TRHSOS 30

Chapter 30

Doesn’t it smell like poop somewhere?

“Just now… didn’t you say you were tired?”

“I suddenly really wanted to make mugwort latte.”

Sharenian seemed quite taken aback by my passion for the latte.

“That’s unexpected. I didn’t think you’d be so passionate about the hot spring work.”

How could I not be passionate! This is a life-or-death situation—if I can’t make a proper hot spring ticket mugwort latte within the time limit, all the money earned from the hot spring passes could be lost!

On top of that, because I got a warning for slacking off, I even had to make sure someone actually drank the mugwort latte.

“By the way, I can’t guarantee your life.”

“…Don’t people usually say they can’t guarantee the taste?”

Well, anything I touch, whether food or drink, never ends up just tasting bad. But I didn’t bother to explain that.

If they understood too much, they’d run away for sure. And if that happened, I’d be in trouble.

“So… are you going to eat it or not?”

I pressed Sharenian against the wall, subtly applying some pressure.

“Isn’t that already decided? You’re staring at me with a look that says you’ll kill me if I don’t eat it.”

I really had no other option.

Hae-ryeong would never touch it after struggling so much to make the mugwort latte, and Yeong-gye had witnessed the ordeal, so refusal was inevitable.

Un-su was quick-witted, so it would be hard to trick him, and Yeom-la wasn’t even at the hot spring.

Giving it to the elders… that would truly be ungrateful.

In the end, Sharenian was the only one left.

“What kind of latte are you making?”

“A hot spring ticket mugwort latte.”

Though whether it would actually taste like the hot spring ticket version was uncertain.

“Oh! The mugwort latte here is exquisite! My taste buds will finally be delighted!”

Sharenian had no idea what was coming, and he looked genuinely excited.

Seeing him so thrilled made it feel like someone was silently asking me:

“Did you perhaps drop your conscience somewhere?”

“I did warn you, didn’t I? I can’t guarantee your life.”

My remaining shred of conscience repeatedly sent a red alert to Sharenian.

But he ignored my warning, clearly not taking it seriously.

“Don’t worry about my life. I have an immortal body.”

There was a reason Sharenian was so confident.

The sword Sharenian wielded was called the ‘Immortal Sword,’ but could he really be an immortal being?

That explained why, on the day I first saw him, he survived after bleeding like the Han River for so long.

Finally, the mystery of that day was solved.

Then it should be fine if he eats the mugwort latte I made.

It was a small relief to my conscience that had been wracked with guilt.

“Then sit in the reception room and wait. I’ll get the mugwort latte ready.”

Since I didn’t know how many times I’d have to make it, I needed to bring plenty of ingredients.

“Got it. And one more thing!”

“What is it?”

“Here.”

I looked up at Sharenian, and he tapped the scar on his cheek with his finger.

It was the wound caused by the Immortal Sword I threw.

“When will you heal this? I’ve been waiting.”

Come to think of it, when I collected the mugwort, I promised to heal Sharenian’s wound if there was leftover medicine.

There was still a little new flesh, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

“I’ll bring the medicine along. So just go wait nicely.”

“Yes!”

Sharenian, having received the answer he wanted, answered cheerfully and immediately headed to the reception room.

[Time left until penalty: 29 minutes 30 seconds]

There was enough time to make a single mugwort latte, but the quest required an exact hot spring ticket mugwort latte.

Since success was uncertain, I needed to buy as much time as possible.

I had to hurry!

“Yeong-gye, where are the mugwort latte ingredients?”

[Guide ‘Yeong-gye’ says, “If you go to the leftmost room on the 2nd floor, there’s a kitchen.”]

[Guide ‘Yeong-gye’ says, “If you hold the master key at the entrance, the door will open automatically.”]

A kitchen with an automatic door? Surprisingly modern.

“Mugwort should be in the apothecary, right? I’ll need to grind it too. How do I do that?”

[Guide ‘Yeong-gye’ says, “Last time, a huge pile of new mugwort was left in the apothecary. While organizing it, extra mugwort and mugwort powder were placed in the kitchen.”]

Right! I had completely forgotten!

I remembered that day when Beka suddenly asked the meaning of “Sh*t!” and I was flustered, so I left without organizing the pile of new mugwort.

Did Yeong-gye sort out that huge pile for me?

“Yeong-gye really is the best chick!”

[Guide ‘Yeong-gye’ retorts, “How many times do I have to say it for you to understand? I’m not a chick; I’m a dragon!”]

“But you do look like a chick. Even when you’re angry, Yeong-gye, it’s cute… too bad I can’t see it.”

[Guide ‘Yeong-gye’ says, “The mugwort powder is in the cupboard, and the milk is in the fridge. Find them yourself.”]

Looking at it closely, Yeong-gye was a bit like Hae-ryeong.

They seemed to be spending a lot of time together lately. Maybe the tsundere trait had rubbed off?

Lost in thought, I soon reached the leftmost room of the 2nd-floor hallway.

I just had to hold the master key to the door, right?

I took the master key off my neck.

[Beep― This is the boss.]

[Hidden field ‘Hot Spring Kitchen (EX)’ is unlocked.]

The voice sounded familiar—it was the warm voice I’d heard often while boarding the bus.

Soon, the kitchen door swung wide open.

The spacious, high-quality wooden kitchen was as neat as a modern apartment’s. It had almost every appliance, from induction stoves to ovens.

Wait, now’s not the time to leisurely admire the kitchen.

The mugwort powder was in the cupboard, right?

As I reached to open the cupboard:

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ exclaims, “Ack! Smell!” and covers its nose.]

Huh?

“The cupboard… can talk?”

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ says, “Yes, I spoke! So what?”]

Well, dragons talk, medicine jars talk… there’s no reason the cupboard couldn’t.

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ protests, “Don’t touch my sacred body with your smelly hands!”]

My hands smell?

I sniffed just in case, but there wasn’t any particularly unpleasant odor.

If it’s not coming from me…

“Could it be you? Should I dust you off a bit?”

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ explodes in anger, explaining that cleaning isn’t necessary because it stays clean and even has antibacterial properties.]

It overreacted, but it seemed possible that such a function existed in an S-rank cupboard.

“Then… where is the smell coming from?”

[‘Territorial Hot Spring Fridge (S)’ asks, “Doesn’t it smell like poop somewhere?”]

Of course! Now the fridge talks too.

After coming to this hot spring, I’ve seen so many things that shouldn’t be able to speak talking, so I wasn’t too surprised.

“So… where exactly is the smell coming from?”

[‘Territorial Hot Spring Fridge (S)’ answers, “From your poop hands.”]

Just from the smell, it knew my hands were crap?

How good is their sense of smell to figure that out?

[‘Territorial Hot Spring Fridge (S)’ taunts, “Embarrassed that we caught your crap hands, huh?”]

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ adds, “Too shy to speak, right?”]

Annoying, but the two really synced well.

“Fine! Yes, my hands are crap! But what does that have to do with you? I’ll just grab the mugwort latte ingredients and leave, so hold your breath if you must!”

I forcibly pulled the cupboard handle.

But it didn’t budge at all, as if it were locked from the inside.

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ teases, “Not opening? Getting annoyed, huh?”]

I tried switching to the fridge, but it was the same.

[‘Territorial Hot Spring Fridge (S)’ says, “You’re not allowed to use us carelessly, so get out of the kitchen immediately.”]

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ mocks, “Smelling like crap, hurry and leave the kitchen.”]

[Time left until penalty: 25 minutes 30 seconds]

‘I’m running out of time… is there any good way?’

Seeing the remaining time made me anxious.

To summarize, these two despised my crap hands so much…

‘If the smell is that bad, I guess they know just how terrible my hands are.’

[‘Territorial Hot Spring Fridge (S)’ asks if they wouldn’t freak out knowing that.]

A brilliant idea came to mind.

A short, decisive move to make these two submit at once.

“If you don’t open the door immediately…”

I crossed my arms arrogantly and glared at them.

“I’m going to cook he…”

Before I could finish.

[‘Territorial Hot Spring Fridge (S)’ swings open.]

[‘Haughty Hot Spring Cupboard (S)’ yells, “Take me!” and opens.]