Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 57

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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 57.

“Spirit Yeast is an item that, once you obtain the original specimen, can be cultivated later in the Greenhouse.”

When I might finally open that blasted Greenhouse remained a source of profound frustration for me.

“It’s primarily found in Hunting Grounds centered around liquids, including the 5th Floor.”

I walked through the Fog-Covered Village. When it was merely a dot-based image, it hadn’t felt real, but confronting it directly, it was undeniably a settlement of considerable scale.

Behind me, the Wet Person followed quietly. They seemed deeply interested in this Hunting Ground.

“You appear to be pleased. I’m delighted.”
“….”
“Yes, for someone accustomed to dry land, this should be quite pleasant.”
“….”
“Ah, you mean the Hunting Ground centered around liquids.”

Splash—
Shallow water brushed against my shoes.

“Precisely. As you might imagine, seas and reservoirs exist here, but even areas where blood pools are classified by the system as ‘liquid-centered.’ However, those regions require descending to deeper levels.”
“….”
“It seems that’s not to your taste.”

Indeed, water and blood differed fundamentally in nature. For the Water Ghost known as the Wet Person, water was sanctuary; blood-filled regions would be an entirely different realm.

“However, Spirit Yeast found in such regions can be harvested in greater quantities at once. That’s why I typically venture as deep as possible, but….”
“….”
“Yes, as you can see, I cannot go there now. My body isn’t in a state to endure such extreme conditions.”

The 5th Floor was manageable only because of my current resilience to water-related threats. Had I needed to venture to the 6th Floor or deeper, I would have perished countless times over.

Then the Wet Person posed another question.

“….”
“You’re asking about its uses.”

A reasonable question. Lee Yeon-woo nodded and answered.

“Spirit yeast is typically used as a medicinal ingredient. It can be processed into sedatives that calm the mind, or conversely, into stimulants that heighten the senses.”
“….”
“Beyond that… it’s also utilized for rather specialized purposes.”

Masking specific tastes and scents to prevent detection of drugs or magic, or destabilizing an opponent’s mind to lower their guard. It could also be used to disguise something and evade suspicion.

“Ultimately, it’s frequently used as medicine or poison, but the essential effect of spirit yeast is intimately connected to ‘memory.’ The application splits into two categories depending on the refinement method.”

Lee Yeon-woo continued.

“Either recreating memories of the past, or imprinting false memories that never existed.”
“…?”
“No, I’ve never used it on you.”
“….”
“You needn’t worry about such things. It’s typically used on ordinary human guests. The potency isn’t strong enough for guests like yourselves.”

It wasn’t impossible, but the efficiency was far too poor. Processing it to a concentration that would affect monster guests would require considerable effort.

“When you refine the yeast, the usable amount is halved, and when you process that into medicine or poison, it’s halved again. But to concentrate it enough to affect a being like you….”

Coco looked at Lee Yeon-woo. The Wet Person did the same.

“…That’s exactly it.”
“…?”
“That’s precisely the situation we find ourselves in now.”
“…!”
“I haven’t deceived you.”

You came along willingly, after all.

“The method for obtaining spirit yeast is simple.”

Lee Yeon-woo smiled quietly.

“Just strike down anything that catches your eye.”
“….”
“I’m not joking. These items spawn randomly in this zone. If you hunt and gather repeatedly, they tend to slip in among your loot.”

As I hunted the monsters in the Hunting Ground and scraped together items, soul yeast would eventually find its way into some corner of my inventory. Lee Yeon-woo’s smile had grown distant.

“So normally, I’d hunt the Hunting Ground for other items, and when inventory accumulated, I’d use them. But now….”
“….”
“Yes, now soul yeast itself is the objective.”
“….”
“And it’s urgent.”

I had secured the path to the 14th Floor, but now I needed to devise a way to reach the Central Control Room.

“I was trying to buy myself some breathing room for that, but if my small, cunning scheme fails, there’s nothing I can do. All that’s left is to dangle the Tasteless Guest behind me and play tag together on the 14th Floor.”
“That won’t work.”
“Coco says the same thing. Exactly. This is the reality I face now. So I must buy myself time to devise some means of survival, no matter what tricks I have to pull. And soul yeast is absolutely necessary for that plan.”

The biggest problem was that the Tasteless Guest’s patience was reaching a critical point.

“If negotiations fall through, I’ll eventually have to face him head-on. But in that case, there’s a significant risk of serious confusion regarding my identity.”
“…?”
“How fitting—a statement worthy of a coalition of Water Ghosts from ten thousand nations. If you don’t mind me transforming into the Tasteless Guest or a mass of bloody flesh, then so be it. Since we’re already here, I might as well become a triple personality.”
“….”
“Your friend Lee Yeon-woo, the Tasteless Guest presumed to be a nobleman of a Principality in the Holy Roman Empire of the 18th century, and an ego-inflated blood that cannot bear not taking control once it enters another’s body.”
“….”
“Could there be a more perfect combination for a multiple personality? Wouldn’t you agree, friend?”
“….”
“I can’t express how moved I am by your deep concern for my situation.”

This, Lee Yeon-woo thought, was the true meaning of friendship built over twenty-six years of life.

Perhaps it was the prospect of merging with an 18th-century curmudgeon that made him recoil. The Wet Person’s expression was decidedly unpleasant. Clearly, he showed little favor toward other monsters.

Lee Yeon-woo fell into contemplation.

‘So it wasn’t just the Room 14 monster he treated specially. This aspect aligns with the game, but now that it’s reality, that exclusionary nature has grown far stronger.’

Watching the Wet Person’s already pallid face grow even more corpse-like, Lee Yeon-woo smiled faintly.

“….”
‘How does blood flow regulation even work for someone already dead?’
“No?”
‘I wish you wouldn’t suddenly read my thoughts, Coco.’

The monsters in this hotel needed to learn to respect Lee Yeon-woo’s privacy.

Lee Yeon-woo gently patted Coco nestled in his arms and continued speaking.

“So there’s nothing more I need to ask of you.”
“….”

Squelch….
The sound of water-soaked footsteps.

“As I mentioned before. This is the third time I’m bringing it up, friend.”
“….”
“Could you assist me with the hunt?”
“….”

Fortunately, Su-gwi seemed to have no intention of refusing.

* * *

The sound of bursting water balloons filled with porridge echoed from all directions.

‘I’m not entirely sure what that noise is.’

The squelching sounds, something bursting with a bang, and a far heavier explosive noise—all of it was The Wet Person slamming the Drowned Corpse against the floor.

The overwhelming physical force was so dominant that the knife in The Wet Person’s grinning hand seemed to pale in comparison.

“Oh.”

Another one burst apart.

‘Truly a both-versions monster guest.’

The nature itself differed from the open-version-only guests. While those at least put on a pretense of restraint, the primal aggression displayed by The Wet Person was incomparable.

‘From the start, the concept was a murderer on rainy days.’

The Wet Person, now bearing the identity of Water Ghost, reached the pinnacle of ferocity in the humid depths of Basement Level 7. Coco’s mouth hung open in a perfect circle at the sheer brilliance of the display.

“Oh.”
“To think you’ve learned to admire things—how moving, Coco.”

Lee Yeon-woo laughed with his hands clasped behind his back.

The Drowned Corpses, swollen white and bloated with water, their eyes clouded and dim, were ordinarily troublesome enemies that relentlessly pursued users and dragged them into the depths. But before the Wet Person, such threats meant nothing.

‘What good is putting a fish in water?’

In the early stages when one lacks even a decent weapon, they are indeed a vexing monster. But yes—before two Water Ghosts, the tactic of “dragging into the water” was hardly a formidable attack.

“Of course, I must exercise some caution….”

Lee Yeon-woo gazed down at his own hands, clad in white cotton gloves.

I could not respond as crudely as they did. No matter how bloated and burst my hands might become, the moment those creatures seized me, my entire body would transform into a mass of blood.

“….”

Soon Lee Yeon-woo observed the Wet Person.

“…Hmm….”

Even so, I needed to make at least a token effort.

Ho-won possessed a Hunting skill. Like cooking, it was one of the basic skills granted upon completing the tutorial. Lee Yeon-woo fixed his gaze upon the mass of Drowned Corpses being overwhelmed by the Wet Person.

He adjusted his glasses and quietly extended his hand.

‘…Like this,’

perhaps?

Boom―!!!

“….”
“….”

Splurch, splurch-splurch-splurch!!!

“…Mm.”

Lee Yeon-woo lowered his hand without a word.

A peculiar silence descended upon the Harbor, where the Drowned Corpses had been reduced to pulp. Amidst the landscape of water mist and scattered flesh, the Wet Person slowly turned to face Lee Yeon-woo.

Lee Yeon-woo awkwardly smoothed the corner of his mouth before finally speaking.

“…A misunderstanding….”
“….”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”

I meant it sincerely.

I couldn’t even clearly explain what the misunderstanding was, but seeing the other’s expression, it seemed necessary to blurt out those words first. The Wet Person, having taken successive blows from rotting flesh, looked utterly bewildered.

“I didn’t know it would come to this either.”

It wasn’t a lie. Who could have predicted that a Hunting skill that had never been leveled up would possess such destructive power? I had no weapon, and the technique was merely level one. Above all….

“This technique isn’t originally this crude.”
“….”
“No, truly. Please believe me, friend. I held no grievance against you.”
“….”
“Yes, indeed. Really… I didn’t know it would turn out like this either.”
“….”
“This wasn’t the skill I intended to use in the first place….”
“…?”

Only then did the Wet Person furrow their brow and look down at me. While it was difficult to believe my claim of unintentionality, even if they did believe it, they seemed puzzled as to why such an anomalous phenomenon had occurred.

“Well, that is….”
“…?”
“…Probably.”

Lee Yeon-woo laughed awkwardly.

“It seems my body’s condition isn’t normal.”

In summary, that’s how I could describe it.

“….”
“No.”
“….”
“No, I won’t go.”
“….”
“I won’t enter.”
“….”
“Even if you say that, I won’t go in.”

Lee Yeon-woo shook his head firmly. This thoughtless Water Ghost’s relentless attempts to plunge me into the depths were becoming increasingly troublesome. I was determined to live as a human, after all.

“From the perspective of someone with ordinary sensibilities, it’s unsettling, you see.”

It was the same before. This being had no interest or concern for Lee Yeon-woo’s wellbeing. That’s precisely why it kept trying to drag me into the water.

“Isn’t that right?”
“….”

It wouldn’t care if another monster guest were injured or killed.

Had I not informed it of the possibility that it might mingle with the Tasteless Guest, it would never have helped Lee Yeon-woo.

‘What it wants from me is simple.’

A “friend” who radiates warmth. That alone was what it sought to possess. It was obsession and possessiveness—nothing more than a child’s tantrum to monopolize an object entirely.

Its “protection” stemmed from precisely this tantrum.

‘Maintaining its possessions so they don’t deteriorate.’

It simply defined that as “friendship.”

“….”
“….”

The Wet Person, who had been gazing down at Lee Yeon-woo in silence, suddenly burst into laughter. A long, thin cackle echoed through the space with an eerie resonance.

Coco poked her head out.

“Hello.”
“Yes, the Water Ghost’s notorious reputation certainly precedes it.”
“Danger. Danger. Danger.”
“This is frightening, I must say….”

Even now, he was watching for an opportunity to drag Lee Yeon-woo into the depths. Since he seemed quite fond of this area, he would seize any moment of carelessness to act.

“I apologize, but I have no intention of dying easily.”
“….”
“Please exercise caution, as you witnessed just moments ago….”

Lee Yeon-woo adjusted his gloves, his eyes narrowing.

“My strength control is difficult.”

* * *

“My strength control is difficult.”

That was what his friend had said just moments ago.

“….”

Even he had not anticipated it would come to this.

A withered soul and a broken body. The transparent state of his condition lent credibility to his words, yet Su-gwi did not take them at face value. None of the Hotel’s monsters would have done so.

Of course, that was only natural.

“I believe it would be best to move to another location.”
“….”
“Would you not agree?”

I didn’t fail to foresee that it would happen—I simply never imagined it would go this far.

“….”

Su-gwi walked behind his friend, his thoughts churning.

‘…Ah….’

What a pity.

If only he had been a little more foolish, a little weaker.

How much better that would have been.

“…―.”

…A slow, melancholic hum trailed after him.

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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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