A new breeze in the clear skies
Brings in new days enveloped in happiness
A sprouting dream
Shines light on
Our modest life
Things feel even more fun
Than they were yesterday
And my heart races
Along the long path
Even if you stop or grow worried
Take a slow, deep breath
And continue at your own pace
Beautiful life
Every time you walk
You'll find sights you've never seen
New encounters come out of nowhere
When our feelings intertwine
It is surely a sign of irreplaceable
Wonderful days when we all laugh together
It's a beautiful story
We've returned!
Welcome back.
The expedition sent for the recently
discovered Northern Dungeon had returned.
Northern Dungeon
Well...
Boo-womp...
...look what you brought back.
We got plenty!
It was easy!
Hmm. So that's how it tastes.
Wow!
How extravagant!
Isn't it?
It truly is delicious.
Eat up.
Anne and everyone
fixed it up nicely for us.
It is nice of you to say so.
Secrets of the Bloody Viper
Hisss...
The thing with snakes is
Secrets of the Bloody Viper
Mostly ribs
no matter where you cut them, you get ribs.
With all that you brought back,
we'll be feasting on these for the near future.
Oh, there's no need to rush.
These beasts are so vigorous
that even their meat keeps long.
A bloody viper can regrow its entire body
as long as the head remains intact!
I think I'll refrain from imagining that.
Were there more vipers left to hunt?
This seemed to be all
the larger ones, unfortunately.
A sad setback for the
restoration of our people!
Didn't take long to take them all out.
Hardly even a warm-up.
Better than something dangerous, right?
With their help, we were able to help
the locals threatened by the bloody vipers.
Someone lived in the dungeon?
Yes, those of the giant race.
No way!
That sounds like something you'd see
in a TV show set in unexplored lands.
Enter the Viper Pit!
Discovering a Race of Giants
Deep in the Forest of Death!
If I stop to think about it,
I'm living a much stranger life than
anything I saw on the hospital TV.
Did you find anything else?
Any rarities?
Well, the giants spoke of springs of
hot water north of the dungeon.
Springs of hot water...
Quite literally...
Hot Spring
We must send an expedition immediately.
To look for some water?
Do we not have plenty already?
This is no normal water.
This is extraordinary water!
Hot springs are more than
just springs that are hot!
They're healthy! And cultural!
And uhhh... good for circulation!
Hot Spring Expedition
After a little persuading,
we put together a team
to seek out the hot spring.
You're going yourself? That's unusual.
Is it?
I was beginning to think you were
averse to the outdoors.
No, no, I've just been busy is all.
Now that things have settled
in the other villages,
I figured I'd get out
and see new places.
Oh...
and did you "figure" you'd have Zabuton
put together a special outfit for you too?
I mean, it's a rare occasion!
An expedition!
To an undiscovered hot spring
where giants live!
I have to be prepared!
Do you not think it ill advised for us-
with you yourself in attendance-
to make first contact with the giants?
You should make them come to us.
That feels kind of rude to me.
Plus...
if they came here, that would ruin
the feel of this late night expedition
special programming.
Giants
Visiting to Say Hello!
Special what, now?
Look, we don't know what awaits us,
so let's proceed with caution!
Oh, how exciting.
Progenitor, when did you get here?
I'd come to pray at your statues,
but then I overheard all this.
Might I accompany you?
Sure, I guess.
Now then, our hot spring expedition begins!
Yeah!
Shall I teleport us all there?
Uhh, okay...
This is pretty scary, huh.
It's fine. No need for hesitation.
Real teleportation.
Instantly transported somewhere else.
Wow.
That was easy.
That took no time at all.
I guess we never going to
walk all this way.
The mountains are so much closer.
Feels nothing like the village.
Is everyone through?
Yup.
All right.
What's with this rocky mountain?
Or, mound made of stone, I guess?
That is the entrance to the dungeon.
Oh! Think we'll meet any giants?
What's that?
Is something coming our way?
Those are the giants, actually.
What?!
They're fuzzier than I imagined.
Is something wrong? They seem panicked.
Hi! I'd like to talk!
Is something the matter?
I'll take that as a yes.
Look!
A bloody viper?!
The big ones were supposed to all be gone!
I guess there were still more!
What happened?
What is that?!
An earth rat!
Be careful!
My, it sure took flight.
That was a bit much.
There are more!
Are you okay?
There there...
Oh, you're a sticky mess.
Thank you for coming to our rescue.
Fresh New Clothes
Yeah, sure...
They look more like costumed characters
from a kids' show than giants.
So, are there lots of earth rats around here?
Not normally, no.
But a portion of the dungeon
we call home collapsed,
and the rats emerged from the hole.
Did the earth rats cause the collapse?
No, but when your people vanquished
the bloody vipers for us there were...
...side effects.
Well...
I think I understand now.
My people seem to have caused you trouble.
Please accept my apologies.
Fortunately, we were here today.
The situation could have been worse.
No, no, please don't blame yourself.
This was no fault of yours.
We would have encountered them
eventually even without the collapse.
So, what now?
The giants say we're not to blame,
but we can't just ignore
a dangerous hole like that.
Filling it up would probably
just delay the inevitable too.
Might be best to eliminate the threat.
I'll do it.
Yeah? I'd appreciate it.
Leave it to me.
And me!
After a bit of discussion,
we decided to split into separate teams
for the hole and the hot springs.
Hole Expedition
Hot Spring Expedition
We'll see to it.
Shouldn't I stay to handle the hole?
Worry not.
You need to stay focused
solely on your original goal.
Wait for me!
I hope they'll be all right.
Hup!
These ups and downs are getting
more intense as we near the mountains.
I believe we're drawing near
the water source.
The waters ring much clearer now!
Granmaria is scouting the skies above
for a more precise location.
We should move out once she returns.
Is something wrong with this tree?
Those look like claw marks.
If they're up that high, then...
Then what?
Whatever left them must be
absolutely enormous.
Hiyaaah!
We should reach our destination in-
What in the world?
That mayor's handiwork.
Took me by surprise.
It does look like a spring,
but maybe too hot of one.
You'd need to be brave to touch it.
The steam appears free of toxins.
Oh, good thinking, I hadn't even
thought about the possibility.
What is making this water so hot, though?
Is there an active volcano nearby?
Not as far as I can tell.
It's likely due to the type of stone here.
Meaning?
Watch this.
Try touching this.
Why? I know it's going to be hot.
Watch, it's... hot!
Or not?
It's nice and warm.
Is this hotstone?
Yes!
Hotstone
They store heat and slowly release it.
Heat
That would explain why
the spring stays warm.
Hotstones are good for
keeping warm in winter.
Like little hand warmers!
We might use these to
heat rooms and cook too.
Now that we've found the spring,
what do we do next?
Right...
Is there any cold water nearby?
There was a river.
Okay, that might work.
Think there's anything down here?
Doesn't matter either way.
Hey, stop that!
The rest of us won't be able to breathe!
Hot hot hot!
I'm going to burn up!
Somebody help me! Please!
You're going to melt us before any beasts.
Somebody help me! Please!
Yes, so it would be lovely if you would
refrain from using any more fire.
I know you can hear me! I'm burning up!
Yes, so it would be lovely if you would
refrain from using any more fire.
I'm burning! To a crisp!
Okay.
I'm burning! To a crisp!
Just fly, then.
I'm burning! To a crisp!
Just fly, then.
It seems the collapse just so happened
to connect to this existing tunnel.
Did the earth rats dig this?
If they did,
they must have been after something.
It runs straight with no detours.
To the west that way,
and east over here, I believe.
Now then, what is our move?
Lasty, you go that way.
I'm going this way.
I suppose we'd best
split into two teams, then.
Lu and Flora, would you head west?
Sure. With Lasty, then.
Do be careful.
I pray you return safe as well.
And I that we face no fearsome foes.
Though perhaps it's better we do.
Okay, I think this will work.
Spring
The waters from the spring are too hot,
River
so we'll redirect river water
and bring them together.
Warm
By changing how much
of which flows through,
we'll be able to adjust the temperature.
Let's get to work building the bath.
Hot springs are baths, then?
Yeah, and they're great!
All right! We'll need to make
changing rooms and a break space, too!
Yahoo! All right! Here we go!
He certainly seems excited.
Yahoo! All right! Here we go!
We have an extravagant bath in the village.
Why build one way out here?
I probably would have thought
the same way long ago.
But now that I know the joys of baths,
I'm nothing but excited!
Right...
Ah-ha!
There you are!
Kiabit?
I've found you at last.
Do you need something?
Not really.
I simply heard the mayor set off
with a large group
and came to see for myself.
You came for no reason, then.
What does it matter?
Now tell me?
What is going on?
Oh, hi, Kiabit!
Great timing.
Can you help Tia and the others
carry lumber across the river?
What? Why should I have to?
Help now and you will enjoy
what's to come all the more.
You better not just be trying to
make things easier for yourself.
Hup!
Hrmph!
Meanwhile
What could this cave be?
It simply runs straight on and on.
Judging by the distance, we should
still be below the Forest of Death.
Why do they tunnel on and on
in absence of any food source?
Could something be controlling them?
There's no end in sight.
Should we turn back?
Perhaps.
No!
We can't go back empty-handed.
I'll beat whatever foes we find!
I think I see something.
That does indeed look like
a boulder with a purpose.
There's some sort of writing on it.
It looks quite old.
Just a rock? Nothing else?
It looks like we can exit from above.
We should head out and regroup.
Wait, what's that?
A whole disgusting swarm!
Undead? This is bad news...
Stand back!
Lasty, you can't use fire!
I can if I shoot it upwards!
Lasty, stop! The forest is up above!
What was that?
What is going on?!
Tia! Help us extinguish the fire!
Right!
Waaah!
It won't go out!
Waaah!
Were the fires put out?
Somehow, yes.
I did warn you.
Sorry...
Let's leave it at that.
More important news-
we managed to build a hot spring!
Let's all enjoy a soak tonight.
Right...
Oh, it's lovely.
Impressive for something
quickly thrown together, right?
Regulating Pond
Hut (Gender Divided)
Changing Rooms
Toilet
Open Air Bath (Women)
Open Air Bath (Men)
Rest Area
It's all divided up between men and women,
so feel free to use them as you wish.
Oh, this is incredible.
Truly.
The wind feels so nice
now that we're outside.
We could hardly do this in the village.
If I built a lab out here, I could enjoy
research and the baths every day.
Perhaps we should move
the whole village here.
We needn't come daily.
Every once in a spell would be nice.
Aaaagh...
It's so hot...
Is this all you can endure?
This is no trouble at all!
But what is this training for?
It's meant to give one clearer skin.
Really?
Now that I can suffer for.
As the next leader of the angels,
I'll need to attract a worthy husband.
You yet concern yourself with our customs?
All that aside, no one seeks
to wed some strange man.
Such candidness!
The mayor would have been perfect.
But it's far too late for that.
Oh, woe is my life.
Perhaps I could put a claim on his son?
So much for your principles!
Do you truly intend to nab the babe you held?
Is he not the most promising of contenders?
Sure, but come now...
Speak word of such in the village
and consider your life forfeit.
We ought reassess young Alfred's guard.
Fit the windows with traps
to keep wicked pests away.
Go ahead, have your laugh!
You simply can't beat a hot spring.
This was worth dragging everyone out for.
We'll need to flesh out the place
so all our residents can enjoy it.
But hey, where are
the Progenitor and the rest?
Stand not in our way.
Begone.
Hiyah!
Begone...
Begone!
First earth rats,
now an army of armed undead.
What might they be doing
all the way down here?
Wait... Stop...
It appears to wish to speak.
Should we stop her?
I don't know, can you?
No.
Listen...
I thought I might enjoy myself
if I tagged along.
But it would seem we've
stumbled on quite the conspiracy.
Though for now...
...I suppose we'd best leave her to it.
Lala lalalala...
A white cloud floating in the sky
The dazzling first star of the night
The sun goes down before you know it
Even somewhat gloomy days
Might get you one step closer
Tomorrow should be another good day
As the wind blows gently by
The heart is cleansed
No matter what happens
I can keep at it
As long as you are by my side
Let's sing so we don't forget today
So that we can smile again tomorrow
Even if we cry again sometime
I'll always be by your side
Ready one, two, and three-let's dance!
Who cares if we just watch and learn?
Make bad steps
It doesn't bother me
I want us to sing a song
And leave everyone smiling
We should make these days last forever
Next time
Episode 8
More Hot Spring Expedition