Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual Chapter 83

Novel: Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual Author: wuxiafull Updated: Jun 03, 2026

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Now reading: Chapter 83 from Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual, a Fantasy novel by wuxiafull.

And then, he said this.

"How about this?"

As though everything until now—all that had happened, the confession just monts ago—were nothing at all.

"We help each other."

"......"

"We share many similarities, but if I accept your argunt, there are certainly differences as well. However, those can't define us as fatally 'different beings,' so...."

"......"

"You do what I can't. I teach you what you don't know. We're not changing each other's fundantal nature, so there's nothing difficult about it. Nothing to overthink, either."

How impudent that was—had it not been for the lingering aftertaste of 'negative emotions' still in his throat, he would have thought even the confession just now was an act. Wasn't this a talent worthy of fooling even a vampire?

But he was, unexpectedly, the type who didn't put lies in his mouth during conversation....

"What fanciful talk."

"You've already experienced it yourself, so you know—living in this body made of blood, existing as such a being, isn't easy."

"What would you know, at your age?"

"Fair enough—you'd know far better than I would."

He'd called the man's deprivation 'sothing you know better than I do.'

"Compared to you, I'm not just young—I'm practically a child."

So it seed.

"I have no experience, and honestly, I don't know this field called Blood Magic very well. If you could teach about that... it would be an enormous help."

? A degraded Lidmar, to a Velmareth?

"The sa goes for . I can provide what you need. The sense of taste from when you were human, an enjoyable al with a friend, or help to keep you standing just before you collapse."

"......"

"What's the hesitation? That we fought tooth and nail? That was indeed unbecoming of our ages. Only saying this now, but I think it's sothing we should both reflect on."

"...Hah...."

He couldn't understand.

"On what basis?"

"That I trust you? That you trust ?"

"Both."

"First—don't I know you fairly well by now?"

"Know well?"

"That particular temperant of yours."

He said this with a face entirely devoid of laughter.

"Having fought with such reckless abandon, dropping all pretense—there should be nothing left unknown."

"Such blunt criticism."

"I'm getting rather used to that especially prickly temper of yours."

Trust, or conviction?

"So I'll trust you."

"Then how am I supposed to trust you?"

At that.

"Did you know?"

He said this, too.

"You consud , and I consud you. For practitioners of the Crimson Core Comntary, there's no better condition for understanding one another."

"Quite the boast, after barely letting have a taste."

"See?"

He gestured at the token feast and spoke.

"People with bad personalities play together."

"...Your personality is."

"As you can see, on the worse side."

"......"

"In the end, similar people always find each other."

"...I wonder...."

Honestly,

"......"

He still didn't understand.

Even after hearing that long, long story, in the end he was left at a loss.

That insufferable wretch had no self-objectivity whatsoever, yet was needlessly strong in conviction. On what grounds was he calling them 'similar people'?

'We're completely different.'

Their behavior, inclinations, and ways of thinking were all different. If he made a checklist, the items that didn't overlap would far outnumber those that did.

And yet.

"......"

And yet, why?

"...Would you permit ti to think?"

"Everyone has the freedom to think."

"How gracious...."

Why, just as when he'd been served that intoxicating al, was he unable to swat that hand away in one stroke?

He couldn't fathom it.

"However...."

"What."

"But really...."

"What."

"No matter how I think about it, it's a sha."

"Now what."

"Not that face."

"I'm not making any face."

"I can tell just by looking."

Yeon-woo added.

"There's actually one more recipe I had prepared."

"Good heavens, Lord Velmareth."

And the Lord did not respond.

"Ha... I was under the impression you'd been busy."

"I won't deny that."

"Diligent even while on death's door."

"The virtue of a working man."

—That's the beauty of being a machine!

"......"

...The man rubbed his ear. Yeon-woo asked.

"Are you giving the look that says I'm being too loud?"

"Live long enough and you suffer all manner of indignities."

"Care to enjoy the final nu?"

"You'd flay the flesh off a finished match?"

"The victor deserves his spoils."

"I think you've had plenty—your greed rivals Shylock's."

"The rchant of Venice is an interesting book... so?"

"'So' nothing."

Brushing the hand from his ear, the man shrugged.

"Pick the flea's liver if you must, friend."

Of course, Yeon-woo was resolute.

"Where do you see a flea?"

"A bit large, perhaps."

"Were you calling ?"

***

...

"—Mr. Karel!"

A cheerful voice spread through a restaurant's employee break room.

The one called looked up.

"Oh."

"Did you have a pleasant vacation?"

"Of course."

Jet-black hair and marble-like skin, an aristocratic smile befitting his always-immaculate attire, and the distinguished air of a man in his forties—Sous Chef Karel was an idol to many cooks.

The Parti Chef studied his face upon his return from vacation.

"You definitely look, um, well."

"Do I look well?"

"Apologies if that was forward—it's just that your face looks a bit more than usual...."

"More than usual?"

"...Lively?"

"......"

Karel's lips twisted, ever so subtly.

"......?"

He seed slightly displeased yet sohow lukewarm in reaction. The Parti Chef was a bit thrown by this unfamiliar side of the Sous Chef who'd always stood watch over the kitchen like an old tree.

After so ti had passed, the man, still stroking his own lip, asked.

"...Sothing caught my attention during the vacation."

Oh—the Sous Chef was, for once, broaching a personal topic. He'd always expected him to smile and move on, as usual. The Parti Chef answered happily.

"Sothing caught your attention?"

"Perhaps."

"Sounds like you've found yourself an entertaining headache."

"An impressive turn of phrase."

"Is it a student you've taken a liking to, like before? Or have you gotten a pet?"

"...Certainly young enough to be called a student, but...."

He soon continued.

"...Let's say, a little nesis?"

A little nesis?

The Parti Chef nearly burst into laughter but held it in. He hadn't expected to hear a word like 'nesis' from the mouth of Karel, who usually carried himself like a dignified gentleman.

"Don't tell you've gotten a nephew or sothing?"

"Hardly."

"For sothing that isn't that, you're paying it quite a bit of attention."

"I received a proposal to beco friends."

"Good heavens, friends?"

"The second proposal, at that."

"Oh...."

The Parti Chef was impressed.

"You don't seem displeased about it."

"I rejected the first proposal rather unpleasantly, so I hadn't expected a second."

"I don't know what sort of brazen youngster this is, but if they've caught Karel's eye, they must be quite the talent?"

"Talented, yes."

"A chef? Or a gourmand?"

"Both."

"My word."

A good cook was also a fine gourmand. If they'd caught 'Karel's' eye, they must possess remarkable ability. Naturally, the Parti Chef assud this 'little nesis' was an aspiring chef.

"Was there a reason behind the friendship proposal? Wanting to beco the famous Karel's assistant, perhaps?"

"Then I wouldn't have used the word nesis."

"Hmm, well then...."

"......"

With a calm smile, Karel answered.

"He said we'd each have sothing to gain."

"Brazen indeed."

"A friend worthy of saying so."

"My."

Already defending him, no less. He called them a nesis, but there was a favoritism he was trying to hide.

"So, will you accept the friendship proposal?"

"I'm thinking it over."

"Hmm, is there a reason for that as well?"

"I'm frightened that he'll end up leading around."

"Please tell you're joking."

"I was joking."

Which ant it wasn't a joke.

"Wow, you really did have quite the vacation."

"Spectacular enough to make a film."

He shrugged.

"I ca back having lost a fair bit of face."

"You, Karel?"

"Embarrassing as it is—a little."

"If there's sothing to learn even from a young student, you should learn it. I think that's one of your good qualities, Karel."

The Parti Chef added with a grin, teasingly.

"Sounds like you've found a good teacher."

"A teacher."

"Hmm? By your own account, in so respects?"

"...Aha...."

"......?"

"......"

When the silence grew uncomfortable, Karel asked the Parti Chef.

"Is the Head Chef in?"

"Ah, of course. He's always the first to arrive."

"I'd like to have a brief conversation."

"What about, if you don't mind...."

"Henri."

He gave the Parti Chef's forehead a light poke.

"Thanks to you, it was easy to sort my thoughts."

"......"

"I enjoyed our conversation."

"......"

The Parti Chef, who'd been sitting blankly, startled and looked at him.

"...Oh, um, uh, Karel? Good Lord, did I doze off?"

"I'd heard you helped with ingredient prep until dawn, but I didn't think you'd actually fall asleep in front of ."

"What? Ah, good heavens. I'm sorry, Sous Chef. My mind's been like this lately.... What were we just talking about?"

Karel said casually.

"The story about a pea nearly sliding off the counter all the way to a guest's table?"

"Damn, that's right. That was it. That was really nerve-wracking."

"I'll excuse myself from our pleasant conversation, Henri. I should go pay my respects to the Head Chef."

"Aah... of course. I talked too much. See you in the kitchen later."

"Yes, then."

He smiled.

"I'll be counting on you."

After all, once The Guest Without Taste was gone, the next Sous Chef would be him.

***

Pitter, pat.

"Ah...."

The young man looked up.

"It's raining again."

At that, the other young man—Rawi—quipped.

"The weather here is really sothing, isn't it?"

"It generally tends to be."

"Do you guys have climate crisis issues here too?"

"I'd say it's more the crisis itself...."

Seo unfolded the map once more.

"This way. Keep up."

"Ah... I really hate the Golden Grotto...."

"The guild doesn't always assign a senior to accompany you like this, so you should familiarize yourself while you have a guide like ."

"I'll do my best."

Rawi asked with an easygoing face.

"Is the atmosphere here always like this?"

"Hm?"

"No, it's just a bit scary."

"...Ah."

After studying his junior's face, Seo nodded.

"The Gaps can be like that."

The Gap society. A secondary social structure ford from the accumulation of sensitivities, mories, symbols, labyrinths, and other things that ordinary human life couldn't accommodate. A world built upon 'the residue of everything reality has excluded.'

"Most of what lives here isn't human."

"How hurtful—to my eyes, everyone looks about the sa."

"Only on the outside. The internal organ structures are all different."

Seo shrugged.

"Mine included."

Unlike Rawi, who was human, he was a mage.

"By the way, you should watch your words. I know you're talking because you trust in several ways, but artists without backing like you... can be exploited easily."

Rawi put on a deliberately sulky face.

"I was counting on you to help, Senior."

"Mm... but I've got my own work to do. I need to make money."

"You know you're sneakily the blunt type, right?"

"Hm? Ah, MBTI.... Keep that kind of Surface terminology in check, too."

"Ugh, I'm trying."

"Try harder."

"Yes sir...."

Watching Rawi shrink, Seo added.

"Still, you're doing well for a human who's new to the Gaps. I don't know how you found your way here, but the kind of guild you found—broker and interdiary type—is the safest."

"Ah, well, I do have good instincts."

"Good to hear. But just in case, avoid assassination guilds and the Wanderer's League. And don't even cross paths with ritual guilds that have a strong religious bent."

"Hmm...."

Rolling his eyes, Rawi asked.

"I can roughly tell from the nas alone. The first is like hired killers, and the second is like a cult, right?"

"You catch on fast. The missions are brutal, and violating a contract can get you an on-the-spot tribunal. The Wanderer's League is like a lawless market—perfect for getting backstabbed."

"Yikes...."

Seo vaulted over a stone wall.

"This way."

"Yes sir, Senior."

Entering an alley, Seo continued.

"At least the interdiary guild you picked is the best option for selling labor."

"Ah, thank you. I'm about thirty percent less scared now."

"Of course, it's basically a black market too."

"Scared again, but I'll tough it out."

"Good lad."

Seo scanned the surroundings again as he moved on.

"But interdiaries vary, so register carefully. So are practically assassination guilds with the dangerous commissions they post, and plenty forge illegal contracts with young, clueless artists."

"Does 'illegal' even an anything here?"

"Fair point. Embarrassing, as a native. I'd been thinking I should take good care of my newly acquired junior."

"Aw, you're already doing plenty~ Our Senior."

"Good, then."

After a mont's deliberation, he looked at his junior, Rawi.

"...What do you think about the Sensitivity Bureau?"

"Ah, I don't want to belong to a governnt agency."

"Aha."

Seo accepted it.

"If that's your own choice, I won't say more."

"Thank you, Senior. I'm blessed with good people."

"So how is it?"