”Kwaaaah! Now this is the life!”
Sinking up to his shoulders in the bath, Fainess let out a long, happy groan. Beside him, Glen narrowed his eyes in silent agreement, quietly watching Aile, Crow, and Spela noisily washing themselves and laughing together as they splashed around.
Mingling with the guests, Kyle lowered himself into the warm water, letting out an involuntary, weary sigh. “Aaaahh…”
”Ahhh… this hits the spot,” Crow muttered, leaning his head back against the rim.
”My toes are tingling,” Spela noted, flexing his feet. “Guess I was colder than I thought.”
”Yeah,” Aile declared, wiping water from his face. “Negative on insulation. Wind conditions on the water were severe.”
They had been so completely wrapped up in the fishing that they had forgotten the chill entirely. Only after soaking in the warm water did Kyle realize just how frozen his body had become. That comforting feeling knew no age or world, holding true here as well.
”Never imagined you’d have a bath this size ready for us,” Glen addressed Kyle directly, resting his arms on the wooden edge. “After bein’ out in that cold, this is the best treat imaginable, like. Fine taste you’ve got, Kyle Walker.”
”Glad you like it,” Kyle replied with a warm smile. “When Jack and Aile came for a trial run before, this facility wasn’t here yet, so you all are the first real guests. How is it?”
”We’re your first customers, are we?” Glen chuckled, rubbing his neck. “Aye, this is grand, innit? Warms a cold body right up. Didn’t notice it on boat, mind, but I must be more tired than I thought-can barely lift me arms, honestly.”
Whether from muscle soreness or sheer exhaustion, Fainess echoed the sentiment, gently rubbing his own forearm. “Back in my day, I could handle a full day’s labor, but these old bones sure feel it now. Arms are completely shot,” It made total sense. Simply standing on a rocking boat forced a person to constantly keep their balance, which was exhausting on its own. Add casting lures and fighting stubborn fish, and a person’s arms took a beating. Once soaking in a bath like this, all that built-up fatigue hit all at once, bringing a deep sleepiness right alongside it.
”Third son of the Labelka house,” Fainess called out, turning toward Crow. “That fish you caught today looked like the biggest of the lot, didn’t it?”
Startled at being suddenly addressed by the older man, Crow scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. “No, I just got lucky. And if we’re counting numbers, Lord Ballantyne and Lord Darwiny caught way more than I did…”
”Ha ha ha! Don’t be so modest, boy,” Fainess laughed heartily, waving off the titles. “Back in my day, folks knew better than to put on airs. We’re all stark naked here-no need for all those fancy titles.”
”Yeah, fair enough,” Crow chuckled, relaxing his posture. “Ha ha ha!”
They say that in golf there is something called the “nineteenth hole”-that the best part of any shared hobby comes after the day’s play is over, when everyone talks about their wins over a warm drink. Kyle had never enjoyed time for such fun in his past life due to soul-crushing corporate labor, but watching this scene unfold, he realized there was real truth to the saying. The five of them soaked together in a relaxed mood, talking about the sport fishing they had tried for the first time that day-exchanging tips on casting techniques, describing the fierce pull on the line, laughing about the big one Crow had lost, and thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.
Whether it was the warm water soothing their tired bodies or the pleasant atmosphere, even Glen, who had initially struck Kyle as somewhat grump-faced, wore a broad smile.
”Man, I always figured fishing was just some old geezer hobby,” Spela admitted, speaking for the younger group as he leaned back. “Just staring at the water and zoning out. But this? There’s always something to do, so it never gets boring!”
Fainess, speaking for the older generation, chimed in with excitement he could barely hold back. “Back in my day, I could draw a hunting bow just fine, but it’s gettin’ harder lately. This here, though-I can still do this! And that feeling when a fish bites? Why, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!”
It was true enough. Unlike lazy river fishing with live bait, offshore lure fishing involved a whole different size of prey. Thanks to the custom rods Kyle had built, the feel of the rod was impressive enough to pass muster even with these aristocratic lovers of leisure.
”I know exactly what you mean!” Crow agreed with enthusiasm, gesturing with his hands. “It’s like you’re in a direct one-on-one duel with the fish, and it’s thrashing like crazy-bzzzzt, bzzzzt!”
”Affirmative,” Aile barked in short agreement. “Direct engagement confirmed.”
Glen nodded solemnly in approval. “Aye, proper brilliant it was, like.”
”I was present during Lord Regal’s major engagement, you know,” Aile continued, lowering his voice dramatically. “Target thrashing violently-maneuvering left, maneuvering right-and Lord Regal went completely red in the face wrestling it. Observation team watched with bated breath. Pure combat, plain and simple. Today, objective was landing a target of equal scale… but target escaped.”
As Aile retold Jack Regal’s catch of that giant Garuga, it sounded like a bard’s grand story, easily holding everyone’s attention.
”I saw that fish rubbing back at the manor,” Fainess remarked, nodding thoughtfully. “If that’s the kind of fight you get from a beast that size, why, I reckon Jack’s story wasn’t made up one bit.”
”…Hmph,” Glen grunted quietly, though a tiny smile twitched at his lips.
”No way,” Spela declared, shaking his head. “Next time, I gotta see that fish rubbing for myself.”
”Damn,” Crow muttered, splashing the water lightly. “I thought the one I caught fought like crazy, but there’s always a bigger one out there, huh,” He turned toward Kyle with bright eyes. “Hey, Kyle-you got any better lures or something for catching the big ones? And could you make custom reels? For personal use, not just rentals?”
(Got him!) Kyle thought to himself as Aile nodded alongside Crow. Not that he meant to rip off his friends, but this confirmed a great business opportunity: selling custom rods and special lures to wealthy folks who were hooked on the hobby.
”I’m working on that,” Kyle replied smoothly. “If you want your own personal rod and lures, I can take custom orders-it’s definitely possible. But it’ll cost a pretty penny, so unless you’re fishing regularly, you probably won’t break even. Think it over. Once winter really sets in, heading out on the sea is going to be rough anyway.”
”Understood,” Aile replied, adjusting his position in the water. “Cold conditions already severe. Winter operations will prove unsustainable.”
”On the other hand,” Kyle added with a grin, “winter fish carry more fat and taste much better. So you could always go out for short trips.”
”Adjust strategy!” Aile barked back in exasperated disbelief. “Conflicting orders issued!”
Aile’s short retort drew warm laughter from everyone around the tub.
At that moment, the sunlight coming through the large window shifted to a whole different tone-trading the bright sky of day for a deep, warm amber.
”Ah, sunset already,” Kyle murmured, turning toward the glass. “What do you think? I built this bathhouse thinking that just being able to enjoy this view while relaxing in the bath would be worth it. Eventually, I’d like to build lodging here too. Then people could see the sunrise, or just watch the sea during the day even when they don’t go fishing.”
At Kyle’s words, the five guests turned to stare out the window, left temporarily quiet. The sun, sinking closer to the horizon, seemed to grow in size, its golden shape bending as it dipped beyond the sea’s edge. The sky shifted from bright blue to rich dark blue, painting a complex blend of color across the sky, while the last lingering light threw a glowing line across the moving water.
”””””….”””””
The five of them watched the amazing view without blinking. Only when the sun had fully set beneath the waves and the sky began to darken did the silence finally break.
”The sunset over the sea..,” Crow breathed softly, eyes wide. “It’s beautiful.”
”Aye,” Glen agreed softly, resting his chin in his hand. “You’d think we see sunsets every day, yet we were left speechless, weren’t we?”
After stepping out of the bath, the three younger men-Aile, Crow, and Spela-chattered with excitement about what they had just seen. Kyle responded modestly, “Well, the seaside is the countryside after all. I thought folks from the city might appreciate this kind of vibe,” receiving a chorus of genuine thanks in return.
They had clearly been touched. Then again, aristocrats were usually busy preparing for evening parties at this hour, while devout followers of Aten were typically getting ready for bed. Very few people in this world had ever taken the time to simply sit and watch the sun dip below the ocean horizon.
”Back in my day, folks knew better than to miss a good view,” Fainess mused warmly, leaning against the wall as he dried off. “Reckon bein’ in this fine bath with our bodies rested made it all the sweeter.”
”Aye, spot on,” Glen agreed with a firm nod. “Proper good.”
It seemed the fun of fishing had landed best with the three younger men, while the older pair had been completely sold on the bath-and-sunset combination.
”Kyle Walker,” Fainess asked, turning as he pulled on his tunic, “about what you mentioned earlier-when might those lodging rooms be ready here?”
Kyle couldn’t give a set timeline just yet. He had already stretched his budget significantly with his recent projects. Still, thanks to Flare, he had considerably more funds freed up now, and though he had endless ideas he wanted to try, this venture was proving deeply rewarding. The Satoru of his past life-who had merely shuffled through soul-crushing corporate tasks with dead eyes-was long gone. Now, reborn into a relaxed world and married to a brilliant wife, he was living fully as Kyle Walker, doing precisely what he wanted to do.
When Kyle admitted that the lodging would still take time due to money limits, the older pair looked clearly disappointed. Kyle offered an encouraging smile. “I’ll do my absolute best to make it happen as soon as possible!”
”Oh ho! So this is the fish I caught today?” Fainess asked, leaning over the dining table with wide eyes.
”Indeed,” Flare explained with refined elegance. “I had the Vizuku prepared into fried morsels, and the Scapa crafted into carpaccio. As for Crow’s Garuga, it was far too large for one individual, so I requested a shared platter of sashimi. I trust this meets your approval?”
”Yeah, of course!” Crow chimed in brightly, grinning from ear to ear. “Better than letting it go to waste!”
Having bonded so thoroughly in the warm water, the five guests had built a real sense of togetherness. When Kyle had initially suggested turning Crow’s Garuga into a shared meal, Crow had eagerly agreed, clearly proud to offer his impressive catch to the group.
And so, once everyone had changed into fresh clothes, they gathered together in the manor’s dining hall for dinner.
”Wh-whoa, this is amazing!” Spela exclaimed after his first bite. “Raw fish is actually this good!?”
”Maybe it’s because the sauce and dressing go so perfectly with it?” Crow added, eagerly taking another piece.
”Hoh,” Fainess noted, chewing thoughtfully. “Back in my day, we didn’t eat fish raw like this, but this sashimi… Why, game meat’s been far too greasy for my stomach lately, but this goes down smooth as silk, even for an old fellow like me.”
”Aye, spot on,” Glen agreed, nodding heartily over his plate. “Heavy game and greasy fried stuff have been sittin’ heavy on me belly, but this sashimi goes down with no trouble at all. Proper grand, this is.”
Everyone stayed in remarkably high spirits throughout the meal, enjoying the unique joy of eating fish they had personally caught. While ordinary commoners might shy away from raw fish, these noble lovers of luxury viewed it as a rare delicacy saved for refined tastes, making them all the more eager to enjoy every bite.
”Say there, Kyle,” Fainess said, leaning forward after finishing his plate alongside Glen. “Reckon if you’re buildin’ that lodging, we’d be glad to help fund it, you know?”
”Aye,” Glen added with a knowing wink. “We’d be dead chuffed to back it, like.”
Apparently, the pair had fallen completely in love with the whole experience-the sport fishing, the communal bath, and the great dinner that followed.
”In exchange, though,” Glen continued with a cheeky grin, “we’d want priority booking rights, yeah?”
The two older men shared sly, playful smiles. The fact that they weren’t demanding a percentage of business profits like typical investors meant they simply wanted guaranteed access to enjoy themselves. They were true fun-seekers to the core.
Following the wildly successful meal, the five guests excused themselves to their rooms, admitting they were completely wiped out. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just Fainess and Glen who were feeling the strain-even Aile, Crow, and Spela were yawning big as they shuffled off down the hallway. Using muscles they weren’t used to out on the sea, relaxing in a hot bath, and topping it off with a heavy meal and fine drink had left them thoroughly tired.
Back in the primary bedroom, Kyle discussed the surprise investment offer with Flare over a quiet drink.
”In that case, perhaps we could issue exclusive membership cards,” Flare suggested smoothly, her tone perfectly poised. “Allowing investors to utilize the facilities at a preferential rate. Naturally, a more luxurious card would be appropriate depending on the degree of contribution.”
If the pair intended to bring fellow noble friends in the future, holding a low-numbered membership card would serve as a grand status symbol in social circles. A card marked Member No. 2 or No. 3 would undoubtedly delight them. (Member No. 1, naturally, was saved for her father, Jack.)
”I see… as expected,” Kyle smiled, leaning back against the pillows. “When it comes to understanding noble thinking, I can’t hold a candle to you, Flare.”
In truth, the business side of the venture was largely driven by Flare’s sharp mind. Meanwhile, Taris smoothly managed secretarial duties and planning during work hours.
”At once, sir,” Taris had assured earlier. “All administrative preparations shall be executed without delay,” House Regal’s servants were truly capable beyond measure.
Kyle had spent the day out on the water as well, though he had only cast his line a few times during the initial trial. Having been out on boats often lately, he was well used to the movement and felt surprisingly energized. With a hot bath behind him and a fine drink in hand, he felt completely refreshed-and that meant his thoughts began to drift.
He had originally come to his wife’s room under the pretense of consulting her about the investment offer, but as they spoke in the quiet dimness, a familiar warmth settled over him. Looking at his beautiful, brilliant, and deeply capable wife, he felt himself falling in love with her all over again.
”Flare..,” Kyle murmured softly.
Stepping closer to Flare, who sat dressed in soft, relaxed sleepwear, Kyle leaned down and kissed her gently without warning.
”Aren’t you tired?” she asked, accepting the kiss smoothly before pulling back with a playful tilt of her lips. Her playful smile, looking as though she could see straight into his mind, was completely captivating.
”I’m tired, sure,” Kyle admitted, wrapping his arms around her waist, “but right now… I just really want to hold you, Flare.”
”My, how terribly improper,” she teased lightly, her voice dripping with refined elegance as she ran a soft hand over his shoulder. “With honored guests resting right down the hall-what a naughty husband you are.”
”It’s fine,” Kyle assured her gently. “We’re far enough from the guest wing, and all five of them are dead asleep after today’s trip.”
He knew he was being overly eager, but in that moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to be close to her. Roughly half a year had passed since their marriage, and with time, Flare had truly begun to open up and share in their closeness. The early days, when she had quietly endured the unfamiliarity, had held their own sweet charm-but now that they could genuinely share that joy together, it made his heart feel deeply connected to hers. Bringing out such raw affection from a peerless beauty was the greatest happiness he could ever ask for.
”Very well,” Flare agreed softly, her eyes shining with warm affection. “However, we must remain hushed. I would find it terribly uncouth if anyone were to overhear…”
Her attractive smile sent a rush of excitement through him. Gently guiding her back, Kyle leaned in close. Though his body was weary from the long day, the tiredness melted away entirely. With their five guests sleeping soundly after their sea adventure, Kyle slipped into bed beside his beloved wife, losing himself in the warmth of the quiet night.
__________________________To be continued
Trivia:
- The “nineteenth hole” reference suggests this world has golf—indicating either cultural crossover or that Kyle’s memories from his past life are bleeding into his narration.
- Kyle’s internal reflection about his past life as Satoru reveals he was overworked and miserable, making his current peaceful life a deliberate contrast and personal redemption.
- The fact that Kyle built the bathhouse specifically for the sunset view shows he values aesthetic experiences over pure utility, a trait that aligns with his new leisurely lifestyle.
- The old men’s investment offer is purely for personal enjoyment, not profit—they want priority access to the experience rather than a share of revenue.
- Flare’s understanding of noble psychology extends to assigning low membership numbers as a status symbol, suggesting she’s leveraging social dynamics to make the investment appealing.
- Kyle explicitly acknowledges that Flare has been driving the business plan, with Taris handling secretarial work, indicating a reversal of traditional gender roles in this household.