Chapter 457: Asahigaoka's Mountains, Adventurous Girls!
Asahigaoka. This is the countryside.
"The breath of nature!" Marin, wearing a sun hat, spread her arms and jogged in the breeze.
Ren and the others had arrived. Even though it was the countryside, it had its own unique beauty, like a serene and picturesque scroll. Here, away from the hustle and bustle, one could enjoy the grace of nature.
Birds sang cheerfully on the branches. A gentle breeze brushed against their faces. In the fields, an expanse of verdant rice paddies swayed. A small stream gurgled, crystal clear.
"Aren't we going to the hot springs?" Yukino glanced at Tohka and a few other unfamiliar faces that had appeared.
"Haven't we arrived?" Ren pointed ahead to a very natural-looking building. It was large but blended seamlessly with the mountain forest.
However, as everyone entered, they found no one inside. Everything was brand new, as if unmanaged.
Haruno's eyes showed contemplation. "Ren, you didn't specially build a hot spring inn just for this, did you?"
"It's pretty good, isn't it? I specifically chose this place," he didn't hide it. The environment was beautiful, the scenery pleasant.
Because most of those who came were his women, it was impossible to go to an ordinary inn, especially one where others had already soaked. He chose this tranquil mountain forest, where they wouldn't be disturbed and could play however they wanted. He created an unnatural yet natural hot spring and built a private inn around it.
"Specially built?" Ms. Izumi felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of people.
The crowd indeed exceeded Ren's expectations; almost everyone who could, came. There were already over thirty people from his household, and adding Benio, Yumiko, and the others, it was over forty.
After thinking, Ren still sent messages to Sakurajima Mai, Utaha, Touka, Okudera Miki, and Takatsuki Sen. Whether they came or not was up to them.
Ms. Izumi calmed down, but upon hearing he had built it, she was surprised. "Won't this be too extravagant?"
"Extravagant? Don't worry. I don't need to spend money, and for my future wives, how could it be?"
"In short, just enjoy yourselves. The hot spring here is very large."
"Oh!!!" Chika had long been impatient. She had decisively refused to bring her sisters, Toyomi and Moeha, seriously suspecting they would try to steal her man. But her own sister, Moeha, had threatened her in Ren's name, saying she must bring him home or she'd tell their parents. That hateful Moeha!
"I'm going to the hot spring!" After choosing her room, Chika, wrapped in a bath towel, ran towards the women's bath.
The others also started moving with laughter. Only Mai, Utaha, Touka, Miki, and Ms. Izumi were unaccustomed, a large part of the reason being Ren's phrase 'his women'.
Even while soaking, there were still small circles of interaction. Talulah, Alina, Rope, and Annie naturally stayed together. Yoshimura Eto occasionally cast her gaze over Touka, Hinami, and Rize; the Ghoul sensation was strong. As for Benio, Kie and Tamayo were very concerned, treating her more like a biological daughter than Nezuko.
Utaha and the others were at least comrades from the Doomsday Game and quickly blended in. Hiratsuka Shizuka generously introduced Mai to Yukino and the others.
As for Ren, he was alone in the small men's bath next to theirs. "Enjoying a moment of peace seems nice too." Leaning against the edge, he wanted to take a nap. Suddenly, his eyes opened.
"Oh? There's still trouble even in such a remote place? It really doesn't give me a chance to rest."
Night fell, and countless stars dotted the sky. The mountain forest was exceptionally quiet, with only the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects. But something always wanted to break this tranquility.
"Wuwuwuwu!"
"Eek~ What a scary sound, did you hear it?"
On the mountain path, several flashlight beams shone in the quiet, eerie forest.
"Could it be a ghost?"
"Natsumi! Don't... don't talk nonsense!"
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