Hot Spring Paradise Part 3

Green shimmers danced on the ceiling as adventurers swam about or relaxed in the beautiful pools, only brief splashes marring the quiet atmosphere. Currents flowed languidly along, carrying various waterlily pads with them. Wooden jugs filled with tea rested atop these leafy 'tables' and supplied the weary travellers with refreshing beverages.

Hestia, Chigusa, and Asfi rested at the pool's shallow edge, gazing at nothing as they daydreamed about today's strange turn of events.

Asfi Al Andromeda blinked as her crystal glasses became misted in the humidity and placed them to her side. The woman's mature shapely body twitched as she stretched herself and rested on her back. "Times like these are a blessing… You should cherish these moments…"

Chigusa fidgeted as she still could not fully relax in her frilly outfit, one that was so foreign to her eastern clothing. Her anxiety was not assuaged as she gazed at Asfi's ample bosom, which humbled her own.

A gasp drew the petites woman's attention to the side as Hestia sighed in relief. The Goddess also rested on her back, allowing her even more sizeable breasts to sway in the waves. "This place is the best! I can feel all my mysterious knots melting away…"

Chigusa blushed and clutched at herself, sinking below the water in jealousy. "They're not all that mysterious when you think about it…" *blub* *blub* *blub*

Hestia peeked her sky-blue eyes open as a shadow passed over her: Hit was wading through the water and was heading towards a shadier region, red eyes scanning every nook and cranny as he went. The deity blushed and sank herself deeper beneath the waves to hide her curvaceous body. "Huh!? Trying to sneak a peek, Hit!?"

Hit froze in his marching and glowered at her. "Your bodies lie at the bottom of my interests." He then carried on into the unknown depths, allowing the shocked girls to watch him go.

Hestia grumbled to herself and crossed her arms in confusion. "I-I don't know how I feel about that…"

*SPLASH* *SPLISH*

"I'm gonna get you!"

"Don't count on it, squirt!"

In another pool, Mikoto and Lili dashed after each other, aiming to douse their opponent; the women giggled as a new friendship bloomed into life in this dungeon paradise.

Behind them, Bell, Welf, and Ouka rested their backs against an immense boulder and reflected on their recent battle.

Part of Welf honestly could not believe they were still alive. "It's actually over now, huh…?"

Ouka sat with his eyes closed and arms crossed, attempting to meditate in the familiar environment. "Looks like it… We all made it out alive in the end."

Welf glanced at the warrior, still miffed about their group's tenuous relationship. "You do realise this was all 100% your fault, right?"

Ouka nodded and replied without a shred of guilt. "I do, but I don't regret my decision."

"Heh…" Welf respected the man's bluntness and sincerity; he hated Ouka's choice in pass parading them, but could not bring himself to hate the man himself.

Suddenly, a voice cried out above them. "Hey Bell! The water gets deeper over here! Let's go have a proper swim!" The men twisted to gaze at Hestia, who was resting on an outcrop as she waved down at them."

"C-coming my Goddess!" Bell hurried to chase after her, worry chewing at his heart. If Hestia fell from such a height, there was a serious chance of the frail deity dying!

Welf chuckled to himself as he watched the rabbit boy hop away. "Lucky kid… He gets all the chicks…"

"Well, he is a celebrity, in a way. Everyone's talking about the little rookie." Ouka had now calmed down from Hermes' secret chat and managed to hide his jealousy away. Despite his calm and firm personality, the man was quite the pervert.

Their thoughts were once again interrupted as a soft voice emanated from the outcrop above them. It was Chigusa, whose gentle features blushed in the warm glow of the hot springs. "O-Ouka… M-Mikoto found a healing spring that should heal your wounds more quickly. C-come lie down with us; if you want to that is…"

"U-Uh, yeah! Sure thing!" Ouka's stoic personality quickly melted into giddiness as he scaled the cliff after his companion.

"Son of a…" Welf grinded his teeth and hung his head in anguish as he was now left all alone in the twinkling green ocean of abandonment.

"A little alone time is important for everyone…" A soft voice cooed out in front of Welf, forcing the man to stumble backwards in shock.

Once he rose his head, he shouted in surprise at what he saw. "WAAAAA!?"

His surprise guest was Ryuu, who was sitting on an enormous waterlily pad, holding a bamboo fishing rod. An acorn was attached to its end and dangled between Welf's legs. The elf continued speaking as if nothing was amiss and attempted to soothe the solemn smith. "Solitude is good. It lets us pause and reconsider things…"

Welf frowned at the surprise intruder, not appreciative of her depressing advice. "Reconsider what exactly… Ghhk!?" The man's cheeks flushed as his eyes fell onto Ryuu's slender legs, which parted slightly to reveal her skimpy green bloomers, exactly at eye level with Welf.

He quickly shot up and turned around, pulling out a chisel and hammer from who-knows-where. The craftsman used the instruments to hammer away at the boulder he was previously resting upon, sending a cascade of rock chippings sliding beneath the waves. "Come on, Welf. Clear your mind, clear your mind…"

Ryuu cocked her head at the sudden craftsmanship. "…What are you doing? We won't be able to transport a carving back to the surface…"

Welf balked at her hypocritical criticism. "What am I doing!? You're the idiot who's fishing in a hot spring! No fish can survive here!"

"I am aware of that…" The elf pouted and pulled on her fishing rod, causing the acorn to splash around in the fishless waters.

"Then what are you doing, huh!?" Welf continued to chip away at the boulder, leading to the formation of a series of curvaceous crevices.

Ryuu's eyes darted around as she attempted to unravel the mystery of this new location. Alas, only her gut feeling told her this was not a safe zone. "I'm merely trying to stay alert. I'm not entirely sure this is an ordinary hot spring…"

Welf's stomach dropped as the threat of monsters once again entered his mind. "Huh? What makes you say that? H-Hot damn…" He turned around, expecting a serious chat; however, Ryuu's supple thighs and beckoning bloomers once again stole his gaze.

Welf's face flushed a crimson red to match his hair, and he went back to rock carving, this time at a far greater pace. "CLEAR YOUR MIND! RELAX DAMMIT! CALM DOWN!"

Welf's furtive hammering had now led to the formation of a woman's outline on the rockface, which eerily matched a certain divine smith… Words of admonishment swam through Welf's mind, as he thought of what Hephaestus would think of his most recent 'creation'. 'D-Don't use my body to calm your earthly desires! That is incredibly disrespectful Welf!'

*BAM*

*BAM*

*BAM*

Welf's hammering increased to its zenith until his hands blurred at the speed. "I'M SORRY GODDESS! AWAY EARTHLY DESIRES, GET THEE BEHIND ME!"

Ryuu blinked, blushing slightly, as she sat behind Welf, only able to see his arm beating back and forth.


Far off, towards the shadier regions of the floor, Hestia and Bell walked along a rocky corridor, illuminated by bluish crystals. Its walls rose to towering heights, allowing rivers to cascade down as shimmery blue waterfalls.

Bell's hair tussled backwards as he attempted to gaze upon the peaks of the walls that enshrouded them, to no avail. "Wow, Goddess! I still can't believe that places like this are part of the dungeon… It's beautiful…"

"It sure is!" Hestia grinned as she traipsed behind her child. She had seen Hit disappear down this path and was relying on the man's reclusiveness to take them somewhere isolated and undisturbed. 'Great! Now, there's nobody here to ruin our romantic escapades!' The girl cracked her knuckles as if preparing herself for battle. 'I'll show you, Wallen-whosit-whatever! You're just a passing fancy for my Bell!'

*A-A-ACHEW!*

*SPLASH*

Herbal water flooded the floor as Ais Wallenstein fell backwards into her bath. The woman had attempted to leave the warm, bubbly waters; however, a rather powerful sneeze had pushed her back in. '…W-What's happening to me…? I should rest a little more…'

Hestia and Bell continued to walk along the corridor, with Hestia becoming increasingly fidgety. "H-hey Bell, I'm a little cold… Let's cuddle up so we warm each other!" The girl jumped to the side, expecting to leap into Bell's arms. Unfortunately for her, the boy stopped his marching, causing her to fall flat on her face. "Bleh!"

Bell seemingly ignored the fall and hit a fist against his open palm. "I know! We'll get Lili and all the others to join us! They'll love it here!" The oblivious boy ran back the way they came, waving as he went. "I'll be right back, Goddess!"

Hestia growled on all fours, then angrily raised herself into a sitting position, spraying water in all directions. "BELL, YOU DUMMY! DUMMY! DUMMY! DUMMY!"


A short while later, and Bell returned with an incredibly pleased Lili, who grinned haughtily as she was led around the corridor, towards any and all interesting sights. At the end of the tour, the pair sat side by side, beneath twin waterfalls; any shouts and squeals of merriment became garbled as gallons of water pelted onto them from above.

Hestia grumbled and moaned as she glared at the romantic moment that her diminutive rival had stolen from her, yet again. "Well, that's just great! I thought Bell and I'd finally get some alone time in here! Why does the shrimpy little prum always have to show up to ruin everything!"

Abruptly, a red light shone into existence in an unexplored region. Hestia rubbed her eyes as the laser battered against her azure orbs. "H-Huh… I don't remember seeing a light this way…" Like a moth drawn to a flame, the deity began walking towards the eerie phenomenon.

Behind the retreating goddess, a particularly forceful column of water plummeted from above, right onto Liliruca.

"WAAAAAA!" The pallum screamed as her pink bikini top was washed away by the torrent cascading onto her. Her slender arm quickly rose up to shield a small, yet perky chest, whilst the other reached around, hoping to find her lost swimsuit. The girl blushed fiercely as Bell still had not realised that his partner was experiencing a wardrobe crisis.

"Huh? What's this…?" It seems that the rabbit beat her to the prize and picked up a pink object that fluttered against his head. The boy screeched as he realised what it was. "GAH! What's this doing here!?"

Lili quickly snatched the fabric up, unable to meet Bell's crimson gaze. "I-I'll see you later, Bell. I need to find Welf to fix this for me!" The embarrassed girl bit her lip in shame and raced away, hoping that Welf would not charge too much for helping her.

"S-Sure…" Bell exited his waterfall and blushed as he watched the petite girl leave. However, his attention was soon drawn to the side as he saw Hestia giggling and waving at him from afar; strangely, an eery red glow emanated ahead of her. "…G-Goddess? Wait! We don't know if it's safe down there!" Bell hastily got up and raced after her, chasing the brave girl into a deep cavern. As he entered the dark depths, his mouth parted in awe at the mythical sights.

Blue lights and sparks shimmered across the ceiling, appearing as faraway constellations to any viewers below. The twinkling lights were completely distinct from the previous glowing crystals, and did not illuminate the room, instead acting as beautiful glittering gemstones that possessed no higher purpose other than bejewelling the 'sky'. Instead, the borders of the room's floor were lined with the familiar blue crystals, providing another dazzling array of twinkling shimmers. Most striking of all, an immense pillar extended from the centre of the ceiling and held a glowing red orb on its end, which split apart like a flower's petals. Strangely, there was also gaping hole in the ceiling, as if a powerful force had pulverised it inwardly.

Hestia giggled and danced around the hall, something that unnerved Bell greatly. They were all getting far too calm in the dungeon's depths, a potentially fatal error. He had thought they were safe on the 18th floor; however, Goliath's appearance had taught Bell that no place was truly safe within this great labyrinthine pit. "Be careful, Goddess! What is this place, anyway?"

"I-I don't know… It doesn't matter, though." Hestia stopped her dancing and returned to her child, grasping his hands into hers. The God gazed up at her precious human as their fingers became entwined. "The two of us are finally alone together… that's what's important right now…" Her blue eyes sparkled in longing as her pale skin blossomed with desire. "Bell, please… I…I…"

"G-Goddess...?" Bell gasped and stuttered as he looked into his deity's entrancing orbs and inviting luscious lips. The soft organs had parted slightly to provide a perfect opportunity for a loving kiss.

*Thrum*

*Clunk*

Bell jumped slightly as a mechanical sound reverberated across the room, as if a gate had been opened. Hestia only held Bell in her sights and raised herself onto her toes, preparing for a lover's embrace…

The red orb that hovered menacingly above the pair increased in its vibrancy and thrummed as power gathered around it: red billows began swaying in the watery depths, and previously blue and green waterfalls sizzled as orange liquid now plummeted from them. Unfortunately, these foreboding changes were not localised here, and extended across the entire region: any rivers, pools, and streams felt the chemical change, and also began carrying Merigold-coloured liquid.

Far off, Ryuu gasped, as her acorn dissolved into whisps in the unnatural fluid, and shot up from her sitting position. "Everyone, get out of the water now!"

The elf was greeted by confused glances as Asfi, Mikoto, and Chigusa could not discern any dangers around them. However, they quickly turned around as a screech rang out.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Lili screamed as her previously repaired swimsuit now began to dissolve away, leaving her pale body bare for all to see.

The three women joined her and gasped as their own outfits disappeared in the waters; thankfully, the liquid only digested clothing, and left their curvaceous bodies in pristine condition. Mikoto's long towel now only wrapped around her chest; whilst Chigusa and Asfi's one-piece swimsuits abandoned them entirely.

Welf risked a glance behind from his hammering, but quickly turned around as his vision was assaulted by various naked women. "OH, COME ON! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN NOW!?" *BAM* *BAM* *BAM*

"Wow… Think I love this place!" Hermes peeked from behind Ryuu, directly into the pool of startled women, orange orbs gleaming lustfully. The adventurer's sat stunned at the peeper for a moment, until Asfi quickly jumped out and tied the pervert up, doing her best to cover her precious features as she went.

Andromeda grinded her teeth as she stomped onto Hermes' now prone body. "I cannot believe you! Was all of this just another one of your schemes!? You would go to such lengths to satiate your perverse desires!?"

The god seemed to feel absolutely no pain as he grinned in position, likely due to the various gorgeous glimpses Asfi offered him during his capture. "I-I'm innocent this time! Honest! This has nothing to do with me!"

Ryuu's ears twitched in the now dangerous environment. "It's hard for me to believe Lord Hermes could accomplish this…We only arrived here mere hours ago…" The elf gasped as two familiar faces were missing from the scene. "Where are Mr Cranel and Goddess Hestia!?"


Back to the Hestia duo, Bell was glancing around the room, trying to identify the source of the odd sounds and uncanny feelings that bubbled within him. "Hestia, I think something's happening…"

Hestia licked her lips and attempted to push herself up even further, jumping up and down. "I know, Bell… I can feel it within me too!" 'Curse my shortness! Come on, Bell! Pucker up, dammit!'

Bell focused on his Goddess once more and backed away a little, out of the way of a flying kiss. "N-No! I wasn't talking about t-that!"

Hestia realised that she was getting nowhere fast by forcing herself onto her crush, and so held Bell's hands once more. Tears gathered at the corners of Hestia's eyes as the god prepared to spill her heart out to her first ever love. "Bell... I-I feel like the two of us s-should…"

*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK* *BOOM*

Fissures began to rupture from the ceiling as the entire room quaked. The scene caused Bell's heart to beat in dread as he was reminded of Goliath's devastating birth. "W-What's happening?"