DW DXD Omake: Izumo Inn Adventures Part 2 (Patreon)

Sakura marched ahead with the poised confidence of a seasoned innkeeper, her hands neatly clasped in front of her as her wooden sandals clicked a crisp, rhythmic beat against the spotless dark wooden floors. Her long purple hair swayed with every confident step, while her bright, energetic smile seemed to illuminate the corridor just as much as the sleek fixtures lining the high ceilings.

Behind her, Jake and Sarah walked carefully, their heavy boots feeling almost comically out of place against the pristine wood. Neither of them had expected the inn to be this enormous, let alone this impossibly bright.

"As you can see, our corridors are fully lit day and night!" Sakura explained proudly, gesturing grandly toward the seamless fixtures recessed into the high wooden ceilings.

Sarah stopped dead in her tracks directly beneath one of the lights. She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as her sharp mind tried to process what she was looking at. "...There's no smoke or oil," She muttered, frowning deeply. "No wick, no flame, no smell of burning tallow..." She reached out her hand, sensing for the ambient mana radiate from the fixture. "No magical crystal either. No glowing runes. Nothing." 

Unable to hold back her burning curiosity, Sarah looked up toward their young guide. "Is this some kind of high-level Light-Attuned magic? A localized holy ward?"

"Nope!" Sakura answered cheerfully, turning around on her heel with a bright grin. "It's pure electricity!"

Jake and Sarah exchanged a completely bewildered glance. "...Electricity," Jake repeated slowly, tasting the foreign word on his tongue. "Sounds like the name of a high-tier lightning spell that blows your arm off if you mispronounce it."

Sarah nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed in intense concentration. "I've studied over three hundred distinct forms of arcane, divine, and primal magic across three separate continents. I have never heard of 'electricity'."

Sakura simply giggled, a bright, musical sound that echoed down the polished hallway. "Mama Matsu said that everyone from around here would say that when we opened a branch in this forest!"

Jake blinked, catching the casual detail. "Wait... Mama Matsu? Another mama?"

"Yep!" Sakura beamed, again puffing out her chest proudly. "Mama Miya is like my fourth Mama, but I have lots of Mamas! Mama Matsu is the one who handles all the cool machines and power systems!"

Jake looked at Sarah, whose brain looked like it was actively melting trying to process both the concept of non-magical power and a family tree that defied every convention they knew.

"You know," Jake muttered under his breath, nudging the mage with his elbow, "at this point, I'm just hoping 'electricity' doesn't mean the bathwater is going to shock us."

"Don't give the dragon-family any ideas," Sarah whispered back, though her eyes were still glued to the glowing ceiling with fascination.

—-----------------------

Cafeteria

Their first stop was a set of massive sliding doors that couldn't quite contain the staggering, divine aromas drifting into the hallway.

The instant Sakura pushed them open, a wave of delicious scents rolled over the exhausted adventurers. The air was rich with the scent of seasoned, slow-simmered broths, perfectly seared meats, freshly steamed rice, baked bread, tart fruits, roasted vegetables, grilled fish dusted with fragrant herbs, and warm pastries coated in powdered sugar. The combined aroma was so overwhelmingly potent that both adventurers' stomachs growled in loud, perfect unison.

Jake looked away in instant embarrassment, clearing his throat. "...Pretend you didn't hear that."

Sarah's stomach answered with another loud rumble. "I don't think mine intends to let me."

Sakura giggled, her purple hair swaying as she turned to face them. "This is the Main Dining Hall!" She announced, throwing her arms wide.

The room stretched far farther than either of them had imagined possible. Polished, low-slung wooden tables filled the expansive hall beneath warm, glowing lanterns, comfortably seating well over a hundred guests. Yet it wasn't merely the staggering scale that left them speechless.

It was the clientele. Guests filled nearly every table, yet almost none of them looked like they belonged to the same realm, kingdom, or even world.

Near the entrance sat a towering warrior clad in jagged, intimidating obsidian armor, calmly lifting a tiny porcelain cup and sipping tea with impeccable, aristocratic manners. Across from him floated three translucent beings whose bodies shimmered like living constellations, tiny glowing stars slowly drifting beneath their skin. At another table, a family with pale blue skin and silver eyes laughed together while enjoying breakfast. Further down, a horned giant debated trade terms with a tiny fairy no larger than Jake's hand. Near the far window, a pair of cat-eared women chatted happily beside an elderly dwarf engrossed in a newspaper printed in a script Sarah had never seen.

Everywhere Sarah looked, she saw different races, clothing, and foreign languages, causing her jaw to slowly drop. ‘Where... are all these people from...?’ She had studying monsters, races, and magical civilizations. But she couldn't identify even half the guests currently enjoying their meal.

Yet, even those unbelievable visitors soon became secondary to the spectacle near the massive open kitchen. There, four women moved with effortless grace.

The first possessed long black hair tied into a ponytail with a yellow ribbon, striking purple eyes, and an elegant white-and-red shrine maiden outfit. She stirred several bubbling, steaming pots simultaneously while issuing calm, motherly instructions to the children assisting her.

Beside her stood a breathtaking woman with long white hair gathered into a short upward ponytail, brilliant blue eyes, and a sleeveless red dress that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. She moved between cutting boards with astonishing speed, prepping vegetables faster than Jake's trained eyes could track.

Then came the woman neither adventurer could possibly ignore. With long pink twin-tails, golden eyes, golden fox ears, and nine luxurious golden tails swaying rhythmically behind her, she effortlessly prepared half a dozen complex dishes at once. One hand stirred a thick soup, another seasoned grilled fish, while a third pan somehow flipped vegetables in mid-air despite no one touching it. Raw magic danced around her fingertips as naturally as breathing.

Finally, another woman with long purple hair, similar to Miya's, calmly kneaded fresh bread dough before sliding the loaves into a massive stone oven. She wore an elegant purple cheongsam that accentuated her figure with a tasteful keyhole opening at her chest and a high slit revealing slender, stocking-covered legs. Between her own prep work, she gently directed several children carrying heavy trays of freshly prepared food.

Before either adventurer could process why every single woman in the kitchen looked impossibly beautiful, the aroma in the room somehow grew even more intoxicating.

Jake swallowed loudly, his throat dry. "I've... never smelled food like this in my entire life."

Sarah nodded slowly, completely hypnotized by the kitchen. “Neither have I."

Sakura giggled, puffed out her chest proudly, her eyes sparkling. "Mama Tamamo, Mama Mirajane, Mama Akeno, and Mama Shion make the best food in every world!" She then paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Though we're still missing Mama Miya, Mama Touka, Mama Asia, Mama Rias, and Mama Ravel right now. It's even better when everyone cooks together!"

Jake blinked, his mind instantly snagging on those two casual words. "...Every world?" Before he could ask for an explanation, a young boy with unruly brown hair and bright blue eyes came sprinting through the dining hall toward them. He couldn't have been older than six.

"Sakura-neechan!" The six year old boy cheered.

Sakura spun around, her face lighting up. "Kazuma!"

The boy threw himself into a tight hug before suddenly noticing the two battle-worn strangers. "Oh!" His eyes sparkled with excitement. "New guests!"

As if his voice served as a signal to the entire inn, more children began emerging from every corner of the dining hall.

A cheerful little red-haired girl hurried past carrying a basket overflowing with fresh, vibrant flowers. A quiet white-haired girl carefully arranged delicate decorations on the empty tables. Twin black-haired boys raced one another between the chairs, laughing hysterically before being gently redirected out of the way by one of the cooks. A fox-eared toddler giggled happily in the arms of a twelve-year-old girl with blue eyes and long purple twin-tails, who wore an elegant purple qipao remarkably similar to the woman at the bread oven. Even more children bustled through the hall carrying fresh bread, cool drinks, and heavy trays of steaming food to eager guests. 

Jake leaned toward Sarah, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "...How many children work here?"

"...I've honestly stopped counting," Sarah muttered back, her eyes wide as she watched another four kids disappear through the kitchen doors with empty dishes. "And I don't think we've even seen half of them."

Their attention was drawn back toward the front of the kitchen as the stunning white-haired woman and the nine-tailed fox beauty wiped their hands and walked over to greet them.

"Sakura-chan, are you showing our new guests around?" The white-haired woman asked, offering a warm, motherly smile.

"Mama Mira! Mama!" Sakura waved enthusiastically. "I am! I'm showing them everything!"

The fox-eared woman flashed a brilliant, highly mischievous grin, resting a hand on her hip as she gave a slight, graceful bow to the travelers. "Then don't forget to bring them back for lunch after showing them to their room, alright?"

"I won't!" Sakura nodded energetically. "We're only getting started!"

Tamamo laughed softly, the sound like chiming bells, and waved at the pair with a flour-dusted hand. "I hope you enjoy your stay at the Izumo Inn."

"Thank you," Sarah managed to squeak out, attempting a respectful bow.

"Y-Yes... thank you," Jake added, clumsily bowing as well.

As Sakura turned to resume leading them down the grand corridor, Jake leaned in close until his lips were inches from Sarah's ear. "...Do you think these are all the sister-wives and children Miya mentioned?"

Sarah glanced back toward the bustling kitchen, where the four women had already returned to cooking with mind-boggling synchronization. "I honestly don't know..." She counted silently in her head, shuddering slightly. "...But there are already far more than I ever expected."

Jake scratched the back of his neck, his brow furrowed in utter defeat. "I wonder why they're all so unbelievably, ridiculously beautiful?"

Sarah let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I have an even bigger, far more terrifying question."

"What?" Jake asked.

She looked back at the kitchen one last time, her voice barely a whisper. "...How in the world did one dragon convince this many women to marry him?"

—-----------------------------------

Hotsprings Room

Their next destination carried with it a faint veil of warm steam. The deeper they ventured into the inn, the warmer the air became, carrying with it the soothing scent of fresh cedarwood, smooth stone, and fragrant herbs.

Sakura stopped before another pair of elegant sliding doors. "And this," she announced proudly, "is one of everyone's favorite places."

She gently pushed the doors open. A wave of pleasant warmth immediately washed over the two adventurers.

Steam drifted lazily through the enormous chamber, curling gracefully toward the high wooden ceiling before disappearing into carefully concealed vents. The centerpiece of the room was a breathtaking indoor hot spring carved entirely from smooth, polished stone. Crystal-clear water shimmered beneath soft golden lighting, reflecting across the stone walls like liquid glass.

Decorative waterfalls continuously poured into several interconnected pools, filling the room with the calming sound of flowing water. Lush green plants and carefully placed stones surrounded the baths, giving the impression of a secluded mountain spring hidden deep within nature.

Jake simply stood there, completely speechless. "...This..." He slowly looked upward. "...We're still inside, right?"

"Mhm!" Sakura nodded happily. "This is our indoor hot spring! It's a place where everyone comes to relax after a long day. Sometimes it even rains in here!"

Jake blinked. "...It rains?"

Sakura pointed upward toward the concealed ceiling. "Mama Matsu designed a special rain system. Warm water from the springs rises as steam while cool droplets fall gently from above. When they meet, it creates a really relaxing atmosphere."

Sarah slowly approached the nearest pool before kneeling beside it. She carefully dipped her fingers into the water. Her eyes widened almost instantly. "It feels naturally heated..." She let the water run through her fingers, feeling an unusual warmth that seemed to seep into her very bones.

Sakura smiled proudly. "It is also spiritual and magical." She pointed toward the crystal-clear water. "The spring is naturally connected to spiritual veins beneath the inn. The water slowly restores fatigue, eases sore muscles, improves circulation, and even speeds up the healing of small injuries. Mama Tamamo and Mama Amaterasu said that it's much healthier than using healing magic all the time."

Sarah blinked several times. "...Of course it does."

At this point, Jake wasn't even surprised anymore. "I've officially stopped questioning anything in this inn."

Sakura giggled before continuing her explanation. "There are actually lots of different baths." She pointed deeper into the enormous complex. "This one is only the presentation bath where guests can see what the hot springs look like."

Beyond the decorative entrance bath, Jake could make out several hallways disappearing into the steam. 

Sakura starts listing out all the baths her parents could think of. "There are mineral baths. Aromatherapy baths. Cold plunge pools. Bubble baths. Deep soaking baths. And even open-air baths if people want to enjoy nature."

Sarah's eyes widened. "How many hot springs does this place have?"

Sakura tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I've never counted."

Jake stared. "...You've never..." He looked toward what appeared to be an entire bathhouse hidden inside the inn. "...How big is this place?"

Sakura simply smiled. "Really, really big." She then pointed toward another hallway where elegant wooden signs hung overhead. "The actual bathing areas are farther inside."

Jake followed her finger.

One sign depicted a blue curtain. The other, a red curtain.

"There's a changing room before entering the baths," Sakura explained. "The men's and women's baths are completely separated so everyone can relax comfortably." She placed both hands politely in front of herself. "Please remember to be respectful of the other guests. Some visitors come here simply to relax after long journeys, while others use the springs for meditation or recovery."

Sarah gave an approving nod. "A sensible rule."

Jake quickly nodded as well. "Absolutely."

As they continued walking past the entrance, several guests emerged from the changing rooms. An elderly dwarf sighed happily while drying his beard with a towel. A pair of beastkin chatted cheerfully after finishing their bath. A graceful elf woman walked peacefully toward the relaxation lounge carrying a cup of herbal tea. All of them wore expressions of complete contentment.

Jake quietly leaned toward Sarah. "...I've never seen so many people look this relaxed."

Sarah nodded. "I believe I understand why." She glanced back toward the steaming pools one last time. "If this place existed back home, it would become one of the wonders of the kingdom."

—------------------------------

Sauna Room

Beside the hot springs stood another elegant cedar door, from behind which thick waves of dry warmth seeped into the hallway.

Sakura slid it open with a smooth flick of her wrist, and the instant the door moved aside, a staggering blast of intense, dry heat rolled over the two adventurers.

Jake instinctively raised an armored forearm to shield his face, beads of sweat immediately forming across his forehead in the intense atmosphere. "...A furnace? Are you roasting something in here?"

"No!" Sakura giggled at his dramatic reaction. "It's called a sauna!"

The room beyond was unlike anything either of them had ever encountered on their journeys. Instead of pools of steaming water, the spacious chamber was lined with rich, smooth cedar walls and pristine polished stone flooring. Warm amber lighting glowed soft and low, casting a tranquil atmosphere across the hall, while several smaller rooms branched off into distinct corridors. Above each doorway hung a meticulously carved wooden plaque displaying different temperatures and names.

Guests wrapped in simple, white bath towels quietly moved between the chambers, some chatting softly while others simply leaned back in peaceful silence. Several emerged with flushed, radiant skin, immediately cooling off with glasses of ice-cold water or sinking into comfortable wooden reclining chairs.

Sarah leaned forward, looking around with intense curiosity. "So... people willingly come here to sit inside an incredibly hot room?"

"Yup!" Sakura nodded enthusiastically, her purple hair bouncing. "It's another way to relax after a long day of travel or battle. The dry heat helps your aching muscles recover, opens your pores, improves blood circulation, and is supposed to be really good for your skin!"

Jake scratched his cheek, looking completely baffled. "...People pay money to be cooked alive?"

Sakura couldn't help laughing, her cheerful giggles echoing off the cedar walls. "Not cooked!" She pointed toward the various rooms lining the corridor. "Everyone just has different preferences!"

Above the first doorway hung a small wooden sign that read: Warm Sauna. Another read: Traditional Dry Sauna. Further down the hallway were signs labeled: Stone Sauna, Herbal Steam Room, and Salt Therapy Room.

Sarah blinked several times, her academic mind whirring. "There are... different kinds of dry heat?"

"There are!" Sakura replied proudly. "Some use dry air, some use scented steam, and some use special herbs or deeply heated volcanic stones to create different relaxing effects."

Jake slowly looked toward one room where several tough-looking mercenaries sat peacefully with their eyes closed despite the intense, shimmering heat radiating through the glass. "...They're all smiling."

"They usually do," Sakura nodded. "Most people feel completely refreshed afterward." She then paused, her expression becoming surprisingly serious. Turning toward the two adventurers, she held up a single finger like a proper, well-trained guide giving a crucial safety lecture. "But you do have to be very careful. Some rooms are much hotter than others."

She pointed toward one of the doors farther down the hall, where heat waves practically shimmered through the doorframe. "Beginners shouldn't stay inside for very long, and you should always listen to your body. If you start feeling dizzy or uncomfortable, you should leave immediately."

Sarah nodded approvingly, impressed by the girl's thoroughness. "A sensible precaution."

"And make sure to drink plenty of water afterward," Sakura continued, beaming up at them. "Papa says relaxing is important, but doing it safely is even more important!"

Jake chuckled softly, his tension melting away. "I think your father has a saying for everything."

"He does!" Sakura answered proudly, puffing out her chest.

Just then, the door to one of the high-heat rooms slid open with a soft hiss.

A massive, heavily bearded dwarf stepped out into the main hall, wiping sheets of sweat from his brow before letting out a deeply satisfying, booming sigh.

"Ahhh..." He accepted a sweating, chilled glass of water from one of the inn's attendants, draining it in a single, massive gulp. "That's the life right there. Thank you, Yashima-san."

“Happy to help, sir!” The attendant cheerfully replied. She was another striking woman with warm gray eyes, orange-brownish hair styled in a neat bob cut with a blue ribbon, and a modest blue kimono that accentuated her gentle, graceful figure.

Nearby, an elderly high elf stretched her arms high overhead with a serene, radiant smile. "I haven't felt this relaxed in decades... my joints feel a hundred years younger."

Jake quietly leaned over toward Sarah, lowering his voice. "...I think we're the only two people in this entire building who don't understand what's going on."

Sarah watched the completely content, glowing expressions on every guest leaving the sauna rooms. "...Perhaps," she murmured, a faint, rare smile touching her lips. "But judging by their faces, whatever this 'sauna' is... it must be worth trying at least once."

—-----------------------------------------

Massage Room

Across the hallway stood another beautifully carved cedar door. Unlike the lively chatter near the dining hall or the soothing sounds of flowing water from the hot springs, this room welcomed them with something entirely different.

Soft instrumental music drifted gently through the air, accompanied by the faint, comforting fragrance of lavender, chamomile, and sweet sandalwood. The peaceful melody alone seemed capable of washing away the lingering exhaustion of a long road.

Sakura quietly slid the door open. Inside, several comfortable massage beds were arranged neatly throughout the spacious, softly lit room, each separated by elegant folding screens that provided guests with a sense of private sanctuary while maintaining the overall tranquil atmosphere.

Nearly every bed was occupied. Some guests lay face down while others rested comfortably on their backs, their expressions slowly melting into pure, unadulterated bliss beneath the practiced hands of four professional attendants.

The first attendant possessed a notably voluptuous figure, blank brown eyes, and short, slightly messy light-brown hair. She wore a simple white open kimono that allowed her complete freedom of movement while she worked with calm precision. Although her expression remained almost completely emotionless, her hands moved with remarkable, innate confidence as she expertly kneaded the tense, knot-ridden shoulders of a weary merchant.

"...There," Her voice drifted out, quiet and flat. "The stiffness is gone."

The merchant slowly sat upright, blinking in disbelief before his eyes widened in utter amazement. "My back..." He stretched experimentally, rotating his torso with ease. "It doesn't hurt anymore! Your cold massages are phenomenal, Akitsu-san!"

The woman simply gave a small, barely perceptible nod before motioning toward the next client waiting patiently nearby.

Beside her worked another buxom woman with short black hair, bright blue eyes, and a modest blue kimono. Unlike her quiet coworker, she greeted every guest with a warm, radiant smile. "Please relax," she said gently while carefully massaging an elderly traveler's rounded shoulders. "You've been carrying far too much tension in your neck."

The elderly man let out a long, contented sigh that sounded almost like a purr. "Thank you, Misuki-san. I haven't felt this comfortable in months."

Misuki smiled happily, her blue eyes crinkling. "I'm so glad."

Further inside, a graceful woman with long golden hair and emerald-green eyes tended to several elderly guests. Wearing a soft yellow kimono, she radiated an almost angelic gentleness as she carefully massaged aching joints and tired muscles with incredible patience.

"There we are," her soothing voice carried softly throughout the room like a quiet hymn. "Please tell me if I'm applying too much pressure."

The elderly woman she was treating smiled warmly up at her. "Not at all, Asia-chan," she closed her eyes, letting out a soft breath. "Your hands are absolutely wonderful. Truly a blessing."

Finally, another attendant with long orange twin-tails and striking violet eyes moved gracefully between several guests. Her crisp white kimono flowed elegantly with every step as she offered bright, reassuring smiles to each person she assisted.

"Don’t worry, you’re in the hands of an angel!" She said with unwavering, sparkling confidence. "Please leave all your worries and aches to me!"

One utterly exhausted, battle-worn adventurer lying face down practically melted through the frame of the massage table. "I think..." He sighed deeply, his entire body going limp. "...I've found paradise. Thank you, Irina-chan."

Jake tilted his head, watching the entire room in absolute disbelief. "So people pay someone..." He looked toward a guest whose serene expression suggested he had forgotten every single hardship he’d ever suffered in his life. "...to just rub their backs?"

Sarah folded her arms, her eyes watching the attendants work with practiced, anatomical precision. "I suppose..." She paused, her own sore shoulder muscles aching in jealousy. "...when they're this skilled, it actually sounds rather pleasant."

Sakura nodded enthusiastically, her purple hair swaying. "It isn't just massages!" She began pointing around the room at the various specialized oils and herbal wraps. "We also help people recover after long, dangerous adventures. Some guests come here because of their damaged bodies and strained muscles. Some just want to relax after spending all afternoon in the hot springs."

Jake looked around once more. Not a single guest appeared rushed, stressed, or on guard. Several had even drifted peacefully to sleep beneath the attendants' gentle care. "...This place really does think of everything."

"We tried to! After all, this is Mama Miya’s dream," Sakura replied proudly, beaming up at them. "Plus, Papa says that a comfortable journey isn't just about having a soft bed." She smiled brightly, her reddish-brown eyes sparkling. "It's about making sure people leave feeling better than when they arrived."

Sarah nodded with genuine, deep admiration, her opinion of the unseen master of the house shifting rapidly. "...Your father sounds like a remarkably thoughtful innkeeper."

Sakura's smile grew even wider, her face glowing with affection. "He really is!"

Done. Tell me what you think.