Paradise Bathhouse (2)
"Yeah, this is what power and strength feel like."
I let the residents use the bathhouse and amenities freely until evening, then cleared it out at night. Han Seol had filled an icebox with ice and cola, which I grabbed on my way to the bathhouse. She'd told me the residents were already calling it the Paradise Bathhouse. I never officially declared our faction's name as Nakyuan—Paradise Territory—but at some point, everyone started using it, and so did I. It was still a ways off from being a true paradise by my standards, but the residents seemed to think it was one already.
Ever since soybeans started coming in from the farm, we'd begun making meju and tofu in Paradise too. We had three resident chefs—not just any cooks, but professionals trained at hotels and fine-dining spots, specializing in Korean, Western, and Japanese cuisine. They poured their skills into delighting my taste buds and those of the residents.
The Japanese chef said, "Your Excellency, if only we had seafood, I could make dishes far tastier than those two."
He apparently felt like he was lagging behind the others. The Korean chef shone brightest, personally making tofu and meju from scratch. It wasn't just because it came from my farm—the tofu he crafted was way better than what Kim Dae-geon supplied. Heavenly, even. Especially the soft tofu stew; it brought back flavors I'd forgotten.
We were even pressing sesame oil from sesame seeds, but it was so premium we saved it for my meals only.
"Your Excellency! We'll have a midnight snack ready right when you finish your bath!"
"Good. I'm counting on you."
Riding the high of wielding power, I decided to crank up the tyranny a notch. Monopolizing the bathhouse was already dictator-level, but why stop there? I summoned a few residents, including the chef, in the dead of night when they should have been sleeping, to prepare a snack for after my bath.
They set up gas burners and cooking gear on the first floor and got to work.
"Master, shall I scrub your back?"
"..."
"Byeol!"
Honestly, without Han Seol cutting in, I might've said, "For real?"
"Your Excellency! Enjoy your bath!"
"Master, have a good one."
"Your Excellency, we'll be waiting."
Your Excellency, I think this place's sauna is the best.
I'd told them to relax while I bathed, but Han Seol and her sister, Im Jui, and Jeong Su-hwan insisted it was impossible—they followed as bodyguards. The Han sisters and Im Jui stood guard at the stairs to the men's bath, swords at their sides.
"Alright... I'll be off, then."
I headed up to the men's floor, stashed my clothes in the locker room, and opened the bath door.
Creeeak.
"Ah, this is it."
The bathhouse scent—indescribable, soothing—filled my nostrils. And knowing I'd have the place to myself? My heart raced with excitement.
Jeong Su-hwan said the residents had seen the coarse salt, grabbed handfuls for salt toothbrushing after ages without, and two hours later, the wooden tub was full. So he'd moved it to another container. A bathhouse doubling as a salt depot. The chefs noted it was sun-dried sea salt, perfect for cooking. No clue when it'd refill.
"Alright, let's dive in."
Jeong Su-hwan had emptied the salt tub three hours ago during his final check, but now it was a third full.
"Whoa..."
The hot bath had a digital thermometer, and next to it, a stone toad spouting memory-stirring water into the steaming pool.
To set the mood, I'd brought disposable toothbrush and toothpaste.
Shhhh.
Under the shower, I brushed my teeth. I lathered a towel with a full bar of soap. After a quick rinse and brush, I finally dipped my foot in the hot bath.
"Whoa..."
Hot. But I'm an adult. I embraced the heat like one and sank in.
"Fhew."
I'd missed the analog clock on the wall earlier, distracted by the facilities. Soaking loosened every muscle. Guess the last few weeks had me more tense than I realized. I could've stayed hours.
I sorted through my tangled thoughts, savoring the steam.
"Getting dizzy. Thirty minutes in?"
I checked the clock.
"..."
Only five minutes had passed.
"Well... hot baths are dangerous if you linger anyway."
Heat radiated from my body. I headed straight for the cold plunge.
Unscientific, sure, but I had my bath ritual: temper like steel.
Splash.
"Hngh! Ha!"
Heat the body in the hot bath, then dunk in cold to toughen mind and flesh. Never spoken aloud, but public bath regulars like me repeat it.
Once adapted to the cold, it wasn't a plunge anymore—my private pool. I swam laps till cooled, then emerged to reheat. Normies would've returned to hot. Amateurs.
I soaked a towel in the cold bath, wrung it chilly, and opened the door.
Creeeak.
Straight to the yellow clay sauna. My routine.
I spread the cold towel on the scorching wooden bench and sat.
"Haha, nice touch."
Two hourglasses inside. I flipped them twice, breath shortening, veins pulsing—but I pushed further.
"Can't take more."
Creeeak.
Opening the door hit like stumbling from desert sun to oasis. Longer in the sauna amplified it. Gulping cool air, I moved to the lukewarm bath.
"Perfect finish."
Not just any tepid pool—this lay-down style was in most bathhouses I'd known. Towel pillow, and water rose to your neck.
Click.
Hit the red wall button—heaven began.
Shhhhh!
Bubbles erupted from jets, kneading my body like a massage.
"Ah, refreshing."
Kid me wondered why adults voiced it aloud. Now I got it.
I sprawled, luxuriating in the hydro-massage.
Out of the bath: forty minutes gone. Twenty in hot/cold/sauna, rest in massage bliss.
Hummed as I blow-dried, then cotton-swabbed my ears. ENT docs warn against wet ears, but skipping felt incomplete.
Slipped into brought shorts and tee, opened the icebox: three colas inside. I'd chugged one entering; three here, eight home—eleven left. Week till refill.
"Already depressing."
Fizz.
Gulped the sharp carbonation.
"Ha... Three a day means waiting four days to restock..."
Downed one at the table, then descended.
"Your Excellency! Good bath?"
"Master!"
"Yeah, amazing."
Im Jui and the Han sisters always wore swords except bedtime—probably bedside even then. I'd ordered it, but they treasured these super-tech blades.
Jeong Su-hwan eyed them enviously. Once two enhanced melons finished, I'd feed him one; over 50% awakening, he'd get a sword. Pre-melon, the sisters rated him slightly stronger, so maybe 15-20% now.
"Your Excellency! You're here! Food coming right up!"
"Yeah, thanks for the hard work."
They bustled setting the table as I sat: bowl of white rice, fried egg, sesame-sprinkled leek salad. I hated fuss, so just those.
The chef placed a steaming black earthen pot carefully.
"Mm..."
The aroma made my mouth water, stomach growl.
"Your Excellency, today's soft tofu stew is your usual, but arranged with your advice—fermented soybean paste from meju. No seafood, so beef and veggie broth."
"Looks perfect."
"Your Excellency, the paste isn't fully aged, so flavor's mild. Once matured, with your chance, I'll make one you'll love."
"Yeah, looking forward to it."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
'Korean Chef' Im Jung-gu explained each dish and ingredient like fine dining. The assisting Western and Japanese chefs glared competitively at his back. Friendly rivalry's fine, but not overboard.
"Your Excellency, enjoy your meal."
He cracked a raw egg into my stew, bowed, and left.
"Mmm! Delicious!"
If unaged paste tasted this good, full aging? Can't wait. I savored alone in the lounge, the four guards at the door.
Post-meal, we played board games with the followers. At my table with the Han sisters and Im Jui: Rummikub. I came last.
"..."
After a fun night at the Paradise Bathhouse, I headed home and crashed. Waking, a message window floated before me.
"Huh?"
Reconstruction
At the same instant, info flooded my mind.
"This'll be useful."