I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 233

234. [Free Exploration] Hot Spring Facility

So, today’s goal is to explore the dungeon spa.

It’s a hot spring facility hidden in the depths of the Lake Kingdom, specifically on level 5.

I briefly considered bringing all the exhausted heroes from the last battle to soak and recover in the hot spring, but since there will likely be some fighting along the way, I decided to go with the initial party of five for now.

“Strictly speaking, that hot spring facility is also part of the level 5 dungeon.”

Lake Kingdom Dungeon. Base Camp.

Today, this place is empty without any NPCs.

Before setting off on the exploration, I gave a quick briefing to the party members while making final preparations.

“But once we take care of the monsters at the entrance, we can use the facilities inside without worry.”

Kuilran, still shivering and wrapped in a blanket, looked at me with curiosity.

“How do you know about such a place?”

Well, it is a hidden dungeon.

After playing the game about 742 times, you naturally memorize the locations of dungeons with tricky entrances.

But I couldn’t explain it like that, so I just glossed over it.

“Because I’m the Imperial Prince!”

The Everblack Empire knows everything! Everblack is watching you!

“Damn it, as expected of the Imperial Family… their intelligence network is incredible…”

Kuilran immediately accepted it.

No, the problem is that it works. If I just mention the Imperial Family in any situation, everyone just goes along with it.

“It’s a bit deeper inside level 5, so we’ll have to walk a bit. Let’s be cautious of any surprise attacks and take it slow.”

I raised the blue flame torch above my head.

The other party members also took out their lanterns or torches. I grinned.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Leaving the base camp, we first teleported to the safe zone of the level 4 dungeon, [Grand Park].

Once a dungeon is cleared, the safe zone at the exit is activated, making it convenient to use as a shortcut.

Then, we immediately entered level 5.

We walked along the dark city streets.

The depth of the dungeon is an indicator of how far we’ve entered into the depths of the Lake Kingdom.

In other words, it also means we’re entering the more bustling and developed center of the city.

The Lake Kingdom in level 5 was more bustling than the previous areas, and above all, the traces of magical civilization began to stand out.

All sorts of intricate magical devices were scattered everywhere, as if they were tripping over our feet.

There were dungeons visible everywhere, but I skillfully avoided them and guided the party towards our destination, the hot spring facility.

‘Come to think of it, I can see the colosseum over there.’

The shadow of a huge colosseum built in the far corner of level 5 was visible.

That’s where I used to cheese my way through the ‘Path of the Defeated’ shortcut. I could get [Dark Crystals], a high-tier material, there.

‘I wonder if Jackal is okay…’

Jackal, the NPC boss of the colosseum, flashed through my mind.

Jackal, the colosseum champion wearing a jackal mask. The Gladiator King Jackal.

He was attacked by the vampire legion for helping us.

Since then, the ‘Path of the Defeated’ has been closed, and both the safe zone and teleport gate leading to the colosseum have been shut down. So, I haven’t been able to go check if he’s okay.

‘…He was strong, so I don’t think he’s dead.’

Once the party members have recovered, I should form a sufficient squad and scout the colosseum.

It’ll be difficult to go by land instead of the ‘Path of the Defeated,’ but I still need to check the situation.

While thinking about this and that, as I walked through the complicated city streets, I began to see a hazy steam in front of me.

Kuilran sniffed the air and his face lit up.

“Is that… sulfur?”

The smell of sulfur means the hot spring is near.

I nodded, holding the torch forward to light the way.

“We’re here.”

As I said, after walking a little further, a large public bathhouse appeared.

It was much larger than the public bathhouse in Crossroads.

Well, this place in the Lake Kingdom was a much larger city than Crossroads, so the population would have been much larger.

It would have to be this big to accommodate a certain number of users.

But eerily, and as expected of a facility in a dark city, there was no one in sight.

The wide, vast, and modern spa entrance was wide open, emitting only a faint steam in the dark.

“Like everywhere else in this city…”

Evangeline, who was right behind me, sniffling, muttered.

“It’s creepy here too…”

“But it’s warm.”

While other dungeons in this city basically have a cold air, this place’s damp darkness had a clear warmth. I took a deep breath of the sulfur-scented hot spring air.

‘It reminds me of Bugok Hawaii, where I used to go often when I was young.’

Have you ever heard of Bugok Hawaii?

It was a hot spring resort in Bugok-myeon, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

When I was young, it was one of the largest water parks in Korea.

When my parents were on good terms, the three of us would hold hands and go there.

I remember playing excitedly in the swimming pool, going into the hot spring, having dinner, and then falling asleep exhausted in the car on the way home.

That’s why the smell of sulfur and hot springs brings back memories of my childhood…

‘…I’m feeling nostalgia for Earth at another strange point.’

I clicked my tongue in bitterness.

After my parents’ relationship soured, our weekend outings disappeared, and a few years after I became an adult, Bugok Hawaii closed down due to poor management.

Since then, I haven’t been near a hot spring.

‘I never thought I’d be possessed by someone else’s body in another world.’

No, enough with the sudden bitter memories!

I shook my head to clear my mind and gestured to my party members, leading the way into the hot spring facility.

Ding!

Familiar dungeon information appeared before my eyes.

[Level 5: Hot Spring Facility]

-Clear Progress: Normal Room 0/1

-Acquired Treasure Chests: None

It’s classified as a dungeon, so this pops up. But as you can see, there are no treasure chests, and the dungeon consists of only one normal room.

Once we defeat the monsters guarding the entrance, we can use the hot spring right away.

“Now, what kind of monsters will we see this season~?”

I had a hunch, but I shouted anyway and shone my light into the facility entrance.

Grrr…

Grrrr!

As expected, the hairy monster pups that had invaded during the last Jormungandr battle were there. I clicked my tongue.

“Werewolves again…”

[Hot Spring Facility – Room 1]

-Eliminate all enemies!

-Lv.30 Brown Werewolf: 10

About ten werewolves suddenly appeared from various places at the facility entrance.

They bared their teeth and claws, growling as if they had been waiting for us.

But we’ve already faced these guys before.

And in a much worse situation than this.

The party members took out their equipment and prepared for battle.

Lucas and Damian, as well as Kuilran and Evangeline, who weren’t in good condition, also hardened their expressions and drew their weapons.

Though it probably wasn’t necessary, I took out my staff, [Maestro], and lightly tapped each of the party members on the shoulder.

Each of them received a random buff.

“Alright, let’s crush them easily… and go relax in the hot spring!”

With my shout, the werewolves leaped off the ground and charged at us, and my party members also swung their weapons to meet them.

***

The werewolves were much stronger than the ones from the previous Stage 9.

That’s because their stats were reduced due to the invasion penalty back then.

But our situation is better now than it was then.

At least we’re not fighting while being chased by a time-limited part destruction mission on a giant running snake.

After easily turning the werewolves into mincemeat, a dungeon clear message appeared.

[Level 5: Hot Spring Facility]

-Clear Progress: Normal Room 1/1

-Clear Bonus: Acquired 1 Hot Spring Facility Pass!

Ding!

When I used the pass, magical lights illuminated various parts of the hot spring facility that had been shrouded in darkness.

The facility’s magical devices, which had been stopped, started working all at once, and three doors opened wide inside the facility entrance.

They were labeled ‘Men’s Bath,’ ‘Women’s Bath,’ and ‘Lounge.’

“Ooh…”

“Wow, it’s amazing! It’s all automatic?”

The party members gaped at the remnants of the self-moving magical civilization. I grinned and gestured inside.

“The facility itself is probably similar to the public bathhouse in Crossroads. Now, let’s go wash up and relax!”

The current party consists of four men and one woman, Evangeline.

Evangeline is sick and not in good condition, so I was a little worried about her going into the hot spring alone. What if she fainted?

“You’ll have to wash alone, are you okay, Evangeline?”

But Evangeline was somehow smiling slyly, covering her mouth with her hand. What’s up with that?

“Oh my~ Senior. You’re not planning to come in under the guise of being worried, are you~?”

“What are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

She got sick and now she’s even worse.

“Hehe, I’ll show you Evangeline Cross’s sexy-dynamite-hot body when we go to the beach next time, so please be patient today.”

I don’t know what this bubbly little kid is talking about, but she seems out of her mind from being sick, so I decided to let it slide.

‘Speaking of the beach.’

Come to think of it, summer is over and I haven’t been to the beach once. I don’t know if there are any places to swim around Crossroads.

‘Should I look into it next year…’

How fun would it be to go and relax for a few days without worrying about monsters?

Thinking that, I quickly pushed Evangeline into the women’s bath.

Soak in the hot spring water and get your mind right, junior.

“Then, see you later… Achoo!”

Evangeline disappeared into the women’s bath with a dramatic cough.

I turned to the remaining party members and shrugged.

“Let’s scrub each other’s backs and promote friendship.”

When guys go to the bathhouse together and scrub each other’s backs, they become close. Although there’s no back-scrubbing culture in this area.

As I was about to enter the men’s bath with the party members, I noticed that Kuilran’s expression had hardened.

“What’s wrong, Kuilran? Do you hate baths?”

“No, it’s not the bath…”

Kuilran slowly crouched down next to the fallen werewolf.

“…It’s strange. It feels familiar.”

Kuilran muttered, examining the corpse of the beast that looked like a bipedal wolf.

“I don’t know why I feel this way. But these werewolves, they feel… familiar.”

“Hmm.”

Come to think of it, Kuilran said the same thing when we encountered the werewolves on Jormungandr’s body. That they felt familiar.

‘Werewolves are also called werebeasts.’

And Kuilran has the blood of a beastman – a werebeast.

Werewolf. Werebeast.

‘Is there a common denominator?’

The names seem similar.

I tilted my head, then turned to Lucas and asked.

“Do you also feel like these wolves are familiar?”

Lucas used to recklessly use beastification, so he was half dog… or wolf… anyway, he had stepped into the realm of beasts.

He’s stabilized a bit now, but his beastification level is still much higher than the average person.

It means that his tendencies are somewhere between human and beast, like these werewolves.

Would Lucas feel the same way?

“I don’t feel familiarity.”

Lucas scanned the dead werewolves with cold eyes.

“But I feel more hostility towards them than other monsters. I don’t know why.”

“You feel more hostility… ?”

I stroked my chin and pondered.

Hmm, could it be… maybe it’s like a hatred of one’s own kind…?

“Alright, I don’t know!”

I gave up on thinking and took out what I had brought from my bag.

“Let’s wash up quickly and eat this!”

It was… hard-boiled eggs and cold drinks!

As soon as I decided to come to the hot spring, I asked the chef to prepare them.

I was disappointed that I couldn’t eat enough last time at the bathhouse, so I brought a lot this time!

The party members’ eyes lit up at the sight of the food. Kuilran almost drooled, but barely managed to swallow it.

Oh my, these wolf-like guys….