Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 278

272. Wishing for Everyone’s World to Be Perfect

 

One hour before Alex got caught at Yeongchun Hotel. 

 

At first, he thought it was just the alcohol kicking in.

 

But little by little, Han Minhyuk began to realize. 

 

‘I don’t think this is what it feels like to get drunk…’

 

This wasn’t drunk.

 

Instead, he felt his mind growing sharper and clearer. 

 

The more this sensation grew, the clearer his memories became instead of fading. 

 

‘That’s a form of affection too. Don’t overthink it. You don’t need a big reason to care for someone. A long time ago… someone taught me that.’

 

Memories of the woman who had saved him.

 

The faint smile of someone who once said they cared for him deeply resurfaced in his memories. 

 

What do you mean resurfaced? 

 

The expression itself was really funny.

 

It didn’t make sense for that woman to be in his past. That was something that had happened over twenty years ago. 

 

Are you telling me that a kid barely old enough for kindergarten saved me?  

 

‘That’s impossible. The one who saved me was definitely—’

 

It was Lee Semyung. 

 

Han Minhyuk recalled Lee Semyung, who had rescued him when he was trembling at the law academy. 

 

Back then, there were no fire-breathing manticores, and after several days of isolation, the people inside began to be wary of each other. 

 

‘I think they stole our food from over there.’

 

The deeper the pit of suspicion and misunderstanding grew, the less likely it was for someone like Han Minhyuk to survive. 

 

Han Minhyuk had never truly belonged to any group, and the resentment that fact stirred in others spread like wildfire around him. 

 

And then, on a day when he had barely eaten anything for two days since the isolation began… 

 

‘Are you okay?’

 

He showed up.

 

Even now, it felt strangely out of place—Lee Semyung had looked at him with such warmth and joy. 

 

With a face that looked as if he might say, “I missed you,” at any moment, Lee Semyung made up an excuse. 

 

‘He said we should look for you first.’

 

Han Minhyuk looked out the window and saw a racing car parked there.

 

Moon Heeyoung stood beside the racing car, dressed in a racing suit and holding the shotgun he usually used at his villa. 

 

Yeah. This was definitely a memory he could accept. 

 

A memory different from the fire-breathing manticore, or Kim Junsoo blowing up a fire hydrant, or Hwang Misoon swooping in with crow-like wings, or Junghyo crying in front of him. 

 

So this means there is definitely some other problem.

 

With that thought, he headed up to the penthouse to find Han Woohyun.

 

He couldn’t just barge in and start spouting nonsense to Junghyo, but telling Kim Junsoo, Hwang Misoon, or Lee Semyung would guarantee a lifetime—no, ten thousand years—of teasing, so this was the choice he settled on. 

 

‘Han Woohyun.’

 

Han Woohyun was also in that strange memory.

 

As soon as he opened the penthouse door, Han Minhyuk was met with the sight of the penthouse in complete chaos. 

 

As he made his way through the sleeping members of the Hanwoon Guild, Kim Junsoo, Hwang Misoon, and Han Woohyun looked up at Han Minhyuk with serious expressions. 

 

“Hey, don’t you remember anything? You’re in our memories.”

 

Among them, Kim Junsoo was the first to speak. 

 

“And Junghyo too.”

 

Hwang Misoon added.  

 

“But the strange thing is… Last time, it was Lee Semyung who saved me and Kim Junsoo, but this time, it was Junghyo?”

 

Hwang Misoon’s expression hardened as she said that. 

 

Han Minhyuk realized it when he saw that. 

 

Hwang Misoon, Kim Junsoo, and Han Minhyuk all recalled a ‘memory’ where Junghyo, instead of Lee Semyung, had saved them. 

 

It was very strange. 

 

And at that moment, as if something had suddenly come to mind, Han Woohyun stood up from his seat. 

 

“Where is Hunter Lee Semyung?”

 

“…I haven’t seen him.”

 

“I haven’t seen him either.”

 

“….” 

 

Amid the silence of the three, Han Woohyun spoke as if he had found the place he needed to go. 

 

“Let’s go find the employees.”

 

That’s how it all started.

 

* * *

 

Demon King

 

This world where all the people you love are gathered.

 

Give me your world.

 

It’ll be a profitable business.

 

Looking at the message window filled with nonsense, I calmly composed my reply. 

 

Since coming down to the second floor, my mind started to clear up the moment my living mother stopped holding my hand or speaking to me. 

 

‘It was dangerous.’

 

There’s no way that demon king b*stard would actually propose a deal that makes sense. 

 

First, let’s talk about the logical errors.

 

Hotel Owner

 

What does it mean that all the people I love are gathered together?

 

Demon King

 

It’s exactly as it is.

 

Everyone you want is here.

 

Hwang Misoon, Kim Junsoo, Han Minhyuk… and… 

 

I heard a thumping sound from above. Then, I saw a child’s feet appear over the railing before disappearing.

 

It’s Han Woohyun.

 

Demon King

 

Han Woohyun in his innocent days.

 

Didn’t Han Woohyun look happier back then?

 

‘….’

 

Demon King

 

What breaks a person isn’t a shocking event—it’s other people. In a crisis, humans always reveal their true colors.

 

It was a moment when I could feel the true nature of being a “demon king” that I had momentarily forgotten while chatting through the message window. 

 

A captivating and dangerous demon king. 

 

Just as the Demon King said, young Han Woohyun was an ordinary child, just like others his age—one who loved sweet treats and feared the dark. 

 

There wasn’t even a trace of the darkness I had seen in Han Woohyun during high school. 

 

emon King

 

Other people are like that too.

 

Thanks to you, I was able to avoid the most heartbreaking things.

 

Yes…Like Mom?

 

I clenched my fists.

 

The place where Mom’s body temperature touched and then disappeared stung like a scar.

 

Demon King

 

That woman, isn’t she still cold?

 

Only then did I recall Mom shivering.

 

Demon King

 

Her insides will gradually freeze. If you just leave it be. You’d better find a healer as soon as possible.

 

Then that means giving up on going to Moon Heeyoung, right?

 

F**k.

 

Demon King

 

It’s okay. Moon Heeyoung won’t die anyway.

 

You’ve already done this job much better than Lee Semyung.

 

More than Lee Semyung…? 

 

The strength in my fist suddenly disappeared.

 

Wait.

 

I felt my head spinning a little.

 

While reflecting on what it meant to have done ‘this job’ better than Lee Semyung. 

 

In the original past, who was the one that rescued Kim Junsoo and Hwang Misoon, who were stranded at Seoyeon University?

 

Who was the one that rescued Kim Junsoo and Hwang Misoon while also saving Cheon Mikyung at the same time?

 

Who was the one that rescued Han Minhyuk, who was trapped in the law academy? 

 

Who was the one that rescued Moon Heeyoung at the circuit in Gangwon Province?

 

It was a question that had never crossed my mind before.

 

It was Dad who brought together four of South Korea’s early S-rank hunters and swiftly rebuilt the city. 

 

That’s all I knew.

 

But I never heard exactly what Dad did.

 

Dad was a hero in every moment I remember, saving someone every single day. 

 

That means there was no need to remember each and every person he saved. 

 

‘But gathering those four in the first place means he helped S-rank hunters who were either still weak or unable to control their powers in the early days of their awakening.’

 

Hotel Owner 

 

Then does that mean everything I’ve done so far was actually done by Dad?

 

 

I asked, feeling as if I’d been hit in the back of the head.

 

Demon King

 

You didn’t know?

 

Demon King asked back nonchalantly.

 

Demon King

 

I thought you knew and did that.

 

That’s what you wanted.

 

What did you want, me?

 

Demon King

 

To do it again properly, in place of Dad.

 

What do you mean?

 

That was the moment I was about to ask.

 

Something rattling was heard from the first floor.

 

As I quickly went down the stairs at the perfect timing, I saw a man standing in front of the door.

 

“Huff… Huff… Here…”

 

A man with a familiar face.

 

“…I came because my wife was here.”

 

Silence fell over the lounge where everyone was asleep because it was dawn.

 

The man looking up at me was a face I was familiar with.

 

However, his gentle facial features stood out even more, and the furrow in his brow as he wiped away sweat hinted at a lingering inferiority complex from a difficult past. Yet, the proud bridge of his nose conveyed a sense of accomplishment, as if he had overcome it all— 

 

It was a slightly different face.

 

Demon King

 

Come closer.

 

You’ll know when you open the guest list.

 

You have what you want.

 

I went downstairs as if I was possessed by those words.

 

“My wife is missing, and… her name is…”

 

“Wipe the sweat.”

 

I took out a handkerchief from my pocket.

 

The man flinched back and took my handkerchief as if he was accepting that I had acted too hastily.

 

The moment my fingertips touched the man’s fingertips—

 

Opening the guest list for ‘Lee Semyung (Regular Guest).’

 

Lee Semyung (Regular Guest) (Awakening Rank: None)

 

Lee Semyung’s guest list has appeared. 

 

Demon King

 

I told you. This is where all the people you love exist.

 

And in the form you most desire.

 

That’s it.

 

The Demon King’s plan ended here.

 

Mom alive, Dad in the form of a ‘non-hero’ who has not awakened.

 

That was the Demon King’s deal.

 

Putting the people I love on the scale of the deal in the form I most desire.

 

It was really…unbelievable.

 

“Where is my wife?”

 

Yes. It was really an offer I couldn’t refuse.

 

“…How did you know your wife was here?”

 

Except for the logical error.

 

“Yes? Oh… Uh… That’s….”

 

Lee Semyung’s eyes rolled back.

 

Like someone who was speechless.

 

“I, I don’t… remember?”

 

Lee Semyung frowned as if he couldn’t believe what he said.

 

“So you said you don’t remember.”

 

“Yes. That is… No, I mean… Uh… Why… Why am I…?”

 

Lee Semyung stuttered.

 

It was obvious.

 

There was no reason for the past Lee Semyung to be here. 

 

Because Lee Semyung saving Moon Heeyoung, Han Minhyuk, Kim Junsoo, and Hwang Misoon all happened after he regressed. 

 

In the past, Dad couldn’t prevent Mom’s death, but instead of despairing or mourning, he spared no time and set out to save his comrades. 

 

He never ran away alone or took only me to a safe place.

 

The reason was simple.

 

‘I want you to be happy even if I disappear.’

 

‘I want to make the best world for you.’

 

Because I want my world to be perfect.

 

The Demon King’s words—that I saved the heroes here because I wanted to do what my dad did, but better—were half right and half wrong.

 

I did all of this for the same reason as Dad. 

 

But that wasn’t something that needed to be done better or more properly.

 

Because what I wanted was for everyone’s world to be perfect. 

 

The world of baby Junghyo fans, too.

 

Han Woohyun’s world, too.

 

Dad and… Mom’s world, too.

 

It wasn’t because I wanted them to exist in the way I wished, even if only in this broken, illogical fake world. 

 

Hotel Owner

 

This stupid reptile b*stard.

 

As I sent a message in the chat window, I also opened the status window, where I had been continuously conversing with Alex.

 

System

 

Ha… Yeongchun Hotel is screwed, but I don’t care about that right now. I’ll just focus on this task.

 

Administrator

 

What are you talking about?

 

This place is screwed because of the Demon King.

 

 System

 

…There are 4 Demon Kings here.

 

Administrator

 

?

 

System

 

Wow!!! He just showed up. The corrupted human king.

 

Uhhhhh… … I’m going? Bug fix first?

 

Administrator

 

Okay, okay. 

 

That was the last message I sent.

 

At the same time, the world flashed.

 

Demon King

 

!@#!%… … Crazy!@#!$

 

!@#: !@#You’re crazy!@#!

 

Even the message window started to break—

 

Ma!@

 

Wait a minute!@#! Listen to me!@#

 

Whoosh.

 

The world, which had briefly brightened like sparks, twisted and split, slowly regaining its shape.

 

Like a screen in a computer game.

 

As I watched the colors created by the crumpling wallpaper and wooden frames, a strange thought crossed my mind. 

 

Destroyed City.

 

The name of the game Merlin Grey played in the Book of Memories.

 

‘In the ruined apocalypse city, Merlin Grey used to run a hotel.’ 

 

Wait.

 

That, it can’t be—.

 

Is this world related to Alex ‘Grey’s’ mana?

 

As soon as I thought about that—

 

 

Former Hotel Owner

 

Wow, I really thought I was going to die.

 

But why are you in my game?

 

…Merlin Grey appeared like a ghost.

 

Ah, you reptile b*stards.