Chapter 293 Bathhouse Revenge
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”A public bath? You want to build that?” Jott, one of Harmon’s companions from the Kingdom, repeated my words in a stunned voice.
That morning, after Stella had spoken with me, I’d begun considering a public bath as a candidate for facilities in the post town. I had tried once before in the frontier settlement, but back then, too few people were interested in bathing, and I had to give up. Now, though, with the growing population, perhaps more people would use it. Besides, the Empire didn’t have public baths, so the novelty alone might draw attention.
Of course, I couldn’t expect success just by throwing up a building, so I came to the dining hall in disguise as Nick to hear directly from Kingdom natives—people used to public baths.
”A public bath in the Empire, huh… tricky,” Jott muttered.
”Too difficult, then?” I asked.
”Well, the Empire gathers people from all over, sure, but most of them are Imperials. Unless we know how they’ll take to it, we can’t say anything for sure. Dominic, what do you think?”
”At first, curiosity might bring crowds,” Dominic said flatly. “But unless there’s something more to hold their interest, they’ll drift away. And with so many using it, you’d need rules—rules everyone actually follows—or it’ll breed fights.”
”Exactly,” Jott agreed. “We grew up using baths, so manners came naturally, but for first-timers? They won’t have a clue.”
He wasn’t wrong. Even back in my old world, I’d heard of foreign visitors clashing with bathhouse customs. If we did this, we’d have to plan carefully.
”If some brute tried to jump into the tub without even rinsing, I might flatten him on the spot,” Dominic said coolly.
”The hell did you just say?” Jott snapped.
”That reaction… Jott, don’t tell me…” Dominic narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, the mood turned sharp. The two men squared off like mortal enemies.
”Looks like we’ve found a bathhouse heretic,” Dominic sneered.
”Big words from a hypocrite. Who knew a so-called clean freak sat at this table,” Jott shot back.
”Wait—what are you two talking about?” I asked.
”In plain words, Jott here’s the type who slips into the shared tub without washing properly,” Dominic declared.
”And you twisting the truth like that is coward’s talk,” Jott snapped. “Though, I suppose it suits a fake neat-freak like you.”
Why were they glaring like this? A moment ago they were drinking buddies!
Afraid the argument would never end, I stepped between them.
”Uh, Jott… do you really not wash before soaking?” I asked.
”I rinse off, sure, but I don’t scrub with a cloth.”
”Just rinsing isn’t enough, is it? Some dirt only comes off if you rub…”
”You don’t get it, Nick,” Jott said. “Let me ask you—if you scrub thoroughly, do you think that’s really enough?”
”Well… without soap like nobles use, maybe not entirely,” I admitted.
Before I could argue “better than nothing,” Dominic cut in.
”Let me clear this up. In the Kingdom, even commoners use soap.”
”Really? Even for bathing?” I asked.
”Not fancy stuff like foreigners imagine. It’s plain, scentless, sometimes the same block used for laundry. But there are also special cloths to scrub the body. With those, dirt comes off easily.”
”So with soap and towels, people can bathe properly,” I mused.
”Properly? Ha,” Jott scoffed. “Soap and towels aren’t enough. Dead skin sticks tight. You soak first, let it loosen, then scrub. Do it backwards, and scraps of skin peel halfway and float in the water—far nastier. Washing after soaking leaves you truly clean.”
”Huh… I guess that makes sense,” I said, though imagining dead skin drifting in the tub made me cringe.
Dominic folded his arms. “Skin flakes float regardless. Better soap-cleaned flakes than grimy ones.”
”Oh yeah? Then Dominic,” Jott barked, “why don’t you wash your clothes in Harmon’s used bathwater next time?”
”Wha—!?” Dominic faltered.
”Oi, why drag my name into this?” Harmon protested.
Jott ignored him. “So what, Dominic? If Harmon’s skin’s clean, you could drink it down, right?”
”Guh—! Th-that’s—” Dominic sputtered.
”Enough!” Harmon roared, and before Jott could finish his obscene suggestion, Harmon’s fist smashed into his face. Jott collapsed, unconscious on the dining hall floor.
”Die once and fix that rotten brain!” Harmon shouted.
”…One death won’t be enough,” Dominic muttered, but with Jott down cold, their quarrel ended.
”Now then,” Kilk said dryly, glancing my way. “Shall we return to the topic?”
As always, Kilk kept his distance from me, but at least he helped steer the conversation back on track whenever chaos struck.
”Right. We’ll set bathhouse rules later—if the plan moves forward. For now, what I’m proposing isn’t just a public bath. I’m imagining a whole complex. Of course, Neil-sama makes the final call,” I added quickly.
”A complex?”
”Yes. Alongside the bathhouse—dining halls, lounges, nap rooms. That way, even if the baths don’t catch on, other parts might.”
Basically, I wanted to build a super sento.
”In the Kingdom, I’ve only heard of noble bathhouses with salons and snacks. Nothing commoners could use,” Dominic said.
”Exactly. I’m talking about simple resting places and normal eateries,” I explained.
”Hm. But just adding those doesn’t make it novel.”
”That’s why I asked—what kinds of baths exist in the Kingdom? For example, herbal baths?”
”Herbal baths, yes,” Dominic said. “Some change weekly, others never. But herbs require huge amounts, constantly replenished. Only the most popular baths can afford that—even then, once a week at best—” He stopped mid-sentence, staring at me.
I smiled. “Here in the frontier settlement, we can grow endless supplies. Daily herbal baths? No problem.”
”…Ridiculous,” he muttered, shaking his head. “But with that field—those spirits—yes, you could supply it. If this were the Kingdom, it would be a sensation.”
”Herbal baths sound good, but is there anything else unusual?” I pressed.
”Sleeping baths, waterfall baths, bubble baths… and—” Dominic hesitated.
”And?”
”A slippery lotion bath.”
”A what!?” I nearly choked. Not general at all—who spread that madness!?
”People actually soak in those?” I asked weakly.
”Of course. The floors are treated to prevent slipping, and rinse tubs stand nearby.”
”…And the point is?”
”Moisturizing. Supposedly good for the skin. Researchers claim it’s nonsense, but in women’s baths, it’s considered indispensable.”
So the demand was on the women’s side. I could almost see why—soft, slick skin with a promise of beauty. Dangerous placebo or not, it had power.
”…Guess we’ll have to include it,” I muttered.
”Not just include—omit it, and you risk riots,” Dominic warned grimly.
”Riots!?”
He nodded. “One bathhouse once cut the lotion bath to save costs. Soon after, mobs of furious women stormed the place, crying ‘Bring back the lotion bath!’ Trust me—it looked like an uprising.”
”…Fine. Lotion bath is in,” I conceded.
From there, we drew up plans: four herbal baths (two classics, two rotating), outdoor baths, and more. Indoor: seven types. Outdoor: six. Multiplied by men’s and women’s sections—twenty-six varieties. Add eateries, lounges, nap rooms… A massive bathhouse complex, larger than anything in the Kingdom.
That night I compiled the proposal, and the next morning, I sent it to Viscount Hedmar. The following day, his reply arrived:
”I expected to set aside ample land, but I never dreamed you’d demand so much for a single facility. Do you not know the word restraint?”
…A fair point. My grand dream had to be scaled back, drastically. So I swallowed my pride, trimmed the plans, and sent a revised version instead.
Neil completely forgot it wasn’t his land to begin with.
Notes:
• Harmon – An experienced hunter and guard who came to the settlement and stayed. He is part of a hunting group with Demar, Dominic, Jott, Victor and Kilk. He knows Nick and Lewya, and discusses business ideas with Nick. He first appears in Chapter 220.
• Jott – A versatile member of Harmon’s group, often handling reconnaissance and communication thanks to his sharp senses from his Lycus blood. He contributes to combat and defense with his decent fighting skills and limited magic abilities. Jott first appears in Chapter 221.
• Stella – Female. A young woman from a village in the territory of Count Cordis. Her appearance is that of a young girl with a fixed smile, reflecting her traumatic experiences. She was renamed Remia by the brothel owner in Malm. Her relationship with others is marked by survival and adaptation, as she endures sexual exploitation and bullying. Her inner thoughts reveal a deep sense of despair and disconnection from her original identity.
• Nick – A servant who serves Neil and is trusted to protect him. He is strong enough to potentially fight Momoka. He first appears in Chapter 225, where he is introduced as a servant who is worried about Neil’s well-being after a monster attack. He is later revealed to be Neil himself, pretending to be a servant named Nick.
• Dominic – Dominic is a calm and collected man from the kingdom who is exceptional at considering others and acts as a negotiator among the group. Despite his calm demeanor, he becomes reckless when he lets his guard down, similar to Harmon and the others. He is a member of Harmon’s group and first appears in Chapter 229.
• Kilk – A man from the northernmost part of the Republic, where the climate is extremely cold. Due to his upbringing, he has a strong sense of individualism and prefers to work alone. He initially refused to join Harmon’s group but eventually chose to fight to protect the frontier settlement. He is practical, efficient, and values safety. Kilk first appears in Chapter 229.
• Viscount Hedmar – Zora’s biological family
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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