Retired Hero's Slow life

Chapter 8: The Hero In the Hot Springs

Elvin's POV:

I imagine Ariel probably took Sylvia there for some girls' talk or whatever else she wanted to talk about.

Thankfully, I had already set up a divider so both men and women could have their own private conversations without the other listening in.

What's more, is I managed to find some makeshift materials around the forest to allow the walls to be sound proof.

The only down side would be I needed to create a roof on top of the hot spring in order to not allow any sound in, but it's worth it for some more...eccentric guests.

I was young once too, so I know all about what youths might be thinking.

It's better to destroy temptation before it begins.

I always accounted for not enough oxygen being replaced, so I implemented some ventilation shafts. I have a lot of materials in my inventory after all, and it would be a waste to not use them when needed, so this was a good way of clearing out some of my old things and giving them some purpose.

Anyways, I grabbed the old man by the rope he was tied with and plopped him into the hot spring.

"Ow ow ow! Too hot, I'm going to dry up at this rate!" The old man shouted in agony.

"Relax, Ariel already made sure if the water was too hot to kill a Merfolk, so there's no need for you to worry." I explained.

Really, this guy over reacts too much.

"What is the point of you bringing me to this place!?" He asked anxiously.

"Nothing much, just wanted you to relax and enjoy yourself." I said, while quickly hiding to get dressed before coming out with a towel wrapped around my waist.

"Finally get to see how good the hot spring we made is." I thought as I slowly dipped my feet into the water.

"Ahhh." The warm and refreshing sensation that tickled my skin made my entire body just want to relax and melt away.

I looked over to the old man, Ariel's father, and noticed he too was beginning to understand to pure bliss that is the hot springs.

"So, have you calmed down enough that you're willing to listen to what I have to say?" I asked.

"F-Fine." He answered, annoyed.

"Good. Now first of all, I just want to say, while I am living with your daughter, there has been no romantic development so far, and it is purely platonic." I told him.

"Lies! I can tell just by looking at you two that you like each other!" He began shout.

"All right, maybe that's the case, but nothings happened. Besides, I didn't kidnap your daughter, she ran away." I said.

"I know that...but can you honestly tell me how you expect to let her live her life here? She is already arranged to the prince of Atlantis, this is something that can not be easily waved aside." He responded.

"You're right, I don't know how I'll be able to let her live a peaceful life here with that looming threat." I said.

"Then-!" He began, but I cut him off before he could say anything.

"However, that is only speaking of right now, there is still plenty of time to think of a way to deal with the situation peacefully without something like a bloodbath ensuing."

He immediately shut up and created an awkward silence around us.

I couldn't help but sigh, wondering what the girls were doing in the meantime.