Chapter 36: Hot spring 1
The group arrived at the second destination of their trip. Calling it a village would be an understatement, what used to be a village was now a very small city even with its own guards.
"Don't look at me that way, how should I know the map was so old? Anyway, at least it shows they prosper here which is a good thing. We can even sell the furs and hides we got from slaying a few Danger Beast on our way here." Zero told the others before moving on, asking around where are the main shops around here.
They discovered that this small city has a lot of stalls with food and small products on the streets, however, it had only one big shop where one could buy anything other than food. The group arrived in front of the shop and peeked inside through the window.
"Alright, do you see the shopkeeper?" Zero asked.
"Yeah, what's so special about her?" Gin asked with a serious expression, thinking that Zero has discovered something suspicious related to their mission.
"That's it! It is a female shopkeeper! We will need your opinion Gin." Zero explained and pulled Natala and Green next to him, facing Gin.
She just looked at him with a blank expression.
"Now, choose from the three of us, who is the most charismatic and handsome?" Zero asked, surprising everyone with his question but at least they understood what were his intentions.
"Eh...Grrr" Gin looked at Natala for a moment before looking at Zero and the thought of choosing him just irritated her, however, she knew very well that Natala is anything but charismatic.
"W-Wait, why the hell are you looking only at the two of them?!" Green demanded an answer. Zero himself admitted that both Natala and Green had good looks, however, there was something strange making him reluctant to even consider Green as a good candidate.
"You are weird, four eyes" Gin bluntly answered which also gave an answer to what Zero was feeling. Her reply forced Green to his knees with a shocked face.
'One eliminated...Maybe she can feel that he is weird due to his secret armpit fetish. Women are truly dangerous creatures, no matter what world.'
"Ugh! I choose you!" Gin messed up her hair before pointing at Zero with an irritated expression.
"Me? Really?" Zero was slightly surprised since in his opinion Natala should be able to do the job just as well, however, he didn't know him as much as Gin, therefore, he had to listen to her opinion.
"Yes! Don't make me say it twice! There is no way in hell that dimwit can be as charismatic as you. Ugh!" Gin said while looking away with folded arms.
Hearing her words, Natala didn't collapse like Green but his body did twitch a little. He probably didn't have anything to refute her words with.
"Alright, help me with my hair, I don't know what looks better."
"Hmm, should I put my ponytail on my right shoulder or left shoulder?! blah-blah-" Zero and the other guys started helping him look more stylish. While they were bickering what might look better, for the first time Gin started carefully observing Zero with a thoughtful face.
"Shut up, all of you!" Finally, her face brightened, and shouted at them, making them turn at her with surprised faces.
"Try to get rid of that ponytail." Gin suggested but got rid of it herself before taking a few steps back to take a better look at Zero's current appearance with his hair down.
"Hmm, good!" She showed thumbs up.
After a few more adjustments, Zero went inside the shop to negotiate but he exited after a very long 30 minutes, making the entire group wonder what he has been doing there for so long.
"Ugh...She asked me so many questions and in the end, she even asked me if I don't want to stay at her place instead of paying for an inn. At least I managed to negotiate a very good price for our goods" Zero explained with a tired face.
"Yay!" Gin completely dismissed Zero's tiredness and was just glad that their money was steadily raising. She was quite satisfied that Zero had to suffer through the same thing as her. The group decided to stay the night in this small city. They found a nice looking inn with hot springs and rented 2 rooms.
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"Aaah" Natala sighed in satisfaction when he entered the hot spring.
"Phew, nice hot bath sure is the best thing after a long day of haggling and traveling" Zero who entered before Natala commented when he heard Natala's content sigh.
"Where is Green?" Natala asked, feeling like they aren't complete without all members.
"Resting, I assume he might come here later, though I doubt I will be here then. Anyway, what is going on between you and Gin? That is if you don't mind me asking..." Zero casually asked with closed eyes, resting his head on the corner.
"What do you mean?" Natala asked with a surprised expression and he didn't even seem to be acting.
'You dense motherfucker' Zero smiled and opened his one eye to take a look at Natala's clueless face.
"Nothing..." Zero replied before he started whistling.
"D-Do you like Gin?" Natala came to such a conclusion despite Gin's and Zero's often bickering. He still sounded unsure.
"Hahaha, I guess you could say I like her attitude. It's refreshing but sometimes she can be very annoying. I can't even imagine her in a position of a wife...I already pity the poor lad who is going to have to put up with her. Anyway, this is it for me, don't fuck it up" Zero said and climbed out of the water with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
'That is if she can survive for that long...or you, Natala.'
Before Natala could even ask what Zero meant, Zero already made his way towards the entrance back to the building, however the moment he slid the door open, a surprise was waiting for him which widened his eyes.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone