Nihon, Gunma Prefecture, Kusatsu—a bustling town famed for its hot springs.
Horitake and Mitsuri arrived together, stepping into the lively streets.
Traditional Japanese buildings lined the roads, people bustled about, and shops vied for customers, creating a vibrant yet cozy atmosphere.
If it were just this, Kusatsu would be merely a prosperous town. But this was the renowned hot spring town!
Even in the Taisho era, with tourism still nascent, countless travelers flocked here, fueling Kusatsu's prosperity.
As Horitake and Mitsuri entered, they hadn't yet seen the springs but could smell them—a faint sulfurous scent of hot springs in the air.
(Rumor has it, it smells like rotten eggs, but let's not ruin the mood by mentioning that.)
Strolling through Kusatsu's markets, Horitake eyed the shops and passersby with keen interest.
Mitsuri, beside him, seemed uneasy.
"Horitake-nii, why are we in Kusatsu? There shouldn't be any demons here."
Horitake poked her forehead, grinning.
"We're not here to slay demons, Mitsuri. We're here to soak in the hot springs!"
"Eh?!" Mitsuri panicked. "Horitake-nii, is that okay? Won't this count as slacking off? We're supposed to be hunting demons, not… enjoying ourselves!"
"You don't get it," Horitake lectured. "As the saying goes, 'Seize the day, for tomorrow's worries come tomorrow.' Life isn't just about the grind—there's poetry and distant horizons too.
As demon slayers, we can't just drown in fighting and killing. That'd turn us into battle-crazed lunatics over time.
When we get a chance to rest, we grab it."
"But… but…"
Mitsuri still felt guilty.
"Come on, no buts! We've killed nearly a hundred demons in two months. We've earned a break."
Mitsuri was swayed but hesitated, torn by duty. Her conflicted expression was utterly adorable!
She leaned close, whispering, "Horitake-nii, what if Lord Ubuyashiki finds out we're slacking? Won't he be upset?"
"No way, it's a small thing.
Do you think Lord Ubuyashiki's some heartless boss who only squeezes his workers? Not at all—you know how understanding he is.
Besides, with my rapport with him, a little downtime's fine.
We've slain plenty of demons. A short rest to cleanse our bodies and souls—what's wrong with that?"
Mitsuri's heart gave in, her eyes sparkling as she clenched her fists, hyping herself up.
"Okay, let's take a break in Kusatsu!"
As they spoke, a small hot spring pool appeared ahead.
Curious, they approached. It was a quaint pool built from bluestone, fed by a stream of hot spring water flowing over stones like a tiny waterfall, then cascading out.
Standing by the pool, Horitake gazed into the distance. From here, a stream of hot spring water wove through Kusatsu, flanked by roads, shops, and homes radiating outward.
He realized the town was inseparable from its springs, intertwined in a harmonious blend.
Honestly, this breathtaking sight felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Mitsuri's attention was fixed on the small pool.
She noticed a wooden sign nearby with two bold characters: Foot Bath.
Indeed, this pool was for soaking feet.
An elderly man by the sign smiled warmly at the intrigued pair.
"New visitors to Kusatsu? You must be tired from your journey. Why not soak your feet here to ease your fatigue? It'll help you enjoy our hot spring town!"
Horitake and Mitsuri exchanged a glance.
The old man, misreading their vibe, chuckled and pressed on:
"You two look so close—newlyweds, perhaps? Traveling for your honeymoon?"
Horitake relished the comment but thought to himself: Gramps, what newlyweds travel with swords?
Mitsuri's cheeks flushed, and she waved her hands frantically.
"No, no, no, Grandpa, you've got it wrong! We're not married, we're…"
"Not married? Then engaged? Or maybe young lovers in the heat of romance?" The old man was adamant. "No need to hide it. I've seen countless guests here, and I can tell. This cherry-haired miss has eyes only for you, young man. If you're not a couple, what are you?"
Mitsuri's face turned even redder.
Her feelings exposed, she was so embarrassed she wanted to dive into the spring.
Horitake caught the old man winking at him, his expression screaming, Go for it, win her over!
Horitake was floored. This gramps is a genius!
He must've sensed their relationship wasn't quite romantic yet, so he'd thrown in that comment to give Horitake a push.
What could Horitake say? He gave the old man a respectful thumbs-up.
Gramps, you're the ultimate wingman!
Seizing the moment, Horitake gently took Mitsuri's hand, inviting her:
"Come on, Mitsuri, let's soak our feet and relax."
Mitsuri, blushing furiously, didn't pull away.
"O-Okay, Horitake-nii."
Horitake's heart leaped. No refusal? That's as good as a yes!
Hand in hand, they sat by the foot bath, slipped off their shoes and socks, and dipped their feet into the warm water.
The moment their feet sank in, Horitake let out a deep sigh of relief.
Mitsuri's expression mirrored his bliss.
Imagine coming home after a long day, soaking your feet in hot water—a simple pleasure. Now picture that with a scenic foot bath!
For two months, Horitake and Mitsuri had trekked across regions, slaying demons relentlessly.
Mitsuri's task was straightforward—killing demons. But Horitake, on top of capturing demons, spent nights in complex experiments.
After such grueling work, their bodies held up, but their minds were exhausted.
The foot bath melted their tension away, pure bliss washing over them.
How delightful was it?
Horitake figured if Muzan Kibutsuji appeared right now, he might not even swing his blade.
He'd probably invite Muzan to soak his feet too.
As for who'd kill who? They'd settle that after relaxing. Fighting in such a serene place would be a crime.
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