Chapter 37

EP.37 Calm Before the Storm

"How long has it been, and it's already evening?"

After a fun day exploring Busan, we entered the hotel to get some sleep.

The most expensive five-star hotel in Busan, 'The Signiture' hotel.

Personally, I don't like that such a symbolic hotel in Busan has an English name. I'm a patriot, so I prefer using Korean. Instead of 'Signature,' why not use the good Korean word 'Sign'?

...But now that I think about it, 'Sign' isn't really Korean either. No, wait, here 'Signature' isn't being used in that sense, right? I don't know, let's just go in.

The lobby was huge and elegant, as if it could easily fit hundreds of people. Subin told us to guard our luggage, while Se-eun and I headed to the front desk for check-in. Se-eun made the reservation, so she came along.

"Welcome. May I have the name of the person who made the reservation?"

"Ah, it should be Han Se-eun."

"Yes, I found it. Here is the key for room 2708."

"....Is there only one room?"

"Yes, you only booked one room."

"Ah, I see..."

I walked out of the lobby with the key card and asked Se-eun, who was standing next to me.

"Se-eun, why did you book only one room?"

Se-eun avoided my questioning gaze and said,

"Well... it saves money, right?"

"Why do we need to save money? We have more than enough combined."

"Ah! The bed is super king-sized, so just come and sleep!"

"Se-eun? Even the bed is only one?"

I looked at Se-eun in confusion, and Subin, who was standing next to her, hugged her and said,

"It'll be nice to sleep together after a long time. Hehe, I'm looking forward to it."

"Um... we've never slept together before..."

They ignored me and headed for the elevator.

My authority as the leader...

***

"Wow, the room is really spacious!"

Se-eun exclaimed as she ran around the hotel room, amazed.

It's nice to see her so lively after always being glued to her computer.

Students should go out and play more, you know.

"Wow, the bathroom looks like a hot spring."

Subin, who went into the bathroom, also exclaimed in amazement.

Yes, this is what a five-star hotel is like.

It was the largest and most spacious hotel room I've ever been in.

Even the furniture was made of high-quality wood, making me feel like I'd have to pay millions if I accidentally set it on fire.

I shouldn't play with fire in this hotel. Wait, isn't playing with fire always a bad idea?

"The night view is amazing."

I said this as I pulled back the curtains. It was true. From the high floor, the night view of Busan was breathtaking. I could even see the waves of the sea in the distance.

"Wow... the TV is huge."

I marveled at the TV in the bedroom. Our base's TV isn't this big. Maybe we should get a new one?

But the bed was really just one. It was huge, like four beds put together, but why did we need to book just one?

I said to the others, who were unpacking their luggage,

"Let's unpack, take a shower, and then relax before going to bed."

I was tired from walking around all day.

***

After everyone had showered and gotten into bed,

Se-eun was in the middle, and Subin and I were on either side.

We decided to watch TV and rest.

While flipping through the channels, Se-eun, who was looking at her phone, spoke up.

"Bro, can you get me some water?"

What? What did she say?

Did I hear her wrong?

"Water."

Se-eun repeated it casually.

Se-eun, do you not have hands or feet...

"Se-eun... now you're trying to use me like this. Sob... I must have raised you wrong. I should have been stricter, oh, oh..."

I made a mock sobbing sound, and Se-eun, looking flustered, waved her hands and said,

"No, bro, that's not it! You have telekinesis, right? Can't you just use it to get it? It's just a flick of your wrist, right?"

Oh, that's what you meant.

I thought you were being a brat...

"Hmm, unfortunately, Se-eun. Just get up and get it yourself."

"Ugh... okay."

"Why? Because I need to conserve my energy."

"Energy? What do you mean?"

"Hmm... did I not explain this before? Let me see... in RPG games, you know about MP, right? Mana? The value that mages need to cast spells."

"Oh, that blue bar under the HP bar?"

"Right, that's it. My telekinesis works like that. If I use it too much, it gets weak, like the claw in a claw machine. But if I don't use it and rest or focus, it gets stronger. So I need to save it for emergencies."

Actually, the last time I used it was a few months ago to deal with that crocodile, so it feels pretty strong now. Persistence is key...!!

"Oh, I see. I thought you could just use it freely... I'll go get it."

Se-eun got up and trudged over to the hotel mini-fridge.

I'll flip through the channels in the meantime.

Variety shows... news...

I decided to watch the news.

Honestly, the news in this world is more entertaining than variety shows.

When the news talks about B-grade villains and flame users, it's hard not to find it amusing.

The news showed a picture of a blonde woman and a woman with long blue hair. Oh, the one on the left is Stardust. The one on the right is her, the North Sea Ice Maiden.

The anchor's voice came through.

[Following the report of Shadowwalker's coma, public concerns about security have not ceased. A-class heroes Stardust and Icicle from the Association have stepped forward to clarify the situation. They announced that they will be on 24-hour emergency standby, with Stardust covering Seoul and the capital region, and Icicle covering North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Busan.]

Well, Stardust has always been responsible for Seoul, and the North Sea Ice Maiden for Busan, so this basically means they'll be working 24/7. Poor them...

The North Sea Ice Maiden is still officially called Icicle in the news. The nickname North Sea Ice Maiden came after she froze North Korea, so it makes sense.

While I was briefly recalling the original story, the anchor continued.

[When citizens expressed concerns that 'Korea is too large to be covered by just two heroes,' the Association responded by advising people to 'keep a baseball bat by their bed for emergencies,' causing nationwide outrage.]

...The Association is still doing this.

Well, the Association has always been like this, so it's not surprising. From what I remember, the Association's leader was a bit off...

But the security situation is a bit worrying. Should I prepare something?

"Bro, you're watching the news again? You really seem like an old man sometimes."

Se-eun suddenly came back to the bedroom, laying into me. No, that's not fair. This is just everyday life for you, but for me, it feels like watching a movie.

"Huh? But that's not water, it's cola? Where did you get that?"

"Cola? It was in the mini-bar."

I almost screamed.

"Se-eun! How can you drink that! Do you know how expensive the drinks and snacks in the hotel mini-bar are? That can of cola you're drinking probably costs five thousand won!"

I exclaimed in shock, and Se-eun shrugged as if to say, "So what?"

"So what if it costs five thousand won or fifty thousand won? We have plenty of money."

Se-eun's words left me speechless.

Right, we do have a lot of money.

After I fell into this world, I made a lot of money using my knowledge of the original story, and Se-eun had already earned a lot of money.

But maybe because I've been living like a regular person for so long, I forgot about it.

"Bro, this hotel alone costs a fortune. This is probably the most expensive land in Busan. It's the only five-star hotel here."

"Right. Drink up. And brush your teeth."

"Really, am I a kid?"

Se-eun pouted and protested. You look so much like a kid right now...

Subin just smiled quietly at us.

*

"Ha... I'm getting sleepy. Let's all go to bed."

We need to get up early tomorrow to have fun.

We all brushed our teeth, turned off the lights, and got into bed.

The bed was so big that it wasn't uncomfortable at all.

But it feels a bit strange to be under the same blanket.

Not long after lying down, I heard Subin quietly snoring from the other side.

She must be asleep already. She falls asleep as soon as she lies down.

I was about to close my eyes to sleep when Se-eun, who was lying next to me, whispered,

"Today was fun..."

"Hmm? What was the best part?"

"Seeing the sea was great, and the market was fun... I think it's good to go out and play sometimes."

"Right. Let's do it more often."

If we can, that is.

First, I need to complete all the terrorist plans and the Stardust growth project in my head...

"Let's get some sleep if we want to have fun tomorrow."

"Okay..."

Se-eun yawned and buried her face in the pillow.

I need to get some sleep too.

The hotel is so quiet, I'll probably fall asleep quickly.

And as I thought, I fell into a deep sleep a few minutes later.

When I wake up tomorrow, the sun will be up, right?

***

But in the late night, with the moon still illuminating the dark city, at the hotel.

Bang.

Thud, thud, thud.

Heavy footsteps from all around.

Boom.

The sound of something exploding.

Screams. Shattering glass.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

Someone pounding on our door, causing noise between floors.

"FBI, OPEN UP!!!!"

And the shouting in front of the door.

"Damn it..."

I muttered, waking up from my sleep.

What the hell is going on?