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Translator: Barnnn
The next day, work on the portable bathroom, using the two oversized wooden vats as the foundation, began in earnest.
The artisan introduced by the Crafters’ Guild, a man named Zoddoa, operated a workshop specializing in residential structures. Later, when Ize and Hal spoke with him, Zoddoa admitted that receiving a request through the Guild was considered a great honor. Such commissions often bolstered an artisan’s reputation, potentially raising their evaluation rank. It was clear he was pleased to take on this project, and the duo was relieved to have him on board.
Their initial meeting, however, had been anything but smooth. When they explained the details of their request, Zoddoa’s expression shifted from confusion to palpable dread.
At last, they calmed him enough to ask what was wrong. His response was a cascade of incredulities.
First, he found it baffling that anyone, much less commoners, would seek to build a portable bathroom while on the road.
[Not exactly commoners — there aren’t that many Earthlings around here, after all…]
Second, the idea of bathing outdoors struck him as absurd unless one possessed costly, barrier-generating magical tools to ensure safety.
[Good thing I have maxed-out Stealth…]
And finally, when he learned that the two of them — barely fifteen years old — had Magic Bags large enough to store such massive vats, he could only assume they were descendants of high-ranking nobles or even Sages.
[Close — we’re Sage Candidates who probably won’t do anything to deserve a promotion anytime soon.]
It wasn’t hard to understand why Zoddoa had drawn such conclusions. The misunderstanding had left them smiling awkwardly, but his intimidation posed a bigger issue. They couldn’t hold a proper discussion until he relaxed.
Reassuring him they weren’t nobles or Sages’ descendants turned out to be as tricky as proving the Devil didn’t exist.
In the end, they had no choice but to insist, “We’re just adventurers for now,” and urge him — with the subtlety of a sledgehammer — to go along with their backstory.
The exchange left them both drained, but eventually, Zoddoa calmed down, and their discussion resumed. It quickly became clear that he was exceptionally skilled.
For security, he proposed adding slit windows to the shower and changing areas, allowing them to spot any thieves lurking outside.
As for the door, he suggested dismantling one of the vats and repurposing the wood to frame it.
Ize and Hal privately thought starting from scratch might have been simpler, but once the work began, there was no turning back.
For the shower’s drainage system, Zoddoa had an unconventional solution: a Slime. By setting the creature inside the pipes, it could filter and recycle water back into the bathtub. Hal’s face lit up. “Nice loophole!” he declared, while Ize chose not to comment.
Since the Slime was a living creature, they first tested whether it could safely stay inside a Magic Bag. Thankfully, it worked, though Zoddoa warned that the Slime would need to be taken out for the occasional walk.
[A Slime walk? Like, on a leash?]
The mental image was bizarre, yet it was strangely comforting how it wouldn’t be too much trouble at all — as the Slime would only need a stroll every few months.
By the day’s end, Zoddoa’s recommendations had been incorporated into the plans, and work on dismantling and reinforcing the portable bathroom was underway.
◆
While Zoddoa and his apprentices toiled away on the portable bathroom, Ize and Hal kept themselves busy with daily quests from both the Adventurers’ Guild and the Crafters’ Guild.
Most assignments revolved around forestry: gathering fruits from the mountains, collecting branches from freshly felled trees, or using their Magic Bags to haul lumber.
Hal, eager to embrace the romanticized image of an adventurer, sought out quests that aligned with his fantasies. Unfortunately, fate didn’t seem to favor his timing this time either, much to his obvious regret.
In the interim, he dedicated himself to building stamina. His routine included strength training, practice swings, and long runs. However, the sight of someone running for the sake of running in this world seemed strange enough to draw stares. To spare him the embarrassment, Ize cast Stealth on him before every jog.
◆
A week into their stay, Zoddoa contacted them with exciting news: the bath was finished.
“Zoddoa! Thank you so much for all your hard work!” Hal exclaimed when they arrived.
“Hal! I’m glad to see you. Come on in,” Zoddoa replied with a warm grin, gesturing them toward the workshop.
The bath awaited them, polished to a gleaming shine.
“Wow!” Hal’s eyes lit up.
“So shiny…!” Ize murmured, equally impressed.
“We’ve applied a waterproof glaze to ensure durability,” Zoddoa explained. “The door is on the left side of the bath. Please, go ahead and see for yourself.”
“Well then, without further ado…” Hal said eagerly, stepping inside, with Ize following him.
The interior revealed a thoughtfully designed space. The changing area, directly behind the entrance, was slightly raised above the shower to prevent water from spilling onto the floor. Shelves lined the walls, ready to hold clothes and belongings.
“Wait a second…” Hal stopped mid-step, staring at the tub.
“Something wrong, Hal?” Ize asked, stepping up beside him.
“The bathtub is… slanted?”
“Wait, what?”
Ize blinked and leaned closer. Sure enough, the tub was slightly higher at the front, sloping downward toward the back.
“Ah, yes,” Zoddoa chimed in. “You mentioned wanting a step inside the tub for comfort. But to prevent corrosion over time, we added a gentle slope to the base instead. If you prefer, I’ve also prepared a foundation so the tub can be fully leveled.”
“I see,” Ize said, inspecting the design. “That’s a thoughtful touch. The slope won’t be an issue at all.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Zoddoa said with a small bow.
The rear wall of the tub was elevated slightly, cleverly designed to prevent overflow while offering a clear view of the surrounding landscape — a small luxury for an outdoor bath.
“There’s something else I’d like to show you — though, more accurately, I’d like you to smell it.”
“Smell it?” Hal parroted, raising an eyebrow.
“Why?” Ize asked, suspicious but curious.
Zoddoa motioned to an apprentice, who carried over a tub of hot water.
“When we filled the tub to test for leaks, I noticed something curious. I’ll pour a bit of hot water now — please come closer and see for yourselves.”
Following his lead, they watched as he poured the steaming water along the wooden walls of the tub.
“Now, take a sniff around here,” Zoddoa instructed, beckoning them forward.
Hal and Ize leaned in hesitantly.
“It smells… sweet?” Hal said, his nose crinkling in surprise.
“There’s a hint of something like liquor,” Ize added.
“Exactly,” Zoddoa said with a pleased nod. “It seems the vats once held fruit liquor. The scent didn’t appear with cold water, but hot water drew it out. You’ll likely enjoy this subtle fragrance while bathing — though I suspect it will fade with time.”
“Wow, that’s amazing!” Hal exclaimed. “What a bonus!”
“I can’t wait to try it!” Ize agreed, her excitement matching Hal’s.
As the poured water cooled and dried, the scent indeed gradually softened.
Ize and Hal were brimming with excitement, their grins impossible to contain.
“We’ll make the payment through the Crafters’ Guild. Thank you not only for fulfilling our request but for your meticulous attention to usability and all the thoughtful adjustments you made.”
Zoddoa bowed deeply, his face warm with pride. “Your words mean the world to my honor, Hal. This was a unique project, one unlike anything I’ve done before. It brought back the thrill of my apprenticeship days — I worked on it with genuine excitement and joy. If you ever need maintenance or adjustments, please don’t hesitate to stop by.”
“Thank you! We’ll be sure to do that,” Hal said, his tone brimming with sincerity.
“Thank you so much!” Ize parroted, her voice ringing with gratitude.
After one final bow of thanks, the two dashed through the village like eager children.
“Ize, over there! When I was running, I found a spot where no one goes!” Hal called out, his eyes gleaming.
“Hal, that’s amazing! No Mystic Beasts showing up on the map!” Ize replied, equally thrilled.
“Let’s go!”
“Right!”
[GOTTA GO FAST!]
Their feet pounded down the mountain path, kicking up drifts of fallen leaves. Winter was approaching, and the cool air carried the faint scent of frost.
“There it is, Ize! There’s the pond!” Hal pointed, his breath clouding in the chill.
“The clearing is bigger than I expected — and the ground is perfectly level!”
“All right, I’ll start setting it up!”
Hal carefully positioned the bath next to the pond. Reaching over the low wall of the tub, he began pouring hot water.
Steam rose in curling tendrils, filling the air as the tub quickly warmed.
“It’s been four and a half months since I last had a proper bath!” Ize exclaimed, practically glowing with anticipation.
“Yeah, same here!”
“Oh, Hal, can you pass me the Ultimate Bathing Set? I’ll place it by the shower.”
“Sure thing. I’ll grab the towels too.”
Hal handed over the shampoo and conditioner — which had become a part of the “Ultimate Cosmetics Set” ever since they were transported to this world. Ize placed them neatly on a shelf near the washing area.
She then arranged their towels on the dressing area shelves and gently stroked the empty shelf meant for Fieda. Though she wasn’t sure if Fieda enjoyed baths, she hoped he might at least use the shower someday.
A bath bucket they’d purchased earlier hung from a hook, while a small chair rested at the foot of the washing area. Everything was now ready for their Japanese-style bathing setup.
“Ize, there’s only one thing left to decide…” Hal began.
“Indeed. But there’s no need for roshambo — you go ahead and take the first bath, Hal,” Ize said, smiling.
“Huh? Really? Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’ll defer to my elder.”
“Well, don’t mind if I do! What’ll you do while I’m in there?”
“I’ll take a walk nearby. Do you want me to set up the table, too?”
“Sure! Thanks~!” Hal grinned, promptly slipping off his shoes and heading into the dressing area.
While Hal immersed himself in the bath, Ize set up a small table and chairs a short distance away, arranging a simple meal of biscuits and tea.
The table set, a recent purchase from Bezbaro, had been part of their efforts to gather practical furniture, dishware, and wooden storage boxes from the woodworking village.
Nibbling on a biscuit, Ize absentmindedly scrolled through the tablet Hal had lent her. She couldn’t help but chuckle whenever she heard him let out a satisfied “Phew~” or “Aah~” from the bath.
Looking up, she noticed the clouds had risen higher in the sky.
The seasons here didn’t perfectly mirror Earth’s, but the chill in the air confirmed it was winter.
With the bath project complete, it was time to plan their journey to Jasted — they had to be there as soon as they could.
For now, though, Ize savored the tranquil moment, the faint scent of polpetta mixing with the gentle ripple of the water.
◆
Later that day, when they returned to town and thanked Zoddoa profusely for his work, he stopped them with an unexpected request.
He explained that he wanted to propose a more compact version of the bath to nobles and wealthy merchants — a smaller, simplified design that maintained functionality. While such clientele rarely camped outdoors, their travels could be unpredictable. A portable bath could serve as an elegant solution for emergencies.
“What about the hot water?” Hal asked, his curiosity piqued.
“There’s a magical tool typically used by traveling maids to make tea. It dispenses high-temperature water. If diluted, it should be perfect for filling a bath.”
“That makes sense. We don’t mind at all — please feel free to market it however you like.”
And just like that, they found themselves with another unexpected revenue stream.
Since the idea for the bath had originated with Ize, she was credited as the creator, while Hal was listed as the guarantor.
Together, they signed the contract, setting up the bank account for the transfers. Given the affluent clientele Zoddoa intended to target, even a single transaction promised to be substantial.
“Ize, you’re only fourteen, and you’ve already secured passive income!” Hal said, clapping her on the back.
“I’ll try not to check the account too often,” Ize replied, deadpan. “Or I might fall into decadence.”
Hal grinned. “What if a delicious piece of rare meat appeared right in front of you?”
“I’d spend every coin I had on it,” she said without hesitation.
“Wow. Decadence much?”
They shared a laugh, and the truth lingered between them: no matter where they went, the terrifying allure of money — and its power — was impossible to ignore.
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