Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 238

232. Title: ‘Father-Daughter Reunion’

 

Congratulations! You have completed the quest ‘Goblin NOM — Let’s Catch the Goblin!’ Completion rewards… Completion rewards…

 

?

 

I looked at the glitching window as if an error had occurred.

 

What’s going on here?

 

!Error! It will take time to process the completion rewards…

 

Loading…

 

Former Hotel Owner

 

This petty jerk. So he’s blocking the quest rewards?

 

Demon King

 

If the rewards are being blocked~ just because I leaked a bit of magical power, then they probably aren’t that impressive anyway.

 

‘I see what’s going on.’

 

A fierce battle broke out between the two dragons over the standard of ‘plenty’.

 

Just as I was trying to figure out how to stop it, Lucifer approached me laughing.

 

“You’re that person, right? The hotelier from back then. I guess you’re working at the goblin tavern now?”

 

Lucifer looked up and down at me dressed as a gumiho.

 

“So, you’ve gotten a job in the afterlife? If it’s the afterlife, that’s quite connected to me…!”

 

Lucifer spread his gray wings from his wingtips and flew up, circling Han Woohyun. 

 

“Shall we work well together from now on?”

 

“…Let’s go out.” 

 

Han Woohyun, as if sensing that he would become tired, looked at me instead of Lucifer and spoke. 

 

“That guy is inside there, right?” 

 

Han Woohyun pointed at the goblin pouch I was carrying. 

 

I nodded.

 

“Probably.” 

 

“Heh… You were pretty impressive, you know? What was that rope? Your skills were quite flashy.” 

 

Then Alex walked up to me and asked.

 

“Don’t you know that game? It’s called Dungeon ON.”

 

“Oh, of course I know! I worked really hard on that! I almost ruined the Grey Hotel because I put so much effort into it.” 

 

Former Hotel Owner

 

I’m proud of you, my daughter. 

 

Demon King

 

Your daughter is embarrassing no matter where you show her.

 

Former Hotel Owner

 

Only I can curse at my daughter, you know?! 

 

At Alex’s remark, Merlin and the Demon King started fighting again on a new topic.

 

‘I won’t be able to settle this at this rate.’

 

I said to Alex with that thought. 

 

“I think dragons really like games? In that sense, they’re similar to goblins.” 

 

“That’s true, right? But the thing we truly obsess over isn’t games. Each of us is a little different. And we protect what we love until the end, just like life.” 

 

Like life.

 

At those words, I thought about the Demon King.

 

‘Guardian of the World.’

 

If that’s his nickname, then the object of the demon king’s obsession is— 

 

“My father loved the hotel business…” 

 

It was then that Alex muttered with a bitter expression for some reason. 

 

That expression. 

 

It was an expression that contained various emotions toward her father. 

 

I think I understood why Alex had said something like, “You’re already running away” to the goblin. 

 

Although Alex was an entity that was neither a ghost, human, nor goblin, and the heir of the Grey family who had no intention of inheriting the hotel business, she still shared some similarities.

 

In that they were both beings who couldn’t be recognized by their fathers. 

 

We tend to be a bit harsher with those who share some similarities with us. 

 

“Alex loves to travel. You prefer going to hotels rather than running one.” 

 

“…Well…” 

 

When I hit the nail on the head, Alex twisted her body, feeling a bit embarrassed. As she did, scales suddenly sprouted beneath her neck. 

 

“Mhm. I like it…” 

 

The scales were red, making it look like her nape was blushing shyly.

 

I smiled slightly as I watched Alex. 

 

“Alex. Do you think you could say that in front of your father?”

 

“In front of that human?”

 

What kind of human is that? To your father. 

 

You’re not even human to begin with, you all. 

 

“I’ve tried every time, but he never listens. To my father, I’m just a loser.” 

 

Alex said as if she had given up.

 

And at that moment, silence came over the chat window.

 

Demon King

 

…Say something, you punk.

 

Former Hotel Owner

 

Oh.

 

In this chilling silence, Han Woohyun spoke. 

 

“Let’s go back for now.”

 

Hearing those words, Lucifer spoke with a sulky expression on his face.

 

“Tch! Can you play with me a little longer? I can show you something amazing.” 

 

Something amazing? 

 

As soon as Lucifer finished speaking, he pulled something out of his inner pocket.

 

It was a brush. 

 

“I won this by playing Go~!” 

 

I let out a sigh as I looked at the Go board placed on the table. 

 

So you made a bet here too, you brat. 

 

But what is that brush that Lucifer is so proud of?

 

I realized the answer to my question when Lucifer made a few brush strokes in the air. 

 

As Lucifer brushed the air a few times, snow began to fall from above. 

 

It wasn’t just a light snowfall; the ground was covered in a thick layer of white, fluffy snow, and a soft blanket of snow formed on the roof of the pavilion and the surrounding mountains.

 

I stared at the sight for a moment, frozen in place.

 

“Haa…” 

 

Without realizing it, I let out a breath, and white mist escaped from my lips. 

 

“This place is like a painting, right? As long as you have a brush, you can draw anything.” 

 

Lucifer wandered around, happily stirring up the snowy landscape he had created. HHan Woohyun laughed in vain as he watched him.

 

In the air that had quickly become cold, white smoke flowed out from his lips.

 

Han Woohyun couldn’t take his eyes off the beautifully unfolding scenery before us. 

 

And I couldn’t take my eyes off Han Woohyun. 

 

It was because Han Woohyun was wearing long, black clothes, and his slightly red cheeks, red lips, and nose bridge visible under his wide hat stood out clearly in contrast to the completely white scenery.

 

Click—!

 

At that moment, I heard a sound like a flash, as if a photo was being taken. 

 

I turned my head to look in the direction of the sound, and there was Alex, holding a camera and smiling. 

 

“Your expression was quite something? I took it because it was fun. I’ve been working on my blog lately. It’s called Alex’s Travel Diary.” 

 

“You do all sorts of things…”

 

While I was grumbling, Han Woohyun looked at Alex.

 

“Guest in Room 303.”

 

“…Yes?” 

 

Alex, with a slightly tense expression in front of the fearsome Grim Reaper’s face, asked. 

 

“Yes, I’ll delete that picture…”

 

What’s that? Are you discriminating against people? 

 

“That’s not it. I overheard a bit earlier. You don’t like something just to seek validation from others, right?” 

 

Did he just say that after hearing Alex’s circumstances?

 

I was a little taken aback by the advice that came out of the blue.

 

Is it okay to touch on that subject like this? 

 

But the moment Han Woohyun continued to say this— 

 

“A confession of love isn’t done to gain someone’s approval or anything in return. It’s when you can be happy just by saying you love something…”

 

Han Woohyun’s expression looked a bit flustered and confused, so I didn’t even think to stop him. 

 

I felt a bit flustered and confused about why he was saying such things, but soon my expression became even more relaxed than before. 

 

It felt like I was gaining some sort of realization. 

 

‘At the same time, it felt like my words were getting tangled…’

 

Alex said that when I was thinking like that, she was still holding a white photo that hadn’t found its color.

 

“That could be true.”

 

“….”

 

Han Woohyun looked at Alex, who seemed to understand what he was saying, as if he was curious. 

 

“I guess I had some expectations of Dad. So… maybe that’s why I was upset every time.” 

 

Alex stared quietly at the snow-covered hanok, smiling bitterly. 

 

“Now I could properly introduce my dad to what I love. Travel is like that; every day is something new. But it’s already too late.” 

 

Watching her eyes flash with regret, I quietly posted a message in the chatroom. 

 

Hotel Owner

 

I’ll pass on the reward for this quest since it’s quite controversial.

 

Former Hotel Owner

 

W, what?!

 

Hotel Owner

 

Instead…

 

Demon King

 

What, what again.

 

Hotel Owner

 

Let’s open one more group chat right now. Demon King, please help me too.

 

Former Hotel Owner 

 

?

 

Demon King

 

?

 

I took my eyes off the message window full of question marks and approached Lucifer.

 

“Can I… use that brush for a moment? I’ll make sure not to sprinkle any holy water.” 

 

“….!”

 

Lucifer’s eyes widened at the scary threat he let out with a smile. 

 

“You… You’re worse than a demon, aren’t you?” 

 

Well, maybe so? 

 

I snatched the brush from him and activated the ‘Hotelier’s Eye.’

 

Goblin’s Brush (C)

 

—You can draw anything you want in the painting. 

 

—!Warning! It consumes quite a lot of mental energy.

 

It’s an item that only activates within the painting.

 

Looking at this, it seems like that goblin should have been doing something like industrial design instead of running a tavern. 

 

I thought so and used the goblin’s item to draw something in the air. 

 

Swish.

 

Swish.

 

The Demon King sent me a message after seeing what I was drawing. 

 

Demon King

 

You… want me to help with this…?

 

Hotel Owner

 

Yes.

 

Demon King

 

….

 

After a long silence, the Demon King answered.

 

Demon King

 

Ah, I don’t know.

 

After a while.

 

I looked at the “picture” I had drawn with satisfaction and tapped Alex.

 

“Alex.”

 

“?”

 

“Do you want to chat for a bit? I thought it would be good if you told your father what you just said.” 

 

As I said that, a window like this appeared where my finger pointed.

 

<Title: ‘Father-Daughter Reunion’>

 

‘Dad’ was invited to the chat room.

 

‘Daughter’ was invited to the chat room.

 

Please enter your message for ‘Daughter’.

 

Alex’s eyes widened when she saw that. 

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Talk to Merlin for more details.”

 

“What?”

 

Demon King

 

What is this…

 

I smiled with satisfaction.

 

It became clear from this point on. 

 

The object of the demon king’s obsession is indeed the ‘world’ itself. 

 

He has a deep love for the beings in that world.

 

Then the only remaining problem is…

 

‘We have to find out why that guy turned evil.’

 

I watched Alex hesitatingly writing the message while thinking that.

 

Daughter

 

What… really? Is this an illusion? 

 

Merlin’s answer came after quite a while of hesitation.

 

Dad

 

I missed you.

 

* * * 

 

The next day after returning to the goblin tavern. 

 

Bihyeong apologized to all the ghosts while settling the tavern’s revenue as I told him. 

 

“Ahem… From now on, I will make sure to listen to the voices of many ghosts in the operation of the inn. You’ve all worked hard.” 

 

Of course, it was an apology prompted by my threat that I would blow away his crying face if he didn’t apologize properly, but the ghosts… especially Gildal, seemed quite moved by Bihyeong’s apology. 

 

“Sob sob…!” 

 

The gumihos laughed at Gildal’s tears and said to me.

 

“Young Master, are you really leaving now?” 

 

I had now changed into the clothes I had originally worn. 

 

“As you can see, I’m not a Young Master, but thank you anyway.”

 

“I actually knew it…!” 

 

The gumiho said with a flutter.

 

Oh, I see. I knew.

 

But it didn’t matter.

 

‘These guys…’

 

“And we’re grateful too, Young Master.” 

 

The gumihos smiled as they pointed to the small sprouts in the flowerpot.

 

That’s right—

 

Healing Sprout (B)

 

“Don’t cling too much, I’m tired!”

 

 

It was a sprout of healing that seemed to be happily entering its adolescence. 

 

There was a reason why it was planted here— 

 

Chu.

 

At that moment, something soft touched my cheek and then fell away.

 

While I was looking at the sprout of healing with a sense of pity, one of the nine-tailed foxes suddenly pressed its lips gently against my cheek and then pulled away. 

 

“….!”

 

“Gifts are nice, but I like this better!”

 

The gumiho smiled, her eyes turning into crescent shapes. 

 

“You’re so cute~~~!”

 

Healing Sprout (B)

 

“Me…! Meeeeee!” 

 

The reason the sprout of healing, now in its adolescence, ended up living in the goblin tavern was simple. 

 

It was because the goblin couldn’t break his habit and made another bet. 

 

“I found something like this in my pocket! This has a lot of energy. Let’s make a bet with this!” 

 

This crazy betting addict lost in an instant. 

 

It was because the bet was similar to Dungeon ON, ‘Goblin NOM – Let’s Catch Gildal’.