Orario had its own paradise.
The Temple Bath—true to its name—was a divine sanctuary meant solely for the gods. Built by the Guild, it embodied reverence and gratitude toward the divine. Naturally, the men's and women's baths were strictly separated, and the difference in attendance between the two was like night and day.
It was said that, once upon a time, a certain elderly god had successfully managed to peek at the women's side. Thanks to that "legendary feat," the Guild had since tightened security so much that not even a mouse could sneak in.
This heavenly paradise, the dream of every male god, remained like a sealed treasure chest—forever out of reach, endlessly fueling their fantasies.
Then, one day, some god casually remarked, "If we can't get in, why don't we just build our own?"
That offhand suggestion received an overwhelming response.
The male gods eagerly emptied their private savings, contacting architects and craftsmen with great enthusiasm. Supported by donations from all corners, the True Temple Bath was finally completed.
Not only was it far grander in scale, but it also featured a newly added mixed bathing area.
The gods spread the word far and wide, gathering there in droves—all to catch a glimpse of the goddesses famed for their beauty.
The result? Their grand dream evaporated like steam.
For three days and nights, the male gods waited tirelessly... yet not a single goddess came.
Despite the superior facilities, luxurious design, and breathtaking scenery, the goddesses still chose the original bathhouse instead.
And thus, the True Temple Bath perished before it even truly began.
With zero divine patrons, the gods who had funded it hastily changed the rules of entry—no longer restricted to gods, but open to the children of the Lower World as well.
They launched promotions and distributed coupons, desperate to recoup the familia funds they had secretly "borrowed."
And among the first guests of the bathhouse was Bell Cranel.
"It just opened, but there's hardly anyone here," Bell muttered, glancing around.
Meticulously trimmed trees filled the courtyard, and sweetly fragrant flowers lined the pathways. High walls and tall stone pillars surrounded the area, every inch radiating sacred opulence.
"Of course," Naaza explained lightly. "I won the grand prize, remember? Looking at how fancy this place is, most people are probably waiting to see what others think before coming."
The True Temple Bath was twice the size of the original. Yet rumors that the goddesses refused to visit still lingered, leaving most people in Orario hesitant to form their opinions too soon.
"I see."
Bell looked down the quiet corridor, his suspicions growing.
This had to be the work of God Miach—surely something important was to be discussed here.
"We're here," Naaza said, pulling aside the curtain to the mixed bath area. "I'll go get changed first."
"Alright."
Though Bell couldn't understand why things needed to be handled in such a secretive way, he obediently entered the men's changing room.
A soft, sweet fragrance filled the air.
Meanwhile, Naaza quietly called over a female attendant.
"Has Airmid already arrived?"
"...You know that lady?" the attendant asked, visibly surprised.
"Yes, we go way back," Naaza said smoothly, her expression unwavering. "We were close friends—research partners in potion-making."
"I see! No wonder you call her by name. That benevolent Dea Saint has been waiting in the bathhouse for some time now."
The attendant's voice was full of reverence.
"Benevolent...?" Naaza raised a brow. "Did she say anything?"
"Yes," the attendant nodded. "She said, 'Please don't allow any men other than the white-haired boy to enter. And if you ever fall ill or are injured, I will do my utmost to help you.' Such a kind lady, isn't she?"
She even imitated Airmid's gentle tone as she repeated the words.
"..."
Naaza fell silent.
Kind? That wasn't kindness.
That was an outright threat.
The waitress, unaware of the Chienthrope girl's cold tone, continued speaking.
"When she said that, I felt some kind of curse appear behind me. But once I agreed, that chill disappeared completely. I'm sure that noble lady must have healed me."
So… no matter how you look at it, that's clearly a threat, isn't it?
Naaza couldn't even bring herself to retort. She sighed, managing only a wry smile as she dismissed the woman.
In her eyes, the Dea Saint really had changed.
The Airmid she knew had rarely made personal requests—her world revolved around potions and medicine. She had always lived up to her title as the Dea Saint, yet was difficult to approach, always keeping others at a distance.
Now, though… she was unexpectedly adorable.
Naaza left the changing room and walked deeper into the bathhouse.
"Aren't you going to change?" Bell asked when he noticed the Chienthrope still in her usual clothes.
"No need," Naaza replied calmly.
"Hah..." Bell realized this was likely some kind of private meeting and wondered if he only needed to go along with appearances.
Gentle steam filled the air as the two walked—Naaza leading, Bell following—toward the bath area.
Naaza's eyes flicked to the wooden clogs on the floor, her brow twitching faintly. Pretending to remove her shoes, she quietly hid the pair out of sight.
"Looks like no one's been here yet," she said evenly.
Soft, ethereal mist drifted from beneath the curtain ahead, blocking Bell's view. He didn't notice what Naaza was doing until she lifted the curtain and stepped through.
Beyond lay a clear, steaming bath—completely empty.
"Miach-sama isn't here yet?"
His voice echoed through the wide chamber.
Airmid instinctively ducked behind a sculpture.
The marble goddess statue—meant to stand as a solemn decoration—now served as her hiding place.
"Miach-sama?" Naaza's voice came from nearby.
Airmid had gathered every ounce of courage just to come here. And then, that overly chatty attendant had made things worse.
"This bathhouse was built by the gods," she had said. "The first couple to bathe together here will surely receive the gods' blessing—eternal love and happiness!"
"What kind of man could win the heart of the Dea Saint?"
"Even though I'm not a god, I'll bless you both too!"
...
Airmid had felt as though she'd run into a fanatical admirer.
The attendant's enthusiasm was far too much to handle, leaving her no chance to escape.
Couple... blessing...
Those words lingered in Airmid's mind, rising to the surface like bubbles, stirring faint ripples across the water.
Naaza, having sensed her presence, instantly understood who was behind those ripples.
So, Airmid was hiding.
And the boy... clearly misunderstood the situation.
A faint, almost invisible smile curved Naaza's lips.
"Bell," she said softly, "did you know that to invite a god to visit a bathhouse, there's a special ritual that must be performed?"
"A ritual?" Bell asked, not particularly surprised. In a city filled with gods, such things were nothing unusual.
"Yes." Naaza's gaze rested on the shimmering water. "This hot spring hasn't been used by anyone yet. It's like the source water used in alchemy. To invite the god of alchemy here, you must first drink a sip of it."
"..."
"..."
Airmid sank deeper beneath the surface, exasperated. Naaza was deceiving someone again.
But surely such an absurd lie wouldn't fool that clever boy... right?
Silence hung over the bath.
Then—
"I drank it," Bell's voice rang out.
...?
!
Bell scooped up a handful of warm water and downed it in one gulp.
No one had used it anyway. This "ritual" was just symbolic—nothing to worry about.
"So, how does it feel? Holy water like this usually has some kind of mysterious effect," Naaza asked, feigning curiosity.
Bell thought for a moment. "It... feels a little healing, I guess."
"And the taste?" she pressed with a sly grin.
He looked at the water, puzzled.
"Hmm... kinda sweet?"