Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 128

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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 128.

“But what’s certain is that Blood Magic is a legitimate field.”

Seme muttered while looking at Lee Yeon-woo.

“Of course, there are hardly any Blood Mages who squander their own blood in this manner….”
“You said the person whose blood is being used also suffers pain?”

Rawi asked.

“Then shouldn’t using someone else’s blood also be illegal?”
“From what I’ve heard, the usual practice was to conduct research only after obtaining consent to that suffering.”
“Is that acceptable? The pain would be the same whether they consent or not?”

Seme offered a benevolent smile.

“Money makes anything possible.”
“What a filthy capitalist society….”
“You’ve learned the true nature of the Gap well.”
“Then what about Lee Yeon-woo?”

Rawi glanced at Lee Yeon-woo. His expression remained composed.

“Is Lee Yeon-woo’s case also legal?”
“Well, technically….”

Seme’s expression grew distinctly uneasy.

“…Ultimately, Lee Yeon-woo was forced to learn Blood Magic, wasn’t he?”
“…That would be accurate.”
“If that’s the case, you likely learned an abnormal and unsafe form of Blood Magic. Magic that targeted forcibly extracted blood rather than consensually obtained blood.”

At that, Rawi tilted his head.

“How is that any different? You’re still using blood for research either way, aren’t you?”
“It becomes far more extreme—you don’t care about the condition of the blood’s owner at all.”
“Ah… is that illegal?”
“Strictly speaking, if you use your own blood, it’s not illegal.”
“I see.”

Using someone else’s blood was illegal; using your own was legal.

“But cases where someone actually uses their own blood for such formulas are practically nonexistent.”
“So legally it’s permissible, but since 99.9% of actual cases are illegal, the public perception is absolutely terrible?”
“To begin with, no one even considers that the blood used in such dangerous formulas could possibly belong to the caster themselves.”
“To that extent?”
“Like I said, these formulas are created without any consideration for how damaged the blood’s owner might become.”

This was why Seme wore such a disgusted expression.

“In other words, it’s self-harm on a mythical scale.”
“Mythical…?”
“From what I’ve heard, there was once an Artist who boldly declared they’d become a proper Blood Mage and used that formula right in front of the Resonance Bureau.”
“Was?”
“Committed suicide the next day.”
“…”
“They lasted longer than most would have.”
“…”
“…”

Seme and Rawi’s gazes fell upon Lee Yeon-woo.

“I’m not doing that.”

I denied it immediately.

“It doesn’t hurt that much anyway.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“That’s certainly how it appears.”

It was truly unjust.

‘But I don’t know the exact cause myself.’

From what I’d heard, the Blood Magic I’d learned had numerous drawbacks. Yet I’d scarcely felt most of them. I’d simply dismissed it as a chaotic discipline.

‘Did the Hotel influence this? Or is it the character’s body? Has my brain deteriorated? Or perhaps….’

Seme continued speaking as I wrestled with these thoughts.

“…So really, when you think about it, officially registered Blood Mages are so rare—practically nonexistent these days. They’re an endangered species.”
“Because their reputation is destroyed?”
“Because their reputation is destroyed.”

These days, if someone says ‘I’m a Blood Mage,’ the first response is ‘Please, spare my life.’

“The Foundation was primarily the organization that utilized Blood Magic….”

As Seme said this, he studied my expression carefully.

“….”

But I, surprisingly, showed no sign of recognition whatsoever.

“…You really don’t remember?”
“…I apologize, but I’m hearing the name ‘Foundation’ for the first time today.”
“That’s rather shocking.”

It seemed I’d lost my memories in the process of being caught up in the Labyrinth’s transformation.

‘Truly, the Labyrinth is despicable from beginning to end.’

It appeared that when I was involved with the Foundation, I’d been forced to learn Blood Magic. Regardless of what field of artistry I’d once practiced, they valued capable personnel.

Undoubtedly, terrible things had happened during that process. If I’d now lost all those memories, then I was trapped in my own personal hell while remaining oblivious to its nature.

‘Even the fact that I keep saying I’m not in pain….’

Perhaps, having suffered from the beginning and never knowing peace, I simply claimed everything was fine.

“…But as I mentioned earlier, if blood magic formulas were researched and applied without using others’ blood from the start, it wouldn’t be illegal.”
“It’s painful, though.”
“Exactly—which is why such practitioners are rare. Most people won’t go through that much suffering just to wield power, especially when it’s meant to benefit others like in medicine.”
“Aren’t there still Salons and Guilds researching Blood Magic even now?”
“That’s right, particularly the Medical Salon. I understand that prestigious Salons have even obtained government authorization to use criminals’ blood.”

Lee Yeon-woo’s mind, lost in contemplation, froze momentarily.

“…They use criminals’ blood?”
“Even those who’ve committed crimes remain human. I’ve heard they specifically use those entangled with the Gap.”
“I see.”

They must be mad.

‘If that’s legally permissible, wouldn’t that be problematic?’

Of course, if Seme spoke of it this way, they were likely criminals so heinous that one wouldn’t wish to respect their human rights. Lee Yeon-woo had no desire to defend such inhuman monsters either. Absolutely not.

But the state is an institution that monopolizes violence. When the state grows cruel, civic virtue corrodes. Ultimately, there was an enormous risk of society devolving into one that justified brutality.

“….”

…Ah, so that’s why the Gap is in such a state.

‘Indeed, that makes sense.’

I understood.

‘At minimum, the system managing the Gap likely justifies violence.’

I considered rule of law and procedural legitimacy, national and societal security, policy efficiency and international norms, diplomatic costs—but I set all of it aside.

In the end, I’d simply learned that this society operated far more radically than I’d imagined.

“By the way, the lower-tier Smelts and Harnas are targets for subjugation from the start. One is inanimate and the other is in a monstrous state, but they’re no less dangerous than Dokkaebi.”
“The names are all quite difficult… What about those above them?”
“Next in order are Braime and Marbel. From this middle tier onward, legality and illegality diverge. From what I know, they likely retain human form or maintain it.”
“And above them….”
“From Riedmar onward, they’re treated as true Blood Mages.”

Rawi stroked his chin and asked.

“Is there another one after that?”
“There is, but…”

Lee Yeon-woo answered in place of the hesitant Seme.

“We call it Belmarés.”
“….”
“…A lump of blood that’s difficult to call human.”
“…Uh….”

Rawi laughed awkwardly.

“That’s quite a harsh assessment.”
“It’s not magic I chose to learn.”
“I can see that, certainly.”

Rawi wiped his face and gazed quietly at Lee Yeon-woo before asking.

“…Is there really no way out?”
“…?”
“It’s embarrassing to say this now, but honestly, I’ve grown attached.”

He smiles crookedly.

“If we left without you, I think I’d feel sorry~”

Though Rawi lacks much knowledge, he understands that Lee Yeon-woo has been entangled in unreasonable circumstances. And that despite such a situation, Lee Yeon-woo has made efforts to save them and send them out.

Where in this world would one meet another person like this?

“It seems you don’t know much about the Outside either, Lee Yeon-woo. Is it because you’ve been confined to the Labyrinth? I know a delicious chicken restaurant—would you like me to take you there sometime?”
“That’s quite an optimistic statement.”
“You’re not dead, you’re alive and well. What could possibly stop you? I can tell at a glance—it’s not resignation. You simply don’t want to leave because you have work to do here, isn’t that right?”
“I’m not someone who gives up easily.”
“Exactly why I’m asking you to come with us. There’s so much fun out there—in the Outside and in the Gap alike. This Hotel is splendid and wonderful too, but… honestly, it feels suffocating.”

It would be more than merely suffocating.

“You should take a vacation occasionally.”

From the start, he was a ‘good person’—someone with no reason to be here doing this.

“If we look into it a bit, wouldn’t there be a way? Seme here has tried many things, and while my grades were a mess, I’m still the type with decent quick thinking.”
“….”
“If we put our heads together….”
“…Ugh.”
“Huh.”
“Kghk―,”

Glug,
The sound of his airway constricting.

“Ack….”
“Shit, wait―”
“Ugh, hack, kghk.”
“Damn it, hold on…!!”

Lee Yeon-woo clawed at his throat, coughing up blood.

Something extending from the pitch-black coat was strangling him….

* * *

[No!]

Coco was frantic.

[No! No! No! No! No!]
‘Calm down.’
[No!!]
‘Please, just calm down.’

This chaos was unbearable.

‘I wish everyone would just stay still.’

It was merely an ordinary penalty—one that the Lover of Dawn had imposed.

This “blood flow anomaly” penalty appears frequently in front of NPCs with high affinity. The timing of its occurrence is random, just like with The Wet Person, but certainly.

It happened more often when close acquaintances gathered together.

“Ah….”

Since my body was already a mass of blood, the “blood flow anomaly” seemed to hit even harder.

‘Even my preserved body’s circuits are powerless against penalties defined by the Game.’

The world was truly spinning. Pain was only perceived as sensation, so it didn’t matter much. But this—pain and mental disturbance were entirely separate issues.

“S-Senior, why is this happening? What is this thing stuck to him…!”
“Don’t touch it! It’s not ordinary clothing—it could be an erosive Dokkaebi, so stay back!”
“But damn it, that person can’t breathe right now!!”

I was breathing.

“Can’t you see it’s strangling his neck?!”

It wasn’t strangling.

‘My house cat never went that far.’

Despite appearances, it was tilting my neck back to help me secure my airway.

‘Perhaps lacking information on emergency procedures, it was merely at the level of applying pressure.’

Yet to think such a misunderstanding would arise. Though Coco seemed quite pleased with the situation.

[Yes!]
‘A wicked cat that enjoys being treated as a villain….’

I was concerned about its future.

“…! Uh, that…!!”
“Damn it, I’m losing my mind.”

Feeling my ear grow damp, I covered my right ear with my hand.

“What on earth were you carrying inside your body…!!”

I wished Room 14 wouldn’t be scolded so harshly—they were already so delicate and sensitive.

‘It seems they were startled when the house caught fire.’
[Yes!]
‘They look twice as pleased, which is absolutely maddening.’
[Hehe!]
‘This is no time for laughter.’

Please, I’m begging you.

When I covered my right ear, they squirmed out from the other side. True, when a house is on fire, fleeing is the right thing to do. It is—but the timing right now is just a bit…

‘Why can’t you just stay inside?’

Room 14’s terror transmitted directly to me—trembling uncontrollably. They stretched out their form, tenderly palpating my face and body as if playing with textures, and politely inquired.

If I were to express it in language, it felt something like this.

[Did we perhaps exit incorrectly?]
[Your body seems somewhat damaged—has something gone wrong?]
[If I may ask, would it be alright if we simply remained inside?]

Ah, it’s fine. It’s really fine. It wasn’t a major problem.

I pressed both ears firmly and pushed Room 14 back inside. They trembled with fear while methodically returning. It didn’t take long for them to slip back in completely.

It was precisely when the Lover of Dawn’s penalty ended.

“….”
“….”

I gazed down at my gloves, caked with blood.

“…sigh….”

…This is yet another new variety of chaos.

* * *

And so Lee Yeon-woo found himself besieged by the Staff Members.

“I’m not going anywhere.”
“….”
“I’m not going anywhere at all.”
“….”
“I clearly said I wasn’t abandoning you….”

They weren’t untrained puppies lacking social skills—their separation anxiety was genuinely severe.

‘How do they even know what I discussed with those friends?’

[Sixth Sense]
‘Your friend in the water watches over you.’

‘Good heavens.’

And The Wet Person, what are you doing here now?

‘With nothing to do, are you now claiming to be a formally employed Staff Member?’

And Tasteless Guest, why on earth are you here too?

“Where are you going?”
“You don’t even have a contract with me.”
“Be reasonable—aren’t we friends?”
“Have I lost my mind?”

I was beginning to think I should file a formal complaint out of sheer indignation.

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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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