GILF Hunter

’Don’t come too close! I told you, we’re under construction!’

The workers at the construction site pushed back the curious onlookers.

They had set up temporary screens to hide the site for now, but steam continued to rise from the hot spring, drawing people’s attention.

It seemed rumors that a hot spring had burst forth were already starting to spread.

Passersby stopped in their tracks, and one or two people who had come specifically to watch began to appear.

’Hey, the word’s already out, so why hide it? We just want a quick look.’

’Don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to steal some hot spring water!’

Jun and the construction workers chased away everyone who claimed they just wanted to see.

They hadn’t been doing this job for just a day or two; did they really think their ulterior motives weren’t obvious?

Of course, digging up a hot spring was a first for them, but it was clear what was going through the minds of those wanting a close-up look.

While controlling the gathering crowd, Jun spotted a familiar face approaching through the gap.

’Ah, you’ve arrived! Please, come inside.’

’A lot of people have gathered already.’

’Don’t worry, no one’s been inside yet!’

It was Ian, who had arrived belatedly after hearing the news that a hot spring had appeared.

Guided by Jun, Ian stepped inside the construction site behind the screens.

In the pit that had been dug quite deep, a hot spring was welling up, with hot steam rising from it.

Tanya, who was beside him, muttered reflexively.

’Wow, a hot spring really came out.’

’Exactly. To think a hot spring would burst in the middle of the city...’

Jun replied to Tanya, sounding as if he completely agreed.

He had thought Ian was just a naive rich man who had been scammed by a precognitive mage and was digging up the ground to find buried treasure. He never expected such a jackpot to actually hit.

It wasn’t just a jackpot; this was a bigger hit than finding actual treasure.

He hadn’t been fooled by a con artist posing as a mage; he must have been a truly gifted mage after all.

With a serious expression, Jun carefully gauged Ian’s mood before whispering a question.

’Um, could you introduce me to that mage? Or at least tell me their name...’

’...I didn’t get a recommendation from a precognitive mage.’

’That’s right. This is the land the Captain chose himself.’

’You chose the land yourself?’

Jun’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Tanya’s supporting remark.

With an even more serious expression, Jun asked Ian.

’Then, um, could you pick this month’s Constellation Lottery numbers for me?’

’I don’t have any precognitive abilities.’

’It’ll still be much better than my luck!’

’...Harpy constellation and Spirit constellation.’

’Thank you!’

Ian spoke quietly to Tanya, who was secretly writing something in her notebook beside them.

’It’s not real; I just told him whatever.’

’Ah... is that so...’

Even so, Tanya secretly memorized the constellations Ian had mentioned.

＊　＊　＊

Descending into the dug-out area and approaching closer to the spring, Ian carefully examined the hot water.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Spirit’s Hot Spring]

- Obtains HP and MP recovery bonuses while inside the spring.

- Purifies a small amount of Erosion at set intervals.

- Grants a permanent [Stamina +5] upon first use.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Although a proper building hadn’t been constructed yet, it already possessed sufficient recovery effects.

However, this wasn’t the full extent of the recovery effects here.

’Ah...’

’What is it?’

’I think there’s a spirit inside.’

Tanya, who was looking at the spring beside Ian, spoke.

It was hard to see clearly because of the thick steam rising from the water, but looking closely, there seemed to be faint clusters of light shimmering within.

A spirit, then.

In the first place, most things with natural power in this world were either under divine or spirit influence.

Considering how incredibly rare divine-related items were, in most cases, it was bound to be spirits.

Ian watched Tanya for a moment as she listened to the spirit’s words.

When playing it as a game, it was just an object with good options, but having someone beside him who could directly converse with it revealed many new details.

’What is it saying?’

’It’s asking us to decorate this place... according to its taste.’

’As I thought. I expected that.’

’Pardon?’

Ian nodded.

The effects of this Spirit’s Hot Spring increased based on the building and furniture.

In other words, the better the building erected and the better the furniture placed to decorate it, the greater the spring’s effects would become.

’I was planning on building a hot spring anyway, so don’t worry about decorating. I’ve already thought it out.’

’You’ve... already planned it?’

Ian nodded and took out a notebook.

Of course, Ian and other players couldn’t talk to spirits.

So, they had checked the changes in the spring’s effects by placing various furniture themselves, shared information on which furniture was most efficient, and figured out the optimized values.

’If I order them now, they should arrive by the time the building is finished.’

Ian began to note down the furniture and props he would order from merchants one by one.

It was the most efficient interior design to boost the spring’s effects.

’What was it again...’

Ian navigated through his somewhat hazy memories and listed the necessary items one by one.

Since he usually just pasted saved housing templates in the past, he couldn’t remember the exact quantities when trying to recall them manually.

First, to increase the recovery effect, there must be plants.

30 large flowerpots.

To add extra effects, there must be large facilities.

5 fountains.

For paintings, it was more space-efficient to place several of the smallest ones rather than large ones.

50 of the smallest flower paintings.

For comfort, chairs have the best efficiency per volume, so 30 of those...

As Tanya peeked at the list from the side, her complexion turned strange, and she hurriedly called out to Ian.

’U-Um, please leave this to me!’

’To you?’

Tanya nodded with an unusually high level of motivation.

’Since I can talk to it directly, I’ll ask what it likes and decorate it!’

’...Hm. Shall we do that?’

It was better to order everything now for a quick completion, but hearing Tanya’s words, he felt a bit swayed.

Since Tanya could talk to the spirit directly, he felt like she might be able to make the efficiency even better or add unexpected special effects.

It would take a bit longer since she would have to bring in furniture one by one after the construction was finished while asking the spirit’s opinion, but after thinking for a bit, Ian gave his permission.

’Alright. Then give it a try yourself. Don’t worry about the cost; just put it on the mercenary group’s tab.’

’Phew...’

Tanya let out a sigh of relief.

Ian handed the list he had just written to Tanya so she could use it as a reference.

’Here. If there’s something you’re not sure about, look at this.’

’Uh... yes.’

Tanya accepted it with a peculiar expression.

After checking the contents once more, Tanya shoved the layout and list Ian had drawn into the deepest, hidden part of her bag so it wouldn’t come out again.

＊　＊　＊

After checking the hot spring that had appeared at the construction site and asking for things to be organized there, Ian returned to the base.

Now that the goal—the hot spring—had been discovered, it was time to raise the building.

Since he had to clear the site, sign a new contract with the Architect Guild, and design the building, there was a lot to do for a while.

However, it seemed busy tasks always flooded in all at once.

As soon as Ian arrived, Mika, who was in the lounge, brought something over to him.

’Captain. Catherine was looking for you earlier. She says an important letter has arrived.’

’An important letter? Let’s see...’

Ian accepted the letter Mika had received on his behalf.

It was an invitation from Leona, an officer of the Defense Bureau and a sponsor of the Labyrinth exploration expedition.

He had sent word that he wanted to meet and talk in person because of the recent Labyrinth matter, and it seemed the reply had arrived.

’The date is... tomorrow?’

’Catherine went out saying she would prepare in advance for it.’

It seemed Catherine, his secretary, had hurriedly left for this reason.

Usually, invitations from such people come with at least a week’s notice, but it seemed she had taken Ian’s words that the sooner the better seriously.

Ian also intended to prepare as much as possible for the upcoming monster invasion in his own way, but he reached a limit on his own.

If possible, it was best to receive cooperation from the highest-ranking person possible.

In that sense, Leona was an important figure who needed to put in the most effort this time.

To be precise, the goal was to persuade the higher-ups through Leona.

If it didn’t go well... he would have to prepare a way to restore the destroyed city as quickly as possible.

Ian tucked away the invitation and headed to the office to pack the documents he needed to take.

’Ah, right.’

Stopping for a moment in front of the stairs, Ian looked around the lounge and, spotting Airi sitting in the corner, called her name.

’Airi. Come with me tomorrow.’

’Pardon? Where to?’

’To this place.’

Ian held up the invitation from Leona.

Seeing that invitation, Airi recalled what she had heard earlier. She thought she had heard it was a letter from a military officer of the Defense Bureau.

Flustered by the news that she had to go meet a high-ranking military officer, Airi asked reflexively.

’Th-That, yes? Why?’

’They said they wanted to see you.’

I mean, why?!

Airi let out a silent scream.

It was because Ian, while sending the Labyrinth exploration report and the letter, had introduced Airi as the most important member of this plan.

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