episode_0016

“Hanbyeol noona.”

“Mm, what is it?”

“I’m thinking of bringing in some new equipment soon.”

“Equipment?”

A gentle pressure on my back, accompanied by casual conversation.

It had become a routine that felt like it could become addictive, or rather, had already become ingrained in my daily life.

One of the routines I started my day with was getting a massage at Jiwoo’s Hero Exclusive Healing Center on the second floor of Moonlight Cafe.

I wasn’t exactly a hero, but Jiwoo, as the building owner, always treated me with special care.

Before heading to work every morning, I would carefully adjust the pressure and receive a massage.

Although I felt a bit guilty about it, Jiwoo also used this place as her residence, so she was always living here.

That meant that even though the shop closed late at night, Jiwoo was always residing on the second floor.

“Ah… this feels so good…”

That’s why I could fully enjoy this luxury.

Receiving a pleasant massage every morning before work, I couldn’t help but think of it as a well-received tenant benefit.

As Jiwoo gently massaged my back, she continued the conversation.

“Actually, I initially planned for the Healing Center to be larger in scale. I couldn’t even pay the rent properly, so I intentionally started small to avoid failure, but I really wanted to install a sauna and spa tub.”

“That’s a good idea. But, do you think there’s enough space here for that?”

“I’m only using half of the floor area intentionally. If you go through the inner corridor, you’ll find an empty space.”

“Ah… right, I’ve also broken down a wall to make more space.”

Nodding in agreement.

“Yes, that’s why I’m thinking of keeping the construction small.”

“Okay, I’ll allow it, so feel free to call a construction company…”

“Well… actually, that’s why I brought it up. What if I try to do a little bit of work every night?”

“What…! You want to do the construction alone?!”

Jiwoo was surprised and quickly calmed me down.

I thought it was a sudden bombshell, but after listening carefully, it made sense.

“I handled most of the repairs for the previous barbecue restaurant. Besides, I have some experience, and since it’s a small expansion project, it should be a piece of cake.”

“Ah… I see, that makes sense.”

Sometimes I forget that she used to be a hero because of her cute face.

Breaking concrete like it’s nothing, fighting off fierce monsters without weapons, she was a mutant with extraordinary abilities.

Even now, as she massages my back with precision, it’s as if she’s delicately adjusting her strength like moving beans with chopsticks.

“I want to insist on using top-of-the-line materials, but I’ll try to save on installation costs. However, I think I’ll need your final approval as the building owner. Can you grant it?”

“Ah… she’s such a cute one♡”

Jiwoo is diligent.

She’s so diligent that she probably wouldn’t even notice if I did things behind her back, which only strengthens our trust in each other.

“Well… then, every time the commercial space is rented out at night, as long as there’s no damage, it should be fine, right?”

“Really?! Thank you, noona!”

“Wait, hold on. Don’t jump around like a happy puppy all of a sudden!”

As Jiwoo happily wagged her tail like a puppy, I quickly stopped her from potentially fracturing something.

I agreed to be considerate, but that doesn’t mean I’ll allow everything.

“If Jiwoo works hard and the business does well, I’ll also benefit. She’s planning to develop some services on her own, so it’s a win-win situation.”

“That’s right. 15% of the profits.”

The contract Jiwoo and I made.

Instead of monthly rent, we agreed that I would bear 15% of the profits.

Jiwoo repeated the word “15%” several times before muttering from above.

“But… is that money before or after taxes?”

“Hey! I’ve already waived the rent, and now you want me to cover the taxes too?”

“Hahaha, just kidding.”

“Jeez….”

Although she may seem gentle, upon getting to know her, she’s not always sweet and knows how to be appropriately ambitious.

And that’s what makes her appealing as a fellow businessperson.

“Well, it’s good news that the customers are increasing.”

“Well, it’s not like it’s booming yet.”

“Oh! If there’s noise, the upstairs can be willingly offered as well.”

“Ah, the third floor of this building is empty.”

The third floor, currently being used as a storage space for the cafe.

To confess at this point, my building, except for the cafe before Jee-woo came in, was practically a ghost building.

It couldn’t be helped.

This dangerous residential area, classified as Grade A in terms of danger, is plagued by the risk of being attacked by a monster on any given day.

Since it could collapse at any moment, tenants don’t come in easily.

In this era, whether you’re a salaryman or a businessperson, everything is done at the risk of your life.

Moreover, being a building owner ultimately means having a bad location…

It may sound grand, but purely in terms of real estate value, it’s worse than the rundown house prices in low-risk areas.

Even considering the average monthly rent in the vicinity, it’s not that high.

The point is that the extravagant treatment wasn’t just out of kindness.

Moreover, since he was a hero, the calculation also included the possibility of receiving protection.

“Ah… I want to be more lazy…♡”

But once I accepted it, it was the best.

Free massages every day, even if he comes and acts all polite, Jee-woo, with his smooth face and gentle words, accepts everything.

Complaints about genuine customers, lamenting the difficulty of going to school while running a business. Even if he talks nonsense, everything is naturally accepted.

So I want to ask for one more thing.

“You know, Jee-woo….”

“Yes, sister. What is it?”

“I… can I come in the evening instead of the morning from now on?”

“In the evening? Hmm~ You can come when we’re closing up, but why?”

“….”

I had glanced at the menu before, and I saw that Jee-woo’s shop offers an ‘advanced course.’

I had only received the basic course so far.

It was natural since I was always in a hurry in the morning and didn’t have time.

So I became curious.

What exactly is hidden behind the word ‘advanced.’

And after finishing business, I wanted to ask to just relax and laze around with the good feeling of the massage.

Behaving like a child with increasing greed, I made up reasons without any real basis, but Jee-woo readily agreed.

“Then come after we close.”

“Really…?”

“Of course! As long as there are no customers, you can come right after─”

That’s when it happened.

Jingle jingle!

The sound of the doorbell ringing.

“Hey, we haven’t opened yet…?”

Surprised, Jee-woo stopped his hands and tried to stop the customer who was about to come in, but several people had already entered the massage room.

Even I, lying comfortably, raised my head from the massage bed out of curiosity,

Two bodyguards and a woman entering.

The woman in the middle, with her flashy attire, felt like the boss.

A slim black dress.

A white mink shawl fluttering like a symbol of wealth.

With a flashy gold necklace and high heels that gleam with how well they’ve been maintained, her shiny hair fluttered.

‘…What’s this?’

I don’t know how to put it, but she was a flashy woman overall.

Seems like she’s gone crazy trying to show off her overflowing wealth.

As if she knew Jee-woo, she took off her sunglasses and revealed her arrogant white teeth.

“Are you Eun Ji-woo?”

***

“Who are you…?”

She called out my name out of the blue, but I don’t know who she is.

With a stylish hairstyle, black dress, and something that seemed like it would shed fur, she completed her outfit.

She exuded a sense of sophistication… like someone with a lot of money flowing.

Tall enough to give off a celebrity vibe… a bit different from that, but more like a gang boss vibe?

“Oh, excuse me.”

Folding his sunglasses and handing them to the security guard next to him, he began to introduce himself.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am-”

“Excuse me!”

An early morning visitor interrupted his self-introduction, causing Hanbyeol to shoot them a glare full of irritation.

“I apologize for not knowing who you are, but do you not realize it’s not the right time for this? Jiwoo, you too! Do you not know who we are dealing with right now?!”

“Oh, I’m sorry! You came in so suddenly, I was taken aback…”

It was a valid point.

In terms of order, Hanbyeol was ahead, so her care should come first.

Moreover, it wasn’t the right time to start business.

As Hanbyeol was about to take her turn, an unknown woman approached.

Without any intention of backing down, she looked down at Hanbyeol, who was sitting on the bed in her café uniform.

“I apologize. I have urgent business to attend to.”

“If you’re sorry, then please leave properly and wait on the couch! Coming in with a group of people and flaunting your money like that-”

“If I were to give you 1 million won, would you graciously step aside?”

“Thank you! There’s a café on the first floor, so if you’ve enjoyed yourself enough, have a cup of coffee before you leave!”

Jingling!

‘Hurry up!’

As soon as the money was handed over, she immediately straightened up, even promoting her own café before leaving.

Her business acumen was truly exceptional.

She left as soon as she received the money.

If she had moved just now, she could have easily aspired to be a hero.

“Well, now the two of us can talk.”

The mysterious female guest focused on me as if removing an obstacle.

As uncomfortable glances were directed towards her, I pointed out the falsehood in her words.

“Actually, it doesn’t seem like there are just two of us here…”

“Haha, don’t worry. The bodyguard I brought along is just in case.”

For the first time, a fresh scent of skin I had never experienced before approached me.

“Of course, if it’s a B-list hero, they can be subdued like swatting a mosquito.”

She delivered a threatening ultimatum, as if her words were laced with thorns.

Seemingly knowing a lot about me, the woman resumed her self-introduction.

“It’s nice to meet you face to face. I am Junis, the head of the Hero Management Department.”

With a charming flick of her slender jaw, she continued, “I’ve come to investigate reports of unsavory business dealings with heroes in this area.”