episode_0026

I finally set the direction to grow my shop.

To supplement manpower, I properly hired employees, and decided to boldly raise prices by taking my sister’s opinion into account.

The advice that wasting time is delaying resonated with me.

Although it’s still early for a premium policy that differentiates customers by class, my shop has its own uniqueness, so I immediately took action.

Therefore, I completely revamped the menu. I included menu items based on the tastes that customers have been wanting.

I expanded the insufficient shower booths and decided to call in experts to work on the spa issue, which is directly related to the plumbing.

In just one month, the newly transformed “Hero Exclusive Healing Center” prepared to welcome guests with the new 2.0 version.

“…It’s too quiet today.”

The guests vanished like magic as soon as I adjusted the prices.

My self-esteem crumbled in the suddenly quiet shop.

Even though I glanced around the shop, there was no sign of anyone coming.

Since I had just updated the menu, it wouldn’t have spread as a rumor so quickly.

It seems that today, being a weekend during a holiday, there are no guests.

On weekends, heroes are more ruthless.

It’s easy for the vacation crowd to gather in one city, making it more likely for dangerous incidents to occur, so the security measures become stricter.

Always on standby for emergency dispatch, heroes feel like they are constantly on the move without a break due to the strict system of the association that deducts points if they refuse.

The higher the grade of the hero, the stronger the hero who can quickly resolve incidents, and that’s why they receive astronomical amounts of money.

“Well, since I have some free time, I should make a poster to recruit employees.”

Muttering to myself, I twirl the pen that has suddenly become scarce due to business.

Confident in my writing skills, I boldly write a recruitment notice on a B4 size paper.

I had been brainstorming the conditions for employees.

First and foremost, they should be mutants, or rather, they must be mutants.

Of course, they must have strength to cater to heroes.

If they don’t have strength, they can’t entertain heroes.

And preferably female.

It’s not discrimination between men and women, but male guests who receive services are all gone.

As soon as they realize that the person giving them a massage is a man, they immediately leave the shop.

Sometimes they look at my face and say, “Oh, was this a gay massage?” but I don’t understand the meaning.

Anyway, I hope they have abilities here.

With a supportive ability, not necessarily strong, but a mental manipulation ability that boosts allies, and it would be great if it’s in the mystery domain.

And a decent salary.

As the shop grows and expands, there may be more room to increase the pay, but I can’t pay a large amount immediately.

That’s right.

Overall, they should be a mutant female with a supportive ability, and they should be someone who doesn’t mind working late.

That’s my conclusion.

“…Who’s going to work then?”

A tackle I didn’t see coming.

With the inflated expectations of a so-called small business and the inadequate welfare level, I slap my own cheek.

Even if heroes are part-timers, if I pay a C-grade level wage under these demanding conditions, who will come?

Heroes mostly start their volunteer jobs for the honor.

It’s a profession that starts for the future popularity and honor, even if it’s initially part-time, but there’s no way my massage shop would have any popularity or honor.

With little money, job insecurity in the service industry.

There’s no such thing as a completely unethical company. If I were to work under these conditions, I’d rather work in the always open manual labor market or on a tuna boat to make money.

“Let’s just write it down for now. There might be some idle mutants in this world─”

Clang clang!

“Oh?! Welcome!”

She straightened her spine as the guest entered at the perfect timing.

Instinctively, she bent her waist and quickly cleared the B4 paper in front of her before welcoming the guest.

“Wait… Y-You!?”

Her pupils dilated significantly upon seeing the guest.

She never expected such a distinguished person to visit this humble shop.

Long, flowing hair swaying elegantly down to her ankles.

Her red hair tie, showcasing an impressive volume of hair, emphasized her charm even more.

Her attire was equally dazzling.

An off-shoulder dress that accentuated her ample bosom, revealing a daring amount of skin.

The dress had a strong side slit like a cheongsam, with black semi-transparent lining that swayed with her movements.

Her face had its own charm.

Long eyelashes that complemented her jet-black hair and full, dilated pupils.

And lastly, a deep shade of red lipstick.

She had seen many heroes.

Having a famous figure like Lin around, she was confident that she wouldn’t be surprised by most heroes.

But this person was someone every Korean should know.

A hero with a history of less than 30 years.

A figure who would forever be remembered as a first-generation hero.

A respected figure still held in high regard in the hero industry as an S-rank of honor.

“Yobu, Son Hayoung!?”

“Shh.”

She placed her index finger on her lips as soon as she called out.

She lightly tapped her finger as if teasing, indicating her point.

“Yobu is a nickname given after retiring from being a hero. More precisely, after getting married and having things happen.”

“Oh, right! What a slip of the tongue…!”

She quickly bowed her head.

She had made a tremendous blunder in front of her senior, whom she should look up to.

Son Hayoung, a first-generation hero, had a colorful past like a stormy sea.

The youngest S-rank hero at the time.

After receiving much admiration for her glamorous appearance, she finally retired from hero life and got married.

However, her partner was an ordinary person.

An immensely wealthy conglomerate whose assets were immeasurable, but still just a regular person, not a mutant.

This led to tremendous fame and attention even overseas.

She was probably now a widow, having lost her husband.

The reason for this, we all know.

“Then, call me ‘Iron Pole.’”

“Oh, oh! Since I was a hero too, I’ll just call you Hayoung Senior.”

“Is that so? But calling me Senior sounds too formal and long.”

“Then, Hayoung…?”

“Hehe, how about Hayoung Nuna?”

She smiled.

“Yes, yes! Then, Hayoung Nuna!”

“Oh my, are you really going to go that far?”

There was no hesitation.

After all, she was a flawless Nuna.

“But how old are you really? You got married in your thirties, so that means…”

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, yes!”

She hesitated before calling out, then straightened her spine again.

“Is this shop operated by the Hero Association?”

“No, I’m a small business owner…”

“Really? But the sign says ‘Hero’ on it. Isn’t it illegal to use that name so casually?”

“We did get inspected, but they said there was no problem, so we’re keeping it!”

“Hmm… Is that so. Even though it’s been a long time since I retired as a hero, am I still treated as one?”

“Of course! Hayoung Nuna is truly a role model for all heroes!”

“Hehe, you’re good with lip service. What’s your name?”

“Ah! I’m Eun Jiwu. I used to be a B-rank hero.”

“Eun Jiwu.”

She listened to the echo once and liked it, her red lips curling slightly.

“Great, bring me the menu. I need to know what this place is all about.”

As she reached out her hand, Eun Jiwu hesitantly handed her the menu.

After raising the prices significantly, I never expected the person who showed up to become a legend of heroism.

“……”

“……”

Ms. Son Hayoung carefully considered the situation.

After examining it thoroughly, she closed the menu with a serious expression.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, yes!”

“At this price.”

“Oh, right?! Actually, I made some adjustments today, but I can revise it again-”

“What kind of service is this?”

“Excuse me…?”

“The price is too low. Can you really survive on this?”

A mentor of heroism who earnestly worries about me, someone they just met today.

‘This person… must be incredibly wealthy.’

Her husband, a conglomerate heir, passed away in an unfortunate accident, leaving all his wealth to her.

Rumors abound, but only the parties involved know the full story.

“Hmm… alright, how much for the most expensive full-course meal?”

“Oh, yes! Including massage and sauna, it will take about an hour…?”

“So, you’re buying Jiwoo’s time for an hour?”

“Oh… is that so?”

Technically, the massage time is 30 minutes, but I just nodded vaguely and handed over my card.

It was a black card I had never seen before in my life.

“Charge it 24 times.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If you charge it 24 times, you’re buying a day of Jiwoo’s time, right? Hurry up.”

Beep beep beep beep…!

The receipt soon printed out.

I thought it was a joke, but it was sincere.

I ended up actually paying for the most expensive full-body massage 24 times, truly buying my time.

“Well, since I can’t take any more customers, I guess I’ll have to close, right?”

She even went ahead and closed the store with a .

Then she came over to the counter with her arms crossed.

“Well, with this, Jiwoo is mine for the day♡”

“Um, Hayoung unnie, you’re too close…?!”

“Hehe, today I bought Jiwoo. As you get older, you get lonely in many ways~ You’re good at lip service, so you should be my companion today♡”

She was too close for comfort.

It felt like she had discovered an interesting toy and embraced it.

“My arm is being held, I can’t move…?!”

The payment was made, and I couldn’t resist.

Feeling a sense of powerlessness from the ruthless strength of the past S-rank, I felt surrounded by strong women in my vicinity.