I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 5

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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 5

But Eun Cheon didn’t stop there and continued to pour out high-level questions. He had become curious about what other talents Oh Seo Rin might possess.

“If large-scale distinguished guests suddenly visit Hyeeumwon, what judgment and measures do you think should be prioritized?”

Immediate answers that came back as soon as the questions ended.

“First review the reallocation of accommodation space, quickly assess the availability of food materials and manpower mobilization, and if necessary, receive cooperation from nearby temples—”

The next question.

“A fire broke out at Hyeeumwon and a guest’s belongings were lost. He is threatening to file a petition against Hyeeumwon. How would you respond?”

Seo Rin’s answer that followed.

“Accept responsibility and acknowledge the fault, and promise the guest immediate resolution of the situation, compensation for the lost items, and practical support so that guest can safely continue their next journey—”

The examiners couldn’t hide their amazement at the level of the questions and answers being exchanged.

‘No, isn’t that beyond the kind of question you’d ask a mere wonri applicant!’

‘Exactly! And what about that applicant who answers those questions without hesitation?!’

Lee Eun Cheon looked at Oh Seo Rin and quietly opened his mouth.

“Well done.”

Seo Rin felt a thrilling pleasure at General Manager Lee Eun Cheon’s praise. A result she couldn’t achieve even once in 100 interviews!

“Th, thank you!”

‘This is definitely a pass!’

Seo Rin felt her heart pounding and returned to her seat in a good mood.

The next turn after her interview was Gap-i, who stuttered but responded quite calmly overall.

However, there was also an applicant who tried to clumsily imitate Seo Rin and sank miserably.

‘Good! Gap-i and I can go to the next test together like this!’

After applicant number 15 finished their interview and came out, that same Nok Sa from earlier led the applicants.

The place they headed to was Manhyangru, the most beautiful space in Hyeeumwon.

The wonri followed Nok Sa across Hongyegyo bridge over the pond, past the outdoor dining area where tables and chairs were nicely arranged, and arrived in front of a building with a sign reading Hyangmicheong.

Inside Hyangmicheong, under the high ceiling, paintings filling the walls and colorful lights emanating from luxurious lanterns combined to create an extremely elegant atmosphere.

Those who had finished their interviews earlier were sitting around braziers placed here and there, chatting and resting.

“Once all applicants finish their interviews, the practical exam will begin, so wait here.”

After Nok Sa left, female officials carrying tea cups and tea pots approached and poured tea.

The applicants gathered in small groups and talked about the next test.

Then one of the applicants wandered around among the waiting girls, saw Seo Rin, and approached her where she was with Gap-i.

Her face looked familiar – it was the child who had been holding prayer beads and chanting earlier.

“Can I sit here?”

“It’s not assigned seating, so whatever.”

“Oh, you can sit.”

The child who smiled broadly plopped down in the empty seat next to Gap-i.

“Since we’re sitting together, it’s fate, so shall we introduce ourselves? I’m called Da Sim. Hong Da Sim. I’m nineteen years old. What about you two?”

“I’m Oh Seo Rin, and this is Park Gap-i. We’re also… ni, nineteen.”

‘My conscience is pricking me a bit, but it’s a dream so whatever…’

“Wow, we’re all the same age? That’s great! Oh right, Seo Rin, I heard rumors that you did really well in the interview?”

Da Sim rummaged through her pocket and pressed something into both Seo Rin and Gap-i’s hands.

“…Jerky?”

“I feel empty without snacks, so I always carry them in my pocket. I’m giving this to commemorate our introductions.”

“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”

While tearing open and eating the jerky, the three discussed topics that might come up as expected questions and observed the other examinees.

Then, they noticed one examinee with a vicious expression glaring at them with unfriendly eyes.

‘Isn’t that the kid who tried to copy me earlier and failed miserably?’

“Hey guys, do you know who that is?”

“Who?”

Da Sim glanced in the direction Seo Rin had indicated with her eyes.

It was a girl with a fierce expression, her hair twisted up on both sides and the corners of her eyes sharply upturned. When their eyes met, she quickly turned her head away.

“…Why is she glaring at us?”

“Oh, her? That’s a girl named Shin Yi, and she’s not even funny. She’s been gathering all the daughters from successful middle class families under her wing. Can you believe she even reached out to me? Of course I rejected her.”

Da Sim glared back at Shin Yi while chewing on her jerky.

“Besides, there were strong rumors that Shin Yi would be first place this time, but you’ve been overwhelmingly ahead from the start, so her mood got twisted.”

‘Hmm, so that’s why she’s shooting lasers from her eyes…’

“That Shin Yi, tsk, her relative works here. I heard her family runs a large trading company in Gaekyeong.”

‘Hmm… I’m getting a strong feeling this is going to become troublesome…’

Just then, the next group of examinees came in following Nok Sa. But for some reason, they all looked dejected.

“…Why do they look like that?”

“I, I wonder?”

They look like they got harshly treated and came out?

* * *

As soon as the fourth group of examinees left, one of the interviewers angrily confronted Lee Eun Cheon.

“How can you suddenly change the interview questions?!”

“…Is there a problem?”

“W-well, it’s not that, but…”

At Eun Cheon’s cold expression, the interviewer who had been confronting him closed his mouth.

Eun Cheon had started thinking something was strange not long after the interviews began.

When certain examinees came up, the interviewers deliberately threw only easy questions that seemed carefully selected, and the answers that came back were identical, as if parrots were responding.

“…”

Lee Eun Cheon silently tapped on the desk for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“From now on, I’ll ask the questions directly myself.”

Euncheon cut off the examiners who had been warmly exchanging what could have been either greetings or interview questions with the candidates.

“Wh-what?!”

Ignoring the flustered examiners, Euncheon sharply questioned the candidate in front.

“A guest who just checked in is suspected of having an infectious disease. How would you act?”

Faced with a question not on the interview sheet, the candidate hesitantly moved their lips.

“…Th, th, that is… infectious disease… uh…”

The examiners skimmed through their question sheets and looked at Euncheon with bewildered faces.

“Director? That… wasn’t that a question not on the question sheet?”

“That’s right. But now there won’t be any more people spouting identical answers like parrots. As if they had received the question and answer sheets in advance.”

Several examiners wore expressions of dismay.

As word spread about Hyeeum-won’s clerk selection exam, middle-class families had become desperate to get their daughters in.

Though it was a low-ranking position, it was still an official post handling practical affairs at a state-run lodging facility where goods and materials flowed. The money spent on bribes could be quickly recovered.

Secret deals took place between middle-class families whose calculations worked out and the examiners. The bribed examiners sold the interview question sheets, and the successful candidates were practically already decided.

However, with Euncheon’s intervention after noticing this, the ‘preliminary’ successful candidates failed one after another.

But the situation was different for examiners who had received direct orders from ‘that person’ compared to other examiners who could simply return the bribes and be done with it. For them, their ‘necks’ were on the line.

They gritted their teeth and concentrated points on the ‘reserved’ candidates, managing to save a few that way.

Euncheon continued while staring at the examiner who had questioned him.

“Therefore, I changed the content of the questions to clear any possible suspicions.”

“Are, are you saying there are examiners here who leaked the test content?!”

Footnote

1) Hongyegyo : A bridge built with a semicircular arch underneath, also called an arch bridge or rainbow bridge, mostly made of stone. It is famous for its beautiful appearance.

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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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