The Power of Promotion

A week had passed.

The reason was that Yu Yeonhwa and Kim Taeseok's party had visited every single day for a whole week.

The problem was that there were no customers other than those two.

'Did I install the entrance too far from the main path?'

When I used the entrance installation skill, I had used it blindly out of desperation.

But it turned out this place was one that awakener didn't frequent.

'Most people move using the map.'

The floor map detailed where monsters spawned and the point of interest for moving floors.

Because of this advantage, there were probably no awakener who didn't carry a map.

"It's not easy."

Emily's weekly salary was 100 points.

In fact, since I was investing every penny earned, the pure profit was currently 0, but if I didn't convert the magic stones to points, I could earn about 2000 points a week.

That meant I was making 20 million won in real money.

'Every week, 20 thousand.'

It meant that repaying the tens of billions in debt accumulated in our family was not far off.

'To do that, I needed more customers and more rooms.'

The method was simple.

If I posted a post on the internet saying that a hotel existed, at least one person would check if it was real.

'The problem is, of course, that I can't leave here, but...'

This place was the 5th floor of the tower.

To return to the point of interest on the 1st floor connected to reality, even if I walked without stopping, it would take half a day.

Of course, as someone without combat ability, it was impossible for me to reach there avoiding monsters for half a day.

"Sigh. I guess I have no choice but to endure."

Looking at the lobby entrance, it was indeed Kim Taeseok's group.

"Same as today?"

I tried to check in as usual, but Kim Taeseok shook his head.

"No. We are about to return."

"Ah. Did you hunt enough?"

"Thanks to you."

He showed a thick magic stone pouch.

'Wow, how much is that?'

Of course, not all of that belonged to Kim Taeseok personally.

He would probably distribute it later. Still, quite a lot of magic stones.

'Jealous. Some people want to return but can't— wait a minute.'

"Found it!"

"W-what did you find?"

Kim Taeseok, startled by my sudden action, yelped.

'Method to bring in guests!'

I grabbed Kim Taeseok's shoulder.

He was surprised by my different attitude, but there was no choice.

'I didn't know there was such a simple method.'

"Mr. Kim Taeseok!"

"Yes, yes?"

"If it's not too much trouble, could I ask for one favor?"

"...What kind of favor?"

I didn't need to go outside myself.

Just ask these people who want to return like Kim Taeseok's party to promote the hotel.

"Since you are returning outside, can I ask you to promote our hotel after you return?"

"Promote...?"

"Yes. As you can see, there are no customers except for Mr. Kim Taeseok's party and Ms. Yu Yeonhwa... ."

Kim Taeseok looked troubled.

"Was it a difficult request?"

However, Kim Taeseok shook his head.

"No, it's not that it's difficult, but I'm worried... I know it's selfish, but..."

I listened carefully to Kim Taeseok's words.

"Hmm. As you know, there are only five rooms, right?"

"Y-yes?"

"Out of those, two are being used by us, one by Ms. Yu Yeonhwa. What if promotion causes us to lose our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rooms? That's the worry."

"Um..."

It was correct.

From the hotel's perspective, the more customers, the better, but from their perspective, fewer customers are better.

"What if we expand the rooms?"

The points I had gathered so far were about 2000 points. Adding one general room costs 1000 points, so I could add two more general rooms.

"Oh. Is that possible?"

"Yes. I can add two rooms right now."

"...Then the worry will be a little less, but I'm still worried that many customers might come. As you know, we have felt the advantages of Yuil Hotel better than anyone."

His party had already experienced the hotel's comfort.

It meant they didn't want to taste the discomfort of no night watch and blankets again due to promotion.

'......I need to invest a little.'

"Then, I'll make a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"Yes. How about making it so that Mr. Kim Taeseok's party can reserve a room with priority anytime?"

It was a function that naturally existed in a hotel.

Additionally, by exercising the authority of the manager, I could prepare the room first for Kim Taeseok's party if I just told them in advance.

"Indeed, that doesn't sound bad."

"Then!"

"I accept the proposal."

Kim Taeseok accepted my proposal and left.

Finally, I didn't have to stare blankly at the lobby with just flies buzzing around.

'Before that, I should expand the rooms first.'

Room

- General room x5 (expansion cost: 1000P)

[Do you want to expand the rooms?]

Expand.

[Expanding the rooms]

[Points remaining: 2196 → 1196]

At that moment.

Kugugung!

The hotel vibrated.

And at the end of the corridor, room 106 appeared.

'It appeared right away?'

At that time.

Click.

From behind the front desk, Emily came out barefoot from the staff breakroom.

"B-before, there was an earthquake!"

"Ah, sorry. Did I wake you because of me?"

"Because of the manager?"

"I expanded one general room just now. Wait a moment."

Kugugugung!

"Kyaah!"

The vibration was the same as before.

The end of the corridor split, and room 107 appeared as well.

[Points remaining: 196]

The remaining points were only 196.

But if only customers come, I can fill it quickly.

"Now, only waiting remains."

One day, suddenly an strange rumor started circulating on the Hunter Gallery.

A rumor that a hotel exists on the tower.

Kang Hancheol, the department manager belonging to the association, received the command from above to verify the truth of the rumor.

"...A hotel on the tower? What kind of nonsense is that."

Still, the command was the command, so Kang Hancheol started the investigation roughly.

The start of the rumor was from a post on the Hunter Gallery.

It was a post with the title 『Introducing the Yuil Hotel on the 5th Floor of the Tower of Trials.』

Since it was located at the top of the Hunter Gallery, many people had already seen the post.

Kang Hancheol slowly read the content of the post.

Honestly, the content was unbelievable.

'It's too exaggerated a rumor.'

The reactions of the comments were the same.

Most opinions were that it was simple trolling or aggro.

It was understandable.

Suddenly a hotel appeared on the 5th floor that thousands and tens of thousands had passed through?

Moreover, claims that you could stretch your legs and sleep in bed there, and even shower, which is unbelievable.

"Shower in the tower..."

To shower in the tower, you had to visit a floor with a lake or pond like the ice pond on the 12th floor, or ask for help from a water attribute mage, otherwise impossible.

And since there were underwater monsters in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the tower's ponds and lakes, showering in the tower was practically a luxury.

However, the reason Kang Hancheol couldn't ignore this post was because there were many suspicious points.

<5th Floor Map>

Official map sold by the association.

Since the price was about 400,000 won, no one would dare to make a fake map because the association would punish severely if manipulated or forged.

But the map attached to the post showed the location of the hotel.

Most areas were covered with censorship due to security, but it was enough to find the way.

"Even comparing, it's the official map. But what is that?"

It was already mentioned in the comments.

If I examined one by one, it didn't make sense.

But for some reason, Kang Hancheol felt reluctant to dismiss it as simple lie.

If the writer's words were true, the impact would never be small.

'On the 5th floor... It would have been better if it was a higher floor.'

The higher the tower, the greater the risk and inconvenience of camping.

'Still, since it's a command from above, I have to investigate properly.'

Kang Hancheol announced that after calling his subordinate staff, he would personally go to the 5th floor in three days.

At that time, Kang Hancheol had the intention to properly investigate while going up.

...

...

Kang Hancheol was currently on the 5th floor with hunters belonging to the association.

"Is the number of monsters originally this low?"

Since it was the first time Kang Hancheol had climbed the tower, he asked curiously.

"It's not originally this low, it's strange."

"Isn't it?"

'How can there be this few?'

While heading towards the destination with such thoughts, the conversation of another party was heard.

"Will there be rooms empty if we go again later?"

'Rooms?'

Was it really true that there was a hotel?

"Excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Is this the path that came out from the hotel just now?"

Pfft.

The other party laughed while looking at each other without making eye contact.

"Was it a first-timer's path?"

"Yes?"

'I was ignored just now...?'

Ignoring me who holds the position of department head at the association?

'It can be.'

Kang Hancheol didn't care much.

"Yes. I am the department head of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠association. My name is Kang Hancheol."

Kang Hancheol showed the association ID in his pocket.

The other party, surprised by the different ID from the usual hunter card, looked at the ID with wide eyes.

"Ah, you are from the association?"

The other party immediately became polite.

'This is when being from the association is good.'

Usually, I get tired from the overwhelming work that I can't even feel the sense of belonging, but seeing this, it didn't seem bad to have joined the association.

"Could I ask for your cooperation?"

"Ah, of course. Did you come because you saw the gallery post?"

"Yes."

"Then, you don't have to worry."

Fortunately, the other party shared the information.

The existence of the hotel was true.

Since it was confirmed to be true, the remaining thing was to go and check directly.

Just as I was about to lead my party members towards the hotel indicated on the map.

"Even now, there might be no rooms available?"

A voice from behind grabbed us.

Another awakener party.

Somehow, the feeling was that more people were gathering as we approached the destination.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do you know Ms. Yu Yeonhwa?"

I couldn't not know.

As an association employee, information about top-tier hunters was naturally in my head.

Yu Yeonhwa.

Vice guild leader of Hwarang Guild, S-rank awakener.

"I know."

"Then you know. She is staying at the hotel there. That's why so many people flocked to see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yu Yeonhwa's face."

"Did you go to see that side too?"

"No, we really came for lodging, but because of those paparazzi-like guys, we got lost and came out."

'She is staying at the hotel?'

"I see. Thank you for telling me. We are going for lodging, not investigation, so it's fine."

"Then..."

With that, I collected one more piece of information.

The information I gathered now was two.

One was that the hotel exists.

The second was that an S-rank, Yu Yeonhwa, was staying at the hotel.

After walking a long way towards the destination.

'Is that it...'

A luxurious entrance door stood out strangely compared to the surrounding scenery.

We cautiously opened the hotel door, and what we saw was a magnificent and splendid hotel lobby.

At that time, the man standing at the front desk said to us.

"Sorry, but all rooms are currently full."