I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 19

“Dashi Kingdom?!”

“Woah―”

Since most of them were from rural areas who had never even seen people from other countries, let alone Song Dynasty people, the trainees couldn’t hide their excitement and began murmuring at the news that their first visitors would be from Dashi Kingdom.

“I heard people from Dashi Kingdom are three times taller than us and have blue faces.”

“I also heard they practice sorcery that’s unheard of.”

“I’ve seen a mask made in the shape of Cheoyong’s face! They say it wards off evil spirits!”

Seo Rin was dumbfounded listening to the trainees’ words.

‘Where on earth did these kids hear such ridiculous stories?’

“I, I also made those and sold them as protective talismans when a plague hit our village, and made quite a profit!”

‘Even you, Gap-i!’

“Quiet!”

Lee Jeong Ah shouted loudly.

“To think that people who believe such ridiculous rumors actually passed the trainee exam!”

The new trainees quickly bowed their heads at the deputy director’s scolding.

Lee Jeong Ah pressed her forehead and sighed.

‘Who knows what kinds of people from various countries will visit this place, and they’re already making such a fuss.’

Lee Jeong Ah decided to give them a stern warning while she had the chance.

“If you ever show such attitudes and commit rudeness toward our guests, know that you’ll be immediately expelled from Hyeeumwon!”

“Yes, yes…”

‘I worked so hard to get into Hyeeumwon! Absolutely not!’

The trainees shook their heads vigorously to dispel the terrible thought. They decided they wouldn’t be surprised even if a rabbit that had been pounding rice cakes on the moon came down and asked for guest rooms, let alone people from Dashi Kingdom.

Seeing that the trainees’ expressions had changed from before, Lee Jeong Ah walked toward the large scroll hanging in front of the training hall.

“Now, let me explain what you need to do.”

She then untied the string that bound the scroll. With a rustling sound, it unrolled downward, revealing a drawing.

‘Huh?! That’s?!’

It was definitely similar to the bird’s-eye view of Hyeeumwon that she had seen at the Hyeeumwon Site Visitor Center.

“Since you’ve already toured various buildings during your exams, I assume you’re familiar with the general layout of our inn.”

Lee Jeong Ah began pointing to different areas on the unfolded blueprint one by one.

“When you pass through the main gate, the Central Gate, you’ll immediately see Jigaek-cheong, which welcomes guests. Guests receive their room keys here before moving to the area where the guest rooms are located.”

Where Lee Jeong Ah pointed, three large pavilions were drawn.

“Hyeeumwon’s guest rooms are divided into three locations according to grade. There’s Anbin-gak with basic guest rooms mainly for merchants, then the next grade Yeongwol-gak, and Bohwa-gak for distinguished guests. Yeongwol-gak has Bongmyeong-jae, a space exclusively for officials on official duties, and Bohwa-gak has Nanseol Hall, guest rooms exclusively for women, so keep that in mind.”

Continuing her explanation, Lee Jeong Ah moved her pointer to where an ornate multi-story pavilion was drawn.

“This is Hyangmicheong of Manhyangru, where you are now. Manhyangru is the dining space for guests using our inn, with additional facilities including Gayeon Hall where you can enjoy music and dance, and separate spaces Heewo Hall and Pungwol Hall. Hyangri Hall is mainly a space for large-scale banquets. Inside Manhyangru, there’s Chanseon Bang, the kitchen, and Hyangjeoktang, where we have our meals.”

The trainees diligently took notes on Lee Jeong Ah’s explanation.

“Above Hyeeumwon, there’s the Temporary Palace where the Emperor would stay and Hyeeum Sa, a temple. There’s a medical office there, so keep that in mind.”

Having finished her explanation, Lee Jeong Ah put down her pointer and faced forward again.

“Now, I’ll explain your duties.”

But just then―

“Deputy Director!”

A clerk came running breathlessly into the training hall.

“What’s the matter?”

The clerk’s expression was too serious to scold for interrupting the training.

“It’s, it’s a disaster!”

The clerk delivered the current situation to Lee Jeong Ah in a low voice. As she listened, Lee Jeong Ah’s expression gradually hardened.

Seeing Lee Jeong Ah like this, the trainees became bewildered.

‘What? A disaster at Hyeeumwon that hasn’t even opened yet?’

When the clerk finished speaking, Lee Jeong Ah asked in surprise.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

After the clerk who had delivered all the urgent news left the training hall, Lee Jeong Ah sighed and ran her hand over her face.

Then, noticing the trainees looking at her with worried faces, Lee Jeong Ah tried to relax her expression but it wasn’t easy.

‘Even if I tell them, would they understand how urgent this situation is? But they need to know anyway…’

She decided to inform the trainees about the current situation for now.

“…Don’t be alarmed. The arrival date of the Dashi Kingdom merchants has been moved up.”

“…?”

The trainees’ reaction was exactly as she had expected.

“What about our training then?”

—They said such carefree things and looked at her with innocent expressions.

‘…Of course. There’s no way new recruits would realize the severity of this situation.’

However, there was one exception!

Although she had never become a regular employee due to educational requirements, she was like an experienced new recruit who had built up experience as an intern, and the top scorer of the Hyeeumwon trainee exam—Oh Seo Rin.

Unlike the other trainees, Seo Rin’s face had turned pale blue.

‘Could it be… Does that child know what a “schedule change” means, and what kind of storm it brings?’

But contrary to Lee Jeong Ah’s thoughts, Oh Seo Rin knew all too well that this was an urgent situation.

Seo Rin had once worked as an intern at a hotel on Jeju Island.

When a typhoon heading toward Japan suddenly changed course toward Jeju Island, the travel agency canceled all outdoor activities and suddenly stormed into the hotel with group reservation guests who were supposed to arrive three days later.

Since it was a large travel agency with considerable influence on Jeju Island, the hotel had no choice but to accept the group guests.

And the hotel went into emergency mode.

A general mobilization order was issued to all hotel personnel, and everyone had to frantically check spare rooms and assess the status of extra food ingredients.

The indoor program schedule that had been specially prepared for the group guests was also hastily moved up entirely. They had to seek cooperation from instructors, find new ones if that didn’t work, reorganize programs, and send penalty fees to instructors.

The nightmare of having to accomplish all these countless tasks in such a short time that it was deadly exhausting!

Remembering that time, Seo Rin shuddered.

“H-how much has the schedule been moved up?”

Seeing Seo Rin trembling as she asked, Lee Jeong Ah honestly told her.

“One week… it is.”

“N-no way?! You mean…”

“Yes, the merchants are said to arrive this afternoon.”

The news that the Dashi Kingdom trading company, which was originally scheduled to arrive a week later, would arrive today was delivered through a messenger.

The problem was that due to some complications along the way, this news was only delivered today, the very day of their arrival.

Lee Jeong Ah felt her head throbbing.

This Dashi Kingdom trading company wasn’t just ordinary merchants. It was the ‘Al-Fairuz Merchant Group’! The place where the Empress of Dashi Kingdom’s own brother served as the merchant leader.

When his younger sister became the Empress of Dashi Kingdom, the merchant leader used that influence to elevate Al-Fairuz into the kingdom’s top trading company in a short period—he was a major figure.

There were more than just one or two guest inns that had to close their doors due to a few harsh words from them as they traveled around the world. The Al-Fairuz Merchant Group had that level of influence.

“Gasp!! Then this is an emergency!”

“Exactly what I’m saying!!”

Seeing Seo Rin’s face turn pale, Lee Jeong Ah wondered if she truly understood the seriousness of the situation, but hearing the words that poured out as Seo Rin turned white with worry, she nodded her head.

“Is it possible to procure food ingredients for the guests?!”

“Bedding! Is all the bedding prepared?!”

“The boiler—no, the fuel to heat the guest rooms?”

“Will there be enough horse feed for the horses and oxen carrying their cargo?”

“What about amenities? The yoga program?!!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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