Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual Chapter 6

Living beings read and react to the world in their own ways.

 

“….”

 

That was the existence of ‘reason’ as I felt it when I was young. 

 

It might be a matter of intelligence. It might be a matter of brain size or capacity. We cannot completely understand them. But there are clearly rules.

 

Rules between individuals, rules of reaction. They existed somewhere between language and non-language. It was no different from humans at all.

 

“Yeonwoo-ya.”

 

A frog with its belly wide open.

 

Lying still. Unable to move.

 

“Are you all finished already?” 

 

“…Yes, teacher.” 

 

“As expected, you have good dexterity. You will become a great doctor.” 

 

“I’m not sure.” 

 

“Right, dreams are built slowly over time.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“But your talent is truly exceptional.” 

 

“….” 

 

“I hope you don’t waste your talent.”

 

Talent, huh.

 

Slicing a frog open while it’s still alive? 

 

‘Is that remarkable?’ 

 

The act of incising a living body for the human-centric benefit of experience. That such an act could be called talent.

 

He thought it was a little strange.

 

‘But perhaps it is a domain I do not yet understand because I am still young.’ 

 

Adults say he is smart, a genius with various talents. Such praise wasn’t unpleasant. The more they thought highly of me, the more benefits I could gain.

 

But looking at the frog with its pounding heart bared nakedly, he thought.

 

“….”

 

I killed someone today.

 

A person defined as a ‘frog’ by humans. 

 

It was a person the size of his palm, whom I had made eye contact with across a small water tank yesterday.

 

* * * 

 

The morning of the 180th day was quite unpleasant.

 

“….” 

 

“Hell—” 

 

“….” 

 

“—o…!” 

 

“This is a reaction I’m seeing for the first time.”

 

Coco curled its body like a cat that had seen a cucumber.

 

No, to be precise, ‘it became a round lump’ is the right expression. It looked like a ‘startled slime,’ too. It was a somewhat ridiculous sight, overly amorphous to be called a cat shape.

 

I picked up Coco while sitting on the bed.

 

“Hell…! Hell… Hell….”

 

“….” 

 

“—o….” 

 

The body size shrank in proportion to the volume of its voice. 

 

The black, squishy, cushion-like thing was busily checking his mood and nodding its head. Judging by how frightful his appearance must have been for it to end up like that, he could roughly guess the reason for the reaction.

 

“I had a bad dream.”

 

“Hello.” 

 

“There’s also nothing that says I can’t not be well…” 

 

The lukewarm warmth touching his palm pushed away the unpleasant residual images little by little.

 

“….”

 

He made eye contact with the mirror in the quarters.

 

“…Ah.”

 

A fierce expression.

 

“This is really unbearable.” 

 

“No.” 

 

“It’s a boring face.” 

 

Is it not? 

 

“It’ll be hard to give a pleasant impression with a face like this.” 

 

He closed his eyes and calmed his sharp, frayed nerves. Since he had spent until dawn poring over torture records, this level of disgrace was a scheduled result.

 

As he thought that, the corners of his mouth relaxed naturally.

 

“…It’s truly fascinating that dark circles can even form with this body….”

 

It was likely the price of forcing ‘extra study’ not intended by the system. Fatigue inevitably accumulated for research that went beyond the scope of the game. Even if it is a body that doesn’t require sleep, it is a cumbersome affair.

 

Thanks to that, he had to close his eyes, if only for the sake of his mood.

 

“If I die and get resurrected, would even such minor status ailments be recovered? What do you think?” 

 

“No.” 

 

“I’m not such an extreme person that I’d choose suicide just because of a bad complexion. Using resurrection as a substitute for painkillers leaves a rather unpleasant aftertaste.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Right… my body is fine, but my mood is strangely bad.” 

 

A body that has no need to eat, wash, or sleep.

 

Perhaps because that setting was reflected, there wasn’t even a bathroom in the operator’s quarters. However, if he forced himself to close his eyes and wake up, there was a random chance his hair would be disheveled. 

 

Yeonwoo groomed his disheveled appearance neatly while looking in the mirror.

 

“Hello?”

 

It probably meant, “Do you need this?”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

Coco brought a necktie at just the right time. 

 

To say “Hello” while holding a tie in its mouth—he wonders where exactly such a function is implemented. Academic curiosity arises, but it’s not as if he can dare to dissect it.

 

‘Staying alone, only these terrible jokes are increasing. I must reflect on myself.’

 

Lee Yeonwoo’s appearance quickly returned to its original state. It was neat and tidy as usual, without a single hair out of place.

 

“….”

 

…But it’s still a boring face.

 

“Entrusting the general manager’s duties to someone like this—this hotel’s personnel system is truly hopeless as well.” 

 

“No.” 

 

“Thankfully, the guests are all thick-skinned enough not to be hurt even by a face like this. If it were a normal service job, I would’ve been fired long ago. I’m not someone suited for gentle, service-oriented work.” 

 

“No.” 

 

“Coco, you have a tendency to think too highly of me.” 

 

“No.”

 

“…Well….”

 

The face of a murderer.

 

“….”

 

Putting on glasses. Looking in the mirror again.

 

He smiled.

 

“Now this is better.”

 

It was his usual, composed self. 

 

“Isn’t it?” 

 

“No.” 

 

“Haha, that’s a shame.”

 

* * *

 

Except for the fact that he had a dream for the first time in a while, it was a day without anything particularly special.

 

He moved to the front desk and received guests who had piled up while he slept. He toured various parts of the hotel to check the status of the few overnight guests, and after seeing off those who wanted to check out, he summoned the staff to maintain the guest rooms.

 

“I miss the ‘Auto’ function.” 

 

“No.” 

 

“I miss it desperately, truly.” 

 

“No.” 

 

“I know it’s a function that only unlocks once the tutorial is over. You don’t have to remind me.” 

 

But he still had no intention of accepting human guests. He had no idea what stance to take if a real person actually arrived. Because Lee Yeonwoo as he was now was neither human nor an NPC.

 

Of course, it wasn’t a day without any gains.

 

“Communication is still lacking, but I judge that the foundation of a relationship of trust is being established through constant reaction patterns and repetitive learning. What do you think?” 

 

“….” 

 

“Why is there no answer?” 

 

“Yes… No… Yes… Hello….” 

 

“I warned you not to use the excuse of being poor at human language as a shield, you wicked cat.”

 

For now, he’s building friendly relations with the monsters inside the hotel. It might be his own optimism, but that was how it felt. 

 

‘…Is it because of the playstyle I chose?’

 

This hotel could be operated in various ways. Among them, the way he prefers was the ‘No-Kill’ route. Instead of being hostile to monsters, it meant recruiting them as allies through management and contracts.

 

The method was simple. He just had to provide services optimized for each guest. He struggled at first, but is there a user of 26 years who doesn’t know a single strategy?

 

‘Even if the setting is that they are closer to phenomena than living things, there is no harm in the attempt to identify unknown beings themselves. If I’m lucky, I might be able to drag a simple phenomenon down to the level of a living being and keep it under my common sense.’

 

It was a typical researcher’s mindset.

 

“We’re still a bit awkward with each other right now… but there’s plenty of opportunity to get to know one another, so it will improve gradually. It’s likely because we aren’t used to each other’s ways yet.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“It’s not like you’re an animal with common data like a dog or a cat. I think it’s only natural that it takes time to adjust.” 

 

“Yes.”

 

When they were just clumps of graphics in the game, he’d just think, ‘Oh, you’re that kind of character,’ and move on, but now it’s undeniable reality. Beings equivalent to living things.

 

He couldn’t just treat them as if he were clearing a game. Fortunately, the learning he has done so far has helped.

 

“….”

 

That studying such doodles that don’t even qualify as ‘books’ would be of practical help. It was quite a blow to his pride, both as a common citizen and as a researcher.

 

‘Perhaps the dark circles that formed recently are a phenomenon caused by a lack of blood during research….’

 

In any case, the foundation of this hotel originated from that unpleasant history.

 

“It’s fortunate that there is still work left to study.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Sometimes I even forget why I was so wary of this knowledge. That fleeting moment is quite chilling.” 

 

That’s why he’s saying this.

 

“If the sacrifice or the medium isn’t someone else, but myself… I wonder if that isn’t its own kind of rational conclusion.” 

 

“No.”

 

The cat burst into a fit of meowing.

 

“No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.”

 

He has grown quite resistant even to such sudden commotions now. 

 

“Stop.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Thank you.” 

 

“Yes.”

 

Coco was a good friend who would listen whenever he politely asked for help, despite the lack of understanding of humans. Though it was also a situation where he had no choice but to be forced into being friends. 

 

“….”

 

…He supposed it doesn’t matter. 

 

“Shall we have a discussion on this topic today?” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Good, please sit comfortably.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Verifying the results of a specific project is a very solemn process. The same goes for the task of confirming the potential harm those results might have on a human body. The most certain method is to project it directly onto a human specimen, but—” 

 

“No.” 

 

“Regrettably, barriers called budget and ethics are bound to block the path.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Even if you turn to animal testing, the difficulties remain. Especially in the case of pigs, the unit price per individual is truly staggering. Unless it’s a major national project, such a budget won’t be approved. In times like these, we can make a very efficient shift in perspective.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Donating one’s own body as a test subject is, at the very least, not illegal.” 

 

“No.”

 

 “Ah, that’s a valid point. Of course, there are often cases where it is difficult to avoid legal conflict, but… if one can only pass the IRB (Institutional Review Board) review, it is a highly legitimate experiment. As long as one signs a voluntary consent form, minimizes risks, and meets all the prerequisite conditions.”

 

Lee Yeonwoo buried his body deep into the sofa. A relaxed ease spread over his previously expressionless complexion. It was one of the few enjoyable conversations in his monotonous, isolated life.

 

“For your reference, I was a regular at IRB reviews.”

 

It wasn’t pride, but certainty in verified knowledge.

 

“The review standards have become pickier as the years go by, but anyway, it was not illegal.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“In that sense, even if it is a technology with impure origins, if the entity paying the price is myself… wouldn’t I be able to be a little free from ethical responsibility?” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“You mean no?” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“My, I thought it was a fairly plausible idea.”

 

The corners of his mouth curved into a crooked arc.

 

“In the first place, did this hotel ask for my opinion and kidnap me through legal procedures?” 

 

“No….” 

 

“Then I believe it should be sufficiently acceptable for me to take voluntary risks within here. Above all, the fact that I can pull out more efficiency than that while almost ignoring the law of conservation is quite attractive.”

 

“Yes, no, yes….” 

 

“I don’t really know which part you are rebutting and which part you want to affirm.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Is that so?”

 

Anyway, it was a point where he could understand why the fanatics were so obsessed with such terrible knowledge.

 

This unpleasant knowledge produced results beyond what was put in. It’s a method of pretending to follow the law of conservation while replacing necessary resources with human emotions and souls.

 

There definitely existed a formula corresponding to that, but I was still in the learning stage.

 

“….”

 

Lee Yeonwoo, gauging the time, looked at Coco.

 

A stretched-out cat. It was quite cute.

 

“Shall we go up soon?” 

 

“Yes!” 

 

“Good.”

 

It was when he had just returned to the quarters to finish the day like that.

 

“….” 

 

“…Hello?”

 

He immediately understood what Coco’s gaze looking up at him suggested.

 

Just as this cat is the hotel itself, he too was a being bound to this space. He was also the owner and general manager. His instincts were the first to grasp the variables that occurred inside the hotel.

 

His senses fluttered. A sticky and ominous sense of alienation. It was the presence of a guest.

 

But….

 

“—Ha,”

 

…It’s different from before.

 

“I must be crazy.”

 

It was definitely a human guest.

 

By whose authority?

 

* * *

 

Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do.

 

A black sedan jolts forward on a road where rainwater has pooled. The car body shook roughly every time the wheels hit a deep puddle.

 

“Wow, look at how bumpy the road is.” 

 

“After this field survey, you might want to take it to a car repair shop.” 

 

“It feels like I’m on some amusement ride—my butt hurts. What is this, a Disco PangPang or something?” (t/n : Disco PangPang is  a circular ride that spins around and bounces up and down)

 

“It’s an unpaved road, so it can’t be helped.” 

 

“You’re always so stoic, aren’t you?”

 

The woman at the wheel grumbled on purpose. In her eyes fixed straight ahead, there was an unmistakable look of deep fatigue and exhaustion. 

 

It was the kind of heavy rain all too common during the rainy season. 

 

“I don’t even know if the filming crew will be able to move properly at this rate.” 

 

“I think that is a matter the director should think about.” 

 

“So you’re saying you don’t want to worry about it together? Writer Hong, you’re truly heartless; how long have we known each other? My, my, the love has cooled.” 

 

“Haa….” 

 

“Ah, I got it, I’m sorry.”

 

The director, Lee Seonhae, laughed.

 

“Still, maybe it’s because there are so many mountains, the atmosphere is incredible. The air is fresh, too. I wasn’t entirely against going to Gangwon Province if need be, but I think Gapyeong isn’t bad either. Since we’re settling it within Gyeonggi Province, it’ll be less of a burden on the actors.”

 

“It would be better than Gangwon-do, but Gapyeong isn’t very close either. The mountainous terrain isn’t as rough as I expected, either. If it had been Gangwon-do, I wouldn’t have come this deep as I am now.” 

 

“Oh my, are you still sulking? It’s eerie and good to this extent; why are you like that? Even if several people died, no one would know.” 

 

“It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just….” 

 

“I know all about your greed, Writer Hong, but even if we want to, we can’t swing the actors around like tools. Why are you acting like that between professionals?” 

 

“…Isn’t that just the nature of an original creator’s greed?” 

 

The two were a film director and a story writer. They had come for a pre-filming location scout. 

 

Writer Hong had originally insisted on Gangwon-do as the filming location. Although the background of the work is the Gyeonggi-do area, it was because he expected there to be more high-quality candidates in Gangwon-do than in Gyeonggi-do.

 

“No, honestly. Greed is greed, but… you know.” 

 

“Ah, I understand. Cha Dohyun has that kind of side.” 

 

“I know it’s not good to talk behind an actor’s back, but Actor Cha is really hard to handle. To be honest, picking Gapyeong was because of that man’s stubbornness, wasn’t it?” 

 

“He has enough popularity to be that stubborn. Above all, for the male lead in this script, there’s no actor quite like Cha Dohyun. The one in the weaker position has to bow down, well.” 

 

“It’s a relief Han Yeseol agreed to match Actor Cha’s schedule, but frankly, I’m still displeased.” 

 

The writer, Hong Gyeongyeon, sighed.

 

“I’m sorry, I complained too much while you were driving.” 

 

“Oh my, it’s not like we’ve only known each other for a day or two; why are you like that? It’s all because you’re tired; you’re not feeling well, so you’re getting sensitive and feeling bad for no reason.” 

 

“…Thank you.”

 

The man crossed his arms and leaned back against the backrest.

 

“It’s taking longer than I thought; is it still far?” 

 

“Why, should I have made the others do it?” 

 

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

 

Pre-filming scouting to choose a location was always important. 

 

The two, who had worked as a pair for a long time, were always like this. Leaving basic research to the staff, and checking the site on foot themselves. It was an essential process to match the image.

 

Of course, two members of the filming crew also accompanied them on this trip. 

 

“Is the motion sickness in the back okay?” 

 

“Yes… I’m glad I took the medicine before coming.” 

 

“Thank you for coming all the way here together.” 

 

“Oh, come on, this is our job.” 

 

Without the filming crew, it’s difficult to estimate the actual site costs. Nevertheless, considering that the mountainous terrain is rough and overgrown, the team was organized with the minimum number of elite personnel possible.

 

Because as the number of people increases, movement in the mountains becomes tiresome.

 

“Um, by the way….” 

 

“Hmm?” 

 

“It seems like the day is getting dark quite fast.”

 

One midsummer day, as if the whole world was swallowed by torrential rain.

 

“Ah, you’re right.”

 

Because of the pouring rain, he couldn’t even see the road ahead.