The Heavenly Demon Will Give You a Massage – Chapter 70

Chapter 70

“Wait a minute. This is the price?”

Manager Hwang showed a bewildered look while examining the interior design plan that Kang Taehan handed him.

Kang Taehan asked with a puzzled expression at his reaction.

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s not that there’s a problem…”

He said, gently placing the design plan he was holding on the table.

It was the plan sent by Hwang Yunsoo, the interior designer who had visited the empty store with Kang Taehan a while ago.

The estimate included three design options divided into Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, a bird’s-eye view of each option configured in a simulator, and the estimated costs for each.

“The price is too good.”

However, the reason Manager Hwang was bewildered was not due to a negative reason, but rather the opposite.

The cost listed in the estimate was considerably lower than he had expected.

“It’s hard to get this price range even if you hire a designer to do the interior.”

Manager Hwang wasn’t an interior expert, but he could still estimate the cost based on the size of the store and the level of effort required for the interior.

He had personally experienced about seven or eight new openings and renovations since he was young, moving from place to place. And because he was a busybody, he often talked about business with self-employed people, naturally accumulating experiential knowledge.

In that sense, the interior design plan that Kang Taehan brought was enough to bewilder him.

He had looked at the design options and bird’s-eye views and thought, ‘This is going to cost quite a bit,’ but the estimate that followed was far lower.

‘It doesn’t seem like they skimped on the interior either…’

The interior was mainly composed of wood to create an oriental atmosphere.

The space was spacious and open, yet there wasn’t a single place that felt unnecessary or empty.

Moreover, it was evident that careful attention had been paid to details related to the business, such as the customer’s view upon entering the store, the flow of customers from the lobby to the massage room, and the movement of massage therapists to the break room.

Of course, you can’t be completely reassured about the interior until it’s actually finished, but…

At least based on the content shown in the bird’s-eye view, it was a plan with no particular flaws.

“So, it seems okay?”

“More than okay. The price, the design, everything.”

It’s more common than you think for people to regret their decision after hiring a designer for their grand opening and ending up with a disappointing interior for the price.

In that sense, this design plan was quite excellent.

It showed understanding and consideration for the related business, the quality was excellent, and even the price was reasonable.

“I heard the interior industry is booming these days, so they charge whatever they want. At this time, with this quality and this price, it’s a real steal.”

Manager Hwang not only praised it highly but also gave a thumbs up with his right hand.

“This is practically at a no-profit level. Where did you find this person?”

“I was introduced by an acquaintance.”

“Aha…”

At Kang Taehan’s words, Manager Hwang nodded his head as if he understood.

No wonder the estimate was something that couldn’t have been achieved through profit calculation.

“You said it was your acquaintance’s son, right? Anyway, I feel like they’re doing us a big favor.”

To be more precise, it seemed that when Hwang Yunsoo was going through tough times, Shin Junho had introduced him to people around him, helping him secure a lot of work.

And Kang Taehan had benefited from that.

“Your connections are amazing, Taehan.”

“Mine?”

Kang Taehan tilted his head at Manager Hwang’s words.

He had never thought of it as a word particularly relevant to him in the modern world, unlike during his time in Murim.

“Look at it now. You got a store in a newly built building, you got investment, you got a good interior designer introduced… It’s amazing.”

Manager Hwang said so in a playful voice and lifted his teacup.

Meanwhile, Kang Taehan slowly nodded his head, listening to him.

Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t wrong.

“I’m lucky to have so many good connections around me.”

“What do you mean lucky? You’re a good person, Taehan.”

Manager Hwang shrugged his shoulders and said.

It would be a lie to say that there was no element of luck in connections, but in the end, developing and maintaining them wasn’t solely based on luck.

“Is that so?”

“It is. I’ve never heard any of the massage therapists or staff here say anything bad about you.”

Manager Hwang’s words weren’t just to please Kang Taehan; it was the truth.

Now, of course, he was the key player in making the massage shop a success, so it would be ungrateful to say anything bad about him, but even when he had swept away all the regular customers shortly after joining, there wasn’t a single word of complaint.

Of course, it wasn’t just because of Kang Taehan’s good nature; it was likely also due to the atmosphere that made him seem like someone you shouldn’t make an enemy of. But anyway.

Meanwhile, Kang Taehan simply shrugged his shoulders at Manager Hwang’s words and opened his mouth.

“Well, I guess it’s because I’m a good person that I can be friends with a versatile person like you, Manager.”

“Ugh… Why are you doing this to me?”

“You started it first, Manager.”

Kang Taehan chuckled at Manager Hwang’s disgusted reaction and took a sip of his tea.

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The preparations for the store opening proceeded very smoothly.

In fact, a massage parlor wasn’t a business that required a lot of preparation for opening.

It didn’t need advanced medical equipment like a hospital, nor did it need cooking and drainage facilities like a restaurant.

The only special equipment was the massage table.

The rest were basic facilities like the counter and waiting room seats, electronic appliances like air purifiers and air conditioners, and interior decoration.

If there was anything special required, it would be…

“Can I see your massage therapist license?”

“Here it is.”

It would be a national certified massage therapist license, but it wasn’t a problem for Kang Taehan, who already had one.

Kang Taehan took out his massage therapist license from his wallet and presented it when the employee examining the submitted business registration application extended his hand and asked.

Who knew that the license he obtained sixty years ago would be this helpful?

Back when Kang Taehan was a freshman who had just entered university…

He was a bit discouraged by the seniors’ complaints about how difficult it was to get a job in the Department of Sports Medicine. But then he saw an article saying that massage therapist licenses were being granted to the general public, and he immediately began preparing for it.

It was a license that he had obtained after about three years of preparation, even taking a leave of absence from school and postponing his military service.

At the time, he had some doubts about whether it was really necessary to go this far, but thanks to that, he was able to work as a massage therapist now.

No matter how good his massage skills were, to get a national certified license, he had to complete all the necessary steps, which required at least 2,000 hours of classes…

At least, it would have been impossible for him to work as a massage therapist right after he returned from Murim to the modern world.

‘No, if that were the case, Seonghyeon wouldn’t have recommended me to be a massage therapist in the first place.’

Choi Seonghyeon had also gotten his license along with Kang Taehan, so he wouldn’t have started working as a massage therapist first, nor would he have recommended the job to Kang Taehan.

What would have happened if that were the case?

He would probably be doing something other than massage.

As he briefly thought before, he might have been in the UFC, or he might have been a professional athlete in another sport…

If that were the case, he would be living a completely different life now.

‘But it wouldn’t have been fun.’

Even if he did martial arts, he wouldn’t be able to use his full strength, so he would always have to control his power and go easy on his opponents. What fun would there be in that?

“What’s the Chinese character you wrote here?”

Meanwhile, the employee who was looking at Kang Taehan’s license and business registration application pointed at the box where the business name was written with a pen and asked.

Kang Taehan slightly lowered his head to look at the tip of the pen and said in a low voice.

“It’s Cheonma Anma.”

“Cheonma Anma. Ah, you just wrote the business name in Chinese characters again.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Ahem. You write Chinese characters really well.”

The employee awkwardly gave a compliment and began moving his hand even faster than before.

Kang Taehan just smiled at that.

“Your application has been accepted, Mr. Kang Taehan. We will contact you when the results are out.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Taehan lightly nodded and stood up from his seat.

And as he came outside, his phone started ringing.

It was a call from Manager Hwang, right on time.

『Hey, Taehan. How did the business registration go?』

“It seems to have gone well.”

『Are you keeping the store name the same?』

Manager Hwang paused for a moment and then asked.

He had advised that it might be a good idea to have an English name, considering the connection with the hotel downstairs.

“Yes. I like this one.”

Kang Taehan’s answer was calm yet firm.

Cheonma Anma.

At first, he hadn’t put much thought into it, but it seemed to encompass both himself as the Heavenly Demon from his Murim days and his current self as a massage therapist, so he had grown quite fond of it.

『Well, it’s the owner’s decision, after all.』

It was right for the owner to decide the store name.

He had given his advice but had no intention of interfering, so Manager Hwang didn’t mind.

『Phew. At least now I can tell the customers who ask ‘Where did Mr. Kang go?’ the name of the store.』

It was a question he had been hearing several times a day lately, so Manager Hwang said in a relieved voice.

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“Coach, where are we going?”

Late Friday morning.

A man sitting in the back seat of a taxi casually asked the person sitting in the passenger seat.

He sounded sleepy, as if he hadn’t woken up fully yet.

“I told you. We’re going to get a massage.”

Song Namseop, the man in the passenger seat, replied in a calm voice.

As the training coach for the Daeseong Whales, he was currently on his way to Kang Taehan’s massage shop with two players.

“No, really?”

“You woke us up for this?”

Kim Hojung and Choi Taegu of the Daeseong Whales.

They were the team’s representative pitcher and catcher combo, who had been playing for the team for a long time and were still frequently starting players.

However, they were also getting older, and they were the type of players who utilized their accumulated experience rather than their physical strength, and even that was becoming increasingly difficult these days.

“I couldn’t believe it. Coach, we’re not young and energetic anymore. If we lose sleep like this, we can’t play in today’s game.”

“Does the manager know about this?”

Being old and having declining physical strength meant that managing their physical condition was very difficult.

They had thought there must be something else going on, but the two players reacted in protest when they heard that they had been brought out this early in the morning just for a massage.

“It was the manager’s order. And…”

As if he had expected such a reaction, Song Namseop spoke in a calm voice.

But there was an inexplicable sense of injustice in his voice.

“It’s a hard-won opportunity, so please just trust me and come.”

Today was a game day in Jamsil.

Under the manager’s order, Song Namseop and a few other staff members had been calling the massage shop regularly for the past few days.

To make a reservation if there were any cancellations.

But miraculously, two spots opened up, and they were back-to-back in the morning. As soon as they made the reservation, the coaching staff went into a meeting.

Which players would benefit the most from the massage?

The result of that meeting was this duo, the Kim Hojung and Choi Taegu combo.

“Well, if it’s the manager’s order, I have nothing more to say.”

“We’re just a bit surprised. But I thought you said you were going to take us to a jimjilbang earlier, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m sure I heard that too.”

“You’ll understand once we get there.”

Song Namseop said in a slightly tired voice.

He felt a sense of déjà vu in the skeptical looks of the players.

‘I feel like I’ve become some kind of massage evangelist…’

Just a while ago, he had had a long argument trying to persuade Manager Shim Taeyoon, and the situation was similar now.

But at that time, he had continued to explain even in this kind of situation, but now Song Namseop just shut his mouth at an appropriate point.

He knew from his experience with Manager Shim Taeyoon that they wouldn’t believe him even if he explained, and that experiencing it firsthand was the best way to understand.