WETRIED TRANSLATIONS
The Legendary Newbie of the Ghost Story Labyrinth
[Translator – Aren]
Chapter 36 - Liminal Grand Hotel (2)
Park Minho’s mouth slowly stretched into a wide grin. The reason for this was the massive pile of cons he’d looted from the Manager’s safe.
“Beautiful. Even more beautiful because there’s so much of it.”
Looking at the mountain of gold coins in front of him, all the effort of risking his life to haul them back felt more than worth it.
This time, he had taken 213 gold coins from the safe. Combined with what he already had, that made a total of 316 coins.
Converted, it was worth over 100 billion won. An absolutely enormous amount. (approx. 67.855.160,00 USD)
'Come to think of it, I get why that bastard chased me so hard. If someone ran off with this much, I’d lose my shit too.’
Just thinking about how to spend it made his head spin.
Meanwhile, Seol Suyeon sat beside him, staring with a displeased look on her face.
When he came back, she’d been crying her eyes out with relief, but now her expression clearly wasn’t happy. She muttered, loud enough for him to hear.
"...That’s a lit. I guess you’re filthy rich now.”
That made Park Minho flinch.
"Wait, half of this is yours. You didn’t think I’d keep it all, did you?”
Park Minho was the type to share even his last bite with a friend. Of course he intended to split the coins. It seemed like she misunderstood.
"Really? Then I’m rich too, huh.”
But her tone was still sharp. And unlike her usual proper posture, Seol Suyeon was sitting with her legs crossed, looking almost rebellious. That clearly wasn’t the right answer.
'What? Did I mess up somehow?'
Park Minho felt a chill run down his spine. It was the same instinctive warning he got when facing an entity. His gut screamed at him that he’d be dead if he said the wrong thing now.
He swallowed, a bead of sweat running down his face as he looked at her, and then he finally noticed something.
"Huh? Suyeon…your eyes!”
Startled, Seol Suyeon immediately lowered her head, trying to hide her face behind her thick, messy hair.
She’d already been annoyed that he hadn’t noticed and was just starting at th coins, but now that he had, she just wanted to hide.
Because of the stunned look on his face.
'It really is weird after all……'
Those violet eyes. There was no way to pass them off as mere colored contacts. They might not even look human.
"Oppa…the thing is……”
But Park Minho was frozen for a completely different reason.
It was like someone had embedded gemstones into her eyes. When he leaned closer to get a better look, Seol Suyeon shrank back, but he tilted his head, trying to catch a glimpse anyway.
"Wow……"
Indie her eyes, it looked like countless stars were shining.
They were mesmerizing. And somehow there was something else. A strange, subtle decadence she hadn’t had before.
Her pale skin and those violet eyes matched perfectly.
“They’re unbelievably pretty…”
Why had he only noticed this now? even he found it ridiculous.
Siek Suyeon pushed him away as he kept starting, grumbling…
"Whatever. Don’t try to butter me up now.”
“No, seriously, I’ve never seen anything this pretty.”
It sounded like a cliché.
But even so, a sense of relief spread to Seol Suyeon’s heart. Only then did she realize one thing.
'Ah……'
She’d been worried and scared. Scared that Park Minho would look at her differently.
But now, seeing him completely entranced, unable to take his eyes off her, it felt like all the lingering resentment just melted away. At the same time, embarrassment rushed in.
“Stop staring!”
-Smack!
Seol Suyon lightly smacked his forehead and pushed him away.
"It’s rude to stare at a girl’s face like that.”
She mumbled something under her breath…something about not even wearing makeup.
Then, almost like putting up a shield, she slipped on a pair of sunglasses.
"Where’d you even get those?”
"The crow doctor gave them to me. He said it’s better if I keep them covered.”
Her tone was still a little prickly, but it was obvious her mood had improved.
She didn’t seem to care about the coins at all, grabbing the laptop instead.
"Oh, right. Oppa. Did you see this?”
"What is it?”
"It’s hilarious."
[Title] Cheezza is 100% a Regressor.
[Content] There’s no way this guy isn’t a regressor. His actions just don’t make sense otherwise. Like how does it make sense for an unawakened newbie to take down entities like this?
Even if he pretends to be a newbie, he’s obviously a veteran who memorized all the boss patterns. Dude’s not just a normal veteran, but a fossil frfr.
And Floor 4? Instead of going to the underground parking lot, he gets an invitation and goes to the hotel? A suite, no less?
Yeah, smells fishy af.
The post had zero evidence to support it. Nothing but wild guesses. He was doing too well, so people were forcing the argument that he was a regressor.
Normally, a post like that would get downvoted into oblivion, but considering Park Minho’s absurd track record, people were actually entertaining the idea.
[Upvotes:34 / Downvotes:31]
The reactions were split almost right down the middle. Same with the comments.
ㄴRegressor my ass. That kind of stuff doesn’t exist.
ㄴOh yeah? But dying and chatting on a forum while sitting in a White Room makes sense?
ㄴHuh? Fair point ig?
ㄴSo how many loops is he on?
ㄴAt least 10 resets easy. Guy’s a veteran for sure!
More than anything, the hotel Park Minho was staying in had become a hot topic.
ㄴWait, isn’t Floor 4 the underground parking lot? There’s a hotel there?
ㄴ(Pitbull) There is. Explorers like us just never get to go there.
ㄴ(DaeguBadass) Right. It wasn’t built for explorers in the first place. It’s for travelers from different dimensions.
ㄴ(Chiavelli) I heard the owner’s identity is completely shrouded in mystery.
ㄴ<Admin> Apparently they’re insanely powerful and beautiful.
ㄴWhat would an entity like you know? Acting all smart LOL. (※User banned for 1 day)
The Backrooms Ghost Gallery was still buzzing with theories about Park Minho. The fact that even ridiculous theories about him being a regression were gaining traction said it all.
But Park Minho didn’t bother correcting them. Half of it was jokes anyway, and topics like this always died out on their own.
Instead, he had something more important to deal with. He opened a DM.
▶Cheezza: When should I use the White Room entry ticket?
As payment for resolving this whole situation, Admin had asked him to sue the ticket on her. It sounded like she had something she wanted to ask him in person.
▶Admin: It’s fine as long as you promise to spend it on me. For now, just hold onto it.
▶Cheezza: Yeah?
▶Admin: Honestly, you’re not ready yet. I’ll tell you when the time comes. More importantly, aren’t you itching to spend some of those coins? There’s something perfect for you, you know?
▶Cheezza: What is it?
▶Admin: The Liminal Grand Hotel’s main attraction. The auction. It’s a blast for people like you who are loaded. Anomalous items, slaves, all kinds of abilities, you name it.
▶Cheezza: How do you join?
▶Admin: If you’re in, I’ll send someone to you this evening. What do you say?
From Park Minho’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse. Honestly, with that many coins, it sounded like it would be fun.
▶Cheezza: Sure. Let’s see just how crazy this stuff gets.
* * *
With time to spare before evening, Park Minho and Seol Suyeon headed down to the hotel lobby. It was lavishly decorated and full of things to see.
"Whoa, Oppa. Look at that person…No, that being.”
Seol Suyeon tugged on his sleeve and gestured subtly. A gentleman in an immaculate suit strolled past at a relaxed pace, but instead of a human head, he had a massive brass gramophone sitting on his shoulders. And from it, an old, atmospheric song was playing.
There were plenty of other bizarre, anomalous guests too.
A floating spaghetti-like creature with a giant eyeball, a human-sized dragon in a cheongsam, a strange figure with five faces, each wearing a different mask. The variety was seriously vast.
If someone from the NCE saw this, they’d probably lose their mind.
"Oppa, but don’t stare too much. They’re all red.”
"Red? Ah…”
That was the ability of Seol Suyeon’s new eyes. Anything far beyond their ability to fight gave off a red aura. And judging by that, every being present here was extraordinary without exception.
This place might be inside the Backrooms, but it clearly wasn’t meant for explorers.
It was a neutral zone where travelers from countless dimensions passed through. A gathering place of all kinds of beings, humans casually lumped together as anomalous entities.
For a place as closed-off as the Backrooms, it was strangely out of place.
"Are we the only humans here?”
“Not exactly. From what I’ve heard, only people who are somebody in the Backrooms end up here.”
Normally, reaching Floor 4 meant getting dumped into the underground parking lot. Most people didn’t even know the hotel existed.
So the humans who did make it here were usually important figures. They weren’t guests who were looking to stay here, but visitors with specific purposes.
That made encounters with other humans rare.
But today, there were other humans beside Park Minho and Seol Suyeon.
"Huh? Oppa. Aren’t those people over there human?”
"Yes, they are."
Three men and women in suits had just entered. And surprisingly all of them were Awakened.
* * *
The meaning behind the organization named TBU was simple and straight forward.
It stood for ‘The Backroom Union.’
They were a major group that constantly clashed with the NCE, and also the largest survivor organization within the Backrooms. The survivor zone on Floor 7, where Park Minho and Seol Suyeon were eventually headed, was operated by them.
Right now, three members of TBU had arrived at the Liminal Grand Hotel for a specific reason.
The auction taking place today.
"We have to secure the energy core this time. You’re sure it’s being listed?”
"Yes, I’ve confirmed it multiple times.”
"Good. The forward base is hitting its limit on power."
As they stepped into the massive lobby it was swarming with anomalous entities as it always was. It was enough to make any human shrink back. Even if all three of them were Awakened.
"It’s suffocating."
"Get used to it. As long as you follow the rules inside the hotel, nothing dangerous will happen.”
But then they spotted something unexpected. A human man and woman sitting side by side in the lobby.
Running into another human here was quite rare. And anyone who made it this far was usually part of a major faction or a well-known explorer. So normally, when humans met, they would acknowledge each other and exchange introductions.
The team leader naturally turned toward Park Minho and Seol Suyon, quietly asking over his shoulder,
"Do you recognize them?”
"No. It’s the first time I’ve seen them.”
"They look kind of shabby, don’t they?”
Still, it was proper etiquette to greet them. The team leader approached.
"Hello. What luck, running into fellow humans here at this hotel.”
Park Minho responded a bit awkwardly.
"Yes, hello.”
He had no idea there was an unspoken rule about networking and introductions between humans here. So having strangers suddenly approach him naturally made him cautious.
The team leader titled his head slightly.
'Could they be newbies?'
Very, very rarely, some beginner explorers ended up drifting into the hotel instead of the Floor 4 underground parking lot. Purely my luck, of course.
However, within an invitation, they couldn’t stay. They were only allowed to remain in the lobby for 24 hours before being escorted to Floor 5.
'If that’s the case, this is a waste of time.'
Still, thinking it was better to confirm, the team leader continued.
"I’m Kim Sungjin from TBU. These are my teammates. If you don’t mind me asking, what organization are you with?”
"Why do you ask? I’m not affiliated with anyone…”
At those words, the team leader immediately concluded they were just lucky amateurs who had wandered in. Their appearance was unimpressive, and they weren’t even Awakened. Talking any further would just lead to trouble.
He decided to disengage.
"I see. I was wondering if you were connected to our side. My apologies.”
Just in case they might beg for help, Kim Sungjin quickly stepped back. TBU wasn’t a charity. They had no interest in picking up useless dead weight.
There was a faint layer of disdain in his thoughts.
'Those two aren’t even Awakened. At this rate, they'll die on Floor 5. Well, might as well enjoy what little time they’ve got left.'
If they somehow made it to Floor 7, they could reconsider based on on usefulness. But judging by their lack of gear, his expectations were low.
Watching the trio walk off without even looking back, Park Minho and Seol Suyeon muttered among themselves.
"What was that about, Oppa?”
"No idea… but they’re with TBU, apparently.”
“Didn’t it feel kind of rude? The way they were looking down on us?”
"Yeah, a bit. That prickly feeling probably means they’re Awakened. People like us probably look like a joke to them.”
Seol Suyeon lowered her sunglasses slightly and narrowed her eyes as she watched them leave.
“Unbelievable. Those guys would fold the second they ran into the Manager.”
All three of them appeared ‘green’ in her eyes.
They carried themselves with arrogance, but compared to the entities in this place, they were nothing more than small fry. Meanwhile, the man standing right beside her had taken down both the Cleaning Supervisor and the Manager without even Awakening.
Seol Suyeon looked completely dumbfounded, then started muttering to herself: “Do they even know what Oppa’s done…seriously.”
"It’s fine. We’re probably never going to see them again anyway.”
"Yeah, probably.”
As the two were talking, the hotelier appeared.
"So this is where you were.”
"Ah, Sir Hotelier?”
The hotelier belonged to the same Spirit Rodbearer lineage as the doctor. A crow-headed figure who always carried an elegant cane.
"I hear you’ll be participating in the auction. Allow me to escort you.”
“I was told a staff member would come later?”
"You are esteemed guests, so I came personally. Also, there is a dress code for our auction.”
At that, Park Minho and Seol Suyeon both hesitated. They had lost all their belongings and were currently wearing the same clothes.
Seeing their awkwardness, the hotelier gave a small smile.
"Do not worry. We will provide everything. You both have excellent features, so you will definitely shine once properly dressed.”
He nodded in particular as he looked at Seol Suyeon.
"And especially the lady. You will be the most radiant presence at tonight’s auction.”
“What…? Me? I’m just totally ordinary though?”
"It seems you are not yet aware of your own value. True beauty transcends the aesthetic difference between species. Hehe, now, this way, please.”
Soon, the two were guided into a salon.
"Please wait here for a moment.”
While preparations were underway, the hotelier handed them an auction catalog to browse. Park Minho flipped through it casually, then his eyes widened.
'Wait, you can buy stuff like this?’
At this rate, it didn’t look like he’d have any coins left by the end of the night.
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