The painting depicted an old man with hair styled like a Baroque-era musician.
“…He’s ugly.”
His skin was sickly pale, almost ghostly, and his body looked emaciated—nothing but skin and bone.
He was the very picture of a withered, unimpressive elder.
I’m not growing old like that, I vowed silently, staring him down.
Fortunately, with the blood of the “Beast King” grandfather running through my veins, I wouldn’t end up aging that way.
I also had every intention of keeping up with my training.
I’d probably never end up as ripped and imposing as Grandpa, but I’d at least age with some dignity and charm.
As I locked eyes with the old man in the portrait, I eventually turned my gaze away.
“Is this the notice?”
There was a laminated sheet on the table. I picked it up and began to read.
[Hotel of Illusions – Guest Guidelines]
- All examinees must attend the banquet at 7 PM. The event will take place in the Grand Ballroom on the 5th floor.
- A simple grocery storage area is available on Basement Level 1. Examinees are free to use it at their discretion. There is no cost for using the storage area.
- From 10 PM to 6 AM, examinees are strictly forbidden from leaving their rooms unless instructed otherwise. Violations may result in disqualification or point deductions.
- Items provided in the guest rooms may be used freely…
Nothing seemed particularly odd.
If anything stood out, it was the existence of a curfew.
Could it be tied to the fourth test?
Hard to say.
Let’s think about it after I wash up.
Ding-dong.
Just as I stepped out of the shower, my body still damp from the sweat of trekking through the woods, the doorbell rang.
I had a good idea who it might be.
Probably Ha-neul.
Drying my hair roughly and tossing on some clothes, I opened the door.
Of course—it was Yeon Ha-neul.
She looked up at me, slightly flustered.
“…Were you showering? Should I come back later?”
“No, I just finished. Just need to dry off a bit. What brings you here?”
“Well, we haven’t had lunch yet. I heard there’s a grocery area downstairs. I came to see if you wanted to go together.”
“I was about to come find you anyway. Come in. Wait inside.”
“Okay… Also, uh, could you do something about that button? It’s kind of… awkward to look at.”
“Button? What button?”
“Your shirt.”
“Oh. I threw it on in a rush. Why, it’s not a big deal. Haven’t we seen everything already, living together in the Academy City?”
“C-can you not say things like that? People might get the wrong idea. ‘Seen everything,’ seriously…”
“Well, you’ve seen my upper body, haven’t you?”
“T-that was an accident!”
“Was it? How many accidents does that make now?”
“Ugh…”
“You just glanced again.”
“I did not!”
“My childhood friend’s a total pervert.”
“How does that make me the pervert?!”
“Anyway, just wait in the lounge. It’s pretty spacious.”
“Ahem… I’ll be intruding, then.”
It was always fun teasing Ha-neul.
Face burning, she stepped inside, flustered beyond belief.
I left her in the lounge and finished getting ready.
“Let’s see if there’s anything decent to eat. After that, a nap wouldn’t hurt.”
“What if we miss the banquet?”
“Then you can wake me up.”
“I used to wake you up all the time, remember? In elementary school, middle school… What are you gonna do without me?”
“Probably die without you.”
“…Tch. You’re just saying that.”
“Which floor was it again?”
“Basement 1.”
Ha-neul and I took the elevator down to the basement.
We soon arrived at the grocery storage area.
“…Whoa. It’s way bigger than I expected. I thought it’d be like a tiny middle school snack shop.”
“Yeah. This is almost supermarket-level.”
It felt like walking into a warehouse store.
I’d expected basic snacks and maybe a few ready-to-eat meals, but there was frozen meat, fish, and even fresh produce.
It was exactly what the sign had claimed—a “simple grocery warehouse.”
We browsed the shelves, genuinely impressed.
“Oh, look—they’ve got your favorite, strawberry milk.”
“Seriously? I have to find it.”
“Let’s take a lap around first.”
“Okay!”
There were even shopping carts nearby.
I grabbed one and slowly pushed it along the aisles.
“If we’re stuck inside during the curfew, it makes sense to stock up now.”
“Even though there’s a banquet later?”
“You don’t get hungry at night?”
“Well… I guess I do. But it’s bad for my diet.”
“You’re a hunter. With your activity levels, some midnight snacks won’t hurt.”
“…I guess that’s true.”
“Grab whatever you want. All of it.”
“You say that like you’re paying.”
“Today, I am.”
“Well then—thank you, sir~! Oh, is that the dairy section over there?”
“I’ll be checking out the ramen. Go ahead.”
“Got it!”
She perked up, rabbit ears twitching in delight as she dashed toward the milk aisle.
I pushed the cart toward the ramen corner.
“…So many types of ramen…”
Someone else was already there.
A woman stood before the shelves, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Didn’t expect to see her here.
Golden hair and striking blue eyes.
Her long braid rested over her left shoulder—elegant, poised, and exuding a distinct foreign charm.
Naturally so.
She was a princess from the Empire—Lisa Grace, who had assimilated into this world from another.
“…But how do you even eat this? 550ml of water? Two cups and… three-quarters? Hm…”
Lisa Grace.
In the game, she was a central figure—second only to Kang Han-byeol in importance to the story.
A main heroine, no less.
Though Han-byeol had someone else she liked, so that’s that.
She was also a support-type party member.
And right now…
Perfect chance to strike up a conversation. She’s not dangerous like Nam Yu-ri, anyway.
I took a step forward.
She was squinting at the cooking instructions beside the shelf.
“Jjap…aguri? So you mix Jjapaghetti and… Neoguri? Wait, Neoguri? That’s not an actual raccoon, is it?”
“It’s not a real raccoon.”
“Huh?”
“Neoguri is this one. Jjapaghetti’s over here.”
“Oh… So it’s a ramen?”
“Just the name. No raccoons involved.”
According to the game lore, Lisa had grown up sheltered in the royal palace, with no exposure to common life.
Her story arc helps her adapt over time, but right now, she’s still fresh out of the greenhouse.
She had plenty of openings.
“Thanks for the help. So I just take these two?”
“Well, you’ll need more than that.”
“More?”
“You need some sirloin, too.”
“Sirloin…?”
“The frozen meat’s over there.”
“…That goes in too?”
“You sure you can measure the water right?”
“550ml? I saw a measuring cup in the room…”
“You have to be precise. And you have to time it right. Ramen gets soggy if you miss the timing.”
“…Right.”
“Think you can pull it off? Soggy ramen’s the worst.”
“…Maybe I shouldn’t try cooking it…”
She began to slide the ramen packets back onto the shelf.
I stepped in.
“I was planning to make some anyway.”
“…?”
“You eating with anyone else?”
“…No.”
“Then why don’t we eat together? Come to my room—I’ll make jjapaguri for you.”
“…What?”
“I’m serious. I’ll cook.”
She blinked her blue eyes, clearly trying to read my intentions.
And I was just about to press the offer further when—
“Gyeon-woo?”
There she was.
Yeon Ha-neul, holding a strawberry milk in one hand and chocolate milk in the other.
But… she looked upset.
Why is she mad…?
I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong—but I suddenly felt guilty.
I took a cautious step back.
“H-ha-neul… Did you find everything?”
“What did you just say?”
“…Did you find everything?”
“Before that.”
“H-Ha-neul…?”
“Stop playing dumb.”
“…‘Want to eat ramen in my room?’ Uh, Ha-neul, she can eat with us too…”
“Gyeon-woo.”
“…”
Right then, a savior appeared.
“Ha-neul! Gyeon-woo! Fancy seeing you here again! You guys came to find food too? Wanna eat together? They’ve got a ton of ramen here!”
“…”
“You’re eating ramen, right? I can make it really well. Ha-neul, wanna come eat in my room? I’ll make rice and eggs too! I even brought kimchi!”
“….”
“…Why is the mood so tense?”
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