Chapter 263. For mermaids, steam is the best (2)
Jjimjilbang.
It is a space that everyone in Korea likes.
A demonic space where you can take a bite of a chewy steamed egg, chew it, and wash away all your anxieties and fatigue with a sip of sikhye floated on ice.
Lloyd had also been to a jjimjilbang in Korea.
Just once.
‘It was a time when we were filming in full swing like crazy.’
It was said that there was a time when I was particularly upset.
He said he went in and out of the field every day without a break.
It was really nice that the daily wages spread out and piled up.
Instead, my physical condition was getting worse day by day.
‘I didn’t have time to relax. Because I couldn’t rest even after I went to the gosiwon after finishing my field work. Because I had to study.’
I was taking a leave of absence due to tuition fees for the next semester.
So, I escaped the pressure of the assignment.
Even so, I couldn’t relax and relax.
He had a goal for himself.
Graduated and obtained driver’s license.
So get a decent job.
Get away from the hardships of life that strangle your neck every day.
Finally, you can start a normal family and live a normal life without big worries or storms.
That was the biggest life goal he had when he was in Korea.
A goal that is too ordinary and humble for others.
However, it was a goal that was more desperate and desperate for himself.
He said he didn’t have a day off properly for that.
He said he had a nosebleed seven times a week.
Meanwhile, his nutritional status was not very good.
For most of their meals, they relied on rice, ramen, and kimchi, which were provided free of charge at the gosiwon.
Of course, his complexion was yellow every day.
Was it like that?
The day when my back was drooping from the fatigue that had been weighing down my shoulders.
The day I was about to come out of the field with such a heavy body and go back to the gosiwon.
One of the older brothers who worked together at the time called him.
‘Suho, do you want to go to a jjimjilbang after work?’
…I said.
Of course I shook my head.
Tried to refuse.
It had to be.
A jjimjilbang without money.
It was a luxury he could not even dream of.
It would be much better to buy a few cans of ramen or tuna with the money to go to a place like that.
I thought so and laughed awkwardly.
I can’t say that I don’t have money because I’m embarrassed.
I’m busy today
Brother, go alone.
That’s why I was so circumspectly rejected.
But did the older brother respond like this right away?
‘Dude, if you live like that, will you get old and sick? my brother will pay Let’s go bastard.’
free.
…nice.
The first jjimjilbang in my life that I followed was truly shocking.
Yellow clay sauna.
Diamond Seawater Jjimjilbang.
In addition, there were jjimjilbangs with all kinds of concepts such as roasting, stir-frying, blanching, and chaos.
It was a place beyond imagination.
Besides, how delicious and savory the boiled eggs I tasted there.
I wondered if this was the egg he knew.
Besides, how was the sikhye, which was inhaled with an egg and floated on ice.
The moment I took the first sip, I had tears in my eyes without realizing it.
It was to the point where there was no such sweet nectar water for him, who had been drinking only lukewarm water from the water purifier at the goshiwon, not knowing when it was cleaned.
‘It was really good.’
That’s how I made a promise as I came out of the jjimjilbang with him.
If you get a job later and earn money.
When you finally live like a human being.
Back then, I said I had to go to a jjimjilbang at least once a week.
Even though I was wild in my heart, I had a spleen resolution.
But in the end, he couldn’t keep his promise.
‘It’s a job and what. I came here before I even tried.’
Lloyd captured memories through a bitter smile that bloomed at the corners of his mouth.
And I looked around.
There were new ties made here.
Xaviel is slightly raising one eyebrow as if in a beautiful painting.
Rotorua tilting her head in this direction.
Both of them were looking at me with puzzled eyes.
Lloyd’s bitter smile deepened.
‘Ah, it’s the first time both of you have heard of a jjimjilbang.’
Come to think of it, it must have been.
Lloyd cleared his throat.
“Hmmmmm. Rotorua-san must have heard of a jjimjilbang for the first time, right?”
“exactly. that is…Why are you so sure that if you make it here, it will be a big hit? Besides, what is the connection between making it here and excavating the treasure site?”
“yes. The simple answer to both questions would be yes.”
“What is a jjimjilbang?”
“It is to support yourself with hot water or steam air.”
“Are you saying you’re going to lose?”
“Oh, of course, it’s not like you’re serving fish.”
Lloyd laughed.
His explanation continued.
“It warms up the body with moderate heat that will not burn the skin. So that the muscles are relaxed and the tension is released.”
“Well, if it’s such a steam, I know. It’s not like we mermaids don’t use steam either.”
“Is that so?”
“Really. Although it is illegal.”
“Is it illegal?”
Lloyd asked.
Rotorua replied.
“It is literally out of the way. Perhaps you saw the hot water hole over there and thought of a jjimjilbang, but in fact, we mermaids secretly enjoy steaming in a hot water hole like that.”
“You mean secretly?”
“exactly. Because it is dangerous.”
“Danger….”
“The water there is too hot. If you keep a reasonable distance and choose a good location, the temperature will be suitable for steaming, but that is not an easy task.”
“I guess so.”
“yes. But the bigger problem is that the water there is not clear.”
“Are you referring to toxic ingredients?”
“It’s a poisonous ingredient. Probably. If you drink the wrong water there, you’ll be confused. I can’t breathe, and I even lose consciousness in an instant. That would be very dangerous.”
“Um…It would definitely be dangerous if you lost your mind and floated around in a place with extremely hot water gushing out right next to you.”
“exactly. It’s easy to get severe burns. If you’re unlucky, you may die. So, steaming in a hot water hole is prohibited here.”
Rotorua’s eyes looking this way were full of doubts.
he asked
“But I thought you were going to build a facility where you could take a steam bath here. The Queen won’t allow that. Even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t be easy to overcome the mermaids’ fear and rejection of the steam bath. Have you ever thought about that?”
“yes.”
Lloyd nodded.
If so, the answer is very simple.
“It sounds like a good point. Proper heat control. And blocking toxic ingredients from entering the jjimjilbang facility. That will be the core of the construction of this jjimjilbang.”
“So you’re saying there’s a way to manage it?”
“Of course.”
Lloyd replied confidently.
Seriously, of course.
‘of course. This isn’t a joke either. I’m afraid they’ll push for this with a fist.’
there are no second chances
It is necessary to find the site of the prison while minimizing waste of time and effort as much as possible.
You have to restore the jewel based on the blueprints found at the site.
After that, we must figure out how to stop the restoration of fate.
How much time and effort will it take to implement it?
With that thought in mind, not a single step or process could be wasted.
So it was.
‘Do you think that mermaids will vaguely like and respond if you make a jjimjilbang? If you’re going ahead with that kind of naive thought, it’s better to get rid of it.’
He had already planned everything down to a much more meticulous level.
Sauna safety measures.
An element that mermaids will find attractive in a jjimjilbang.
How to make mermaids addicted to jjimjilbang through that.
How to use that addiction to hit the net.
In the end, what kind of labor contract will be pushed to the mermaids who flop around in the net.
Lloyd literally had a plan.
“So, please start with some guidance.”
“Where do you mean guide?”
“Are there any underwater caves or similar places nearby?”
“Yes.”
“How far is it?”
“Well, it’s about five Giga Titans away.”
“Five Giga Titans…It must be a little over 400 meters.”
“Probably in terms of human distance. Do you want me to guide you there?”
“yes.”
“….”
Rotorua looked at Lloyd with strange eyes.
And I thought.
This land man is a bit peculiar.
No, it’s more strange than unusual.
At first, I was trying to find the jewel of truth, so I messed around in the mermaid city.
So, I was happy to contact you.
I wanted to doubt this next time.
After clearing the doubt, I will make a jjimjilbang or something here.
They act as if that would solve everything.
furthermore….
‘A silver-haired man who sticks by this land man. That person’s attitude is also amazing.’
Rotorua’s gaze turned to Xaviel.
A silver-haired person who seems to be a subordinate of Lloyd, a land human.
Lloyd’s actions were not restrained.
Didn’t even raise any doubts.
Despite the absurd sound of making a jjimjilbang, he just maintained his composure.
Like someone who really believes that if you follow Lloyd’s plan, everything will work out.
‘hmm.’
Rotorua secretly swallowed the saliva.
I kind of felt uncomfortable.
Could it be that those two land humans are trying to deceive and use themselves?
According to rumors, the people of the land are a very cunning tribe.
I’ve heard that if it’s just gold or money, your eyes will turn white and you’ll do evil things without hesitation.
‘but….’
He shook his head.
Still, it was the first time in my life that I had seen someone who wanted to find the jewel.
Besides, on the other hand, he himself was also a little tired of exploring treasures.
‘Because it was helpless.’
I’ve been hanging on for over 20 years.
However, there has been no success so far.
That fact sometimes gave me a suffocating anxiety.
Maybe he will die of old age while digging at the bottom of the sea without any results.
Just like many of his ancestors did.
Just like his grandfather and father did.
Wouldn’t he die abruptly, leaving only a will to his son, ‘You must find the jewel’?
‘I hate that.’
I was afraid.
I didn’t like life like that.
But what if we live like this?
It seemed like that would eventually happen.
But today, he met an unexpected helper like this.
‘Maybe I’ll never have an opportunity like this again.’
A gem explorer other than himself that he met for the first time.
Rotorua decided to pin its hopes on that fact.
He made up his mind and nodded at Lloyd.
“Good. an undersea cave to guide Follow me.”
That’s how Rotorua took the lead.
Arriving at the underwater cave was quick.
“oh.”
A different color appeared in Lloyd’s eyes as he stared at the cave entrance.
‘Is this good?’
More than expected.
First of all, the entrance was large.
The width of the entrance alone was a good 7 meters, and the height reached a whopping 10 meters.
‘How about inside.’
He entered the cave using Xaviel’s aura as a lamp.
The inside was even more than expected.
‘Heh heh. Does this sound like karaoke?’
The total length of the cave is about 250 meters.
The central main aisle stretched almost in a straight line from the entrance to the exit on the other side.
Along the main aisle, large and small rooms hung vertically and horizontally.
As small as a college studio studio.
The largest room seemed to be about the size of a school auditorium.
‘Amazing, Great. good. It’s perfect.’
While looking around the inside of the cave, Lloyd’s heart skipped a beat.
The rough structure of the jjimjilbang he had in mind.
It was an ideal space layout to apply that structure.
‘At this level, the main stem construction has already been completed. substructure? Almost no need. This just shaves some bumpy places. Depending on the jjimjilbang to be divided into various concepts, the boundaries of the area are clearly divided. Then place the hot water supply pipe. Can I finish it by doing some interior work on various convenience facilities?’
Then it seemed that the construction could be completed quickly without much effort.
It was from that day.
Lloyd immediately began preparing for construction.
First of all, they went in and out of the cave frequently for about four days to measure the entire internal structure.
At the same time, I was busy with design work.
where it needs to be repaired.
where to reinforce.
Where to block and where to break.
The path through which the hot water pipe enters and exits.
I thought about, planned, and designed all of those elements.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, he happily rolled Xaviel.
“Hey Xaviel.”
“What else are you trying to do?”
“under. Do you know a lot just by calling me by name?”
“Because you pampered me so much.”
A bitter smile hung at the corners of Xaviel’s lips.
“At this point, I can’t tell if my duty is Lloyd-sama’s escort knight or just useful construction equipment.”
“okay? Still can’t tell the difference?”
“no way….”
“You are a knight. take pride Would I openly treat you as construction equipment?”
“…Are you serious about that?”
“of course. you are the article Aren’t you Sir Xaviel Asrahan, an absolutely honorable knight?”
“Hmm.”
“why. what. why. Do you open your eyes like that even if I tell you nice things?”
“I was wondering if you had an ulterior motive again.”
“It’s a joke. Isn’t there anything like that?”
“Are you sure?”
“That is not natural either. What’s wrong, Lord Asrahan? Is it awkward to be properly treated as a knight?”
“It is not.”
“Isn’t it?”
“yes.”
“Then let’s go and do some work.”
“….”
“You remember that hot water hole? If you go there, there will be clams that are long and straight like bamboo.”
“….”
“That’s a deep-sea cannabis. Gather some of those shells. As much as possible, only with things thicker than the thigh circumference. Cracked or broken ones are meticulously removed.”
“….”
“You don’t want to do that, Sir Asrahan?”
“….”
Tsk.
In the end, you said you were going to treat construction equipment with such sweet words.
‘Whoa. He’s not even the real Lloyd.’
Should I just feed one honey chestnut to that chestnut-like back of the head?
Xaviel licked his sore mouth and headed for the hot water hole.
Somehow, with burning resentment (?), I spurred on collecting deep-sea coffin shells.
In the meantime, Lloyd was also working on the design of an undersea cave jjimjilbang.
The water supply pipe design method was applied to this design.
Determination of pipe thickness, pipeline setting, water supply pipe branching method, exposure area calculation, and burial method.
He tried to mobilize and apply all the knowledge he knew so that there would be no abnormality in construction even in a deep-sea underwater environment, which is not a normal construction.
As Lloyd glared at the blueprints, blood vessels were welling up in his eyes.
Xaviel’s actions of collecting deep-sea crown clam shells became familiar day by day.
Just like that, another five days passed.
And finally.
‘good.’
Lloyd looked at the finished blueprints with satisfaction.
The moment to bring the mermaids to the negotiating table for labor contracts through an unprecedented undersea steam room was approaching.
