episode_0023

“Is it time to hire some employees?”

The store’s sales are unexpectedly rising sharply.

Although the number of customers per day has only increased from 0 to an average of 3-4, if this trend continues, we can avoid losses.

It means we’ve reached a point where we can comfortably cover our expenses.

However, of course, as humans, we naturally want to strive for even higher growth.

I started this place with a small debt, but my original vision was much grander. A comfortable resort that expands higher and wider.

To match that grand vision, the staffing of the store must naturally be increased.

It’s too overwhelming to handle alone.

“Um… but we need to finish the construction first…”

Of course, the immediate goal takes precedence over the ambitious dreams, but…

The sauna we recently opened has received positive feedback.

However, many customers have mentioned the lack of shower booths and tubs in the healing center’s structure.

Having shower booths inside the dressing room leads to awkward encounters between sweaty customers, so it’s a problem.

To reduce waiting times, we need to add at least one more shower booth and install spa tubs to utilize the facilities more effectively.

In other words, investing money is unavoidable.

There is one solution to overcome this obstacle.

“We might need to… raise the prices.”

After finishing customer care, I contemplate raising prices in the quiet store.

I’ve already used up the debt for the second-floor deposit, wallpaper, and various equipment purchases, so there’s no more room for profit.

To take on more debt, I would have to resort to risky financial institutions or loans, which is a bottomless pit.

However, changing the pricing policy is a double-edged sword.

We’ve barely made it through the first month of business, so raising prices already might make us lose our initial focus.

But when I actually think about it, 50,000 won per hour doesn’t seem too expensive.

It’s time-consuming and requires more labor than I anticipated. Since I can’t do everything alone, even marking one person is overwhelming.

“Unexpectedly, my head is getting complicated…”

I stop jotting down notes in the ledger and take a break from thinking.

Instead of wallowing in despair, there’s an adult nearby who I can rely on at times like this.

“Um… considering raising prices?”

In the Healing Center with the lights off at night.

The crimson mood lighting in the massage room softly illuminates the space.

Hanbyul noona, who finished her cafe shift at 10 pm, has come to visit.

She shifted her morning massage to the evening and came with her tired body, ready for relaxation.

I took this opportunity to have a light chat and seek advice from the senior in business.

“Thinking about raising prices, huh…”

Hanbyul noona, lying down in her cafe uniform with only an apron on, groaned softly as I gently massaged her shoulders.

She responded with a pleasant voice, perhaps due to the effects of the free massage.

“From my perspective, it’s not like I’m raising the coffee prices by 300 won each and bowing down with a hunched back, begging for forgiveness. If I raise the prices just to make a profit, I might as well close the shop…”

“Oh, is it too much of a stretch…?”

“No, it’s just my perspective. Different businesses require different approaches.”

“…What do you mean?”

Hanbyul noona suddenly raised her upper body and lifted her head from the face cradle.

What started as a casual consultation to seek advice from a friend turned into a serious discussion.

“It doesn’t seem like a bad idea at all.

In fact, if the store is doing well, you might have been late in considering price increases.”

“Late in considering it?”

“Yes, if there are signs that the store is growing beyond its current state, it’s better to act quickly on raising prices.”

“Why is that?”

“Sigh… Think about it. The regulars who have been coming here for a while will naturally resist, but wouldn’t there be more newcomers in the growth phase?

If you raise the prices now, the latecomers will accept it without any resistance, so it’s better to change quickly.”

“Ah.”

A deep sigh.

Listening to her, it made sense.

If you completely overhaul the menu without messy scribbling with a pen, first-time customers might accept it as the norm.

“But it’s still awkward to tell the regulars…”

“Of course. There’s a high chance of getting cursed at.”

“Yes, that’s why I have another thought─”

“You thought about lowering the time?

Well, the turnover rate of the store will increase, but you might end up feeling worse with half-hearted efforts. If the quality of the products in the store drops or the quantity significantly decreases, the customers will eventually notice. The regulars will either spread negative rumors in secret or quietly leave. That’s the scenario that should be avoided the most from a business perspective.”

She answered as if she already knew everything.

She gave me tips as if she knew everything, even though I was trying to cut down on time.

I could feel her expertise in not running the business carelessly.

Hanbyul smirked as she enjoyed my surprised expression.

“I mean, my bonus income is directly related to it, so I’ve been thinking about Jiwoo’s business a bit.

Honestly, I didn’t think it would do well, but if the water comes in, you have to drain it right away! If you think you need to raise the prices, you should do it immediately.”

“Well… but…”

“Above all, since the first meeting with Jiwoo, I’ve been thinking, why is he devaluing himself so much despite being a high-quality talent?”

“What?”

High-quality talent,

It was a sound I hadn’t heard in a long time since retiring from hero activities.

“Think about it. A store that doesn’t massage heroes? It’s only here. In other words, a person who specializes in hero massages? It’s only Jiwoo.

Running a one-of-a-kind store and devaluing yourself compared to regular massages?”

“…Now that you mention it.”

Listening quietly, it did make sense.

It was awkward to put it on the same level as regular massages. This place is special.

“Demand follows, but supply is fixed. So, it makes more sense to go with a high-quality policy.

Moreover, the customers are heroes. Most of them don’t know the market, but they are generally well-off people, right? People from S-rank and above receive a lot of money proportionate to their popularity.”

“Well, S-rank is truly exceptional talent…”

“Anyway! It means there’s a target audience to conquer.

Jiwoo is different from me, who serves passing customers with a common job like selling coffee. It’s essential to upscale since he targets specific customers. If you treat them differently in stages, it might sound even more appealing, right?

People ultimately want to enjoy a special feeling when they have money to spare, so even if you raise the prices, there might not be much resistance.”

Oh…

I was captivated, listening as if under a spell.

Not just price increases, but also upscale strategies and differentiated treatment for customers.

She provided appropriate consulting considering the consumer base.

‘Indeed, running a business is not for everyone…’

She was a formidable person.

I was convinced in an instant.

Lost in admiration, even my hand that was rubbing my back had stopped.

At this point, Hanbyul took it a step further.

“But Jiwoo is in that position, right?”

“What?”

“He wants to make money, but he doesn’t want to show off too much about money, that’s a weak stance.”

“Oh, I see…”

“Okay, then you just have to mix it appropriately.”

Hanbyul neatly summarized the final details, considering my personality as well.

“The construction of the sauna is complete, right? So, we’ll combine the basic massage and the advanced one to create a ‘full-course massage’ and add sauna to it, enjoying the spa that will be completed later.

Since we’ve pooled our money, let’s go with the advanced course, giving a 30-minute massage, sending them to the sauna, and enjoying the spa to refresh them. We’ll fill the service time with other content to provide satisfaction and solve the chronic lack of manpower by increasing turnover, focusing on improving service quality rather than raising prices.”

I was impressed.

I had casually brainstormed, but I was truly impressed.

It felt like I had mixed the existing elements well.

Hanbyeol noona, who had poured out her ideas, shrugged her shoulders and said,

“Well, there will probably be people who don’t like it because it’s different from the existing service. I thought about it on the spot, but ultimately, the choice is up to Jiu.”

“Thank you! It was really helpful, noona!”

“Hehe, don’t forget to give me 15% of the profit at the end of each month if you’re thankful.”

“Of course! I’ll deposit it on the planned date!”

It was a constructive consultation that left me wanting more notes.

I busied myself again.

Like shaking a coconut tree to get all the tips, I provided a lot of services to Hanbyeol noona, who had shared all the high-end tips.

“…But, you know.”

Suddenly, Hanbyeol noona, who had relaxed during the massage, opened her mouth.

After hesitating several times before opening her mouth, she finally spoke.

“Hey, Jiu.”

“Yes!”

She called my name and then turned her head slightly to the other side.

It seemed intentional to hide her expression.

“Since I answered your question, can I ask you one…?”

“Yes, ask me anything.”

“It’s just out of curiosity, so don’t think too deeply about it.”

“What is it?”

“…Do heroes also do ‘that’?”

“Excuse me?”

I didn’t understand at all because she had skipped a lot of details.

Thinking the meaning hadn’t been conveyed, Hanbyeol noona asked again.

“So, do heroes… do that every night?”

“What do you mean?”

“That, that! I mean, between a man and a woman… Ah, I can’t…!”

“???”

I didn’t understand anything.

After pondering several times, I vaguely caught a hint from Hanbyeol noona’s embarrassed sigh.

“Yes, yes!?”

“….”

Her face turned red immediately.

I didn’t know why she suddenly asked such a lewd question, but I tried to brush it off vaguely.

“W-why would they do that?! It’s just a mutation. They have a bit more strength than others… The rest are human, so of course they have physiological processes….”

I vaguely omitted the rest of the sentence.

I didn’t understand why she asked that, but since Hanbyeol noona had answered carefully, I answered.

After all, we’re both adults.

However, the questions didn’t stop there.

As if signaling the precursor, Hanbyeol noona swallowed hard, then continued with the next question.

“S-so, I mean!”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

“Do heroes… do it with ordinary people too?”

“….”

“….”

Silence.

It was difficult to answer.

I couldn’t answer.

Time seemed to stop for us in the massage room.

My brain stopped working, and I couldn’t continue my words.

Chirp chirp!

A cricket was crying outside.

The night market was so quiet that even the insignificant sound could be heard.

It was proof that there were no elements to disturb us.