Chapter 12: The Manager of LOVE Motel

It’s currently 2:50 a.m.

Three hours after opening, all the guests have checked out.

Ironically, the only one left in this motel is me, the manager.

‘What did I do wrong…?’

Both guests, despite having plenty of time left, left abruptly.

Unable to figure out why, I stand there, dumbfounded, racking my brain.

After three minutes of deep thought.

‘…Ugh, there are too many possibilities.’

The doll-like lady was recalled by her high-class owner for some unknown reason, so I can let that slide.

But for the shy guest I sent to Room 305—

– Damaging the ropes she set up without permission.

– Assigning her a filthy, uncleaned room.

– Flirting in a crude, sleazy way that could offend her on our first meeting.

There are too many reasons why she checked out early from Room 305, so I stop thinking about it.

On second thought, the massage she gave me was a sign of her affection toward ‘me.’

It wasn’t about liking the motel’s ‘facilities’ or ‘service,’ right?

Separating personal and professional matters is obvious, yet I only realized this after she left.

I should’ve apologized more, maybe offered room service.

Regret starts flooding in.

‘I got too comfortable after that massage…’

But regretting it now won’t change anything.

If she visits again, I’ll treat her better and fix this.

The motel’s reputation and my credibility as a ‘motel manager’ took a hit.

But her affection toward me as a dating sim heroine hasn’t dropped, right?

…Yeah, probably.

No, it has to be that way.

‘Alright, let’s work harder.’

With renewed determination, I return to the counter and sit down.

“…Sniff.”

‘Still, I can’t help feeling lonely…’

Being alone in an empty motel does make my already hollow mood feel even lonelier.

Back at the counter.

As I sit down to open the manager’s manual again, a sudden thought hits me.

‘Now that I think about it, can’t I just go to the break room and relax?’

The reason I’ve been sitting at this uncomfortable counter, reading this long manual, was to be ready in case the shy guest came down looking for me.

But now, the motel is empty.

There’s no need to sit on this uncomfortable chair for three hours.

‘Alright, let’s read comfortably.’

I grab only the ‘manager’s manual’ and head to the staff break room at the end of the lobby hallway.

Creak…

Pushing open the old wooden door labeled ‘Break Room,’ I step inside cautiously.

“Oh, it’s nicer than I expected.”

It’s not as decked out as the guest rooms with various furniture.

But it’s cozy and well-decorated, perfect for a manager to rest.

Unlike the other rooms, this place is spotless.

The bedding on the simple bed looks nearly new, the floor is clean, and even the trash can is empty.

‘So they kept their own space this clean, huh? Impressive, really.’

The stark contrast between the staff break room and the guest rooms’ cleanliness.

It gives me another glimpse into how the previous owner ran this motel.

As I sink into the bed in this tidy break room.

‘…So soft!!’

It’s like lying on a cloud.

A warmth and coziness, reminiscent of a mother’s embrace, washes over my body.

‘I could just… sleep like this…’

Unable to resist the bed’s soft, warm comfort, my exhausted eyelids start to droop.

Slap!!

‘No, I’ll sleep after my shift. I can’t waste this precious time.’

If I fall asleep now, I’ll ruin the motel’s operations tomorrow.

And possibly miss future ‘dating sim moments.’

With that thought, I barely fend off the urge to sleep.

‘Alright, let’s read again. That weird section… here it is.’

Snapping back to focus, I open the manual to the section I was reading before the guests checked out.

Under [2-1. Essential Tasks Before Manager’s Shift Ends], I revisit the contradictory items 3 and 4.

(3). Per motel policy, this item has been removed. The instructions in the appendix are also false, so do not follow them.

(4). Item 3 has not been removed. If it appears removed, refer to the appendix instructions and follow them.

Even rereading it, it’s still unclear which to trust, so I follow item 4 and turn to the appendix.

[7. Appendix]

‘What? Where’s the table of contents?’

Despite being as lengthy as other sections, or even more so, the appendix lacks a table of contents.

‘Ugh… Do I have to search page by page…?’

It’ll take time, but what choice do I have?

Resigned, I flip through the appendix, looking for relevant content.

“Outside food policies? Not this… If the lobby door won’t open and someone’s standing outside? Not this either…”

Skimming through seemingly unimportant items, I finally find something.

Summary of 2-1 Items.

‘Found it.’

I manage to locate the section addressing the contradictory items.

Regarding 2-1 Items.

└ This appendix addresses cases of ‘contradictory’ instructions in 2-1.

└ If item (3) in 2-1 is missing or described as ‘removed,’ it is false. The content of item 3 is as follows:

└ (3). Before leaving the motel, the manager must lock the emergency stairs entrance.

└ There are no exceptions to this rule. We emphasize: There are no exceptions to this rule.

└ However, if a guest arrives at 5:59 a.m., before 6:00 a.m., do not follow item 3.

“…???”

So, item 4 is true, and item 3 is about locking the emergency stairs.

But what’s this?

I went through the trouble of finding the appendix to resolve the contradiction, only to find another contradiction?

‘Are you kidding me?’

The more I read, the more I’m convinced the previous owner wrote this manual half-asleep.

Otherwise, why would they contradict their own rules twice?

‘Fine, if that’s how you want to play, I’ve got my own plan.’

Frustrated by the manual’s nonsense, I stand up and grab a pen from the break room.

If the manager’s rules are faulty, there’s only one thing for me, the manager, to do.

Click.

‘I’ll rewrite the rules.’

Normalize the management rules.

└ There are no exceptions to this rule. We emphasize: There are no exceptions to this rule.

‘No exceptions? There could be, right?’

Slash!!

└ However, if a guest arrives at 5:59 a.m., before 6:00 a.m., do not follow item 3.

‘Don’t follow it if a guest arrives before 6:00? Nah, I don’t like that.’

Slash!!

A manual exists to kindly explain rules to someone unfamiliar with them.

Rules fighting each other within it shouldn’t exist, right?

So, I ruthlessly cross out both items.

Below them, I write my own rule as the new manager of this motel.

└ This item will be handled flexibly based on the manager’s judgment.

‘Phew, that feels good.’

Of course, I wouldn’t change properly written rules.

Even contradictory ones, like item 4 in 2-1, I’d respect if they pointed to clear information.

But if I see rules written as if half-asleep, like these.

I’ll stand above them and rewrite them.

“Got it, manager’s manual?”

“…”

“Alright, let’s do this right.”

No response comes from the manual, naturally, but I feel oddly satisfied and close it.

It’s now 3:30 a.m.

Two and a half hours until the motel closes.

I’ve studied the shift-end rules, and the rest can be read slowly…

‘…Maybe a quick nap.’

After reading, understanding, and revising the manual’s many rules, I’m drained.

Unable to resist the creeping drowsiness, I sink into the cozy bed and fall into a deep sleep.