### Chapter 219 – Rest – Hell’s Hotel Kitchen (1)
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 98
Current Location: Floor 1, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 3]
—
– Han Kain
After dinner, I wandered around the second floor to check for any changes. Unfortunately, the ‘parcel’ and ‘mysterious craftsman’ we discovered in the outside world of the second floor hadn’t changed at all. Thankfully, my ability to solve this dilemma had recovered.
[Advice: 3 -> 2]
“Do I need to complete a separate quest to activate the parcel and the craftsman?”
The answer from my long-absent advice was precisely six characters, but it was enough.
[Time heals all.]
Apparently, there was no need to do anything specific; just waiting is the way to go. Upon hearing this, a hunch told me the reason behind it. Both the parcel and the craftsman were elements discovered during the exploration of the second floor, so they should unlock as we proceed through the second floor. Since I tackled Room 104 which was unrelated, it’s no wonder these elements remained unchanged.
Next, I asked Ferro about the issues I felt while possessing him for a long time. I had no clue how to control flying or the grotesque transformations.
[Advice: 2 -> 1]
“Using the special abilities of the possessed target is incredibly difficult. Any tips?”
[Long training is needed; there’s no shortcut.]
“Long practice is needed, and there’s no easy way?”
While I pondered this for a moment, a nearby teacher asked why I looked troubled, so I explained.
“Well, now I understand the reason. Are you curious why?”
“Can you just explain it simply?”
“It’s straightforward. Most movements of living beings are not executed by the actor understanding the principles behind them. For example, a person usually starts walking around one year old, but replicating that two-legged movement in a robot is extremely hard work requiring numerous doctorate-degree engineers in robotics all focused together.”
“Oh, I think I saw that on TV when I was a kid! A Japanese team developed a robot that walks on two legs!”
“If something as simple as walking on two legs is that hard, how much more difficult do you think it is to fly? That goes for both movements—neither humans nor birds understand the principles behind them. People don’t know how they walk on two feet, just like birds have no idea how they fly. They simply have a built-in manual for walking and flying since birth.”
“That’s why I can’t fly even when I’m in Ferro’s body; it’s because I lack that manual for birds.”
“Exactly. The reason you can’t transform grotesquely is similar—because that manual isn’t in your head.”
“Hmm…”
I got the principle. Ultimately, whether it’s flying, transforming, or using other supernatural abilities, without a manual to wield that power, even if I borrowed the body of a being that has it, it means half-baked results.
So then, is there no hard way other than the easy one? This doesn’t seem like a problem that can be solved quickly. I threw a few more questions about managing the magic book, but I didn’t achieve much.
*
– Lee Eunsol
After getting out of Room 104, I enjoyed a honey-like rest for the day. The next morning, everyone left the bedroom for breakfast. Since it wasn’t a room-solving day but an escape day, there was no party time. Knowing this, everyone had tired expressions.
And an unexpected gift awaited us.
/Today is the hotel’s day off. Meals will be provided./
Naturally, we had all assumed we had to enter the cursed room today, but my companions cheered! Was today intentionally kept a secret to enhance this moment’s happiness? It felt like receiving a surprise gift.
Songee and Kain were beside me.
“It seems like it’s just a day off, not a party time.”
“Party time is the reward for completing the cursed room. When we escaped from Rooms 101 and 102 back-to-back, we also got a day off. It’s a similar vibe.”
Ari chimed in as well.
“If it’s not party time, then we can’t go to the Sanctum of Blessings, nor can we explore anything.”
Every party time, the hotel sends out a final alert with this phrase:
‘They say the hotel only reveals its secrets during party time?’
In other words, it means there’s nothing for us to do today. Being a day off, we don’t need to enter the cursed room, and since it’s not party time, we can’t go to the Sanctum of Blessings, plus exploring would yield nothing.
Is there something wonderful we could do at such a time? I immediately pulled a whiteboard and stood before everyone.
“Everyone, look up! I’ve got some good news.”
Everyone shot me curious looks.
“My hand of greed is activated!”
“Oh! Is the time finally here?”
“The hand of greed is a ‘farming’ skill. It must be activated consistently when the cooldown is up.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Come on, throw some ideas my way. What should I wish for?”
“Since it’s your wish, you should just go with your heart.”
“I like your thinking, Kain. Truth is, I already have a rough idea. This time, I want to wish for something reasonably useful.”
“Reasonably?”
“If you wish for something too desperately, you end up with scary endings.”
As I said this, I pointed to my eye.
“I realized this when I got this eye. The ‘risk’ the hotel talks about isn’t as narrow a concept as I thought. For example, when I got this eye, the real one disappeared, and the eye itself is a bit…well, ugly, isn’t it?”
“That must not be seen as a risk by the hotel, right?”
“Since my vision was enhanced, they likely consider the loss of the real eye not a risk. Blindness will occur once we escape the hotel, and a physical change for just an eye isn’t an issue in the hotel’s eyes either.”
Upon hearing all this, Grandpa had a look of understanding on his face.
“I see your point. Because you wished so desperately, the cost became larger, fairly compounded by the hotel’s disregard for life, making it feel like ‘losing a limb isn’t too big of a deal’ for a wish granted.”
“Exactly.”
“That sounds like a good thought. Make a reasonable wish.”
Everyone nodded. As I focused my mind, a notification appeared in the air.
[Hand of Greed]
“Give me a reasonably useful item!”
…
“Preferably, without causing physical harm.”
…
“And keep my heart from getting hurt too!”
…
“If my comrades suffer too much, you know my heart will be hurt, right?”
“Sis, that feels kind of like cheating -”
“Shut it!”
…
“Really, last one!”
‘Make a simpler wish!’
I feel like I just heard an annoying echo from somewhere.
“Is it possible to get two items instead of one?”
‘Truly a greedy one. Just a thought of wanting to eat for free! But I like that greed. And – eat? Eat? That feels good, huh?’
What the heck? Don’t just think out loud like that!
A giant, deep laugh, sounding as if it reverberates throughout the entire cave, echoed from somewhere. Perhaps the last request resonated with the benefactor’s heart? The laughter of the benefactor began to shake the entire hotel as if some unknown construction were taking place! An incomprehensible noise echoed! Tension filled everyone’s expressions.
In the midst of this chaos, Kain scolded me.
“Hey, sis! Didn’t you say you’d make a reasonable wish?”
“It was reasonable.”
“Wishing for ‘just a reasonable 100 billion’ with ‘reasonably’ in front – is that a suitable request?”
“Considering all the trouble I went through with those useless blessings, I think that’s reasonable.”
With that said, Kain chose to be silent. Shortly after, a notification appeared before everyone.
/A surprise event has been triggered by the participant’s request./
…
…
Surprise Event: Hell’s Hotel Kitchen/
???
“What in the world is this?”
“What did it say?”
“Hell’s Hotel Kitchen.”
“What the heck does that even-”
/Participants, please come to the second-floor hall!/
Following the directions, we all arrived at the second-floor hall, and for a brief moment, we stayed quiet. The second floor had transformed into an entirely different space!
The Christmas tree disappeared, leaving behind a massive table at the center. At the front of the table, there were gas stoves, ovens, knives, and everything you’d think a kitchen would have was set up, while the previously empty rooms on the second floor were filled with ingredients.
And before us appeared a ‘Merchant’ dressed in a white chef outfit, smiling.
“…”
“…”
“Ahaha! Today truly is a delightful day! In fact, there hasn’t been an unpleasant day since you all arrived at this hotel! Now then! Chef Lee Eunsol, would you come right this way?”
“… I’m not a chef.”
“Just come along.”
In a daze, I followed his orders and sat at the table. There was even a white hat on the table.
“As you can see, this place is filled with the wonderful ingredients and cooking tools that have been used for your meals. All of you participants must make the best dish utilizing everything appropriately!”
“… Am I the one judging the dish?”
“Correct, Participant Lee Eunsol. One person must determine the ranking of the dishes. I kindly ask for a fair and just judgment.”
While everyone looked mystified, the Merchant continued his explanation.
“You would be wondering what ridiculous antics this hopeless hotel is pulling again, right?”
“….”
“The hotel does not force labor without compensation! A clear reward will be given to the winner of today’s cooking contest. However, there will also be suitable penalties for those who produce the worst food.”
“And me?”
“Haha! Of course, there’s a satisfying reward in store for the judge, Participant Lee Eunsol.”
The Merchant explained the absurd format of this cooking contest.
In the first round, the eight people, excluding me, will each make one plate. We will select the top two and bottom two. Next, in the second round, the top two will compete against each other to determine the winner. Finally, in the third round, the bottom two will face off again to establish the loser.
While everyone was still dazed, Ari was the first to recover from the chaotic situation.
“When does it start? How long for cooking?”
“It starts in 10 minutes. Cooking time should be sufficient at about one hour?”
As promised, a bell rang after ten minutes. My companions still wore bewildered expressions as they each dashed toward the room filled with ingredients.
Moments later, screams began to sound from the ingredient room.
“Eek! The fish is alive! It’s trying to bite me out of the water!”
“Why the heck is my hand on the sweet potato?”
“Did I just see the trotters moving by themselves?!”
… The condition of the ingredients is definitely abnormal. And I’m going to have to eat the dishes made from those ingredients.
“Do I really have to eat those dishes?”
The Merchant’s smile widened.
“Participant Lee Eunsol, didn’t I ask for ‘fair judgment’? You must taste at least one plate each.”
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