Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Loading and Unloading (4)
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"Why did the points suddenly...?"
"Y-Yeah, right? 2,000 points, no less..."
People around us murmured in disbelief.
Fortunately, it seemed no one had seen me toss in the name tag.
I was flustered too.
To think that tiny name tag was worth 2,000 points.
Maybe items related to monsters give high points, I thought.
If so, the next target would be monster name tags.
My cowardly instincts started creeping up again.
Sure, I'd won easily this time, but it might not be the same with other monsters.
It was terrifying, but if this was the only way to escape—
'I might have no choice...'
A famous line from a hero comic popped into my head now of all times.
'With great power comes great responsibility,' or something like that.
Seeing people get hurt and vanish right in front of me, even a coward like me was being forced into action.
The lobby sank back into heavy silence and anxiety.
10,000 points. We'd filled half, but with people who hadn't returned, we couldn't just celebrate.
"...What do we do now?"
The pressure to head out for the next search, combined with the fear of facing another monster, weighed down the lobby's atmosphere.
We huddled around the settlement hole, holding our breath as we waited for the other group to return.
That's when it happened.
Click-clack, click-clack.
From one side of the lobby, down the hallway, came an unnatural footstep sound.
The slow, rhythmic noise was enough to set everyone's nerves on edge.
All eyes turned toward the source.
"Maybe it's the other group coming back?"
"But those footsteps sound a bit— Gulp...!"
Someone started to speak but swallowed hard.
Emerging from the darkness was a mannequin dressed in a flashy, luxurious purple dress.
It wore a wide-brimmed hat on its head and a jeweled necklace around its neck.
Unlike its elegant attire, its face was featureless, and its joints bent in grotesque ways.
From its outfit, it was clearly a 'guest' type monster, different from the cleaner mannequin from before.
Click-clack, click-clack.
"...!"
With nowhere to run, we held our breath and could only watch as the mannequin approached.
It slowly walked to the center of the lobby and stopped.
Then, it began turning its head with creepy clicks—snap, snap.
The mannequin started scanning us one by one.
It had no eyes, yet I was certain it was looking at us.
After observing us for a moment, it pulled a green marker from its bosom.
Then it approached the exploration team guy nearest to it, who was clutching the 'hotel guidebook.'
Scribble.
"U-Ugh...!"
While the man froze in terror, the mannequin casually drew a green checkmark on the guidebook's cover.
The tense man dropped the guidebook, and it thudded to the floor.
The mannequin turned back around and headed toward where our group was clustered.
My heart pounded like it would burst.
This felt different from the hotel staff mannequin.
Up close, it seemed much taller and sturdier.
My mind raced.
'...W-What do I do? Attack first? But it doesn't seem aggressive...'
The mannequin stopped in front of the college girl, who was on the verge of tears from fear.
Then, just like on the guidebook, it left a green checkmark on her forearm.
"Mmph!"
The college girl swallowed hard.
She was too terrified to move.
Creak! Creak!
The dress-wearing mannequin twisted its body side to side, shoulders heaving.
It looked like dancing—or laughing.
After leaving checkmarks in two places, the 'guest' mannequin elegantly turned and vanished back the way it came, as if it had just finished shopping.
Only after the click-clacking of its high heels faded did the lobby erupt in stifled cries and confused chatter.
"Hah... Hah...!"
"What the hell was that?!"
"Why the checkmark...?"
"A green checkmark... No way..."
People fell into chaos. The relief of not being attacked was overshadowed by dread over what that bizarre action meant.
Monsters fundamentally didn't do things to help humans.
"Damn it! Let's check and see!"
A rough-looking man snatched the fallen hotel guidebook from the floor.
Without hesitation, he tossed it into the settlement hole.
Everyone's eyes locked on the numbers above the hole.
[11,500 / 20,000]
The number went up.
By a whopping 1,500 points.
That meant the green checkmark the mannequin had drawn really worked.
Whatever it marked became something that could be 'settled' for points.
"It's real...?"
"Then, does that mean..."
A chilling silence descended on the lobby.
Then, slowly, very slowly, everyone's gaze turned to one spot.
To the college girl, trembling in fear, where the mannequin had left a green checkmark on her arm alongside the guidebook.
"A-Ah... Uuugh..."
Feeling the eyes on her, she burst into tears.
She had become an entity that could be 'settled' for points too.
Terrified, the college girl trembled and backed away.
Right then, the middle-aged woman from our group blocked her path and snapped sharply.
"Why are you staring like that? Like you want to eat her alive! Everyone, get a grip!"
"N-No... Ahem..."
Her shout made some people flinch and look away, but others' eyes didn't change.
This wasn't the time to debate cold water versus hot water.
Monsters truly didn't help humans.
It had created this atmosphere for a mere 1,500 points.
'For real?'
Even I felt my stomach twist at those unpleasant stares.
Extreme situations or not, how could they think like that?
Coward that I was, even I didn't think that way.
People are scarier than ghosts, as the saying goes.
It wasn't wrong.
"H-Hey? Where are you going?"
As I slowly headed toward the lobby exit, a man in work clothes called out to me.
"...I'm going to gather some items."
"...What are you gonna do alone? If a monster spots you..."
"It's fine. I escaped from a monster once already. I'll gather the items, so... don't get any weird ideas."
"..."
I deliberately shouted it loud, then turned and strode down the hallway toward the 'restaurant' area the solo returnee had mentioned.
I don't know where that confidence came from.
I just wanted to escape this horrific atmosphere and divert the stares from that college girl.
But the moment I left the lobby and entered the dark hallway, my bravado melted away like snow.
"...I'm insane."
I muttered to myself.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine, and my legs started shaking.
The restaurant area had 'guests' and 'head chef' monsters, he'd said.
Going there alone? I wasn't right in the head.
But right now, I had to seek out monsters.
'Name tags...'
I knew they were worth 2,000 points each.
Clutching my flashlight, I walked while desperately checking the mental map.
Red dots appeared in clusters at the end of the hallway and inside the restaurant.
'Ah, should I just go back...? No, I already boasted I'd go...'
Torn between pride and fear, crawling along like a turtle, that's when—
"E-Excuse me!"
A urgent voice called from behind.
I turned to see the college girl from before, panting as she followed me.
She must not have been able to stand the lobby's awful vibe either.
Even I found those stares unpleasant; it must've been unbearable for her.
Her face was still streaked with tears and fear, but spotting me brought a faint flicker of relief.
"C-Can... Can I come with you?"
"..."
I hesitated for a moment.
I could manage with my abilities, but she might really be in danger.
But recalling the stares aimed at her in the lobby, I couldn't tell her to go back alone.
And honestly...
"Sure. Let's go together."
It was way better than walking this darkness alone.
Just having her beside me made my shaky legs feel a bit stronger.
I felt a little relieved.
I could protect her somehow.
"...Oppa, speak casually."
"...Should I?"
"What's your name, oppa?"
"I'm... Kim Minjun. You?"
"I'm Rahee. Lee Rahee."
We stood side by side again and cautiously headed toward the restaurant area, where 'guests' and the 'head chef' awaited.
It was still scary and daunting, but not being alone provided a tiny comfort.
"Oh, right... And that guy who came back alone gave me some advice."
Come to think of it, the kitchen was partly explored already.
Though three went and only one returned.
"Basically, as long as you don't provoke them, the 'guest' monsters don't attack. The problem is... the serving waiters and the head chef..."
Rahee grimaced.
"They carry weapons... He was shaking like crazy when he told me."
"...I see..."
I replied casually, but my body shuddered for a moment.
They had weapons.
I wished I had a weapon too.
We carefully made our way down the dark hallway toward the restaurant area.
Beyond the archway entrance, faint light flickered along with the clinking of dishes and silverware.
Clatter, clatter.
I signaled the college girl to be quiet, pressed against the wall, and peered inside.
The wide hall had several tables, surrounded by 'guests.'
Like the dress-wearing one in the lobby, they were mannequins in suits or dresses from various eras.
They sat around the tables, intently eating something.
"Whew..."
Hoping the man's words were true—that guest monsters didn't attack first—I stepped into the restaurant where the guest monsters were dining.