Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 244

238. Christmas Item

 

Tuk, tuk, tuk.

 

Sitting in the spacious top floor of the Hanwoon Guild, in the massive office of Han Minhyuk, Hwang Misoon anxiously bent and straightened her fingers, making them crack audibly.

 

‘Ha…I’m screwed.’ 

 

The deadline for the 20 attack items requested by the Hanwoon Guild was clearly today, but she hadn’t even finished half of them yet. 

 

‘But if I just work a little longer, I can make the perfect arrowhead!’

 

Of course, the reason was Hwang Misoon’s spirit of craftsmanship. 

 

In order to make a more perfect arrowhead, she refined and carved the ‘Magic Obsidian (B)’ in various ways, and naturally, she ran out of ‘Magic Obsidian (B)’. 

 

Moreover, the ‘Dwarf’s Shop’, where she usually traded for necessary materials, had temporarily suspended transactions for obsidian— 

 

“So you still haven’t finished the arrows.” 

 

“…!” 

 

Hwang Misoon looked at Han Minhyuk, whose eyes were cold and piercing.

 

Something was strange.

 

The way that cold-blooded person was slightly raising the corners of his mouth in a situation where his guild was suffering losses… 

 

It didn’t feel good.

 

“If you miss the production deadline, you must accept returns without question when we file a return request. You are aware of the contract terms, aren’t you…?” 

 

I, is that why? 

 

If the return request is accepted due to a mistake by the Misoon Workshop, they would have to refund not only the costs for the materials but also any expenses received up to that point. 

 

Not only is it a clause that is unilaterally advantageous to the Hanwoon Guild, but it is also fatal for the Misoon Workshop. 

 

This is because, due to a few financial troubles that Hwang Misoon had caused, it will definitely be a close call this month. 

 

In other words, it means that Hwang Misoon’s labor cost is zero. 

 

The only reason they aren’t running a deficit is thanks to the popup store operated by Lim Sehwan. 

 

‘I’m glad I extended the contract…’

 

If this situation gets exposed, Lim Sehwan will definitely have a lot to say about it, but there’s nothing that can be done about that. 

 

This wasn’t the first time she had caused such a problem. She might as well just listen to him, well. 

 

Hwang Misoon had developed a thicker skin against Lim Sehwan’s nagging. 

 

Hwang Misoon heard Han Minhyuk’s voice as she gave up. 

 

“…Return—”

 

“Okay, I will….” 

 

“Let’s not do that.”

 

“?!”

 

Hwang Misoon was taken aback by the unexpected words and looked at Han Minhyuk.

 

However, Han Minhyuk didn’t have a joking expression on his face. He was not the type to make jokes in the first place. 

 

“I’ll extend the production deadline.”

 

“Extend it?”

 

Then there was only one possibility left.

 

“Are you… Georg Schulze?”

 

“What?”

 

“Isn’t it possible that he used some kind of illusion? How could Georg be alive?” 

 

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

“Mhm.” 

 

With a look that said he wanted her to shut up, Hwang Misoon politely clasped her hands together. 

 

“I’ll also help supply the stronger ‘Blood Diamond’ materials. This time, Team Dungeon 1 has farmed some materials from the Mine Dungeon.” 

 

“What?!”

 

Not only is he extending the production deadline, but he’s also supplying such good materials? 

 

Hwang Misoon’s eyes widened. 

 

Because the ‘Blood Diamond’ was a type of ore item that she had not been able to obtain anywhere else. 

 

An arrowhead made from it would surely pierce the hide of an A-rank monster in one shot. 

 

To carve it with her own hands and make it into an arrow.

 

The blacksmith’s heart was already racing.

 

Given the situation, everything has gone awry from this point onward. 

 

“What do you think? It’s an offer you can’t refuse, right?” 

 

Han Minhyuk laughed. 

 

The guy who rarely laughed was smiling so happily, but Hwang Misoon had let down her guard and just nodded. 

 

“Then let me talk about my conditions from now on. I have one condition. Hand over the immortal sword.” 

 

The next moment, Han Minhyuk spoke in a solemn voice, demanding that she hand over the game item. 

 

* * * 

 

“…I was going to send Kim Junsoo the Immortal Sword I got, but I accidentally sent it to Han Minhyuk instead. He must have been aiming for it from that moment! I can’t believe he suddenly wants game items! I mean, wasn’t Han Minhyuk usually into word games or Sudoku? So why is he suddenly playing games?!” 

 

Hearing the whole story from Aunt Misoon left me feeling somewhat empty. 

 

The reason Uncle Minhyuk started playing that game. 

 

That was probably because I accessed that game from a PC in Pyeongchang-dong when I went up to Seoul a few months ago. 

 

As Aunt mentioned, in that game, if you reached a certain level, you could draw from the golden box every day, and at that time, Hyejin— 

 

– My mom banned me from playing games. Can you help me for just a week?

 

She was addicted to that game. 

 

‘So if the Immortal Sword comes out, I should bind it to my account and sell off something like a wooden sword, right?’

 

– Yes, yes. But the Immortal Sword doesn’t come out easily; it’s a rare item. Still, please let me know if it does come out!

 

‘Mhm. The Immortal Sword… it looks really cool. I definitely want to pull it.’

 

I think Uncle briefly passed by me while I was on the phone with Hyejin. 

 

At that time, it seemed like Uncle was glaring at the screen a little. 

 

So Uncle started playing the game and tried to level up to try his luck at the golden box, but when that didn’t work out, he looked into buying the Immortal Sword. Then he found out that Aunt Misoon had pulled the Immortal Sword and tried to buy it by using the contract between Hanwoon Guild and Misoon Workshop.

 

‘…I hope that’s not the case.’

 

Somehow it felt right. 

 

It felt as though Dad had been trying to prevent any inquiries about what had happened between Aunt Misoon and Uncle Junsoo for some time now. 

 

Moreover, Uncle Minhyuk’s expression, as he listened to Aunt Misoon’s confession in real time, looked quite awkward compared to his usual demeanor. 

 

The ‘regular guest’ was a little embarrassed. 

 

A window like this even opened. 

 

“…Uncle.” 

 

Uncle Minhyuk let out a big sigh at my call and said.

 

“A Christmas present.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I wanted to give you a Christmas present.”

 

Uncle quietly put down his coffee cup and looked at me. 

 

“I’m enjoying the jazz CD you gave me last time.” 

 

He was grateful for that and wanted to return the present to me? 

 

It was a reason to be touched, but— 

 

“I’m touched, but you shouldn’t threaten others to prepare a gift, Uncle.” 

 

That’s not right. 

 

I looked at Uncle as if I was scolding him a little.

 

Then Uncle pouted his lips slightly, just enough that it was barely noticeable, and turned his gaze away. 

 

“Okay.” 

 

Wow. 

 

Uncle is pouting. 

 

They say that when children grow up, they start nagging their parents, and the parents feel hurt by it. Is this what that feels like? 

 

I looked at Uncle with a slightly confused expression. 

 

At that moment, Aunt Misoon intervened. 

 

“But what about Mikyung? She seems really angry.”

 

“That was my request.”

 

“?”

 

“I asked Aunt Mikyung to send a message like this. I thought it would encourage Aunt Misoon to tell the truth.” 

 

While the baby Junghyo fans were fighting each other, I quickly sent a message under the desk. 

 

Well, I found out a bit late that Aunt Misoon had an accomplice.

 

At my words, Aunt Misoon covered her mouth with a panicked expression. 

 

“I raised a tiger cub.”

 

“You didn’t raise Junghyo.” 

 

Uncle Minhyuk looked at me with a subtly proud expression. 

 

Hmm, then what’s left—

 

While I was looking at my phone, Aunt Misoon spoke.

 

“No, but what are we doing just among ourselves? While we’re here like this, that brat Kim Junsoo might be abusing the president’s power to secretly escape to a place like Russia using the passage dungeon. If that happens, we’ll be left with no choice, and the alliance meeting will be ruined tomorrow—” 

 

“I don’t think that’ll happen.”

 

I answered firmly.

 

The moment I raised my hand to point at the glass window, both of them turned their heads sharply. 

 

Almost at the same time, the door opened and Uncle Junsoo rushed in. 

 

“When did you two get so close?! Hwang Misoon, you were supposed to be the closest to me in the game! Han Minhyuk, you were practically a social disaster with no friends but me! I’m the one who put you in the baby Junghyo fanclub!”

 

Junsoo shouted with a red face.

 

As expected.

 

He must have been right nearby.

 

He must have read the message I sent because he was so curious.

 

‘That’s so typical of Uncle.’

 

With that in mind, I decided to complete the last part of the ‘Let’s Catch Uncle Kim Junsoo’ project. 

 

A trap net that could catch Uncle when he was out of his mind so he wouldn’t run away again. 

 

That was— 

 

“Uncle, you got a call.” 

 

I held out my phone, which displayed Aunt Mikyung’s number, towards the furious Uncle Junsoo. 

 

Junsoo’s face gradually turned pale when he saw that. 

 

“…!” 

 

“Aren’t you picking up?”

 

“Huh? Huh…That’s….” 

 

“Then I will.”

 

I picked up the phone without hesitation.

 

“Uncle said he won’t answer the phone, so I…” 

 

“No, no! It’s not like that! I’ll do it, I will!”

 

Uncle Junsoo quickly snatched my phone. 

 

“I, it’s me, Junsoo. Your love, Junsoo… What? Running away? It’s not that! It’s Hwang Misoon who’s being annoying! Ugh…? No, no way that’s true~ Hey, why are you talking so scary again? You really gave my heart a jump! Hello? Hello, are you there? Hello…!” 

 

With that, the operation to capture Uncle Junsoo, who had gone missing, was complete. 

 

* * * 

 

After a series of disturbances were over.

 

– I’ll send you a drawing I made as a Christmas gift. Just tell me your address. I’ll send something nice that would look good hanging in the hotel hallway. 

 

Aunt Mikyung said she would send a drawing as a way to express her gratitude. 

 

Thinking about Aunt’s bloody painting made me afraid of where it could possibly be hung in the hotel, but I still decided to accept it with gratitude. 

 

And surprisingly, Uncle Junsoo helped with the situation regarding the disappearance of me and Han Woohyun. 

 

“Is the fact that the two of them disappeared just as much of a ‘secret’ as the F-Class becoming S-Class?” 

 

Just before getting into the official vehicle driven by Uncle Myunghan, Uncle Junsoo smiled at me and asked this. 

 

I froze in shock. 

 

Should I tell him that the secret was actually related to the extinction of humanity? 

 

I hesitated for a moment and asked the man. 

 

“Uncle, you went through a great catastrophe, right?” 

 

“I did.” 

 

Uncle tilted his head as if to ask why that topic suddenly came up. 

 

“Back then, there were many rumors that the world would end. Hunters couldn’t operate as systematically as they do now.” 

 

“It wasn’t just that we couldn’t move systematically. We were in a hopeless situation. We truly believed humanity was going to go extinct.” 

 

Humanity will be wiped out without a fight.

 

That was the reality that had just come to me.

 

I joked that the world should just perish, but this time I truly realized it.

 

I really do like this world.

 

“Could everyone endure if such a crisis were to come again?”

 

Uncle looked at me quietly in response to my question.

 

He seemed to be seriously considering the absurd question.

 

“My answer is… mhm.”

 

“….”

 

“We will be able to endure it.”

 

“Because we have strong hunters and organizations now?”

 

“No. Rather than that—”

 

Uncle spoke with a subtle expression. 

 

“I often think about things like that. The emergence of gates and dungeons in the world, the rise of hunters, and the commodification of monsters. I feel like all of it fits together like a puzzle, as if someone is testing us and hoping we can overcome that test.” 

 

“…It’s like what the Mara Cult says.” 

 

When I said it with a hint of cynicism, Uncle chuckled softly. 

 

“It’s not strange for such a religion to arise. In fact, it’s quite coincidental. So I believe. If another crisis comes to humanity, it will surely be both a threat and an opportunity. I don’t have any religious beliefs, but that’s just how I feel. If some transcendent being were to attack the Earth again, would it necessarily be out of a desire to destroy this world? Or…” 

 

“Or?” 

 

“Could it be closer to a desire to confirm something?” 

 

Confirm?

 

A strange feeling passed over me at those words.

 

Looking back, the method the Demon King used to manipulate Georg Schulze was somewhat complicated. 

 

It was a method that specifically aimed to weaken humanity through a person like Georg Schulze and then use that power to descend upon Earth. 

 

Was there really no other way? 

 

Wasn’t using Georg Schulze and the Mara Cult a rather complicated and likely to fail method? 

 

What if their followers betrayed them? No, they already betrayed. 

 

People like Aunt Heeyoung. 

 

People who opposed the plan to exploit humanity began to emerge gradually. 

 

So in the end, your plan failed. 

 

What does that mean?

 

No way—

 

At the same time, the quest window opened. 

 

Final Stage 3.

 

—The final quest ‘Prevent the Fall of the Human World’ begins.

 

—Completion Reward: The Power to Protect the World x9

 

—As soon as it starts, you can check the quest details. Would you like to confirm? 

 

Y / N

 

It was the last quest.

 

Demon King

 

If you don’t like it, I won’t do it, the last quest.

 

So, does that mean you can end it with 9 different quests?

 

But don’t you want to check it out? Is this world really worth existing in? 

 

Isn’t that what you wanted to check out? 

 

Whether this world truly deserves to be destroyed. 

 

I knew that this quest was very dangerous, but it was the last remaining way. 

 

That’s why— 

 

Hotel Owner

 

I don’t have to answer right away, right? Then…  

 

I’ll put it off.

 

Demon King

 

?

 

Hotel Owner

 

I’ll close the chat window for the time being

 

I decided to put it off.

 

Demon King

 

I said that humanity is on the verge of destruction?

 

Hey

 

Hey

 

Are you ignoring what I said?

 

With that last message, I turned off the chat and asked Uncle. 

 

“Is your Christmas reservation still valid?”

 

“Of course! I’ll definitely throw a Christmas party for baby Junghyo fans!” 

 

The hotel is a big deal during Christmas. 

 

For the hotel owner, running the hotel comes before saving humanity.