Special Chapter. Daily life after that (6)
There is a mountain road that stretches straight to the back of the village in Prua.
It is also a trade route to and from other villages, and it is one of the streets frequently passed by tourists as well as residents.
Ludwig and Emilia also met quite a few people on their way here today.
Among them, there was an elderly couple who looked to be in their 80s, and there were pilgrims who silently walked the long journey without borrowing the power of a carriage or horse.
If you walk straight through this place, you will come to a fork in the road, and if you turn left and cross another mountain road, you will be heading to another village.
On the other hand, if you go to the right, you will see a wide field of ice, and there is a ‘boiling lake’, which is also called a famous spot in Prua.
The two of them also encountered a fork in the road without fail, and with some travelers, they turned right and headed for ‘Boiling Lake’.
“I look forward to it. What do you mean by boiling lake?”
Emilia couldn’t hold back her well-springing curiosity and rolled her feet.
In the first place, it is amazing that a lake exists in its original form in such a frozen land, but it boils there? I couldn’t imagine what it would look like.
“That’s right. I’m looking forward to it because it’s a place I’ve never even heard of.”
“I thought Ludwig would know everything because he is well-informed, but I am a little surprised.”
“There are many more unknowns. If Emilia had seen it by now, you would know, right?”
“Huh, that’s right too.”
Before getting married, there were many things to see only one side of him, so there were many times when I felt that Ludwig, who answered most of her questions, was well-informed.
Actually, that thought has not changed much even now, but only a small change has occurred.
He knows what he knows, and what he doesn’t know he doesn’t know. Just like that.
On the contrary, Emilia thought that it was good because it made her feel more human than before.
I don’t know if it’s just because it’s good.
“Oh, how many people are there?”
“Iknow, right… Wow, is there really a lake by the way? be curious… … .”
After turning right at the fork in the road and walking for a long time, the sight of a group of people gathering in one place came into sight for the two of them.
And when I squinted my eyes and looked closely, I could see a lake that was actually quite large in this severe winter.
To be precise, it was only a small pond rather than a lake, but in any case, there was nothing strange about it.
“Ludwig, look at that! Steam is just pouring out!”
“Is that why you think it’s a boiling lake? Let’s go, Emilia.”
Ludwig, unable to hide his excitement, took Emilia’s hand and quickly headed to the place where people were gathering.
Everyone around them was amazed at this sight and often exclaimed in exclamation.
No one would have expected to witness such a rare sight in this cold northern region, rumored to be hard for even one ant to survive.
Dig!
“Oh oh!”
As soon as Ludwig and Emilia arrived nearby, a stream of water rose violently from the lake.
The steam was blowing in all directions, making my vision dizzy for a moment.
‘Don’t get too close’ near the lake. There was also a sign saying, but those who ignored it and approached the water’s edge ended up being baptized with water.
“Come on, come here if your clothes are wet! They sell hot drinks and clothes!”
And when there was a commotion among the crowd, the shopkeepers who witnessed it continued to solicit customers with their voices raised.
“They also do very smart business.”
“Originally, business is the act of selling what you need where you need it. I hope it isn’t too expensive.”
Ludwig nodded with a wry smile at Emilia’s pure admiration for watching the merchants.
In his view, it seemed like he could get at least twice the regular price.
Still, people who need it will buy it.
“Emilia too, don’t get too close. It looks like pretty hot water, but it might burn you.”
“Ludwig, by the way, I’m not even a child, and there’s even a sign saying to be careful, so I guess that’s the case?”
For speaking so sternly, Ludwig seemed to want to see her a little closer.
“It’s definitely warm, so it would be nice to soak your body in it.”
“Right? I also thought that because the weather was cold.”
“Um… … .”
There is a difference between soaking your body in a stream of water that normally rains down on you and soaking your body in this warm water.
If the former is more like an act of washing one’s body, then the latter is more like an act of relieving one’s body from travel poisoning or fatigue.
The two of them also came to a distant place to see such a scene, so that kind of desire may well have arisen.
At this time, a man who had been listening to the conversation between the two suddenly spoke to Ludwig.
“Are you looking for a place to soak?”
“Yes? Ah yes, but… … .”
“There is a nice place to go a little further over there. Although the price is a bit high, the facilities are not bad and it is the perfect place to relax.”
On the other side of the direction pointed by the man with a rather generous impression, although it was hard to see because of the snow and trees, there was a building that was clearly not suitable for such a field.
When Ludwig asked what kind of place it was, the man approached him in a calm tone and spoke to him.
“It is perfect for spending quality time with lovers. It’s good for soaking, and it’s a place where there is a separate bath that can be used alone.”
“… … .”
Only then did Ludwig realize that the place was not just a hot spring to soak in.
To put it bluntly, among the travelers who have visited this place, it would be more like a place for those who came with their lovers.
In other words, it was also a very suitable place for Ludwig and Emilia to stop by.
“… I will ask my wife.”
“It is a good choice.”
The man smiled impressively and left without saying anything more.
Ludwig, while scratching his cheek shyly, spoke to Emilia just in case.
“I… Emilia?”
“Yeah?”
“I heard from someone who was nearby that there is a good place to soak over there. If it’s okay, why don’t we go there?”
“Really? If that’s the case, I’d like to go!”
Ludwig added that the cost might be quite expensive just in case, but in fact, money was not a matter for these two.
Emilia also laughed as if that was a problem, and said let’s go there right away, holding his hand tightly and moving both legs.
“It’s a pretty cool looking place. isn’t it? Ludwig.”
“I agree. I honestly thought it would be a shabby place.”
As they gradually approached their destination, a rather stylish building painted in gray began to be clearly visible even to the two of them.
Ludwig, who was dubious at heart, seemed to be able to give the building a passing grade just by looking at it.
If I had to say that there was a place worth soaking in, I thought it would be a shabby inn trying to trick tourists.
“There are a lot of ice flowers around.”
“It feels like I’m in another world.”
“Cook-Cook, that’s right. There are no people around, so it feels like Ludwig and I have been abandoned in the world alone.”
The crowd, which had been quite crowded just a moment ago, had become almost invisible as we reached this point.
Except for one building built in the middle, there were only fields and mountains behind it, and only finely bloomed ice flowers and soft snow welcomed the two people around.
“So, is this the house we live in?”
“It’s good. I doubt you will sell it to us.”
“I don’t think I would sell it.”
A building built alone in a place like this has something that stimulates people’s emotions just by its existence, apart from the commercial aspect.
Ludwig speculated that perhaps the owner of that building had built it not for the purpose of receiving guests, but rather for the people who stop by to have a more enjoyable visit.
“Oh, welcome. Are you two?”
As they approached the building, a middle-aged man who had come out and was wiping his eyes greeted them warmly.
“Yes that’s right. Would it be all right if I just soak for a while?”
“It is possible. However, since the cost is a bit high… … .”
“how much?”
“It’s 2 gold. Oh, of course, we will prepare meals for you.”
Definitely quite expensive.
No, it was not at an expensive level, but there was no doubt that it was a price that ordinary people could not even afford.
However, when Ludwig and Emilia met their eyes, they smiled slightly and nodded as if they were okay.
Only 2 gold.
It was because 2 gold was too cheap for them when it came to presenting memories of the day.
“The bath is separately prepared inside. Please go in at once.”
“Well, I heard that there are baths that men and women can use together… … .”
Ludwig hesitantly asked as Ludwig turned and grabbed the man who was about to go inside first, and Emilia, who was next to him, widened his eyes.
It was because he guessed what the meaning of his words was.
“Heh heh, no. We will guide you.”
“… Thank you.”
Embarrassed for nothing, Ludwig averted his gaze and put strength into the hand holding Emilia.
For some reason, Emilia’s face grew hot as well, and this time, she couldn’t even tease him while facing him, so she turned her eyes away.
One thing was certain, this was a really good place to come with a couple.