Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 249

243. Don’t be discouraged by your first complaint!

 

“Wow, it’s really busy. I expected it, but still!”

 

“Why are you here? I thought we were taking turns during dinner time.”

 

Christmas Eve night.

 

As I was preparing for the event in the banquet hall where all the pop-up game participants had left, the general manager quietly started helping with the tasks. 

 

“Hehe.”

 

She just laughed it off.

 

There must be enough participants, I clearly told her to enjoy dinner with her family and rest tonight. 

 

As I always say, our hotel staff loves working.

 

Look at Geumdong and Toto over there, working enthusiastically. 

 

“Guest, gueeest~” 

 

“Don’t act cute in front of the guests! Maintain the dignity of a hotelier!”

 

“It huuurts!” 

  

Even the usually grumpy Samsaek cat was silently covering tables with tablecloths and setting up mats today.  

 

“Don’t just brush it off with a smile. Switch shifts with another employee tomorrow.”

 

“Tch. You don’t want to see me?”

 

“It’s time to get bored.”

 

I spoke playfully, and the general manager responded in kind, lightly bumping my shoulder with her own as she spoke. 

 

“I never get tired of looking at it, no matter how many times I see it.” 

 

‘Me too.’

 

Far from getting tired of it, I find myself constantly amazed by the general manager’s abilities. 

 

In particular, the PowerPoint presentations she quickly creates on her tablet often leave me astonished. 

 

“I’m always grateful. I can’t express it in words. Let’s work hard together next year too.”

 

I said lightly as I pulled the table. It would be a bit embarrassing to say it casually, as I usually do. 

 

The general manager said with a subtle expression. 

 

“Again, you’re stealing people’s hearts so easily.” 

 

“…Yes?” 

 

“Ah, I don’t know. I’ll be working tonight, so you, boss, should rest. When dinner time starts, at least spend Christmas Eve dinner with your friends. Or go on a date.”

 

“What do you mean by date? If I have time, I’ll head to branch 3. It’ll probably be even more chaotic over there.”

 

I don’t have anyone to date with.

 

I recalled Han Woohyun, who had been surrounded by the kids, going around here and there. 

 

He usually wasn’t the type to be very sociable, but today, seeing him get along so well with his friends was a bit— 

 

‘I hate seeing it.’

 

I really feel like I want to cut open my own brain right now. 

 

Why does it feel so strange just seeing him talk and laugh with the female classmates? 

 

My heart aches and my mind becomes confused.

 

It’s like I’ve gone back to being a child who had his toy taken away. 

 

‘I’ve never really cried or thrown a fit when my toy was taken away, though.’

 

“Then why don’t you have a meal with Baby Junghyo fan members? Earlier, they all came to me one by one, really worried about you. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for me and the staff if you comforted them while eating?”

 

The manager had a point. 

 

Since the Baby Junghyo fan members started working at the hotel as part-time helpers, they began worrying about me much more. 

 

‘I’ve been acting a bit slyly lately…’ 

 

The things that happened in Japan, and the incident that disappeared into the goblin tavern. 

 

It’s the kind of thing that uncles, aunts, and even Dad would probably worry about. 

 

But there are also things I can’t talk about in detail.

 

In this situation, letting their worries grow and allowing them to gather information from somewhere other than me might be dangerous— 

 

“Then can I ask you a favor?”

 

“Yes~ Yes~ Please ask me!”

 

I decide to spend Christmas Eve dinner with my family and those who are like family to me. 

 

Maybe that decision was the problem in the first place.

 

* * *

 

That evening.

 

I put on a black mini dress and headed to the banquet hall for dinner.

 

I figured not wearing my uniform would help avoid confusing the guests. 

 

Instead of tying my hair up as usual, I went with a half-up style. When I arrived at the lounge, Yoojun, who happened to be there, whistled as he started tagging along with me. 

 

“You’re pretty, boss. Do you usually hide your looks?”

 

“I didn’t know it could be hidden.”

 

“Oh, you know how to say that?”

 

That’s what I mean by being noisy, you idiot.

 

I left Yoojun behind and quickly walked toward the banquet hall. 

 

But he kept following me, completely absorbed in teasing me. 

 

At this point, it feels like he likes me. 

 

“If Team Leader Han saw me, he’d try to kill me again.”

 

“Why would he try to kill you?” 

 

Is there some kind of connection between me looking pretty today and Han Woohyun trying to kill Yoojun? 

 

“Ah, you’re using informal language. Why do you keep using it when others aren’t around?”

 

“Right now, I’m in my natural state, so I speak casually, Guest. I’ll use formal language once I put on the uniform.” 

 

“…You’ve been told that you’re surprisingly bold a lot, haven’t you?” 

 

“Answer first.”

 

I’ll pass on the banter. 

 

“People who have never truly held something in their hands tend to become afraid of what they want, especially when it’s beautiful and dazzling.” 

 

Yoojun’s words carried weight. 

 

I knew what Han Woohyun had wanted the most, and what he could never have. That’s why the sharp words Yoojun threw hurt. 

 

What he wanted wasn’t something luxurious like love.

 

It was a person.

 

Just a person who would accept his love.

 

What Han Woohyun wanted the most right now was—

 

I looked at my reflection in the doorknob at the entrance to the banquet hall.

 

“So, I’m sure if he sees the boss right now, he’ll want to kill everyone around you.” 

 

Just like I’ve been feeling all day today?

 

I felt a bit conflicted and said to Yoojun. 

 

“I’ll take it as a compliment that I’m beautiful and dazzling. Thank you.” 

 

And the moment I opened the door and entered the banquet hall.

 

Instead of the carol from Min Kangjin that I was expecting, I heard this voice.

 

“Hello. I’m Kim Junsoo, the president of the Baby Junghyo Fan Club! For a while, the SSS-level Junghyo fan club has been criticized from the outside, labeled as a corrupt group, simply because only S-rank hunters have been able to share Junghyo’s cute and lovable side.” 

 

….?

 

Uncle Junsoo, dressed in a suit, was holding a microphone and talking loudly on stage. 

 

It was such an unreal situation that I just stood there, dazed, listening to what Uncle Junsoo was saying. 

 

“For that reason, since today is Christmas Eve, we’ll be distributing special fan-made merchandise, the Junghyo Soldier Dolls, to all of you! They’re inside the boxes we’re handing out right now. If you remember the serial number on the bottom of the box, we’ll also be holding a raffle to include a cute kindergarten photo of Junghyo as a special bonus—” 

 

There was a group moving busily at the mention of joining the 2nd fan club.

 

That was exactly the table of Baekho Guild Leader, Shim Jiyoon, who was about to sit down as Yujun approached. 

 

She was busy giving instructions to the men in black suits surrounding the round table.

 

At the same time, one of the association staff members who had been accompanying Secretary Myunghan came to me and handed me a doll before leaving.

 

It was a doll with a black, furry, long soldier’s hat and a uniform, resembling my face. 

 

“Now, for the raffle…” 

 

As soon as I held the doll in my hand, I realized that this situation was real and quickly turned around.  

 

“This doll is so cute.”

 

Leaving Yoojun’s teasing voice behind, I walked straight to the area right below the stage where the stage equipment was, and turned off the microphone power. 

 

“…?!”

 

Ignoring Uncle Junsoo’s bewildered expression, I lowly growled at Min Kangjin, who was waiting below the stage. 

 

“Please go up there right now and handle the situation.”

 

“Oh… yes, yes.” 

 

That’s where things got messed up.

 

* * *

 

The event he had planned so ambitiously went awry, and Uncle Junsu pouted with a sad face, throwing a tantrum the entire time we ate.

 

“Ah, whyyy. It’s cute, the Junghyo doll. It’s so popular in the banquet hall that there were even people who hoarded them through dishonest means.” 

 

I could tell right away who they were.

 

Han Woohyun and Shim Jiyoon.

 

Shim Jiyoon must have bought the dolls from the guests using money, and Han Woohyun probably used his power as the team leader at the Hanwoon Guild table to seize my dolls. 

 

“When on earth did you take these pictures?”

 

I pointed to a photo of me as a kindergartner, wearing sunglasses and enjoying a suntan while buried in the sand, and then rubbed my forehead. 

 

I had to destroy that damn baby Junghyo fan group chat room quickly.

 

Alex is good at manipulating systems, so wouldn’t that work out somehow?

 

Former Hotel Owner 

 

Oh, you’re cute.

 

Isn’t that right?

 

Demon King

 

What’s cute about a baby human?

 

Former Hotel Owner 

 

Oho, so it’s not cute? 

 

Demon King

 

…A little. 

 

What’s cute?

 

I quickly shoved the printed photo into my pocket. 

 

The Demon King did some cute things like achievements and such, but suddenly became quiet. 

 

It’s a relief that they’re not pressuring me to take on quests, but at the same time, I’m a bit afraid of what kind of trouble I might cause next. 

 

“Just eat.”

 

“Yeah. How dare they scatter my daughter’s photo like that?”

 

Dad said that and gently put the doll and photo in his arms.

 

“You’re the one who asked for it to be printed. You too. You asked for it too!”

 

Uncle Junsoo alternately pointed at Dad and Uncle Minhyuk with earnest eyes, but all he got in response was this. 

 

“Eat.”

 

“Okay. Be careful.”

 

“Junghyo, are you angry?”  

 

Only then did Uncle hesitate and ask me carefully.

 

“I’m not angry, it’s just that today is Christmas, so the guests should be the main characters, not me, Uncle.”

 

At my words, Uncle flinched. He must have realized his mistake because his face became gloomy. 

 

I thought Uncle was too gloomy, so I held the doll in my hand and shook it. 

 

“Still, thank you. This is a Christmas gift, right? It was cute.” 

 

Uncle’s face brightened at my words. 

 

And at the same time, gifts from my dad and the other uncles and aunts poured in. 

 

Minhyuk gave me a real sword instead of the Immortal Sword as a gift.

 

“From now on, if you go to dangerous places, use this. It’s the same as the one Han Woohyun uses. I used it before.” 

 

I happily accepted the gift, recalling the sword that Han Woohyun used to cut down a huge tiger in one go.

 

Dad gave me a pretty necklace, and Aunt Heeyoung gave me a coat.

 

Lastly, Aunty Misoon gave me a creative and bizarre robot vacuum cleaner as a gift.

 

– Welcome to Yeongchun Hotel. I like dust.

 

“It’s an AI-Mungi that can withstand temperatures as low as -2,000°C and as high as 2,000°C, endure radiation, and take down D-rank monsters on its own. What do you think?!”  

 

AI-Mungi, which boasts incredible specs, recognized the dishes on the table as dust as soon as the lady started it and tried to suck them all up.

 

After a brief commotion while trying to dry up the <dust> that could even kill D-class monsters.

 

“You made a cleaning robot that’s good at everything except cleaning?”

 

“T, that’s…” 

 

I thought to myself that I would never activate a cleaning robot at the hotel, and I thanked the Aunt for the gift. 

 

“Thank you, Aunt. I’ll make good use of it. Oh, and as for my gift, I’ll give it to you as a reward once you complete the quest you’ve just received.” 

 

Of course, I prepared a simple gift.

 

A slightly more special gift than the other guests.

 

At my words, the members of the baby Junghyo fan all turned into eyes burning with desire to clear the quest. 

 

“This is a bet.”

 

“Who will be the first to take Junghyo’s gift?”

 

“Dudun.”

 

?

 

I was puzzled as to why they were competing over something like this, but just then, the performance by Min Kangjin was about to begin on stage. 

 

“Then I’ll sing a carol now.”

 

The people in the hall were instantly focused on Min Kangjin’s voice.

 

In the meantime, our staff successfully began collecting my doll.

 

Well, we decided not to take it from those who wanted it.

 

While Min Kangjin was singing, most of the dolls were collected, and I listened to the carol with a joyful heart.

 

At that exact moment, Geumdong approached me and told me the news of Choi Eulseong’s disappearance. 

 

“How could this happeeeen… I, I showed him where the bathroom is!” 

 

As soon as I quietly exited the banquet hall, I ran into the family of Choi Eulseong, who had a blank expression on their faces—his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.

 

“Grandpa is missing. He’s not in his room, and there’s nowhere he could have gone…” 

 

The young grandson had a gloomy expression.

 

Geumdong muttered next to me with an even gloomier expression.

 

“You told us not to take our eyes off the guests when they’re moving without their families… but other guests asked for directions, so I got distracted for a moment…” 

 

Was he aware of Geumdong’s words?

 

His daughter-in-law said something similar.

 

“If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have brought him along. I thought I was being considerate by bringing him, but of course, when we come to such a crowded place, something like this happens.” 

 

It sounds like something she would say to her husband, but it was ultimately something she said to me, who was there with her.

 

The complaint was directed at me for failing to uphold the special care I had promised, after going out of my way to inquire about the guest’s particular needs. 

 

Demon King

 

Wow, there’s no one at the hotel on Christmas. What a successful event.

 

Even a patient with a medical history.

 

Shouldn’t we collect experience points at this point?

 

Former Hotel Owner 

 

Speak nicely.

 

I looked at the message window where the argument started as the atmosphere became cold and collected my thoughts for a moment.

 

And then, this came flying in.

 

Quest ‘I am the Complaint Resolver’ 

 

—Don’t be discouraged by the first complaint!

 

—Visit the guests and relieve their families of their worries.

 

—Completion Reward: 1,000EXP, 100G Market Gold 

 

What is this?

 

I looked at the 1:1 chat window with Merlin Grey. Then Merlin Grey sent this message.

 

Former Hotel Owner 

 

It’s not your fault.

 

Thank you for your words, but—

 

Hotel Owner

 

This is my fault.

 

Former Hotel Owner 

 

No…

 

I answered firmly and added.

 

Hotel Owner

 

So I’ll take care of it too.

 

“I’ll find where Mr. Choi Eulseong is. I’ll bring him right away.”

 

I opened my mouth in the cool atmosphere.

 

What I said wasn’t empty words.

 

The reason is simple.

 

Because I, like Alex, could now tamper with the hotel’s system, even if only a little.

 

So—

 

System: Loading…

 

The Hotel Owner is recognized as a Player.

 

Class: Friend of Toys (C) has been awakened.

 

 

Like this.

 

!Error!

 

Class: Friend of Toys (S) has been awakened.

 

Skill: ‘Location Tracking (C)’ has been upgraded to ‘Location Tracking (S)’.

 

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