I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 41
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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 41
“That aside, when will you prepare our lodging?”
Eun Cheon said with a sigh.
“…I understand. Since you helped with the interview matter.”
When Eun Cheon reluctantly agreed to grant their request as if he had no other choice, Jun Gyeong and An Hyeok left the office without hiding their satisfied smiles.
As soon as the two left, Eun Cheon immediately called for Gwak Il Beon.
“Provide lodging at Hyeeumwon for Middle General Jeong Jun Gyeong and Palgwansa Wang An Hyeok.”
“You mean lodging for the two of them to stay? Understood. Then, may I ask how long they plan to stay?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Pardon?”
“…That’s how it is. Prepare it immediately.”
“Yes. Understood.”
As Gwak Il Beon was about to leave to carry out the order, Eun Cheon added one condition.
“…However, arrange it in the place farthest from the trainees’ dormitory rooms.”
“The farthest place? Ah, yes… I will do so.”
“And… Do you know anything about a shaman named ‘Hye Mi’?”
Eun Cheon was bothered by what An Hyeok had mentioned.
“Hye Mi, you mean the shaman from Gukmu? I heard she’s retired and living in seclusion now. But why do you suddenly ask about that shaman?”
“…Never mind. You may go.”
Gwak Il Beon bowed and quietly withdrew.
In fact, Eun Cheon already knew to some extent about Oh Seo Rin’s family.
It was natural. Since this was where the Emperor’s temporary palace would be built, thoroughly checking the identities of everyone entering and leaving Hyeeumwon was an essential measure.
Upon investigation, there was nothing unusual about Oh Seo Rin. Except that she was a daughter from a branch of a shaman family. But even that was from a fallen household, so he hadn’t paid much attention to it.
‘…Why is An Hyeok suddenly curious about her identity?’
Eun Cheon seemed lost in thought for a moment, then spoke.
“Eun Yeom.”
At his quiet call, a human figure silently emerged from the shadows.
“Investigate Oh Seo Rin’s family. Also find out what Wang An Hyeok is investigating.”
“I obey.”
Eun Yeom answered briefly and disappeared without a sound.
Eun Cheon stared at the empty space, lost in thought.
* * *
The next morning.
Seo Rin and her roommates finished their breakfast and crossed the Hyeeumwon courtyard where leaves swayed in the autumn breeze, entering Chanseon Bang for their morning duties.
The Head Cook, who turned his head at the sound of the door opening, greeted the two with a pleased expression.
“Did you sleep well through the night?”
“Oh, yes! Did you have good dreams?”
The Head Cook’s face was filled with satisfaction as she looked at Seo Rin. Well, since she had helped her escape from that dizzying crisis, how could she not look lovely?
She had wanted to call her aside separately to express her gratitude, but her heart went out to her even more when she firmly declined, saying she had already received compensation from Hyeeumwon.
“Have you gotten used to the work now? The Daesik Kingdom people aren’t being difficult, are they?”
“Not at all. They treat me well. I’ve gotten used to the work too.”
“Good, good. Just don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As the Head Cook left to gather the lacking ingredients, the whispering voices of Shin Yi and Seon Ji reached Seo Rin’s ears.
“Really, she’s made quite the impression, hasn’t she?”
“The Head Cook collapsing, could it have been something she did? Maybe she wanted to take over the kitchen while she was down.”
“Oh my, surely not? No matter how much she wants to stand out, would she really do something so frightening to the Head Cook?”
Gap-i, who heard this, got angry as if it were her own business.
“Th-those girls, how can they say such ri-ridiculous things?”
This time, Seo Rin didn’t hold back and approached Seon Ji and Shin Yi.
Envy and jealousy were fine. But this kind of false accusation couldn’t be tolerated.
These kinds of provocative stories spread from mouth to mouth in an instant and solidify as if they were facts.
“Girls, you were just talking about me, right?”
When Seo Rin approached them, Seon Ji twisted her face and turned her body toward her.
“Why are you eavesdropping on other people’s conversations and making a fuss? Why? Does it hit a nerve?”
Seo Rin looked at Seon Ji, who was glaring intensely, and let out a snort of laughter.
“Other people’s conversation, my foot. You were openly gossiping about me right in front of me.”
“That’s what happens when someone with no backing acts up carelessly.”
“Really? I don’t have backing like ‘Shin Yi’ the way you do, Seon Ji?”
“Wh-what are you saying—”
“And Shin Yi, if you want to have your way, do you just go around harming people?”
Seo Rin cut off Seon Ji’s words and turned toward Shin Yi this time.
“What?! When did I? And I wasn’t saying I did it, but that you—!”
“I don’t even want to imagine such frightening thoughts, but you seem to say them so easily. Do you usually think such thoughts? Or do you already have experience with such things?”
“This girl? Without any evidence, treating people so carelessly—!”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying. Without evidence, you shouldn’t carelessly say things like I made the Head Cook collapse, right?”
“This girl won’t back down at all?!”
Unable to contain her anger, Shin Yi raised her hand, but Seo Rin eagerly stuck out her cheek.
‘This is my chance to report her for assault and make her come to her senses!’
But unfortunately, someone grabbed Shin Yi’s hand with a sharp sound.
“…What kind of behavior is this?”
“M-Middle General?!”
It was Jeong Jun Gyeong who had stopped Shin Yi’s hand.
“I came because I felt some terrible energy from somewhere.”
Jun Gyeong looked at the owner of the hand he had caught and twisted his lips.
“Huh? What’s this again? Isn’t this the girl who barely got in?”
“Th-that’s wh-what do you mean—”
“And yet you emit killing intent toward a colleague who took first place? If you had a weapon in your hand, you would have stabbed them right away?”
“I, I didn’t… that…”
Under his fierce gaze, Shin Yi’s lips trembled uncontrollably without her realizing it.
Seo Rin looked at the Middle General who had suddenly appeared with a bewildered expression.
“No, Middle General, why are you here…”
At Seo Rin’s words, Jun Gyeong abruptly released Shin Yi’s hand that he had been gripping.
As Shin Yi, whose legs had given out, collapsed with a thud, Seon Ji quickly pulled Shin Yi back.
“I came to see the Head Cook, but he’s nowhere to be seen.”
“The, the Head Cook is probably in the ingredient storage.”
One of the trainees quickly answered from behind.
“Is that so? Well then, keep up the good work~”
As the Middle General headed toward the warehouse, Da Sim approached with a dazed expression and muttered.
“…That was so scary just now, but wasn’t it also incredibly cool? I want to draw that scene and put it in an album.”
The trainees who heard those words nodded enthusiastically.
“Head Cook!”
“Oh my, what a surprise!”
Go Jang Nam, who had been selecting vegetables, was startled to see the Middle General suddenly appear in the warehouse.
“I came because I have a request regarding the meals for the children staying at Hyeeum-sa.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
“Well… about the meals, please add plenty of meat to every meal. If the cost is insufficient, let me know. The way things are now, I feel like I might burst from frustration while teaching them.”
Jun Gyeong placed a reward pouch in front of Go Jang Nam.
“Pardon? I understand. Did you come all the way here just to tell me that?”
“Ah, I was on my way to check the rooms. Oh, and just now the trainees were—”
“Pardon? The trainees?”
“…Never mind, it’s nothing.”
‘If I step in unnecessarily, it would only make things more uncomfortable for the top student, wouldn’t it?’
Even on battlefields where lives were at stake, there were always conflicts among allies. Jun Gyeong, who had experienced all kinds of battles, knew well that hasty intervention from superiors in such situations would only add fuel to the fire.
‘She’s smart, so she’ll handle it well on her own. She seems to get along well with her roommates too.’
“Gasp!”
Behind Jun Gyeong, the sound of Go Jang Nam’s surprise could be heard as he opened the reward pouch.
After Jun Gyeong left Chanseon Bang, the trainees scattered to do their individual tasks after finishing their morning work.
“See you later~”
Da Sim was in charge of firewood today, and Gap-i went to organize the ingredient storage.
“…”
Seo Rin’s mind was complicated as she headed to Bohwa-gak.
Setting aside Shin Yi and Seon Ji, the fact that there were more fellow trainees who viewed her unfavorably than she had thought weighed heavily on one corner of her heart.
After pondering, Seo Rin went to find Jeong Yeon Hwa.
Footnotes
1) Gukmu : A shaman who was responsible for rituals commissioned by the State and Palace during the Goryeo and Joseon periods.
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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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