Welcome to the Goblin Hotel - Chapter 33

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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 33
Thud. Bang!
With a cacophony of noise, the car lurched down the winding road for what felt like an eternity.
Just before it merged onto the main highway.
Min Jae brought the car to a stop.
Screeeech—
I lay sprawled in the trunk, saying nothing for a long while.
“Haaa….”
What had happened moments ago felt undeniably real.
My heart still hammered violently against my ribs.
Thump!
Min Jae climbed out of the driver’s seat and approached the trunk.
“Are you all right, sir…?”
I forced myself up and perched on the edge of the trunk, answering weakly.
“…I’m alive.”
My body felt leaden, my lower back tight and sore.
I stretched slowly, working the stiffness out of my muscles.
Click—
The back door flew open, and Min Cho tumbled out.
“Gugh—!”
He crouched by the roadside and began retching violently.
“Blaaaaagh…!”
The sound was appalling.
Min Cho gagged for an eternity, as though his very guts might come up.
I shook my head at Min Jae.
“You fool, Min Jae! If you didn’t have a license, you should’ve said something. Driving without one like some reckless—”
“There was no other choice back there. And we didn’t crash.”
I climbed out of the trunk and stared at the car, letting out a hollow laugh.
“Heh… yeah. No crash. At least not that.”
Only a miracle we didn’t.
The left side of the car, where it had torn through the underbrush, showed it all.
Deep gouges from trees, rocks, and debris scarred the metal plainly.
“Still, Min Jae—I owe you my life.”
“Heh heh…! Don’t I know it?”
Min Jae’s face was pallid, his smile exhausted.
His hands trembled as he rubbed them against his thighs.
The boy had managed to drive us out of that alive.
A few more seconds and I’d have been meeting the Grim Reaper.
Min Cho, still heaving, finally lifted his head and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
Tears clung to his eyes, his voice hoarse.
“That… that black thing… what was it? Was that a curse?”
‘He saw it?’
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
“You saw that too?”
“…Yes.”
“From when?”
“Around… around when the Unpaved Road ended.”
I watched him silently for a moment.
‘It’s not Spirit Vision…’
If it were, he would have seen the thread wound around my ankle.
Was it the curse?
As my spiritual defenses weakened, had I become susceptible to seeing such things?
I settled on that conclusion and shook my head.
“That’s not a curse.”
“Then what is it?”
“A Spirit Entity.”
“A Spirit Entity?”
Min Jae, curious as well, fixed his gaze on me.
“What’s a Spirit Entity, sir?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself. All I know is that it’s formed from many spirits gathered together….”
Min Jae tilted his head, puzzled.
“A Spirit Entity…?”
“Yeah, that Spirit Entity—the one that attacked Mi Ho. The one that cut up her hind legs.”
“Oh…! When Mi Ho first came to the Hotel?”
“That’s right.”
Min Jae glanced up the mountain path we’d descended, as if the revelation had only now struck him.
I spoke, looking between the two of them.
“Let’s get in the car. There’s nothing to gain by staying here.”
Min Cho scrambled into the back seat.
“…I take it you’ll be driving this time, boss?”
Min Jae’s lips curled up as he spoke.
The corners of his mouth trembled slightly.
‘A good kid.’
He’d forced out that joke despite seeing my haggard face.
I let out a small laugh.
I smiled back at Min Jae.
“Yeah. Let’s head home.”
The moment I thought of going home, the promise with Song I came to mind.
Strawberry Cake.
‘She must be waiting.’
“Min Jae, search for a cake shop nearby.”
“Oh…! Of course.”
Min Jae pulled out his phone, searched, and answered.
“There’s one about fifteen minutes from here. The reviews are decent, and they have Strawberry Cake. Should I pull up the navigation?”
“Yeah. Let’s go there.”
My body felt heavy, fatigue creeping in, but the promise to Song I was one I had to keep.
As the car drove on.
Only the navigation system’s voice echoed in the quiet vehicle.
[Turn right.]
[You will arrive at your destination shortly.]
Min Jae had dozed off and now opened his eyes.
“Ah…. I’ll run in and grab it right away.”
“No, Min Jae—you rest.”
I waved him off, watching as he blinked and fought to stay awake.
“I’ll be quick. Just sleep.”
“Ah…. Heh…. Okay, I’ll grab a quick nap then.”
I turned to Min Cho, who was rolling his eyes and darting nervous glances around.
“Min Cho. Get out.”
“M-me?”
“Yes. You.”
I spoke to Min Cho after we’d both stepped out of the car.
“Go on from here.”
“What? You want me to…go alone?”
“I’ll call you in a few days. For now, go.”
There was something I’d done wrong.
I owed Ye Na a proper apology.
But today I was too tired.
Next time.
“But…! Please! I can’t go alone…. I’m scared! Can’t I come with you?”
“Tch…! I told you—I’m not your brother, so stop calling me that…!”
I stared hard at him, my voice turning cold.
“Go. Pick up when I call. Try to run, and you die.”
Min Cho’s eyes glistened with tears, and he pressed his palms together.
“I’m really scared…!”
I looked down at his ankle as I spoke.
“That curse on your ankle—I burned it all away already. So go.”
“Huh? When did you…?”
Earlier.
Just before the fight with the Spirit Entity.
“Stop worrying about it. Go.”
Thump.
I’d tossed out the words without thinking, and his shoulders sagged.
“Tsk….”
I turned to leave, then added one more thing.
“If it feels off, just go walk around where there are crowds, then come home.”
“C-crowds…?”
“A supermarket or somewhere like that. Pick up a pack of gum at a few different places.”
It was the common way to ward off misfortune after visiting a funeral.
‘Not sure if it actually works.’
But it might ease the uneasiness.
A moment later.
When I came out with the cake box, Min Cho was nowhere to be seen.
‘Must’ve gone already.’
I figured he’d found his way fine enough and stopped worrying about it.
Despite looking a bit scattered, he had a knack for finding his own way home.
I set the cake box carefully in the trunk and settled into the driver’s seat.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing startled Min Jae awake from his drowsy nodding.
“Oh, boss. You’re back?”
“You were really out, Min Jae. You drooled.”
“Ah…!”
Min Jae wiped around his mouth and asked.
“Did they have the Strawberry Cake?”
“There was one. I almost missed it.”
“Song I’s going to love it.”
“Yeah. Let’s head home.”
Today had been exhausting.
‘I need to rest once I get back.’
That’s what I was thinking as I pressed the accelerator.
Then a prickling sensation crept down my spine.
I glanced up at the rearview mirror, but there was nothing.
The mountain where the Spirit Entity had been was small in the distance.
Was it just my imagination?
Or….
Was it because of that?
That nagging, prickling unease.
It didn’t fade even after we reached the Hotel.
***
In the mountains, darkness falls fast.
The narrow road leading up to the Hotel was already wrapped in shadow.
Whoosh—
I opened the window and let the mountain breeze wash over me.
‘That’s refreshing.’
This mountain road felt different from Samyeong Mountain.
It wasn’t just the relief of knowing home waited at the end of this path.
‘The energy there was definitely off.’
Samyeong Mountain, where the Spirit Entity dwelled, had a viscous, clinging unpleasantness.
But here….
The air was soft and comforting, unlike that place.
Even though I’d only been gone a few hours, returning home felt like coming back after a long time away.
“Dad!”
Hearing the car, Song I and Hwang Geum I bolted outside.
I gave Min Jae a gentle shake to wake him.
“Min Jae, we’re here.”
“Ah…! Oh, sorry. I just closed my eyes for a moment….”
“It’s fine. Let’s get out.”
I smiled at Song I, who was standing on tiptoes peering into the car.
The moment I reached for the door handle, she scrambled backward and bounced with excitement.
“Song I, Dad’s home.”
“Dad! You’re back?”
Song I collapsed into my arms.
There was no time to brush the dust caked all over my body.
I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her soft touch.
“Did you wait for Dad, Song I?”
“Hehe. A… little bit.”
She’d clearly been waiting for the Strawberry Cake more than me, but her greeting warmed me through and through.
Min Ju approached, wiping her wet hands on her apron.
“Boss, did you catch him?”
“Yeah, got him. I’ll have Ye Na call him over when she has time and make him grovel. But the kid’s… complicated. He doesn’t seem like a bad person, exactly.”
“Really?”
“Mm.”
“But why did you come back so late today?”
“Sigh. It’s been a day and a half, honestly.”
As I talked with Min Ju, Song I tilted her head and spun circles around me.
‘Right, I should’ve grabbed the cake first.’
I turned to Min Ju.
“Min Ju, there’s a cake in the car—give it to Song I first. We need to wash up.”
“Whoa—! Cake! Strawberry Cake…!”
“Yeah. I picked up Strawberry Cake. You go ahead and eat, Song I.”
“Yay—!”
Song I bounced with excitement, dancing with delight.
‘That dance feels so good to see.’
Watching her dance, the reality of being home finally hit me, and the tension drained from my shoulders in one sweep.
Min Ju waved her hands at Min Jae and me.
“Go on, hurry inside. Boss, what on earth were you doing? You look—!”
I was soaked through with sweat and dust from running around all day.
‘I can’t believe I actually managed to go to the bakery looking like this.’
I let out a quiet laugh and turned back with Min Jae to head inside.
“Good work today, Min Jae.”
“You worked hard, boss. Oh, boss—where should we put the Curse Box?”
“That one we’ll keep high up, out of Song I’s reach—”
Then, suddenly.
“Kyaaaaaaaa—!”
Kyaaaa—
Kyaaaa—
Kyaaaa—
Min Ju’s scream echoed across the Hotel courtyard.
“Min Ju…!”
“Sister—!”
I spun around to see Min Ju frozen with the rear car door hanging open.
Min Ju shoved Song I behind her back and cried out.
“What are you—!”
Min Jae and I bolted toward her.
“Min Ju, what’s wrong?”
Min Ju backed away and pointed into the car.
“Boss. In there—!”
…….
I peered into the back seat and my mind went blank with confusion.
‘…What? Why?’
Curled up on the rear floor was a figure with green hair.
And atop that head sat a Yellow Flower Hairpin, fastened once more.
“…Hey, Min Cho. What are you doing in there?”
I’d thought he’d gone home.
‘When did he sneak in?’
“I was… scared to go alone….”
“Ugh… You… really….”
I steadied my breathing and tried to calm myself.
‘He’s just a little slow-witted. No real malice. Just bear with it… bear with it.’
I muttered it a few times under my breath when Min Ju looked up at me and asked.
“Boss, do you know this person? He’s wearing a flower in his hair too… Is he okay?”
I pressed my throbbing temples firmly, speaking through the discomfort.
“That’s the one. The ambiguous curse we caught today.”
“Ambiguous…curse?”
Min Ju tilted her head before letting out a soft exclamation.
“…Oh! That curse?”
“Yeah.”
While Min Ju was eyeing the crouching Min Cho with obvious disapproval,
Song I, sensing there was no real problem, stepped forward.
She crouched down next to Min Cho and greeted him.
“Hi there. That hairpin looks pretty.”
“Oh… oh, um, hello? This hairpin… would you like it?”
“No, that’s okay. It suits you better.”
Song I grinned at Min Cho, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
Flap-flap.
Hwang Geum I wagged her tail beside them.
Song I and Hwang Geum I clearly had taken a shine to Min Cho.
First interview: passed.
I exhaled deeply and spoke.
“Come on out. I’ll let you stay the night.”
Min Cho’s face brightened, his eyes no longer darting nervously.
“Really?”
“You’ve got three seconds. If you don’t come out, I’m calling a cab to—”
“I’m coming! I’m coming!”
Crack!
In his haste to scramble out, Min Cho smacked his head against the car frame.
“Ughh…!”
“Ouch! That had to hurt!”
“Hehe…!”
“Wow. His head’s probably cracked open. Should we call 911? Boss, why don’t we stick him in an ambulance and ship him out?”
At Min Ju’s words, Min Cho quickly protested.
“No, really, I’m fine! No blood!”
I gave Min Cho, who was frantically rubbing his head, a sidelong glance, then turned to Min Ju.
“Min Ju, the cake’s in the trunk.”
“Oh, so that’s where it was…”
“Min Cho, you follow me.”
Min Cho trailed anxiously behind me, still massaging his head.
As we entered the lobby,
Min Cho’s eyes went wide, taking in everything around him, and a small gasp escaped his lips.
“Wow… this is incredible.”
I narrowed my eyes, fixing him with a sharp stare.
“If I catch you fooling around in here…”
“…gulp…”
Min Cho swallowed hard.
“You’re dead.”
“I won’t! I absolutely won’t!”
Min Cho waved both hands frantically, his voice rising.
I curled one corner of my mouth into a smile and added,
“And I’m not joking. Mess around here, and you really will die.”
This is where the three-tailed fox, the Dokkaebi, and the Underworld Messengers come and go.
‘Can I honestly guarantee this place is safer than the outside world?’
Inherited a Dokkaebi Hotel
Author
: Why Are You Surprised
Date of Creation
: August 25, 2026
Publisher
: Asys Media Inc.
Editor
: Asys Media Editorial Team
Address
: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Teheran-ro 325, Urban Bench Building, 10F
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by Aces Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with the copyright holder’s contract,
and the contents may not be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the company and author.
This e-book is a copyrighted work protected by copyright law, and legal responsibility may be incurred in case of unauthorized reproduction or copying.
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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