Chapter 6: Getting on and off (4)

“Why did the points suddenly…?”

“Y-Yeah, really. And it’s even 2,000 points…”

People around us murmured in disbelief.

Luckily, it seemed no one saw me throw the name tag.

I was just as shocked.

Who would’ve thought that tiny name tag would be worth 2,000 points?

Maybe items related to the monsters give high point values.

If that’s the case, is the next target supposed to be the monsters’ name tags?

The cowardly side of me began creeping up again.

Sure, I won easily this time, but I can’t be sure it’ll be that way with other monsters.

It’s terrifying, but if this is the only way to escape—

‘Then maybe I have no choice…’

A line from a famous superhero comic popped into my head.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” or something like that.

Seeing people get hurt and disappear right in front of me, even a coward like me had to step up somehow.

The lobby fell into heavy silence and unease again.

10,000 points.

We’d filled up half, but thinking of the people who didn’t return, we couldn’t exactly celebrate.

“…What do we do now?”

The pressure of needing to explore again, mixed with the fear of facing another monster, weighed down the atmosphere.

We huddled quietly around the settlement hole, waiting for another group to return.

Then it happened.

Click, clack.

Footsteps echoed from a hallway off the lobby.

The slow, rhythmic sound immediately put everyone on edge.

All eyes turned toward the direction of the noise.

“Could it be another team returning?”

“But the footsteps sound a little too… umph!”

Someone was speaking but swallowed their words.

Out of the darkness appeared a mannequin dressed in a luxurious, elegant purple dress.

It wore a wide-brimmed hat and had a jeweled necklace around its neck.

Despite the graceful attire, the mannequin’s face was featureless, and its joints were twisted unnaturally.

From its outfit, it was clearly a “guest” type monster, different from the janitor mannequin from earlier.

Click, clack.

With nowhere to run, we held our breath and could only watch the mannequin approach.

It slowly walked to the center of the lobby and stopped.

Then, with a creepy snapping sound, it began turning its head.

The mannequin began to scan us one by one.

It didn’t have eyes, but I was sure it was looking at us.

After a moment of inspection, it pulled a green marker from its garment.

Then it approached the male explorer who was tightly clutching the “hotel guide.”

Screech.

“U-Ugh…”

While the man stood frozen in fear, the mannequin casually marked a green check on the guide’s cover.

The tense man dropped the guide to the floor with a soft thud.

The mannequin then turned its body and approached our group.

My heart was pounding like it would burst.

It felt different from the hotel staff mannequin.

Up close, this one looked much taller and sturdier.

My mind raced.

‘…Wh-what do I do? Should I strike first? But it’s not attacking…’

The mannequin stopped in front of a college girl who looked like she was about to cry.

Then, just like the guidebook, it drew a green check mark on her forearm.

“Mm!”

The girl gasped, frozen in fear.

Creak, creak!

The mannequin in the dress twisted its body and shrugged its shoulders in a strange motion.

It looked like it was dancing—or maybe even laughing.

After leaving two green check marks behind, the “guest” mannequin turned elegantly and walked back the way it came, as if it had just finished shopping.

Only when the clicking of its heels faded into the distance did the lobby erupt into hushed exclamations and chaos.

“Haa… Haa…!”

“What… was that?!”

“Why the check mark…?”

“Green check mark… Don’t tell me…”

People descended into confusion.

The fear of what that strange action might mean outweighed the relief of not being attacked.

After all, monsters weren’t known for doing anything beneficial for humans.

“Damn it! We’ll know if we check!”

A rough-looking man picked up the guidebook from the floor and tossed it into the settlement hole without hesitation.

Everyone’s eyes fixed on the number above the hole.

[11,500 / 20,000]

The number increased.

By a whopping 1,500 points.

That green check the mannequin left actually had some kind of effect.

Whatever it marked became a “settleable” item.

“It really worked…?”

“Then, could it be…”

Suddenly, a chilling silence fell over the lobby.

Then slowly, very slowly, everyone’s gaze turned toward one place.

To the terrified college girl who was trembling after being marked alongside the guidebook.

“A-Ah… Ugh…”

Overwhelmed by the attention, she burst into tears.

She had now become something that could also be “settled” for points.

Trembling in fear, she began backing away.

Just then, a middle-aged woman from our group stepped in front of her and shouted sharply.

“What are you all staring at?! Like you’re about to eat her! Get a grip!”

“W-Well… ahem…”

Some flinched and looked away at her outburst, but others’ gazes didn’t change.

As if the situation left no room for morals or empathy.

Of course, monsters didn’t help humans.

This was the kind of twisted atmosphere 1,500 points could create.

‘Are they serious?’

I felt my stomach churn at those disgusting stares.

No matter how extreme the situation was, how could they even think like that?

I may be a coward, but I never had thoughts like that.

They say people are scarier than ghosts.

The old saying wasn’t wrong.

“Uh, hey? Where are you going?”

As I slowly walked toward the lobby, a man in work clothes called out to me.

“…I’m just going to gather some supplies.”

“…What are you going to do alone? What if one of the anomalies spots you…?”

“I’ve already managed to escape from one of them once. I’ll go get the supplies… so don’t do anything rash. It’ll be fine.”

I deliberately shouted loudly, then turned and briskly walked down the hallway toward the ‘dining area’—the one mentioned by the man who came back alone earlier.

I don’t know where I got the confidence.

I just wanted to escape this dreadful atmosphere, and I wanted to shift everyone’s attention away from that college girl.

But the moment I left the lobby and stepped into the dark hallway, that bluff melted away like snow.

“…I must be insane.”

The words slipped out on their own.

Cold sweat ran down my spine, and my legs began to tremble.

They said there was a “Guest” and a “Chef” anomaly in the dining area.

Going there alone was madness.

Still, I had to face the anomaly.

‘The name tag…’

I knew about the item that cost 2,000 points each.

Clutching the flashlight tightly, I walked while desperately reviewing the mental map in my head.

Red dots appeared at the end of the hallway and inside the dining area.

‘Should I just turn back…? No, I already said I’d go…’

As I was slowly walking like a turtle, caught between pride and fear—

“Uh, excuse me!”

A panicked voice came from behind.

When I turned around, the college girl from earlier was following me, panting.

It looked like she couldn’t bear the horrifying atmosphere in the lobby either and decided to leave.

I found the stares uncomfortable too—imagine how much worse it was for her.

Her face was still stained with tears and fear, but when she saw me, I sensed a flicker of relief.

“Can I… come with you?”

I hesitated for a moment.

I could probably manage using my abilities, but she could be in real danger.

But remembering those gazes she had to endure in the lobby, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her to go back alone.

And to be honest…

“Yes. Let’s go together.”

Walking through this darkness alone was much worse.

Just having her by my side gave some strength back to my trembling legs.

I felt a bit relieved.

I just had to protect her somehow.

“…You can speak informally to me.”

“…Really?”

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“I’m… Kim Min-jun. You?”

“I’m Ra-hee. Lee Ra-hee.”

Side by side, we cautiously moved toward the dining area where the “Guest” and “Chef” would be waiting.

It was still frightening and overwhelming, but not being alone was a small comfort.

“Oh, right… And the guy who came back alone gave me some advice.”

Come to think of it, part of the kitchen had already been explored.

Even though only one out of three people made it back.

“He said the ‘Guest’ anomaly doesn’t attack as long as it’s not provoked. The problem is… the waiter serving them and the chef…”

Ra-hee frowned.

“They’re carrying something like weapons… He told me that while shaking.”

“…I see…”

I replied as if it didn’t bother me, but my body trembled slightly.

They’re carrying weapons.

I wished I had something like that too.

We walked cautiously down the dark hallway toward the dining area.

Beyond the arched entrance, dim lights flickered, and the clinking of dishes could be heard.

Clatter, clatter.

I gestured silently to Ra-hee to stay quiet and pressed myself against the wall to peek inside.

Several tables were set up in a wide hall, with “Guests” sitting at them.

They looked like mannequins dressed in formal attire—dresses and suits from various eras—just like the one I saw in the lobby.

They sat around the tables, intently eating something.

“Hoo…”

Hoping that what the man said about the Guests not attacking first was true, I stepped into the dining area where they were having their meal.