Chapter 152 |
Hyeon Si-gyeong was standing in the Central Control Room.
"......"
The core control hub that monitored, controlled, and managed the status of all critical equipment and instruments in real time, from a single location. For the sake of safe operation. In preparation for danger.
"Sir."
What danger?
"This is a restricted area for authorized personnel only. If you've lost your way, I will escort you to your room. Do you require assistance?"
"......"
"I am aware, in fact, that you are not in a state requiring assistance."
This place was a pit of evil karma, straining to expand.
The holograms of elegant marble and ornate chandeliers did not exist.
Beyond the veil, this place was a massive lump of flesh, clinging like a tumor to the seam between dimensions, pulsing endlessly. The geometrically warped corridors and guest rooms proliferated like the inside-out entrails of a beast.
The walls were a mucous membrane compressed from the screams of tens of thousands of ground-up souls. Through the gaps, bloodshot eyeballs craving the void bulged forth. What flowed through the pipes was not water but venom.
And it was corroding the dimensions.
"However, sir."
A deformed restraining device.
"When conversing,"
The blue, cold lattice binding this hell of hungry ghosts....
"......"
"......"
......
"You should look me in the eye."
...His vision was narrowed to 'eyes.'
"Look at me."
"......"
"What color is my hair?"
"......"
"What color are my eyes?"
Hair swept back, black as ebony. Yellow eyes, luminous as a tiger's.
"You see precisely."
Yet the curving of the eyes is like a crescent moon--a cunning tiger wearing the skin of a fox.
"You flatter me."
"Are you a tiger?"
"Regretfully, I am a person."
"I know a certain Lord of the Mountain. Shall I put you in touch?"
"I am not in a state requiring assistance, but I appreciate the kindness."
"This doesn't seem like a good place for a Dokkaebi to live."
At that, the General Manager smiled.
"For someone so taciturn, your words have multiplied."
"Thanks to you."
Hyeon Si-gyeong murmured.
"It's been a long time since I could see what's ahead...."
More precisely, since he could see only what was ahead.
"It's comfortable."
"It is my pleasure to be of help to our guests."
"May I make this a recurring request?"
"I will assist within the bounds of what is possible."
The General Manager's voice was composed and mechanical.
"So would you not enjoy our hotel?"
"More than a hotel...."
Hyeon Si-gyeong rolled his eyes with a clack.
"It looked closer to a game."
He looked at the General Manager again.
"Was that intentional?"
"I made my best attempt, humble as my skills may be."
"You were winding the spring. Was that also intentional?"
"Yes. I judged that assistance was required."
"My apologies for observing the hotel's operations without permission. It must not have aligned with the intent."
"You are currently classified as auxiliary personnel, so there is no issue."
"I see, auxiliary personnel...."
In other words,
"A tagalong?"
"That's a word I haven't heard in a while."
"Same here."
A word for the extra player who gets lumped in during a game or match. Not commonly used these days. Having recalled that much, Hyeon Si-gyeong rolled his eyes once more.
"As I thought, we seem to be around the same age."
"Is that so?"
"Though for you, 'age' must be a near-meaningless concept...."
A person who could be five years old, or thousands, or a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. Hyeon Si-gyeong regarded that fluid yet consistent existence.
"You said you were a person."
"Yes, I did."
"How many are inside you?"
"May I first ask how it appears from your perspective?"
"There's a large pool of water, and some lump of blood, but those seem to be separate beings...."
His rolling gaze halted at one point.
"......"
Hyeon Si-gyeong spoke after a beat.
"...To my eyes, you appear as one."
"Yes, I am one."
"But in a state where you could be divided at any time."
"That is the nature of blood."
"The Devil?"
"I am not that person."
He tilted his head.
"But does it appear that way to you?"
"I'm not certain."
The circumstantial evidence and traces were visible, but calling this individual wholly that person felt strange.
"I'm curious about the time of death."
"I've never died."
"When did your temperament change?"
"That, too, is unclear."
"The path you've walked has been erased."
History ought to remain.
"Perhaps that's why I can't see it clearly."
"What would you like to see?"
"I'm curious about your date of birth and the hour. Where you were born. Your family relations. Are you married? Did you have children? You would have been born male--do you remember your own form?"
I'd like to cast a reading.
"Nothing remains in you."
Even the name 'Lee Yeon-woo' was faint. Firm, but the color was dim.
"So if you remember, please tell me."
"Hotel staff's personal information is not disclosed."
"And if I ask you as an individual rather than staff?"
"Are you asking to be friends?"
"If it's a necessary process."
"Unfortunately, I'm currently on duty."
The General Manager curved his eyes into a narrow smile.
"Would you help me fulfill my duties?"
"I will."
Without you, this place would collapse.
"However, you should be able to ask my name. Within a guest's authority."
Rules could always be leveraged.
"What is your name?"
"......"
Hyeon Si-gyeong asked again.
"What is your name?"
"I am Lee Yeon-woo, General Manager of this hotel."
"Lee Yeon-woo."
The moment he held the 'name' on his tongue, he understood its meaning.
"Yeon-woo (淵宇)."
Yeon (淵), 'abyss.' Woo (宇), 'house' -- or 'universe.'
"A name well-suited to this deformed microcosm."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"An ordinary former ruler would have exploded that power outward and reveled in destruction, yet you repeat self-consumption instead. Are you aware that you are living up to your name?"
"You are a person of deep learning."
"Does it not feel like a waste, spending that immense energy on a place like this?"
"I love this hotel."
A tone both gentle and resolute.
"If every guest can rest here, it could never be a waste."
"I see."
He could understand that, to a degree.
"You've veiled my eyes. How long will this last?"
"You will have peace for today."
"I am hungry."
"I'll show you the way."
"And lonely."
"I'll guide you to that as well."
He bowed with meticulous courtesy and continued.
"It is an honor to attend to a distinguished guest in a special setting. If it would not be presumptuous, may I personally lead the way?"
He bent at the waist and indicated the direction with an open palm.
"This way, please."
"......"
He followed.
No footsteps could be heard.
***
> [SYSTEM] Sealed Greenhouse exploration complete.
> As the Greenhouse door closes, the damp, acrid poppy scent gradually fades.
The dull thud of the heavy iron door closing. Only then did Do-heon exhale the breath he'd been holding.
"Haah, fuck...."
"Why the cursing~"
"Because breathing out here feels like being alive."
"The smell was pretty toxic."
Too toxic to call it a fragrance.
"You've got the memo and the comb safe?"
"In the bag."
He double-checked just in case, and they were tucked deep inside.
"Tch, still feels like the smell's stuck in my nose."
Even though the clinging floral scent had faded, his head throbbed as if being jabbed with an awl. The longer he stayed in this hotel, the worse the headaches got.
"Let's head to the room."
"Shall we?"
"If I don't lie down for at least ten minutes, I'm seriously going to throw up."
"Lying down when you feel like throwing up isn't a good idea, is it?"
"It's a figure of speech, why do you have to nitpick?"
"Oh, our nephew's stamina is something we have to accommodate. Let's go, let's go."
"You're the most high-maintenance person here, honestly...."
Seung-jae kept up his genial banter and walked ahead, but Do-heon saw it clearly. His uncle's shoulders, usually relaxed, were stiff.
"......"
The walk to the elevator felt unusually long, and Do-heon finally spoke.
"You've looked troubled ever since reading that memo. Are you going to tell me why?"
"Hmm~ there's a saying that ignorance is bliss...."
"Right now, 'knowledge is power' seems more fitting."
"I keep being reminded that you've forgotten everything I taught you before."
Seung-jae said with a friendly face as he stepped into the elevator.
"I'll tell you when we get to the room."
"What kind of story could possibly...."
> [SYSTEM] Taking the elevator to Floor 12.
> 12th-floor guest corridor.
Ding--
The arrival chime sounded.
Dragging fatigue-laden feet toward their assigned Room 1209, Do-heon looked down at the red carpet and stopped dead.
"...Huh?"
Before the firmly shut door. Two figures, incongruously straight-backed, stood in the corridor.
'The General Manager, and....'
And beside him.
"Well well, our Inspector friend's here!"
"......"
It was the cop, Hyeon Si-gyeong, silver whistle hanging from his neck.
"I was worried about leaving you alone--what brings you here?"
> [Optional Observation: 'The Hanged Man' Hyeon Si-gyeong]
> Faint signs of life have returned to the completely unfocused Sanpaku eyes.
"I got lost."
"Getting lost in a labyrinth is no good~ Especially when this labyrinth's inside a Fox Den."
"The General Manager helped me."
He glanced at the General Manager.
"It was excellent guidance."
"You are too kind."
It sounded less like something from a human mouth and more like an automated announcement from a well-made machine. The General Manager turned to face Do-heon's party.
"He was wandering near a restricted zone, so I escorted him to your room."
"Ah, yes... thank you?"
Do-heon nodded awkwardly. Just then, the white owl that had been sitting quietly on Do-heon's shoulder bristled its feathers at the General Manager.
"Hoo."
"...? What?"
"Hoohoohoohoohoohoo."
"Seriously, what."
Baffled, Do-heon lifted the owl from his shoulder.
Bringing it face-to-face as if to ask 'what's wrong,' the owl blinked. It felt plush in his hands thanks to the feathers.
"Hooeng."
"......?"
Was it... being wary? Of the General Manager?
'Of the General Manager?'
And yet calling it pure wariness felt off.
'Uncle said it was some kind of staff member. Why would it be this wary of its own boss?'
"There are reasons."
"There are reasons."
"FUCK, you scared me!!!"
Startled by the remarks that seemed to read his mind, he let go of the owl, which flew up and landed on his head. Do-heon clutched his hammering chest and looked between the General Manager and the Inspector.
"Wh-what, what did you just...."
Both answered with perfect composure.
"Regardless of workplace, a superior is an entity one ought to be wary of."
"I agree."
At their seamless chemistry, Seung-jae asked in disbelief.
"When did you two get so chummy?"
My thoughts exactly. Do-heon bit back the words and removed his hand from his chest.
"You're the boss and you're saying that--"
GRRRRR--
"Oh, fuck me."
"Ahaha!"
Seung-jae laughed heartily.
"Fair point, can't run or find anything on an empty stomach. Manager, how do we handle meals? This is a hotel, so surely you can feed us."
"There are currently two dining options available. The 2nd-floor Buffet and the 22nd-floor Dining. I will escort you to whichever you prefer."
> Select a dining venue.
> [2nd-Floor Buffet]
> [22nd-Floor Dining]
"Wouldn't the buffet be better? More variety to choose from...."
Just as Do-heon was about to select the buffet, the General Manager, who had been standing ramrod-straight like a mannequin, tilted his head ever so slightly.
"May I add a personal opinion?"
"Wh-what?"
"At this hour, the 2nd-floor Buffet tends to be crowded with rather... lively guests. Some with hearty appetites and passionate table manners."
Do-heon's expression soured.
"The 22nd floor, then."
"Agreed, let's do some fine dining in a nice atmosphere."
Seung-jae nodded in agreement with his nephew's swift about-face. The artificial smile on the General Manager's lips sharpened into focus.
"An excellent choice. To ensure your paths don't cross with other guests, I'll have dedicated staff stationed in a private section."
He began walking.
"This way, please."