Randy had decided to make a camera, but beyond a telescope lens—assuming one existed—he had no other materials to work with. So, for now, he was focused on expanding the residence's bath, a plan he had declared he would do.
The expansion, however, wasn't as simple as adding bath onto an empty room.
Instead, he decided to build a small separate bathhouse, connecting it to the main house with a walkway.
Randy drew up the blueprints, and with Liz's help and his own physical strength, they turned the design into reality.
The inspiration was a private onsen (hot spring) he'd often seen in his previous life.
The materials had been collected by Harrison and others yesterday, and they spent the afternoon preparing the plumbing. Today, from morning until now, they worked tirelessly to finish the structure, which at first glance looks like a small hut.
"It has quite a unique atmosphere," Liz remarked.
"As expected, this shape is more comfortable," Randy replied.
The bathhouse's design was a fusion of Japanese and Western styles, though the Japanese influence was stronger.
Located in the backyard, where it couldn't be seen from the street, it didn't clash with the rest of the residence's aesthetic.
Inside the bathhouse was a small changing room that led to the bathroom itself.
Randy didn't add any unnecessary features, but he already dreamed of adding a resting area for after-bath relaxation.
Liz and Rita, oblivious to Randy's grand ambitions, opened the door to the bathroom and froze.
"As I thought… this is way too extravagant."
"…I agree," Liz said, glaring suspiciously at Randy.
They had started suspecting something was off when he was building the bathtub.
But now, seeing the finished bathhouse, it was clear it far exceeded their expectations.
Originally, the bathhouse was designated as a men's bath for Randy and Harrison, but thanks to Randy's creative modifications, it had become an impressive masterpiece.
The bathtub was spacious, made of something resembling cypress wood, with a floor to match. It was large enough for two adults to comfortably stretch out and relax. But that wasn't all.
Next to the bathtub was a sliding door. Opening it revealed a tall wooden enclosure and, above it, the clear blue sky.
At night, one could enjoy the moon and stars while soaking in the bath. As a former weebs from modern world, Randy had a deep attachment to the bath, and he spared no effort in its design.
To Liz and Rita, however, it was "too much."
"This is so unfair! Why do Young Master and Mr. Harrison get to enjoy this luxury alone?" Rita pouted.
"You're one to talk," Randy muttered with a wry smile, though he didn't scold her.
If anything, he was pleased to see that Rita, once so timid, had fully adapted to their household.
Still, he couldn't let their complaints slide without a rebuttal.
"Listen here! I'm still your employer," Randy declared with pride.
"Actually, our employer is Lord Alan, not you," Harrison interjected matter-of-factly.
"Whose side are you on!?" Randy snapped, glaring at Harrison.
"I don't care about baths. As long as I can wash off the sweat, I'm good," Harrison said with a shrug.
"You don't get it, Harrison!" Randy stomped his foot in frustration. "Imagine coming home completely exhausted and stepping into a cramped, tiny bath where you can't even stretch your legs!"
"Hmm…" Harrison scratched his head, unsure where Randy was going with this.
"But this bath is different!" Randy climbed into the tub to demonstrate. "Even I can stretch out my legs! I could even lie down if I wanted to!"
"You'd drown if you did that," Harrison pointed out.
"It's an example, you dolt!" Randy huffed.
"And more importantly—" Randy's expression shifted into a sly grin as he pointed to the side of the tub. "I plan to install a refrigerator here eventually."
"A refrigerator? You mean that magic tool that keeps things cold?" Harrison tilted his head in confusion.
This world's refrigerators were large and impractical. Placing them in a place like this would just get in the way.
"I'll make it small. Then I'll keep fruit wine or ale in it," Randy smirked. "Imagine it: soaking in the bath, sliding open the door to see the starry sky above, and sipping chilled fruit wine."
"…That sounds incredible," Harrison admitted, completely won over.
He clapped Randy on the shoulder. "You really do deserve this, young master."
"Hey, what about us!?" Rita protested, puffing her cheeks.
"We get tired too, you know!"
Liz, standing behind her, could only smile wryly at the escalating argument.
"Rita, I understand how you feel, but we can't have women bathing out here in a separate building—"
"But it's just the backyard! There's a proper fence, and beyond that is the waterway and the wall," Rita retorted.
Randy sighed internally. He was sure the maids back home had been a bad influence on her, teaching her to stand her ground and push for what she wanted.
Rita certainly hadn't been this assertive when she first arrived.
(Those maids…)
The discussion was going nowhere until Liz, exasperated, suggested, "Why don't you just build another one?"
At this, the three of them simultaneously clapped their hands as if struck by divine revelation.
"Bird-brained subordinates with bird-brained master," Ellie muttered with a sigh.
Randy clenched his fist, suppressing his urge to retort.
For now, he had to endure, since Ellie would soon be roped into helping him with the next bathhouse project.
By the time the afternoon had passed, Randy took a deep breath and spoke, he didn't wanna waste his remaining half-day off.
"I have plenty to say, but for now… Lady grand magus, it's your time to shine!"
"You're not treating me like a convenient tool, are you?"
Despite furrowing her brows, Ellie used her teleportation magic to send them off.
She was clearly looking forward to the bath herself.
—-
"Eh? You're back at such a weird time."
Alan looked confused as Randy, Harrison, and Rita passed by him like a whirlwind.
"It's an emergency!"
"—A real emergency!"
"—critical situation!"
Meanwhile, Liz gracefully curtsied with a polite smile. "Sorry for causing you trouble."
Randy made his way to the backyard, issuing instructions to Harrison while grabbing an axe and heading back into the hills.
"Keith, what do you think? They're not going to get kicked out of the house this time, right?"
"They were told renovations are allowed."
"Well, that's true…"
Alan and Keith watched with exasperated expressions as Randy and Harrison rapidly processed lumber at an alarming speed.
"Alright, this should do. Let's head back!"
With Randy's command, the group hastily gathered the lumber and set off, barely saying goodbye.
"See ya! Next time I'll come back more relaxedly."
Randy waved as Harrison and Rita gave hurried bows, and Liz curtsied again with a wry smile. The moment they vanished in a flash of light, the mansion fell silent, as though a storm had passed.
"I wonder what they're building this time."
"It certainly looks like they're having fun."
"Watching the children grow is always a joy, isn't it?"
"Indeed."
The adults smiled as they gazed at the remnants of the lively commotion.
—-
Unaware that they were being watched from afar, Randy and the group hurriedly constructed a new bathhouse under an orange sky.
Since they had already built one earlier, they simply mirrored the design to speed up the process.
Liz using [Craft] to create the pillars, walls, and water pipes.
Harrison and Rita extended the plumbing.
Randy used brute force to assemble everything.
By sharing the partition wall between the two bathhouses, they further reduced the time needed, completing the second structure at an astonishing speed.
The result was a mirrored version of the first bathhouse—connected entrances, shared changing rooms, and a bath on the other side, back-to-back with the men's bath.
"We managed to finish before night somehow," Randy said.
Realistically, this project would take months, but with magic, it was completed in a day—this time, double the original size.
They were exhausted but felt happy and pride. The four of them and Ellie nodded in agreement to go take a bath to wash off the sweat.
Water filled the tub, heated by magic stones.
Steam quickly turned the bathroom into a foggy, white cloud.
"Ahhh, this is how a bath should be!" Randy exclaimed as he sank into the men's bath.
After washing himself in a hurry, he eagerly slipped into the warm tub.
"Ahhhhhhhhh…"
The sound he made was more befitting an old man, but he couldn't help it.
After building two bathhouses in one day, even with the aid of magic, fatigue was inevitable.
"I should add a small garden inside this enclosure," Randy mumbled absentmindedly, sliding open the door to enjoy the cool air.
"Let's make it!" Liz's voice unexpectedly replied from beyond the wall.
Due to the slight gap at the top of the partition wall to save on materials, conversations between the men's and women's baths were audible.
Though it was unintended, Randy didn't mind it too much
"Yeah, sounds like a plan."
The sound of Liz's voice and the splashing of water echoed in the men's bath, a joyful tone making Randy smile unconsciously.
"The bath is amazing."
'Yes. It's something to look forward to every day now.'
Imagining Liz smiling, Randy nodded happily.
'Oh, we should talk like this again tomorrow.'
"Then I guess we'll let Harrison and the others use the bath first."
Randy shrugged, and Liz agreed cheerfully. Others might question a master letting servants and guards bathe first, but here, there were no rules or constraints.
They could do as they pleased.
Such freedom of thought was what moved the world forward.
"Liz, tell Ellie not to act so embarrassed and join the conversation."
'Idiot, I can hear you,' Ellie retorted, though her tone betrayed a hint of happiness.
Satisfied, Randy sank deeper into the tub.
"Ahhh, I feel alive again."
'Don't make old man noises. But… just this once, I'll agree with you.'
"Right?"
That night, the three of them ended up staying in the bath so long they nearly fainted.
—-
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