Hotel Mortis - Chapter 1 Part 11
Part 11
“Se-oh?”
“Se-oh. Your name.”
“My name is Se-oh?”
“That’s right. Your name is Se-oh. By the way, it seems really strange to see you addressing me so formally. Could you please speak comfortably to me?”
He almost pleaded, asking for him to speak casually.
For 712, or rather… Se-oh, a complete stranger requesting for him to speak casually was quite bewildering, even if they had known each other before.
However, that man was the one who had saved his life. If he considered it as repayment for his life, it was certainly something he could do. At the moment, he had nothing else to offer the man. He managed to part his reluctant lips and responded to his request.
“Well then… I’ll do that.”
“Much better.”
The man smiled brightly. His curved eyes sparkled with joy. Then, his impression changed so much that it was impossible to think that he was the same person who had pressed down on the monster and trampled it with his feet. Se-oh felt a little stunned in that contrast, but he tried not to show it.
Then, Se-oh realized that while the man had revealed his name, he hadn’t disclosed his own name.
“Who are you?”
Se-oh asked, and he responded.
“I am your savior.”
“My… savior?”
The words the man uttered momentarily didn’t make sense to Se-oh, so he asked in return. In response, the man nodded.
“Yeah. My name is Guwon1His name literally means save/salvation. And for me, I think Guwon is trying to say, “I am yours (your Guwon)” instead of “I am your savior.” Hehe….. I’ve come to find you and survive with you.”
Se-oh couldn’t help but reflexively open his mouth in response to that answer.
“… What kind of relationship did we have that you suddenly became my savior?”
It wasn’t until some time had passed that Se-oh realized he had misspoken.
Taking such aggressive words against the person who had defeated a dreadful monster for him and was taking care of him was quite thoughtless, and above all… Se-oh was afraid that his hasty words might offend the man who had revealed himself as his savior.
“I… I a-apologize. No, I mean, I’m sorry.”
He apologized cautiously, and the man who had identified himself as Guwon tilted his head at Se-oh’s apology.
“No need. Given your cautious and careful nature, it’s not strange to think that way.”
With a gentle chuckle, he added a joke.
“If a complete stranger comes pretending to know you and starts saying such odd things, anyone would find it strange, right? It’s a good thing you’re a relatively polite person, otherwise it wouldn’t be so strange if I got punched.”
Guwon seemed outwardly unaffected by Se-oh’s words. However, it was true that his choice of words had been a bit sharp. Se-oh cautiously apologized once again.
“I’m sorry. My words came out a bit harsh. I don’t know you, and yet you acted like you knew me, so I was a bit… that’s why.”
“It’s okay. It’s only natural. I went through the same.”
Se-oh’s eyes widened at the unexpected revelation.
“You went through the same?”
“I also met you, Se-oh, while I was suffering from memory loss.”
He had encountered Guwon while he himself had lost his memories in the past? So, was that why this person named Guwon was being so friendly to him? Se-oh, puzzled, asked.
“What kind of relationship did we actually have? Brothers? Companions? Friends?”
Although the question wasn’t much different from before, this time Se-oh was genuinely curious, which prompted the inquiry. Guwon, seated on the bed, tapped his chin with his thumb.
“Well…”
His silence was longer and much more significant than Se-oh expected, creating a sense of unease. Se-oh felt a slight apprehension.
‘He wouldn’t turn out to be my sworn enemy or something, right?’
It was unlikely that someone like that would be so kindly nursing him, but he couldn’t help but feel a little worried. Then Se-oh realized that he was a person with quite a lot of unnecessary worries.
‘Maybe this person named Guwon really does know me.’
According to what he said, Se-oh is very cautious. At any rate, there was something in common between the expression ‘cautious’ and ‘worried.’
While lost in various thoughts, he waited for Guwon’s answer.
After a while of silence, Guwon finally spoke up.
“… It’s a secret.”
For making someone wait so long, it was a rather disappointing response. He glanced at Se-oh’s disappointed expression and added.
“At least I can tell you it wasn’t a bad relationship.”
“Then why are you hiding the answer?”
“Because it wouldn’t be fun if I just told you right away.”
“Are you trying to take advantage of someone who has lost their memory? Or was I your enemy after all?”
Guwon raised his hand.
“No way. It’s definitely neither.”
“If you have nothing to hide, then why don’t you tell me?”
Se-oh got a bit agitated and even tried to sit up, but Guwon gently pressed his forehead back onto the pillow.
“You think it’s sad you’ve lost your memory, but it’s the same for me.”
“Why?”
“Well, you did forget me. Imagine someone you were close to suddenly completely forgetting about you. Wouldn’t you feel a bit resentful?”
“That’s…”
Se-oh stammered at Guwon’s words. When he thought about it the other way around, it didn’t seem entirely unreasonable. Above all, hadn’t Guwon jumped into a dangerous situation and saved him?
“Cut me some slack for being a little sulky.”
With a faint smile, Guwon laid down next to Se-oh. It was quite uncomfortable having two adults squeezed onto a single bed in a small motel room. Se-oh felt burdened by the warm body temperature against his forearm.
“It’s a bit… uncomfortable.”
“Since you’re cutting me some slack, do it with this too.”
However, Guwon was quite cheeky. He carefully moved to ensure that no harm would come to Se-oh’s injured ankles, pressing his body against Se-oh’s. In a low voice, he whispered.
“I really missed you. It’s been so long since I saw you… So, please, just for this day.”
Somehow, his voice seemed ready to cry, so Se-oh glanced at him from the corner of his eye. But Guwon was still wearing that kind smile.
Se-oh opened up about the concern he had been holding inside all this time.
“… But with my ankles like this, wouldn’t it be difficult for you to accompany me?”
If one of his ankles was fine, he would still be able to walk with a cane, but both ankles were completely broken. Even though Guwon must have put his ankles in place while he was unconscious, they were still twisted in a strange direction. Even if they were healed, it would be nearly impossible to walk properly.
‘No, it’s not just about walking. I can’t possibly endure in this strange hotel until these bones are fully healed.’
This is a hotel with an endless corridor and rooms where monsters live. In this jungle-like setting, he could only be naturally overwhelmed. Even if that man named Guwon were to help him, he couldn’t expect him to continue helping someone who is a cripple.
“I’m grateful for the help, but in this state…”
It was a very harsh judgment to make on himself, but it was a fact that he could not ignore.
However, Guwon shook his head.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be with you. You can also accompany me.”
In Se-oh’s eyes, it seemed like unnecessary arrogance. No matter how exceptional Guwon’s survival skills were, the idea of carrying one baggage and surviving until the end appeared to be nothing more than empty confidence.
“I don’t know how capable you are, but I can only hope and pray that you don’t change your mind then.”
Se-oh replied gloomily. He didn’t know what kind of relationship he had with Guwon originally, but he was aware that friendship or loyalty could easily change in the face of life and death. He had already been betrayed once before. For example, the man in room 304, who had left him in danger and just watched him silently.
‘Of course, all we’ve had is a brief conversation, and the idea of a close friendship forming in that time is absurd, but still…’
However, to overcome this hardship, he believed that it would be better to have two rather than one, and that sense of camaraderie would bind them together tightly.
Se-oh suddenly wondered where he was.
‘Did he run off alone and wander off somewhere? Was he keeping an eye on me? Or was he…?’
He had cursed him and wished him dead, but now that he was alive and had time to reflect on what had happened, he could understand his position a little better. In the face of overwhelming fear, it’s natural for your body to freeze up…
Perhaps Guwon might know about his whereabouts. Se-oh asked him.
“Do you happen to know where that man is? The middle-aged man who was standing in front of the room when I was being dragged in.”
Without any hesitation, Guwon nodded.
“Yes, I know. Well aware.”
There was a hint of playfulness in his tone. Se-oh pretended not to notice and continued to inquire.
“Where is he? Did he leave?”
“No. That man is here.”
“Here?”
At the unexpected answer, Se-oh tried to get up and look around, but once again, he was stopped by Guwon’s touch.
“I’ll show you, so stay still. Moving around will only make your body hurt.”
“Is he washing up in the bathroom? If my eyes aren’t mistaken, it looks like you and I are the only ones in this room…”
“To answer both of your questions at once, no, he’s not in the bathroom, and your eyes are perfectly fine.”
“Then?”
In response to Se-oh’s question, Guwon playfully sighed and sat up on the bed.
“As expected, you are still you, Se-oh. I had a feeling you wouldn’t let anything go easily.”
Se-oh felt a little annoyed and wanted to retort to Guwon, ‘What do you know about me to say such things?’ However, the truth was that Guwon knew more about him than Se-oh knew about himself.
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