Hyeon Si-gyeong stared into the void without so much as blinking.
"......"
For a very long ti.
Without a single movent.
***
Ding--
A crisp chanical tone.
The elevator stopped at the first floor, and the heavy iron doors slid smoothly open.
"Wow."
"Pretty flashy, right~?"
"Insane...."
Dazzling golden light poured in.
Do-heon surveyed his surroundings with wide but anxious eyes. From sowhere, an elegant classical lody was flowing. Its subtly off-kilter rhythm grated on the nerves.
The lobby's landscape filled Do-heon's field of vision as he stepped out of the elevator.
'The ceiling is crazy high.'
> An impossibly high ceiling holds a massive crystal chandelier that sways gently.
'Are those real gemstones? They sparkle too much to be fake....'
> Top-grade marble floors, red carpeting, and intricately carved antique furnishings.
'Why does everything look so expensive?'
If there was one thing Do-heon was confident in, it was his eye for quality. The furniture and decorations placed throughout were no joke.
A spectacle of unparalleled splendor. Yet an alien sensation weighed down the entire lobby in equal asure to that overwhelming sense of space. Do-heon soon identified the source of the dissonance.
"...Isn't it way too quiet?"
"Everyone here's the taciturn type~"
> A suffocating silence, in which not even the sound of an ant crossing could be heard, presses down on the lobby.
'It's not that there aren't people....'
Guests could be seen scattered across the lobby. They spanned genders and ages, and their attire and ethnicities varied. The occasional glances cast their way felt faintly alien.
"...This is the first-floor lobby? Outside is a mountain valley without a single light, but in here it's like a European palace. Staff everywhere, too."
So guests were being attended to by staff. Others were being served beverages, or enjoying books and light confections.
The uncle stroked his chin and looked around.
"That's odd."
"What is? Don't make more anxious."
"Our Inspector friend was definitely supposed to be waiting here."
"You an the cop friend you ntioned?"
Do-heon scanned the area too, but no one who looked like a police officer caught his eye.
"Maybe he went to the restroom? Or got cold feet and bolted."
"Hyeon Si-gyeong isn't the type to leave his post without a word. Did the divination go wrong?"
"Divination.... Let's just go to the Front Desk and ask."
The instant Do-heon and his uncle approached the empty Front Desk--
"......!"
From the darkness behind the desk, soone walked out without a single footstep.
> A crisp white shirt pressed without a single wrinkle, and a black suit. Black hair neatly combed back.
> Looks about my age, but atop skin so transparent it holds no trace of color, an immaculate, artificial smile hangs with no room for emotional ambiguity.
> Not even the sound of breathing.
'That gives the creeps.'
The thought ca unbidden.
'Is that even a person?'
And on the man's right shoulder.
> A Vantablack cat, as if absorbing all surrounding light, sits quietly and watches us.
> A peculiar cat whose grinning face resembles a Cheshire Cat. Looks squishy.
"It seems you've found the nephew you spoke of. Congratulations, sir."
The voice that flowed from the man's lips was strangely inhuman. Devoid of all inflection, it was like an emotionless machine. Do-heon's brow creased.
"Wh-what? How long have you been standing there?"
"Easy now, nephew, one second~"
When Do-heon reflexively stepped back on instinct, Kwon Seung-jae smoothly stepped in front of him with a casual air. A gesture that clearly said 'Don't get in over your head; just sit tight.'
"If it isn't our friendly General Manager! The impeccable manners are exactly the sa as when we first walked in. Thanks to you, we've found our lost nephew safe and sound."
"That is fortunate. I'm delighted to hear of a successful reunion at our hotel."
The General Manager answered, lightly pushing his glasses up with a white-gloved hand.
"Is there anything else I can help with?"
"I was just about to bring that up--how is it you always know what's on my mind? Have you by any chance seen my friend? The gruff fellow who walks around with a whistle in his mouth. We were supposed to et here."
"A whistle...."
The General Manager studied Kwon Seung-jae for a mont, then drew a curve at his lips.
"Ah, you must an the guest in the police vest."
"Oh, so you did see him? Where is he?"
"I'm afraid I'm unable to disclose a guest's location."
At that, Do-heon cut in, incredulous.
"He ca in with this guy! We're looking for soone in our party and you're citing privacy? What kind of hotel is this?"
"Even for mbers of the sa party, there are no exceptions. Thorough security and privacy maintenance are among the finest services our hotel provides."
Kwon Seung-jae stepped forward again, naturally pushing Do-heon behind him. A gesture that clearly read 'Don't get your nose broken; stay put.'
"My, my, so the Manager's a stickler for rules. Then again, a hotel like this does need to follow regulations."
"Thank you for your understanding."
"But even if you can't tell us where he is, surely you could give us so advice on what to do? This hotel's so big we're liable to get lost~"
"Of course, we can't have our guests getting lost. We are committed to ensuring a safe and comfortable stay for all."
The General Manager's golden eyes rolled smoothly toward the massive grandfather clock at the center of the lobby.
'...His eyes are gold....'
Following that gaze, Do-heon found himself checking the clock.
> The lobby's grandfather clock. The hands point to [12:10]--
Jingle--
He rang the Golden Bell with his gloved hand.
> The lobby's grandfather clock. The hands point to [11:50].
A clear, crystalline chi split the lobby's muffled air.
"...The clock hands...."
"There will be one room with its door open on the guest room floor."
The General Manager, whose hands were empty again before anyone noticed, fixed his gaze back on Do-heon and Kwon Seung-jae.
"Inside that room, there may be sothing that helps you find your companion."
"What do you... We just ca down from those guest room floors, sweating bullets. You want us to go back up? Are you ssing with us?"
"Our hotel always respects the free choices of our guests."
The General Manager with his artificial smile added.
"However, if you're inclined to try, I'd suggest you hurry."
"There a reason for that?"
"It will be twelve o'clock sharp shortly."
A peculiar gravity settled into the General Manager's voice.
"After midnight, a dangerous guest who violates hotel guidelines and roams without authorization will begin to stir. This particular guest is extrely volatile and emotional, and does not leave anything that catches their eye undisturbed."
"A dangerous guest? What kind of monster is--"
The General Manager bent slightly at the waist, aligning his eyes precisely with Do-heon's. eting those uncanny golden eyes that revealed no emotion, another cold chill ran down Do-heon's spine.
"Always show courtesy to the guests staying here."
The pitch-black pupils within looked faintly alien.
"Heed their words and actions, but never commit an act of rudeness. If you observe the rules, you should be able to avoid any unfortunate incidents."
At that mont, the black cat perched on the General Manager's shoulder opened its mouth wide.
"Rude guests. Punishnt."
"Wh--"
> The inside of the cat's mouth has no tongue--it looks like nothing but a pitch-black abyss.
"......"
Sohow reminiscent of the General Manager's pupils.
"...Did that cat just speak?"
"This is 'Coco,' our hotel's mascot. It's quite playful and sotis greets our guests in a friendly manner, so there's no need for alarm."
"How am I supposed to not be alard when a cat talks?"
"In that case, I sincerely hope you find your friend safely."
The General Manager gave a slight bow and then added.
"Do have a bad ti at our hotel."
"Pardon?"
Did he just say 'a bad ti'--
Before Do-heon could even question the absurdity, the General Manager and the black cat on his shoulder vanished without a single footstep into the darkness behind the Front Desk.
Dumbstruck and staring, Kwon Seung-jae spoke up.
"My, every word out of that man's mouth is sothing else. He's definitely the labyrinth's administrator, but what exactly is he...."
He scratched the back of his head and muttered.
"Our Inspector friend doesn't seem to be in the lobby, so we'll have to go back up like the man said. You up for it, nephew?"
"I'm about to explode. That bit about twelve o'clock is bugging too."
> The ticking of the grandfather clock's hands counting toward midnight begins to fill the lobby.
"Huh?"
> [SYSTEM] Main Quest updated!
> [Objective] Before the clock strikes 12, take the elevator back to the guest room floor and search for the 'room with the open door.'
> [Ti Limit 10:00]
"Wait what?"
> [Ti Limit 09:58]
"What the fuck is this?"
"What, what, let see the fun stuff too!"
"There's so kind of guide window here--"
Tick-tock-- tick-tock--
The red tir that appeared in midair blinked as the ti bled away, and the tick-tock-tick-tock sent Do-heon's heart plumting.
"Shit, go up. Go up right now."
"Suddenly proactive, aren't we? Fine by ~"
Do-heon gripped the revolver tight and hurried after Kwon Seung-jae toward the elevator.
Barely ten minutes to midnight. He didn't know what penalty awaited, but they had to find that 'room with the open door' before twelve o'clock struck.
***
And there was no penalty.
"I'm not that strict of an administrator."
"Coco. Disappointed."
"I can't do that in a ga where we're all supposed to have fun."
"Coco disappointed...."
"I simply rewind ti until it works."
General Manager Lee Yeon-woo smiled.
"I have at least that much authority."
In the end, Kwon Do-heon would believe he'd 'succeeded on the first try.'
"In a ga where real people are active users, failure holds no value as entertainnt. Only the experience of barely scraping through to success imrses the user and produces high-quality Nightmares."
"Correct."
"Performing Server Rollbacks as many tis as needed to deliver the ultimate success experience to our precious users. That will be the true essence of the service this hotel provides."
The user's right not to know, so to speak.
***
"Why...."
"D-Director?"
"Why am I this anxious?"
"If even you're saying that, what am I supposed to do?"
The actors' break after the first shoot. Lee Seon-hae, who had been reviewing footage alongside writer Hong Gyeong-yeon, was bouncing her left leg.
"Just one cigarette."
"Please don't. I was barely holding myself together and working, and now you're making jittery too."
"Seriously, my gut feeling is bad. So bad I feel like I should storm the hotel."
"Please tell you're not actually considering that."
"You think I'm crazy enough to go back there? With nothing but this body?"
Of course, 'nothing but this body' wasn't exactly accurate. The guards Baek Mu-jin had assigned were still watching over Seon-hae nearby. If she went, they'd follow on their own.
But the idea of Seon-hae--who truly couldn't do a single useful thing--crawling back into the hotel was genuinely insane. She hadn't lost it that badly.
"I heard police were dispatched there."
"The numbers are too small, and it looked more like a survey than any kind of resolution...."
"Am I really the one who has to reassure you now, Director?"
"Just stay healthy in body and mind, Hong. I'll handle the rest."
"This is insane."
The one who wanted to go insane was Seon-hae.
'And I can't even tell anyone about this.'
It was a world full of information that could drive you mad or kill you just by knowing it. There was no way that chihuahua over there could handle it. So consulting was out of the question.
'Should I at least try contacting my uncle....'
He'd just tell her 'Don't touch it' and give her grief again.
"......"
...Would things have been different if I'd been an Artist?
'If I'd had so kind of ability, too.'
If only.
Exhaustion and helplessness choked the air from her lungs.
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