Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Crimson Lotus Hotel
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“Did I just see something that wasn't there...?”
It had been too vivid a scene to dismiss as a hallucination.
The neighbor from next door, shouting some slogan and throwing up her arms in a cheer until our eyes met...
Honestly, male instinct had kept me from properly checking her face.
A black bikini armor inside a red cape, nothing else covering that dizzyingly revealing figure...
What kind of fantasy world outfit was that...?
“Hoo...”
She seemed like a weirdo, so I decided to avoid getting involved as much as possible.
Before the exhibitionist neighbor came back out of her house, I hurried downstairs and hopped into the taxi I'd called.
“Crimson Lotus Hotel, right~?”
“Yes~ Phew...”
Once inside the taxi, a strange sense of relief washed over me, and I let out a long sigh. The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and asked,
“Something up~? See something scary~?”
“Ah... Kinda like that...”
If having a lunatic next door counted as scary, then yeah.
“Just let me know when you arrive~”
I asked the driver to alert me, then opened the Gallery.
“Got it~”
Connected to the Gallery
[What's up with the C-grade gear in the auction house right now???]
[Questions about that Well-Honed Shortsword up in the auction house]
[Ugh... Some scrub with a C-grade one-hand shield flashing it around...]
[First time seeing descriptors like that—do they come with special effects?]
[Isn't that shortsword the one the blacksmith made earlier in the auction house?]
‘Oh...’
I'd checked the Gallery bait before heading to the auction house, just in case, and sure enough, everyone was buzzing about the C-grade gear I'd put up.
Not only had two C-grade items dropped at once, but both had special descriptors attached.
‘Gotta hold back for a while.’
I'd sold anonymously, so no issue there, but I decided to avoid [Name Engraving] on private trades for a bit.
I'd need to keep selling gear steadily, and a flood of descriptored items might raise eyebrows.
Anyway, bidding wars had already kicked off after just ten minutes, prices shooting up.
At this rate, it'd hit eight figures as calculated.
In other words, financial freedom on day one as an Awakener.
My studio lease was locked for at least three months, so I'd save up during that time and buy a nice place outright.
For me, the computer was the forge, and the house was just the plot of land it sat on. No need to skimp—I planned to spend freely.
I could roll another gacha in four hours anyway. Money worries? Completely gone.
Life goal from the orphanage days: eat well, live well. Solved too easily.
‘Now what?’
Time to ponder the ultimate question of how to spend my days.
For now, fill this starving belly with fancy food, then think slowly.
“Thank you~”
About forty minutes by taxi to Crimson Lotus Hotel.
Buzz buzz.
‘What's that?’
I wanted to dive right into the buffet, but the atmosphere inside seemed off.
Some celebrity show up? With Crimson Lotus Hotel, it was plausible, but none of my business.
“Reservation under Shin Yujun.”
“Mr. Shin Yujun, confirmed. We'll guide you inside~”
The staff led me to a seat on the opposite side from the commotion.
“Something going on?”
“Ah... The hotel owner's dining here right now...”
“A~~~h...”
Oh. Nothing big, then.
“Enjoy your time.”
Hotel owner meant loaded, sure, but enough to cause a stir?
I ignored the noisy side entirely and started piling food.
“Whoa~...”
Foods orphans like me could never touch during those long years of scorn and hardship... well, not that dramatic, but still.
Way better than the rare special meals when Twilight Guild's master visited for PR.
“Ugh...”
To think I'd gone twenty years without this... Once the money rolled in, long-term stay here sounded tempting.
After thirty nonstop minutes of gorging, a brief break.
“Crimson Lotus Hotel lives up to the hype...”
“Crimson Lo... Ah.”
Crimson Lotus Hotel belonged to Crimson Lotus Guild, so the owner was their master.
Meaning Chae Yeonhwa was over there right now.
‘...’
Suddenly made sense why it was so rowdy.
‘Damn, now I'm curious...’
Surprisingly, Chae Yeonhwa was Korea's most famous Awakener—and the one whose face was least known.
She shunned scandals, limiting public appearances outside hunts. I'd never even seen a photo.
Chance to glimpse a celeb? I got up and headed to the buffet displays.
Belly full, but tons of new foods left. Quick refill.
Then, pretending to get turned around—nobody'd notice—I veered toward her presumed spot.
The noise had died down; everyone eating normally.
But all eyes locked on one corner table.
‘There.’
I strolled toward the focal point, feigning confusion and glancing around.
Reached the table cluster and looked.
“Mm...?”
A super cute girl munching a burger looked up at me.
“Whoa, she's freaking adorable...”
The words slipped out. I bolted back to my seat.
‘Damn... Chae Yeonhwa already left?’
Back at my spot, I dug into the fresh haul.
‘Tastes great...’
Still bummed about missing her, but blacksmithing might cross paths someday.
Vowed to craft a fire staff and send it her way.
Another twenty leisurely minutes in, I spotted that cute girl from afar, pointing my way with a staffer.
‘Huh?’
No clue what, but she was too adorable—I waved without thinking.
She chattered at the staffer, then vanished from sight.
Whatever it was, urgent stuff meant they'd come over. I kept eating.
Total eat-fest: hour and a half.
Planned to tough it to closing, but full and bored now. Could come anytime, so time to go.
“No re-entry after leaving. Done for the day?”
“Yeah~”
Paid by card, grabbed it to leave—but staff took it back.
“Payment issue?”
“No... It's just...”
Seemed she had words. I waited.
Wait, she was the one talking to that cute kid earlier. Message for me?
“She hates being called cute...”
“Huh?”
Out of nowhere. Zero sense.
“You called Crimson Lotus Guild Master cute earlier...”
“Huh?”
Still nonsense.
“Said she'd punish you if it happened again... Asked me to warn you...”
“Huh?”
Only called that super cute kid cute...
“...That was the Guild Master?”
“Yes...”
“Chae Yeonhwa??”
“Yes...”
Stunned, I looked around. Staff assured she'd left the building.
A weird confidence surged. Worst case, she kill me? I teased the staffer.
“Honestly, she is cute, right?”
“...”
“I'll keep it secret, so spill. Super cute, yeah?”
“Ahaha...”
“Aw... Anyway, I'm out. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Thank you. Have a great day~”
Left in high spirits.
Can't leave a review?
Five stars: “Food's great, rice is cute.”
Anyway, saw Korea's top Awakener, ate till stuffed. Home time.
‘Taxi...’
Was gonna cab back, but how much cash left?
Balance: 16,800 won
“Ah...”
Not enough for a cab.
“Haa...”
Idiot—thought only about going, not returning.
No choice: subway, then trek up that damn hill.
Yeah... Mental fatigue from crafting C- and B-grades.
Definitely not stupidity.
Hurry home, crash, roll that six-pull. Rushed to the station.
“Hoo...”
Subway ride itself? No biggie.
Seoul's system rocks, past 10 a.m., plenty of seats.
Beep-
Problem starts now.
Thirty-minute hike from station to home.
Out the station, up the escalator exit.
Spotted a woman heading in—and reacted on reflex.
“Huh?!”
“Ahh...”
“That weirdo from ear—mmph!!!”
Kidnapped by the exhibitionist neighbor next door.