Reincarnated into a World Filled with Dungeons, But My Blessing Turned Out to Be the Most Challenging Dungeon

“Haa… Is it ready yet…?”

Fighting off drowsiness, I continued to wait for Eve’s results.

Nearby, Kaiser was curled up, sleeping soundly while making soft “kyupi kyupi” noises.

“Hmm… Th-this is…!”

Eve, dressed in a white lab coat like a science girl, observed the core, adjusting her glasses with her right hand in a scholarly manner. The fact that she was wearing a ponytail was, without question, influenced by my personal belief that science girls always wear ponytails.

After that, instead of escaping from the dungeon, I retreated into The World. Whether moving forward or heading back, I judged that it would be best to recover and assess the situation first.

“Ping! I’ve figured it out, Master!”

“Oh, you got it?”

And so, I had asked her to analyze the core we had just obtained today…

“This time, the blessing is [Hot Spring]. It needs to be installed to be used, but should I set it up as a bath?”

Apparently, the blessing we obtained was [Hot Spring]. I wasn’t sure what effects it had, but since it was a blessing, it was bound to be useful.

That meant only one thing. With a serious gaze, I turned to Eve and declared:
“When you say ‘hot spring,’ it has to be an open-air bath!”

“Whoa… It’s really a hot spring…”

I stepped outside into the garden and instructed Eve to set up the [Hot Spring].

The bath was surrounded by rocks, with a roof overhead to shield it from rain. The luxurious, continuously flowing spring water drained away somewhere through an outlet, creating a soothing sound that evoked nostalgia.

The rising steam carried an invigorating scent that, combined with my exhaustion, drew me irresistibly toward the hot spring.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t taken a bath in a while since I’ve been using [Clean].”

Baths did exist in this world, but they required both water magic and fire magic. That meant people who couldn’t use those elements weren’t able to bathe daily.

Thanks to my Dungeon Core, I could use magic from all four elements, but the [Clean] spell was so effective that I had almost forgotten about actual bathing.

“This [Hot Spring] has some pretty amazing effects.”

“Such as?”

I asked, intrigued by Eve’s confident expression. She beamed as she replied.

“It actually restores both stamina and mana while you’re soaking in it.”

That was exactly the ability I needed most at the moment.

As expected of a hot spring—it had a fatigue recovery effect. That was incredible.

“Well then, I guess I’ll get in right away.”

After hearing that, I was eager to enjoy the hot spring. In my past life, I had been an absolute hot spring enthusiast. Whenever I had a long holiday, I would treat myself by booking a stay at an onsen inn to soothe my weary body from work.

So, naturally, I was looking forward to soaking in a hot spring again after such a long time…

“Master, I have a suggestion.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Remember that core we bought at the store yesterday? What if we attached it to the [Hot Spring]?”

“Ah, that’s a good idea.”

When I appraised the Rank V core I had purchased at the store the other day, it turned out to have the ability to [Increase the effects of other cores by 30%].

I had put it on hold for now, but considering that I might frequently run out of mana in the future, using it on the [Hot Spring] seemed like a solid plan.

“Alright. Go ahead and use it.”

Right now, recovering as quickly as possible was my top priority. After answering casually, I began undressing.

“Aaaahhh… It’s soaking into my soul…”

Scooping up the water with both hands, I splashed it onto my face.

The warmth of the hot spring relaxed my entire body, melting away all the tension in my muscles. It felt like I was ascending to heaven.

“A beautiful view before me, and a sky full of shining stars above.”

Thanks to Eve’s illusion magic, the surrounding scenery had been altered. Right now, it looked like the breathtaking view from an open-air bath at a top-tier onsen resort.

To enhance the experience further, the surrounding temperature had been lowered slightly, causing the steam to rise more prominently. All of it was Eve’s handiwork, designed to create the perfect hot spring experience.

“After today’s exhaustion, this gradual warmth seeping in is pure bliss.”

As I felt the hot spring’s restorative effects take hold, I let my thoughts drift, listening to the soothing sound of the flowing spring water.

The water was adjusted to be slightly hotter than lukewarm, giving my body a pleasant warmth. When I felt a bit too hot, I could sit on a rock to cool off, and if I got too cold, I could sink back into the water. It was the perfect cycle.

It was, without a doubt, the most luxurious moment I had experienced since reincarnating.

“Hmm?”

Through the steam, I caught a glimpse of something moving.

“Master, how’s the temperature and the surroundings?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect.”

It seemed Eve had come to check on me. I answered cheerfully, but then…

“I’m glad. I’ll be joining you now.”

Saying that, Eve appeared, her hair tied up and wrapped in nothing but a bath towel.

“Eve… you don’t have a physical body, right? Can you even bathe?”

Surprised by her unexpected appearance, I wondered if she had found some way to actually enjoy the hot spring.

“Of course, I’m just pretending. But I wanted to share the hot spring experience with you, Master.”

Eve pouted slightly. There were times when she would watch Kaiser and me eat with envious eyes, clearly wishing she could partake as well.

Wanting to soak in the hot spring together was probably her way of not wanting to be left out.

When I gave her permission, she softly said, “Excuse me,” before sinking into the water beside me.

Her flushed cheeks and the way her damp skin glistened made it feel like she was actually bathing for real.

“Taking it easy like this once in a while isn’t bad at all.”

Gazing up at the starry sky, Eve looked so divine that she could be mistaken for a goddess.

“Master, what do you plan to do next?”

I fell into thought at her question.

Thanks to the hot spring’s effects, I would be in top condition by tomorrow.

“A Dual Dungeon is either two ranks higher than the original dungeon or connected to a special dungeon.”

The dungeon we had just cleared was Rank V. That meant the dungeon beyond that magic circle was either a Rank VII dungeon—one of the rarest and hardest in the world—or a special dungeon with unique characteristics.

“Are you having doubts?”

Noticing my hesitation, Eve turned to me with an innocent yet piercing gaze.

“Honestly, after today’s monsters, even in perfect condition, it still seems pretty risky.”

The S-rank Cerberus had been a tough battle. If the next dungeon was Rank VII, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was swarming with A-rank monsters.

“I’m also worried about you and Kaiser.”

Even though Eve could draw power from the core, it still put a strain on her. And Kaiser, being a living creature, couldn’t fight indefinitely.

“Eve and I are happiest when we can be of service to you, Master.”

Hearing her say that so straightforwardly filled my heart with gratitude.

“Think about it carefully overnight and make your decision.”

Sensing my indecision, Eve offered me a lifeline.

“So for now, Master…”

“Yeah?”

Eve let out a small splash as she moved closer, looking up at me.

“Just relax and let the hot spring wash away your fatigue for today.”

She gave me a gentle smile, her kindness evident in every word.