Chapter 14: Clocking Out and Gearing Up
I took a refreshing nap during my shift.
Met a goddess in my dream and had a blissful time.
Now, all that’s left is to wrap up the tasks from the manual I diligently studied before falling asleep and clock out.
‘Retirement’s always sweet, no matter the world. Yup.’
Sure, today’s work only involved handling two guests, cleaning a room, and studying the motel management manual.
And, if I’m honest, I probably spent the most time sleeping in the break room…
‘Tch… Let’s gloss over the small stuff. What matters is I worked hard today.’
Who can throw stones at someone who tried their best?
Good job, me.
Creak…
As I pat myself on the back and step out of the break room, the brightened first-floor hallway comes into view.
Walking through the hallway to the lobby counter, I notice the dawn breaking outside, where only pitch-black darkness had been before.
‘Hmm, no time to admire the view… Time to start the final tasks before clocking out.’
I almost get sentimental watching the sky lighten, but I snap out of it and begin preparing to close the motel.
It’s currently 5:59 a.m.
One minute until the bell signals the end of my shift.
“…Ugh!”
Do you know the longest minute in the world?
It’s the minute between 5:59 p.m., when you’re still on duty, and 6:00 p.m., when you’re free.
Just one minute—sixty seconds—feels eternal when it’s tying you to work.
‘Eight seconds down… Fifty-two seconds to go…!!’
Time crawls by, with fifty seconds remaining.
Forty seconds.
Thirty seconds.
Twenty seconds.
Ten seconds.
Five… four… three… two… one.
[6:00.]
‘Yes, it’s time to clock out…!!’
As the countdown ends and the clock strikes 6:00, my already refreshed body feels light enough to fly.
But I can’t just walk out of the motel.
The pre-clock-out tasks start now.
Everything has an order, and acting recklessly out of excitement could come back to bite me later.
‘Alright, let’s tackle the first task.’
Since it’s 6:00, according to the manual, a bell signaling the end of the shift should ring.
First, I wait for that bell…
Beep!
Beep!!
‘…God, that scared me.’
It’s not a bell—more like a warning siren blaring through the speakers.
Clutching my startled chest, I wait for the creepy siren to stop.
It rings twice.
Beeeep!!!!
‘Ugh, come on.’
No, three times before it finally quiets down.
Only after the maddening noise stops can I start the first task.
‘After the bell stops, lower the light switch.’
Just in case the siren rings again, I stand by the light switch for another minute.
‘Hmm, no more ringing.’
Thankfully, the third siren seems to have been the last.
So, I safely lower the light switch—
Beeeep!!!
—I don’t.
I expected it might ring again.
‘I saw that curveball coming, you dumb speaker. The previous owner wouldn’t have maintained you properly.’
Beeeep!!!!
‘Hah, keep blaring all you want. The world of victory is harsh. I win. Try harder.’
Having won the mental battle with the speaker.
I stand smugly, staring at the pitifully wailing speaker.
‘…What am I doing?’
Snapping back to reality, I lower the lobby’s light switch.
Click.
Zzt—zzzt…
With the sound of electricity cutting off, the lobby lights flicker out one by one.
Confirming that even the hallway lights are off, I recall the second task from the manual.
‘The second task is checking if any guests want to extend their stay…’
Using the intercom to check extensions is easy.
The real problem is, there are no guests in the motel.
They all checked out early.
In other words, I’m the only one left in this massive building.
‘Still… I should make the calls, right…?’
Even if no one’s here, I should practice for tomorrow’s shift, right?
It’s definitely not because I’m lonely or anything, so don’t worry.
I return to the counter and, as per the manual, call the rooms the guests stayed in—or rather, ‘had stayed in’—Room 305 and Room 104.
Ring…
Ring…
As expected, no response from Room 305.
Next, Room 104.
Ring…
Ring…
No response there either.
‘Sleeping…? They’re sleeping… Got it…’
Finishing the oddly nostalgic second task.
I take a moment to catch my breath before starting the third task.
The third essential task before clocking out is locking the emergency stairs entrance.
The appendix had a messy, contradictory section about it.
But I, the new manager, normalized it, so I don’t need to worry about those headache-inducing rules.
Click.
Using the key from the counter’s top drawer, I lock the emergency stairs door.
Now, only one task remains.
I just need to step outside and confirm the motel’s neon sign is off.
Creak…
Stepping out of the old motel entrance, I breathe in the crisp dawn air and check the sign.
The sign, which was brightly lit when I arrived, is now dark.
‘…It’s done.’
Seeing it, I’m certain.
“I’m really clocking out now…!!!”
Filled with the joy of perfectly completing all tasks for the first time.
I shout to the world that my first day of motel operations is over.
Is my step lighter because all my tasks are done?
Unlike the time it took to find the motel after arriving in this dating sim world, the walk home takes less than ten minutes.
Clank.
Creak…
Opening the old villa door, I’m greeted by the familiar sight of the rundown studio where I first woke up after passing out.
To others, it might look shabby and grimy, but to me, it feels like a cozy home I’ve lived in forever.
Honestly, it’s not much different from where I lived before arriving here.
Anyway, it’s time to wash up and rest in my cozy bed, but…
‘First, there’s something I need to do.’
I sit at the old desk and pull out the two manuals I brought from the motel.
‘I didn’t read it thoroughly earlier, but there was definitely something in the manager’s manual, section 2, about nearby amenities…’
Sure, understanding the heroines and memorizing the motel’s ‘internal’ rules are important.
But just as crucial for ‘motel operations’ and ‘heroine攻略’ is knowing the locations of nearby ‘amenities.’
Even looking at the motel’s internal issues, there are tons of problems that can’t be solved with current supplies.
The dismantled iron door.
The broken handle.
The damaged furniture, the worn-out mattress replacements, and so on…
‘…Now that I think about it, I broke half of those.’
I nearly have a moment of cognitive dissonance realizing I caused half the damage.
‘Oh, right. They were all old and rusty.’
Then I recall that they were so rusty and worn, they broke under my hand’s strength.
Back to the point.
Beyond repairing the broken items.
For motel operations and heroine攻略, I need to know where to procure various supplies.
What supplies are needed for heroine攻略, you ask?
‘Gifts, obviously. What better way to raise affection than gifts?’
Plus, as a human, I need food to sustain my energy.
If I collapse, the motel collapses with me.
‘Alright, let’s see…’
[2. Safe Return Policy.]
[Table of Contents]
└2-1. Essential Tasks Before Manager’s Shift Ends.
└2-2. Safety Rules for Returning Home.
└2-3. Nearby Service Facilities Guide.
[2-3. Nearby Service Facilities Guide.]
└ This section lists amenities within a 10 km radius of the motel.
Convenience Store: Several convenience stores are near the motel. All are ‘unmanned’ and operate 24 hours. Please take note.
General Repair Shop: If motel furniture or facilities are damaged, visit this shop for repairs.
Furniture Store: For severely damaged motel furniture or items, purchase replacements here. Refer to the map below for directions.
* Hospital: In case of emergencies involving the manager or guests, use the hospital listed below.
‘So, I’ll take the broken iron door and handle to the repair shop… and buy new furniture for Room 305 at the furniture store.’
Studying the map in the manual to locate the amenities.
‘Oh, there’s a convenience store near my villa complex?’
I spot a convenience store close to my villa.
‘…I’m a bit hungry. Should I hit up the convenience store?’
I haven’t changed out of my work clothes, and I’m feeling peckish.
I leave the studio and head to the nearby convenience store.