Chapter 148 |
Labyrinths are a kind of natural disaster.
But natural disasters with selves exist, and these are the Recognition Species. In Korea's Gaps, they are more commonly called Dokkaebi than Recognition Species.
And such Dokkaebi typically operate in one of two forms.
'Either the self that serves as the nucleus contains the entire labyrinth and operates as one body, or the labyrinth is released while the self acts separately.'
The classical labyrinths 'Count Dracula' and 'the White Crow' belong to the former. Normally they house the labyrinth inside a single body that appears as an individual personality, and by nature rarely release it.
Conversely, the 'General Manager' inside the labyrinth called 'Hotel One' might be considered the latter, but....
"......"
"It's a Dokkaebi."
"Figured as much~"
'An indigenous Dokkaebi wouldn't be entangled with a labyrinth.'
The Recognition Species that formed this hotel-shaped self--the main body--appeared to be the black cat monster on the General Manager's shoulder. The General Manager, the entity called 'Lee Yeon-woo,' was likely an indigenous Dokkaebi born from being swept up in the labyrinth-ification process.
"But it does look rather exquisite. The appearance, the habitat...."
"What have you two been talking about this whole time?"
Do-heon asked, incredulous.
"And what's a Fox Den?"
"A mountain where a fox god lives that bewitches people into falling to their deaths?"
"That sounds like some cult nonsense."
"The Gaps has its share of that~"
And then the owl flew over and landed on Seung-jae's head.
"Hm?"
"Kkuk."
"Ow."
"Kkukkuguguguguguk."
"Ow ow ow ow."
The owl pecked Seung-jae's crown with vigor. Do-heon nodded.
"I don't know the details, but it looks like you're in the wrong, Uncle."
"Is that all there is to blood ties between us Kwons?"
"Can't build ties when you never show up to family events."
"Can't argue with that."
Hyeon Si-gyeong, who had been watching blankly, spoke.
"Be careful with your statements."
"Not a single ally. So why's this owl friend so upset?"
Do-heon narrowed his eyes and muttered.
"It feels like a 'don't trash-talk him unless you're me' kind of thing...."
"This is why having a detection-type Artist on the team is convenient."
"There's a 'how dare you spread false information' vibe too."
"The limits of an Artist's perception are truly boundless~"
Seung-jae kept the next question to himself.
'Is it because this owl is also part of this hotel?'
The owl seemed displeased at 'Lee Yeon-woo' being treated like a 'fox god that bewitches people to their deaths.' In that case, it might have a personal connection.
Seung-jae let his signature genial chuckle slip.
"Fair enough, I've never heard of a Dokkaebi living in a Fox Den either."
"Fox Den or not, let's just get out."
Do-heon shot a glare at the infuriatingly composed General Manager. When the man answered with nothing but a smile, Do-heon ground his teeth. Somehow, it just got under his skin.
"There's a door right there. I'm breaking through it and leaving."
Whether the General Manager stood there or not, Do-heon marched straight to the front entrance and threw his full weight against it.
> Firmly shut front door.
"AAAGH, so frustrating!!"
RATTLE! RATTLE! BANG!
But the door didn't budge as if welded shut. Beyond the transparent glass, only the endless mountain range and pouring rain remained.
"Open up! A guest is trying to leave--why is this locked!"
"Easy now, nephew. That doesn't seem like a good idea."
"Who in this place is in a worse situation than me right now!"
At that moment, a chilling yet courteous voice came from behind.
"I would recommend releasing that tension, sir."
Turning around, the General Manager was walking out from behind the Front Desk. The uncanny black cat still perched on his shoulder.
"We do not recommend using physical force to open our hotel's doors."
"What are you trying to say?"
"If the door breaks, the repair requisition and all the fixing falls on me."
"Repair requi-- p-pardon?"
"My overtime is already confirmed for today, so I'd ask you not to add to my workload."
"......"
Do-heon hesitated, then slowly lowered his hands.
"...I'm sorry...?"
"Thank you for your understanding."
Watching this unfold, Seung-jae asked.
"You're the General Manager and you have to file repair requisitions? To whom?"
"I am merely a co-owner entrusted with operations. The actual owner of the building and assets is someone else. More importantly, regardless of title, paperwork is an essential and fundamental procedure in any organizational operation."
"Shouldn't have opened my mouth--now I look like an ignorant fool."
Do-heon watched with a sour expression. Fair point, but suddenly the setting felt jarringly real. From dark-fantasy labyrinth to just a Black Company.
'Well, even at your average Black Company, people don't actually die....'
"They do."
"Did you just read my mind?"
"Ah, my apologies. You were having such an interesting thought."
"What do you--"
That unnervingly perfect artificial smile, the crisply pressed white shirt and black suit.
A chill shot up Do-heon's spine.
"......"
"Judging by your complexion, it seems you encountered our hotel's 'dangerous guest' upstairs."
At the General Manager's words, Seung-jae shrugged.
"'Encountered' doesn't cover it, Manager. Watching deranged bird swarms flying around in meat-heap formation isn't exactly a pleasant sight~ My nephew nearly fainted."
"I, too, am regretful that matters came to this."
The General Manager replied, lightly pushing his glasses up with a white-gloved hand. The tone was courteous, but the complete absence of inflection made it sound mechanical.
"I've been in considerable difficulty myself due to that individual roaming the hotel in defiance of guidelines. I'm glad all three of you escaped without serious injury."
"Well, I understand your situation too, and we've found our nephew and the Inspector, so we'll be checking out now. Just open this door for us."
When Seung-jae pressed affably, the General Manager answered with an unruffled smile.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I cannot grant that request."
> [SYSTEM WARNING]
The General Manager's black pupils seemed to sink coldly behind curved eyes. Do-heon sucked in a breath. The text was pulsing in ominous red.
"You have already registered as guests at our hotel. Leaving without staying constitutes a guideline violation."
Seung-jae scoffed in disbelief.
"Manager, I haven't so much as dotted the guest book at the front desk."
"Since you and your companion did not go through formal procedures, you are free to leave at any time. However--"
The General Manager's golden eyes pointed precisely at Do-heon.
"Mr. Kwon Do-heon. Your situation is different."
"...Me?"
Absurd.
"When did I--! I woke up and I was here!"
"No?"
"What?"
"No. No. No."
The cat on the General Manager's shoulder emitted a mechanical voice without even opening its mouth.
"Abnormal. Error. Unregistered guest."
"......"
"Rude guest."
The General Manager blocked the cat's eyes with one hand and continued, courteous but firm.
"In the past, sir, you entered our hotel through an irregular route. A special intervention registered you as a guest, however... no designated stay duration exists."
"......"
"Having no designated stay means the checkout date cannot be determined. Therefore, it is this hotel's judgment that you cannot exit through this door at will."
He was wrapping it in polite circumlocution, but the summary was a blunt, coercive decree: 'You cannot leave.' Do-heon's face contorted.
"What kind of bullshit...! I didn't even come here by choice, and you're telling me I can't leave because there's no stay schedule? That's completely absurd!"
"Come now, Manager. Shoving unfair terms at a kid. If there's a system bug, the administrator should fix it."
The General Manager's smile deepened a fraction.
"I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. However, rules are rules."
"Haah... fuck. Then how the hell do I get out? Are you telling me to rot here forever?"
At Do-heon's blunt question, the artificial smile on the General Manager's lips twisted--ever so slightly, ever so strangely.
"If you would do me one favor, I will use my personal authority to adjust the system and authorize an ad-hoc checkout."
"A favor? A favor?"
"The 'dangerous guest' you just encountered. Please retrieve [several items] for me that will help pacify their rampage."
The General Manager continued.
"If you fulfill this request, depending on circumstances, I may also be able to assist you in recovering the memories you've lost here."
"My memories...?"
Do-heon's pupils quivered.
The severed memories after fighting with his parents and falling asleep. The familiar sensation of pressing a muzzle to his chin without thinking. The hard calluses baked into his palms. The inexplicable gap in time flickered through his mind.
"Well, that's one hell of a baited hook."
Seung-jae clicked his tongue and stepped in.
"Can't leave my nephew alone in this Dokkaebi den. We'll accept the request. But give us a room too. I need to lay this luggage down somewhere."
"I am not luggage."
"You were luggage by any measure, Inspector."
Do-heon let his revolver-gripping hand hang loose and glared at the General Manager.
"Fine. I'll do it. Just tell me what you need."
The General Manager curled the corners of his lips. A far more natural smile than any before.
"An excellent choice."
Jingle--!
When the General Manager lightly rang the Golden Bell, pale-faced hotel staff emerged from shadows throughout the lobby and surrounded Do-heon's party.
"Then I shall process all three of you as formally registered guests. Our staff will guide you to your rooms."
Just as they began to follow the staff's lead, the General Manager's chilling voice dropped onto Do-heon's back.
"One thing to keep in mind, however."
"What now...."
"The longer you stay here, the greater the fee you'll have to pay."
The General Manager bowed at a perfect angle in courteous greeting. The prim smile still hung on his lips.
> [SYSTEM] You have formally checked in to Hotel One.
> [SYSTEM] Main Quest updated: The General Manager's Commission [Finding Mementos]
> [SYSTEM] Status ailment [Madness Contamination] begins to affect all party members.
"Do have a bad time at our hotel."
***
Upon his return, the vampire who had been leisurely sipping tea in the Operator's Quarters remarked.
"Are you sure you don't have a knack for stage acting?"
"I'm reflecting plenty, so please go easy."
"Why? I thought it was magnificent."
"Our tastes don't seem to align."
He needed to stuff that blood-lump into a restaurant as soon as possible to see less of his face. Unfortunately, General Manager Lee Yeon-woo had neither the funds, time, nor margin to open a restaurant at present.
At that, the Guest Without Taste laughed.
"When you get followers later, they'll faint."
"What kind of nonsense is that, vampire?"
The General Manager was the honest-with-his-emotions type, so caution with one's remarks was recommended.