Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 19

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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 19.

4:26 AM.

“….”

The bright glow of the monitor illuminated the Writer’s face.

“…Still not enough, it seems….”

The rainy season had made road conditions treacherous. There were plenty of unpaved roads too. Considering the actors’ schedules, it would be ideal to film everything at a single location. Yet I still hadn’t found a suitable shooting site.

‘If push comes to shove, I can move between locations for filming, but considering the actors’ condition, shouldn’t I arrange the schedule to do most of the shooting at the same place?’

Since there was still one house I hadn’t seen, I decided not to rush. Instead, I’d already marked down houses and locations that suited each scene. This was my backup plan in case I couldn’t find a suitable shooting site.

‘Time’s already gotten quite late.’

Director Lee Sun-hae had fallen asleep at 1 AM. She’d said she would handle the driving this time and manage her stamina accordingly.

‘Though today certainly brought its share of headaches.’

I found myself sympathizing. The Writer stretched with effort.

“Nngh….”

My joints cracked audibly.

‘I’m getting old, aren’t I.’

Thirty-six this year. It was hard to expect the conditioning of my twenties anymore.

‘I never imagined I’d find myself crawling into danger like this at this age.’

Was I immature? This industry certainly made maturity difficult to come by, but there was a faint sense of self-reproach. I found myself thinking of cigarettes—ones I’d quit long ago.

“….”

Beyond the expansive window, the rain-drenched mountain came into view.

“…I’ll admit, the scenery here is rather beautiful.”

Building a Hotel on a mountain like this seemed like it would land someone in prison. Still, it was pleasant enough to gaze out and lose myself in thought—even if I couldn’t hear the rain itself.

‘The soundproofing must be exceptional.’

The thought of soundproofing brought an eerie chill to my mind.

“….”

The Writer scratched his head vigorously.

‘Sleep isn’t coming.’

I was far more accustomed to staying awake through the night anyway. If I did manage to sleep, I’d only suffer nightmares. Better to pass the time and wait for dawn to break.

“Perhaps I’ll take a walk.”

A nighttime stroll in a Hotel like this.

‘It seems rather mad, but if I smoke a cigarette and come back, my mind might feel a bit….’

Hong Kyung-yeon rubbed his stiff neck. After deliberating briefly, he entered the room where Lee Sun-hae slept. He gently shook the deeply slumbering Director awake.

“Director.”
“…Uh, huh, what is it?”
“I’m just going to smoke one and come back.”
“Huh… a cigarette? Didn’t you quit?”
“I’m restraining myself, that’s all. Everyone lives like that anyway.”
“I suppose… but is something bothering you? Did you have a nightmare?”
“No, I haven’t slept at all. Just.”
“To be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it….”

The Director stirred and sat up groggily.

“Shall we go together? Wouldn’t it be dangerous for you to wander alone?”
“Then it might look like we’re being too cautious.”
“Or it could look like we’re on an intimate date. What’s the problem?”
“Ugh.”
“You find me funny? Well, I don’t like it either.”
“In any case, you know what I’m getting at.”
“I really don’t recommend it.”

The Director scratched his chin, drowsiness still clinging to him.

It was early dawn—the sun hadn’t even risen yet. The Hotel was already sparse with people, and it was inherently a dangerous place. Wandering alone would be far too risky.

“Still, our Writer does have a point. A Hotel of this caliber surely has CCTV, and there must be staff managing it even at dawn… If the two of us—marked individuals that we are—start moving around…”
“We might draw unnecessary attention. I suppose it’s an overly cautious thought, but in a place like this, erring on the side of caution seems wiser.”
“Then again, moving together might actually be safer. Being watched is better than dying, isn’t it? And I doubt the staff will pay much attention to the welfare of outsiders like us anyway.”
“Ah, about that—”

The Writer hesitated before asking.

“Wouldn’t it be fine because of your maternal relatives, Director?”
“…Ah… it’s sad, but I can’t deny it.”
“I’ve been thinking—perhaps that’s why Lee Yeon-woo accepted us into this Hotel in the first place.”
“That could be true. Someone of his caliber probably knows about my family connections.”
“Exactly.”
“…Hmm…”

The Director exhaled deeply.

“If you think you’re about to die, invoke our uncle’s name.”
“Will that be alright?”
“I’ll handle the consequences.”
“Then I’ll use it wisely.”
“Mm-hmm.”

The Director rose to his feet, as though sleep had fully left him.

“You’re not sleeping anymore?”
“Better to stay awake, just in case.”
“This reminds me of when we went to Syria.”
“At least here, a name actually means something.”
“Names meant something there too, though.”
“But nobody’s openly carrying guns here, are they?”
“Who’s to say that won’t change?”
“Hong, you have a talent for stoking my fears.”
“It’s how I make my living, after all.”
“In any case, be careful out there.”
“Got it.”

The Writer picked up his precious pack of cigarettes.

“I’ll try not to die.”
“Tough as nails, aren’t you?”

* * *

“….”

I felt a bit embarrassed.

“…Nothing happened.”

Well, what could happen stepping outside the Hotel for a cigarette? The only places I passed through were the Corridor, the Elevator, and the Lobby. I hadn’t encountered another guest the entire way.

I leaned against the Main Gate wall and surveyed the surroundings. Unlike before, the sound of rain filled my ears completely.

“Sigh….”

As I exhaled, cigarette smoke mingled with the rainwater.

‘I’m screwed.’

I’d barely made it three years without smoking. How long would it take to quit again after this? Between such anxious thoughts, a faded memory surfaced.

―It’s all your fault.
“….”

It’s all your fault.

“…Ah….”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

‘I didn’t even dream, so why is this so vivid?’

I was somewhat exhausted. Perhaps it was from staying in such a thrilling place after so long. A corner of my brain tingled sharply. Like someone making excuses, I smiled and retrieved the mast.

‘My mind’s scattered from not sleeping.’

It’s commonly called “well-intentioned violence.”

It wasn’t always like this. But the principle of documentary work is to capture the scene as it is, not to distort it. People died within words, photographs, and footage.

I was terrified. The guilt of being able to save them but failing to do so. Blood and flesh and screams.

“….”

It became an obsession.

‘What a pathetic adult I am.’

Obsession breeds selfishness.

I’d already learned that the helping hand extended to others is actually reaching out for myself, and that such an unrestrained hand ultimately creates murky waters.

I’d carved it deep into my bones.

‘I thought I’d learned restraint, but was I merely well-behaved because I never faced situations of that magnitude?’

Director Lee Sun-hae had said it.

‘People don’t change easily.’

She’d called my meddling rude.

She might be right. Including Hong Kyung-yeon myself. Because help that’s unwanted or that brings greater catastrophe is exactly that.

‘…But still….’

The last cigarette burned down to ash.

‘Isn’t it right to help those you can help…?’

It wasn’t even a question—merely a doubt.

‘No, I’m not sure.’

This problem was always difficult.

Human life is dignified, but merely being alive isn’t everything. If you cannot take responsibility, you must not interfere. To think you can take responsibility is arrogance itself.

Yet if you wish to help someone anyway, is that hypocrisy?

“…Ah.”

A raindrop fell with a soft patter, extinguishing the cigarette’s flame.

“…What a waste. That was the last one.”

Knowing I couldn’t restrain myself, I’d deliberately brought only two. I cursed and praised my past self in equal measure, then decided to call it here. Fire could be rekindled if necessary, but a cigarette soaked in rainwater held no appeal.

“Sigh.”

After collecting the trash, I entered the Hotel.

‘I think I’ll make it.’

Hong Kyung-yeon leaned against a pillar in the Lobby, organizing the cigarette butts into the pack. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep. My head felt slightly foggy.

Outside, the humidity was so thick it felt like drowning in water, but the Hotel was drier. They must be maintaining it as a comfortable environment. It seemed like it would cost a fortune.

‘The Lobby remains quiet.’

Well, it was dawn, so there were no people around….

“Yes.”
“….”
“I see.”

No—there was someone.

‘…Lee Yeon-woo?’

I carefully peeked my head out from behind the pillar.

A neatly dressed young man came into view. Dark hair swept back, glasses perched on his nose. An impeccable appearance. That was definitely the Hotel General Manager.

‘Who is he talking to?’

His voice was rough and devoid of warmth, contradicting his polished appearance.

“I’m simply exhausted.”
“….”
“Anyone summoned in the dead of night from deep sleep would hardly be in a pleasant mood. And to be called out repeatedly like this… it’s clear there are serious problems.”
“….”

His expressionless face was unfamiliar to me.

‘So this is what he looks like when he doesn’t smile.’

I had thought him fox-like and charming, but that must have been a constructed impression.

‘His expression is… absent.’

Without the artifice, his face remained composed, yet appeared cold. He certainly didn’t seem like someone naturally inclined toward laughter.

Hong Kyung-yeon listened carefully to his conversation while tracking his movements.

‘…Was there a separate passage behind the counter?’

Lee Yeon-woo had clearly emerged from beyond the counter and was now heading toward the Elevator.

“Perhaps this might actually be for the best. I don’t know why those guests were summoned, but it would be far safer to direct their attention toward me rather than allow them to take interest in those visitors.”
“….”
“No.”

His voice turned resolute.

“…I cannot agree with that opinion.”
“….”

Opinion?

“I will not allow innocent people to perish within this Hotel.”
“….”
“Don’t pressure me. I listen to you only when our interests align. And right now, I have no reason to follow such an inefficient choice. This may be your game, but I’m the one running this Hotel. If you dislike that so much, you shouldn’t have dragged me into this in the first place. To force someone into such sordid criminal acts and then… don’t you lack all conscience?”
“….”
“…Sigh….”
“….”
He contorted his face. An arid expression entirely unlike his usual demeanor.

“…Don’t be angry and listen to what I’m saying. You won’t suffer any loss from my insistence on this approach. The outsiders don’t need to be harmed. I’m already bearing that burden entirely in their stead.”

“Yes. That means I’m handling my role quite competently. You seem rather pleased with someone like me, don’t you? Well, at least you’ve judged me to have enough ‘usefulness’ to hold onto so forcefully.”
“….”
“…How honored I am to hear you say so.”
“….”
A dry sigh.

“I still wonder why it had to be me. Considering the nature of this Facility, had it been anyone else, the damage would have been incalculable.”

“But that fact alone is clear enough for me to accept… Yes, I understand.”
“….”
Understand?

‘What is there to understand?’

Even while hiding, I was bewildered. He spoke of understanding with a face that barely seemed to have reached adulthood.

Even while hiding, I was taken aback. He understood with a face that looked like he’d barely just become an adult.

‘The current situation? Or this Hotel itself?’

Hong Kyung-yeon strained to focus on the distant voice that grew harder to hear.

“I would appreciate it if such events could be avoided during the early morning hours. Though expecting such courtesy from this Hotel’s guests is probably wishful thinking, wouldn’t you say?”
“….”
“It’s likely a Guest Room event… If it’s the Bathroom again this time, that would be rather amusing.”
“….”
“…I suppose so.”
“….”
“This is becoming tiresome.”

The voice fell silent.

“….”
“….”

After a silence that stretched uncomfortably long, the Elevator doors opened, and Lee Yeon-woo spoke.

“Is someone there?”

Hong Kyung-yeon realized the truth.

‘…I rode the Elevator down.’

The Elevator that few people used. Since Hong Kyung-yeon had ridden it down, it would be stopped on the 1st Floor. By unfortunate coincidence, it was the Elevator in the direction Lee Yeon-woo was heading.

Hong Kyung-yeon simply held his breath. Silence stretched on once more.

“….”
“…No, there’s no problem at all.”

A tone as if soothing someone.

“Yes.”

With that brief response, the Elevator doors closed.

“….”

Hong Kyung-yeon slumped down slowly.

“…Ha….”

What was this?

What in the world was happening?

* * *

“Is anyone there?”
“Yes.”
“….”
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.”
“….”
“You certainly have many problems.”
“…No.”

This wretched cat was quoting my words back at me like that?

“There are no problems whatsoever.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”

Would it kill you to give me a heads-up sooner?

‘It probably would.’

In any case, this was one untrustworthy cat.

“From now on, if there’s someone listening, please give me some warning beforehand. Do you understand?”
“No.”
“Quick with your answers, aren’t you? Never disappointing in that regard.”
“No.”
“There’s truly no cat more wicked than this one.”
“No.”

As I rode the Elevator up to the 7th Floor, I pinched Coco’s cheeks. The cat didn’t resist and seemed to relish the rough affection. A truly detestable and insufferable cat.

‘Did I say something strange?’

I racked my brain trying to recall, but I hadn’t said anything particularly odd.

‘At worst, my image and the Hotel’s reputation simply plummeted together.’

Such remarks wouldn’t expose the Hotel’s true nature, but it was genuinely embarrassing and infuriating. At this point, I’d be grateful if the other party didn’t think of Lee Yeon-woo as some modern-day slave.

‘It must have looked like I was suffering severe human rights violations, but I can’t exactly explain that this is all a game….’

Game or not, once it became reality, it was undeniably a serious crime. Hadn’t Lee Yeon-woo worried about that in the beginning too? The only reason it wasn’t a threat was because my character’s body existed within a game I already knew.

‘Besides, grabbing a complete stranger and explaining my situation—that I’m game data or whatever—is already abnormal in itself. Even if I tried to explain, I wouldn’t know where to begin. It’s hopeless.’

I’d look like some kind of otaku.

‘It’s not pleasant for either of us.’

It was better to keep the truth hidden.

“Right now, I’ve sold my pride and dignity at quite a discount.”
“Pardon?”
“If Writer Hong Kyung-yeon discovers the identities of the other guests here, I’ll truly fall to a level beyond redemption. Just thinking about it is horrifying.”

As time passed, more and more of my image crumbled away.

‘Any hope that this place might look like an ordinary Hotel by now is already dead.’

Lee Yeon-woo wasn’t a fool. Hadn’t I already ruined things to this extent? After coming this far, hoping his mind remained healthy seemed far too shameless.

‘Fine.’

Let’s just chalk it up to that.

It sounded far more realistic and convincing that way. At this point, even if I told the truth, he’d think, ‘This person has completely lost their mind from rolling around in filth.’

‘I’ve already stepped outside the bounds of normalcy, so as long as the Hotel’s monstrous nature doesn’t get exposed… I can manage the rest of the misunderstandings somehow.’

This always seemed to backfire, but I wouldn’t let it. Lee Yeon-woo was determined to grit my teeth and endure.

He got off on the 7th Floor.

“….”

Ah, really.

If only you hadn’t called me in the first place.

‘Calm down.’

The incident had occurred, and I had to manage it. If my blood pressure spiked any higher, I might actually die. Besides, hadn’t I become even more fragile than before? I needed to be careful.

“…Good morning, Guest. Your call bell rang, so I came to check on you.”

Once the tutorial ends, I should buy a master key first.

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

The door opened with an eerie creak, and I was far too exhausted to savor the ominous atmosphere it created. The mental toll was already considerable. Lee Yeon-woo stepped inside immediately.

And I saw it.

“….”

The Wet Person, submerged completely in the bathtub, looked like the corpse of a drowned man.

Event name: 『Beneath Shallow Waters』.

‘Did a curse settle in the bathroom?’

Given that the Wet Person had checked in, it probably didn’t. I’ll admit that much. But from the perspective of someone jolted awake, resentment was inevitable.

“Guest.”

Lee Yeon-woo approached the bathtub.

“You… really do love water.”
“….”
“To be honest, I’m not sure I can serve it to you right now.”
“….”
“My body is so fragile at the moment that even touching acorn jelly with chopsticks would break it. Will you bear with me? Of course, you probably have little interest in the health condition of a hypocrite like me….”
“….”
“…This is driving me mad.”

Don’t bring it out. Don’t.

—————
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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