Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual Chapter 63

During all this time, as Lee Yeonwoo went in and out of the 14th floor, could he really have never vomited blood once?

 

“….”

 

That was impossible.

 

Following Lee Yeonwoo’s blood, he saw other blood. He saw screams, and he saw corpses. He saw the foul apparatuses and records that had treated humans worse than beasts.

 

A vampire of hundreds of years could not possibly not know the name of this place. The filthy research foundation created by cultists for the sake of paradise…

 

“….”

 

He understood from that. 

 

The lack of arrogance.

 

The unfamiliarity with protocol.

 

The obsession with humanity.

 

And that… rejection reaction as well.

 

He understood.

 

“…Oh.”

 

I will win, he thought.

 

A certain vampire arrived at such a conclusion.

 

* * *

 

Hunting and socializing are not essentially different. For both place the other within one’s sight and erect a fence from which they cannot escape. In the end, what mattered was information on what kind of being the opponent was.

 

‘How far will he let me in?’

 

‘Where will he draw the line?’

 

‘Where is the boundary I will be permitted?’

 

Why does he not completely reject me? Why does he not sever ties? To treat me to a meal and take such pains….

 

“May I eat it?”

 

It was merely because of that.

 

“….”

 

“May I eat it?”

 

“Haha….”

 

Thinking that he could win.

 

“No.”

 

“Oh, indeed.”

 

He did so.

 

Without any ‘special reason,’ as always.

 

Truly, just….

 

“….”

 

Just.

 

Because I know you.

 

* * *

 

Standing before the mirror, Lee Yeonwoo adjusted his tie and swallowed a sigh.

 

“There is no guest who lets things pass easily.” 

 

“Yes.”

 

“I tried to buy some time, but it only ended up instilling the conviction to hunt. In the end, all that remains is the matter of who achieves their goal first.”

 

Having finished putting on his gloves, Lee Yeonwoo adjusted his glasses.

 

Fighting at this age was childish, but he didn’t have the slightest desire to lose.

 

“Let’s move right away.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“….”

 

Socializing and hunting are remarkably similar.

 

For both place the other within one’s domain and build an inescapable bond. Consequently, what mattered was an understanding of what kind of person they were.

 

“Really now….”

 

Lee Yeonwoo finished putting on his gloves.

 

“Nothing but exhausting work.”

 

When his eyes behind the lenses met his reflection in the mirror, they curved slowly. It was a reflexive smile. Confirming it, Lee Yeonwoo headed straight for the elevator.

 

He had read it in the guest’s eyes.

 

‘Inferiority complex.’

 

Worship, jealousy, and awe.

 

‘So he wants to beat me.’

 

The man was arrogant by birth. Hence, he had no desire to live clinging to Lee Yeonwoo’s goodwill. If he was a bomb bound to go off at any moment, this was rather preferable.

 

“….”

 

Lee Yeonwoo was weak, and his opponent was strong.

 

Lee Yeonwoo was incomplete, and the opponent was ruined. 

 

They were in a state where they were frantic because they couldn’t outdo one another. And Lee Yeon-woo, too, was a person who would never yield to anyone when it came to a shred of pride. 

 

Ding—

 

“We have arrived.”

 

This time as well, he had no intention of meekly losing.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Perhaps staying away from society makes one age backwards.

 

“….”

 

“…? Hello?”

 

“Ha, good grief.”

 

Lee Yeonwoo wiped a hand over his face and murmured softly.

 

“I’d ask for nothing more if I could just walk down a street filled with the smell of people once….”

 

He missed society.

 

* * *

 

“Well now, has our Tarot person been well?” 

 

“….”

 

Squeak— 

 

A spiritless whistle sound.

 

“You’ve been doing well!” 

 

“Commissioner, are you sure you interpreted that correctly?”

 

“Of course, as if I wouldn’t know even that.”

 

Just how many earthenware bowls of gukbap had she bought and fed him for the sake of this network?

 

“….”

 

“This here is our Section Chief Yoon! Did I mention him last time?”

 

“He doesn’t seem particularly interested in me.”

 

Squeak. 

 

“Isn’t that an affirmative answer?”

 

“As luck would have it, you got it right this time.”

 

At the dry, vacant stare of the man in the fluorescent vest, the Commissioner rubbed her nose sheepishly.

 

“Well, uh, I was wondering if we could get some advice.”

 

Squeaaak— 

 

“Section Chief Yoon, our Lieutenant says he’s hungry.”

 

“How on earth do the two of you communicate?”

 

Despite the section chief’s reaction, the man walked steadily forward. Looking at his direction, it was the gukbap restaurant they had seen on their way here. The very restaurant the Commissioner had told her, ‘He will definitely come here, so remember it well.’

 

Section Chief Yoon looked back at the Commissioner.

 

“….”

 

“To you, I always look like a blabbermouth, don’t I?”

 

“If it were me, I would have fleeced you for more.”

 

“Gukbap’s what the guy loves most, so what can you do?”

 

“Eating rice soup after coming out to the metropolitan area on a business trip…” 

 

“That place is delicious, you brat.”

 

Following behind the traffic cop in the fluorescent vest, the Lieutenant, the Commissioner headed into the gukbap restaurant. Ordering three extra-large bowls of boiled pork gukbap, the Commissioner ignored Section Chief Yoon’s “I can’t eat all of that,” and spoke up.

 

“I feel bad asking questions while only feeding you gukbap every time. Want to order something else?”

 

“The pork cutlet set as well, please.”

 

Section Chief Yoon thought to herself, He spoke. It was a crisp, clear bass voice.

 

“The rice here is good.”

 

“Ah.”

 

“The meat is also good.”

 

Then he added:

 

“The water is good, too.”

 

Sambaegan eyes revealing whites on four sides, and an expressionless face like a machine. Eyebrows and eye lines slanting down devoid of emotion.

 

“In such places, karma is easily seen.”

 

“….”

 

“And the gukbap is good.”

 

I almost misunderstood. Section Chief Yoon nodded inward. He really did just like gukbap.

 

True to Korea’s fast food, the gukbap came out immediately, and as for what he meant by ‘the water is good,’ a teapot of all things was brought out alongside the bottled water. To that, the Commissioner added:

 

“It’s not tap water, not purified water, but water sourced separately.”

 

“What do you mean by water sourced separately?”

 

“What’s it called—it’s a restaurant subsidized by the Bureau of Resonance.”

 

“Ah.”

 

The owner here seemed to be an artist or a mage.

 

Even if not, there were certainly people among ordinary folk connected to the Rift. Though rare, they did exist, and sometimes formed a collective like this.

 

“Then….”

 

“They say it’s spring water from somewhere on Mount Jiri.”

 

“I see.”

 

If so, is it on the shaman… side?

 

‘The atmosphere is similar, but I don’t see any particular deity he serves.’

 

Section Chief Yoon halted her train of thought there. The other was an Arcana Member, so there was not the slightest benefit to acting like she knew anything. Whether she showed it openly or not.

 

With the Lieutenant eating quietly, neatly, and slowly, the meal went on for quite some time.

 

“Thank you for the meal.”

 

The Lieutenant only began to speak after polishing off five extra-large bowls of gukbap and three pork cutlet sets. For some reason, it was more than what she had heard. She had heard that normally it was three bowls at most. Section Chief Yoon thought to herself.

 

Looking at her for a moment, the Lieutenant continued.

 

“Have you come to weigh something?”

 

“Ah.”

 

He was asking if she had come to see the ‘Scales’ again. The Commissioner shook her head.

 

“No, no, I came to ask about evil spirits.”

 

The Commissioner referring to dokkaebi as evil spirits. Regarding that, Section Chief Yoon had already heard on the way here: ‘Be careful, because that fellow hates referring to Cognizant Species as dokkaebi.’

 

“Evil spirits don’t register on your scales anyway.”

 

“Their sins are not karmic offenses.”

 

“Right, exactly.”

 

The Commissioner asked next:

 

“To get straight to the point… I came to ask whether you think a new labyrinth has formed on the Korean Peninsula, or if some other factor has emerged. Something special enough to draw in so many evil spirits, that is.”

 

The man possessed insight keen enough to treat even his own emotions as objects of observation. He observed how and where certain energies flowed across the entire board.

 

Simply because he liked it, was accustomed to it, and was comfortable with it.

 

An expert, so to speak.

 

“See, I’m not asking you to do anything, right? I know all too well how heavy our Tarot fellow’s ass is; I’m just saying, since you ate this much gukbap, give us just a tiiiny bit of advice as a consultation fee.”

 

“I am not a shaman.”

 

“I know, I know. So?”

 

“I am not quite sure.”

 

“Aha.”

 

The Commissioner’s face brightened as she nodded.

 

“Aie, thank you, our Tarot fellow! Let’s have a company dinner with the Gangwon Provincial Bureau sometime.”

 

“I shall take my leave now.”

 

“Look at that, look at him, look at the nerve on him not even pretending to listen to the end.”

 

The Lieutenant left the restaurant just like that, and Section Chief Yoon, watching his retreating figure, asked the Commissioner:

 

“It seems I haven’t quite understood the situation.”

 

“That fellow speaks very few words.”

 

“I could tell that much just from his physiognomy.”

 

“You have to be cautious when asking him anything, and your questions need to be specific.”

 

“So what you mean, Commissioner, is….”

 

“And above all, he accepted the consultation fee, in the form of a meal.”

 

“He said himself he’s not a shaman, though.”

 

“Since when do only shamans take a fee?”

 

“Usually…?”

 

“Just listen to your Commissioner for a second.”

 

The Commissioner gently scraped the empty earthenware bowl.

 

“If he received a question, accepted compensation, and knows something, he gives a clear answer.”

 

She added:

 

“Because he’s ‘that kind of guy’ acknowledged by the Tarot.”

 

“If that compensation refers to the gukbap, wouldn’t the order be reversed?”

 

“He already knew what question we came to ask, so he took the compensation first. Eight bowls of it.”

 

“So that really was the price corresponding to the weight of the question? But….”

 

Section Chief Yoon tilted her head.

 

—I am not quite sure.

 

“…I believe I heard him say he wasn’t quite sure.”

 

The Commissioner shrugged.

 

“It means the odds are fifty-fifty.”

 

“Fifty-fifty.”

 

“A half chance that a new labyrinth has truly formed, and a half chance that it’s other external factors.”

 

“Pardon me, but in truth, even I could say that much.”

 

“You’d just be saying ‘maybe, maybe not’ without knowing a thing. It’s not like that; the Tarot fellow says so after knowing everything there is to know.”

 

“Aha.”

 

She nodded.

 

“Meaning that both sets of circumstances were observed.”

 

“That’s the gist of it.”

 

Circumstances pointing to a new labyrinth having formed were observed, but other external factors were observed as well.

 

“Had he failed to clearly observe even one of those circumstances, he would have raised the hand of one side.”

 

In the field, ‘what isn’t there’ is also evidence.

 

“Whether it’s A or B. But to say it’s neither of the two, the recent situation on our patch of land is far too bizarre, isn’t it?”

 

“Then it would have been much easier to understand if he had just said so.”

 

“Don’t treat Tarot folks with common sense; they all have firm standards of their own. Especially our young Lieutenant—he never says he ‘knows’ unless he has reached a conclusion himself.”

 

“Ah, so that’s why he said he wasn’t sure….”

 

At Section Chief Yoon’s muttering, the Commissioner nodded back.

 

“By the way, Section Chief Yoon.”

 

Looking up at the ceiling, the Commissioner searched her memory.

 

“The biggest treat I ever bought was three bowls, you know?”

 

“Yes, that, I too….”

 

“And what I asked about back then was the fluctuation of sins across the entire world outside.”

 

“Ah, dear.”

 

“Today, he ripped me off for five extra-large bowls plus three pork cutlets alone?”

 

Straightening her head, she looked at Section Chief Yoon with drooping eyes and nodded.

 

“From this, we can see that the Korean Peninsula is truly fucked.”

 

“Commissioner… please maintain your dignity.”

 

“But you think so too, don’t you?”

 

“I always maintain my dignity.”

 

“Good lord, your speed of cutting ties is faster than a dokkaebi’s.”

 

The birth of an indigenous labyrinth on the Korean Peninsula was already daunting enough on its own. Because its land area was not vast like Russia or Canada, a single labyrinth forming in the wrong place could reduce everything to scorched earth.

 

But on top of that, circumstances pointing to external factors were discovered? This was sheer madness.

 

“The bigger problem is that the possibility of the two cooperating has emerged.”

 

“Ah, this. Ah… ah-ah….”

 

That was also true.

 

“Come to think of it, we gave him a multiple-choice question with two options, and he ended up picking both.”

 

“Exactly. It’s a situation where two natural disasters hit the Korean Peninsula, and those two have joined hands.”

 

“To think the Korean Peninsula has finally come to this pass. It seems I really ought to immigrate to France. Since classic labyrinths like the Crow and the Count have even left Europe, it should be safer there.”

 

“Even so, isn’t it a devil-producing country?”

 

The Commissioner chuckled heartily.

 

“You remember that Europe is the land with the most religious dokkaebi, don’t you, Section Chief Yoon? Go there and your head will pop instantly. Remember, even now, Mr. Lu-so-and-so is watching.”

 

“I truly despise dokkaebi.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, I understand that feeling all too well… But living in the Rift, I’ve seen more than a few bastards who actually like dokkaebi. Hang in there.”

 

“Crazy Rift bastards.”

 

“Look at that. This is why folks from the outside are far too soft-hearted.”

 

With brows arched as if angry, she scratched her chin roughly. Her drooping eyes crumpled as if troubled.

 

“Still, a nascent labyrinth combined with external factors isn’t a common case.”

 

“I’ll dig through some records once we head back.”

 

“Depending on the case, we might have to go all the way back to the Joseon Dynasty. Which dokkaebi are currently contactable in our country right now, Section Chief Yoon?”

 

“Judging by your mention of contact, you seem to mean traditional indigenous dokkaebi, but there are none. I confirmed three weeks ago that both of them are abroad for personal schedules.”

 

“Good grief, three weeks? How come they’ve been out for so long?”

 

“Well, that is….”

 

Adjusting her glasses, Section Chief Yoon answered:

 

“One is out for a medical device seminar, and the other is out for a business meeting.”

 

“Living that long, you’d think they’d take things a bit easy, wouldn’t you?”

 

“Comparing us to genuine dokkaebi who have been around since the Joseon Dynasty only makes us look pitiful.”

 

“Not like we can contact folks who don’t even have much interest in human affairs.”

 

Nor did they have that kind of closeness.

 

To even attempt contacting them, one would probably need to be at least at the level of the Seoul Metropolitan Bureau. As long-lived spirits usually did, one had to be grateful if they even pretended to glance at matters they had no interest in.

 

“Since the only backing we had walked out abroad, we’ll have to make preparations in our own way. Make sure the Special Team and the Cleanup Crew are well-equipped with gear.”

 

“I told you that if you speak like that on the outside, you look like organized gangsters.”

 

“What, you think talking like this in the Rift makes me look like an innocent sweetheart? Not a chance.”

 

“I think the possibility is low, but by any chance….”

 

As Section Chief Yoon trailed off and pointed past the door, the Commissioner waved her hand.

 

“Uh-uh, don’t do that. You don’t mess with Tarot folks. Don’t even dream of expecting help.”

 

“My apologies. It just seemed like communication was surprisingly possible. Since he gave us advice over a few bowls of gukbap, I suppose I took it a bit too lightly.”

 

“Look at this one. Treating a person like a dokkaebi, are you? Of course there are similar parts, but it’s not simply a matter of him having an odd personality that makes him hard to get along with.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“I told you.”

 

She made a displeased face.

 

“Tarot folks all have firm standards.”

 

“Yes, you did.”

 

“If you ignore that and charge in, you’ll incur a curse.”

 

“Is he a shaman after all?”

 

“What god would a Tarot fellow serve? A god wouldn’t be able to handle him.”

 

It was true he was a power-holder of a similar leaning, but it was safe to consider it an entirely different field.

 

“You know that Tarot cards depict the life of a human being, right?”

 

“I know enough to pass the Bureau of Resonance exam.”

 

“Right, starting from Number 0, ‘The Fool,’ and concluding with Number 21, ‘The World.’ And an Arcana Member is picked as the person on Earth who best fits that card.”

 

“Something I’ve been curious about—was there actually a person called The Fool?”

 

“Would that be the case? It’s a metaphor, portraying the archetype of human experience.”

 

In a word,

 

“It’s destiny.”

 

Even if it isn’t inescapable, it’s hard to break free. The person in question might not think much of it, but especially those around them.

 

“I don’t know the details either. Whether real destiny exists, or something called causality exists, or if those damn treasures called the ‘Major Arcana’ did something… Perhaps it’s the result of meticulous formulas crafted by the artists who first created those treasures?”

 

“….”

 

“But what small fry like us need to know is simple. Remember that anyone who tried to pull an Arcana Member from that yoke and use them as they pleased met a bad end, every single one of them. That was even more true for holders of cards with openly ominous yokes, like that devil bastard five years ago.”

 

That devil bastard referred to Number 15, ‘The Devil.’

 

“Moreover, since they were chosen in the first place because they are the beings closest to their corresponding card, they themselves have zero desire to step out of that yoke. Do you understand what I mean?”

 

“It sounds as though you are advising that since they are beings of dangerous scale, we should avoid contact as much as possible, and if we inevitably wish to utilize them nonetheless, we must grasp the cardholder’s rules.”

 

“That’s it.”

 

She looked at Section Chief Yoon.

 

“As you know from watching me for nearly a year, I placed you in the section chief position because I coveted your administrative capabilities. In fact, you’ve done the work of a hundred people. You didn’t do field work, but instead helped take charge of administrative processing to that extent, which I liked, but….”

 

Bastards from the Rift were terribly uneducated, after all.

 

In this way, artists from the outside who came seeking to join the Bureau of Resonance were promoted quickly compared to their experience and career length. In the Rift, an artist was a being capable of that.

 

“If your heart is weak, at least keep your wits straight.”

 

“…I was weak, then….”

 

“You get what I’m saying?”

 

Among the precious personnel of artists, talented ones were promoted quickly, but were granted that much longer to adapt. Because, given the nature of the Rift, engaging in field work could easily break and ruin that ‘upright will.’

 

“You’re smart, so you get it. Just remember that things can’t go on like this. You’d do well to better understand how the Rift operates, Section Chief Yoon.”

 

“I don’t wish to change my convictions as well.”

 

“Then at least cross the line. Overhaul everything except the pillar supporting you. An artist from the outside coming now to belong to a regional Rift Bureau of Resonance means you have to make that possible.”

 

“I will study more.”

 

“We’re all here because we have our reasons, and in proportion to that, we die quickly.”

 

She rolled her eyes to the side.

 

“Section Chief Hong wasn’t a fellow who should’ve gone like that, but he died with his head popped just to deliver one report to his superior.”

 

Pitiful grim reaper bastards, departing with silly smiles as if they actually liked it. That’s why folks with convictions are so fucking difficult to deal with compared to those who live aimlessly. They die satisfied on their own terms.

 

“In the end, all that’s left are narrow-minded old farts like me.”

 

“That is not true.”

 

“Don’t die too quickly. I get lonely, you little puppies.”

 

Section Chief Yoon didn’t look like someone who would last that long either. Thrown into the field, would she last three years at best? Those who have convictions more important than their lives depart that quickly.

 

“…….”

 

“Not even answering, you damn bastards….”

 

Perhaps because it was a restaurant subsidized by the Bureau of Resonance, the surrounding customers sensed nothing strange about their conversation. Only the sounds of chatter and clattering echoed here and there throughout the restaurant.

 

After a brief silence, the Commissioner looked at Section Chief Yoon.

 

“Let’s treat each other well while we’re still alive.”

 

“Yes, Commissioner.”

 

“If there’s something you want to do, be more careful in everything, whatever it is.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“Right. Anyway, if the word ‘not sure’ came out of that damn Lieutenant’s mouth….”

 

The Commissioner tilted her head.

 

“Looks like the rice is almost done, huh?”

 

Whatever it was, he was waiting for the ‘right time.’