Things pick up outside the inn as Benten turns up, urging Ahab and Ebisu to keep on going a little more. Ahab is panting hard as he continues walking, saying a sailor like him isn't suited to going around on shore. Ebisu complains and asks Benten to help him since he was the only one pushing Ahab from behind this entire time. Benten protests that she's never carried anything heavier than her biwa, and then protests that she's totally got a handle on her navigation job and that they are SO rude to insinuate otherwise. Ahab sighs and says her navigation is why they're late though. Ebisu thinks the same thing but says he won't say it to her face.
You can hear their voices coming from the entrance, so you go over to look. Benten says she's totally got the right place this time, seventh time's the charm! You welcome them to the inn that awaits the bulls, or you suggest Benten's a disaster if it took her seven tries to get here. In A, Benten just smiles. In B, Benten is surprised that you heard her say that part and wonders if she said it too loudly. Ahab and Ebisu are just done either way.
In any case, Ebisu starts asking for water while Ahab asks for a damn drink whether it be booze or water, just make it snappy. You bring the water and comment on Ahab making it in, and Ebisu thanks you and says he's feeling a lot better after he chugs his water. Ahab says the water is great after he drinks his, though booze would have been better. But as to the other point, of course he'd come if you mention good luck superstitions because sailors are all about that. He wasn't expecting this to happen all the way up a mountain though, and he mentions getting lost and getting chased by wild boars. Speaking of boars, Ahab gives you some boar meat and fish he picked up on the way.
Ebisu talks about his amazement at Ahab's spear handling techniques for a moment before he remembers to properly greet you now. Ahab starts asking for alcohol and directions to the baths, figuring he may as well enjoy himself with those since he's come all this way. He then proceeds to slump over, so Benten starts bugging him to wake back up saying he looks so cool out in the sea but then turns into this lame mess on land. She also mentions that Makara told her about how Ahab tends to sleep all day when he's on land so he asked her to get him to move. Ahab gets annoyed and says he caught a goddamn boar so now he wants to go to the baths, then hiccups to Benten and Ebisu's surprise.
You ask Ahab if he's already been drinking, and Benten says she thought it was weird how Ahab had been nursing his canteen. She shrugs it off and greets you, saying luck must be swinging your way since you got to see her. Ebisu also asks how you're doing, then says that he's already tired even though he just got here. You comment that Benten's the same as ever, say things are rough as always for Ebisu, and/or say you're glad they could come. Benten laughs and says she just had to come when she heard there'd be a New Year's party, figuring it'll be time for her to rock out on her biwa. Ebisu explains he was asked by Gyumao to come cook for the party. He also mentions that he brought in help that he borrowed from the Ueno guild, and said help is in the form of some cook slimes.
Shennong comes over to check out what all the noise is, and when he sees Ebisu he asks if he's the cook Gyumao had been talking about. Ebisu confirms as such, then introduces Benten and Ahab to him. Shennong takes note that Ahab is drunk soon after and asks if he's okay. Benten shrugs and figures it should be fine since Ahab has a handle on things when he's on board his ship. And when he's not on his ship, him being buzzed is his default state of being.
Shennong does a quick exam of Ahab by looking in his mouth and checking his pulse, then briefly considers giving a shot before deciding against it. When the exam is done, he says Ahab just looks tired and is barely, barely on the healthy side. He tries to suggest that Ahab cut down on the drinking, then advises him against going into the hot springs in the inn while drunk. Ahab takes great interest in there being hot springs and starts looking for them, so Shennong tries to repeat himself about not going in yet. This falls on deaf ears as Ahab runs off, so Shennong sighs about having to go after him. Before he does though, he remembers to stick around long enough to tell Ebisu where the kitchen is. There's a banquet hall where the others are if he can't find it, so he can ask them. He'll go after Ahab and assures Ebisu it'll be fine because you're coming to help search.
You are briefly surprised to be shanghaied into looking for Ahab, but you agree that he shouldn't be left on his own so you roll along with it. Shennong tells Ebisu everything about the cooking will be left up to him, and this is partly because Shennong himself can't help with that. He adds in a small whisper and a wry smile that the poison coming from his body would cause numbness. Ebisu says he can do it and asks you guys to take care of Ahab.
Benten decides she'll go with Ebisu, and since she's feeling peckish she asks Ebisu to make her some snacks. Ebisu is shocked at the idea of her coming with him, so Benten assures him she'll help out and brings up that time she made everyone's tongue tingle when the Seven Lucky Gods were together. Ebisu says that was a legitimate problem and begs her to not do anything in the kitchen if she wants anything good to eat. Shennong then turns to you and suggests going after Ahab. You agree and refer to him as Sensei or by name. B gets an extra line where he reminds you to use the title again.
Scene shifts over to the hot springs where Ahab is, who is pissy that the things are empty. Asterios is already there and is surprised by Ahab barging in, so he asks if he's another bull who was invited over. You and Shennong turn up around that point as Shennong comments on how all bulls are great at charging around. Shennong then apologizes to Asterios for the surprise and introduces Ahab to him. Asterios goes oh at that and says that all the other bulls are loud guys, so that scared him.
Shennong laughs and says that's true, then asks Asterios how the hot springs are doing since he heard that they wouldn't fill out even when someone tried using the valves. Since Asterios is good with DIY home improvement, Shennong figured he if anyone could sort it out. Asterios answers that he just finished his inspection but didn't find anything wrong with the pipes or valves. Shennong asks if he can think of any other reasons for the problem to be happening then, so Asterios suggests that it's a problem with something they can't see since he checked everything visible. Maybe something invisible got stuck inside.
You wonder about something transparent being stuck in the pipes, and Ahab is disappointed his plans for having a drink in the bath is stuck on hold. He hits the pipe and demands that the water come out, and Asterios talks about his arms being too big to fit into the pipes. He wonders what you guys could do instead for a moment until he hears some weird noise coming. A bunch of slimes pop out, surprising Shennong into asking where they came from. That one ghost kid slips in and says something to the slimes, who are confused at first but then turn hostile.
Ahab starts laughing and asks what the slimes are doing when they jump at him and start crawling all over him and tickling him. You start laughing too since the slimes have jumped onto you as well and are doing the same thing. The slimes have gotten onto everyone really, and Shennong says in between laughs that he can't think like this. He does manage to tell everyone to take off their clothes and get the slimes off though. Everyone present switches to their swimsuits, and you say you're ready now.
Shennong sighs, saying he's glad he had his swimsuit underneath his clothes since he heard there'd be cleaning to do for the baths. He then focuses back on the situation at hand and says you guys can't leave the slimes alone. The slimes jiggle menacingly, and Asterios says these slimes are slimier than other slimes, so he asks how you guys can catch them. The slimes' actions have sobered Ahab up, and he hands some things to Shennong and Asterios, referring to them as bulls since he doesn't know their names.
Asterios is surprised at being handed a net and asks if Ahab brought it with him. Ahab explains he was thinking of fixing them up while he was on land, then tells Asterios to use the net to catch the slimes. Shennong comments on Ahab looking like a real man of the sea now and asks if that's his real look. Ahab orders Shennong to stop making small talk and get to dealing with the slimes. His hot springs and alcohol await! Shenong sighs but says he agrees on catching the slimes. If they don't have hot springs, Shennong figures people might freeze. Ahab swears to punish the slimes as the episode battle then begins. More story happens afterwards.
After the battle, things pick up with the slimes burbling midway through the fight, and they jump on Asterios and tickle him. Asterios laughs and asks why they keep doing this, so Shennong notices that the slimes seem to be eating something and starts having an idea about what's going on. That one ghost kid flickers around for a second, and Shennong notices something was around for a second and asks about it. Ahab doesn't give a crap and says to get them all at once as he attempts to fire off his NP. The moment he tries, one of the slimes slides up into him.
Ahab starts laughing again, so you try to ask if he's okay, though you notice after a moment that he seems to be enjoying it. Ahab says in between his laughs that this doesn't feel bad, and you see that the slimes are spreading themselves over him as you ask if they're eating the dirt off of him. Shennong says that's right and says the slimes have calmed down. He also suggests that the slimes have been living in the springs to begin with.
Asterios asks Shennong about what he means, so Shennong asks if people have ever heard of doctor fish or cleaner fish, which are fish which eat the dead skin and parasites off other organisms. He figures the slimes are the same sort of thing, only they stay in the springs and eat the dirt and sweat off of people. Shennong then brings out a pamphlet and points out it mentions that getting into the hot springs will refresh you. Asterios asks if it means the slimes and says he couldn't see them before since they were transparent. Shennong figures they must have plugged the pipes after Gyumao's inspection, though he's suspicious about how good the timing is for that.
Anyways, now that the slime thing is settled for the time being, Ahab is excited about the hot springs water turning up and orders you to tell Benten and Ebisu to get him some beer and snacks. You either are shocked that he's already lounging about or ask Shennong if this is okay. Shennong thinks for a moment and suggests getting him something nonalcoholic as thanks for the VIP of the battle. Ahab sighs about how nice the slimes feel, then suggests Asterios try them out. Asterios attempts to decline, only to start protesting when Ahab pulls him in until he falls in with a big splash. You either complain about wanting to go in, say you'll pour Ahab's drinks, or tell Asterios to keep Ahab occupied. In A and B, Ahab tells you to get with the pouring and laughs about being in a good mood. In C, Asterios complains about you ditching him and demands you get in too.
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