Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual Chapter 56

He had secured its cooperation smoothly, but.

 

“Friend.”

 

“….”

 

“No, friend. Wait a second. No, ack.”

 

“….”

 

“Ah, stop.”

 

Squelch, squelch.

 

The water ghost, who had made a sudden move to crawl straight into Lee Yeonwoo’s lungs, was appalled. Lee Yeon-woo was appalled too. And he was utterly dumbfounded. Did you really think you were in a position to be more appalled than me right now? 

 

Cough.

 

Water had gone up his nose, stinging sharply. Soaked from head to toe in an instant, Lee Yeonwoo wiped his face down. Adjusting his glasses, he spoke in a low voice.

 

“…I believe I mentioned this last time as well, but I would appreciate it if you respected my private life. Friendship is not about leasing space in someone else’s internal organs as you seem to think.”

 

“….”

 

“Attempting to control my interpersonal relationships is not a healthy mindset, either. Above all, I am currently protecting these people. Taking them in for a while, just like temporarily fostering a stray dog….”

 

“….”

 

“Yes, they are not friends. That much I can tell you with certainty.” 

 

In other words, it was merely a relationship between a guardian and those under his care; there was no intimacy worthy of the ‘Wet Person’ feeling jealous over. In fact, had the monster from Room 14 not been doing nothing but sleeping this entire time?

 

“….”

 

“Of course, it did attack me, but there was no ill intent. It was simply… yes, a process similar to a large dog pouncing and knocking someone over without realizing how big it has grown.”

 

“….”

 

“No, it was more desperate than that. Like an office worker who overslept, trying to catch a packed commuter subway… yes. Yes. It was something like that. Perhaps its reason was clouded because if I closed the door, it would be trapped forever without any way out.”

 

“….”

 

“Yes.”

 

“….”

 

“I see, thank you for understanding.”

 

“….”

 

“Ah… you’re saying you didn’t understand….”

 

Why are the thought processes of the monsters in this hotel so similar? Lee Yeonwoo looked at Coco.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…? Yes?”

 

Lee Yeonwoo lightly ignored Coco’s puzzled response. Here or there, it was a tiresome situation in the middle for only Lee Yeonwoo, who possessed a healthy mind and a frail body. 

 

“…Could you not simply walk alongside me?”

 

“….”

 

The ‘Wet Person’ grumbled as it stepped out of the water. The moment its body rose above the surface, it automatically took on the appearance of wearing clothes, leaving him curious as to what kind of mechanism this could possibly be.

 

‘If it was going to wear them anyway, could it not manifest dry clothes? Or perhaps it intentionally keeps them wet for activities on land… Thinking dry clothes are more comfortable is an utterly human-centric judgment, after all.’

 

Lee Yeonwoo rang the bell to summon a staff member. A silently approaching employee took away the empty dish. He was simply grateful for the diligent work ethic.

 

“Shall we move, then?”

 

“….”

 

“Yes, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

 

Because the theme of the Hunting Grounds they were currently heading toward was none other than the sea.

 

* * *

 

“It’s your first time visiting the Hunting Grounds as well, isn’t it, friend?”

 

“….”

 

The ‘Wet Person’ affirmed. Nodding his head, Lee Yeonwoo added an explanation.

 

“Fundamentally, hotel guests cannot enter the Hunting Grounds, so that would only be natural. Human guests at most merely travel to and from the third basement parking lot.”

 

“…?”

 

“Did I never mention it? Yes, though it might not look like it, there is a basement parking lot. There is an entrance where cars can be parked behind the hotel as well, but because there was no intention to accept human guests, it wasn’t kept open.” 

 

“….”

 

“Indeed. Below that, from the fifth basement floor down, is what this hotel defines as the Hunting Grounds.”

 

And it is remarkably deep.

 

“It goes all the way down to the hundredth basement floor.”

 

Which meant that a total of ninety-five floors were all hunting grounds. 

 

“Not that we can go straight to the lowest floor right now. Because we have to clear them one by one to open the doors, the currently opened area is likely up to the 10th basement floor.” 

 

While the structure might have changed as the hotel transformed like this, overall the existing theme of the hotel was maintained to some extent. The hunting ground would not be much different either—such was Lee Yeon-woo’s expectation. 

 

“….”

 

“Of course I’ve never been there. What kind of disaster would I meet with a body like this?” 

 

Lee Yeonwoo pressed the button for the manager-exclusive elevator.

 

“Because the resource accumulation speed was sluggish, I had no equipment, nor the capacity to make weapons. As for utilizing other skills… I was worried because my body has grown quite frail.” 

 

“….”

 

“I appreciate the invitation, but I have far too much work to do to simply stay underwater all the time.”

 

Constantly eyeing an opportunity to drag him into the water was truly worthy of a notorious water ghost.

 

“Would you like to board first?”

 

As the elevator doors opened, Lee Yeonwoo stepped aside. Without entering, the ‘Wet Person’ stared intently at Lee Yeonwoo. Discerning the meaning behind that gaze, Lee Yeonwoo eventually stepped inside first.

 

“The space might be somewhat cramped….”

 

It was a truly tight squeeze.

 

“….”

 

“…Yes, I was thinking far too optimistically.”

 

The manager-exclusive elevator was narrow enough that even a single adult would find it tight. Especially so given that today’s ‘Wet Person’ was on the bulkier side.

 

Frowning, the ‘Wet Person’ eventually crouched down on the floor and seated Lee Yeonwoo upon its lap.

 

“Oh.”

 

Only then was a semblance of balance achieved.

 

“Though my pride has taken a blow, it is certainly more comfortable than before.”

 

“….”

 

“Yes, that was a wise decision. Thank you.”

 

Fortunately, while the width was narrow, the ceiling height was fairly generous. Sitting atop the crumpled-up ‘Wet Person,’ Lee Yeonwoo pressed the button for the 7th basement floor.

 

“The place we are going to now is the 7th basement floor. The theme is the ‘Ocean.’ Friend, I do not know how it will sound to you, but it is a space filled with the terror of flood disasters.”

 

“…”

 

“Water ghosts… no. No, to my knowledge, there are no separate water ghosts of a lineage similar to yours. Various game animals exist, but I recall there being no monsters with a water ghost concept.”

 

“…”

 

“If you find that truly disappointing, there are things akin to drowned zombies.”

 

“….”

 

“Oh, you know of zombies.”

 

That was surprising.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Ah, so they actually exist.

 

‘They must be out of their minds.’

 

Why would those exist?

 

“…At any rate, there are quite a lot of human-shaped monsters in our hotel’s Hunting Grounds. It’s not that spiritual existences are absent, but most possess a physical form.”

 

“….”

 

“No, please do not misunderstand. Even if their outward appearance is like that, they are not real humans.”

 

That was how the game setting went. That they were the manifestations of negative energy derived from diverse stories and histories. While they might appear similar to monster guests at a glance, they were fundamentally entirely different beings.

 

To aid in understanding, so to speak….

 

“They are like pine mushrooms.”

 

“…?”

 

“It is a method where spores acting as seeds are planted, and once an appropriate environment is formed, they take shape from it. Thanks to that, no matter how many you subjugate, their numbers do not decrease. Because they are endlessly regenerated.” 

 

“….”

 

“Yes, no distinct sense of self or reason exists within them. You may consider them closer to literal mushrooms or plants. To use an analogy of a slightly closer concept, something like cultured meat… though cultured meat wouldn’t normally move around.”

 

“….”

 

“That is correct. Though not at the current time, among the food I served you previously, quite a few utilized ingredients procured from the hunting ground. By any chance, do you remember that Dippin’ Dots ice cream?” 

 

“….”

 

“No, that only appears much further down. It can mostly be procured between the 32nd and 45th floors.”

 

“….”

 

“I will have to move quite diligently if I am to accommodate all of the requests you mentioned.”

 

The Hunting Grounds could not be automated. In exchange, one could obtain special materials that were of immense help in operation. The memory flitted through his mind of having performed hunting labor in the past just to craft a single weapon or dish.

 

“….”

 

“Ah, were you curious about that?”

 

Lee Yeonwoo answered the ‘Wet Person’s’ question faithfully.

 

“I described them as spores and seeds, but their essence is a type of nightmare. Should I call it a byproduct? It is something the hotel generates on its own after becoming fertile from hosting monster guests like yourself or human guests.”

 

Whether they were genuinely generated, or preexisting entities manifested under the influence of nightmares, was unknown. However, it was certain that their numbers increased in proportion to the quantity and quality of nightmares the hotel held within.

 

“By the way, this is taking quite a bit longer than expected.”

 

The manager-exclusive elevator, which normally would have arrived within three seconds, had been descending for a good while. Lee Yeonwoo momentarily cast his eyes upon Coco, who was staring at the indicator alongside him.

 

‘…What could be the difference between the other floors and the Hunting Grounds? There must be a reason why travel time is dedicated solely to the Hunting Grounds; I should investigate this as well whenever I have the leeway.’

 

Fortunately, the wait was not all that long.

 

Ding—

 

“We have arrived. Let us step out.”

 

“….”

 

“…Then excuse me first.”

 

Lee Yeonwoo stepped down from the ‘Wet Person,’ and the ‘Wet Person’ walked out after him. The elevator doors closed quietly, remaining in place.

 

Stepping into the Hunting Grounds, the ‘Wet Person’ surveyed the surroundings and muttered in a low voice.

 

“….”

 

“I am glad you seem to like it.” 

 

A bleak sea where sea mist spread thickly.

 

The stench of water-bloated corpses hung heavy in all directions.

 

* * *

 

Submerged ruins.

 

In summary, that was what it looked like.

 

“This place bears the appearance of a port town ruined by flood damage. If you move past there, you can see shipwrecks, and also locate underwater cliffs or dark ocean floor caverns.”

 

“….”

 

“Yes, despite how it looks, no separate water ghosts inhabit this place. Even if a similar shape appears, as I mentioned earlier, they are merely existences close to plants that the hotel generates on its own.”

 

“….”

 

“Even if you say that… it is not as though I cultivate them. They are not livestock, after all. If anything, it would be closer to spontaneous generation.”

 

However, the ‘Wet Person’ seemed to find it hard to accept the fact that there were no water ghosts here. Its attitude suggested: where else could be a better space for a water ghost to live?

 

Hearing such words made Lee Yeonwoo’s certainty waver slightly as well.

 

“If actual water ghosts do appear, that would be the effect of this hotel having changed differently from before. In my personal opinion, I would prefer them to be ordinary monsters that do not test my shallow conscience, but….”

 

It wasn’t as though he had never killed laboratory animals for research. Yet experiences of that sort had always left Lee Yeonwoo uncomfortable. Even if one grew accustomed to it, it was not something that could ever become pleasant.

 

To someone like him, having monsters other than mushrooms or plants appear right now would prove distressing. Given the situation, he wouldn’t be able to leave them be, but he still wanted to decline bearing that much additional karma.

 

“Coco.”

 

“…?”

 

“Coco, guarantee.”

 

“Aha.”

 

As if having read Lee Yeonwoo’s concerns, Coco, who had been draped over his shoulder, once again offered a ‘guarantee.’ Though difficult to place complete trust in, hearing that answer brought a little relief to his mind.

 

“Submerged sections exist as well. Water reaches waist-deep, and the bottoms of puddles cannot be seen. The deeper you advance, the blurrier your vision becomes, and your movement speed slows down significantly.”

 

“….”

 

“Ah, do you see it? Yes, that over there is the shipwreck. Every time you enter the Hunting Grounds, its location and layout change at random. Because there are many elements that obstruct visibility, there are also many monsters lying in ambush.”

 

“….”

 

“Are you referring to the underwater cliff? You seem to have an interest in it.”

 

Lee Yeonwoo, who had been surveying the terrain of the port city, pointed toward one direction.

 

“It should be over that way.”

 

It was toward the edge of the town.

 

“There is an abyss continuing endlessly downward. From there, contaminated sea mist billows out like an undersea volcano, and the mist currently surrounding us is none other than that.”

 

“….”

 

“Indeed, it is an element that poses no great problem to us at present.”

 

In his game days, a playable character arriving here was forcibly granted the sensation of being inside water. Considering the humidity, it was a similar situation in reality as well. 

 

It was structured so that staying here for long resulted in death by suffocation, but such a penalty did not apply to the current Lee Yeonwoo. This was because he was in a state virtually immune to suffocation caused by water.

 

“Normally, the air on this floor is humid enough that one would have had to carry a breathing aid item….”

 

Lee Yeonwoo looked back at the ‘Wet Person.’

 

“Surprisingly, your voice doesn’t seem to come out. Since this degree is no different from being underwater, I thought that perhaps verbal conversation might be possible, but.”

 

“…”

 

“It seems this degree is insufficient. I understand.”

 

Unless completely submerged, conversation appeared to be difficult. Even though he had merely been standing here for a short while, Lee Yeonwoo’s clothes were already thoroughly soaked.

 

“….”

 

“Ah, those are fishing nets and trawls. Tangled across the floor or walls, they hinder the movement of passing people. The monsters here primarily use them when aiming for a surprise attack or concealing themselves.”

 

“….”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

This was another unexpected question. Lee Yeonwoo nodded his head.

 

“Yes, I used to visit frequently. During the early operational phase when I had nothing, there was no better place to procure high-star seafood. I was not in a position to unlock the greenhouse back then, nor am I now, after all.”

 

“….”

 

“There is… no need to look upon me with such pity.”

 

“….”

 

“No, I am not just saying empty words…” 

 

He had died numerous times and experienced all sorts of chaotic disasters. But had all of that not strictly taken place inside the game? Receiving this oddly misdirected sympathy made him feel thoroughly embarrassed.

 

‘Is this a situation similar to the one with Mr. Baek Moojin?’

 

Now that he himself had become that player, he couldn’t dismiss it as entirely someone else’s business either, but as it was too complicated a story to explain in detail, Lee Yeonwoo changed the subject.

 

“Within a certain range based on the elevator is a safety zone. However, if you are pursued by a monster on the way back after leaving here, it does not function as a safe zone then.” 

 

“….”

 

“It might seem inconsistent, but it has several advantages. It appears to be a measure to prevent the misfortune of being attacked the moment you step off the elevator.”

 

“….”

 

“Still, it is comfortable for you to move around, yes?”

 

“….”

 

“What a relief.”

 

Stroking Coco atop his shoulder, Lee Yeonwoo continued.

 

“What I would like to request of you, as mentioned beforehand, is hunting.”

 

The ingredient he was seeking was ‘Soul Yeast.’ While it possessed various characteristics, there was one most striking aspect above all.

 

“The drop rate is low.”

 

“…?”

 

“Truly low….”

 

Lee Yeonwoo wore a bitter expression. The future ahead was as clear as day.