Not A Regressor-Chapter 324: Treasure Hunt (3)

Following Song Ha-Eun behind a large boulder, they found a steamy hot spring with vapor rising gently from its surface.

“It really is a hot spring,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“You think I’d lie about something like this?” Song Ha-Eun replied.

“No, it’s just that I didn’t expect to find a normal-looking hot spring in the Demonic District.”

Sure, there were forests and streams in the Demonic District. It wasn’t impossible, but when Kwon Oh-Jin imagined a hot spring here, he naturally thought of bubbling magma or a poisonous gas swamp. This hot spring looked perfectly normal, indistinguishable from one on Earth.

“The temperature is perfect too.”

Being near a volcano, the water naturally felt hotter. However, this wasn’t a problem for Kwon Oh-Jin’s group since they all possessed superhuman physiques. If anything, they wouldn’t feel anything unless it was this hot.

“And look, doesn’t it seem like something is glowing?” Song Ha-Eun said.

“You’re right.”

It wasn’t very clear yet since the sun hadn’t fully set. Just as Song Ha-Eun said, a soft glow shimmered beneath the surface of the water.

Kwon Oh-Jin dipped his hand into the hot spring and activated the Stigma of Canes Venatici.

“There’s mana from a Stigma dissolved in the water,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

He had heard that the gold from the Black Rock Mine was unusually rich in star mana, but he hadn’t expected the surrounding hot spring to contain it too.

Could there be a Dragon Vein nearby?

The amount of mana flowing through the area strongly suggested that to be the case.

“Oh, does that mean it’s like one of those springs in wuxia novels that boosts your mana just by soaking in it?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“Not quite, but it should at least help with recovering from fatigue.”

“Fatigue, huh...” Song Ha-Eun narrowed her eyes and slyly smiled. “What do you think?”

She nudged him in the ribs with a teasing glint in her eye.

“What do I think about what?”

“Look at you, pretending not to know.”

Honestly, with her seductive gaze, calling it telepathy wouldn’t be far off. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she was suggesting.

“I told you, we’re not here on vacation.”

“Who said anything about vacation? I just meant we should soak a bit and relax before heading out. Don’t we have to face that Deimos guy tomorrow?”

She sure has a way with her words.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go set up the tent. Why don’t you head in with Bella and Vega first?”

“What? No way. If we’re going in, we’re going in together.”

This woman...

“You didn’t even bring a swimsuit,” he said.

“So? I’ll just wrap a towel around me. Or would you rather I go in completely naked?” She playfully grinned and tugged at his arm.

Kwon Oh-Jin sighed and shook his head. There was no point resisting. She wouldn’t budge once she made up her mind.

“All right, all right. We’ll go in together.”

It wasn’t like they were strangers. A couple soaking in a hot spring together wasn’t anything scandalous.

Though Vega and I aren’t a couple.

“At least wear your undergarments,” he demanded.

He wasn’t sure he could keep it together if she went in butt-naked with just a towel.

“Ugh, but I don’t like getting my undergarments wet.”

“You can dry it after.”

With her powers, it would take only a few seconds at most to dry soaked clothes.

“Still, it feels gross.”

“Wear it and go in with me, or don’t wear it and go in alone.”

“Should I wear a black set?” She gave in surprisingly quickly. “Great! Let’s pitch the tent first and come back!”

Song Ha-Eun excitedly clenched her fist and bolted off toward the tent site.

After quickly setting up camp, the group changed clothes and gathered by the hot spring.

“You’re all wearing undergarments under there, right?” Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes at Ha-Eun and Isabella, both wrapped in towels.

He had told them to wear undergarments, but he couldn’t see any visible straps on their shoulders.

Isabella chuckled and stepped closer. “Instead of undergarments, I cut up some of my training gear and used that instead.”

“And we used the leftover fabric to make my swimsuit!” Vega flew up, wearing a makeshift swimsuit.

Isabella had stitched together the spandex scraps from workout clothes last minute, but Vega’s naturally beautiful frame still made it look good on her.

“Speaking of which, where’s Riarc?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

He glanced around but couldn’t spot Riarc anywhere.

“He didn’t want to join and went to patrol the area with Boppy,” Isabella explained.

“Is he not a fan of water?”

Isabella scratched her cheek with an awkward smile. “No, it’s not that... He said staying here would only make him feel disgusted.”

I guess...

Song Ha-Eun and Isabella were already in a romantic relationship with Kwon Oh-Jin. Vega had been openly affectionate toward him as well.

For Riarc, soaking in the hot spring with this group would’ve been nothing short of emotional torture like being the miserable third wheel to a couple’s date.

“Ahem. Well, shall we go in then?” Feeling slightly bad for unintentionally leaving Riarc out, Kwon Oh-Jin cleared his throat awkwardly and turned toward the steaming hot spring.

As he sank into the warm water, he sighed like a corporate slave melting away after a long overtime shift. It felt like every bit of fatigue was leaving his body even as the sharp scent of sulfur tickled his nose.

“Ooh, this is what a hot spring is like.” Vega’s eyes sparkled as she dipped in. She shuddered with a soft moan as the warmth soaked into her. “It feels different from just soaking in hot water!”

“Right?”

Even without Song Ha-Eun’s powers, they could easily heat up water. However, the smell of sulfur and unique mineral quality of this hot spring couldn’t be replicated.

“My child, could you raise your hand for a moment?”

“Like this?”

“A bit lower.” Vega paddled over and plopped down on his half-submerged palm like it was a floating tube.

“Yes, that’s perfect.” She smiled in satisfaction.

Chuckling softly, Kwon Oh-Jin leaned back against a stone with Vega resting in his hand. The rough stone and the warmth enveloping him sent a pleasant wave of relaxation through his muscles.

“It’s been so long. I can’t even remember the last time I soaked in a hot spring like this,” Isabella said.

“Are there no hot springs in Italy?” he asked. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“There are, but I’ve never visited one myself.”

The water reached about Isabella’s waist. She gently scooped up the warm water over her shoulders with an exhausted smile. She had bathed countless times in luxury tubs with fancy oils and bath salts, but this was her first time in a natural hot spring.

“It’s wonderful...”

The sun dipped below the horizon. With her handsome lover beside her, the scene felt too perfect to be real. What could possibly top this moment?

“It really feels like all my fatigue is melting away.” Song Ha-Eun softly kicked the water as she stared at the glowing surface.

Perhaps it was because the hot spring was infused with star mana or because they were in a dreamy mood, she felt like her heart was warming up too.

“Oh-Jin, give me a nice shoulder massage.” Song Ha-Eun paddled over and turned her back to him.

Though she said she was wearing something under the towel, he could only see the smooth, bare expanse of her shoulders.

“What am I, your personal massage therapist?”

“Pretty much.”

Why did I fall for a woman like this?

“At least pay me or something.”

“I’ll give you a hundred kisses later.”

“Ahem.”

That’ll work.

“Now I understand why Riarc didn’t want to come in.” Vega sighed and shook her head.

Even as someone who loved Kwon Oh-Jin, she found the scene too cringey to watch.

“I’m only going to massage you for five minutes.”

Any longer and he wasn’t sure if he could control himself.

Kwon Oh-Jin placed his hands on Song Ha-Eun’s shoulders and began kneading with just the right amount of pressure.

“Hngh.”

“Don’t make weird noises.”

He focused his thumbs on the tight knots in her muscles. Each time he pressed down, she let out little moans while turning and twisting.

“O-Oh-Jin, you’re being so rough... Ahh!”

“Ha-Eun, please.”

Flashes of inappropriate thoughts kept crossing his mind.

“Done. That’s five minutes.” Kwon Oh-Jin abruptly pulled his hands away.

He wasn’t confident he could control himself anymore.

“Aww, that wasn’t enough.”

“It’s best to stop so you’re left wanting more.” He firmly patted her back and gently pushed her away.

Just when he thought he could finally enjoy soaking peacefully, Isabella quickly slid into Song Ha-Eun’s spot. “Mr. Oh-Jin, me too...”

“M-Me too! I want a massage too!” Vega chimed in.

In the end, Kwon Oh-Jin massaged them both too. Vega even returned to her original form just for the massage. He collapsed from exhaustion by the time he finished.

I’m so tired.

He wasn’t physically tired, but exhausted from controlling his willpower.

“I-I’ve never had a massage before, but... you’re really good, Mr. Oh-Jin.”

“Y-You’re a true technician.”

Isabella and Vega completely relaxed and melted away in the hot spring.

“I’m gonna head out first...” Reaching his limit, Kwon Oh-Jin began to rise from the water.

However, Song Ha-Eun grabbed him and pulled him right back into the hot spring. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m tired. I want to get out and rest.”

“Come on, getting up now wouldn’t be a very good idea for you, would it?”

What did she mean by that? What could possibly be worse than staying here?

“I mean, your towel rack might show.” Song Ha-Eun averted her gaze as her cheeks subtly flushed.

Kwon Oh-Jin frowned. “Towel rack? What the hell are you—” His eyes drifted down without thinking. “Oh.”

The corners of Song Ha-Eun’s lips rose into a wicked grin. “You could probably hang three towels on that thing.”

Someone save me. I think I’m going to lose my mind.