Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 124

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 124.

“Oh, Lee Yeon-woo.”

The Young Man bowed respectfully.

“This place hasn’t opened yet, has it?”
“Despite appearances, the Hotel is still in its trial operations phase.”
“Ha, a joke then.”
“I regret that it sounded like one.”

A door adorned with ornate yet refined intaglio carvings.

“I’m curious what this place will look like when it opens.”

The Tasteless Guest stood before the Grand Banquet Hall on the 2nd Floor.

“When is it scheduled to open?”
“He’s been waiting for the Banquet Hall to operate since his last visit as well.”
“Doesn’t it resemble some grand Colosseum or Opera House?”
“While I cannot fault such refined taste, opening the Banquet Hall before establishing smooth resource supply lines would be premature.”
“Yet the Hotel’s service is already exceptional, despite what you say.”

Nearly two meters tall. Lee Yeon-woo was not small by any measure, but the other man was so enormous that the Tasteless Guest looked down at him with eyes crinkled in amusement.

“I believe you are quite capable.”
“I merely manage a Hotel—there is no skill to speak of.”

Remarkably humble words.

‘While he alone sustains this vast Castle.’

The Tasteless Guest could not have failed to entertain the same thought that Seme and Rawi had harbored.

He had accepted no payment from the Monster Guest nor from the Human Guest. Thus, the only remaining ‘source’ of ‘capital’ that could be conceived was Lee Yeon-woo himself.

‘Indeed, he does appear weary, but….’

Yet he remains composed, doesn’t he?

“….”

…This one is truly honorable.

“…I have reported that he has grown more robust than before….”

The Young Man turned his body to face Lee Yeon-woo directly.

“Yet your body remains fragile. There could be no greater inconvenience in operating this establishment.”
“Even so, I have no intention of hiring you as the head chef of this Hotel.”
“That is quite unfortunate. I am confident I could be of considerable help.”
“I have reconsidered it countless times, but if you were to take over the Restaurant here, I fear it would be people hanging from hooks instead of livestock.”
“Do you distinguish between livestock and people?”

How so?

“Isn’t people included among the livestock?”
“…That aspect….”

Lee Yeon-woo smiled back at him as well.

“You truly exhaust me, Guest.”
“A cold-hearted person.”

The Young Man shrugged.

“But I find you remarkable.”
“This time it’s praise—for a Tasteless Guest, that’s rather predictable.”
“It can only be predictable.”

Of course it is.

“Throughout my entire existence, those who have upheld principles and convictions even after I consumed all their emotions are few enough to count on one hand.”
“Should I take pride in that?”
“Why not? You have every right to. You are strong, honorable, and possess profound endurance. These are not virtues that just anyone can possess.”

That’s why the Tasteless Guest came to the Facility.

“When I’m with you, I learn so many things.”

He was arrogant and obsessed with honor, yet if necessity demanded it, he could grovel low enough to lick blood smeared on walls and floors. Beneath his shell lay something instinctive and raw, his desires laid bare without pretense.

To such a Tasteless Guest, Lee Yeon-woo was a precious talent.

“If you dislike ‘Master,’ how about ‘Teacher’?”

At the shameless wordplay, Lee Yeon-woo exhaled in exasperation.

“No matter how you slice it, that’s just playing with words.”
“I pride myself on being a student worth teaching.”
“I’m not a teacher.”
“Then what are you?”
“Merely a Researcher who doesn’t even know how to fix someone.”
“A Researcher, you say….”

Perhaps it was the strange exhilaration that surged through him. A flicker of alienation rippled across the human facade.

“But aren’t you the Hotel General Manager now?”

The black hair that had been neatly combed back faded to ash-gray, jutting out haphazardly, and the smile spreading across his lips tore wide in defiance of human anatomy, revealing the true form’s sharp fangs in a glimpse.

“….”
“Isn’t that right, Unknown Elder Woman?”

Crimson bled into eyes that had been black, and turbid wine-colored pupils rolled greedily with hunger.

“After all, there is indeed a vacant position in this Unknown Elder Woman.”
“I’m already burdened enough bringing someone like you into a Hotel reeking of blood.”
“If I were to promise not to reek of blood?”
“That’s hardly befitting of you, is it?”
“Ah.”

What a curious thing to say.

“That sounds like you’re affirming my guilt as well.”
“I neither affirm nor deny it. The world contains far too many stories, and law and ethics are fundamentally human-centric in nature.”
“Then it would be respect, wouldn’t it?”
“I’m not kind enough to be that way, nor am I virtuous enough to absolve sin itself. I am human, so I abide by human law and ethics.”

He is skilled at deception.

“I’m simply an ordinary person.”

Perhaps that’s why even I can deceive myself so effortlessly.

“A fascinating story. And then?”
“With such ordinary sensibilities, I can only find myself repelled by someone like you.”
“Indeed.”

Yet even I am called a ‘person’ by you.

“I am not strong as you describe, nor honorable, nor patient. I have never once felt that I pursued justice in my life.”
“….”
“I don’t believe everyone in this world deserves happiness. I care only for my own safety and comfort—whether others die or suffer is no concern of mine. It’s not my problem.”

That doesn’t seem to be the case at all.

“However… things are different when you stand before me.”

Lee Yeon-woo looked up at the young man.

“If you truly wish to fill the vacancy here so desperately, what do you say to this?”
“Please, speak. I do enjoy a good transaction.”
“Give me your trust.”

Hands clasped behind his back, and a piercing gaze.

“Should my guests be driven into hardship by calamity, you will escort their companions to their rooms without a single hair on their heads harmed. A gentlemanly proposal, wouldn’t you say?”
“An excellent opportunity.”
“If you demonstrate perfect hospitality befitting this hotel I manage—without spilling a single drop of blood—then I will overlook the discourtesy you showed me last time and give your establishment positive consideration.”
“How truly strange.”

The young man spoke.

“You conduct yourself like a ruler who keeps every situation beneath your feet and controls it, yet when it comes to those trivial little lambs, aren’t you the first to tear away your own flesh and offer it?”

Lee Yeon-woo must have disliked keeping me at his side. That was only natural—who knew when the Tasteless Guest might create danger again. Lee Yeon-woo was not the type to enjoy variables like me.

And yet, in the end, you make such a choice. How clever you are.

“Your mind is frozen like ice, yet your body is mercifully foolish to a fault. That contradiction makes me laugh. In the end, even the conclusions born from your reason prove so soft….”

I continued speaking to that unchanging expression.

“You’re quite generous.”
“I think about it every time.”

Lee Yeon-woo’s brow furrowed subtly.

“Do you have some affliction where your speeches grow longer every time you see me?”
“That’s a strange reproach.”
“A notorious disruption to business operations complaining about mistreatment….”
“I simply can’t manage to be serious about this.”
“I don’t particularly enjoy overly sentimental conversations.”

And then,

“I prefer things clean.”
“….”

…Eyes like golden sunlight.

“You’re clean enough, Teacher.”
“Before coming here, I was an upright, law-abiding citizen, appearances notwithstanding.”
“It was fortunate for me, though it seems being trapped in this place vexes you considerably.”

Spite rose in me, and my lips curled into a wide grin.

“Your mercy toward mere flesh is quite relentless.”

It grates on me.

“Do you still take pride in being human?”
“It no longer matters to me either way.”
“Then why do you conduct yourself thus, you ill-mannered beasts.”
“If we’re speaking of ill manners, you’re hardly one to judge.”

It was an offer I found utterly impossible to refuse, yet he spoke.

“I lack your capacity for mercy.”
“Just once will suffice.”
“Refusing such a proposal would be nothing short of foolish.”
“Then remain a courteous guest even in places beyond my sight.”

The Hotel General Manager had issued a command.

“Unless you wish to incur my displeasure.”
“….”

Not strong, you say?

“Very well.”
“I am grateful for your understanding.”
“The gratitude is mine.”

I gaze into eyes that have returned to their blackened hue. Within those narrow pupils, a sun lies imprisoned.

“…Thank you.”

And so I thought.

‘I must establish a home in this place after all.’

And I shall summon my kin.

To live a human life here, to gain an honorable name.

And to devour him.

* * *

―That’s probably what they’re thinking.

“Not a single easy person among them.”

Lee Yeon-woo, returning to the Manager’s Quarters after a long time, collapsed onto the floor.

Managing the Hotel alone was already overwhelming, and now I had to engage in psychological warfare with guests too.

“Even exploitative corporations don’t operate like this.”
“Yes!”
“I’ll have to tear everything down someday.”
“What?”
“And I’m going to resign.”
“No?”

That’s right—I was swamped.

“I’m disappointed.”
“What?”
“You wretched cat.”

It wasn’t about having unstated circumstances or being exploited in place of guests who wouldn’t show up.

‘I will sue.’

I was simply, purely busy.

With emotions already becoming far more vivid due to the penalty, trying to manage even the Monster Guests—who were genuinely the worst kind of end-of-century troublemakers—felt like it would drive me mad.

In summary: business was thriving unnecessarily.

‘Thanks to that, the Nightmare is doing far better than before.’
[Yes!]
‘I don’t need it, so I wish they’d all just leave.’
[No!]

Whose side was this cat really on, anyway?

Exhaustion was making my thoughts increasingly bitter. In that moment, I could finally understand the Wet Person, who had been whining about ‘you should be on my side!’

“….”
“….”

About two seconds passed.

‘Calm down.’

I calmed down.

“But at this pace… I can certainly open the Greenhouse ahead of schedule.”

I had received a good reward but hadn’t been able to use it. The Tasteless Guest had recommended opening the Grand Banquet Hall, but that was nonsense. Building a stable supply line by opening the Greenhouse came first.

“It was an early goal of mine, but I’ve finally reached this point.”
“Yes.”
“Human life is truly a collection of variables, isn’t it?”
“Yes? Yes.”
“There was even a tree that grew meat.”
“Yes!”

Coco seemed delighted with the current situation. As a guide-like NPC who originally wanted users to enjoy the Game faithfully, it was a natural reaction in a way.

“….”

Only Lee Yeon-woo felt exhausted.

“….”
“….”
“Sigh….”

Once again, it was time to go care for the Guests.

* * *

My basic playstyle was this:

‘I cannot die before the other Guests do.’

I drew the Monster Guest’s attention to myself, thereby securing the relative safety of the other Guests.

It was part of calculated risk management. If external variables like Semeena and Rawi were injured or killed, I would have to treat them, manage their mental state, and redesign the entire strategy from scratch.

‘Rather than paying such enormous administrative costs, utilizing myself is far more efficient.’

Above all.

‘If side effects manifest in someone else’s body, I have to clean up the mess. But with my own body’s malfunctions, I can read the data in real-time and control them. Predictable defects are far easier to manage.’

If I simply knew the strategy tailored to each Guest, drawing their attention was not difficult.

The real challenge was managing my health afterward—how much system overload, which the system called a penalty, I could endure. That was the critical point.

[Yes!]
‘I was thinking alone.’

In any case, in that sense.

“….”
“….”

The way to handle the Lover of Dawn was surprisingly simple.

“…I never expected you to welcome me like this.”
“….”
“My love.”

Seduce her.

‘More precisely, confess my love.’

Lee Yeon-woo reached out and tucked her snow-white hair, which had fallen like a curtain, behind her ear.

It was an action based on the Hotel General Manager’s data from the Game. Since it had become reality, following a verified script was the only way to minimize variables.

Systemic optimization took priority to produce flawless results.

‘Not that I particularly wanted to do it.’

The place where they were now was the Dining Area.

“….”

I really wanted to clock out.

‘It’s a blessing there aren’t other guests.’

Lee Yeon-woo wasn’t naturally the sweetest person. Even when I treated my counterpart sincerely and spoke to them politely, it felt awkward—genuinely awkward.

So what was I supposed to say now?

“….”
“…It seems I haven’t been acting too strangely, have I….”

I wasn’t sure if this was right.

‘I should have watched a few romance films beforehand.’

With the emotional penalty, I couldn’t gauge what I should be doing.

‘But if the response is this good, then my behavior so far hasn’t been awkward either, has it?’

I’d need to repeat the experiment a few more times, but they didn’t seem displeased. And from twenty-six years of play records, there emerged a sincere “love”—so I wasn’t deceiving them either.

‘The results aren’t bad.’

It was just Lee Yeon-woo who felt awkward and embarrassed.

“….”

He blinked in the shadows. Wrapped in the embrace of the Lover of Dawn, her face seen from below was corpse-pale.

“You’re much more affectionate than when we last met.”
“…I’m seeing you for the first time….”
“But I remember you.”

If the Wet Person was a guest who expressed loneliness as hatred, then the Lover of Dawn was a guest trying to fill oblivion anew. A fitting description for a monster—pouring water into a bottomless jar.

Perhaps that was why.

“….”

The woman asked.

“…Were you happy?”
“…Would you like to guess?”

A question-and-answer format event, 『The Answer of That Day』.

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