chapter 13
chapter 13
Rest, Hotel Basement – “The Living Swimming Pool” (1)
[User: Han Gain (Wisdom)
Day: 3
Current Location: Basement Floor, Billiards Room
Sage’s Advice: 3]
“Seriously, you can’t even push the cue straight? I showed you already—grip it tight here, hold the angle with your left hand, and just go straight!”
“Hyung, I told you—I’ve never played billiards…”
It was unfair.
There are plenty of things to do in life besides billiards and games, yet Jincheol had been nagging me for twenty minutes straight.
At least—
While wandering through the facilities, the “Sage’s Advice” hadn’t triggered at all.
On the first day, when we tried to go to the basement, it warned us that it was dangerous.
So why was it fine now?
The difference between then and now…
Back then—
There were monsters on the first floor.
Maybe those things had come from the basement.
There was still too much we didn’t know about this hotel.
Eun-sol’s guess from yesterday turned out to be correct.
From the outside, the facilities looked like normal rooms.
But once you opened the door—
Entire worlds unfolded.
At this point, we weren’t even surprised anymore.
Everyone just went off to enjoy themselves.
Eun-sol went to the bar.
Song went to the zoo.
Elena to the swimming pool.
Seungyeop to the PC room.
And me—
I got stuck here with Jincheol.
Because billiards couldn’t be played alone.
“…It’s kind of weird,” I said. “The facilities are great, but since it’s just us, it feels empty.”
“Yeah… I wonder if Eun-sol is having fun drinking alone. Song probably has animals to look at. But Seungyeop? Without internet, what’s he even doing?”
“His game doesn’t really need people next to him.”
“I know what League is. But without internet, what’s the point?”
“…Maybe it’s better if we just gather together.”
Clack—
My cue completely missed the ball and struck the table edge.
Jincheol immediately put his cue down.
“Alright, we’re done. Playing with someone who can’t even hit the ball isn’t fun.”
That was a relief.
Where should we go?
Honestly—
There was only one answer.
“Hyung! How about the swimming pool?”
Of course.
Any guy would think the same.
“I don’t even have a swimsuit.”
“Elena went without one and didn’t come back, so there must be swimsuits inside. Just like the cues here.”
“…That’s not how normal hotels work.”
“This isn’t a normal hotel.”
After some persuasion—
He agreed.
As we walked out—
We ran into Seungyeop and Eun-sol.
“Ah, you guys too.”
“Yeah… being alone at the bar felt weird,” Eun-sol said.
“And the PC room has no internet…” Seungyeop added.
“So where are we going?”
“I bet you’re all heading to the pool.”
…Caught.
“Let’s just go,” Eun-sol laughed.
We all agreed.
Then—
Seungyeop spoke.
“I heard something earlier.”
“What kind of sound?”
“That notification sound. Like when the hotel display updates.”
“Gain?”
“…No warning from the advice.”
“Then it’s probably fine.”
So—
We moved on.
＊
/Today’s surprise event! “The Living Swimming Pool” is now open!/
＊
Now I understood.
Why Jincheol hesitated.
Despite his strength—
He couldn’t swim.
“Guh—! Cough!—!”
His flailing filled the pool with noise.
“You said you could swim.”
“I… learned when I was young…”
“…In your mother’s womb?”
Not a joke.
He was terrible.
A 190 cm giant—
Thrashing helplessly in the water.
Even Elena—
With her incredible swimming—
Faded into the background.
Everyone just leaned against the wall—
Watching him.
It was honestly entertaining.
After all—
He had spent all morning mocking me for billiards.
Then—
Song arrived.
“Ah! You’re all here!”
“Go change—second room on the left. Swimsuits appear inside.”
“…You say that so casually.”
This place really was insane.
“How was the zoo?” I asked.
“…You should go together later.”
“…Why?”
“It’s strange. Not a normal zoo.”
“What do you mean?”
“There are animals—but not ones we know.”
“Maybe you just don’t recognize them.”
“I saw over ten kinds. None of them were familiar.”
“…Then maybe we shouldn’t go.”
“Yeah… maybe.”
An unknown zoo.
Probably not safe.
And then—
Something changed.
A disturbance—
Right in the middle of the pool.