryokan and not go to the hot springs?”
“Because it bothers me. And it’s hard. I’ve been using my ultimate skill today, so I’m running out of mana.”
“At times like these, you need to relieve fatigue. Uh?”
“Yeah, don’t go. I want to sleep.”
Park Jin-woo closed his eyes again.
Solitary bastard.
Is everything bothersome except fighting?
I felt like an idiot for admiring this guy’s strategy proposal today.
“Ugh… It’s hard, so I go alone, me.”
I sighed and gave up and left the dorm alone.
It was not too late yet, and the lights inside and outside the ryokan were twinkling.
When I arrived at the end of the second floor, the receptionist I saw earlier greeted me.
“Do you need anything, sir?”
“Oh, I’d like to use the hot spring.”
“Then may I help guide you?”
“Yes Yes. Please do so.”
The receptionist bowed his head to me once and took the lead in guiding me to the hot spring.
I went down to the first floor, opened the door behind the men’s quarters, and stepped out.
When I came out, I saw an open space.
And a small building that looked like a shower room, behind it was a space that looked like a hot spring.
“After taking a shower in this building, you can enter the hot spring through the inner entrance. The use time is until 2 am, and when you need to call, just press the button provided in the hot spring and shower room.”
“Ah yes. Thank you.”
The management of the hot springs is also completely professional.
It seems there aren’t too many customers for that, but…
I guessed that it was probably because it was too expensive a high-end accommodation even though it was located on the outskirts.
After thanking the receptionist, I went into the shower.
“Five….”
Like a luxury accommodation, the shower room was also clean and tidy.
Do you clean the shower room here every hour?
It was so clean that no one left a trace.
When I came out of the shower like that, there were large towels lined up neatly at the entrance of the hot spring.
〈Be sure to wear a towel on your lower body before entering.〉
Although there was an image of a Japanese hot spring where you enter while covering your body, I had no idea that there was actually a hot spring where you had to wear a towel like this.
Is it thorough because it’s a luxury accommodation?
Now all thoughts flow in this direction.
I smiled and put on a towel and went inside the hot spring.
“Five… !!”
Again, admiration arises.
The inside of the hot spring was impressive even at a glance.
There were colorful flowers and trees growing around the ryokan, and there was a hot spring bath with small rocks underneath.
The water is a clear color, as if looking at cobalt blue.
It was a hot spring that contained the scenery of nature and the antique atmosphere at once.
“Killing….”
As expected, no one was there.
〈 man’s conditions 〉 paid for all the expenses, so I’m not sure, but it seems that the cost of lodging at this ryokan is quite expensive.
From the moment I entered the dorm, I couldn’t see anyone.
I went straight into the hot spring bath like an empty field and soaked my body.
“Wow….”
The third exclamation comes out.
Park Jin-Woo, you bastard.
Why don’t you do this good thing?
When I wake up later, I’ll have to play with it to the fullest.
I leaned against one side of the rock and closed my eyes.
The mind becomes calm, and the body is dyed with languid energy.
It felt like the fatigue of the day had gone away.
You come to the hot springs for this taste.
I thought I could understand why people bother to include hot spring ryokans when going on a trip to Japan.
Seuk-
10 minutes like that…
Maybe 20 minutes have passed.
I suddenly felt a presence in the hot spring where I was alone.
Did Park Jin-woo finally not be able to stand it?
Or is it a guest from another inn?
With that thought in mind, I slowly opened my eyes.
The sound of someone’s presence got closer and closer, and another hot spring guest appeared.
And….
“Uh?”
“… Uh?”
A beautiful appearance that fills the field of vision at once.
A thin, slender body and long hair.
A towel much larger than mine covering him.
A friend I know well and a friend who knows me well.
A ‘woman’ with an all-too-familiar appearance…
Was right in front of me
“Ah.”
And then I realized
Here.
Are you confused?