Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual Chapter 15

The staff did not make a single sound.

 

No voices, no footsteps, no breathing, not even the rustling of clothes.

 

It was an unnerving level of silence. Director Lee Seonhae had never seen them open their mouths.

 

“They act as if they don’t even have that function.” 

 

“….” 

 

“Would it be crazy to ask them to just open their mouths once?” 

 

“…Yes.”

 

The two of them came to the same conclusion inwardly.

 

“….” 

 

“….”

 

There was a possibility that they had no tongues.

 

“…Among the staff in this hotel, the General Manager is the only human who speaks and moves.”

 

There were numerous staff members, but that man was the only one who opened his mouth to use language. He was also the only being who outwardly displayed emotions.

 

But even he only operated within a controlled range. The Manager didn’t permit unnecessary personal chatter when dealing with guests. It was clearly a calculated silence.

 

“That’s a bit…”

 

It felt very, very strange.

 

Hong Gyeongyeon thought so, too.

 

“Before he gives an order, the staff don’t even move.” 

 

“Isn’t that command method a bit strange, too? He could just use words, but he specifically has to ring a bell to make the staff move. They aren’t Pavlov’s dogs, so why is a bell absolutely necessary? Can this even be considered an aspect of customer service?” 

 

“….” 

 

“Or maybe some kind of brainwashing training… Hmm. Right.” 

 

“….” 

 

“Hey, calm down.”

 

Seeing the writer looking around, the director waved her hand.

 

“There probably aren’t any cameras. No wiretaps, either.” 

 

“…Can you be sure?” 

 

“I don’t know exactly what this hotel’s purpose is, but ultimately, it’s a hotel for the very few upper-class elites in this country. There are plenty of conditions that make it accessible only to them.” 

 

“So what? You’re saying it’ll be fine because it’s a place used by people like that?” 

 

“Because without that level of security, there would be no reason for a hotel like this to exist. Well, to be honest, I’m not entirely certain about it myself, but…”

 

The most important thing was the purpose of this hotel. They needed to know that to form a hypothesis. But there was a severe lack of clues.

 

“Want me to write a little fiction?” 

 

“…What is it?” 

 

“This place is a hobby space for crazy b*stards.” 

 

“Calling them that instead of murderers or criminals—that’s a cautious approach.” 

 

“Exactly. The kind of people who think nothing of turning someone else’s body into rags.” 

 

“And?” 

 

“This hotel manages those weirdos, treating them as guests.”

 

Why does this sound so convincing? Hong Gyeongyeon frowned.

 

“And the reason they didn’t stop us is…?” 

 

“Because the guests would be even happier if sacrificial lambs walked right in?” 

 

“For that to be the case, we haven’t been harmed yet.” 

 

“We haven’t run into them in the first place.” 

 

“Which means, at the very least, they aren’t bloodthirsty enough to go hunting for outsiders.” 

 

“But it could be dangerous if we do cross paths, just like how the General Manager got hurt.” 

 

“So that’s why you called them crazy b*stards.” 

 

“Yeah, uh, I mean… what I want to say is…” 

 

“I think I get the gist of it.”

 

The writer covered his mouth and let out a sigh. 

 

“You’re saying this place might be a psychiatric hospital for the upper class.”

 

The director scratched her head.

 

“I’m not so sure if it functions as an actual hospital, though?” 

 

“Anyway, you’re saying it’s a den for dangerous lunatics right now.” 

 

“I told you, I was just making up a story.” 

 

“Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.”

 

It was something she had felt while following Lee Seonhae on business trips back when she was a documentary director. The world runs in quite a haphazard and absurd way.

 

In many, many aspects. 

 

“Then what about the staff here?” 

 

“I don’t know for sure, but I do know they are staff optimized for this hotel.” 

 

“Do you think they were trained to fit in perfectly here? Even that person, the owner?” 

 

“He said something like that on the first day.” 

 

“That he was merely asked to manage this place.”

 

“Yeah, you remember well.” 

 

“Asked….”

 

Was it really a request?

 

“….”

 

And not an order or a threat disguised as a request?

 

“….”

 

Why is even that person, the owner, so accustomed to pain?

 

“….”

 

Is that person really… an adult?

 

“…What are you going to do now?” 

 

“I think the subject for my next project has been decided, so I’m going to do some research.” 

 

“I’ll do it with you. It looks interesting.” 

 

“We’ve always been that way.” 

 

She didn’t genuinely intend to make a movie based on this place. It was an excuse. They weren’t great enough to save someone’s life, but they could at least uncover the unjust things he had suffered.

 

Because doing this sometimes led to unexpected things happening, if they got lucky.

 

She just… didn’t want to overlook it.

 

‘…Mostly, I’m just genuinely curious about what kind of place this is.’

 

The director put her phone down.

 

“The kids say they’re going to sleep soon.” 

 

“Oh, you were texting them? What did they say?” 

 

“They told me to open the window and jump out if I feel like I’m going to die.” 

 

“I’d be a superhero if I could do that….”

 

As if that would be possible from a hotel room on the 21st floor.

 

“Anyway, everything we’ve come up with so far is pure fiction, so I’m curious to find some actual, practical information. Shall we start by seeing what kind of people the guests here are?” 

 

“That sounds a bit dangerous. There’s also what the General Manager said, like telling us not to go to the 7th floor.” 

 

“Doesn’t that mean anywhere other than the 7th floor is fine? We occasionally see other guests in the lobby, but he never told us to avoid them. Not every guest here might be dangerous to us.” 

 

“The phrase ‘might not be’ is a bit scary.” 

 

“If that’s too difficult, I suppose the alternative is to have more conversations with the Manager.” 

 

“He didn’t look well, so I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” 

 

“Are you finally admitting the blood on the glove was his? Anyway, he’s probably the person who talks to us the most in this hotel.” 

 

“I suppose that’s true, but…”

 

The staff who kept their mouths shut tight and only listened to the Manager’s orders. The very few guests who seemed to have no intention of interacting with others.

 

Surprisingly, in a place like this, the General Manager was considered extremely chatty.

 

‘But aside from that, he didn’t seem like the type to talk a lot either.’

 

And gave the impression he would never share personal stories, either.

 

“…Since we still have some time left.” 

 

“Right, our stay here is for exactly one week anyway.” 

 

“For now, yes.”

 

In any case, it was hard to just overlook the things that were bothering them.

 

* * *

 

The next morning. The two of them encountered a familiar face in the lobby.

 

“Oh.”

 

Naturally, it was the General Manager.

 

“Good morning.”

 

When they greeted him, a polite response returned.

 

“Good morning, you are out early again today.” 

 

“Aren’t we a bit later than yesterday?” 

 

“You look much more relaxed than yesterday. Sufficient rest is always the key to maintaining a guest’s well-being.”

 

“Um, I don’t know if I should say this, but…”

 

The director hesitated before speaking.

 

“It looks like you haven’t had sufficient rest, General Manager.”

 

He wore a smile as usual, but the smile lingered only at the corners of his mouth, disconnected from any emotion. The thin layer of fatigue spreading across his pale face paradoxically gave him an even neater impression.

 

‘He’s tired, but hasn’t lost his composure.’

 

Morbid perfection and numb self-management. He was an alienatingly well-put-together person.

 

He soon replied.

 

“It is my shortcoming. I apologize if I have given you an uncomfortable impression.” 

 

“A shortcoming?” 

 

“Were you concerned?”

 

“To be honest, I am concerned. My, look how much that handsome face has worn down.” 

 

“You flatter me.”

 

He adjusted his glasses.

 

“Thank you for your concern. Seeing how deep your consideration is, you are indeed good people.”

 

After a moment of silence, he stared at the main entrance and parted his lips.

 

“…From here…”

 

That was when it happened.

 

His gentle smile abruptly halted. The corners of his mouth were still drawn into an arc, but Seonhae’s eyes caught the faint stiffening of the muscles in his jaw and neck.

 

It didn’t feel like he had simply closed his mouth, but rather as if it had been forced shut.

 

“….” 

 

“….”

 

…By who?

 

How, and why?

 

“…Do you plan to go exploring the surroundings again today?”

 

When the Manager finally opened his mouth again after the heavy silence, what popped out was an entirely different topic.

 

“The mountain where our hotel is located always tends to have poor weather, which makes me worry. Especially on a day with heavy rain like today, please take care of yourselves. The terrain around here is exceptionally rugged, isn’t it?”

 

His tone was polite, but the sense of incongruity was obvious. The sentence that had been cut off moments before, which they ultimately never heard, felt as if it were unpleasantly lingering in the air.

 

“…Well,” 

 

Director Lee Seonhae awkwardly shrugged her shoulders.

 

“Thank you for worrying about us.” 

 

“It is my natural duty. My job is to assist guests so that they may stay safely.” 

 

“Then, Manager, may I ask you a favor?” 

 

“Please, feel free to speak.” 

 

“It’s about after we come back.” 

 

“Yes.” “

 

Could we have a talk?” 

 

“Ah, you wish to have a conversation.” 

 

“Come to think of it, we don’t even know your name yet.”

 

The Manager’s pupils trembled ever so slightly.

 

“….”

 

The answer returned without much delay.

 

“I am Lee Yeonwoo.” 

 

“…Yeonwoo-ssi?” 

 

“…Yes.”

 

It was just a single word, but his voice was faintly tinged with fatigue and hesitation. As if he had scooped up a memory that had sunk a long time ago and only barely managed to float to the surface.

 

‘I wonder why.’

 

But the bizarre reaction lasted for only a fleeting moment.

 

“Oh my.” 

 

“…? What is it?”

 

“I apologize for interrupting you.” 

 

“Did something happen?” 

 

“I’m afraid I must excuse myself. There is a somewhat urgent call…” 

 

“A call?”

 

Someone calling for him. The director showed a smile.

 

“No, we should be the ones apologizing for keeping you so long.” 

 

“Thank you for your understanding.” 

 

“There’s no need to thank us for something like that.” 

 

“Since you showed consideration, it is only proper that I express my gratitude.” 

 

“Is that so? Then let’s say it is.” 

 

“Yes, I will see you again later.” 

 

“We’ll probably be back before 7 o’clock.” 

 

“I see…”

 

Lee Yeonwoo gave a slight bow.

 

“I hope you have a comfortable and meaningful time.” 

 

He headed straight for the elevator.

 

Footsteps that seemed devoid of not only sound but even body heat. His unwavering, mechanical precision made his stride feel as if it did not belong to a living person.

 

Simply put, his sense of physical presence was blurred.

 

‘To kill off such a strong presence to that extent, what exactly do you have to do?’

 

Lee Seonhae’s gaze lingered on the floor indicator above the elevator he had disappeared into. The blinking number stopped at…

 

“…The 7th floor.”

 

She had a bad feeling about this.