Everyone Enters the Bath Together - 15
"Uh, uh. Yeah. The boss is doing fine."
Han Seohee, clutching Sunwoo's cellphone, was on the line with a massive grin splitting her face.
-Can't make it back today either... Is it that slave girl from before?
Shin Roa's voice leaked from the phone.
"Nah, today it's the settlers."
-Settlers... No helping it, then. Those were the first ones, right?
"Uh, yeah. Honestly, it took way longer than I thought. I figured we'd wrap it up ages ago."
-Hmmm...
"What can you do? Why don't you come hang out with us? Staying cooped up inside every day—you're not even getting proper sunlight. Hell, the prisoners stuck in their cells might've had more room to move than you."
-Mind your own business.
Hearing the sigh mixed into Roa's voice, Seohee flashed a wicked smirk.
'Damn, I've got a filthy personality too, huh...'
Bad blood didn't just vanish. Seohee still remembered that arrogant, haughty Roa from back then. Sure, once they'd gotten the full story, they could sorta understand each other—but that didn't mean she could wipe the slate clean. They served the same master, so she wasn't out to outright sabotage her, but she couldn't help feeling a petty thrill whenever Roa hit a rough patch.
"Anyway, boss ain't coming back today either. What a shame!"
Last time, on the day the prisoners became slaves, Sunwoo hadn't made it home either. It was only natural. Baths happened toward the end of the workday, right before nightfall. And with the women barging in for endless orgies, there was no way he'd get back to the apartment.
-It's fine. Consider it data secured.
"What data?"
-The fact that I'm waiting for Master way more intensely than I imagined. To the point I can't hold out.
"Oh ho, is that so?"
-I might need countermeasures from now on. Popping stabilizers every time isn't a good habit.
"Hey, hey, you on drugs or something? I can't stand junkies joining the crew."
-I'm a doctor. I prescribe them myself.
"Hmmm..."
-I can judge my own condition objectively, and I sure as hell won't overuse or get addicted.
"Yeah, yeah. Just take care."
-Yes. So... does that mean everyone at the settlement's become Master's slave now?
"Obviously."
Seohee chuckled slyly in response.
'I didn't expect things to go this far either...'
It was half her doing. She'd been the one to offer up Soi—or more precisely, to nudge her into offering herself up.
"Not thrilled?"
-No, I'm relieved, actually.
"Relieved?"
-Filling the settlement with people who won't betray Sunwoo is a net positive for operations. No downside.
"Yeah, fair enough."
That aside, Seohee was enjoying the hell out of this. It was pure vicarious satisfaction—watching her master fuck and dominate other women filled her with a deep contentment. If not even this much repayment for his ridiculously pure kindness, she'd have been pissed.
"Alright, hanging up. Boss'll be out soon, gotta give the phone back."
-Yes, thank you. Talk soon.
Seohee ended the call, whistling as she glanced toward the bathhouse. Still no sign of anyone emerging.
/////
"Ugh, my back..."
"If it hurts there, wanna rest a bit? Lying like this is comfy."
"Thanks..."
They were all slaves now. Not a single one left out.
Sunwoo had kept the two groups apart for safety until now, but he'd realized there was no need anymore. They worked together, chatted freely. The settlers relaxed first.
'...No issues at all?'
Unlike their fears, the mercenaries weren't slacking off on construction or chores just because they were warriors who fought outside. Most of the work was building their own living spaces anyway. Still, they weren't dumping their duties on the earlier arrivals.
"Ugh..."
"Want me to thump your back?"
"Nah, that's... I got work to do."
"C'mon, just take the massage. Positions vary a bit, but when we first got railed, we thumped each other's backs too."
"Thanks..."
Plus, they shared a common interest. Lower their voices a tad, and conversation flowed anytime.
"Seriously, how is he so insatiable... I thought we were done, but then he starts over with a girl he'd already fucked."
"Y-you too? Wasn't it tough?"
"Our stamina holds up, so we managed, but... we got it in the bathhouse, right? That stone floor—"
"Oh no..."
"Eh, it wasn't that bad. Master and us were too focused on pounding away to care about pain... it hit after, when we rested."
That subtle knowledge gap actually bonded them tighter.
"Hey, make that drawer with more gap, or it'll be hard to move later."
"Won't cleaning be a pain?"
"Grab a few small brushes—no biggie. Wiping's trickier, but unavoidable."
"Oh, got it? Thanks!"
The mercenaries breathed sighs of relief too.
'Figured becoming Master's slaves would change things, but they're not bossing us around.'
'We didn't become slaves to escape prison or anything, but they went from full civilians to slaves. Thought Master'd side with them if shit hit the fan...'
Both sides had plausible reasons for caution. So they showed consideration and gratitude all around.
'Worried 'cause they're mercenaries... but they're milder than expected.'
'Nervous 'cause they were here first... but no discrimination in sight.'
Harmony bloomed. They synced patrol schedules, played board games on off-hours, prepped and ate meals together. And at some point, a simple thought struck them: No reason to split bath times.
/////
"We can really go in? I hear splashing inside."
I blinked dumbly at Seohee.
"We've all seen everything already. You, the other girls—no one's at the settlement who hasn't taken the boss's dick. What's the big deal now?"
"Fair point."
"We made the bathhouse big for a reason. No need to split by group—just let folks soak as long as they want, scrub each other's backs."
"Where'd you learn back-scrubbing?"
"Didn't know myself, but the merc girls saw it in comics?"
I chuckled dryly and headed into the changing room.
"You're here, Master?"
Girls midway through undressing for the tubs rushed over after stripping quick.
"Hold up. I need a bath too, so let me—"
"We'll help!"
A former merc latched onto one arm, a settler the other. One knelt before me, unzipping and yanking down my pants.
"Uh... huh?"
Dazed, I let their hands work. In seconds, I was naked.
"We'll sort your clothes!"
"This way!"
I tilted my head, curiosity winning. "You practiced?"
"Of course!"
"Any girl here could do it! Some only learned 'left arm' or 'pants zipper,' but no biggie!"
Beats me when they got this tight.
The bathhouse teemed with women: splashing in the cold pool, stewing in warm water, preshowing before tubs. They all spotted me at once.
"Welcome, Master!"
"Warm up first?"
"Swim with us!"
I shook my head. "It's a public bath, so shower first at least—"
"We'll wash you!"
They swarmed, lathering me gently. Like a king—no, even a king might call this overkill. I sank into the tub luxuriating.
"M-Master! You're already here!"
Sua panted in, stripping frantically; Seohee sauntered behind. My tub already held blissed-out women: Soi and mercs, settlers, now Sua and Seohee joining.
Surveying them, I grinned sheepishly and murmured,
"Just bathing, right?"
Like rehearsed, they chorused,
"As if!"
"...Knew it."
Soon, relentless wet slaps echoed through the bathhouse. Not skin on water—skin on skin.