NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 127. It was okay when you came in, but when you left (5)
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“What I felt when I saw that was, if you don’t love yourself, it’s hard to love someone else… It just occurred to me during the meeting, yes.”
“aha.”
“So I thought that if I could be honest with myself, it might help me love. What do you think, Chan?”
He opened his eyes slightly wide and looked at me, and it seemed like he was secretly hoping that I would agree with him. He said exactly what he had to say.
“Miss Elena.”
“yes yes.”
“I think my smartphone is vibrating right now.”
A rumbling sound was heard from somewhere. Miss Elena flinched and immediately took out her smartphone, checked her contact information, and held it with both hands.
“Yes, team leader. Yes. Yes. Ah… .”
It was my boss at work. His embarrassed face made me think he had heard something difficult to hear. After exchanging a few more words and hanging up the phone, he spoke to me.
“The team leader just arrived at work… and so did the seniors.”
“Weren’t you taking a break from work because of the gate?”
“Yes, that’s true, but there are some tasks that have been transferred from other departments to our team. Everyone told me to rest since it’s not something that the youngest can handle…”
In this situation, I would have laid down with a metal plate over my face, but judging from the expression on his face that seemed helpless, it seemed like he had already decided to go to work.
There could be many reasons. It could be because they want to be mindful of their boss, or it could be because they simply want to be helpful to their bosses at work. Considering the tone of their voice when they answer the phone, it seems closer to the latter.
“I think it’s right for you to go. If we talked for 30 minutes, we’d have covered a lot.”
“I’m sorry, I had an appointment to meet you first….”
“I originally thought I would decide the timing of our breakup. Now is the perfect time, so please excuse me today… This is more like a request.”
“Yes, just say it.”
“Can I take this potion today and test it out?”
Actually, I was thinking about the timing of this request. I asked cautiously, wondering if it would be okay to take the medicine that the company was developing, and Ms. Elena answered comfortably.
“Yes! It’s okay. I registered it separately in Chan-i’s name the day after our first meeting.”
“Wow, you guys get things done really quickly.”
“If you want, I can come to the company and make you an access card. Would you like to come by sometime later?”
I politely shook my head and declined. What a horrible and horrifying idea it is to walk into a love potion company full of succubi dressed in office attire!
“That’s too bad. I wanted to show you around the company….”
“Please do it later, later. Is there anything I should be careful about when carrying this around?”
“There’s nothing special, just follow the terms of the contract.”
“If it’s about the prohibition of leaks, we have to comply. Of course.”
“Thank you. But is there a specific reason you want to take it?”
“Nothing special, just….”
I felt the need to be honest with myself. I couldn’t put it off any longer.
“I’m going to do it later anyway, so I thought it would be good to do it in advance.”
“You’re very diligent, Chani.”
“It’s not that difficult for me, you know.”
After putting it in my southern front pocket, I quickly cleaned up the table and got up. As I was about to say goodbye and say hello, Miss Elena spoke to me cautiously.
“I… Mr. Chan.”
“yes.”
“I’m so sorry today. I feel like I kept asking you about sensitive issues without thinking.”
I guess he had been keeping in mind what I said earlier. He responded right away.
“I told you it’s okay. It’s weird that I’m so sensitive to things like that.”
“Still, I don’t know if I can be of any help….”
He continued to speak half tentatively, half earnestly.
“If you have any concerns, please feel free to tell me. Just as Chan-i listened to my story, I want to listen to Chan-i’s story too…”
The look in his eyes was equally earnest, and I could tell that he was speaking sincerely. But… .
I don’t know. I answered, chewing on it in my mind.
“When I get the chance.”
“…yes….”
“Let’s talk again later. It’s not urgent.”
* * *
After leaving the cafe and parting ways with Ms. Elena, I headed to the hotel while checking the address. It took about 15 minutes to get inside the building.
It took about 5 minutes longer than the navigation suggested, because there was a decoration in front of the hotel’s main entrance that I couldn’t figure out how it existed.
Well, that’s right, a snowman. He’s 3 meters tall, has a carrot nose, raisin teeth, and a fedora on his head.
Plus, snow was falling gently from the small cloud above the snowman’s head. It would be great if the military unit in the rear, where there is usually nothing to do, were placed there…
[ Do you have any questions? ]
While I was blankly staring, the snowman turned around heavily and spoke to me in a voice that seemed to be starting to change. I thought I was going crazy, but there were a few things I was curious about.
“What are you doing here?”
[ Valet parking is being prepared. There are no customers yet. ]
“Isn’t it hot?”
[ It’s okay. The wizard master takes great care of me. He speaks politely to me and is a very kind person. ]
“No. I’ll just use formal language first.”
[ Still. Would you like to shake hands? It would be nice and cool. ]
I declined. Judging from what the wizard master said, it seems like the summoned beast is Bismuri. What if I touch it wrong and it melts? Won’t I have nightmares for months?
I couldn’t understand why they were setting up a snowman and having valet parking on such a sunny day, but I figured it was understandable. After all, it didn’t look bad.
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Maybe that’s what they really meant. To save money on the cost of decorating the exterior with magic. He asked, pointing to the hotel building.
“Hotels usually have their rooms open until 4pm. It’s not even 1pm yet. Can I still check in?”
[ I’m not sure about that. It was only a few days old, so I haven’t received proper staff training yet. ]
“Ah. I asked something unnecessary. Take care.”
[ Have a nice day, too. ]
After saying hello, I passed the snowman and entered the hotel lobby. Thankfully, the inside of the hotel wasn’t like a winter wonderland.
Instead, it was magically luxurious. It was dark and had a soft atmosphere, with constellations floating vaguely on the ceiling, and a huge oak barrel above the cocktail bar at the end of the lobby… .
“Can I have your ID, please?”
Is this the line I use when selling cigarettes?
I looked back in the direction where the voice came from, but I couldn’t find the person who spoke anywhere. Just as I was wondering what was going on, I heard a hollow cough from near my feet.
Looking down, a half-human, half-fox Kobold, about 60cm tall, was looking up at me. At convenience stores, I’ve only seen species with a human content of about 99%, but this 5:5 ratio is a first for me.
“Please show me your identification, sir.”
The bold voice somehow gives off a foxy impression. When I took out my anti-magic license and handed it to him, he took out a monocle from his back pocket and began to examine my ID.
After a while, he put away his monocle, took out a card key and something that looked like a large restaurant menu from behind his back, and handed them to me as he continued speaking.
“A 2 night, 3 day stay in a business class room. I have confirmed that you have made a reservation under Mr. Lee Chan’s name. The information board I am giving you is a list of room service options that you can request.”
“uh….”
“You can make a reservation at any time by pressing 0 on the phone located inside the room. Would you like me to guide you to your room? Or do you have any questions?”
I don’t like guidance because it’s burdensome. My card key number is 1204, so if I go up to the 12th floor and wander around a bit, I’ll be able to find my room.
More than that, I don’t know what room service means, or what a 2 night 3 day business room means. It’s the most otherworldly language I’ve ever heard in this world.
“I have a reservation for 2 nights and 3 days? Business class?”
“Yes. Do you have any other concerns?”
“… No, just a moment.”
I wanted to ask how much it was, but I didn’t dare to bring up the topic of money in the hotel atmosphere because I thought I’d be kicked out with a slap on the wrist. I guess I’ll have to grab the professor later and ask him how much it was.
Instead, I asked just one thing.
“Do you have a floor blanket?”
“Yes? Do you have twin beds?”
“I can’t sleep unless I sleep on the floor.”
“Aha. I’ll bring it to your room before you arrive.”
Then he told me where the elevator was and ran in the opposite direction of the elevator. It seemed like there was a separate elevator for employees.
I got on the elevator and looked at the room service list on the sign, and the more I looked at it, the more motion sickness came over me.
For example, a service that changes the color of curtains to the color you want. This would be to prevent people like the Minotaur from attacking you with their eyes turned red if you use red curtains.
In addition, there is a service that controls the internal humidity to 100%. It seems to be used to moisturize the skin of shellfish, cobalt, and snails. Isn’t there something a little more humane than these inhumane things?
I found one right outside my room door. Magic room service that creates an indoor environment around 9pm to ensure a good night’s sleep.
This seemed okay. I opened the door with my card key, went in, threw the sign on the bed, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
I almost fell backwards because I was buried in it. What is the bed made of?
Looking around, all I see are luxurious-looking things, like TVs, sofas, tables and chairs on the hotel veranda. Even the blankets on the floor look more expensive than the average bed.
“… We experience all sorts of things in life.”
I tried to express my admiration, but I couldn’t express it well.
I’ve been working my butt off for nearly 10 years, including my military service, and I’ve never even thought about staying in a place like this. The places I sleep are always rented rooms with a 300 deposit, or motels that cost 40,000 or 50,000 won…
“… … .”
As I thought about it, I felt increasingly depressed. I unfolded the signboard again, checked the room service I had seen earlier, picked up the receiver under the TV, and pressed the button.
[ How may I help you? ]
“I’d like to request room service for room number 36.”
[ Yes, I will go up right now . ]
As soon as I hung up the receiver, the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, the fox cobalt I had seen from below was standing there, holding something that looked like a large light bulb in its arms.
“It won’t take long, so please wait a moment.”
I waited because I was told to. The fox came walking in with furry feet, stood in the middle of the room, and started tapping the light bulb it was holding in its arms.
Then, the light bulb began to emit a soft moonlight.
I lifted the moonlight-filled light bulb with one hand and let go, but instead of falling, it floated up to the ceiling like a helium balloon.
As the light bulb got closer, the ceiling changed into something like the night sky. The light bulb, which had risen past the height where the ceiling should have been, stopped only when it became the size of the moon in the sky.
The fox, who was looking up at the moon, looked back at me and spoke to me quietly.
“This is one of the services our hotel is proud of. What do you think?”
“This is awesome.”
“yes?”
“Uh… I heard it was good.”
“Right? You can control the number of stars in the sky and the shape of the moon with the remote control under the TV. If you have any trouble operating it, please contact us again. Okay!”
And then I left. Looking at the night sky, I felt that I couldn’t tell the difference between this and sleeping out. Not only the ceiling, but also the surrounding scenery had changed strangely, and it was like having a campfire in the forest on a summer night.
I don’t know. As long as the mosquitoes don’t come out, that’s fine. I sit back down on the bed and stare blankly at the light bulb that has become the moon… .
I took the potion out of my front pocket and rolled it around in my hand a couple of times, thinking back on the events that had happened since yesterday.
Miss Elena had said.
[ If you have any concerns, please feel free to tell me. Just as Chan-i listened to my story, I want to listen to Chan-i’s story too… ]
Also, Sister Yoon Ha said.
[ Doing something you can’t help without knowing it, or doing it knowing it. Which do you prefer? ]
[ I said it because I thought it would be like that. We’re not strangers. I’m going. ]
Also, Elder Wolf said,
[ Before I first came here, I never thought I would have this kind of conversation with the CEO. ]
The professor asked me this.
[ I’m asking with that in mind. Do you have any thoughts? Number 44? ]
I couldn’t answer this question.
Because I was scared. This f*cking gate.
This may be the norm for the other races in this world. But not for me.
Yesterday’s lightning, and the pigeon. If my body hadn’t been like this, if my sister and elder hadn’t been here, I would have died long ago.
Is it weird that I’m scared? Is it weird that I can’t forget lightning or a pigeon made of steel smashing a shop window?
It would have been right to say that I couldn’t. I’m a foreigner. I’ve never had anything like this in my life, I don’t know anything, and it hasn’t even been a few weeks since I got my ID.
But I couldn’t answer. I said I would think about it. I had until tomorrow to think about it. I had to give an answer by tomorrow. It’s true that I’m afraid of this. It’s true. It’s true… .
“… … .”
I need an answer. What am I really afraid of?
I needed an honest answer, so I brought the potion. I hope this potion will give me some kind of answer, side effects or whatever.
I opened the lid of the elixir, thinking, and swallowed a few drops. There was no change right away. One minute. Two minutes.
A moment later, a voice was heard from the side.
“mister.”
When I turned my head to look, there was a boy standing there holding a sleeping bag.
“What are you doing here?”
“You. No, who are you?”
“My name is Lee Chan. I’m 9 years old.”