Our Hotel Is Open for Business as Usual

Rewinding a little, to when Lee Yeon-woo returned to his quarters after concluding his encounter with the "Lover of Dawn" in the piping.

"I have learned one of the 'Lover of Dawn's' abilities."

Having completed minimal first aid, Lee Yeon-woo immediately began sketching in his mind a concrete plan for forging a contract with the "Lover of Dawn" as peaceably as possible.

"It is, quite literally, a technique I stole by observation, so it is not equipped with an automated system. But if I use it well, I should be able to read the memories of the 'lady' that Margareta loved."

"The lady?"

"Yes. I have already read the memories from the 'Lover of Dawn's' perspective through Hoone's gimmick, but no one knows what the 'lady' herself was thinking at the time."

"Hello?"

"I am not certain."

Lee Yeon-woo swallowed a contemplative hum, gazing at the four "mementos" lined up on the examination table.

Above all, Black Magic was not—and had never been—his intended field of study, so a degree of workaround and fusion was needed.

"Blood Magic also has a technique for forcibly extracting memories embedded in blood. And since Hoone has its own unique mechanism called 'Memory Cards,' I should be able to adapt it, much as I did when building the Emergency Restoration Protocol."

"Coco. Interested."

"I can roughly guess what part caught your interest."

Black Magic had a tendency to offload its costs and burdens not onto the caster but onto others, or even the universe at large. Coco had evidently judged that, from a risk-distribution standpoint, Black Magic was far preferable to Blood Magic.

And yet, unlike before, it did not forcefully impose its opinion….

'That must be proof of growth in its own way.'

It seemed that during the period Lee Yeon-woo's conscience had been absent, Coco, too, had undergone a change of heart.

Thinking this, Lee Yeon-woo gently stroked the squishy body of Coco, curled in a round ball on the examination table. Coco looked up at him with its characteristically round eyes.

"Coco squishy."

"Yes, exceedingly squishy."

"Hehe."

The creature had been glued to his side all along, and yet, with the return of just one "conscience," he felt a fresh surge of gladness.

"……."

If he thought about it that way, it also meant that building new "positive emotions" was going smoothly.

"In any case, I have grasped the theory."

"Hello?"

"Before I begin the main work, several tests will be needed to ensure stability… but sharing knowledge and information through 'blood' as a medium is certainly as advantageous as it is dangerous."

No matter how unpleasant and burdensome the process.

"The problem, however, is whether the 'Lover of Dawn' will sit still while this work is being carried out."

"No?"

"I thought as much."

"Rude guest."

"Her reaction down in the piping was certainly less than favorable."

Lee Yeon-woo murmured, looking down at the poppy-engraved silver comb.

"She was perfectly happy to devour me before, and now that something truly resembling the 'lady' appears, she recoils in fright. Contradictory, but I can roughly understand what sort of feelings drive such defensive behavior."

"Eeng."

"How regrettable."

With this, the rough outline of how the upcoming "banquet" should proceed was taking shape.

"I had hoped to resolve this peacefully through dialogue."

It seemed unlikely they could avoid bloodshed entirely.

'Ideally, I would like it to end with only my own blood being spilled.'

"No? No?"

"Oh dear, Coco."

Evidently reading his thoughts, Coco sprang upright on its short legs and protested vigorously. Lee Yeon-woo caught the squirming Coco and gave it a gentle kneading.

"It is more rational for the side that feels no pain and recovers quickly to bear the greater burden."

"Eeeng…."

The thoroughly kneaded Coco soon went limp and soft. It was decidedly less willful and stubborn than before. It seemed to have resolved to respect his preferences.

"I am sorry. Let us endure just a little longer. It will be over soon."

"Yes."

"And after that, shall we have a nice meal together?"

"Yes…!"

"Good—the gluttonous cat I know so well has returned at last."

A splendid conclusion to negotiations.

'For the moment, though….'

Lee Yeon-woo's gaze fell to the floor.

"Kong."

"Kong-kong."

Two foxes, their dainty snouts twitching ceaselessly.

"……."

Good grief.

The number of animals he had to persuade had just increased by two.

* * *

And returning to the present, there was something Lee Yeon-woo had come to realize.

"Um, we object."

"I also object."

It was not, it seemed, a simple matter that could be resolved by persuading only animals.

"……."

The center of the living room in Room 1209, where all the human guests had gathered.

Lee Yeon-woo removed his glasses for a moment and dragged a gloved hand down his face. Presently, replacing the glasses, he opened his mouth with his characteristic business smile.

"If I recall correctly, you did say just a moment ago that you would help me."

"Did we really mean we'd help with 'that kind of thing'?"

"'That kind of thing,' you say—it should not be so difficult a task."

Lee Yeon-woo explained in his soft, measured way.

"It is a sort of 'defense game.'"

The essence of the "banquet" the General Manager had prepared was straightforward.

"While I safely complete the ritual, you need only hold off the 'Lover of Dawn's' offensive as she tries to stop it. If the ritual concludes successfully, the 'Lover of Dawn' can be subdued with ease."

"An interesting proposal in its own right."

Dan-cheong cut in, stroking her chin.

"But can you be certain that method is truly effective?"

"Yes. Once the ritual is complete, I can forge a contract with the 'Lover of Dawn.' Once she formally becomes a member of this hotel, she will be subject to the system's constraints and will no longer be able to rampage."

"She would not be able to defy the orders of 'the lady,' true. And if she is a labyrinth with such a 'story,' that rule would be all the more absolute. However…."

What Dan-cheong truly wished to point out was something else.

"To my ears, that sounds like a variant of 'Overwrite.'"

She turned to look at Hyeon Si-gyeong.

"Am I wrong?"

"There are overlapping aspects."

"Whether that is really an acceptable thing to do, I cannot begin to fathom."

Dan-cheong's gaze took in the Dokkaebi wearing a neat face. No different in the slightest from the "General Manager's," yet it looked for all the world like a different person.

"A creature that already has the heavyweight 'Devil' overwritten onto it now wants to absorb the Black Mage who gave birth to the 'White Crow' as well?"

"……."

"Setting aside the fact that I'm the Sensitivity Bureau's Director—even objectively, wouldn't you agree the safety margins have hit rock bottom? What are your thoughts on that?"

At her words, Lee Yeon-woo's expression turned subtle.

He might have been displeased, or uncomfortable. But before his reaction could be parsed, he'd already returned to his usual face and replied.

"It seems a considerable number of misunderstandings about me have accumulated."

"Misunderstandings—let's hear it, then."

"I am honored you would give me the chance."

Lee Yeon-woo continued in a calm voice.

"First, I barely know the person called 'The Devil.'"

"Would you look at that?"

"Above all, I was an ordinary person."

"Good heavens?"

"And so I was about to say that the 'safety' concern you raise was resolved long ago, but…."

Lee Yeon-woo acknowledged reality with equanimity.

"It seems you do not believe a word I say."

"Perceptive, aren't you?"

"How regrettable."

"Honestly, now."

Dan-cheong folded her arms and clicked her tongue inwardly. If he talked like that, then—appearances aside—the two were clearly influencing each other.

'Lee Yeon-woo controls The Devil, and The Devil isolates Lee Yeon-woo… both sides are remarkably headstrong.'

It was clear that when Lee Yeon-woo's reason dimmed and the "General Manager" persona thickened, he became plainly aware that he was "The Devil."

'Either it's a structure where memory is only partially shared between personalities, or The Devil is ceaselessly scheming within the General Manager's interior, blocking memories.'

If so, there was no point in probing further and provoking a backlash. Stoking Lee Yeon-woo's confusion and waking the barely sleeping Devil beneath would only be asking for trouble.

By nature, interacting with a spiritual being like a Dokkaebi demanded unconditional compromise and flexible acceptance.

'But the real problem is….'

It circled back to the starting point: the safety issue could not be ignored.

"……."

"I must look thoroughly untrustworthy."

Lee Yeon-woo, having calmly weathered Dan-cheong's gaze through the silence, said in a low voice.

"I know what you mean by 'Overwrite.' But what I intend to do is far safer. It is true that I am concretizing a memory, but I am not overwriting it onto myself."

"That sounds much the same to me."

"Then I have no intention of forcing my approach."

The room was divided, but he did not push his opinion.

"What unpredictable behavior the 'Lover of Dawn' may exhibit, now that she is free of control, is an unknown. But I, too, agree that my alternative is not exactly a healthy solution."

At that candid admission, Dan-cheong's mood grew truly peculiar.

'Among all the human whelps I've seen, this sort is exceedingly rare.'

He acknowledged, without pretense, that his choice was not the best, and he did not throw a tantrum about it.

His essence was that of a monster, yet he liked humans and sought to protect them. Not merely their bodies but even the wounds left on their hearts—he wished to watch over those too.

'Above all, he knows full well that self-sacrifice is not the only correct answer, and that it may be nothing more than self-satisfaction.'

That must be why he spoke of a "healthy solution."

'What a waste.'

A temperament far too fine-grained to be caught up in the karma of a blood-soaked labyrinth like this.

'And yet, had it not been him, there would have been no one else capable of controlling the notorious Devil. A narrative completed through tragedy, one might say.'

That, too, befitted the master of a labyrinth.

"So what will you do now?"

"I shall keep working on a method."

Lee Yeon-woo answered as nonchalantly as if it were nothing.

"A way to keep the 'Lover of Dawn' from harming any of you, and a way to contract with her and bring this matter to a good close."

"And the banquet you said you were preparing?"

"An invitation is only an invitation—it is never compulsory."

At that, Dan-cheong thought privately, 'He makes rather human analogies,' and was impressed. It was exceedingly rare for a spiritual being—indigenous or foreign—to draw parallels with human common sense and institutions.

Whether or not he sensed Dan-cheong's inner thoughts, Lee Yeon-woo continued with perfect composure.

"You are free to check out at any time you wish."

The minimum conditions for departure had already been more than met, the General Manager explained. At this, the Director asked once more, as if to confirm.

"I have heard that the General Manager is restructuring this labyrinth into a sort of 'game.'"

"A suggestion from Mr. Hyeon Si-gyeong, I see."

Lee Yeon-woo nodded.

"I did ask for your help in the process of settling matters with the 'Lover of Dawn,' but that must not become an obligation. 'Help' is always at the heart of the one who gives it, is it not?"

He rose from his seat.

"As it happens, I, too, am at a point where recovery is needed. Thanks to your raising the matter, I can focus on repairing myself and the facilities for the time being. And as for Director Lee Seon-hae and Writer Hong Gyeong-yeon…."

"Uh, are we in trouble?"

"I think we're in trouble."

"Oh dear—what standing would I, a mere hotel General Manager, have to scold you? I could never presume to do such a thing to our guests. Please, do stay comfortably for the remainder of your time here."

"I'd rather you scold us."

"I feel like I've been given up on…."

Lee Yeon-woo merely shrugged.

"Thanks to the two of you coming to help, Mr. Kwon Do-heon was able to remain safe."

"Oh…."

"I am sincerely grateful."

Lee Yeon-woo turned his gaze to Kwon Do-heon and the owl perched on his shoulder.

"The same goes for the two of you, for holding on this far."

"Ah, me? Us? Ah, uh…."

While Kwon Do-heon stammered, Seome cried.

"Hoot."

"Yes. There will certainly be a good way."

The moment he finished, Lee Yeon-woo headed for the door. Lee Seon-hae, flustered, called after him.

"Leaving already? Stay and talk a bit more."

"I am sorry, but regrettably, my work is not yet done."

"That work of yours is harmful to you in the first place—"

"I will see you again soon."

Lee Yeon-woo offered a courteous parting bow to the very end, then left the room without lingering.

"Have a good time, then."

Click—

The door closed.

"……."

"……."

After a long silence, Cha Do-hyeon, who had been sitting in a corner, remarked in a crooked tone.

"…He doesn't say 'a terrible time' anymore."

Confusing as the situation was, one thing was certain: that irksome infant Dokkaebi had not spared Cha Do-hyeon a single glance, not once, all the way until he walked out the door.

* * *

"Hello?"

"Well…."

Back in his quarters, Lee Yeon-woo pushed up his glasses with a troubled expression.

"I simply cannot figure out what expression to wear."

"Avoidance."

"If I faced him head-on, I did not think I could manage my expression. There is no need to show a shaken face to someone who does not even know me."

"Someone who does not know you."

"Yes."

To him, Cha Do-hyeon was already a dead person.

"Separate from the relief that he is alive, setting aside whether my own feelings are all right or not…."

How to put it.

"The truth is, he feels like an entirely different person. Personally, I believe that the greater part of a person's identity comes from 'memory.'"

"Cha Do-hyeon? Not him?"

"He is surely the person called Cha Do-hyeon, but if you ask whether he is 'that' Cha Do-hyeon I knew—I am not sure. Nor is the present situation so leisurely that I can sit and chew on such philosophical questions."

"Discard?"

"Rather than discard…."

It was not a situation that warranted such a grand word. Lee Yeon-woo concluded matter-of-factly.

"He is a stranger."

That was all.

* * *

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* * *

"Seome!"

My sibling called me.

"Is it still hard to find the way?"

"I'm sorry—it's because I took your body…."

"What are you saying? You didn't make this situation. If anyone should be sorry, it's me, for acting recklessly."

Seosang, wearing my body, made a tearful face.

"I underestimated the 'Fox Den.' I'm really sorry, Seome."

"Don't be."

I truly did not resent him.

"If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't even have thought to escape from that place."

"And if it hadn't been for you, Seome, I'd never have found the courage to leave that village."

"Then let's stop apologizing to each other."

I forced a smile.

"Let's push on a little more and look for the way. How's my body? Getting used to it?"

"It's still hard. Everything looks like a 'path' in every direction, so I can't tell them apart at all."

"I never really knew how to use it myself, so it's hard to give advice."

"At least I can walk this much now, so that's something. Look—I'm walking pretty well."

When our bodies first switched, neither of us could even stand properly. Seosang, who had gained the body of an Artist-evolved mage, had struggled even more than Seome, who'd received the body of an elemental spirit close to water.

"We're adapting like this, so from here on, things can only get better. Give me your hand."

"You know your body temperature is really cold because you're water?"

"Come to think of it, you were wood, weren't you, Seome?"

We conversed softly as we walked through the dark.

"As long as I have you, Seome, everything's fine. I can do anything."

"……."

Onward.

"…Me too."

Further onward.

"Thank you."

"Likewise."

"We'll always be together, right?"

Gripping each other's hands tight, we simply pressed on.

"Don't leave me behind, Seosang…."

What did the touch of that hand feel like?

* * *

FLUTTER—

A white owl alighted softly on the woman's hand.

"……."

The corners of the woman's mouth curved into an arc.

"Of course, Seome."

What flowed from the woman's lips was Seosang's voice.

"We're always together."

"……."

"Just like when we were born."

A tone sweet enough to raise goosebumps.

"Together even in death…."

The classical labyrinth, the "White Crow," flew off and vanished into the darkness.

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