88. Sauna Run! Argent S Tears Down the Road
Just cruising straight ahead in the Argent S felt like it was blasting away the stuffy frustration clogged in my chest. 'I get why people love a good drive now.' Gliding smoothly along the road in a ride like this? Yeah, even I'd be in a great mood.
My heart was set on blowing past Seoul's limits. Sure, there were monsters out there, but with this crew riding shotgun, we could probably blaze down the open highways without a hitch.
"N-N-Now, a song. Song."
Kim Yang connected her phone via Bluetooth and cranked up the tunes. No road trip's complete without a soundtrack.
"Oh?"
I figured she'd go for the latest K-pop hits, but nope—the tracks she picked were older bangers, perfect for upbeat cruising.
"Damn, Kim Yang, you got taste?"
I chuckled, shoulders bouncing to the beat, and she nodded proudly.
"C-C-Company's got... t-t-two old fogeys."
"......"
"O-O-Old fogey pick."
"Don't tease Renea."
"T-T-Two of 'em."
She even held up two fingers for emphasis. The woman was way too young to be called an old fogey.
"You're pumped, Boss!"
Renea poked her head up from the next seat, beaming innocently. Seeing her humming along definitely lifted my spirits.
"Sorry, Renea."
"Huh? For what?"
"Dragging someone your age—who should be dancing on a tour bus—around in this humble ride."
"Eh?"
I flashed her an even bigger grin since she clearly didn't catch the jab. Good thing she missed it.
A glance in the rearview showed Raichen and Kim Da Jeong cuddling in the back. She'd show him something on her phone, he'd nod affectionately, and their chat would flow from there.
'They're really hitting it off.' Made sense—I'd set them up, after all. Seeing it warmed my heart with pride.
The Argent S hummed along smoothly. The hot springs weren't far, just on Seoul's outskirts, so it wouldn't take long.
"In 500 meters, make a right turn."
I started drifting toward the right lane on the nav's cue... then just kept straight.
"Wh-Wh-What?"
"Didn't it say right?!"
"Recalculating route."
Kim Yang and Renea, mid-distraction, shot me death glares at the nav voice. Hot springs ETA: now fifteen minutes late.
"Eh, it's fine. Just fifteen minutes."
They shrugged it off. For now.
A bit later.
"In 500 meters, make a right turn."
Right-turn lane appeared. Steering wheel? Unmoved. Straight ahead we went.
"Recalculating route."
"H-H-Hey! Wh-Wh-What're you doing?!"
"Boss did it, Kim Yang."
"Wh-Wh-What're you doing!"
"Forgot. Slipped my mind."
"E-E-Ears deaf or s-s-something?!"
"......"
Another fifteen tacked on.
"We should've been there by now......"
I ignored the granny's grumbling. Old folks love to complain.
Soon after.
"In 500 meters, make a right turn."
"R-R-Right! Right turn!"
"Rightturnrightturnrightturnrightturnrightturnrightturn—!"
Kim Yang poked my shoulder frantically while Renea wailed like a megaphone, mouth agape.
And—
"Hng!"
Abs crunched. Straight through.
"Recalculating route."
"Y-You f-f-fucking boss! On p-purpose! On p-purpose!"
"Whaaat! Why are you doing thiiis!"
"Forgot! I forgot!"
"Sh-Sh-Shut up! On p-purpose!"
Kim Yang started pounding the passenger seat. I yelled desperately.
"What're you doing to our Argent S?!"
"Th-The caaar! I w-w-wanna drive more 'cause of the caaar!"
"Get outttt! This lady's been holding it since foreveeeer!"
Serves her right for chugging that massive thermos.
The hot springs building looked ordinary at the entrance. Grab a ticket, head in—like any jjimjilbang.
"Sauna only for now. Hot springs and water park open at 11."
No way—it really was a jjimjilbang.
"......"
Phone check: still 10 a.m. We'd left early, gathered quick, arrived sooner than planned.
"11? Don't they usually open at 10?"
"Weekends at 10, weekdays at 11."
Hoped for a loophole—shot down instantly. Stuck with sauna till 11.
"Told you we should've driven longer."
Back with the crew, griping about the bad news. Kim Yang sighed.
"B-B-Boss. If y-you'd kept going, we'd be o-out of Seoul."
"Ahem, Renea?"
"B-B-Bathroom."
Good, crisis averted. No thermos mishaps.
"Catch you in the jjimjilbang."
"B-B-Bye."
Raichen and I headed to the men's side first. Even en route, he gawked curiously.
"What? First time?"
"Yes. I've only lived in the mage tower, so—"
"Big place, nice facilities—"
"Walking around somewhere this vast feels... off."
"......Over there."
Heard mage towers had floating platforms or whatever. Felt like a caveman suddenly. I pointed to our locker.
Changing, I felt eyes on me. Raichen, staring.
"What. Creeping me out."
"Boss... you've got quite a few scars."
"Ah, yeah. Dealing with asshole clients does that."
"......"
I brushed it off; he didn't pry. Quick on the uptake—nice.
"More importantly, you work out? Mage bod but built."
First met, I'd noticed his solid muscles and frame. Didn't scream "wizard."
"Master always said stamina matters. I train consistently."
"Good man."
"Yes."
Praise for his master brought a soft smile. Way gentler than before.
Suit-up done. Sauna room: empty, spacious, clean. Bonsai and charcoal scents melted tension away. Early hour—no shop open yet, bummer.
"Women's side not out yet. Raichen, hang with Da Jeong. Got your phone?"
"Yes."
"Cool. Hot springs or whatever... no need to tag along. Won't crash your date."
"......Thank you."
He bowed. Clearly dying to be alone with her.
"You two look solid. Nice to see."
"Slowly, like watering flowers. That's how we're going."
"Heh."
This the same guy who rushed in yelling "fastest marriage ever"?
'Da Jeong fixed him good.'
Left Raichen, hit the steam sauna.
"Ooh."
Scorching heat crushed in, melting away fatigue. Cushions and mats—no hard wood. Grabbed one, lay back. Drowsiness hit fast.
"Ah...... Feels goooood."
Now I got why Kim Yang called me old fogey. "Refreshing" just slipped out.
Post-drive heaviness tugged eyelids down.
'Crew'll manage.' Nap time.
Chomp chomp.
Chomp chomp.
......?
Chomp chomp chomp.
What noise. Peeved by the wet smacks right beside me, I cracked eyes open slow. Heat had me hotter than expected—jolt—but spotted the source.
Chomp chomp chomp.
"......"
"......"
Renea, devouring boiled eggs in her sauna suit.
"Awake?"
She clutched the last one tight—no sharing that.
"Ugh, whatcha doing?"
"Hm? Kim Yang's getting sikhye, so I'm waiting."
"Ow, head. How long'd I sleep?"
Clock: thirty minutes tops. Felt like hours at first, but saunas don't let you crash that deep.
"So you polished off the eggs before sikhye even arrived?"
"......"
"How'd you know about sheep heads? That's kid stuff."
"Eh? Boss did it too."
"Huh?"
Hand to head—yep, sheep towel on. What the—
"I'm young."
"This lady's heart is young."
"If the world ran on hearts, I'd own an apartment by now."
Shook off sleep as Kim Yang strolled in, sheep-headed too. Empty egg basket: frown city.
"W-W-Wanna die? S-S-Six eggs in f-five minutes?!"
"......Baa!"
"Kim Yang, dementia hit. Sheep towel turned you sheep."
1,902 years old, six eggs down, now baa-ing. Cute pass for Kim Yang, though. She plopped sikhye down.
"C-C-Coming right up. B-B-Bought some."
"Got it!"
Renea slurped happily. Thermos ditched somewhere. Whatever.
"Renea, sheep goes like this—not that."
"Hm? Baaaa! Close enough? This lady's killer at animal impressions. Practiced in the forest when bored."
"Ahem, watch."
They eyed me intrigued. Cleared throat.
"B-B-Baa!"
I headbutted air.
"G-G-Gimme money! Evil boss! B-B-Baa!"
"Puhaha—Kek! Cough! Sikhye down wrong! Gahk!?"
"......"
Renea flailed, choking on laughs and sikhye. Beside her—
"F-F-Funny?"
"......Kinda?"
Kim Yang charged, slamming a headbutt into my shoulder.