Epilogue: Julia’s Hot Spring Shovel (Preview Version)

Epilogue:
Julia’s Hot Spring Shovel
(Preview Version)

 

LATER THAT NIGHT, Alan sat alone in a hot spring located in Rahal Village. The village elder had broken down in grateful tears upon being informed of the dragon’s demise, and begged Alan to stay at least one night so they might throw a festival in his honor. In the meantime, he’d implored, Alan could take a dip in the village’s hot spring. The hot spring that had only just come into existence because, as it turned out, Julia’s water summoning power was too strong.

Julia, the Hot Spring Priestess.

“That’s three orbs down,” Alan muttered to himself. “Four to go. I wonder if I’ll be able to keep my promise to Lithisia…”

The next orb was apparently located in the neighboring country. Lithisia wanted to collect all seven orbs and then drive Zeleburg from her homeland, but whether they’d actually get that far… Well, Alan wasn’t sure. He was confident he could recover the orbs, but also concerned that the Holy Shovel Faith was rapidly becoming the primary objective of their travels.

“...Well, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Once they made it back to Rostir, she’d probably return to normal. She was just getting overexcited by going on a journey like this for the first time. Probably.

As Alan continued to turn a blind eye to reality…

“E-excuse me…” The wooden door slid open.

When Alan turned around, he caught a glimpse of blue hair and white skin that glimmered beneath the moonlight. It was Julia, but that wasn’t what surprised him. No, it was the fact that she had abandoned her flowy priestess garments in favor of wearing nothing at all.

She was naked.

“Er.”

All she had on was a wooden wash tub and a white towel. The latter was caught on her bountiful breasts, but did little to hide them. Alan could see the trembling spots of pink hidden beneath the white towel. While her most delicate bits were covered, the priestess’ current state was nothing if not dangerous.

“Whoa, hold on! Julia, this is the men’s bath!” Alan was actually panicked. The naked priestess’ current look was unutterably sexy, and his adamantine self-control was on the verge of cracking.

Julia herself seemed slightly embarrassed, her face a shade of pink. “I-I know that th-this is the m-men’s bath…”

“You do?!”

“Um, um, I, er, excuse me!” Covering her breasts with one arm, she reached into the wash tub and took something out. It was an object that really didn’t belong in the bath.

A blue shovel.

“I shall abide by the commands of the High Priestess of shovels, a-and shovel your back!”

Alan regretted everything.

I should have nipped Lithisia’s shovel fanaticism in the bud when I had the chance!