Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 5

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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 5.

‘And this book contains the knowledge recorded by the Fanatics back then….’

I set aside my disgust and opened the book again.

It was filled with content that would make anyone with ordinary sensibilities retch. But I had no choice. Stagnating in this situation meant obsolescence.

“….”

The dry scratch of my pen continued across the notepad. I methodically organized the information.

‘Learning begins with imitation.’

That wasn’t something limited to Coco alone. I too had to imitate the logic of this world.

No matter how terrible the knowledge, at its foundation lay the purest wisdom. The misuse of knowledge was always the domain of corrupt humans—the information itself could never be evil. I had to find that point.

‘First, I grasp the familiar framework. Understanding this text completely is the first step. Extracting only practically applicable knowledge comes next.’

In many situations, ignorance becomes sin. Without the discernment to distinguish right from wrong, humans are creatures who would hold a jewel in their palm only to cast it into the mud.

The more I know, the more favorably the world treats me.

More precisely, the more I can make it treat me favorably.

“…I just imagined something quite horrifying. If my mind becomes corrupted before I fully understand this book, that would be its own troublesome problem.”
“Yes.”
“I have another question. If I die and wake up, will this game’s convenient system automatically ‘restore’ such corruption as well?”
“No.”
“That’s fine. Corruption and transformation might be more productive than stagnation and decay. Expecting perfection from the start is excessive greed, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not narcissistic enough to believe I’m a flawless being. Even if I fail, I’ll simply improve from there. It’s not much different from what I’ve always done.”
“Yes.”
“At times like this, I feel that you’re on my side.”

Lee Yeon-woo rolled his eyes dryly.

“Why is that?”

A long shadow stretched across the desk, catching his attention.

Coco’s tail swished gently. She was staring intently at the bizarre passages in the book I had spread open to study, as if deciphering some cryptic code.

“Why are you being favorable toward me?”
“Favorable.”
“You’re doing well. You’re becoming accustomed to the nuances of intonation. Quite impressive.”

To unravel the mystery of Coco, I needed to understand far more.

Why had this game become reality and manifested in the actual world? Why had I specifically been abducted? Was all of this a natural disaster, or was it someone’s conspiracy?

And to discover the answers… it seemed far too early in the game.

“….”

After reading for quite some time.
I pressed my temples firmly.

“…If I’d known it would come to this, I would have enrolled in medical school….”

For someone with a background in life sciences, the hurdle was rather steep.

“Can I understand this with just a few case reports I’ve read?”
“Yes.”
“It doesn’t seem possible. Is there no computer available here?”
“Yes.”
“If you could at least provide internet access, it would be quite a consolation.”
“No.”

* * *

The book largely dealt with human experimentation.

“Given that the Hotel’s background was ‘a facility for worshipping and researching foreign gods’… the primary thread seems to lead in that direction.”

Have I lost my mind?

“Once a pioneer in engineering, and now here I am studying theology of all things. Truly a twisted fate, wouldn’t you say, Coco?”
“No.”
“Do you possess no capacity for compassion?”

But I had grown accustomed to such indifference by now. Lee Yeon-woo organized the documents as he spoke.

“As you likely already know, most research has been conducted primarily around the power of external forces.”
“Yes.”
“From the weaponization of living organisms and the biologization of weapons, to the manufacturing methods of artificial humans… from a purely academic perspective, it’s quite a provocative curriculum. A rather excellent textbook, wouldn’t you say?”
“No.”
“Correct. Calling these paper heaps a textbook would be an insult to actual textbooks. This is less a book than the scrawlings of madmen.”

Each time I read it, my mind felt contaminated as if filth had been poured over me.

“An arrogant monologue with no regard whatsoever for the understanding of others.”
“Yes.”
“Authors so lacking in even the basic refinement expected of scholars….”

Still, I had to acknowledge the depth of knowledge the author possessed.

Reading it had caused abnormal conditions more than once, but setting aside their subhuman morality—the knowledge. That alone was undeniable.

When I began to understand the contents of the book to a certain degree, I realized something.

“To summarize, it’s black magic in a metaphorical sense—or more precisely, a technique of genetic and consciousness manipulation mediated through blood….”
“Yes.”
“Since it utilizes blood, blood-ma….”
“Ma?”
“….”
“Blood-ma?”

Coco’s suggestion of a name that seemed to belong to an entirely different genre was beside the point.

“…Have I truly fallen so out of touch with modern sensibilities?”

Exhaustion and doubt washed over me. I was someone who had even bought the latest light novels in their proper order.

‘No, this can’t be modern sensibility.’

When I thought about it, this sensibility was born long before Lee Yeon-woo himself. If I had to define it, it was the taste of my ancestors.

‘Then could the author have been severely going through adolescence?’

That wasn’t it either. Dark magic, blood magic—it wasn’t just one author speaking this way. But actually voicing such terminology was… somewhat difficult.

It wasn’t even a subject I dealt with during my passionate teenage years.

‘And now I’ve become someone who must study it seriously.’

Deeply repulsive and shallowly embarrassing—chaos erupted from all sides. The very notion that an engineer well past forty had to study such a topic felt like an exceptionally cruel joke.

“….”

I composed myself.

‘…My thinking has become too rigid. There couldn’t be a more rational name for this discipline. When you consider it, some teenage-appealing imagery has merely been layered over this brutal knowledge.’

And above all,

‘If my blood pressure spikes again and I die, I’m the only one who loses.’

Throwing away my life by surrendering to emotion was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

“…Sigh.”

With that thought, my mind eased considerably. Or rather, I forced it to ease.

This body could die from pure emotion alone. Troublesome as it was, I had to handle it carefully. I couldn’t endure the humiliation I felt when I died from blood pressure alone.

“At least I understand this isn’t something I can master overnight.”
“Yes.”
“Aside from my prejudices, the depth of knowledge here is quite substantial. If utilized properly, it could prove useful.”
“Yes.”
“….”

I added something just in case.

“…That said, I wasn’t suggesting we invite an actual person as a guest to conduct some practical experiment. Please don’t misunderstand. It was knowledge I couldn’t even readily apply myself.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”

In any case.
It wasn’t bad.

‘Morally speaking, it’s a failing grade, but as a tool? Quite excellent.’

I still don’t know where this knowledge applies within the Hotel. I’m not at a stage where I could understand that yet. But this was a process of exploring new knowledge related to the Hotel.

The process of solving mysteries I’d harbored by myself always brought a sense of exhilaration. If only the content hadn’t been of this nature, Lee Yeon-woo could have felt joy in a more ordinary way.

“….”

So this is what I find myself saying at this point,

“…Magic, then. I always thought it was the exclusive domain of fantasy, yet it has substance after all.”

A force predicated on certain lawfulness and repeatability.

If so, then this magic too can be classified as a technique.

“Yes.”

Coco affirmed it.

“It has substance.”
“Quite remarkable news, in many respects….”

This was not a domain that could be hastily assembled from game settings or the like.

‘It’s a sophisticated discipline, one established over long ages like science or mathematics.’

At this point, I could be certain.

“This isn’t a game becoming reality. Reality has simply accepted the rules of the game.”

We’ve transcended classical metafictional collision. External reality and the game’s internal settings coexist without friction.

“….”
“In other words, it’s reasonable to infer that someone with a clear intent designed this massive framework.”

Something that undeniably exists in this world had, borrowing ancient wisdom and technology, pulled a game that was once virtual into reality.

“And I got caught up in it.”

But why me, of all people?

‘Magic exists in this world, so there’s no guarantee the concept of karma doesn’t apply either… but even so, unless my past life was a traitor to the nation, isn’t my current situation rather unfortunate?’

I prided myself on having lived as a diligent, unremarkable citizen without envy.

“….”
“Hello there….”
“Yes, hello.”

I wasn’t without anger, but I exercised restraint for the healthy purpose of managing my blood pressure. I had no desire to repeat that humiliating sudden death.

“…I understand well enough that I need to delve deeper into this field. Though I don’t know what design I’ve been caught in, having been thrown into an unknown world, shouldn’t I at least prepare some basic means of self-help to make things fair?”

Of course, reaching that level of ‘fairness’ would take considerable time.

“….”
“Sometimes, meticulously established knowledge proves more effective than crude physical force.”

I had no particular means to build strength in my current state, but abundant knowledge was the only key that would expand my options and possibilities for response.

“Now that I’ve confirmed the magic described here can possess this level of destructive power, the possibilities are endless. Beyond simple defense, I could construct an entirely new system… or even efficiently restructure these chaotic incantations.”

So I would study more. Yet an unease lingered.

“Which is why I’m asking,”

I looked at the black cat.

“Who were you?”
“….”
“You are favorable toward me, Coco.”

I understand that well enough.

“While you often diverge from conventional morality, you fundamentally respect and treat me with consideration. Yet there are critical moments when you cannot help me.”

Why is that?

“Who is restricting us?”

Within this system, Coco and her companions are subject to specific functional limitations.

If such an assumption holds true, it suggests the existence of an independent ‘higher rule’ system that transcends individual will.

“Are you trapped here as well?”
“….”
“…I’m not sure if you realize it, but our dear teacher has this irritating habit of responding with silence whenever a question becomes uncomfortable to answer. It’s petty of me, but sometimes that silence is infuriating.”
“….”
“I hope we’re on the same side, but who knows.”

I don’t know.

“When will we be able to leave?”

Still, there was no answer.

* * *

“….”

No matter how I looked at it, this one had no intention of receiving a human guest.

“….”

It was something I had already suspected. I knew it would come to this eventually. This is the type of being it is. It cannot bear its own incompetence.

“….”

Its ‘incompetence’ encompasses much.

The inability to protect others. Causing trouble for those around it. A lack of sincerity. Being drawn into circumstances beyond control.

Everything beyond control.

“….”

Of course.

It has to be you.

You. It has to be you. I need you. You’re the one.

Justification. Justification. Justification. I must take responsibility for this place. The suitable one. I must seize you. I cannot let you go. Confine you. The only suitable one. Justification. Necessary. Reason. Disaster. The reason to accept what lies beyond control. A choice at the cliff’s edge. Legitimacy. Control.

The Hotel must be maintained. The beginning is crucial. It cannot break. I need it. It must endure. It must develop and grow. Help is needed. Help. The suitable one. Help me. I can do this. Game, game. Like back then. I must grow. I will grow. How do I do this.

Human Guest. You. Human, protect. Then I use you.

Use you. Utilize you.

“….”
“….”
“….”

Found it.

Human Guest.

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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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