Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 56

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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 56.

Securing cooperation had proceeded smoothly enough.

“Friend.”
“….”
“No, friend. Wait. No, ugh.”
“….”
“Enough.”

Splash, splash.

The Water Ghost, which had been attempting to force its way into my lungs, recoiled in shock. I too was taken aback. And utterly exasperated. It seemed you were far more alarmed than I was right now.

“Cough.”

Water stung my nostrils. Thoroughly drenched without warning, I wiped my face clean. Adjusting my glasses, I spoke in a measured tone.

“…As I believe I mentioned before, I would appreciate it if you respected my privacy. Friendship isn’t the sort of arrangement where one takes up permanent residence in another’s organs, as you seem to imagine.”
“….”
“Attempting to control my interpersonal relationships is hardly a healthy perspective. More importantly, these individuals are currently under my protection. I’m merely keeping them temporarily, much as one would foster a stray dog….”
“….”
“Yes, they are not friends. I can state that with certainty.”

In essence, ours was merely a guardian-and-ward relationship, lacking the intimacy that would warrant the Wet Person’s jealousy. After all, the Monster in Room 14 had done nothing but sleep all this time.

“….”
“Of course, I did attack you, but there was no malice behind it. It was simply… similar to how a large dog, unaware of its own size, charges and knocks a person over. Yes, a similar process, that’s all.”
“….”
“No, it was more desperate than that. Like a sleepy office worker clinging to a packed subway train during rush hour, desperate not to be late… Yes. Yes. That’s what it was. My reason clouded over because if I closed the door, I would be trapped here forever.”
“….”
“Yes.”
“….”
“I see. Thank you for understanding.”
“….”
“Ah… you didn’t understand at all, did you….”

How did all the monsters in this Hotel manage to think so alike? Lee Yeon-woo glanced at Coco.

“Yes?”
“Yes.”
“…? Yes?”

Lee Yeon-woo casually dismissed Coco’s bewildered response. Whether here or there, it was only he—blessed with a sound mind yet cursed with a fragile body—who found himself exhausted in the middle of it all.

“…Would you mind walking alongside me?”
“….”

The Wet Person grumbled as it emerged from the water. As its body rose above the surface, it automatically took on the form of being clothed, though I wondered what mechanism governed such a transformation.

‘If it were to wear clothes anyway, why couldn’t they manifest dry? Or perhaps it deliberately maintains its wet state for activities on land… but expecting dry clothes is a distinctly human-centric judgment.’

Lee Yeon-woo rang the bell to summon a Staff Member. The Staff Member approached silently and collected the empty dishes. I could only be grateful for such diligent service.

“Shall we move on then?”
“….”
“Yes, there should be no problem.”

The Hunting Ground they were heading toward had a theme, after all—the Sea.

* * *

“This is your first time visiting a Hunting Ground, isn’t it?”
“….”

The Wet Person nodded in agreement. Lee Yeon-woo, having acknowledged the gesture, elaborated further.

“Fundamentally, Hotel guests cannot enter the Hunting Ground, so it’s only natural. The Human Guests can at most traverse the Underground Parking Lot on the 3rd basement level.”
“…?”
“Haven’t I mentioned it before? Yes, despite appearances, there is an Underground Parking Lot. There’s an entrance behind the Hotel where vehicles can be parked, but since I have no intention of accommodating Human Guests, I’ve kept it sealed.”
“….”
“Precisely. Below that, from Basement Level 5 onward, is what this Hotel defines as the Hunting Ground.”

And it descended extraordinarily deep.

“It extends all the way to Basement Level 100.”

That meant a total of 95 levels comprised the entire Hunting Ground.

“That said, one cannot simply descend to the lowest level immediately. Since each level must be conquered and its door unlocked sequentially, currently only up to Basement Level 10 has been opened.”

Though the Hotel had transformed and its structure altered, the overall thematic essence of the Hotel’s original design remained largely intact. Lee Yeon-woo anticipated the Hunting Ground would be no different.

“….”
“Of course I haven’t ventured there. Why would I court disaster in this condition?”

Lee Yeon-woo pressed the button for the Manager’s exclusive Elevator.

“Resources accumulate at a sluggish pace, so I lack equipment and haven’t the capacity to forge weapons. When I consider employing other skills, my body has grown so frail that I hesitate.”
“….”
“Your suggestion is appreciated, but I have far too much to accomplish to remain perpetually submerged in the Deep Waters.”

Constantly scheming for an opportunity to drag me into the water—truly befitting the notorious Water Ghost’s reputation.

“Would you care to board first?”

As the Elevator doors slid open, Lee Yeon-woo stepped aside. The Wet Person did not enter, instead fixing an unwavering gaze upon him. Recognizing the intent behind that stare, Lee Yeon-woo ultimately stepped inside first.

“The space will be rather cramped….”

It was indeed impossibly tight.

“….”
“…Yes, I was far too optimistic in my assessment.”

The operator-exclusive Elevator was cramped—barely spacious enough for a single adult, and today’s Wet Person was particularly broad-shouldered.

The Wet Person, frowning in displeasure, eventually crouched down on the floor and seated me upon their knees.

“Ah.”

Only then did the balance feel somewhat restored.

“My pride has taken a blow, I confess, but it’s certainly more pleasant than before.”
“….”
“Yes, a wise decision indeed. My gratitude.”

Though narrow, the Elevator’s ceiling height was mercifully generous. Perched atop the thoroughly compressed Wet Person, I pressed the button for Basement Level 7.

“Where we’re headed is Basement Level 7. The theme is the Sea. Friend, I’m uncertain how you’ll receive this, but it’s a space brimming with the terror of flooding.”
“….”
“A water spirit… No. No, to my knowledge, there exists no water spirit of a similar nature to you. While diverse prey inhabit the grounds, I recall no Monster bearing the Water Ghost concept.”
“….”
“If you’re truly disappointed, there are something akin to drowned zombies.”
“….”
“Oh, you’re familiar with zombies, then.”

I was taken aback.

“….”
“….”

Ah, so they actually exist.

‘Have I lost my mind?’

Why would those be here?

“…In any case, our Hotel’s Hunting Ground hosts quite an abundance of humanoid Monsters. Spiritual entities are not entirely absent, though most possess physical forms.”
“….”
“No, please don’t misunderstand. Regardless of their appearance, they are not truly human.”

According to the Game’s lore, they are manifestations of negative energy derived from countless tales and histories. While they may superficially resemble the Monster Guest, they are fundamentally distinct entities.

So, to help you understand….

“They’re like shiitake mushrooms.”
“…?”
“Spores that serve as seeds are planted, and when the proper environment is established, they take form from there. That’s why their numbers never decrease no matter how much we cull them. They regenerate endlessly.”
“….”
“Yes, they possess no special consciousness or reason. You could say they’re essentially closer to mushrooms or plants. If I were to use an even more relatable analogy, it would be cultured meat… though cultured meat doesn’t typically move.”
“….”
“Correct. Not at this moment in time, but among the dishes I’ve served you thus far, quite a few utilized ingredients sourced from the Hunting Ground. Do you perhaps remember that pearl ice cream?”
“….”
“No, that comes from much deeper. It can primarily be sourced from Between Levels 32 and 45.”
“….”
“To accommodate all of your requests, I shall need to move about quite diligently.”

The Hunting Ground cannot be automated. Instead, it yields special materials that greatly aid in operations. Memories flickered through my mind—times when I’d undertaken hunting labor simply to craft a weapon or prepare a single dish.

“….”
“Ah, so that’s what you were curious about?”

Lee Yeon-woo answered The Wet Person’s question with meticulous care.

“Though I spoke of spores and seeds, their true nature is a form of nightmare. A byproduct, if you will. The Hotel itself generates them after receiving guests like yourselves—Monster Guests or Human Guests—and becoming enriched.”

Whether they’re actually generated or if what already existed simply manifests through the influence of nightmares remains unclear. However, it was certain that their numbers increased in proportion to both the quantity and quality of nightmares the Hotel harbored.

“In any case, this is taking considerably longer than expected.”

The operator-exclusive Elevator, which would normally reach its destination within three seconds, had been descending for quite some time. I caught sight of Coco beside me, her gaze fixed on the floor indicator.

‘…What could be the difference between other floors and the Hunting Ground? There must be a reason why travel time is allocated specifically to the Hunting Ground. I’ll need to investigate this as circumstances permit.’

Fortunately, the wait was not long.

Ding―

“We’ve arrived. Shall we disembark?”
“….”
“…Then I shall take the liberty of going first.”

Lee Yeon-woo descended from the Wet Person, and then the Wet Person walked out. The Elevator remained silent, its doors closed in place.

Upon entering the Hunting Ground, the Wet Person surveyed the surroundings and murmured softly.

“….”
“I’m glad it meets with your approval.”

A desolate sea shrouded in thick water mist.

The stench of decay bloated by water permeated every direction.

* * *

Submerged ruins.

In essence, that was what it resembled.

“This place bears the appearance of a Port Town that collapsed from flooding. Beyond that point, you can observe a Shipwreck, and you’ll also be able to spot an Underwater Cliff and dark seabed caverns.”
“….”
“Yes, despite how it appears, no Water Ghosts actually inhabit this place. Even if something resembling them were to manifest, as I mentioned earlier, they would merely be entities the Hotel itself generated—something closer to flora.”
“….”
“Even if you say that… I’m not the one cultivating them. They’re not livestock, after all. If anything, it would be closer to spontaneous generation.”

Yet the Wet Person seemed unconvinced that no Water Ghosts inhabited this place. The implication was clear—where could be a better space for Water Ghosts to dwell?

Hearing such words, even Lee Yeon-woo’s conviction wavered slightly.

“If Water Ghosts actually appear, that would be due to the Hotel changing from its previous state. Personally, I would prefer they be ordinary Monsters that don’t test my shallow conscience….”

I had not refrained from killing experimental animals for research purposes. Yet such experiences always left me with a sense of unease. No matter how accustomed one becomes, one cannot find pleasure in it.

Should Monsters other than fungi or plants appear before me now, it would prove troublesome. Given the circumstances, I couldn’t simply ignore them, but I still wished to avoid accumulating such additional karmic debt.

“Coco.”
“…?”
“Coco, guarantee.”
“Understood.”

As if reading my concerns, Coco, draped across my shoulder, offered another guarantee. Though complete trust remained difficult, hearing that assurance put my mind somewhat at ease.

“There are submerged zones as well. Water rises to waist height in some areas, while the pools have no visible bottom. The deeper you venture, the more your vision obscures and your movement speed diminishes considerably.”
“….”
“Ah, do you see it? Yes, that is the Shipwreck over there. Each time you enter the Hunting Ground, its location and structure change randomly. Because there are so many elements obstructing visibility, many Monsters hide within.”
“….”
“The Underwater Cliff, you say? It seems you have taken an interest.”

Lee Yeon-woo, surveying the terrain of the Port Town, pointed toward one direction.

“It should be over there.”

Toward the edge of the settlement.

“There exists an Abyss that descends endlessly downward. From that place, contaminated water vapor erupts like an underwater volcano, and that very mist is what now surrounds us.”
“….”
“Indeed, it is not a significant problem for us at present.”

During the Game era, playable characters arriving at this location were forcibly subjected to the sensation of being submerged in water. Considering the humidity, the current situation was remarkably similar.

Prolonged exposure here would result in asphyxiation, but such penalties held no effect on me. I had become nearly immune to drowning.

“Normally, one would need to carry breathing assistance items, given how saturated the air is in this layer….”

I turned to regard the Wet Person.

“Surprisingly, no voice emerges. Since this is virtually equivalent to being underwater, I thought perhaps communication through speech might be possible.”
“….”
“It seems this level of saturation is insufficient. I understand.”

Unless completely submerged, conversation appeared impossible. Despite standing here only briefly, my clothes were already thoroughly drenched.

“….”
“Ah, those are nets and fishing lines. They tangle along the floor and walls, obstructing the movement of those passing through. The Monsters here typically use them when planning ambushes or concealing themselves.”
“….”
“…Pardon?”

This was an unexpected question indeed. I nodded in acknowledgment.

“Yes, I visited quite frequently. In the early days when we had nothing, there was no better place to procure high-quality seafood. Even now it’s the same, but back then we weren’t in a position to open the Greenhouse either.”
“….”
“There’s no need to feel that sorry about it.”
“….”
“No, I’m being sincere, not just making empty words….”

I’d died plenty of times and experienced all manner of chaos. But all of that was within the Game, wasn’t it? Being on the receiving end of such oddly misplaced sympathy made me genuinely embarrassed.

‘Is this similar to the situation with Baek Mu-jin?’

Since I’d become that player myself, I couldn’t simply dismiss it as someone else’s problem, but the explanation would be too complicated. So I steered the conversation in a different direction.

“Within a certain range centered on the Elevator is a safety zone. However, if you’re pursued by a Monster on your way back after leaving here, then it won’t function as a safe area.”
“….”
“It may seem inconsistent, but there are several advantages to it. It appears to be a measure to prevent the misfortune of being attacked the moment you step out of the Elevator.”
“….”
“Yes, but it’s still convenient to move around, isn’t it?”
“….”
“That’s fortunate.”

I continued speaking while stroking Coco on my shoulder.

“What I need to ask of you is hunting, as I mentioned beforehand.”

The material I was searching for was ‘Spirit Yeast’. It had several characteristics, but if there was one most striking aspect, it was this.

“The drop rate is low.”
“…?”
“Extremely low….”

My expression turned bitter. The future stretched before me with perfect clarity.

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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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