Chapter 168

Chapter 168.

Cha Do-hyeon was that kind of child.

"Why can't I,"

have more?

Why can't I live satisfied with what I have, like everyone else?

And is that fact,

"......"

a sin?

***

Do-hyeon, waking in the bedroom, rolled his dry eyes.

"...Ha."

A hollow laugh escaped.

"Is this also part of the 'cost'?"

Their 'General Manager' had said he wouldn't take anything. If so, had the labyrinth's sheer scale alone been enough to induce nightmares? Cold sweat clung to his back.

'Not a pleasant feeling.'

Before long, even the humor drained away.

"......"

He stared into the void, then emerged from the unlit bedroom.

He threw a jacket over light sleepwear. Past one guest room, then another, and another, until Do-hyeon finally stepped beyond the door.

The well-oiled door closed without a sound.

"...Haah...."

The corridor was still gorgeous and bright.

'Maybe I'll take a walk.'

If he was going to make a move as an 'actor,' it was best to know the stage well. Every floor's layout, every last prop. With luck, he could gather intel on the residents too.

'A guest role should be easy enough to secure, but if push comes to shove, I could poach one of those silent staff positions. I'd just need to keep my wits about me to avoid being Offered.'

He padded through the corridors in slippers. There were small indoor gardens on each floor, glittering lights, and paintings that undulated for no good reason.

He'd noticed it from the lobby--this labyrinth had remarkable aesthetic sensibility.

'A matter of taste?'

As in, 'the Devil's'?

'Or....'

"No?"

"......"

Do-hyeon shifted his gaze to the jet-black cat sitting on a side table.

"No?"

It was telling him he could not harm any part of this hotel.

"No?"

"My apologies. I was only imagining."

"Yes."

"Could you let it slide?"

"Yes."

"Oh dear."

This meant the only role Do-hyeon could realistically fill was 'guest.' And naturally, a 'guest' didn't enjoy much authority in a 'hotel.'

'Then again, I don't exactly want to get on the labyrinth operator's bad side.'

A cigarette sounded desperately appealing. As he rolled his dry eyes, the cat moved.

"......?"

It was stretching.

'This thing that isn't even a cat?'

"No?"

"Okay, that was genuinely an accident."

"Yes."

"Awfully perceptive. Thanks for that."

A surprisingly lenient labyrinth. Or perhaps this leniency was itself one of the labyrinth's rules. It meant the leeway granted to Human Guests was fairly generous.

'One wrong thought won't get me killed.'

Mild standards for such a fearsome hotel.

'Maybe it assumes the humans who stumble in here are civilians.'

The thought was arid.

"......"

"Hello?"

"I can't understand a word of that...."

Do-hyeon cocked an eyebrow at the cat that had abruptly addressed him.

"If you want to communicate, could you at least carry a tablet?"

Reading a labyrinth this massive took time. There were limits to interpreting a character's dialogue from nuance alone. As he stood there, the cat tilted its head.

Then hopped to the floor and trotted in a circle around him.

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

What?

'This is a very strange feeling.'

More precisely, it couldn't be.

'Why does it feel like I'm being assessed...?'

Truly a bizarre labyrinth.

"Don't tell me you came not to talk, but to observe me?"

"? Yes."

"I also know we're not exactly on chatting terms."

He snorted at being treated like an idiot. He'd expected some grand scheme behind the approach, but. Other than silently watching him, it didn't seem to have any particular agenda.

He gazed down at it for a while.

"...Hmm...."

When he reached down to touch it--

"Sir."

"Oh."

"I would ask that you show due courtesy to this hotel's Co-owner."

"My mistake."

Do-hyeon obediently withdrew his hand and turned with a grin.

"General Manager?"

"Please call me General Manager."

The Dokkaebi, Lee Yeon-woo, smiled perfectly.

'They're certainly very interested in the Human Guests currently staying.'

In many ways, it was easy to tell this was a newborn labyrinth. Given that it called itself 'in its Soft-Opening Period,' this baby Dokkaebi who didn't know much about the outside world would want to button its first buttons right.

The youthful face asked.

"I believe existing guests were notified that 'dangerous guests' roam the corridors at this hour. Did your party not relay this?"

"Even so, there's far too much to see to just stay cooped up in my room."

The General Manager didn't so much as flinch at Do-hyeon's glib reply and continued with courtesy.

"You appeared to have had trouble sleeping, so I took the liberty of coming to check."

"That's quite considerate."

"If you're perhaps bored, might you need someone to talk to?"

"Well, not bad at all. Conversation's always welco--"

Before Do-hyeon could finish, the corridor chandelier flickered quietly.

"Oh."

The warm, stately lighting froze blue in an instant, and the surrounding air grew heavy and still. When the lights cut out entirely--

Even though only the light had vanished, Do-hyeon felt as if he'd been transported somewhere else entirely.

"How peculiar."

"My apologies for the inadequate facility maintenance."

"That aside, it's you, General Manager."

Thanks to the large mirror beside the elevator, Do-hyeon could see his back.

"Are you still dead?"

Black hair, wet and hanging limply.

Not a three-piece suit but a white shirt. Bare feet like someone who'd thrown themselves into water. What dripped steadily to the floor was indistinguishable as water or shadow.

The very image of a drowned corpse.

"Quite the passionate welcome."

"This is simply one of our hotel's playful hours."

"So 'I'm honored' is the right response?"

Do-hyeon smirked. Even amid this intense stimulus, the abnormal calm this peculiar labyrinth's master maintained was fascinating.

That was when.

"My love...."

A vicious, acrid scent stabbing his nose.

Sweet yet laced with the smell of blood, the poison of red poppies washed over him. Every one of Do-hyeon's senses stood on end. From the corridor's end, an overwhelming killing intent accompanied a tide of blood-red mist.

"Ah, how wretched I am, to dare adore you...."

The distant, chilling whisper of a phantom witch.

'Ah, of course.'

He'd wondered why the General Manager had sought him out. The 'White Crow' was coming from the far end.

'I'd heard it appears after midnight, but this timing is awfully convenient.'

Could all of this be the specters' mischief? Neutral guide or not, if the 'Devil's' personality had consumed him, the purpose might be to eliminate an 'actor' with the authority to intervene in the labyrinth.

As Do-hyeon narrowed his eyes and watched the overwhelming presence--

"......!"

The General Manager grabbed Do-hyeon's shoulder. The instant the cool cotton glove's touch landed, Do-hyeon's body was pulled into the deep darkness of a wall recess.

"--Shh."

"......"

The General Manager pressed his index finger to his own lips.

In the cramped dark, for a split second, the silhouette of an all-white mass swept past the corridor. Red petals swirled around it like a blizzard.

'...This too is quite... a spectacle....'

He couldn't tear his gaze away. A keen full of dreadful resentment and obsession charmed his ears. The rough sound of something dragging echoed through the corridor.

'First time seeing the White Crow in person. Its presence is extraordinary. Truly a classical labyrinth.'

But something else caught Do-hyeon's interest.

The back of the General Manager who'd blocked his path. He stood before Do-hyeon without a single breath until the White Crow was sufficiently far.

'Secretly hiding me....'

Unmistakable intent to protect.

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

And when even the scent had faded--

"You've avoided it safely."

The corridor brightened again.

They were standing before the safe rooms on Floor 12 once more. The General Manager stepped back with an "excuse me," posture immaculate, and bowed deeply. Do-hyeon regarded him in silence.

Rolling his eyes, Do-hyeon spoke.

"General Manager."

"Please."

"Want to be friends?"

Do-hyeon's smile deepened like an engraving.

"This old man wants to play too. How about it?"

***

"......"

[Kidnapper]
[Abductor]
[Pervert]
[Kill]
[Annihilate]
[Kill]
[Kill]

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

The General Manager was, for once, at a loss for words.

"...What an interesting person."

So interesting, in fact, that the conscience and reason of the Yeon-woo pulling an all-nighter inside the passing 'White Crow' had nearly come hurtling back.

***

"May I hear the details?"

"You want a hotel that runs stably without anyone dying."

"In some respects, yes."

"If that's both your goal and your weakness, I can help."

The actor spoke.

"I can do that, you know?"

That's why you called me.

"So give me the authority to intervene on this stage."

"Has no one told you you're insolent?"

"Why would you think they haven't?"

"Very well."

The General Manager answered.

"Until the day you leave this place."

Let us be 'friends.'

As always, the General Manager smiled without a flaw.

***

"Important?"

Coco, having ridden Yeon-woo's shoulder all the way back to the quarters, asked.

"Important?"

"You mean that person?"

It seemed to be asking about Do-hyeon.

"He was certainly someone significant."

"Certainly."

"Yes, but as of now he's nothing--no bond whatsoever. Above all, he's nothing more or less than an uncertain variable that could threaten this hotel's peace."

"Lost bond."

"That's right, the system had announced it as such."

"Help?"

"Hard to say."

The General Manager answered dryly.

"Strictly in terms of running this hotel, the costs outweigh the gains."

"Loss."

"Yes, I'm trying to avoid emotional waste, am I not? Besides, that man's insolence could crack my plans in ways I can't predict."

"Crack."

"Just as the memories suggested, he's a disagreeable person in many ways."

But Coco, apparently not fully convinced, fidgeted its front paws and asked again.

"Hello?"

"......"

"Are you okay?"

Round eyes stared up at the General Manager.

Not whether 'the General Manager's' judgment was sound now, but whether the future 'Yeon-woo'--who would someday restore his emotional big data and fully reclaim his humanity--would also feel this way.

"......"

Without anything to fret over, the conclusion was clear.

"No."

He would not be okay.

"At the very least, he wouldn't be as unperturbed as he is now. He might be glad to have met him again here, or he might suffer for it. Perhaps both."

"Yes."

"But that, too, is uncertain. Currently, I'm maintaining 'General Manager Mode' for convenience, and I'm satisfied with it. I may never release the mode."

"Hello?"

"But this makes our game more enjoyable."

Yeon-woo folded his golden eyes into a smile.

"I'm more comfortable, happier, and more at peace than ever before."

"......"

"Isn't that enough?"

"......"

At those words, Coco fell silent.

***

> [SYSTEM] Accessing the shop database with 'Co-owner' authority.
> Loading initiated....

***

The next morning.

"What is this?"

The General Manager, waking in the Operator's Quarters, noticed an unfamiliar notification in a corner of the system window and narrowed his eyes.

> [New product data loading... 18%]
> *Detailed information will be revealed upon loading completion*

"Coco."

"Yes!"

"An item I did not authorize is loading into the shop. Name, effect, and price are all classified."

"Coco's discretion!"

At the foot of the bed, Coco stood with tail raised high and chest puffed, declaring proudly.

"Heh."

The General Manager looked between the mysterious loading bar and Coco, letting out a soft laugh. Considering how Coco had been probing about Do-hyeon last night, it was probably related.

'I don't know exactly what it's preparing.'

Regrettable as it may be, this was the co-owner--the one who held system authority--acting on its own initiative. And whatever direction or method it took, it would ultimately be for their benefit. No reason to interfere.

"Very well."

"Very well!"

"It seems you're planning to accomplish something of your own accord. I'll cheer you on."

The General Manager lightly stroked Coco's head.

"I trust you've prepared everything appropriately."

"Heehee!"

Pride swelling at having its secret project acknowledged, Coco beamed. The General Manager watched it and blinked slowly.

'I've no idea what outlandish item will pop out.'

For now, all he could do was wait for that loading bar to fill.

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

"...Meanwhile, quite a lot of Nightmares have accumulated."

"Successful IPO."

"Dreams really should be kept big."

"Coco, agree."