Chapter 165

Chapter 165.

Jingle--.

A clear doorbell, distinct even through the muffled rain.

"......"

The hotel's door opened smoothly.

Humidity from outside seeped into the lobby through the gap, but was immediately crushed by the hotel's air--maintained at conditions so perfect they felt alien--and evaporated without a trace.

"......"

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm terrified."

"What am I going to do with this one?"

Gyeong-yeon had unconsciously clenched Seon-hae's hem.

Despite having survived this place once before--or rather, precisely because she now vaguely knew its terrible true nature--the fear was physiological.

"Oh my?"

"If things go sideways, I'm grabbing the Director and running."

"You think that's up to you?"

Seon-hae was tense too, but she forced herself to stay composed and looked around. Without even glancing at her, Do-hyeon spoke.

"Looks like your escorts can't get in, Director."

"Oh dear, what a shame."

She'd expected as much.

'More importantly....'

Seon-hae watched Do-hyeon's back.

'He said he's not a combat type, but for someone like that, he's awfully sensitive to presences.'

An Artist's abilities were said to be broad, and the higher one climbed, the more varied they became. Seon-hae could only vaguely guess that Do-hyeon was that kind of person.

'It'd be weirder if he actually revealed his full hand.'

Just as she thought that, Do-hyeon, who had been surveying the hotel lobby for a while, strolled toward the center as casually as if entering his own living room.

"! Mr. Cha, wait--"

"Stay still."

A startled Gyeong-yeon reached out, but Seon-hae held her back. Do-hyeon walked on without looking back.

'Just as those two described.'

Overwhelming scale, furnishings lavish yet with every trace of life thoroughly excised. And standing at the Front Desk in the center of that vast lobby, one man.

The actor's eyes found the 'man.'

"Thank you for visiting."

Pale skin, jet-black hair combed back with not a millimeter out of place. A flawlessly pressed black suit. An artificial smile with every emotion perfectly erased.

"How may I assist you?"

"Oh."

Do-hyeon thought.

'He looks much closer to the Devil side than I expected.'

The mechanical puppet who'd mastered Blood Magic.

Seon-hae bit her lip the moment she saw the 'General Manager.' Gyeong-yeon's sharp inhale was audible too. Having entered the labyrinth, Do-hyeon the 'actor' could perceive all of it.

Pretending not to notice any of it, Do-hyeon grinned and leaned forward.

"The thing is, I received an invitation."

He slid three black envelopes across the Front Desk. They stopped precisely before the General Manager.

"I like this sort of thing, General Manager. This was from you, correct?"

"Ah."

The General Manager brushed the invitations lightly with a white-gloved hand, then curved his eyes into a narrow smile.

"Distinguished guests here for the Grand Banquet Hall Opening Gala and Private Event. Welcome to our hotel, from the bottom of our hearts."

"Right, thanks for the welcome. Thing is, we're a bit unfamiliar with this hotel's manners."

Do-hyeon leaned crookedly against the Front Desk and met the General Manager's eyes. Just as Seon-hae had described--an impression so fastidiously flawless it bordered on obsessive.

"At a luxury hotel like this, I figure I should know a few things before checking in."

"If you have any questions, please ask at any time."

"Instead of money, you take something else, right?"

At that question, Gyeong-yeon's face went white, but the General Manager's answer was perfectly serene.

"For ordinary guests, that is correct."

The General Manager produced two room keys and placed them neatly on the desk.

"However, the three of you are holders of 'invitations' directly issued by the hotel."

"Does that matter much?"

"As this is a special event hosted by our hotel, invited guests are entirely free from such obligations."

"Entirely free? Care to elaborate?"

"You are under no obligation to remain at the hotel, and may safely return home through the main entrance at any time, without any restrictions."

A long, relieved breath that Gyeong-yeon had been holding escaped.

"! Ah...."

"......"

Seon-hae watched the General Manager with a complicated smile, but he merely wore the smile of a hotelier fulfilling his duty.

Do-hyeon let out a low laugh.

"Well... that's far more openly generous than I expected."

"Oh dear, was it unpleasant?"

"I was simply impressed by the superb service, General Manager."

He shrugged.

"How do you turn a profit running things like this?"

"Our hotel values growth through our guests' assessments far more than short-term profit."

"You speak so prettily. And such a delicate face, too."

Do-hyeon stared at the General Manager.

"A fox, perhaps?"

"I am a person."

"That was a fun joke."

"How regrettable."

A Traditional Dokkaebi--that is, a Phantasmal Species--takes the form of a spiritual creature.

'The appearance and behavior scream fox, but the eyes....'

The pupils were round.

"......"

The Devil's influence, perhaps?

'This is one funny fellow.'

Do-hyeon picked up the room keys.

"We should at least see the room once, right?"

"Of course."

"Here, Director, take this...."

The instant he was handing the keys to Seon-hae and Gyeong-yeon.

"Oh."

Ding--!

A clear chime.

"Both of you, behind me."

"Excuse us."

"What in the world is happening now...."

The elevator doors at one end of the lobby opened, and--

FLUTTER--!

"! Oh, an owl...!"

"Owl? A bird?"

The first thing to burst out was a fluttering white owl. Do-hyeon let out a bark of laughter.

"Ha? We run into it like this?"

Following close behind.

"Can you put me down? I told you, that man follows on his own."

"You don't know our Inspector friend like I do~ He's got a surprisingly anxious side."

"Is he seriously a patient? A dependent?"

"I wouldn't carry a patient or dependent quite like this."

"So you do know?"

> [SYSTEM] Entered the 1st-floor lobby.
> In the center of the lobby, 3 unfamiliar guests are standing.

"Huh??"

"Well well."

Do-heon blinked. Seung-jae, still carrying Hyeon Si-gyeong on his shoulder, looked at the strangers. And Seon-hae, the only one among them who knew two of the three, blinked.

"...What...."

Do-heon, caked in dust and blood.

Seung-jae, nonchalantly carrying Hyeon Si-gyeong with a breezy grin.

Hyeon Si-gyeong, whistle in mouth, limp over someone else's shoulder.

"......"
"......"

The film crew party of Do-hyeon, Seon-hae, and Gyeong-yeon standing in the center of the lobby.

And the survival party that had just descended from a grueling labyrinth search.

The two groups of three froze awkwardly, looking at each other.

> [Optional Observation: Unfamiliar Guests]
> Three neatly dressed adults.

Do-heon's eyes went round.

"Those, those."

"It's 'those people,' not 'those.'"

"Are those people actually people?"

"What does it look like to your uncle's eyes?"

Gyeong-yeon, frozen stiff, took in the survival party's wretched state--especially Hyeon Si-gyeong's bizarre condition and the weapon at Do-heon's hip--and swallowed hard.

"A g-gun... he has a gun...."

"My, what a colorful assortment of guests."

At Seung-jae's general assessment, the black cat perched on the General Manager's shoulder cried out on cue.

"Hello?"

The General Manager, smile unperturbed, addressed both sides.

"It seems our guests have all gathered in one place."

"How may I assist you?"

The voices of two black creatures, somehow resembling each other, resonated through the lobby.

***

Hotel One's Room 1209.

The living room beneath a golden chandelier.

"......"
"......"

A heavy silence hung between the two groups.

On one side stood armed men of various ages, caked in blood and grime. On the other, adults in clean attire that seemed wholly out of place in a labyrinth.

The one to break the standoff was Seung-jae, wearing his trademark genial smile.

"Well well, our Manager sure has a wide circle. Even at this hour, guests packed to the brim."

He lowered the gun he'd been propping against his chin and added.

"How about we start with introductions? Can't exactly have guns pointed at first acquaintances."

"Ah, I'm--"

Just as Do-heon opened his mouth, Seung-jae smoothly cut in.

"This one's a mercenary with the Haeyeong Intermediary."

Do-heon was puzzled but quietly shut his mouth. Introducing himself as 'a runaway high schooler' would be less survival-friendly than 'a mercenary.'

Seung-jae continued naturally.

"As for myself and this friend here--Director Seon-hae, we've already met?"

"Yes, I was worried about you. So here you are."

"Still, proper introductions: I'm a freelancer, and this fellow's with the Sensitivity Bureau. A civil servant."

"Is 'assassination consultant' really a freelance gig these days?"

"Ooh, that's harsh for someone who came looking out of concern."

"I came and now I'm wondering if the concern was wasted."

Seon-hae pressed her temple and said.

"Well, if that's how it's going to be... we're people who lost our way while filming nearby. I'm Lee Seon-hae, film director. This is Hong Gyeong-yeon, writer on my projects. And,"

"Cha Do-hyeon."

Do-hyeon looked at Do-heon and grinned.

"Our names are similar, aren't they, kid?"

"...Fuck, it's really Cha Do-hyeon...."

"Small world, huh?"

He slipped his hands into his pockets and gave a casual nod.

"If you know me, you'd figure these two are recognizable as well, but the reaction's pretty blank?"

"Uh, I don't really check who makes the movies...."

"That's one thing I like about this industry--at least people remember the actors."

"I think that's only for handsome, famous, talented ones."

"So not a fan, then. Bit disappointing."

"Well...."

Do-heon looked at them with a bewildered expression. A film director, a writer, and a national treasure actor?

"Why are you here??"

"Oh, is that what you're asking? The character's so unique, I'm a little tempted."

"You're people who absolutely should not be here??"

"And you should?"

"Fair point, but somehow."

Around then, Seung-jae cut in with a smile.

"Well, that aside."

"Am I the only one who finds it insane that a civilian VIP party showed up in this monster hellhole? Really?"

"Easy, nephew."

At the word 'nephew,' Seon-hae reacted. Her gaze swept from the revolver in Do-heon's hand to the blood on his shirt, then to Seung-jae.

"Master Nakdo?"

"Yes indeed, Master Nakdo here. Go ahead."

"Didn't you say he was a cherished nephew?"

"Mhm, raising him like my own precious pinky finger...."

"And you put a gun in his hand?"

"Oh? Am I being scolded right now?"

Gyeong-yeon nodded.

"It seems so."

"Didn't think she had that kind of spine."

"I intend to say what I need to say before I die."

"Hm? When did I say I'd kill anyone?"

"I didn't say you'd be the one to kill me, either...."

"Caught, how embarrassing."

Seung-jae propped his chin on the gun and grinned shamelessly.

"Anyway, the three of you certainly look pristine. The Manager must have put in some effort to host you."

"We're in a situation where invitations were received."

Do-hyeon waved the black envelope.

"You don't have one of these, I take it?"

"We don't, and I'm annoyed."

"Even so, we came to help you, so lighten up."

"My expression is always light~"

At their exchange, the owl on Do-heon's shoulder cried.

"Hooo."

Do-hyeon looked at the white owl and muttered.

"? That was a sigh, wasn't it?"

"You hear it as a sigh too? Oh, that's a relief."

"No matter how you listen, that's not a sound an owl makes."

"Finally, someone who gets it!"

"I've been wondering--what's the structure of this thing...."

Do-hyeon reached out without hesitation, and Do-heon panicked.

"AAH! Don't touch it, that's animal abuse!"

"Relax, relax. I happen to be great with animals."

"A national treasure actor shouldn't be saying shit like 'I'm great with my hands'!!"

"As long as it doesn't make the papers, who cares!!"

***

"......"
"......"

Coco, who'd been quietly watching the screen, asked.

"Friend?"

"No."

Embarrassing enough to disown anywhere, and so, as of today, officially not a friend.