I slumped into the broken chair behind the counter, cradling the "Miniature Cold Fusion Reactor" that was emitting a faint blue glow in my hands.
It was warm and hummed with a soft, rhythmic sound. In this cold, pitch-black wasteland night filled with the scent of death, this sound was simply music to my ears.
[Potion Side Effect Triggered: Extreme Exhaustion.] [Stamina: 5/100 (On the verge of fainting).]
My eyelids were fighting to stay open, and every bone and muscle in my body was screaming for rest. But I knew it wasn't time to sleep yet.
If I didn't install this "Heart" and turn the lights on, I would absolutely not sleep soundly tonight. Who knows if a ghost or some other dirty thing would crawl out of the darkness?
Forcing my body to move, I crawled under the counter.
There was a power distribution box that had been violently pried open (judging by the marks, it was the handiwork of my Great-Uncle before he bolted). The wires inside were tangled like a mess of hemp, sparks still spitting from the severed ends.
I opened the [Facility Maintenance] interface on my phone terminal.
[Energy System: Offline] [Water System: Offline]
[Repair Option A: Connect to Main God Space Public Grid] [Cost: Repair Circuits 50 CP + Daily Electricity Fee 10 CP.] [Evaluation: Expensive and stable exploitation.]
[Repair Option B: Independent Energy Supply] [Cost: Repair Circuits 20 CP (Requires High-Energy Core).] [Evaluation: One-time investment, self-sufficient.]
"Is this even a choice?"
I looked at the remaining 34.5 Points in my account. If I chose A, I'd go bankrupt immediately and get my power cut tomorrow for not paying the bill. Choosing B, I had a ready-made core!
"Select Option B."
[Confirm deduction of 20 Computation Points.] [Scanning connected energy core...]
Taking a deep breath, I carefully inserted the Arc Reactor in my hand into the originally empty slot in the center of the distribution box.
The size fit perfectly. Or rather, the system automatically adapted to this "external plugin."
Click.
With a crisp locking sound, the blue light on the reactor flared up.
Immediately after, countless green data streams surged out from the distribution box, spreading frantically along those broken wires. Under the power of "Money (CP)," those charred circuits began to heal and reconnect automatically.
[High-Purity Cold Fusion Energy Detected.] [Energy Output: Stable.] [Rebooting Hotel Infrastructure...] [Progress: 10%... 50%... 100%.]
Zzzt—Hum!
The sound of electric current flowing passed through, like blood being injected back into dried-up veins.
Overhead, the crystal chandelier, thick with dust and looking like a dead spider, suddenly flickered twice.
Then—
The lights came on.
Although it was just a few dim yellow bulbs, and the light seemed a bit hazy due to the dust. But in this instant, warm light poured down, dispelling the darkness and haze that had accumulated in the lobby for so long.
Looking at that light, I felt my eyes getting a little hot.
This wasn't just light. This was Civilization. It meant this broken building was no longer a tomb, but a Home where someone lived.
At the same time, the bulky old CRT computer (terminal) on the counter also beeped, its screen lighting up and starting to scroll green startup code.
Even the air conditioning vent in the corner blew out a wisp of faint warm air.
Crawling out from under the counter, I looked at all this and couldn't help but laugh.
"Ha... Haha..."
As I laughed, I heard the sound of vibrating water pipes.
The restored power had driven the water pump. I rushed to the bathroom in the corner of the lobby and twisted the rusty faucet open.
Pfft—Splash—
First, a jet of black water sprayed out, followed by yellow rusty water, and finally, it turned into a clear stream.
I reached out to catch a handful. The water was warm! The waste heat from the reactor even solved the hot water problem!
I couldn't hold back anymore. I stripped off the suit that was already torn and covered in machine oil, blood stains, and green slime, throwing even my underwear aside.
Standing stark naked in front of the sink (since there was no shower head, I could only scoop water with my hands), I frantically scrubbed my body.
The warm water washed over my skin, taking away the filth and also washing away the humble feeling of being a "Scavenger."
I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was soaking wet, my face pale, dark circles under my eyes, and my body covered in several bruises and scrapes. But I was alive. And, I looked like a human being.
After washing, I had no clothes to change into, so I could only roughly wipe the dirt off that tattered suit and drape it over myself again. (Note: I need to pick up some clothes at the dump tomorrow. Hopefully, I can find something not too weird.)
Returning to the counter, I felt so exhausted I was about to float away. But I forced myself to focus on the computer screen that had just started up.
On the screen was the simple management interface of the hotel: [Shadow Hotel Management System V1.0] [Current Occupancy: 0%] [Facility Integrity: 12%]
And in the bottom right corner of the interface, an envelope icon was flashing.
[You have 1 unread email.] [Sender: Admin_001 (Great-Uncle)] [Time: 3 days ago]
My heart skipped a beat. A letter left by that old swindler?
I clicked open the email immediately.
A dialog box popped up on the screen:
[Subject: To my disappointing nephew (If you're still alive)]
[Content: Hey, Lynn. If you are reading this letter, it means you at least survived the first day, and you were smart enough to restore the power first. Don't blame your Great-Uncle for running away. The water here runs too deep; my old bones couldn't handle it. But I left the only chance to you... This hotel is not just a hotel, it is... [Data Corrupted] [Data Corrupted] [Data Corrupted] Remember, do not trust any... [Zzzt]... especially that guy who calls himself "The Inspector." In the drawer under the counter, there is something I left for you... [Insufficient Authority, Cannot Display]... The password is the date you wet the bed when you were a kid. Good luck. —Your loving Great-Uncle]
"..."
Looking at the large patch of [Data Corrupted] on the screen, I almost smashed the keyboard.
"Dropping the ball at the critical moment! You did that on purpose, right?!" And, what was the date I wet the bed as a kid?! How the hell am I supposed to remember that!
Although the content of the letter was intermittent, I still caught a few key pieces of information:
This hotel has secrets.
Someone called "The Inspector" is dangerous.
There really is something good in that locked drawer, but I have to figure out the password (or brute force it).
"Forget it, at least it's something to hold onto."
I closed the email and glanced at my balance.
14.5 Points.
Repairing the circuit cost 20 points. This amount wasn't even enough to deduct tomorrow's interest. But at least tonight, I could sleep soundly.
I pushed a few reasonably intact chairs together and lay down behind the counter. Overhead was the warm light, and beside me was the stably running reactor.
I closed my eyes, listening to the hum of the electric current, my consciousness gradually fading.
This was the most peaceful moment since I crossed over.
However.
Just as I was about to fall into a deep sleep, a feeling of being watched suddenly woke me up.
Not from outside the door. But from... the bottom of my heart.
I glanced at my phone terminal. [Sanity: 68/100]
The environment had clearly improved, so why was my Sanity still dropping?
And, in the shadows cast by the dim yellow light, I seemed to hear a faint whisper, sounding like a woman weeping.
Woo... woo...
I sat up abruptly, gripping the axe, and looked around. The lobby was empty; there was nothing.
Only that patched-up main door vibrated slightly in the night wind.
"An illusion?"
I wiped off a layer of cold sweat and lay down again.
But I knew that in this world, there was never a truly peaceful sleep. There was light now. But in the shadows where the light didn't reach, something was stirring.