Welcome to the Goblin Hotel - Chapter 32

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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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Episode 32
Samyoung Mountain.
The mountain rising beneath the pale mist drew steadily closer.
Steering along the winding, narrow road beside the Valley, I couldn’t help but sigh.
“Why there of all places? It’s not even easy to get to.”
“Because there are no people, and it’s far from town, and I wanted it buried… I’ve been there before in summer. It was the first place that came to mind.”
“Good grief. That’s exactly the kind of thing a murderer would think when hiding evidence.”
I glanced at Min Cho in the back seat through the rearview mirror as I spoke.
Startled by the word “murderer,” Min Cho flinched at the shoulders.
“I… I didn’t think it would actually come to this….”
“Then you’re an attempted murderer. Or maybe guilty of assault resulting in death.”
His face flushed crimson, and he hung his head low.
“I’m so sorry….”
“Once this is finished, you apologize directly to Ye Na. Make sure of it.”
“Yes….”
I watched his green hair in the mirror and thought to myself.
‘That grass-green mess won’t survive long.’
He’ll probably tear it all out.
Clang-clang, clang-clang.
The paved road ended, and an unpaved forest track began.
‘So this is when a four-wheel-drive SUV finally gets to shine.’
The vehicle pushed forward relentlessly, crushing loose stones beneath its tires.
After driving a bit farther like that.
“There! That’s it!”
Min Cho pointed to a wide clearing at the end of the road.
“Right there at the end?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right.”
I turned the car around for easy exit, got out, and looked around.
It was a place of low-growing weeds and pebbles of varying sizes.
Though deep in the forest, the air felt neither fresh nor clear, and not a single insect sound reached my ears.
“Hmm. Not great.”
Min Jae stepped closer and asked.
“What isn’t?”
“Just a feeling. The vibe’s off.”
A cool breeze drifted in, brushing against my clothes.
The fine hairs at the nape of my neck stood on end.
I ran a hand across my neck.
Not a single drop of sweat came away on my fingers.
And yet.
A clammy, unpleasant sensation clung to me as if I were drenched in sweat.
“Handle this fast and get out of here.”
I scanned the surroundings.
Then I extended a finger and asked.
“Did you bury it over there?”
Min Cho jumped back several steps in alarm.
“H-how did you know…?”
A large tree, about ten paces from where he stood.
A strand of Black Thread wound around Min Cho’s ankle trailed all the way to it.
At least that much is a relief.
Not having to climb the mountain.
I opened the trunk and threw out the shovel we’d bought on the way.
“Dig.”
Min Cho hesitantly stepped forward and picked up the shovel.
“Make it quick.”
“Yes…!”
Min Cho’s movements quickened.
Thunk—! Thunk—! Thunk—! Thunk—!
Several shovels full of earth flew from the pit.
Min Cho jumped back from the hole and shouted.
“I—I found it!”
I stepped closer and peered into the pit Min Cho had dug.
Beneath a soil-caked black vinyl bag.
The black thread connected to Min Cho’s ankle writhed.
The moment I pulled it out.
— A low, rumbling growl…!
From behind.
An eerie sound echoed down from higher up the mountain, and I lifted my head to look.
“……!”
Between the thick undergrowth.
Beneath the shadow of a tree that had grown in an unnatural shape.
Something equally unnatural stirred and twisted there.
— A low, rumbling growl…!
‘Damn it.’
I bit my lip and swallowed the curse inwardly.
Quickly, I unwound the Spiritual Rope from my waist and drew up my Spiritual Power.
‘That uneasy feeling I’ve had since before… it was because of this.’
I spoke to Min Jae and Min Cho in a low voice.
“Get in the car. Now.”
Min Cho, clueless about what was happening, hesitated with a bewildered expression.
“What? …Just get in?”
“Listen! Just get in the damn car!”
“Yes!”
Finally, Min Cho scrambled into the car.
“Min Jae, what are you doing? Get in!”
When I glanced at him with only my eyes, Min Jae was trembling so badly his legs threatened to buckle beneath him.
Ah.
Min Jae had Spiritual Sight.
Having seen the black form, Min Jae managed to squeeze out a voice and ask.
“Boss…! What is that…?”
“…I’ll explain later. Take this. Start the engine and grip the wheel. Now!”
Min Jae took the Curse Tool and bit down hard on his lip.
Then he punched his own legs repeatedly.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Only then did Min Jae’s legs obey, and he staggered toward the car.
Slam!
After I heard the car door close and confirmed Min Jae was inside.
I fixed my gaze on the black mass.
The thing that had been sauntering down stopped short when it saw the blue aura gathering in my hands.
Then,
Squelch.
Squelch—!
It twisted and began to reshape itself.
Among the shifting forms, a familiar silhouette flickered through my memory.
‘So it’s a Spirit Entity.’
Wasn’t that what they’d said—small spirits gathered to form one?
It was like what I’d seen when I used Soul Insight on Mi Ho.
That creature that had stolen Mi Ho’s den and clawed at her hind legs.
Squelch—squelch—
Black masses of flesh moved of their own accord, sculpting a body.
It had two eyes, then four.
Dozens, then just one again.
Horns sprouted and dissolved, reforming as a head.
I exhaled sharply and tightened my grip on the Spiritual Rope.
“Hah….”
If I threw this….
‘Could I catch it?’
No. It didn’t seem likely.
Unlike petty spirits, I had no confidence I could bind it easily.
I had a feeling I’d just lose my weapon if I threw it carelessly.
That was when.
A thought surfaced in my mind.
‘Spiritual Power Enhancement.’
The Spiritual Power Points I’d earned from dealing with petty spirits on the night of the new moon, plus those I’d gained from burning Ye Na’s curse.
And the points I’d received when Choi Il Joo checked out.
I hadn’t spent them yet.
I’d been saving them for when I’d need them most. This was that moment.
There was no time to waste.
【 Spiritual Power Points: 12,300p 】
【 Use Spiritual Power Points to enhance? 】
I poured every point I had into myself.
In an instant.
A searing sensation flooded through my entire body.
My breath caught as if it might stop, then suddenly broke free.
My body felt slightly lighter.
I sent power slowly through my hand gripping the Spiritual Rope.
Whoosh—!
Blue flames blazed along the rope in a bright streak.
This was the creature that had wounded Mi Ho.
It wouldn’t be easy to handle.
But still.
‘With this, I can hold my ground.’
— Grrrrowwwl…!
The Spirit Entity—with two heads and six legs—lowered its body.
Whump-whump—!
A bird in the trees, sensing the malevolent aura, took flight.
That instant,
the Spirit Entity lunged upward.
Whistle—!
I swung the Spiritual Rope like a whip toward the charging creature.
The rope only struck empty air.
Unimpeded by the thick trees and undergrowth, the Spirit Entity shifted its body left and right with ease.
Whistle— Crack—!
‘I can’t give it an opening.’
I swung the rope relentlessly.
Then,
Snap—!
The rope grazed one of its ankles.
The blue flames born of Spiritual Power transferred to the ankle.
“Got it…!”
— Grrrrowwwl….
The creature jerked backward.
One of the Spirit Entity’s legs turned to ash and vanished.
But….
“What?”
The flame died out almost immediately.
‘How is that possible?’
The strike had definitely connected.
Click-click-crack.
It regenerated another leg in moments.
‘That’s cheating…!’
At this rate, it would never end.
I calculated, aiming at its new leg.
The damage wasn’t nothing.
So then….
Did I have to burn it until it couldn’t regenerate anymore?
“A war of attrition.”
I charged toward it, swinging the Spiritual Rope.
Whistle— Crack!
Craaack—!
Thwack!
The Spirit Entity dodged the Spiritual Rope with impressive dexterity.
It evaded seven out of every ten strikes.
Only three or so landed.
The creature ceaselessly regenerated its burning form, each time finding new gaps in my defense.
“Hah… hah…. Just a little longer and I think I’ll have it….”
But.
I had no more margin for error.
‘Damn it.’
Something was wrong with the Spiritual Rope cutting through the air.
The flame clinging to it had grown noticeably weaker.
In my tension, I’d lost control of my strength and poured out too much Spiritual Power.
‘Can’t let this drag on.’
Neither my reserves nor its were limitless.
I had no idea how much either of us had left.
If I stalled any longer and my Spiritual Power ran dry first, it was finished—I was finished.
A glance.
I checked the car out of the corner of my eye.
Thankfully, it wasn’t far.
Min Jae sat in the driver’s seat, watching me intently.
My decision made, I gripped the Spiritual Rope firmly.
Then I swung it toward the Spirit Entity.
Whisk—! Crack— Crash—!
“Land a hit. Just one—!”
A barrage of blows pummeled the empty air,
and then—Thud—!
The Spiritual Rope struck the Spirit Entity’s head.
Its head erupted in brilliant blue flame as the creature staggered backward.
‘Got it!’
I had to move before that fire went out.
I sprinted toward the car, shouting as I ran.
“Open the trunk!”
Beep— beep— beep—
I forced the slowly rising trunk door all the way up and threw myself inside.
“Step on it!”
Rooooaaar—!
The car lurched forward with a savage roar.
Jolt.
I flattened myself against the floor to keep from being pitched out.
Bump! Bump!
My spine jolted with every stone the wheels crushed.
I watched the flame on the Spirit Entity’s head sputter and fade.
The creature writhed, already rebuilding its charred head.
“Min Jae! Harder!”
“I can’t!”
My car is no slouch.
It’s a four-wheel-drive—built to handle rough mountain roads with stability.
“You’re fine! Go faster!”
“…I don’t have a license!”
“…What?”
“I said I don’t have a license!”
Min Cho’s shriek at this revelation was deafening.
“Aahhhhh! You insane bastard! Stop the car right now!”
“Hey! You—!”
Min Jae ignored Min Cho’s protests entirely.
“But I’ve practiced! Brace yourself!”
The car veered sharply and my body slid sideways.
The open trunk door rattled and banged.
I clenched my teeth and pressed myself flat again.
‘Damn it.’
How many curses had I swallowed by now?
My stomach churned.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up dead by Min Jae’s hand instead of a Spirit Entity’s.
But there was no stopping now.
—Crrrrunch…! Kya-ha…!
Pitch-black darkness bore down on us.
Crack. Crunch.
The Spirit Entity, having regenerated its head, stretched and shortened its legs repeatedly as it charged toward us.
The distance between us and the car was closing fast.
I shouted at Min Cho.
“Hey! Min Cho! Take the wheel!”
“Ahhh…! I don’t have a license!”
The valley I’d glimpsed while climbing the mountain burbled away on our right.
If we skidded here, we’d plunge straight into it.
Min Jae knew it too.
He swerved left, trampling weeds, keeping to one side of the path.
A thought flashed through my mind then.
‘Could his balance be worse because his right eye isn’t working…?’
No.
I had to trust Min Jae.
I shook my head, casting out the dark thought.
Min Jae handles the driving.
I handle the Spirit Entity.
We each focus on what’s in front of us.
At this rate, it’ll catch us.
‘I need to buy more distance.’
I leaned my body partway out of the trunk.
Dirt dust slammed into my face.
My eyes stung.
I forced them open and gripped the Spiritual Rope hard.
“Just a little more….”
I gauged the distance, calling the rope’s length to mind.
Distance.
Timing.
This time, it had to be perfect.
I exhaled slowly….
Three, two, one.
The moment it leaped forward, stretching its legs.
‘Now!’
Whoooosh!
I hurled the Spiritual Rope with all my strength.
Shrieeek—!
A blue flame stretched long and flew toward the Spirit Entity.
Thwack—!
The Spiritual Rope struck its torso dead-on.
The Spirit Entity lost its balance and crashed to the ground.
“Haah….”
I’d poured every last scrap of Spiritual Power into that attack.
The sudden expenditure left me drained, and I collapsed onto the trunk floor.
Just then, the dirt road ended.
Vroooooom—!
Min Jae, watching the situation in the mirror, gunned the engine.
We had to open up distance now.
I turned my head to check on the Spirit Entity.
The creature that had been regenerating its body and chasing after us suddenly stopped.
‘Huh? Why…?’
For some reason, it stood at the end of the path and didn’t advance.
—Crrrrunch…!
Crack. Crunch.
The Spirit Entity only shifted its form.
Could it be—it wasn’t choosing not to come, but couldn’t come?
“What on earth is that thing?”
That grotesque form.
It shrieked with a mouth stretched impossibly wide, trembling with fury.
— Kraaa
a
a
ahhh…!
The distance between us and the spirit entity widened with each passing second.
Watching the dark mass recede into the distance, I raised my middle finger.
“See you soon.”
The corners of my mouth twisted into a grin.
‘I’ll catch you. I swear it.’
Ever since gaining Spiritual Power, I’d thought I could capture anything.
But this was the first opponent I couldn’t handle.
It can’t end like this.
I have to become stronger.
‘For Song I’s sake, if nothing else.’
So this isn’t running away.
I will. I’ll come back.
Inherited the Dokkaebi Hotel
Author
: Why So Not
Production Date
: August 25, 2026
Publisher
: ACES Media Inc.
Editor
: ACES Media Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work has been published by ACES Media Inc. under contract with the copyright holder,
and no part of its contents may be used in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher and author.
This e-book is a copyrighted work protected under copyright law and unauthorized reproduction or duplication may result in legal liability.
UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260730113

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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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