Chapter 146: Have A Connection

Chapter 146: Have A Connection

“Wow~ It had been a while since we’d been here.”

The ones who had entered the bathhouse included Senior Fuma and other young women from the village.

Although most young people had left for the city, there were definitely those who had remained in the village to continue their traditional family businesses.

And it seemed like most of those people had gathered there now.

“Yukika, has your chest grown again?”

“Eh? How can you...?”

“Regardless of how, it seems like your cup size has increased by two since I saw you last year.”

“Really? Can I touch it for a second?”

“Ahh!”

“Her chest had grown since last year.”

As a man, I couldn’t ignore such information and had stayed hidden behind the rock, observing their movements.

In total, five women had entered the bathhouse.

The group was diverse, ranging from those around Senior Fuma’s age to young women in their early thirties exuding a married woman’s aura.

Excluding Senior Fuma, I had never met any of them before.

Fortunately, they stayed near the entrance, chatting, and hadn’t come close to the rock where I was hiding.

However, being all from a ninja lineage, they surely had sharp hearing, so I couldn’t move carelessly.

Thanks to that, I had been completely isolated.

Meanwhile, after washing up lightly, they had one by one entered the hot spring.

Ripple!

Each time someone entered, ripples spread across the water’s surface.

I had swallowed nervously and moved further inside, closer to the rock.

Luckily, the thick steam and their chatter had masked the sound of my movements.

“Hey Yukika, didn’t you bring a groom candidate from Tokyo?”

“Yeah, I saw him yesterday. He’s really tall, almost like a young Uncle Kotaro.”

“They say daughters often like men who resemble their fathers.”

“So, how is he really? Is the guy nice?”

Senior Fuma was unable to hide her fluster amidst the barrage of questions.

“Well, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The guy I brought is just a junior from school. We’re not in that kind of relationship.”

Then, the oldest-looking of the five women let out a strange laugh.

“Isn’t that an obvious lie? You wouldn’t bring him to the village if there was nothing between you.”

“...It’s all been approved by the elders. Seriously, there’s nothing between us.”

“Hmm~”

One of them snorted, as if amused.

She was around the same age as Senior Fuma.

“Then, can I try to seduce him? A sturdy physique is just my type.”

“Wai– that’s...”

“You just said there’s nothing between you. Why are you so flustered?”

“......”

Senior Fuma had been left speechless by the perfect comeback.

“Hehe, stop teasing her. What do you expect from Yukika?”

“It’s frustrating to watch from the sidelines. Just frustrating.”

“Well, it is kind of true.”

At that moment, a girls’ talk was going on, with Senior Fuma being the only one getting picked on.

Thud!

“Who’s there?”

Startled by a suspicious noise from the changing room, one of the women threw a shuriken hidden between her breasts.

‘Why did that come out from there?’

I wondered, but then the shuriken had hit the changing room door precisely, followed by a gasp from inside.

At the same time, the women’s gaze had turned sharp.

“Let’s go, sis!”

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me.”

I decided to pretend I didn’t know, rather than awkwardly addressing the uncomfortable truth.

Flutter! Flutter!

Then, Senior Fuma’s fanning resumed.

It seemed she was relieved.

Receiving a lap pillow from someone was a novel experience for me; the only other time was when I was a child with my grandmother.

Lying still, I began to feel drowsy.

I wasn’t sure if it was because my body was weary or the comfortable atmosphere, but I felt like I might fall asleep again easily.

Then, Senior Fuma asked in a gentle voice.

“Kim Yu-seong, what will you do for dinner?”

“...Ah, right.”

I had completely forgotten.

Probably because too much had happened in a short time.

“Let’s skip it today, I guess.”

Missing one meal wouldn’t kill me.

Besides, there were no muscles left to lose anymore.

“If you get hungry later, just let me know. I can provide some simple snacks.”

“Yes. Understood.”

After that brief conversation, silence returned.

But it was a different, oddly comforting silence this time.

We stayed on the raised wooden floor for a while like that.

When I woke up, it was still dawn, and the sun hadn’t risen yet.

Rubbing my bleary eyes and sitting up in bed, I saw Saya floating in the air.

‘She has some bad sleeping habits.’

Thinking so, I tidied up the bedding.

I could have slept a bit more, but it was important to maintain my regular routine by waking up at a consistent time.

To wash my face, I quietly stepped out of the room and saw the dim sky.

It seemed to be about 4 to 5 a.m.

When I went to the well I had seen the day before, someone was already there.

Senior Fuma’s grandfather was there, half-naked, rinsing his back.

Despite his age, his muscles were as impressive as a young person’s.

“Hello.”

As I greeted awkwardly, Senior Fuma’s grandfather glanced at me and asked in a calm voice.

“Is your body feeling alright?”

“Yes, thanks to your care, I’m fine.”

“Your body suddenly becoming smaller must be uncomfortable; I wish you a speedy recovery.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

The conversation ended there.

Senior Fuma’s grandfather, after wiping his body with a towel, quietly left the well.

I watched his receding figure for a while, then, belatedly remembering why I came here, I hurriedly drew water.

It was already my third day in this village.

Although my stay had inadvertently lengthened, everyone treated me comfortably without showing any discomfort, making it feel like home.

The Fuma Clan’s secret martial arts, Jilpung and Shinrae, essentially belonged to the same martial philosophy.

The difference was whether they were used barehanded or with a sword.

Senior Fuma, who had already mastered Shinrae, stuck close by my side as I learned Jilpung, kindly teaching me step by step.

Thanks to that, I was able to make decent progress in a short time.

This was because I was getting the hang of using Kamaitachi.

A few more days of learning seemed like enough to master it.

I had this strange conviction.