Bab 11: Chapter 11: Boom!
(A/N:For every 10 Power stones I'll post another chapter)
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November 15 1999
Three days had passed since Hotel De Luna had accepted its troublesome guests.
Jang Man-wol stood before the mirror, the shimmering diamond earrings she was trying on reflecting back the weariness in her eyes. She was desperately trying to enjoy some personal time, a rare luxury in her hectic life. She ran her hand through her glossy black hair, feeling the familiar weight of her crown, a constant reminder of her responsibilities.
She smiled, a practiced gesture that didn't reach her eyes. She was a warrior, after all, and a warrior never let her troubles show. She changed the earrings, one dazzling pair after another, feeling the cool weight of the diamonds on her earlobes. Finally, she settled on a pair of clear oval earrings that matched her skin tone perfectly. As she posed, admiring her reflection, she tried to push away the anxieties bubbling beneath the surface.
"Miss, if you keep buying things like that, even if the hotel earns a lot, we'll be in the red before the year ends." the manager, Noh Joon-Suk, said. He was a kind man, always concerned about Jang Man-wol's reckless spending.
Jang Man-Wol looked at him in the mirror's reflection and rolled her eyes.
"Can't you just let me enjoy this moment? I'm already so stressed with her being here, and that brat Lee Rang keeps making trouble."
Noh Joon-Suk smiled, trying to lighten the mood. He thought the hotel was becoming more lively, and Jang Man-Wol was starting to have people she could rely on.
He was a human, so he was aging and changing, maturing with time. Jang Man-Wol, however, was different. As time passed, he had started to treat her like a daughter, offering her a gentle, if sometimes exasperated, understanding.
"There are four more days before she leaves," Jang Man-Wol said, looking at her reflection, trying to cheer herself up. She thought, 'You can do it,' then walked to her desk.
When she sat down, Noh Joon-Suk placed a document of the hotel customer reviews and earnings on her desk.
"The foreign vampires have a special request. They like the hotel's Illusionary Beach room, but they want to make the place bigger." he reported.
Jang Man-Wol smiled, a genuine smile this time, as she checked the documents. She was happy to see proof of her earnings.
'I should have done this earlier' she thought, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The hotel was a money machine, a testament to her business acumen.
Before she could fully enjoy her success, another document was placed on her desk.
"Oh, another one?" she said while her smiled deepened, putting her hand on the folder, assuming it was another record of the hotel's profits.
Noh Joon-Suk's expression, however quickly destroy her hopeful expectations.
"That's the list of the hotel's destroyed property." he said, his voice laced with concern.
Silence filled the office.
"Destroyed property? You're joking, right?" Jang Man-Wol's voice rose in disbelief as she hastily opened the documents.
Her eyes scanned the list of damaged items: chandeliers, tables, plates, bottles, antiques, even the walls.
Her hands crumpled the document as she felt a wave of anger wash over her. The guests weren't following the rules. She could feel her rage building, her eyes blazing with fury as she looked at Noh Joon-Suk.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice tight with anger.
"They're different people, but the other guests have paid for the destroyed property but they only paid half the price" he said, bowing respectfully.
Jang Man-Wol slammed both her hands on the desk, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap. Papers scattered across the desk, a testament to the force of her anger.
"What is this? Do they think this is a market, and we give discounts for destroyed property?" she said, her voice rising with anger. She thought these guests didn't respect her hotel enough, their reckless behavior a slap in the face.
Noh Joon-Suk shook his head.
"The hotel property was destroyed by two guests fighting, and there's one guest who's been fighting different supernatural creatures one after another." he said, looking at her with concern.
"And that guest says you will be the one paying for the damages." Noh Joon-Suk reported with a bow, expecting her usual outburst.
But it didn't happen. as Jang Man-Wol already has an idea who it is so she just slowly sat down on her chair, slumping down as she took deep breaths in and out. She fanned her right hand over her face, trying to calm herself down.
'Okay, don't be angry. You promised you would take care of them,' she thought to herself, trying to convince her own anger to subside.
"Well, who's the troublemaker? Was it Lee Rang?" she finally asked, her voice tight with suppressed frustration.
Noh Joon-Suk gave a small bow.
"Indeed, Miss, it was Lee Rang.
He was the one fighting the supernatural creatures"
The antique phone on Jang Man Wol's desk jangled, interrupting her before she could even ask about Lee Rang's latest escapade.
Nam Joon Suk answered,
"Oh, it's Choi Seo Hee. Hmm, is that so? I'll let Madam know." He hung up.
Then bowed slightly to Jang Man Wol.
"Looks like Lee Rang's at it again. The guests are already placing bets in the lobby."
Jang Man Wol's eyes widened, a surprised laugh escaping her lips.
"Ha ha ha! It's only eight in the morning!" She glanced at the clock, her disbelief evident.
A moment later, the office door slammed open, revealing Jang Man Wol's simmering fury. With a swift movement, she strode towards a cabinet, her hands outstretched. The cabinet creaked open, revealing a shotgun that seemed to leap into her grasp. A mocking smile played on her lips as she exited, her thoughts a dangerous whisper "Let's see how much energy they have for this fight."
Nam Joon Suk followed silently, closing the door behind him with a gentle click.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
Lobby, Hotel De Luna.
The Hotel de Luna's grand lobby, usually a spectacle of opulent beauty, was transformed into a chaotic battleground.
As cheers and whispers was heard around the lobby.
As Lee Rang was thrown down the stairs.
Lee Rang hastily gotten up, his movements once fluid and graceful, were now ragged and desperate. He was a blur of motion, dodging the man's clumsy swings, but the man's brute strength was overwhelming.
Each blow landed with a sickening thud, sending tremors through the polished marble floor. Lee Rang's fox-like agility, usually his greatest asset, seemed to have deserted him. The man was relentless.
"Looks like the only you know how to do is run unlike your brother" the man says.
He was middle age man that has blonde hair.
Lee Rang didn't reply as he was trying to use illusion to affect the man but it didn't work it just irritated him more.
The man's fist connected with Lee Rang's jaw, sending a jolt of pain through his head. Lee Rang stumbled back, his vision blurring for a moment. He felt a sharp pain in his side, a testament to the man's relentless assault. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving He was losing.
"After all you are just A gumiho half human at that" the man said as he shakes his head in dissapointment and his face showing disgust.
Lee Rang faced turned dark as this was the reason he was fighting other guests on the hotel they always belittle him being half human and a gumiho.
Suddenly, a flash caught his eye.
So reply to get the man attention.
"Yes you are right, I'm Unlike my brother" as Lee Rang stand up, while the man shows a mocking smile.
"I don't fight alone"
Kim Yoo-ri, her face a mask of cold determination, had moved with fast speed. She was a blur of motion, her movements as smooth and silent as a shadow. Her hand, a blur of motion, turned to claws.
The man, caught off guard, turned towards Yoo-ri just as her claws found its mark.
It plunged deep into his shoulder, a silent scream escaping his lips as pain ripped through him. He stumbled back, his weight shifting, and crashed into a nearby table, sending it splintering into a thousand pieces. The sound of shattering wood echoed through the ballroom, momentarily silencing the chaos.
The guests circled around, their excitement palpable in the air. This was just the beginning of the chaos. The employee,
Ji Hyun-joong, stood in the middle of the brewing storm, trying to stop the guests from getting hurt.
He was already a nervous wreck. He didn't like being the center of attention, and things were escalating quickly.
Just as he was about to speak, a voice cut through the air.
"Hundred dollars on that guy!" one of the guests shouted, trying to place a bet and tossing a wad of bills towards Ji Hyun-joong.
Startled, Ji Hyun-joong glanced at the money with a confused expression. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't a gambler and had no idea how to deal with this kind of situation.
Then, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.
"We don't accept betting money here, sir. And please step back." Choi Seo Hee said, her voice firm as she pushed the guest's arm back, the one holding the money.
But the guests, like they hadn't heard her, started placing bets one by one.
"A hundred on the gumiho." one vampire said, his voice dripping with excitement.
A female wolf, her amber eyes gleaming with anticipation, countered with,
"One fifty on the other guy!"
The energy in the room escalated with every bet.
Choi Seo Hee watched in disbelief, her eyebrows rising with every bet that was placed. She felt overwhelmed.
Kim Sun Bi, the hotel's bartender, emerged from the shadows, seemingly unfazed by the chaos. He accepted the money, whispering to Choi Seo Hee
"It's not like they're gonna stop fighting anyway."
Choi Seo Hee shook her head and patted his shoulder.
"You handle this. I'll report first to the manager." she said, rushing towards the antique telephone in the corner of the lobby.
"Hyung, let me help too," Ji Hyun-joong said, taking the gambling money from the other guests, his voice laced with excitement. He'd never been this close to a fight, especially one with this kind of energy. Kim Sun Bi smirked, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Is there anyone else who wants to bet?" he yelled, his voice booming through the room.
A voice from the second floor cut through the commotion.
"Ten thousand dollars on the guy beating up the gumiho." a woman's voice said, followed by a loud crunch.
Everyone stopped, turning their heads toward the voice. They quickly realized it was Areum, who had been munching on peanuts. The crowd gaped at her as she was the Gumiho companion.
Areum didn't even look at them. She tossed a wad of bills down to Kim Sun Bi, who carefully retrieved the money. Then, she resumed her snacking, making a satisfying crunching sound as she waited for the fight to begin.
She felt someone watching her. She turned and saw Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri staring at her with disbelief.
Areum smirked at them, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. I'm not the one who picked a fight with a strong guy," she said, with a smile and her voice dripping with innocent sarcasm.
Lee Rang and Kim Yoo-ri looked at each other, focusing on the word "strong." Then, they both turned their attention to the man who was standing up.
Electricity crackled from his skin, causing the lobby lights to flicker erratically. The crowd roared in anticipation.
Areum smiled, enjoying the chaos.
The man partially transformed, his fingers morphing into sharp talons. His eyes turned a piercing blue, and feathers sprouted from his neck, making him look like a magnificent, yet dangerous, creature.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, trying to guess what species the man was.
Then, someone noticed the distinctive blue talons.
"A Garuda!" the guest cried, his voice full of fear. He quickly retreated, his earlier enthusiasm fading. The rest of the crowd followed suit.
Garudas are a species known for their power to drain supernatural beings of their abilities.
The man, however, ignored their fear. He had only one goal: to rip apart the gumiho.
Suddenly, the sound of heels clicking against the polished marble floor filled the air. The crowd turned their heads toward the source of the noise. Jang Man-Wol descended the stairs, her hand resting on her back.
"Don't even think about stopping me just because you're the owner." the Garuda said, not caring about her at all.
He was focused on the fight.
Jang Man-Wol just smiled at him, a knowing, almost predatory smile. She raised the shotgun that she was holding behind her back, pointing it directly at the Garuda's chest.
"Boom!" The shotgun fired, sending the Garuda flying backward. The impact echoed through the lobby. But the Garuda didn't stay down. He tried to stand, his eyes filled with fury, but Jang Man-Wol was already aiming at him.
"Boom!" She fired again, this time aiming for his head. The Garuda crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
While the shotgun didn't kill, it packed a powerful punch, even for supernatural creatures. Besides the physical pain, it also induced a dream-like state, filled with terrifying hallucinations that would leave the victim in agony.
A stifled laugh rang out from the crowd. Jang Man-Wol turned to see Lee Rang, his hand pressed against his mouth, trying to hold back a smile. He couldn't help but feel a little amused.
Jang Man-Wol just tilted her head, her eyes narrowed slightly as she raised the shotgun again. She wasn't done yet.
Lee Rang's eyes widened. "Wait! I'm so— "
"Boom!" The shotgun blasted, sending Lee Rang flying toward the wall with a thud. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
She clicked her tongue in irritation, looking at Kim Yoo-ri, who was trembling in fear. Jang Man-Wol chose to ignore her. Her gaze shifted to Choi Seo Hee, who was staring at her with shock.
"Send them to the room thirteen."
she said, her voice calm and authoritative.
it was a room that absorbs so much emotion of a living being if it heard just a small sound for humans it will make them crazy but for supernatural creatures it's a torture.
She turned and walked up the stairs, not caring about the gazes she was receiving.
As she was walking, she heard an irritating laugh. She turned to see Areum, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
She paused, looking back at the scene unfolding below. The crowd was starting to disperse, their initial excitement replaced with a mixture of awe and fear.
"Let's go, Areum unnie"
Jang Man-Wol said, turning back toward the stairs.
"I need to check on the damage"
Areum, her face lit with amusement, followed Jang Man-Wol up the stairs.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
CEO Office, Hotel De Luna
The two women were sitting comfortably on a plush velvet couch. Jang Man-Wol, a vision of elegant composure, sat with her legs crossed, her fingers tapping a steady rhythm on the ornate coffee table before her. Areum, in contrast, lay sprawled across the cushions, a pillow tucked beneath her head as she devoured a bowl of ice cream with an almost childlike glee.
Jang Man-Wol watched her with an expression of utter disgust.
"When you leave, take them both with you," she said, her voice laced with a hint of weariness.
"I'm tired of their antics."
"I can't. I'm due to give birth in my dimension. It's the only place suitable for souls, unless you have Yggdrasil's blessing. And I'm pretty sure Yggdrasil isn't going to grant her blessing to anyone, especially not after you kicked them out of your hotel," Areum said, sitting up properly after finishing her ice cream.
She licked the spoon with a satisfied sigh.
Then, Areum looked at Jang Man-Wol with a serious expression.
"What do you think about technology?" she asked, having observed the rapid advancements in human technology, which she found both intriguing and unsettling.
"Well, they're pretty entertaining," Jang Man-Wol said, showing her phone, easy to carry finding the whole thing a fascinating new way to pass the time.
"I mean the weapons." Areum rolled her eyes. "Do you think they can kill gods?" she continued.
Jang Man-Wol took a deep breath before answering, thinking seriously. "It depends. If their strongest weapon is still the nuclear bomb, it won't have any effect on gods. Because I know supernatural creatures who can survive it," she said.
She'd seen the devastation firsthand, centuries ago, and it had been a terrifying display of human power. Yet, it had ultimately been futile against those who were truly powerful.
"Tsk, looks like I need to study the humans again after this." Areum said as she stood up, preparing to leave.
"Where are you going again?" Jang Man-Wol asked, her tone a mixture of exasperation and amusement. 'This ahjumma is going to make trouble again. Why can't she just stay in one place with her old age?' she thought, clicking her tongue.
Areum narrowed her eyes, knowing what Jang Man-Wol was thinking, but she didn't get angry.
She just turned around, and white mist began to spread from her.
"Of course, I'm going to give birth." Areum said, placing her hand on her belly.
"What? Already?" Jang Man-Wol stood up, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Yes, this little guy is eager to get out. If it takes any longer, this little guy will force his way out." Areum said with a smile as she felt the movements in her belly. She loved the feeling, a connection to something beyond herself.
"You look like a normal mother, not a sly fox when you smile like that. Congratulations." Jang Man-Wol smiled, feeling happy for her friend.
The white mist started to cover Areum's body.
"You should try to, you know?"
she smirked at Jang Man-Wol, her voice filled with mischief.
Jang Man-Wol sat down first, her face a mixture of shock and annoyance.
"Giving birth? You're kidding me," she said as she straightened her skirt, her voice sharp.
As Areum's whole body was now fully covered by white mist, she said,
"Yeah, I'm just kidding. After all, one thousand and three hundred years, and you still can't find a man?" The white mist disappeared.
"YAH!" Jang Man-Wol was furious. Areum had touched a sour spot.
She stomped her foot hard on the floor, causing cracks to spread and the white mist to vanish. But Areum was already gone.
Yet, a sound of cunning laughter could be heard in every corner of the room.
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Next Chapter 12: The Birth
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Bestiary gonna be Updated.
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Marishadoww Marishadow:
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