Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual - Chapter 8

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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 8.

There was something peculiar about this Hotel.

A single Front Desk stood at the entrance, and beside it, Staff Members with mechanical smiles stood in quiet formation.

‘This structure wasn’t designed for profit and efficiency.’

Then what purpose did it serve?

The antiquated yet lavish interior seemed divorced from reality, and the man in the black suit standing among it all appeared even more incongruous.

It was difficult to discern the gaze behind his transparent glasses.

“….”
“….”

After a moment, the man in the black suit spoke.

“How did you come to visit us?”
“Ah, well….”

Only then did the Director snap back to attention.

‘This really is an occupational hazard.’

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh internally.

Truly, explaining how I had come to visit would require far more than an hour. The Director, Lee Sun-hae, smiled awkwardly at the thought.

“Is this a Hotel?”
“Yes, thank you for visiting our Hotel.”
“Ah, I see. I honestly didn’t expect to find a Hotel in a place like this… I wanted to confirm whether this was truly a Hotel. I apologize if I’ve been rude.”
“Welcoming our Guests is both my responsibility and my pleasure. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions.”

Ding―!!
Three people entered the Hotel.

“Director, let’s talk for a moment…!!”
“….”
“…Hello.”
“Yes, thank you for visiting our Hotel.”
“Yes.”

The Writer merely bowed his head slightly. It might have appeared as if he was in a foul mood, but the Director understood. He was simply uncomfortable and embarrassed.

‘He really does hide his feelings well, doesn’t he.’

Lee Sun-hae laughed awkwardly, attempting to salvage the atmosphere.

“Actually, we got lost while heading to our reserved Lodging.”
“I see that happened to you.”
“Yes, there are so many mountains in this area and it rains so much that I think the signal got disrupted. Navigation, cell phones—everything’s dead. Does this Hotel have decent reception?”
“Given the poor signal conditions in this environment, I may have some difficulty providing a definitive answer. I do apologize for any inconvenience.”
“Ah, the signal…?”
“….”

The Young Man’s smile deepened. It was refined and composed, yet impossible to read.

“Many of our guests prefer to refrain from communicating with the outside world.”
“…Oh, is that so?”

Lee Sun-hae felt the Writer’s fingers poking her back repeatedly. It seemed to mean they should wrap this up and leave since something felt off.

She surveyed the spacious Lobby. Two Guests were visible sitting on the Lobby sofa.

“…There aren’t many people here, are there?”
“That’s typically the case.”
“I apologize if this is rude to ask, but I’m quite curious.”
“Not at all. Answering such curiosity is also part of my responsibility in managing this Hotel.”
“You manage this place?”
“Indeed. However….”

The Young Man’s gaze lingered on the drenched group.

His gaze was indifferent and courteous, yet they couldn’t hide their embarrassment. They had an umbrella, but here they were, drenched like drowned rats. Just a brief dash through the rain and they were soaked through.

The Young Man tactfully overlooked their discomfort.

“If you don’t mind, I can prepare towels and warm tea for you.”
“Oh, that’s really not necessary….”
“The rain outside is quite heavy. It would be good to warm yourselves a bit.”
“Well, I suppose you’re right.”

At his suggestion, the Staff Members were the first to be tempted, whispering to the Director and the Writer.

“Can’t we just rest here for a bit? Honestly, we’ve been exhausted getting here without a single break, and Director, you’ve been gripping the steering wheel the whole time.”
“And Writer got carsick in the middle. Truth is, I’m more scared. With this mountain and the rain coming down so hard, and the sun already set long ago… what if we have an accident?”

Hong had an expression that seemed to ask, ‘Is this place any less frightening?’, but Lee Sun-hae agreed. Her desire to scrutinize this Hotel further as a creator took precedence over the inexplicable sense of unease.

“Well then? Should we rest here for a bit?”
“Yes, yes, if we could at least borrow some towels….”
“Since they’re offering tea anyway, let’s warm up before we go.”

Hong jabbed the Director’s ribs anxiously, but she remained resolute.

“Could we trouble you for that?”
“Of course. This way, please.”

The Young Man guided them to a table in the Lobby.

“….”

And the Director’s expression became subtle upon seeing the space.

“…Director?”
“Hmm, no. The table is quite lovely.”
“Ah, it’s elegant. The sofa too.”
“Isn’t it?”
“It looks really expensive.”
“Yeah….”

Before sitting on the sofa, the Director looked at the Young Man.

“The sofa will get wet. I’m so sorry—what should I do?”
“This seat has been prepared to receive our guests. Please, don’t hesitate. If you would rest comfortably here, we would be truly grateful.”
“Mm….”
“Excuse me for a moment.”

Ding—
The young man shook a small bell.

‘A bell?’

Lee Sun-hae blinked.

The handbell resting lightly in the young man’s grip was smooth, unmarked by any distinctive pattern. If there was anything unusual about it, it was that unlike ordinary bells, it bore no lustrous shine—the material had a matte finish. And….

“….”

…Is that actually gold?

“If it would be more comfortable, would it be acceptable if I laid down a towel first?”
“…Ah, yes, thank you.”
“I’ll prepare it at once.”
‘Quite antique-looking.’

Whether the bell’s chime was a signal or not, staff members promptly appeared and spread towels across the sofa, followed by another attendant bearing an elegant tea service.

Every movement was swift yet unhurried. Rather, it was silent—so silent that even the sound of cup meeting saucer went unheard. As if not a single friction sound would be tolerated.

It was service executed with ideal perfection.

“Wow….”
“Once you’re seated, I’ll prepare your tea.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”

As I settled into the seat, a pale golden liquid filled the cup. Hong, a connoisseur of tea, recognized it at once as premium chamomile.

Sweet apple notes and honey-soft smoothness, mingled with the fresh green scent of grass, drifted through the dry air of the Lobby.

“…Ah….”

Hong Kyung-yeon’s previously tense expression softened slightly.

“…The aroma is truly wonderful.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Your skill in brewing tea is remarkable as well. Did you study it somewhere formally…?”
“I taught myself.”
“Ah, I see.”

Director Lee Sun-hae, who had been observing the Writer’s expression, interjected with a playful smile.

“Is it really alright that you treat us so well?”
“As you can see, this Hotel doesn’t have many guests. Which means I have the luxury of focusing on each person individually.”
“You don’t seem like an ordinary staff member.”
“….”

The Young Man’s eyes curved with a subtle smile.

“That’s correct.”
“Ah, is it a secret or something?”
“Goodness, I wouldn’t want to create that sort of mystery for our Guest. I’m simply cautious about appearing boastful.”
“Now you’ve made me even more curious.”
“Haha….”

The Young Man answered with a slow laugh.

“I’m the operator of this Facility.”
“My goodness.”

The Director asked again.

“The general manager…is that what you call it? Or the owner?”
“I manage both roles.”
“Unbelievable.”
“I suppose I don’t look the part, then.”
“No, I apologize. It’s just….”

She looked at the Young Man’s face once more.

“You look so young—I didn’t recognize you.”
“I hear that quite often.”
“….”
“For the record, it’s been quite some time since I came of age.”
“…I haven’t said anything yet.”
“My apologies. You seemed concerned about this Hotel’s management system.”
“Was it that obvious? How embarrassing.”

The Writer and the two Staff Members listening to the exchange couldn’t shake the suspicion from their eyes.

‘He’s been an adult for quite some time?’
‘Even being generous, he looks like a college student… doesn’t he?’
‘So exactly how old is he?’

The Young Man, savoring their scrutiny with ease, called the Staff Member again. The precision with which he retrieved the damp towel and offered a fresh, fluffy warm one in its place was exquisite.

As the dry, gentle warmth touched their skin, the tension in the group began to dissolve bit by bit.

‘This Hotel is still suspicious, though.’

The Director observed the Young Man who claimed to be the operator.

“…Actually, this fellow here is a writer….”
“Indeed. I thought I recognized him from somewhere.”
“Oh? You know him?”
“If my memory serves, you’re Hong Kyung-yeon, the writer?”
“Oh my.”

Pfft—
The Writer spat out his tea.

“Cough, hack….”
“My apologies. I’m worried I may have presumed to know you.”
“No, no. I was just startled….”
“If I was rude, I apologize.”
“…No, you weren’t….”

Hong Kyung-yeon was famous as a horror writer. However, unlike Director Lee Sun-hae, his face wasn’t particularly well-known. He disliked having his personal information exposed.

Of course, those in the industry would recognize my face, but….

“I apologize. Not many people outside the industry know who I am by sight.”
“I make it a habit to remember both names and faces. You made a brief appearance at a preview screening, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yes. Though I rarely attend such events….”
“Your reluctance to appear frequently at official gatherings—that detail left quite an impression on me.”
“…Is that so.”

The Young Man responded to the Writer’s words with a smile, then glanced toward the Director.

“I’m already quite familiar with the Writer, but it seemed the Director was about to ask something.”
“Ah, yes.”

The Director laughed somewhat sheepishly.

“We’re people with rather vivid imaginations, so I was wondering if you might satisfy our curiosity. The location of this hotel, for one, and there are so many other things we’re curious about….”
“I understand perfectly. Please feel free to ask anything at all.”
“Well, since Hong is always attached to the Writer, I’d naturally assume you know me too?”
“Of course, Director Lee Sun-hae. The works you two have co-produced together have earned a reputation for exceptional quality. Your sensible direction and outstanding mise-en-scène were particularly impressive.”
“Hearing you say that makes me a bit embarrassed.”
“Personally, I found ‘The Sea’ deeply moving. It’s rare to find a work that captures the strengths of both commercial and art cinema simultaneously. It was a truly magnificent piece, with meticulous attention to every detail.”
“Oh my.”

A genuinely embarrassed laugh escaped me.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to hide anything, but I was worried it might sound like I was fishing for compliments. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“Please don’t worry about that. Such remarks are something we should be grateful for, if anything.”

The Young Man continued.

“Your interest, Director, is an honor to me. Should you wish to conduct a question-and-answer session, I would be happy to make time for it.”
“So, you mean an interview?”
“However, I must ask one condition—that the contents not be disclosed to the outside world.”
“…Why can’t it be made public?”
“Because this hotel becomes more valuable the less it is known.”
“The more you say things like that, the more suspicious it sounds, doesn’t it?”
“I apologize. It seems my words were clumsy and gave you that impression.”

The Young Man offered an apology with a gentle smile, then rang the bell once more.

A Staff Member appeared from somewhere and set down a chair. The Young Man settled into it with a clear gesture of willingness to answer the Director’s questions, and Lee Sun-hae broke into an amused smile.

“Isn’t this taking up quite a bit of your time?”
“Please don’t concern yourself. Conversations with our guests are something I find deeply gratifying.”
“Is that so?”
“Most of our clientele tend to be rather reserved by nature, so opportunities for direct dialogue like this are quite rare.”
“Ah… I see….”

Sun-hae’s gaze drifted absently across the Lobby.

About three guests were visible in the Lobby, yet none of them opened their mouths. People sitting vacant-eyed in white attire, others absorbed in newspapers while dressed in formal suits, still others endlessly writing something down.

“….”

There was no vitality to them, nor did they appear particularly content.

‘They don’t even look ordinary.’

The Director posed his first question.

“This is a Hotel, correct?”
“Of course.”
“There seem to be very few people here.”
“We are still in the trial operation phase. Full admission is being permitted only under extremely limited circumstances.”
“Ah, I see.”

Sun-hae nodded in understanding.

“Honestly, I was quite surprised. I had no idea such a massive Hotel existed in the mountains. The weather obscured much of the view, but it appeared to exceed twenty stories?”
“Our Hotel stands at twenty-five stories above ground.”
“There are that many Guest Rooms?”
“No. The upper levels and portions of the lower floors are allocated as exclusive service spaces for our guests.”

The 25th Floor housed a rooftop promenade garden. The 23rd Floor contained an aqua park. The 22nd Floor was a sky lounge. The 3rd and 5th and 6th Floors comprised lifestyle zones. The 2nd Floor held a grand banquet hall and buffet. The Guest Rooms spanned from the 7th Floor through the 21st Floor.

The Writer, having heard this explanation, sensed something amiss and asked.

“…There’s no 4th Floor?”
“That’s correct. Our Hotel contains no spaces that include the number ‘4’.”
“Is there a particular reason for that?”
“Yes, some of our guests are extremely sensitive to certain numbers. Therefore, we intentionally excluded all floors containing ‘4’. I didn’t design it personally, but according to the records, that’s how it is.”
“Hotels like that do exist sometimes… but you mentioned you’re the owner, yet it seems you weren’t involved in the Hotel’s design.”
“I was merely entrusted with operating this Hotel.”

The Director asked again.

“There don’t seem to be many guests, and the facilities and location are rather peculiar.”
“This Facility was never designed to accommodate a large number of guests.”
“Ah, so how many would that be…?”
“We have a total of 135 Guest Rooms prepared.”
“…135….”

The Director turned to the Staff Member sitting beside me.

“How many rooms does a Hotel of this size typically have?”
“I, I’m not entirely sure. I’ve never even been to a Hotel this size before….”

It was the Writer who answered instead.

“On average, around 500 rooms. Even if it seems somewhat modest, you’d expect at least 200, and large Hotels easily exceed 700.”
“As expected of Hong—my personal walking encyclopedia. Poke you and out comes the answer.”
“I just remember it from research I did before.”
“Right.”

The Director looked at the Young Man.

“The number of Guest Rooms is rather small, isn’t it? For such a large Hotel.”
“Instead, we’ve ensured ample space in each Guest Room.”
“That’s pleasant for guests, but operationally…?”
“The structure was designed to prioritize ‘perfection’ for a select few specific guests rather than profit.”
“…Ah, I see.”

I thought I understood what this meant.

“You can’t make reservations through the internet here, correct?”
“Within the system I’m familiar with, I believe that would be impossible.”
“Hmm….”

The Director’s expression grew even more peculiar.

“We’re allowed to stay here, aren’t we?”
“Since I’ve officially brought you here as my guests, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“That makes sense.”

After a moment of deliberation, the Director asked as if he’d made a decision.

“Is it possible for us to stay the night right now?”
“Director?”
“No, wait. Listen, Hong. When will we ever get another chance to stay at a hotel like this?”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s not every day you get an opportunity like this.”
“Well….”
“Besides, there might even be rooms available.”

The Director looked at the Young Man.

“Would it be difficult, sir?”
“…It wouldn’t be particularly difficult.”

The Young Man lightly stroked the bridge of his nose with his fingertip. It appeared to be a habitual gesture.

“However, as I mentioned earlier, we’re still in the trial operation phase, so you may experience some inconveniences. The lights might go out without warning due to intermittent inspections, and there are times when equipment issues cause unpleasant noises.”
“Actually, I’d like to experience something like that, so it’s fine.”
“To be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Setting aside my position as an operator, if I may add a purely personal observation, the guests here at the Facility….”

His lips curved into a slight arc. His eyes narrowed gently, yet the gaze beyond them remained unfathomably deep, impossible to read.

The Young Man spoke in a measured tone.

“…have rather peculiar dispositions.”

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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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