Chapter 9
Too Strong Just Living Alone
Master of the Bathtub
The moment I opened the bathroom door, I was speechless.
“…Gorgeous.”
One word could describe the upgraded bathroom.
Previously, the space only had a toilet, a sink, and a showerhead connected to the sink. But now, it had completely transformed.
The first thing that caught my eye was the shower booth made of transparent glass.
Inside the booth, framed by sleek stainless steel, were a rain shower and various control buttons.
I turned on the water.
Whoooooosh!
The shower poured water like a waterfall.
Pressure I could never have imagined in the cheap one-room or studio I used to live in.
And that wasn’t all.
“Warm… warm!”
The hot water came out in just a few seconds. I looked around.
The walls and floor were covered in sparkling white marble.
Like a five-star hotel.
And… the pièce de résistance:
“…A bathtub. A bathtub!”
At the very back of the bathroom stood a huge bathtub, big enough for three or four people.
A massive rectangular shape in white.
Small LED lights along the edge glowed softly. Next to it, a small stand could hold a book or a drink.
I reached out and touched the tub.
“Cold.”
The luxurious porcelain texture was cool under my fingertips.
But my heart felt warm.
It felt like finally holding a long-cherished dream in my hands.
‘Is this really… mine?’
My lips trembled, and my eyes got a little misty.
I had always dreamed of a bathroom like this.
After work, returning home to soak in hot water and wash away my fatigue—that was my fantasy. I never imagined it would be realized like this.
Click! Click!
Buttons for bubbles, temperature maintenance, and other bathtub functions. I pressed them one by one…
“What’s this?”
At the far end, a small button labeled [Scenery Change].
Click!
I pressed it.
Whoooosh!
Suddenly, the bathroom ceiling and walls were transformed into a landscape.
A breathtaking view reminiscent of the Himalayas, with endless white snow.
“…Huh?”
The bathtub instantly turned into an open-air hot spring. My jaw dropped.
‘Could this be… a special function?’
Click! Click!
I continued pressing buttons. Then…
“Crazy.”
The scenery kept changing.
A blue sky over endless green meadows, like a Windows desktop background.
Or a scene reminiscent of Turkey’s Pamukkale.
An emerald beach spreading out, turning the tub into an infinity pool.
Every kind of stunning natural landscape appeared in succession.
Only then did I realize: this bathroom wasn’t just a bathroom.
It was a place that embodied a human’s ultimate fantasy.
“…Huuuh.”
Minho took a deep breath.
Whoooosh!
He turned on the hot water and filled the tub. Then…
“Let’s go.”
Bath salts… I’m buying bath salts!
If this is the first time in such a dreamlike bathtub, it has to be perfect.
Ta-da!
He spun around and dashed out of Infinite’s studio apartment.
“Nice, nice!”
Running down the alley, Minho’s face beamed like a sunflower.
About 5 km south of the World Tree Tower, along a major road.
At the top of a 20-story building, inside a large conference room.
“Huuuh…”
A man sitting at the head of the table let out a heavy sigh.
His name was Joseph Jung.
The chairman of the Player Association and an A-rank player.
He glanced at his wristwatch, sighed, and asked,
“Has no one arrived yet?”
“…Yes.”
Today, at this hour, Joseph had summoned the guild leaders of Korea’s five major guilds in the name of the Player Association.
But even though the meeting was 20 minutes late, no one had come.
“Has anyone given a reason?”
A staff member in a gray suit hesitated, then spoke.
“The Viper Guild and the Deungjeong Guild just contacted us. They said they’re busy with internal guild matters and asked not to be contacted for now.”
“And the others?”
“No response.”
It seemed no one had intended to come from the start.
Bang!
He slammed his fist on the table.
“…Damned fools.”
Grinding his teeth, he stood up and walked toward the window, hands behind his back.
Under the gray sky, he saw collapsed buildings and destroyed roads.
Workers and heavy machinery were repairing the damage.
Monster Fall.
If the top floor of the World Tree Tower is not cleared within the announced time, seeds from the summit unleash monsters to the ground.
This was the aftermath—a horrendous scene.
Damage exceeded 200 billion won.
Over 150 deaths.
Not only residential areas but commercial districts were paralyzed.
All this because the tower raid failed.
A bitter expression crossed Joseph’s face.
“Player Association, devise a plan!”
“Useless chairman Joseph Jung, resign! Resign!”
From below the building, voices could be heard.
Dozens of citizens wearing orange vests held pickets in protest.
Those affected by Monster Fall had come to protest at the Association.
Understandable.
They were furious. Monster Fall damages couldn’t be compensated under current rules.
But…
“…Damn it.”
Joseph could do nothing.
The Player Association, a non-profit funded only by government grants, lacked funds and talent.
Forming an independent raid team was nearly impossible, and the five major guilds were reluctant to participate.
The problem lay with the 30th floor boss:
‘Void Whale Behemoth.’
A colossal void whale, nearly the size of a small island.
The objective: destroy its heart.
The problem: it was insanely strong, and its interior was a labyrinth.
Most players retired before reaching the core, and the ‘Heart Guardian’ inside was nearly unbeatable.
Three months ago, the combined raid of the five guilds attempted it.
Result?
Dozens dead, hundreds severely injured.
This discouraged many players.
‘We need to rally more strength, but…’
Even the top guilds were traumatized. Cooperation was out of the question; everyone was just trying to survive on their own.
Joseph looked at the D-DAY counter on the wall:
[Next Monster Fall in 179 days, 22 hours, 18 minutes]
If the 30th floor isn’t cleared before the countdown hits zero, more damage will occur. The Association will be blamed. Likely, Joseph himself will have to resign.
VIPs constantly pressured him via hotline:
-
“Chairman Joseph! What are you doing? Don’t you see your approval ratings are tanking?”
-
“S-sorry! I’ll do my best!”
-
“Not your best, show results!”
Joseph rubbed his temples.
‘Should we hire mercenaries to at least attempt an entry? Even then… the chance of success is slim.’
He sighed.
“Investigator Kang Jin.”
“Yes, Chairman!”
Kang Jin, the ace investigator of the Association, known for his speed and efficiency.
“Did you confirm the info I asked for?”
“You mean the player ‘Subscribe a lot to the Solo King’?”
“Yes.”
This player cleared the first floor in just three hours, far surpassing the record of Go Hae-il, leader of the Deungjeong Guild.
Kang Jin answered with a serious expression:
“After thorough investigation, there’s no info from any guild. Recently, no players have awakened to A-rank or above.”
Joseph frowned.
“So the tower malfunctioned after all.”
“That seems likely. Clearing the first floor in three hours is impossible.”
“Damn.”
He pressed his fingers to his forehead, frustrated.
If a player of that caliber truly exists, they could solve this mess…
Just then, the conference room door burst open, and a staff member rushed in.
“Chairman! Big news!”
“What?”
“The player who cleared the second floor just appeared!”
“Second floor? So what?”
“Well… this player cleared the second floor in record time.”
“Record time?”
Joseph furrowed his brows.
‘Faster than the Viper Guild leader?’
Viper Guild leader Jeon Mi-yeon’s second-floor record: 13 days. It had been broken?
“How much faster?”
“About five hours!”
“Five hours faster than Jeon Mi-yeon… impressive…”
“No, the total clear time was only five hours.”
“What?”
Everyone in the room exchanged glances, sensing the strange atmosphere.
“Could it be… that player’s name is…?”
“‘Subscribe a lot to the Solo King’!”
A chill ran down their spines.
‘This player is real…’
‘It’s not a tower malfunction?’
Once could be coincidence. Twice changes everything.
Clearing both floors in record time, absurdly fast.
This player is likely…
‘More talented than any player ever seen.’
An S-rank player in the Association’s terms, but far beyond that.
Joseph’s instincts screamed: they must recruit this player at all costs.
“Kang Jin!”
“Yes! I’ll start the search immediately!”
“Do whatever it takes. Find them before any other guild does and recruit them!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Hurry!”
Thud thud!
Kang Jin and the staff ran out of the conference room.
Joseph, left alone, stared at the World Tree Tower.
“No matter what kind of insane monster you are, I’ll find you. I will… conquer that tower.”
A gleam of determination shone in his eyes.
Meanwhile, in the steaming bathtub:
Pink liquid mixed with glittering powder, bubbles rising and releasing a floral scent.
Inside, Minho soaked completely.
“Ahhh, this is amazing.”
The owner of the studio apartment, enjoying the tub.
<<Today, we’ll take a look at the two-room layout of my place.>>
He watched the Solo King YouTube channel on his smartphone, placed on the stand.
A cold can of cola sat nearby. Minho took a sip.
“Ahhh! This is life, this is the dream!”
He smiled happily, savoring the moment.
