Jashin-chan let out a muffled yelp the moment she submerged into the spring, the water scalding her skin.
However, convinced she was soaking in rare and expensive whitening herbs, she gritted her teeth and bore the heat. She even went as far as to dunk her head beneath the surface.
Watching her display of sheer will, Kawashima Toya felt a twinge of genuine admiration. "I have to hand it to her."
The water was nearly at a boiling point, yet she was holding her ground.
With her powers currently sealed, she shouldn't have been much more resilient than an average human, aside from her high-speed regeneration.
She truly has the heart of a protagonist, Toya mused. Enduring the impossible to achieve the extraordinary. He paused, adding a final mental note: It's just a shame she's so remarkably easy to manipulate.
From within the steam, Jashin-chan let out a proud mental huff. I am the great Jashin-chan. My willpower is second to none, especially when it comes to the pursuit of beauty. Once I emerge from this, you'll all look like hags next to me!
Hanazono Yurine offered no further comment. After a brief nod to Toya, she headed back to her room.
Nyaruko, however, cast a mocking glance at the boiling demon before leaning into Toya with a sycophantic smile.
"Darling, this inn feels like it's crawling with vengeful spirits. I'm far too frightened to sleep alone. Perhaps I could—"
"No," Toya interrupted flatly. "Even if the ghosts start dragging you away, stay out of my room."
Nyaruko's lies were transparent. The idea of an Outer God being afraid of low-level spirits was laughable; if anything, the ghosts were likely hiding from her.
Toya let out a long yawn. Before leaving, he shot a playful look at the soaking snake. "Hope you're well-marinated by morning."
Nyaruko reluctantly followed as Toya headed for his quarters. Jashin-chan was left alone, submerged in a pool of fragrant spices, desperately fighting the instinct to flee the heat.
Perseverance is the only path to perfection, she told herself.
.....
The next morning, Toya stepped out of his room, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and nearly walked into Hinatsuru Ai.
"Big Brother Toya!" Ai exclaimed, her face lit with a bright smile. "Thank you so much! Your advice worked. Mama hasn't been nearly as strict with me today."
Toya patted her head and yawned. "As long as you're aiming for the University of Tokyo, she won't find a reason to be angry. Even if things don't go perfectly, she'll value the effort."
In Japan, the University of Tokyo represented the pinnacle of social standing.
Hinatsuru Akina was likely so relieved her daughter had moved on from shogi that she wouldn't dream of scolding her.
Compared to the unstable life of a professional player, the goal of Todai was far more respectable.
"I have to go now!" Ai waved a textbook at him. "I'm going to study until I make it!"
After seeing Ai off, Toya noticed Akina standing in the hallway, her expression as formal and stiff as ever. "Proprietress, is something wrong?"
Akina stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance. My daughter has finally seen reason. Please, accept this small token of my appreciation."
She held out a thick envelope. At a glance, it contained at least a million yen.
Toya frowned. "I'm not short on money. Don't worry about it. If you really want to thank me, just give us a discount on the rooms."
Akina hesitated, but seeing Toya's firm stance, she eventually sighed. "Understood. I'll adjust the final bill."
.....
Toya eventually made his way to the dining hall. Seeing Nyaruko and Yurine but no sign of the demon, he asked, "Where's Jashin-chan? We need to get moving."
"No idea. Probably still in her room," Yurine replied, her voice flat. "She seemed obsessed with those 'supplements' and refused to come out."
"I'll go check on her. It would be a hassle if she actually managed to drown herself," Toya said, grabbing a piece of bread. If a normal staff member found her boiled like a lobster, it would cause a scene.
"I'm here," a raspy voice whispered. A figure wrapped so tightly in robes and scarves that their gender was indistinguishable sat down at the table.
Toya stared at the bundled form next to Yurine. "Jashin-chan?"
"It's me..." Her voice was dry, devoid of its usual obnoxious energy.
Toya sniffed the air. The spices have definitely soaked in. A powerful aroma of star anise, cinnamon, and peppercorns wafted from her, impossible to mask even with the heavy layers of clothing.
"What's with the getup?" Toya asked, playing dumb.
"The instructions said that after a full night of soaking, I have to avoid direct sunlight for at least half a day," Jashin-chan croaked. "So, I'm dressed like this to block the UV rays."
Nyaruko inhaled deeply, looking entranced. "Wow, that smells incredible. It's almost making me hungry."
Her comment only reinforced Jashin-chan's delusion, convincing her the treatment was working wonders.
Toya smiled. "Make sure you stay covered, then. It would be a waste of a long night."
Jashin-chan had tried to assassinate him the night before; letting her stew in her own idiocy was a far more entertaining punishment than anything he could have devised. Besides, she was functionally immortal; the "boiled" effect would wear off in a few hours.
Yurine watched from the side, letting out a heavy, pitying sigh. "Idiot."
She had no intention of cluing her in. She wanted to see exactly how long it would take for the "trash snake" to realize she had turned herself into a walking appetizer.
Breakfast ended shortly after, and Toya led the group toward Abe no Seimei's burial site on foot. Along the way, several pedestrians stopped to stare at the oddly dressed Jashin-chan.
The attention only fueled her ego. The formula was a success. Look at all these eyes on me.
The only downside was the smell; even she was starting to salivate at the delicious, savory scent of her own skin.
Toya fought the urge to laugh, determined to stay composed until they reached their destination. If he lost it now, she'd realize something was wrong, and he didn't feel like dealing with a demonic tantrum in the middle of a Kyoto street.
Suddenly, the group walked past a small stall selling traditional braised snacks. A familiar, spicy scent drifted through the air.
It was the exact same aroma emanating from Jashin-chan.
This is going to be bad, Toya thought.