Chapter 93: The Public Bath

From now on, they would simply be master and disciple.

Qiu Nuoya just needed to make sure he did not rely on Viktor too much.

By evening, Qiu Nuoya and Viktor had reunited with Igor and Warren, who had arrived in Oraria.

"Oh, Mochi, you’ve got something nice on you. Where’d you get that?" Igor had quickly spotted Mochi flying around the room as though showing off his crown. He praised the little crown perched on Mochi’s head, making Mochi look extremely pleased.

"I got it from a shop that sells items for familiars. Isn’t it cute?"

"Oh, it suits you pretty well. Good for you, Mochi."

Although Igor could not communicate with Mochi, Mochi was quite fond of him. Even now, he bounced happily around Igor as though he were dancing.

"Huh, so they have accessories like this too." Warren reached out toward Mochi, who was bouncing in front of Igor.

However, Mochi immediately hopped away from his hand and bounced back toward Qiu Nuoya. Apparently, Mochi was not particularly fond of Warren.

The reason was probably because Warren had spent so much time hunting slimes in the grasslands near Coalora.

Mochi had therefore decided that Warren was a scary person.

Just like Igor, Warren could not hear Mochi’s voice, and Warren himself did not seem to realize that Mochi could speak. So Qiu Nuoya deliberately said nothing. Some things were better left unknown.

"By the way, I heard this inn has a large public bath. Nuoya, didn’t you say before that you wanted to take a bath?"

"!? This place has a bath!?"

Qiu Nuoya had completely failed to notice! There was a large public bath here!

He had been in this world for several months without taking a proper bath even once, so Qiu Nuoya was absolutely delighted.

Sure, the cleansing magic could remove all the dirt from his body, but soaking in a hot bath and relaxed your body was different things.

He needed to go there immediately!

"Nuoya, you cannot."

However, Viktor’s expression turned stern, and he stopped Qiu Nuoya’s excitement in its tracks.

"Why not!? I want to take a bath!"

"I said no, so no. You might get attacked."

"Huh? Attacked?"

"Well, Viktor does look like that, after all. Have you ever had any unpleasant experiences because of your appearance?"

"Of course I have. Baths are something only barbarians use."

"Hm?"

Something felt strange.

Was bathing in this world different from what Qiu Nuoya knew?

What did Viktor mean by saying that baths were something barbarians used?

"I don’t know what the bath here is like, but many large public baths are mixed bathing."

"Mixed bathing!?"

Wait. Did that mean men and women bathed together?

"Using one privately for your own enjoyment is one thing, but I cannot understand people who are perfectly comfortable exposing their bodies in front of others."

Viktor looked deeply uncomfortable as he said it, leaving Qiu Nuoya stunned.

Was this what people called culture shock?

Was that really how baths were viewed in this world?

For Qiu Nuoya, a large bath was nothing but a place to relax and unwind.

He wanted to take a bath, but mixed bathing... That might be a little difficult.

Where was he even supposed to look?

And were there actually women who went to these baths?

If mixed bathing was the norm, perhaps there were not many women who used them in the first place.

"Let’s just check whether it’s mixed bathing. If it is, I’ll give up. But if men and women have separate baths, then I can go, right?"

"That’s exactly why I’m telling you that you cannot, Nuoya!" Viktor stubbornly refused to let Qiu Nuoya bathe, and Qiu Nuoya began to feel a little irritated.

Did he really need his guardian’s permission just to take a bath?

Viktor had even tried to scare him by saying he might be attacked, but this was an inn. What danger could there possibly be in a public facility provided by the inn itself?

"Fine. I understand that you really dislike bathing, Viktor. I’ll go by myself, so you don’t have to worry about me."

"Wha!? Wait, Nuoya!"

"I’m coming with you, Nuoya. You don’t get many chances to take a bath, after all." Igor followed after Qiu Nuoya.

"I’m coming too!" Warren joined them as well.

With the three of them heading off together, Viktor seemed to realize there was no point arguing anymore. He reluctantly followed them.

After asking the inn’s front desk where the large public bath was located, the group made their way there together.

The bathhouse that located behind the inn was fairly busy.

Once again, Viktor wore a deeply displeased expression.

"Even if we are going to bathe, I still think we should choose a time when there are fewer people."

Well, Qiu Nuoya could understand that. A crowded public bath was not exactly relaxing, but sometimes conversations with strangers could become surprisingly enjoyable. He did not really mind.

"Oh, the large public bath here is mixed, but they have private group baths. Viktor, if it’s just us, you won’t have any complaints, right?"

A group bath?

Ah, was it something like a family bath?

Certainly, bathing together with only one’s companions felt much safer than being naked around complete strangers.

"The group baths require reservations, and it looks like they cost extra..."

"I’ll pay for it. In that case, I will allow it." Viktor still did not seem particularly enthusiastic about bathing, but at least he had given Qiu Nuoya permission.

Although, why did he need permission in the first place?

Qiu Nuoya once again felt a little annoyed by the idea that he needed his guardian’s approval just to take a bath.

Putting that aside, they were told that they could use the bath as soon as the people currently inside finished.

Qiu Nuoya waited excitedly.

Perhaps because the group baths cost extra, they did not seem to be very popular.

"Actually, this is my first time taking a bath. Have you ever taken one, Nuoya?"