This looks like a good spot for the bath. I'm about thirty feet back from the cabin and a little to the east, making it just a little outside of the main part of my camp. It's only about ten feet from the small garden I've created, but that won't be a problem for me and will even add a close view of something nice to look at while I soak.

With my mana refilled and more mana potion brewed up, I'm ready to start the work on this project.

Creating a bath is something which I know doesn't take an immense amount of mana from me as it's something I've done every time I set up camp for the last five years. A simple one doesn't even need enchantments, and I can do the mana infusion enchanting like what I did to create wards at the start of my time here to make one which lasts a few days.

However, this one is meant to be a little bit more long-term than that.

I begin gesturing with my hands, creating a slab of solid stone four inches thick. At one end of it, I form the tub. That's created by conjuring four stone walls atop the slab, each about two and a half feet in height and three inches in thickness. The end of the slab is seven feet in length and two of the walls stretch along that. For the sides of the tub, I have them run only five feet. A sizable soaking tub with plenty of space to stretch out without feeling cramped.

Just in case Aluci decides he wants to soak with me.

I create smaller walls along the sides of the rest of the slab, which continues another five feet past the tub. The part of the station not the tub is given a downward slope toward the tub, but only a slight one.

All of the stone is smoothed over with magic, to remove its porosity so water won't absorb into it but stay atop it. That wasn't really important to do but takes almost no extra effort from me thanks to my skill with doing so.

Next is creating the "pipes", or cylindrical tunnels running through the walls. Paint made with magic crystals is used to draw runes within them, then I cast specific spells on each before sealing them back up. These pipes run from the top of the wall on the bath, down to the bottom, then back up to the top, exiting on the slab side. A hole on each side provides an opening into the pipe, and I created seven of these pipes, or one for every foot of length of the tub. At the top of the slab-side holes, there's a downward slope facing outward to help guide things better once it's actually functioning.

Additional pipes are added to the slab itself, run under the tub, and up the back walls. Fourteen in total with quarter-inch diameters rather than half-inch. They, too, are given magic crystal paint runes with spells cast onto them after completion.

Both sets of upper holes – on the bath's back wall and on the slab's wall with the bath – are about four inches below the top of the tub. I could probably have put them an inch higher, but what's done is done and I don't feel like changing it now.

The final touch to this before I add water is an additional enchantment added inside of the tub itself and another on the slab. Upon doing the latter, the stone warms up lightly. That should keep feet warm but also help keep me warm while I'm washing up.

Another thing happens upon the completion of the enchantment in addition to the heating effect.

[Crafting] is now Level 2! +1 Strength +1 Dexterity

While it might seem like building the tub was simple, it was anything but due to the magical nature of the plumbing and heating for it. Anyone with enough mana can build the tub, but it takes real experience to set the enchantments so that it works. Most people who can set up the enchanting system are already past Level 7 in [Crafting].

All in all, this took around 170 MP, the same as always. I could either conjure water to fill the tub with or pull from the stream, but I don't feel like transferring the water so far.

That leaves conjuring it, and I pour it onto the slab rather than straight into the tub. As the water reaches the tub wall, it flows into the small holes I create, confirming that I sloped everything correctly. Those pipes will heat and cleanse water of impurities thanks to the enchantments I set into them with a little bit of force and water magic used to move the water along.

When it reaches the tops of the pipes, it pours out into the tub in quick flows. The enchantment on the bottom will keep the water at a consistent temperature while ensuring it remains clean. I could have just filled the tub directly, except that it would take longer for the water to heat if I did. This way, more water is heated as I fill.

Steam rises from the tub as the water fills it up, which does take a few minutes due to its size. Once the water level reaches the height of the holes on the side facing the slab, it begins to drain into it. The enchantments on those pipes move the water, keep it clean, and maintain its temperature. Once it travels all the way through them, it pours out on the slab side. There, it completes the cycle and returns to the lower pipes to return to the tub.

The two sets of pipes have different water flow speeds, with the lower ones moving the water more quickly to account for each individual pip taking in much less than the upper pipes output. That also helps create a small jet effect on the pipes feeding the tub while avoiding having too quick of water flow for the outputs for washing.

I stop generating water at now that the cycle is looped in on itself, then return to my camp and pull out a towel. I decided to purchase a few of these while in town since I had money leftover, then washed them and used my magic to dry them.

"Hm," I look over at the bath area, then set the towel down on my pack and look through the piles of sticks and branches.

These ones should be suitable. Two slim branches with Y shapes on an end and one that's relatively straight. I shave off the bark from all three, then take them over to the bathing station. The two with forked ends are driven into the ground with the forks facing up. They're spaced about eight feet apart with the Ys parallel to each other, and the third branch is placed across them.

My towel is hung on that, then I move one of my stools over to the washing slab. I grab the jar with body and hair wash Zolbiatz sent me here with, strip off my pants, and head back to the tub.

With everything ready, I sit on the stool, open up the jar, and begin washing myself. The outside air is a little bit chilly but the enchantment on the slab keeps the air above it warm. It's also designed not to heat solid objects touching it, so the stool and jar won't be affected by it even if the air still warms them a little.

I scoop water from the flows out of the tub and use that to wet myself, and the body and hair wash from the jar to scrub myself clean. When that's finished, I rinse myself off using the water, then cap the jar, set it on the stool, and step into the tub. As I lower down into it, the heat seeps into my body, relaxing me more than just splashing it onto myself had.

Closing my eyes, I lean my head against the edge of the tub and just enjoy this. Quiet. Calm. Peaceful. Why the fuck did Aluci just transform into a bird? I can feel the shift in his magics which indicate the change, and soft flapping a moment later indicates that he's flown onto the branch holding my towel.

A few minutes later, another mind enters my range, though I could hear his steps before that. Now I know why the dream beast shifted forms. Thomas feels confused by something, and I can make a guess as to what it is.

"Surprised you've returned already," I say. "Did something happen?"

"Where did this bath come from?" Thomas asks. "It wasn't here earlier."

"Adventurers learn how to set things up quickly when they want."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The confusion in his mind remains the same, but disbelief spikes. He's probably thinking I'm dumb if I expect him to believe me.

"It's a solid stone tub," he says. "It ain't as fancy as the ones in the bathhouse in town, but it would still have needed a lot of time to carve, wouldn't it?"

He's suspecting magic was used. If only he hadn't shown up so much sooner than I'd expected, I could have explained it away a lot more easily.

"By the time I decided to quit being an adventurer," I say. "I could set up camp in under half an hour, complete with a bath. It's really not that hard if you know the right tricks and can gain the cooperation of the local spirits."

Spirit energy shifts in front of me, then there's a plopping in the water. I peek open an eye to find an earth spirit now swimming around in the bath, as if to try and help me convince Ryan that I had help.

It's not working. He's definitely suspecting I used magic. For a few moments, he contemplates something, then decides against it.

"If you say so," he says. "And… what's that bird?"

There's a lot of concern in the hunter's mind, so I open my eyes again and look over at Aluci. He's taken on the form of a bird of prey with dappled brown and grey feathers with a small white touch to them and is currently looking at Thomas. The hunter looks much like he did earlier, including the basket pack on his back and equipped with his bow and quiver of arrows. The spirit that's hanging out with him is laying atop his head, resting on its stomach with its head in its hands, probably quite cozy in the hunter's hair.

"A messenger," I answer. "He was sent to check on me and arrived a little after you left. I had him deliver a message to town to inquire about something. If you check my pack, in the pocket on the left side when worn, attached to the larger pocket at the bottom, you'll find a pouch with coins in it. The guild wasn't pleased when they heard about you being scammed and arranged for you to have the full pay from your recent sales. They already verified the amount you were shorted and acquired it from the shopkeeper. I was going to give them to you when you returned next, so it seems that time is now."

Thomas frowns at me and there's a lot of confusion in his mind, but he heads over to my pack and locates the pouch I told him about. When he opens it, his eyes widen and he looks over.

"You were shorted by a lot for your winter haul," I inform him. "Though it seems you didn't really acquire too much in the end. Probably an issue of gear. Anyway, in the future, it's better if you go to the market district proper and look for a shop whose sign contains a flower with a flaming fang in place of a stem. They'll treat you well."

"How did you-"

"I'm an adventurer of seven years," I say. "I know what to say in a message to get things done. And the method of delivery probably helped. The messenger isn't exactly unknown within the guild's higher ranks. Even in a town in the sticks, they'll be able to identify this boy. So if he shows up with a message saying someone's scamming hunters, well, they'll look into it immediately and potentially advise their adventurers to no longer visit it."

I did actually send Aluci in that particular form to let the guild know of the scam, though my message was slightly different. It stated that the repayment for the incident I'm aware of has already occurred, and I never gave any details on who it was for.

They also don't know Aluci in this form so they won't know who it was who sent it other than a powerful mage. That form belongs to a powerful magic beast which is hard to tame and turn into a familiar. Delivering the message that way helps keep my new location a secret.

My retirement is meant to be peaceful and I don't want my old associates coming to bother me.

"I see…" Thomas approaches, entering my range of [Empathy] again. He's confused, grateful, and a few other things. "And I was hunting a little further west of here. Decided to stop by on my way back."

To see what I was up to, no doubt. I can still feel the suspicion in his mind. We've only interacted a few times, after all. It's understandable he still doesn't trust me.

"Catch anything good?"

"Some fowl," he confirms. "Some for my family, some for the glass-maker. This is what you wanted the fire and holy magic crystals for? The bath, I mean? I take it that means you got them as well?"

"I did," I confirm. "It was included in my request for an investigation that my funds be used to purchase some. They're necessary for creating long-term enchantments which clean and heat water. The enchantments also enable the water to flow as well."

This has him more curious than anything, though there's a little confusion mixed in.

"The bathhouse in town wants 5c per visit and they receive quite a few visitors," he says. "Was the missing 3,500 really enough?"

That level of math is probably beyond him, but he's probably guessing correctly that they earn far more than the value I gave him.

"They have to heat and purify much larger quantities of water," I say. "And move it as well. There's also paying for staff and the upkeep of the facility itself, such as cleaning the floors and walls. That's what the visit fee is for. I only have the cost for the crystals I couldn't get. It look less than a half-inch crystal of each at Grade 3. The plain ones took more since they had less magic in them, but I collected those myself."

"Grade 3?"

"How much magical energy is in them," I explain. "You keep giving the bath a longing look. Did you want to join?"

I've been able to sense his desire for a soak the entire time he's been in my range since arriving. It's clear that he enjoys soaking in a bath.

The moment I ask that, his mind starts feeling torn. He both wants to go for a soak and not stay here longer than necessary. Something's also making him nervous, and I don't think it's just me.

"Would the spirits mind?" That seems to be the cause of his nerves, based on the shifts in his emotions when he asks. "There's now four of them swimming in there and while I've seen spirits a few times… for that matter, spirits manifest themselves for you?"

I look at the spirits swimming in the bath. Three earth spirits and one water spirit, the water spirit having given himself a fish tail rather than legs. The four of them are either doing slow laps, backstroking, or just floating on their backs.

"It's less that they manifest themselves for me," I say. "And more of the situation. We're out in the wilderness, even if there's a small bit of development. It's a hot bath with a fairly serene surrounding. That tends to draw spirits to them. I'm not sure if there are any hot springs in the area but if there are, you'll probably find spirits manifesting themselves there as well."

Realization fills his mind.

"We do have a couple in part of the mountains," he says. "I've only been to them a couple of times, just passing through. Thought it was a sacred space because of the amount of spirits I could see there so never went for a dip. That's just them liking the water and view?"

"Yup."

He wrestles with something for a few moments, then comes to a decision.

"Alright," he says. "But not for long. The air's cool enough I don't have to worry about the catches, but I still want to be back in the village to get the birds to their destinations before dinner."

"You can grab a towel for after if you want," I say as he sets down his bow.

Thomas grabs a towel before he undresses and hangs it on the rod next to the one already there, then he washes up after checking if he can use the wash on the stool. Once he's cleaned and rinsed, he lowers himself into the bath on the opposite end as me. While he makes no outward sign of enjoyment, I can feel the pleasure and contentment in his mind.

Not a word is said between us as I close my eyes and relax once more, though I can tell Thomas has questions. A lot of questions. Eventually, he decides to ask.

"What made you decide to quit being an adventurer?"

"As I said before," I say. "I wanted something calmer, quieter. Even if I need to hunt, forage, harvest, build, craft, and so on here, things are more stable. I don't need to worry or travel as much anymore."

"Ain't many options for a relationship out here, though."

There's genuine surprise in his mind. He wants to know why I'd come somewhere I'm unlikely to find love as the place to settle down.

"That's never been a problem for me," I tell him. "It's not like I'll isolate myself forever. I just want time to get settled in and set up my home before traveling around or into town. Eventually, I'll start looking. Whoever I get with will have to have the understanding that this is where I want to live and they'll need to move here with me to make our relationship permanent."

"I'd prefer to leave," he snorts. "There ain't much here for us. Almost signed up for the war a couple of years ago to get away before realizing I didn't really want to fight for the kingdom. We're barely a part of it here, anyway. And I ain't fond of the idea of fighting people, just protecting what's mine against monsters, hunting for food, and such. Only reason I ain't moved yet is 'cause I want to save up funds and prepare for it. Probably won't go to a town for it, just a little bit bigger of a village somewhere."

"I'm aware the village is dying," I say. "And that younger residents tend to move out once they're comfortable doing so and are of age. For me, though, the area is perfect."

The six spirits hanging out in the tub all nod in agreement when I say that.

"Everyone's got their preferences," I say. "I wish you luck with your goals."

"Thanks."

We relax in the bath in silence after that, only emerging when it's time for Thomas to head back to the village. While there's still some skepticism in his mind, I can tell that he likes me a little bit more now than before. The attraction he holds for me has increased a little as well.

It's a shame he wants out of here, since he is my type, but I'll respect those wishes of his. There's still a possibility of stuff without commitment, though, but I'll wait until he's lost his skepticism before trying. Attempting anything sooner than that will only make him more suspicious, not less.

To get my mind off of his handsome self, I decide to craft myself some armor. It's about time I do that, with how many wolf hides I have.