Chapter 113: Issue of Bathing

As Akira continued to conduct in-depth and meticulous testing and evaluation of various aspects of his abilities, he gradually formed a clearer and more complete understanding of his current strength and position in this world. At this stage, in the entire world of Orario, only the unsealed gods and the legendary One-Eyed Black Dragon—one of the three Great Quests—were true threats capable of killing him. Even among adventurers, only a scarce few who had reached Level 7 or above had a theoretical chance of breaking through his magic and defeating him. Other adventurers, regardless of their fame or notoriety, were no real match for him. But still, when he turned to face the group of concerned and worried girls looking at him with such heartfelt care, Akira responded with a calm, warm smile, his tone reassuring. "I know. I'll be careful and handle everything properly." "Haha, and make sure not to be tricked again by random strangers like Ryuu was." Maryuu chimed in teasingly with a chuckle, unable to resist taking a jab. "Maryuu! That wasn't being tricked!" Ryuu exclaimed, her cheeks turning a light shade of red as she fumbled to defend herself, "It's just... I just..." "You just accidentally let a con artist sell you a ridiculously expensive so-called panacea." Kaguya added nonchalantly, her words mercilessly sharp. "Kaguya! Why did you say that!?" "Ryuu, you're so gullible." Ais giggled softly, a slight smile forming at the corners of her lips as she teased in an uncharacteristically smug tone. Those words were like stepping on Ryuu's tail. She immediately shot up with the energy of a cat struck with lightning. "Hey! Why am I being mocked by a little girl like you!?" As if to seek justice, Ryuu slammed down her lunchbox and took a swift step behind Akira. Before he could react, her arms wrapped around his neck from behind and she clung to him with indignation. "Come on, confess! It was you, wasn't it, Akira!? You're the one who taught this innocent airhead to say something like that!" Faced with the elf girl's abrupt assault, Akira looked genuinely helpless, unsure whether to laugh or sigh. He shook his head with a wry smile and said, "That's not fair, Ryuu. We agreed—I wouldn't tease you about that anymore." Laughter erupted around them like a ripple through still water. The other girls, having witnessed this silly scene, couldn't hold back. Their laughter sparkled like wind chimes dancing in a spring breeze, spreading joy through the quiet forest. After finishing lunch, everyone washed their dishes at the lakeside, neatly placing them on the folding table Akira had pulled from his [Backpack]. Originally, the girls had planned to simply clean themselves up a bit. After all, trudging through the dungeon left them sweaty and dirty. And since it would be a long stretch before they could bathe again—most likely not until they reached the next safe zone on the 28th floor—this might be their last chance to feel clean for a while. Amid the sounds of towels wringing and water splashing, Iska suddenly proposed an idea that stopped everyone in their tracks. "Hey, why don't we all just take a bath?" Noin's eyes widened in disbelief. Her face flushed red, and she snapped, "Are you crazy, Amazoness!? Akira is right here!" Unbothered, Iska casually wrung out her towel and wiped her bronze skin with leisurely strokes. "So what if Akira sees us? It's not a big deal. Besides, the water here feels amazing." "W-What are you saying!?" Ryuu shouted, her fair cheeks instantly turning crimson. The pure-hearted elf looked scandalized, her voice almost trembling. Celty nodded furiously, echoing her disapproval with a stammer, "Y-Yeah... totally inappropriate!" "We're still in the middle of an expedition!" Noin added stiffly, finally finding a more proper excuse to lean on. Iska, however, met the objections head-on with a grin. "Which is exactly why we should take advantage of the safe floor while we can. It won't be this easy once we start breaking through to the next floors." Despite their initial hesitation, most of the girls—deep down—had long grown fond of Akira. For many of them, they had already envisioned a future where they'd share their lives with him. In that sense, even a bath together didn't feel so scandalous anymore. Ais, in particular, showed no hesitation at all. Whether Akira was present or not didn't concern her. If he was there, great. If not, also fine. Seeing that only three were still strongly opposed, Iska smugly crossed her arms and made a bold proposal. "Well then, how about this—half of you take a bath while the others stay with Akira? Problem solved, right?" "...If it's like that... I guess it's okay..." Ryuu muttered, her voice as soft as a mouse. "...Yeah, no problem, right Celty? Noin?" She asked while turning to the other two. As if they had realized they were in the minority, Noin and Celty glanced at each other, their faces still flushed, and eventually nodded hesitantly. Akira, who had been quietly listening to the entire back-and-forth, sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. "Seriously? Can't you ask for my opinion first? Don't look at me like that!" He shook his head and waved his hands, backing away from the conversation. "Look, I'm not taking a bath with you girls. I'll just be your bodyguard. I swear I won't peek. Happy now?" Then, with a helpless but resigned smile, he added, "Come on, I'll take you to a spot I found earlier when I was flying over the 18th floor. Should be perfect for what you're looking for." After neatly packing the remaining supplies into his [Backpack], Akira led the way into the depths of the forest. He turned back and motioned for everyone to follow him. The group walked for a few minutes, winding their way through dense foliage and glowing crystals. Eventually, they reached a beautiful natural spectacle. Before them stood a grand waterfall, cascading from a cliff about ten meters high. Mist billowed up into the air, shrouding the surroundings in a cool, refreshing haze. The droplets clung to their skin, dancing lightly with each gust of wind. Akira led them to a large natural spring at the base of the waterfall. Towering trees and clusters of crystals surrounded the clearing. Above them, thick branches and lush leaves obscured the sky. The entire area glowed in a soft, pale blue light, like an untouched sanctuary hidden in a dream. "This is it." Akira said with a satisfied smile, gesturing to the crystal-clear water. "Nice view, quiet spot. Should be perfect for bathing, don't you think?" Alise eagerly stepped forward and dipped her hand into the water, gently swirling it around to test the temperature. Her face lit up with delight as she looked back at the group. "Perfect temperature. This place is amazing." Lyra, ever the skeptic, narrowed her eyes and asked, "Wait, Akira. Do you even know where this water's coming from?" Akira casually pointed beyond the waterfall. "Yup. I flew up earlier to check it out. Not sure if it's some kind of thousand-year-old ice block or what, but there's a massive crystal up there. The water flows down like it's melting ice." He paused, then added with a confident grin, "Also, Lyra, I used my magic to test it. The spring's clean—totally safe for bathing." That reassurance was all Iska needed. Without a moment's hesitation, the Amazonian warrior bent down and calmly unfastened the wristband on her ankle. Then, she reached for the edges of her outfit and tugged. The thin fabric fluttered down, revealing her athletic figure. She stripped off the rest of her clothes without a trace of embarrassment or hesitation—her actions graceful and natural, as if shedding her clothes was as ordinary as brushing her hair. And before anyone could react, Iska jumped into the sparkling spring, her bare form vanishing beneath the surface with a splash, while everyone else stood frozen in wide-eyed astonishment.