CHAPTER 304: ROOM 204, MISSION ROOM - 'HOTEL CINEMA' (26)

0% – Theater

As the girl who had forgotten her memories as a gumiho and completed her past washing was saved by the Vatican, the audience in the theater breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, the ending Ahri had intended was completed. The most dangerous part of her plan was the latter part of the play, after Han Yuri became human and erased her own memories with the secret technique of oblivion.

While Ahri could proactively lead the earlier parts with her diverse experiences from both reality and the Hotel, the latter part had many variables as even Ahri’s personality would go below the surface.

“Fortunately, it seems to be all passing. It will soon move to the coffee shop scene, right?”

Sanghyun nodded at Songee’s words.

Afterwards, the epilogue continued, and indeed, Han Yuri had prepared for the situation after becoming human. The arrangements made by a transcendent monster who had longed to become human for decades or centuries were almost flawless.

At that time, Jinchul showed a somewhat regretful reaction, “Was there really no other way? Saerom, was it? The part where that fox died horribly is a bit sad. It’s not a happy ending, and there are too many victims. It’s also a bit off that the ultimate winner is that Han Yuri. If you pick the most evil being in this short story, isn’t it definitely Han Yuri?”

“More precisely, it’s Miss Ahri who controlled Han Yuri.”

Jinchul flinched at Kim Sanghyun’s words.

Songee showed a reaction as if asking what was wrong, “Jinchul-oppa, nobody could think of any other method besides that way, right? From the beginning, a considerable part of the scenario was set. As Ahri confirmed again when she started, Han Yuri was human. Since a gumiho needs to eat people to become human, there was no way to avoid cannibalism.”

Kim Sanghyun also nodded, “Jinchul, I think the same. It was a predetermined ending, and Miss Ahri made a difficult decision. Above all... There’s no need to empathize too much with Park Saerom, that fox. It’s a monster that ate hundreds of people over hundreds of years. It’s a being that deserves a miserable death.”

Jinchul nodded with an agreeing expression, “Hmm... Sanghyun, I guess I thought too sentimentally. I just wondered if there was no other way...”

At that moment, Kain, who had been quiet, opened his mouth, “It’s not bad to ponder. Ahri made an ending, but if writer Do Inho says this ending is strange, the next person will have to become a gumiho again.”

“Do you have anything in mind?”

Kain cleared his throat after taking a drink, then began a rather long explanation, “The introductory part starting at the coffee shop contains hints for the subsequent short story progression. Songee made a good point earlier—from the moment Han Yuri came to the coffee shop as a human, a major core of the scenario was set.”

“The gumiho becoming human is confirmed, so she must eat people... is that it?”

“It’s confirmed that she must become human, but cannibalism isn’t confirmed. The top expert in this field, Ahri, said before she went in, didn’t she?”

As Kain mentioned Ahri’s words, everyone tilted their heads and recalled their memories.

“There are ways for a gumiho to become human besides cannibalism. It’s about touching the folklore. Erasing or manipulating the folklore. Since gumiho-related folklore is so widely spread that almost no one doesn’t know it, it should be manipulated rather than erased.”

Elena, who had been looking somewhat amused, answered, “Like spreading movies or novels containing content about ways to become human without eating livers?”

“Probably something like that? The details would be known by the Administration people.”

Kim Sanghyun, who had been listening carefully, made a sharp point, “I understand what you’re saying, but can Han Yuri in the story implement that? It’s a method that can be used by the Administration or the Vatican, who can manipulate the whole world. It’s not a feasible method for a gumiho living in fear of those organizations, moving from one abandoned house to another.”

Kain nodded, “As you say, it can’t be implemented by a gumiho’s individual ability. The Vatican must help unconditionally.”

“Why on earth would they help? Didn’t Ahri say that it’s much more efficient to catch and kill two foxes than to do such nonsense?”

“But she knew that such a method existed.”

“What?”

“Doctor, how do you think Ahri knew about the method of ‘using folklore’? She couldn’t have tried it alone, right?”

“...The Administration must have tried it.”

“That’s right. The Administration actually did it. They invested time and effort to twist folklore to wash away the past of a monster that ate people. Why do you think they did that?”

“...”

“From here on, it’s more of an analysis of the Administration or a similar organization like the Vatican rather than an analysis of the movie. Since we have two Administration agents among us, it’s a bit cautious to bring up such a story, but...”

As Kain slightly chose his words, Kim Sanghyun chimed in, “Coincidentally, both of them are not here right now. When else would we ponder about the Administration among ourselves? Fortunately, the movie is almost ending. I’m not sure how the writer will judge.”

Elena also nodded, “Anyway, the Administration often appears in the Hotel too. It’s also a concern about the Hotel.”

Kain started to give his opinion again, “It’s a thought I had while seeing them feeding humans to evil beings in Room 201, and trying to mercilessly eliminate even internal members for confidentiality in Room 202. The Administration is an organization for humanity, but it doesn’t seem to place much value on individual human lives.”

As if understanding what he meant, Kim Sanghyun nodded, “It’s a utilitarian organization. They can kill a hundred to save a thousand. Furthermore, they might kill millions of humans to save hundreds of millions. It might be a rational attitude for protecting the world.”

“In that context, a scenario where the Vatican helps a man-eating monster that has eaten over 900 humans easily comes out.”

“...It killed over 900 humans, but it can save more people than that?”

“That’s it. The Administration we’ve seen so far seems to be an organization that would gladly wash away the past of a monster that ate 100,000 people if that monster could be recruited to save 1 million people.”

After listening for a long time, Jinchul summarized the long conversation, “So, the way to break through that short story without cannibalism is this? Han Yuri must prove to the Vatican that she has the ability to save hundreds or thousands of humans?”

“That’s right. If she can prove it, issues like how to manipulate folklore are out of Han Yuri’s hands. The Vatican will take care of it.”

“How do you do it?”

“I don’t know because I’ve never been in. Actually, even if I went in, I probably would have just eaten people like Ahri rather than taking this incredibly difficult and hard path I’ve explained so far.”

Hearing Kain’s words, Jinchul momentarily made a dumbfounded expression and looked at Kain. Kain laughed lightly as if to say, “What else can you do?”

At that moment, Seungyub, who had been quiet, shouted, “Everyone, look at the screen! It’s over now!”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the screen to confirm the writer’s judgment. At that time, someone crossed Kain’s mind.

Maybe one more person among us might become an Administration person. If the reward for Hotel Cinema is a half ticket... What should we do after completing one ticket?

The young man who was pondering soon shook his head. For now, he needed to solve the Hotel Cinema he was facing before thinking about that.

***– Kim Ahri

“...”

Huh!

When I belatedly came to my senses, I was already out of the movie within the movie and in the coffee shop. Because I kneaded my memories with the secret technique of oblivion, there was a considerable gap in my middle memories. I wondered if it progressed well until the end?

“That day, that moment is something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. A huge, really car-sized monster pounced on me. I still don’t know how I survived that day. Maybe I was just lucky?”

Writer Do Inho, who was listening intently to Han Yuri’s story, who had forgotten everything, tilted his head for a moment.

“Let me summarize Miss Yuri’s story. Tired of excessive confessions and stalker-like behavior from male students, you decided to reject them all at once and returned to school in the evening. But when you returned, the school was all on fire and the floor was full of corpses, right?”

“That’s right!”

“A fox monster as big as a car pounced on Miss Yuri, and you survived by frantically running away and with the help of the Vatican, is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes.”

“It’s an interesting and sad story. Many people must have died that day. How about we all have a moment of silence for 10 seconds?”

“Sounds good.”

“Let’s do that.”

After 10 seconds of silence, the writer opened his mouth again, “Miss Yuri. This might sound strange, but as I collect these kinds of stories, I’ve developed an indescribable intuition.”

“Intuition...?”

“I feel like there’s some ‘gap’ in Miss Yuri’s story. Isn’t there a very heartbreaking story hidden?”

“Well, many students died...”

“No, I feel like there’s a story hidden separate from the students’ deaths. Is there anything that comes to mind when you hear my words?”

What?

No way, right? Is the writer forcibly intervening to revive Han Yuri’s memories or something?

“...I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Shall I speak a bit more specifically? It’s just a hunch, but on the ‘monster’ side rather than the student side—“

Bullshit! Bullshit! What hunch?

Does this writer bastard know all the actual progression? Even so, to pull this kind of stunt!

Han Yuri was deeply lost in thought, doubting her memories.

– Thud!

“Excuse me!”

“...Miss Ahri?”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t question the details of our stories? Yuri is flustered right now.”

I immediately moved to the seat right next to Han Yuri, strongly grabbed Yuri’s hand, and stared intently into Yuri’s eyes.

“Eeek! M-Miss Ahri... I’m fine.”

Han Yuri was greatly flustered and her posture wavered as someone she just met today had been doing all sorts of strange things. Of course, in this process, the seed of doubt that had sprouted in Han Yuri’s mind was, for now, buried again.

“Haha! It seems I was rude. Miss Ahri, you have amazing quick wit.”

“I’m no match for you, writer.”

“Haha! Is that so? Alright! Miss Yuri’s story was also mysterious and scary. I’ll ‘confirm’ it here.”

...Phew.

I barely managed to salvage a situation that was about to explode suddenly.

Really, this damn Hotel often creates non-existent crises by pulling unreasonable stunts, so there’s no room for carelessness.

A moment later, Cha Eunpyo, the third storyteller who had been sitting quietly, began to tell his story.

“Listening to the previous people’s stories, I was surprised because they were such amazing tales. My story isn’t that great.”

“Eunpyo, is there such a thing as great or not for these kinds of stories? Just tell it as it is.”

“Yes. This is a story from when I was young. I must have been about 12 years old. At that time, I was living in a very big house in America with my parents. It was a time when my parents’ business was doing very well. At the end of that year, we were originally planning to go on a family trip for the New Year, but my parents suddenly had a schedule come up.”

Suddenly, Cha Eunpyo stopped talking and glanced at the writer.

“Um, could you appropriately adapt the next part later?”

As if seeing through what the young man was about to say, the writer smiled slightly.

“It seems to be a story with legal issues. Don’t worry. If you wish, we will thoroughly hide your personal information.”

“Thank you. As you might have heard, in America, it’s illegal to leave young children alone at home. At that time, due to various overlapping situations, my parents left me alone at home. Instead, they gave me much more toys than usual as gifts.”

The space slowly began to shake.

...Just before entering the third story, I suddenly remembered.

At this rate, I’m the narrator of the fourth story. What on earth should I talk about?

***– Home Alone

“Kevin!”

“...”

“Kevin! Are you listening to mom?”

“Ah, I’m listening.”

Didn’t you say your name was Cha Eunpyo? Is he using an American name because it’s during the time he lived in America?

“Mom will write it down on paper, so follow it exactly. Dinner is in the fridge—“

Kevin’s mother talked for a long time about how to have meals, not to go outside recklessly, that the dog and cat’s meals had been prepared in advance so I didn’t need to worry about it, not to watch too much TV, and so on.

“Kevin, aren’t you disappointed that you can’t go to the ski resort because of mom and dad’s work?”

“No, I’m not.”

“I’m really sorry. Dad feels the same way. It’s not much of a substitute, but there’s something Kevin will like in the living room of Kevin’s room! Make sure to open it later.”

About 10 minutes later, she hugged me, kissed me on the cheek, and left the house with her husband.

Let’s first grasp the current situation.

“...”

Summarizing my situation first, it was as follows:

Physically, I was a 12-year-old boy.

I looked cute and bright in my own way, but I was an ordinary person without any special powers.

As for my Blessing, I used “Unnoticeable Girl” in the second story, so it would take half a day to use it again. Now I could only use “Compass”.

The external situation was a bit complicated.

First, the size of the house was laughably big. It was three stories and had so many rooms it was hard to count.

It was a mansion where words that were hard for ordinary people to understand, like “the living room of my room, the dressing room of my room, and the playroom room of my room”’ were reality. Besides that, we were raising a dog named Suzy, and a cat named Cathy.

What on earth will happen? Is it an attack by burglars targeting a rich house? Should I set traps in the house in advance?