Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: This Isn't a Rom-Com
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"Not bad."
No, it's not the kind of impression that ends with "not bad."
Though I don't know much about it, the interior is furnished with pieces that clearly look like they've been in use for ages.
Contrary to what I'd expected, the atmosphere is quiet and peaceful.
From afar, faint voices of people drift in, all enveloped by the dense rural scenery.
Right next to the lodging is a small Japanese garden.
The sound of bamboo clacking against stones mixes with flowing water.
Every now and then, the rustle of leaves brushing together reaches my ears.
This place feels like a space where everything just quietly flows by.
"Better than I thought, huh?"
Baek A-rin smiled at my words and replied.
"Told you coming here was the right call? This place is usually impossible to book."
"So how'd you manage it?"
Baek A-rin answered nonchalantly to my question.
"That social party we went to today? It's held every year. Too exhausting to catch a dawn flight."
What the hell is she talking about?
What's that got to do with this?
As I stared at her with puzzled eyes, Baek A-rin explained.
"I've got the best room here rented out all year long."
"..."
I turned my head to look around.
No way this lodging is meant for sleeping alone.
The whole building is basically one massive room—an entire annex.
And surrounding it is a bamboo grove.
Above all, there's a huge outdoor bath attached on the outside.
If it were me splurging on a trip, I'd pick the smallest room in a ryokan like this.
I had dozens of questions, starting with why rent it for a full year when you could just book for this season—but I held back.
'Yeah, I'd never get it even if I asked.'
That's when Erina yelled out in her thick accent.
"This is why! I hate all this sentimental crap!"
"What?"
Right, she went to that Japanese academy too.
I hear she didn't exactly make great memories there.
"This is exactly why it sucks. Sleeping on tatami mats and soaking in some rock-lined onsen? Screw that—give me a K-jjimjilbang any day. Get your body steamed nice and hot, crack open some eggs, sip sikhye. You know those K-mana stones in Korean saunas pump out germanium energy, right?! K-jjimjilbangs got that vibe too!"
"How the hell would you know that, Erina?"
"Saw it on Korean Kimchi Number One channel."
"Try not to watch that garbage."
Erina shook her head while yelling, but by now she'd slipped out the window to gaze at the scenery outside.
"Oh, flowers too."
"Flowers?"
I followed her gaze at her words.
It looked like all sorts of plants were growing there.
And among them, sure enough, some beautiful flowers just like she said.
"Nice view."
Sitting here with a fragrant cup of tea would be perfect.
As I thought that, Baek A-rin caught my expression and spoke up.
"Whenever you wanna come, Kim Si-woo, just say the word. It's yours all year round."
"That's too generous."
Is this a perk of hanging out with Baek A-rin?
Even so, I doubt I'd come back anytime soon.
Maybe it's from walking around all day in these unfamiliar dress shoes.
My feet and calves are throbbing like hell.
I hadn't expected much from the scenery here, but it blew me away.
The onsen, though? That I was looking forward to. Looking forward to sinking my aching body into it.
With that in mind, I asked Baek A-rin.
"When can we hit the onsen?"
...
There was only one onsen here.
So Baek A-rin offered to let me go first if I wanted.
Normally I'd have told her to go ahead, but since I'd been honestly anticipating it, I gratefully took her up on it and headed to the outdoor bath first.
A few steps in, and there it was—the private outdoor onsen tucked inside the lodging's garden.
Nestled amid thick bamboo groves, clear water steamed faintly from within.
This was it.
The healing onsen I'd pictured.
A big rocky enclosure.
Stepping stones led right in.
"Slippery, so take it slow..."
The moment one foot dipped into the onsen.
'W-what is this.'
A warm energy spread from my toes throughout my entire body.
The contrast between my submerged foot and the rest of my body still touching the cool air sent weird shivers rippling across my skin, goosebumps rising.
"Haa..."
Slowly submerging fully, comfort and a deep sense of stability washed over me.
The hot water enveloped my skin, melting away tension and loosening tight muscles.
Even my chilled face warmed up from the rising steam.
Was it the water or me?
A feeling like all the grime on my body was being rinsed clean.
I glanced down at my feet visible beneath the onsen water.
Every movement sent warm ripples caressing my toes.
"Gonna lose my mind at this rate."
Maybe it felt this good because I'd been pushing my body so hard lately.
My sore muscles unwinding—it was hard to keep my head straight.
I was lounging back, arms draped out, fully relaxed.
"...!"
My eyes widened in an instant, words catching in my throat.
Felt like I'd choked on air.
Erina approaching, her otherwise stuffy-looking chest barely covered by a single long towel—too narrow to fully conceal her body, her breasts squished against her arms and jiggling with each step.
"What are you doing, Erina?"
"Wanna share the onsen. Got a problem?"
Her bold attitude left me speechless.
"Fine, whatever. It's not like the water's gonna wear out."
Suits me fine.
Less water wearing out, more like simmering Erina in it would make for some tasty broth.
I was trying to keep my thoughts in the most positive direction possible.
"Why do these eye-doubting moments keep happening?"
"Kim Si-woo, you got a complaint?"
"Nah, none."
Baek A-rin following right behind Erina.
She was dressed the same way.
Bad for the heart.
I stood up, wrapping my towel around me.
"I'm heading out now. You two enjoy."
I knew full well that mixed bathing with two unmarried women was straight-up nonsense.
The moment I stood to leave the onsen, Erina spoke up.
"Chew Si-woo, park it right there."
...
Two massive melons and a pair of apples floating right in front of my eyes.
Texture closer to pudding, maybe.
"Chew Si-woo! What're you spacing out for?!"
"Trying to stay cool and detached without noticing."
Erina squinted at my words.
"What kinda bullshit is that?"
"This whole situation's even more bullshit."
Baek A-rin shook her head at my response.
"Erina barged in, so I had no choice."
"Can't A-rin just relax?"
"Water'd go to waste. We all soak together."
"They refill the onsen water or what?!"
Erina and Baek A-rin bickering back and forth.
And floating between me and them—sake bottles.
Baek A-rin cleared her throat and said.
"Sake in an onsen just hits different."
"No way! A-rin, you traitor?! We're doing soju!"
"The soju you drink is basically just watered-down booze."
"You dissing Baedal?!"
All the tension melted away.
Just a minute ago, it felt like some rom-com anime from next door.
'Nah, at this point it's happening in my own country.'
"Say it ain't so, Chew Si-woo! K-soju's the best, right?!"
"Hey, Kim Si-woo. You really wanna drink that crap?"
Both of them staring at me.
God, I wish someone would just take these two away.
It was a blissful healing onsen just moments ago.
I turned to look at them.
'If only they'd shut their mouths.'
As I thought that, something popped into my head.
I recalled hearing that God never makes perfect people.
In that sense, those two seemed cut from the same cloth.
Perfect the moment they closed their mouths.
"If you hate it, Erina, just don't drink."
"Knew you'd say that. Brought this."
Erina reached into her cleavage and pulled out a green bottle.
Where the hell did she even get that?
No, more importantly—how'd she hide it there?
Baek A-rin stared, utterly speechless.
Of course, so was I.
Forcing myself to stay focused, I asked Erina.
"That's been soaking in the onsen water. Probably lukewarm now."
"Miss-o! Lukewarm soju's the best-o!"
"You knowing that makes you the weirdo."
On top of that, it tastes like crap—but saying so would just give me a headache, so I held back.
"Si-woo, wanna sip?"
Erina offered me the lukewarm bottle with the red cap.
Hell no.
"I'll stick with sake."
Erina's face twisted in shock.
"K-warrior... how could you reject K-soju?"
"I don't drink it. Quit slapping K- on everything."
That mangled pronunciation pissed me off the most.
I brushed off Erina's nonsense to the side and raised my poured sake cup.
"Cheers, anyway."
A massive bath made of white marble.
Inside it, a red-haired man was soaking while gazing at a photo.
"Esnatia, oh my Erina."
His butler approached and spoke to him.
"Lord Zion, I've delivered the message to the Esnatia family as you instructed."
"Oh, good work. No matter how good she is at her studies, she can't just go wandering around like that."
"What about the Association's request...?"
He stood from the bath, slipping on a robe as he replied.
"Quasi-A-rank? I can handle it solo. Just keep an eye on Erina for me."