After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 197

Chapter 197: Respite (Part 1)
Ansel heaved out a relaxed sigh as he laid on his bathtub filled with warm water. As he submerged his body, it was like all the tiredness and stress of the past few weeks seemed to flow out of his body.

“Ah, this is the life!” He said, closing his eyes, and leaning deeper down until his entire body was covered.

His senses were refreshed and all his tense muscles relaxed. Groaning in relaxation, he simmered in the lovely warmth of the water. His body also felt soft; it was as if all the tense muscles were being massaged on their own.

Ansel had no doubt that the special Jasmine Fragrance Althea gave him to mix with the water had a lot to do with this. She had always had a talent for making concoctions like this.

For a while he laid there, just feeling the warm water surrounding his body. It was so soothing that he mused that this must be what it was like to return back to the womb of mothers.

He emerged a couple of seconds later literally feeling like a newborn.

As he chilled out, he began to observe the bathroom of his new room. It was a ten-square-meter bathroom with the tub he was on at the far edge. It was next to a small capiz-like fenestration that allowed natural lighting in. If he wanted, he could open this window and observe the garden outside as he bathed.

Ah, how lovely.

He then turned his attention to the tub itself. The bathtub was made of ceramics and intricately designed wood. There were carvings, but the most important feature was their anthropological design. Any body size would be able to lay down and relax their hearts out.

It could be said that whoever Althea commissioned items for her house—whether it was wood or earthenware—she took particular care with its quality and design.

Of course, due credit shall also be given to the masters who managed to follow her whims. It must not have been easy.

Ansel couldn’t help chuckling at the image. He was obviously going insane with worry for her, but she was living the life in her new home.

He cleaned himself up very thoroughly and he even fell asleep in the bathtub a few minutes later.

Fortunately, the shape of the tub was to prevent people from drowning even while snoozing, so he was still alive and well after the fifteen-minute power nap.

He dipped once more before standing up to get out of the bathtub. His well-built body—further improved by the level upgrades—was completely exposed to the air. He stepped out of the tub and he was soon covered by the cotton towel accessible by an extension of the arm.

Drying himself with a towel—definitely from a Terran hotel—he went out of the bathroom and looked around his new room.

Immediately, he saw new sets of clothes folded neatly on the bed.

It was a polo and pants set made of comfortable linen. He tried it on to find out it was just his size.

It was still his favorite brand of comfort clothes. Althea must have gotten these from the ‘downtown trip’ she took, the one he heard about from the twins.

Even if he knew Garan even had more sets of clothing, Ansel felt warm in his heart.

After all, even in that situation where zombies were chasing, Althea could still think of them, remembering even the small details.

With a smile, he looked at the other things prepared for him. He saw a small jar with a note, saying it was a gel alternative and his eyes sparkled. How long has it been since he had his lovely gossamer hair? He could live without these chicken nests, thank you very much.

Ansel got dressed and arranged his hair with a smile, knowing he looked good by instinct (there was no mirror in his room yet), before finally leaving the room.

He went down and found her having tea in the verandah, relaxed in her seat with a leg folded under another, sipping her cup gracefully.

She looked as beautiful as ever, having the plants and sun behind her as her background, serving as a willing foil to her beauty.

Beside her was a soft mat of beast fur where the four children were playing (Horus was out ‘working’) with various wooden toys.

Of course, the babies were rolling around…. not at all looking like newborns—

Now that he thought about it… “Are newborn children supposed to be rolling around?” And… they don’t look like newborn premature babies at all!

Althea smiled and motioned for him to join her, pouring him tea from the quaint earthenware tea set she commissioned.

“It’s really a long story.” She said, “I want to hear what happened to you first.”

“Oh.”

Ansel took a sip of the tea and was not surprised to find it delicious. It was a lovely mix, having the sweetness of fruit but the refreshing hint of something minty.

Although Althea didn’t cook, she could really mix fantastic teas.

“Well, the Transformation happened while I was having dinner with my clients.” He began speaking, telling her about his adventures and how he managed to survive. He did not hide anything.

Althea was heartbroken and she patted his hand, and seeing her worried look at him Ansel gave himself a nod.

If Garan were to see his pity-act, Ansel had no doubt he’d be thrown in the wilds for training.

He soon got to his arrival at Bright territory and Althea looked at him curiously. “Bright had nothing on what you have here, but it’s better than the others. It was horrible living there, Althea! You probably can’t imagine!”

“I have an idea,” Althea corrected him, “I didn’t build the territory from the get-go and I happened to have encountered one before getting here.” She said, her eyes darkening at the memory of the friend they lost.

Ansel didn’t have the time to ask for details because she lifted her head with clear eyes, obviously putting the topic aside and putting back her attention to his situation. “Tell me more about this Bright and Vismont villages and their lords.”

Ansel paused before nodding, telling her his impression of the guy. “In fairness to him, although I don’t like Lord Plaster-face, he is still much better than that other lord.”

He saw Althea pondering about something, but she shook her head when he asked.

“It’s just a preliminary idea for now.” She said, “I’ll tell you more after I flesh it out more.”

Instead, she looked at him with interest. “You seem to really dislike the Vismont village lord.”

Ansel mumbled about what he knew and experienced. Then he turned to Althea. “Tell me honestly, what do you see about us?”

“What?”

“What are lords able to see about the people in their territory?”

Althea blinked, before smiling mysteriously. After a while, she still didn’t speak, completely whetting Ansel’s appetite. “I promise not to tell anyone else!”

Althea did not speak, just raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

“Please, sister?” He asked, acting cutely.

If Leo and the others were here, they would probably vomit.

And if Garan was here…, he’d definitely have thrown Ansel into the barracks for a very, very, harsh training regime.