Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 130

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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 130.

If The Monster Guest enters into a contract route with the Hotel, that Monster Guest continues to stay at the Hotel. In other words, they become a “Staff Member.”

And the Staff Members of this Hotel are all interconnected.

‘That must be why I could sense Seme and Rawi’s conversation together.’
“….”
‘But even so,’

I never expected to confirm that The Wet Person was included in this connection.

‘Unlike the other silent Staff Members of this Facility, they don’t seem to know things in such meticulous detail….’

Lee Yeon-woo observed the elongated, pallid arm stretching out.

“….”

Grotesque.

‘Both its appearance and its actions are utterly grotesque.’

The pallid arm extending from the Swimming Pool had raised its sharp nails and was now digging into Lee Yeon-woo’s ankle. It felt like a disturbing sense of déjà vu.

‘Didn’t it shatter my ankle right here just days ago?’

Blood had been trickling from the wound and flowing into the Swimming Pool since earlier, prompting Lee Yeon-woo to lodge a complaint.

“Swimming Pool water quality maintenance is quite costly. Especially when my blood seeps into it—will you be covering the filter replacement expenses?”
“Don’t call me a guest.”
“Fine, friend. So I’m telling you I’ll make you pay instead.”
“I’m being serious right now.”
“What do you mean? Was I not being serious?”

The Wet Person, revealing the temperament befitting a Water Ghost, bristled at the meticulous billing pressure from a Facility Manager devoid of even a gram of romanticism.

“You were the one thinking of leaving first!!”

Splash!!
Water erupts as something bursts from its surface.

Su-gwi, who had surged up through the water’s surface, cried out in frustration.

“Why did I stay here! Why did I make this cramped place my home!”
“Do not attempt to shift responsibility onto me.”

Lee Yeon-woo replied flatly.

“Your decision to remain in this place was entirely your own.”
“I’m allowed to throw a tantrum—I’m a child too!!”
“Truly, you are quite the handful….”

No matter how I thought about it, I lacked good fortune with people.

“I will indulge your petulance, but do not overstep.”

Lee Yeon-woo was not the sort to be swayed by a child’s tantrum or to lecture at length. He merely glanced once at the water’s surface, where a portion had begun to stain red.

“The water remains uncontaminated, does it not.”
“You’re cruel.”
“Release my ankle, please.”

This wasn’t separation anxiety—I couldn’t fathom what this was.

‘In the Game, it was always described with imagery and explanations depicting an adult form.’

Did that phrase about “including as a child” reveal once more how reality differed from the Game? As I pondered this, in the span of a single blink, The Wet Person had returned to the form of a perfectly ordinary young man.

“Don’t go….”
“….”
“Stay with me.”

I felt it in moments like these as well.

‘I truly cannot call this human.’

It was the very epitome of a Water Ghost—constantly trying to drag me into the depths whenever an opportunity arose. The fact that it had taken the form of a “minor,” which I judged to be the weakest target, was no exception.

After exhaling a long sigh, I settled wordlessly at the edge of the Swimming Pool. I felt the wrinkle-free fabric of my pants absorbing water, swaying with the ripples.

Cold. Damp.

“….”
“Hm.”

Su-gwi laughed and rested its head against my leg. Watching silently, I gently swept my cold hand across Su-gwi’s hair—the way one might wait for a younger sibling to fall asleep.

White hair and crimson eyes….

“This appearance bears quite a resemblance to the Lover of Dawn.”
“It seemed you pitied that woman who lost her mind.”
“Is it albinism?”
“I wouldn’t know~”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“Actually, you’re right. I know everything.”

Savoring the gentle caress, Su-gwi’s crimson eyes narrowed into crescents.

“You’re the same way, friend. You don’t move out of mere sympathy.”
“I regret that I gave such an impression.”
“Whether it’s that woman clinging to formless memories and losing herself in the process, or those foolish rats who keep nearly dying yet stubbornly meddle regardless… you can’t tolerate such things.”
“What do you mean by ‘such things’?”
“Defective beings.”

A pause—
my hand stopped.

“Quite an exhausting temperament, isn’t it?”

Su-gwi’s gaze fixed directly upon me.

“You’re a perfectionist who can’t rest until you’ve fixed everything broken, fragile, and incomplete that lies before your eyes. You adapted to this Hotel willingly because of that arrogant compulsion.”
“….”
“You grind yourself down to heal the wounded and dress it up as rationality, but in the end, you’re the first one to sink into the murky depths, bearing wounds in their stead.”

Looking down at Su-gwi, I could only release a small sigh. Rather than defending myself, I simply patted that cold head once more.

“You’re seeing me as far too grand a person.”
“Does the wording change the essence of it?”
“Testing a friend is not a good habit.”
“What good thing exists for me anyway.”
“Call it an occupational habit—let’s not exhaust each other with analysis.”

I added further.

“It was simply all I could do.”
“You could become far more vicious.”
“What kind of villain are you trying to make me into anyway?”

He must be mad. I looked down at the Wet Person with a bitter expression.

“I’ve lived with sufficient restraint, knowing that no matter how hard I try, perfection is impossible—not for me, not for others. I already know that well.”
“For something like that….”
“I wish it were just my imagination, but everything surrounding me seems determined to make me into a villain.”

Why was that?

“….”

Did it help with running the Hotel Management?

‘…That’s nonsense.’

I didn’t want to become such a contemptible person for merely that reason.

“The Lover of Dawn is certainly a guest who weighs on my mind. The person is so precarious and unstable that I can’t help but notice. Considering the guests I’ve seen so far, that person must have experienced something as well.”
“You should be on my side.”
“Is this how a person acts when they are?”
“Ugh.”

I pinched the Wet Person’s nose.

“You attacked me.”
“While knowing you didn’t.”

To be honest.

“….”

Lee Yeon-woo had a weakness for students, especially women.

“…I really do want to visit home at least once….”
“Don’t go.”
“They’re people with poor survival skills, so I’m curious if they’re doing well.”
“Stay with us.”

Su-gwi pulled Lee Yeon-woo’s hand and whispered.

“Those family members on the shore you miss so dearly.”
“….”
“I could become your young ‘younger brother’, or your ‘older brother’ who coughs from frail health, or even mimic your clumsy ‘father’ in matters of love.”

It was indeed a sweet whisper befitting a Water Ghost, but—

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting right now??”
“Ugh.”

Lee Yeon-woo grabbed Su-gwi’s hair the way a certain cooking rat would handle a human partner.

“No matter how I think about it, you’re far too unsettling to ever replace my family.”
“But I drowned and died… surely you can pity me….”
“There’s plenty else to pity about you, that’s for sure.”
“You can’t leave this place.”

Lee Yeon-woo let out a short laugh at those words.

“You’re acting just like a child.”

Lee Yeon-woo kneaded Su-gwi’s cheeks instead of his hair.

“Don’t even think of imitating my family.”
“But you like it.”
“I only wish for those I left behind on the shore to be safe. I’m not so weak that I’d find solace in some shallow counterfeit you’ve created.”

Isn’t that just how family is?

“As long as they’re alive, that’s enough.”
“You really don’t weaken easily….”
“You seem regretful, my friend.”
“Regretful.”

Still holding hands, the expressionless face tilted to one side.

“If you were just a bit weaker, I could have dragged you down with me.”

Lee Yeon-woo’s gaze shifted sideways.

“Who exactly is being heartless here?”

I’m speaking of someone else’s business.

The Wet Person, constantly watching for an opportunity to drown me—that’s who’s truly heartless. Even though we’ve become “friends” with each other, however forcefully it came about.

‘But….’

Lee Yeon-woo shook the hand still holding his and asked.

“Are you still anxious?”
“You cannot leave this place.”
“Because I’m alive, and you fear I’ll end up living among the living?”
“Sink down with us.”
“That probably won’t happen, but who knows.”

I released the hand I’d been shaking and met its gaze.

“Shall we die together?”
….

Lee Yeon-woo sneered at that foolish face.

“Unless it’s something you hunted yourself, you won’t do it.”

Looking down at him, Lee Yeon-woo made a proposal.

“What about something like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just as I became your friend by dying alongside you that day, let’s make a similar promise now.”
“What kind of promise?”
“If pitiful lives ever fall into your arms, don’t torment them—breathe life back into them instead. You already know this well enough, I’m sure….”

He whispered the words.

“Quite a few spirits don’t fear your depths, do they?”
“I thought you were young and didn’t understand such things.”

I watched Su-gwi blink.

“You’ve come to know the outside world rather well now.”
“Not really.”
“Then how did you know?”
“The Lover of Dawn was wary of you.”
“Did your blood tell you?”
“Then who told me?”
“So you’re asking me to protect those abominable things?”
“I’m just asking you to leave them be and watch over them, that’s all.”
“Why should I?”

A calm answer came in response to that question.

“If you do that, I will gladly offer one of my lungs as a place for you to dwell.”
“One of your lungs.”
“As a part of me—something you’ve desired for so long.”
“Ah….”

Those eyes spin and smile.

“You’re truly heartless.”
“And?”
“Merciful.”

The beautiful face contorts suddenly.

“Damn hypocrite.”
“Haha….”

He grabbed me by the collar,

“That’s quite the compliment.”

Splash――!!
With a hollow laugh, he plunged into the Sea.

“―…! Lee Yeon-woo!!”
“….”
“….”

…?

“…??”

Wait a moment.

‘Did I mishear something?’

Why were those people here?

* * *

Let me rewind time for a moment.

The Water Ghost had a notoriously long-lasting grudge.

‘How frustrating.’

At the Hunting Ground, he had let go of some things while talking with The Friend. But there was no way Su-gwi could draw his sword without getting even a drop of blood on it. He was watching for his chance to target the two Mountain dwellers.

If Lee Yeon-woo hadn’t been so eerily perceptive and on guard, I would’ve taken at least one bite by now!

“….”

From that point on, the Wet Person fell into deep thought.

‘Excessively diligent.’

Lee Yeon-woo never remained still for a moment.

How efficient it all was—the Hotel gleamed brilliantly. It had always been that way, but something about it, whether the Staff Members or the arriving guests, felt suffocating.

Everything radiated with such abundance and polish. It was utterly infuriating.

‘Aren’t you my friend…?’

I made a contract with you, didn’t I? You’re the Wet Person, aren’t you?

‘I even said I’d help frighten those two wretches, yet you ignore everything.’

Fine, there are other Guests. Fine, you’re paying attention to those two living things. But with my friend already wandering on shore and my nerves already frayed, why did these strange creatures have to be added to the mix?

‘This is unbearable insult.’

The Wet Person, whose disposition had grown twisted in every way, ultimately resolved to cause trouble. Why?

“Because my friend enjoys such things.”

Of course, there were differing opinions.

“Doesn’t he dislike it?”
“But in the end, he gives the most intense attention.”
“That’s the same as liking it.”
“That’s true enough.”

The conclusion remained the same.

Su-gwi, assembled from countless things that died in water, sometimes held different opinions, but largely they aligned. Water, after all, disperses easily yet gathers again just as readily.

Yet doubt crept in once more.

“I don’t want to be hated.”
“Let’s not do that.”
“My friend shows such favoritism….”

As Lee Yeon-woo, it was natural favoritism. After all, it made sense to care about people with bright futures ahead rather than vicious criminals. The fact that those two introduced themselves as mercenaries was secondary.

In any case, in this situation—especially with Lee Yeon-woo’s warnings and vigilance making approach difficult—it took time, enough to make a well-sharpened blade feel embarrassed, before this opinion finally emerged.

‘If they won’t come, make them come.’

It was quite far removed from their usual hunting methods, but what did it matter.

‘Better than letting them go without a bit of mischief.’
‘Of course.’
‘Let’s do it.’

They already knew what would torment those creatures.

“It may be full of malice, but it’s merely a prank.”

His friend would forgive this much.

“We won’t kill him.”
“Right, just a prank.”
“Merely a scare.”
“So then….”

* * *

“―This is insane…!!”

Rawi, who had rushed over, stopped at the edge of the Swimming Pool.

“Damn it, what do we do? Should we go in?”
“If you go in, you’ll die. Get your head straight!”
“What happens if Lee Yeon-woo dies right now!”
“That would…!”

It was obvious.

“….”

If this place had truly been the Hotel where The Clock conducted its research, Lee Yeon-woo would have had a high chance of being revived. But that alone was the problem.

Ultimately, within the vast chemical reaction of ‘resurrection’, there was no way he could escape the Labyrinth’s influence. And if that happened, Lee Yeon-woo, though I didn’t know the exact numbers….

“…would draw even closer to the Labyrinth.”
“…that sounds like you’re saying he’ll be consumed.”
“We can’t let him die now. He was already in a dangerous state.”
“Is it possible he could be completely consumed this one time?”
“That’s precisely the problem—it’s entirely possible….”

Seme, who had been hesitating, finally unsheathed the sword she’d been carrying.

“I’ll go in.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“I told you—water attribute.”
“That’s….”

Rawi turned to look at Seme with a bewildered expression.

“…I apologize for not asking sooner, but what exactly does that mean?”
“It means I’m closer to water than to humanity.”

Seme, now stripped of her outer robe and shoes, laughed awkwardly.

“Truth is, I’m not accustomed to sinking this deep.”

It was Ser-sang, not her, who had lived as water.

“As you said….”
“….”
“Let’s give it a try.”

* * *

So in the end.

“….”

What Su-gwi had failed to anticipate was this:

That this mere ‘small water’ would have the courage to leap toward him.

“…What?”

Dare?

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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
—————