Chapter 41, Side Story: Mysterious Clients

Translator: Barnnn

 

Perspective: Zoddoa

 

Zoddoa stood before the wooden vats, each towering to his eye level, his gaze fixed and unblinking. His thoughts churned like turbulent waters.

 

If he took a saw to them now, the vats might splinter unpredictably, creating leaks that would ruin the entire project.

But to dismantle them and cut each piece individually? That would devour precious time, time he couldn’t quite afford to lose.

And yet, cutting corners was unthinkable. His pride as a craftsman wouldn’t allow it.

 

The minutes stretched on as Zoddoa continued to glare at the vats. Then, at last, he exhaled, muttering under his breath,

 

“Let’s take them apart.”

 

At his words, the apprentice artisans clustered around him let out audible sighs of relief, their shoulders sagging as if a great weight had been lifted.

 

◆

 

Two days earlier, a rumor had swept through Bezbaro, the village known for its thriving woodworking industry — whispers of a revolutionary new technique had spread like wildfire.

It was said to produce craftsmanship so intricate, so breathtakingly precise, it could rival the finest paintings.

Such a skill was unheard of in Bezbaro, a place that prided itself on its mastery of the craft.

Could the Guild have discovered this method? Were negotiations already underway with some mysterious outsider?

As speculation grew, artisans began gathering at the Crafters’ Guild, lingering late into the night, hoping to uncover even the smallest clue.

 

The mystery deepened when, just the night before, members of the Guild’s upper management arrived at Zoddoa’s workshop.

Their news was astonishing: someone possessing this remarkable technique was seeking a local artisan for a project.

At first, Zoddoa hesitated. The involvement of such a shadowy figure made him uneasy. But when he learned the job was simply the construction of a bathroom, his apprehension dissolved.

Domestic woodworking was his forte, and in Bezbaro, he considered himself second to none. He accepted the commission without further hesitation.

 

But this morning, when the clients arrived, Zoddoa found himself taken aback.

They were two brothers — one a young man, scarcely more than a boy, and the other a child.

Though they claimed to be travelers, their appearance was immaculate, every detail of their attire and demeanor polished to perfection. There was no trace of fatigue, no sign they had journeyed far.

 

Further questioning only deepened the mystery. They had arrived in Bezbaro on a day when the regular horsebus wasn’t running.

 

[Are they nobles, traveling discreetly without their guards?]

 

Perhaps their escort was stationed somewhere out of sight.

Zoddoa probed carefully, but the answers only unsettled him further. The bath they requested was no ordinary installation — it was to be portable, something they could use during their travels.

Then, the younger brother — not the older — produced two massive wooden vats from his Magic Bag, each as tall as a grown man. Zoddoa could only gape.

 

[The younger one has a Magic Bag of this size?]

 

The implications were staggering. Perhaps the younger boy was the true noble, and the older one a mere attendant — or even an escort in disguise.

As Zoddoa wrestled with these thoughts, the older brother stepped forward, filling the vats with water at an astonishing pace, calling it a “leak test.”

 

[He’s a high-level water mage!]

 

To pour water with such speed required immense magical power, likely as formidable in combat as in utility.

The implied message was clear: don’t ask questions. Don’t pry. Don’t speak.

Zoddoa felt a cold sweat trickle down his back as he nodded stiffly, keeping his thoughts to himself.

 

◆

 

“We want to be able to take proper baths, even while traveling.”

“We have ways to avoid detection by Mystic Beasts.”

“We can generate hot water ourselves, so there’s no need for a heating mechanism.”

“We’ll dispose of the used water by putting it into our Magic Bags.”

 

The more the brothers explained, the more bizarre their requests sounded.

A bath without a mechanism to drain water — such a thing had never even occurred to Zoddoa.

And yet, they seemed completely unaware of the existence of cleansing Slimes.

They had to be nobles — there was no other explanation. But when Zoddoa dared to suggest it, the brothers vehemently denied the accusation.

 

[Yeah, right! You’re not hiding your tracks at all!]

 

After enduring what felt like the most mentally draining meeting of his career, Zoddoa slumped into his chair, staring at the finalized design document with a groan.

 

Eccentric or not, the brothers’ idea for this bath was undeniably innovative.

 

Until now, the baths Zoddoa had worked on could be sorted into two categories:

Lavish, expansive bathrooms for nobles and the wealthy, where servants attended their masters’ every need.

Or simple, practical setups for commoners, with water jars and drainage systems designed for quick, no-frills bathing.

 

This bath, however, was neither — and combined elements of both.

Its spacious tub and separate washing area were designed with enough room for attendants, but it also featured new details: unique contours in the tub for reclining or sitting comfortably, transforming bathing into something more than a chore.

It was a place to linger and relax — a concept that seemed to echo the tales of the legendary “Fastidious” Sage.

Could this design have been inspired by some noble family’s exclusive knowledge of the Sage?

Or were these brothers descendants of that very Sage?

 

If so, this innovation deserved to be recorded and preserved.

Determined, Zoddoa leaped from his seat and rushed to the Crafters’ Guild to formalize the specifications in a contract.

When he arrived, he discovered that the Guild’s upper management had already struck a deal with the older brother. Zoddoa promptly requested they draft an additional contract for the revised design.

All that remained now was to secure the brothers’ approval — and Zoddoa vowed to create the bath with unmatched precision and care.

 

◆

 

As Zoddoa threw himself into his work, news of the brothers’ activities around the village reached him daily.

 

The older brother was seen wandering aimlessly around town. Was he… okay?

The younger brother helped gather wild fruits in the mountains and gleefully ate one. What an adorable boy.

The older brother was spotted lying flat on the ground, striking strange poses. Was he really okay?

The younger brother lent a hand to the elderly woman at the general store. What a polite and helpful child.

The older brother spent hours swinging a wooden sword at nothing but air. Was he okay at all?

The younger brother even helped transport timber from the mountains using his Magic Bag. What a remarkably responsible young man.

 

[What is the older brother even doing?]

 

The sword practice made some sense, but his other actions bordered on the inexplicable. Zoddoa couldn’t shake the unease they stirred in him.

Even with winter drawing near, he couldn’t stop the cold sweat running down his back as he focused on his work.

 

He incorporated several slit windows into the bath’s design, angled to prevent anyone outside from seeing in.

To keep the younger boy safe from suspicious individuals.

He painstakingly sanded and rounded the edges of every shelf and plank.

To make sure the boy wouldn’t bump his head or cut his hands.

He sloped the tub gently, adding a broad, shallow section.

To ensure the boy couldn’t accidentally drown in the water.

 

Zoddoa crouched, stretched, and tested every angle of the bath himself, determined to meet the older brother’s unspoken demands for the boy’s safety. Every detail, every adjustment, was made with exacting care.

 

◆

 

At last, the day arrived to hand over the finished creation.

The two brothers left the village with an almost reckless energy but returned only a few hours later.

Their faces shone, their smiles wide and infectious, and they carried the faint scent of the fragrant bath. They overwhelmed Zoddoa with effusive praise, their excitement spilling over like a torrent.

Though still somewhat tense, Zoddoa couldn’t help but feel relieved at their delight. He suggested they finalize the contract, only for the older brother to step forward and declare, “This project is my brother’s. Please sign the contract with him.”

 

[So it really is the younger brother who’s the noble!]

 

They requested the contract identify them as adventurers, but Zoddoa wasn’t fooled. It was clear they were far more than that. He ensured the document included clauses for contingencies that could arise from their true status, whatever it might be.

Now that he thought about it, the older brother’s earlier contract had been drawn up with similar care.

Even the Guild officials, it seemed, didn’t fully believe the brothers’ claims of being ordinary adventurers.

 

The younger brother, who had been especially captivated by the bath’s fragrance, retrieved a box of polpetta from his Magic Bag and offered it as a gift.

With a laugh, he explained they’d received a staggering amount of the rare nuts from a noble who owned a polpetta farm in Lazulseed Kingdom’s border city.

Someone who could receive such an extravagant gift from a neighboring nation’s noble — there was no hiding the truth. Zoddoa could only manage a dry chuckle.

Refusing the gift would surely be an insult, so he accepted it with as much grace as he could muster, even as the brothers launched into an enthusiastic explanation:

 

“So, you boil and dry the skins after roasting them? I see.”

“You dice them to use in pastries? And they’re good for baths, too? Oh, and tea, as well?”

“Hahaha… Thank you, truly. Yes, yes, I understand. Very much appreciated.”

 

When the brothers finally departed, leaving the village on foot with no horsebus in sight, Zoddoa stood watching until they were out of view. Only then did he collapse to the ground.

He was exhausted — but beneath the weariness was a profound sense of accomplishment.

As he sat there catching his breath, a thought began to take root. He needed to share this innovation with his fellow craftsmen, to refine and expand upon it. If nobles could be shown the value of such baths, it could revolutionize the craft.

The idea rekindled his energy, and Zoddoa resolved to bring his vision to life.

 

Less than half a month later, as he toiled in his workshop, another request arrived from the brothers via the Crafters’ Guild, accompanied by detailed specifications.

 

Zoddoa poured himself into the work, fulfilling every requirement with precision and care. Over time, his efforts earned him renown as the artisan who revolutionized the concept of travel.

Yet, to the end of his days, Zoddoa remained humble, insisting the achievement was not his alone.

 

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