Chapter 271 Country of Sakura, Cherin and Seven Holy Swords [42]
Beyond the bathhouse door, was a hot spring which perfectly suits what I would call a “secret hot spring”.
White steam rising from the clear water surface.
Vivid flurry of falling sakura petals lit by the sunset.
An open-air bath with a rock garden overflowing with natural atmosphere.
A magical scenery spread as if I had set foot into a different world.
「T-This is great!」
I never dreamed that there would be such a fine hot spring.
「Barararara, I know right! This is the best bathhouse in the world!」
Bacchus-san laughed in a good mood and sat down in the stool at the washing place.
「Come here, kid. Let’s wash our bodies quickly and enjoy the pleasant hot spring to the fullest!」
「Yes!」
We washed our bodies in the shower and then washed our heads.
A one-set shampoo and body soap were provided in the washing place. Both were made of simple soap.
(Come to think of it, this is a good chance.)
I wanted to have a proper talk with Bacchus-san.
It isn’t easy to get an opportunity to be alone with him.
(Zeon said, “Don’t get involved” but…)
He doesn’t look like a bad person to me at all.
(There is also the fact that he is Rose’s super-great grandfather.)
More than anything else, I didn’t feel any kind of “malice” when we crossed swords.
Pure and genuine was all I felt.
His desire to purely compare honest swordsmanship was transmitted through his slashes.
(All right, let’s ask him.)
I coughed and decided to bring up the subject.
「Bacchus-san. Umm… I’d like to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?」
「Why are you being so formal? You and I have already crossed swords once, so you can ask anything you want.」
「Thank you very much. Then, without delay, how much do you know about the 100 Million-Year button?」
「…………Aa, you want to know about that.」
He stopped washing his body and slowly opened his mouth.
「I don’t know whether you were involved from the start or you got dragged into it, but you are now deeply involved, kid. That much is certain. Alright, I’ll tell you everything I know.」
「T-Thank you!」
Bacchus-san turned his body towards me and massaged his wet beard
「As you know, kid, the 100 Million-Year button is a “cursed button” created by the hermit of time. Those who push it will be trapped in a different world for 100 million years.」
He explained the basics.
「The human mind is not strong enough to withstand “100 million years of solitude”. At best, only 1,000 years. At worst, 1 year. And after that, you choose to suicide. Before that happens, before your mind breaks, you have to tear that world apart and return to the original world.」
「I-Is that so?」
This is the first I’m hearing of it
「Yeah. A case like you, who survived 100 million years – much less, spamming that button, is unheard of. You are an “exception among exceptions”.」
Come to think of it…
Leia-sensei seemed truly surprised when I first told her that I had been swinging for over a billion years.
「And the 100 Million Years button is not something that can be produced so many times so easily. You have to clear some extremely tough conditions and then finally create one in this world. That’s why the hermit of time is “selecting” the person who pushes the button.」
「Selecting?」
「Aa, that’s right. He wanders around the world looking for a swordsman with great talents above the rest. And then he suggests the existence of the 100 Million Years button to the swordsmen who matches his criteria.」
「…What is the purpose of the hermit of time?」
He wanders all around the world to hand out the rare 100 Million Years buttons. Just what is the benefit to him?
「The hermit of time has only one purpose – to find the “Child of Destruction”.」
Bacchus-san said with a serious tone, and turned a sharp glance towards me.
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