HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

After dispatching the centaurs, Skyfire set about cremating their bodies on the spot.

Finally, the hot springs were temporarily theirs alone.

-

"It's the perfect temperature, and it looks very clean too..." The wolf-eared girl Cellinia approached the hot spring, cautiously tested the water's warmth, then smiled and said to Rozaliya.

"Really? That's wonderful." Although high temperatures wouldn't bother them, having the water at just the right temperature was even better.

Rozaliya walked to the hot spring with Liliya on her back and set her down.

"Cellinia, could you help by holding onto Liliya?" Rozaliya handed Liliya over to Cellinia.

"Yes." Cellinia hastily took Liliya, who immediately slumped against her.

Feeling Liliya's weight against her, Cellinia's heart raced uncontrollably, her excitement mounting. Lady Liliya... I'm actually holding the adorable Lady Liliya in my arms.

If only Lady Rozaliya were here too, it would be even better.

Cellinia's gaze lingered on Rozaliya, her eyes betraying her unfulfilled desire.

"Hmm? What is it?" Rozaliya, noticing Cellinia's peculiar stare, couldn't help but wonder.

"Oh... nothing." Cellinia shook her head quickly.

"Oh..."

Rozaliya dismissed the thought, paying no further heed to Cellinia as she turned her attention to the hot spring before her...

It's not too large, probably only around 230 to 300 square feet. Setting up a barrier here should be quite simple.

With this thought, Rozaliya began to cast a barrier around the hot spring.

"Lady Rozaliya, what are you doing?" Skyfire observed Cellinia's actions curiously, sensing that Rozaliya was employing some form of magic, yet detecting no fluctuations of elemental energy whatsoever.

"Just to be safe, I'm setting up a temporary barrier to conceal the hot spring."

"Is it similar to the Mist Spell?" Skyfire pondered for a moment before asking.

"Something like that..."

"Perfect."

A few minutes later, Rozaliya examined the barrier she had set up and clapped her hands with satisfaction.

She was glad she had learned barrier techniques from Kikyō all those years; it turned out they were genuinely useful sometimes.

Cat-eared Skyfire observed silently as a transparent field of energy enveloped the entire spa. It seemed to be hiding it from view, but she wasn't quite sure how it worked. This was completely different from ordinary magical elements.

"Now we can safely enjoy the spa." Rozaliya walked over to the side of the spa and reached out to test the temperature in the pit.

It was around 20-21 degrees Celsius, just right...

Natural hot springs typically contained various active trace elements and minerals. These can be highly beneficial for the human body, even having some therapeutic effects.

They would be particularly good for Liliya too...

However...

Despite these benefits, Rosaliya still took out several bottles of the King of Cuteness's potions. She opened them all and poured them into the spa water.

(TL Note: Rimuru=Cute King)

This would amplify the effects even further.

"Cellinia, could you hand Liliya to me?"

Rozaliya approached Cellinia and took the completely asleep Lilia from her.

At this moment, Rozaliya realized that if Lilia was left alone, it would be truly dangerous. She could fall asleep anywhere. If someone perverse picked her up, she might even get pregnant without knowing who the father was.

(TL Note: Thats wild)

Rozaliya helped Liliya undress and left her clothes on the shore before stripping herself. She then led Liliya down into the hot spring.

Soaking in the comfortably warm water, her entire body could not help but completely relax.

"You should come in too!" Rozaliya urged Cellinia and the others still standing by the shore.

"Okay, okay."

Hearing this, the three girls also began to undress and join them.

-

Rozaliya carefully settled Liliya into the water... and then slipped in beside her, submerging her entire body until only her head remained above the surface. Holding Liliya close, she felt utterly content.

As they floated there together, embracing, it was pure bliss.

-

"Would you like me to wash your back, Lady Rozaliya?" Cellinia asked with great enthusiasm, seemingly materializing a towel out of nowhere.

"Oh... alright."

Rozaliya hesitated briefly before agreeing.

She moved next to Cellinia, sitting down facing away from her.

Then she felt Cellinia's small hands gently scrubbing areas usually hard for her to reach, making her feel even more relaxed.

-

"Cellinia, let me help you too!"

After a while, once Cellinia had finished wiping Rozaliya's back, the latter turned to Cellinia and said.

"Oh... how can we do that?" Cellinia hesitated, quickly shaking her head.

"Why not? It's only fair."

As she spoke, Rozaliya reached for the towel in Cellinia's hand, gesturing for her to turn around.

Though Cellinia felt somewhat uncertain, she had no choice but to comply with Rozaliya's firm attitude and turned her back.

Rozaliya gently wiped Cellinia's back with the towel, her gaze lingering on the wolf ears perched atop her head. She couldn't help feeling an urge to stroke them, but managed to resist the temptation for now.

-

"All done. You're all dry now."

After drying her off, Rozaliya rinsed the towel and handed it back to Cellinia.

"Huh?"

Rozaliya suddenly felt something moving beneath her in the hot spring water. This was utterly peculiar...

There shouldn't be any fish or creatures in here...

As this thought crossed her mind, Rozaliya swiftly grabbed the object brushing against her thigh.

In an instant, her hand closed around... a gray mass.

Lifting it upwards...

"Ah... Lady Rozaliya, please stop," Cellinia blushed, turning her head towards Rozaliya.

"Oh... this is your tail..."

Only then did Rozaliya clearly see that she had grasped Cellinia's damp wolf tail.

-

"Mmm... Good morning! Rozaliya, and Cellinia, Platinum, Skyfire..."

After soaking in the hot spring for nearly three hours, Liliya finally emerged from her slumber.

Awakened, Liliya was far more alert than before, greeting everyone with an impassive expression.

"Lady Liliya, you're finally awake..." Upon seeing Liliya rise, Cellinia couldn't help but beam with delight, then helplessly glanced at Rozaliya behind her.

At that moment, Rozaliya was playfully tugging at Cellinia's wolf ears.

"Hmm, it's already dark..." Liliya's gaze fell on Rozaliya before her, then drifted upwards towards the sky.

"Night isn't favorable for us. We'll have to postpone our search for the dragon until tomorrow," Rozaliya nonchalantly suggested, unperturbed by the delay.

"Let's rest tonight and regain our strength. We'll head out first thing tomorrow... Plus, we can further enhance Platinum and the others' abilities while we're at it." Liliya, sitting in the hot spring, observed Platinum and Skyfire nearby. Although their skills were commendable, they still fell short compared to dragons.