Chapter 4
User activity within the tutorial is limited.
Accept low-difficulty guests, identify the hotel’s horror elements, and stay safe. Even the accessible areas are restricted to the lobby, the operator’s quarters, the power generation room, and the guestroom floors.
“So even though this much Nightmare has accumulated, it can’t be used immediately. From a user’s standpoint, this is quite an inconvenient situation. Once the tutorial ends and everything is forcibly converted into levels, it’ll end up as currency that leaves not a single coin in my pocket.”
“Yes.”
“Unpaid labor has already passed one hundred days….”
It was madness.
“……”
“……”
“…I refuse once again.”
Lee Yeon-woo spoke dryly without even looking at those round eyes that silently pressed him.
“I have no intention of accepting human guests. If I apply the same operating methods from when this was a game to reality, I won’t just face social condemnation — my handcuffed face will be sold on the nine o’clock news.”
He was currently in the power generation room.
“Magnificent.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what era of industry this belongs to, but its safety rating is certainly a failing grade.”
“No.”
“…?”
Old, rusted pipes and massive clusters of machinery. Between them labored machine-humans moving with organic, grotesque motions — the Workers.
“What do you mean no?”
The wide glass window of the control room captured the inefficient yet overwhelming spectacle in a single view.
“In the game, it only showed how full the Nightmare storage was, but this place is far more complex. I suppose that’s because this is reality. Perhaps that’s only natural.”
“Yes.”
“It looks like the fuel storage limit has been exceeded. Where is the surplus going? Does it disperse into the air? Or does it ignore physical laws? If not…”
“……”
There was no answer.
The silence stretched, but Lee Yeon-woo did not press further. He simply followed the shrill flow of the pipes with his eyes.
Is it that it doesn’t know, or that it doesn’t feel the answer is worth giving?
…Probing an uncommunicative counterpart isn’t easy.
I wanted to confirm whether this place is truly the same hotel from the game I spent twenty-six years with.
He still could not determine the hotel’s exact nature. Lee Yeon-woo rolled his eyes dryly. In truth, he already knew where the excess fuel went without asking.
I could map this structure blindfolded.
The hotel’s Nightmare storage capacity increases in proportion to its level. But at this tutorial stage, the threshold had already been exceeded. If the tutorial ended like this, the situation would become quite a spectacle.
“I recall that when Nightmare reaches capacity, it greatly influences the hotel’s disposition.”
“Aaa…”
“That is, assuming we don’t consider operating system bugs. Is my memory correct, landlord?”
“…Niyo, yes.”
Nightmare that cannot be contained within the power plant becomes the hotel’s flesh and blood. The hotel feeds on this overflowing negative energy, growing as it forms its own ego and temperament.
And the result is rarely pleasant.
“If you don’t level up in time, the work environment becomes hell… our developer’s kind little threat, as I recall.”
“Yes.”
“What a pity.”
That threat had been faithfully reflected even now that it had become reality.
However, with the tutorial bug occurring, this might actually be an opportunity.
Unprocessed Nightmare converts directly into user experience. An unintended parachute promotion to high level was practically reserved for him, and Lee Yeon-woo pressed his thumb against his temple.
An unrequested promotion… what an honor.
He had no intention of settling here. To return to society, he first needed to cross the hotel’s threshold and assess the outside world. Plans for reintegration could wait until after that.
“……”
…The problem will be when I, possessing an abnormal level, am thrown back into reality.
I can already see the disasters waiting to happen.
He did not know exactly what kind of disasters, only that the feeling was ominous. This hotel was not a mere building, and Lee Yeon-woo was now bound to it.
He habitually shifted his gaze sideways, staring at the tangled pipelines.
“……”
He looked upon the faded, dust-covered world with indifferent eyes. His gaze dropped downward.
That is not diligence. It is exploitation.
Their official name was “Crushed Laborers,” commonly called Workers. A strange impression surfaced.
“I still cannot adapt.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think one can adapt to this contamination?”
“Yes.”
“That optimism of yours is also something to be wary of.”
He blinked away the thought.
“This sensation, as though insects have burrowed into my brain… I don’t think I will ever grow accustomed to it.”
The power plant was the worst workplace, where water contamination and mental contamination occurred simultaneously. Operators might be attacked by Workers climbing up while they regulate Nightmare, but the real problem comes from within.
The longer one remains here, waves of disgust and exhilaration surge repeatedly.
That is why operators who remain in the power plant beyond a certain time eventually throw themselves down below.
He did not understand the logic behind it.
Did they simply feel like grabbing someone by the collar and fighting face-to-face?
It was contamination that made one despise them.
When disgust and exhilaration peak, yes, such thoughts could arise.
If he stayed longer, he too might understand. Already, vile emotions toward the Workers had begun to stir. Vermin deserved contempt and humiliation, and therefore he had to utterly destroy them.
Ah, wait.
Stop.
He was being contaminated.
“……”
He resumed his thoughts as usual.
“…Perhaps because it’s still the early stage. Restoring my mind to normal isn’t difficult, but it’s certainly not a place to remain long.”
“Yes.”
“I had hoped to hold an in-depth consultation with our power plant staff today, but it is regrettable. Labor harmony for everyone’s peace…”
He needed to leave about now.
“We’ll do it next time.”
Because he was starting to feel like jumping.
He returned to the quarters.
Outside the window remained dark, and rain fell.
“……”
He wondered what lay beyond it.
“…I wonder how my project is progressing.”
“Yes.”
“How my family is doing, how the people at my company interpret my disappearance. I was involved in quite a few projects — how are those unfolding….”
“Yes.”
“You said I did not enter the game, but that the game emerged into reality. Even if the interpretation was incomplete, the situation must be similar. Then what has become of me?”
“Yes.”
“There is too much I do not know.”
He was tired. It was fatigue brought on by his own incompetence. Lee Yeon-woo found it difficult to endure such inadequacy within himself.
A hundred days had passed, yet he remained weak and ignorant.
“There is no teacher here to tell me what I do not know.”
“No.”
“Though you may lack shame, please don’t tell me that teacher is you.”
“Yes, no.”
“Is there a teacher here besides you?”
“Yes.”
“That is… interesting news.”
He was already running out of tasks. Without raising the hotel’s level, guests would not increase, and the operator’s routine had become mere repetitive labor.
Even if the highest difficulty monsters arrive thanks to the bug, they are ultimately beings whose data I have memorized. Even if reality has changed them… that is not what I want.
To Lee Yeon-woo, the current boredom equaled safety. What he needed now was not excessive stimulation, but knowledge to guide his future decisions.
“Can I meet this teacher within the areas I can currently access?”
“Yes.”
“Can this teacher communicate with me directly, like you, Coco?”
“No.”
“Does this teacher take the form of informational material?”
“Yes.”
“Aha.”
He understood.
“You mean the books here.”
“Yes.”
Bookshelves filled the operator’s quarters.
In the game they were non-interactive elements, but now that it had become reality, he could pull out and open any book. He opened one. It was densely packed with text.
That could certainly help resolve Lee Yeon-woo’s ignorance.
“I agree with your opinion. If I wish to accomplish anything further during the tutorial, I must read such books.”
“Yes.”
“Though I would prefer to avoid it.”
Knowledge was always precious, yet this time he did not feel grateful.
There was no guarantee the books were safe from mental contamination.
The game’s background setting was complicated.
“A murder hotel that procures resources for a pseudo-religious unethical research facility…”
“Yes.”
“When summarized like that, it’s excessive worldbuilding to an absurd degree. It gathers every dreadful and tragic element imaginable.”
“No.”
“Of course, reality can be even worse. The news often surpasses films.”
“Yes.”
“But I never seriously thought about it.”
He removed several hardcover volumes from the shelf. Even a brief glance revealed knowledge he did not possess. Setting aside the hopeless immorality for a moment.
His eyes behind the lenses moved quickly across the pages. Perhaps it was his imagination. His head throbbed.
“I believe people like me are typical. Typical… no, common would be more accurate. Few users seriously contemplate the morality and ethics of a game’s background.”
Especially if it carries an adults-only rating.
“Nevertheless, I had affection for this story. Well, that must be why I made the reckless decision to spend a fortune acquiring even the copyright. I never intended to go that far….”
“No.”
“I like this game quite a lot. Not a taste I can proudly boast about in public, but when a newly minted adult becomes obsessed, it can be frightening.”
He began playing this game around nineteen, just after his overseas study was decided. Since then, Lee Yeon-woo had lived alongside Hotel One.
“It became daily life.”
“Daily life.”
“……”
He studied Coco as if measuring something, then smiled. The expression change was perfect.
“The beginning of learning is imitation. Excellent.”
“Excellent.”
“You’re doing well.”
One benefit of the game becoming reality was that previously non-interactive elements had become interactive. Lee Yeon-woo wanted Coco to learn human communication, and Coco changed according to that intent.
It sometimes repeated his words. He did not expect this to become true learning, yet he anticipated something. Coco might become more proficient in human language.
“Affection and reflection do not necessarily follow the same orbit. I like this hotel’s setting. But it was only acceptable as a setting. In reality, it is illegal and sinful.”
“No.”
“That is according to common human nature and law. I still do not know precisely what kind of being you are. The game never clearly explained it. Therefore, I understand if you do not follow human ethics.”
“Yes.”
“However, there are boundaries I can respect, and boundaries I cannot. Your ethics often conflict with mine. Can you understand that?”
“Can you understand that?”
“Sometimes I feel as though I am conversing with a tape recorder.”
It still seemed to be mere imitation of human speech. Yet if there was intention within it, then it could be called language.
At last, Lee Yeon-woo returned to the original subject.
“……”
He stared dryly at the thick books.
“…Without knowledge, I don’t even know where to begin. This is why ignorance is never beneficial. When you don’t know what you don’t know, time simply drains away.”
He skimmed the contents, but they were unfriendly. He selected those he could at least grasp. Even so, the quantity was considerable.
“Still, they are not heavy.”
“Yes.”
“That must be possible because I have merged with the game character. Taking books from shelves and lifting them are actions defined within the game. And it is natural that a game character does not feel weight.”
“Yes.”
“To carry such volumes effortlessly with this frail body. Have physical laws been castrated? I want to praise the efficiency, yet it is more grotesque than impressive.”
“Yes.”
“It seems that law applies to the hotel as well. I wonder how it functions outside.”
“How it functions outside.”
“If I am fortunate enough to leave this hotel, it will be something to investigate alongside reintegration into society. Coco, I do not know whether you will be able to remain by my side then.”
“No.”
“What exactly are you denying….”
The books were placed silently on the desk.
“I am relieved that conditions suitable for study exist.”
“Suitable for study exist.”
“Well, since this space originated from a research facility, that is only natural. Rather than an ivory tower of knowledge, it is closer to a massive grave, but for now it is not bad for me.”
There were three research facilities within the operator’s quarters. In the game they were used to develop recipes and weapons. It was an optimal place for study.
He opened a book.
“……”
He closed it.
“…Ha….”
“No, hello… hello.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, in truth, it is unpleasant.”
This hotel was the remnant of scientists who once worshipped and researched an otherworldly force. They lured guests with luxurious accommodations at relatively low prices, abducted them as experimental subjects, and spread fanaticism.
After countless such events, negative energy gathered and formed this hotel.
Hotel One.