Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 290

284. What marriage?

 

An hour before Han Woohyun, dressed neatly in hanbok, arrived at the house in Pyeongchang-dong, Lee Semyung was already there frying jeon.

 

‘You’re going to fry jeon here? I won’t allow it.’

 

When Lee Semyung arrived at the Pyeongchang-dong house with loads of frozen pollack and meat for yukjeon, he was nearly kicked out by Han Minhyuk—but thankfully, Hwang Misoon came to his rescue.

 

‘I made an air purifier. If you have this, all the oil smell will disappear, right?’

 

‘Isn’t it just like that robot vacuum from last time—better at sucking up everything but air?’

 

‘Should I suck up you first?’

 

More precisely, it was thanks to the chaotic combo of Moon Heeyoung and Hwang Misoon that Han Minhyuk couldn’t quite bring himself to stop Lee Semyung.

 

Thanks to that, Lee Semyung—neatly dressed in an apron—was able to take over the kitchen of the Pyeongchang-dong house and diligently fry jeon to feed Junghyo.

 

“Wow, the pajeon did a double spin in midair.”

 

Lee Semyung’s cooking skills had improved so much that even Hwang Misoon was impressed.

 

Constantly going back and forth between Yeongchun Hotel and home to cook warm meals and side dishes for Junghyo three times a day had naturally made him this good.

 

Back when he was an S-rank hunter just slicing monsters, he could never have imagined this, but Lee Semyung liked his current life much more.

 

He couldn’t do all the things he hadn’t done for the past 20 years since she was seven, but he could at least feed her 20 years’ worth of food. 

 

‘Besides, not long ago, something big happened too…’

 

Lee Semyung was worried about his daughter, who was carrying the heavy burden of having to protect the world.

 

He was also unsettled by the fact that the Demon King’s existence had not yet vanished.

 

‘Is it impossible to completely eliminate it?’

 

‘To destroy the Demon King by human power… well, it’s not entirely impossible, but rather than destroying it, it would have to be purified. In a different way than before. You can just think of that guy as a somewhat twisted reptile.’

 

That strange reptile named Merlin Grey said this.

 

‘Don’t worry too much. Anyway, the hotel owner will win it all. I guarantee it.’

 

Merlin believed in Junghyo as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

 

Lee Semyung also believed in Junghyo. She always made the right choices.

 

The only problem was that, because of the nearly 20-year gap, to his eyes Junghyo still looked about seven years old.

 

No matter how confidently she says she can do well, what can I do when in my eyes she’s still just a little kid?

 

She might even be upset after seeing her mom just recently—

 

“I’ll do everything as mother.”

 

Without realizing it, Lee Semyung muttered something, and Moon Heeyoung, who was sitting next to him making dumplings, spoke up.

 

“What’s so hard about it? When Junghyo gets married, you can light the wedding candles and do everything.”

 

“….?’

 

Ma…rried?

 

Lee Semyung dropped the spatula he was holding with a clatter.

 

“What marriage?”

 

“Aren’t she and Han Woohyun getting married? I heard Misoon made a proposal ring for him not long ago.”

 

“….?!”

 

Lee Semyung glared at Hwang Misoon with eyes full of betrayal. Then, Hwang Misoon, who had been secretly snatching a piece of the pancake, quickly slipped near the stairs and hid her body.

 

“Why are you glaring at me?”

 

“You cried and thanked me a while ago.”

 

“….!”

 

Hwang Misoon’s face turned beet red, as if it were about to explode.

 

This brat is talking about that time so viciously!

 

Hwang Misoon wasn’t the only one who cried.

 

For most of the BJF members who remembered the apocalypse, reuniting with Lee Semyung brought back a wave of gratitude—and a touch of guilt they hadn’t quite shaken off. 

 

They were just reminiscing and catching up when Kim Junsoo was the first to start crying, and because of that, Hwang Misoon ended up shedding a few tears too.

 

“But you hit me with this out of nowhere?!”

 

“How is this hitting you out of nowhere? I just crafted an item as an artisan, that’s all. It’d be kind of wrong to pick and choose my clients, wouldn’t it?”

 

Hwang Misoon made her excuse, her face flushed bright red.

 

But Lee Semyung couldn’t recover from the shock.

 

He glared at Han Minhyuk, who was wearing a dust mask to block out the smell of oil as he read a book on the sofa.

 

“Y, you—why didn’t you say anything?”

 

Han Minhyuk replied without lifting his eyes from the book.

 

“What are you talking about? The kids will figure it out.”

 

“Kids? Hey. You think Han Woohyun’s a kid? Where do you find a kid that big? He’s taller than you, you punk.”

 

“….”

 

Realizing that he was the only one who was shocked left Lee Semyung even more stunned.

 

“Did everyone else know except me?”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

At that moment when the three of them were silent.

 

The doorbell rang with perfect timing.

 

The lady who had been prepping vegetables for japchae in the kitchen came out, opened the door, and said with a bright smile.

 

“Oh my, our future nephew-in-law is here. And he’s even dressed up nicely in hanbok!”

 

Faced with the aunt’s bright smile, Lee Semyung couldn’t even get angry and clenched his fist tightly.

 

Even wearing a hanbok.

 

That sounds way too ominous!

 

* * *

 

Why did the atmosphere suddenly turn like this?

 

I was shocked to see Han Woohyun sitting surrounded by uncles and aunts in a warm, friendly scene.

 

Whether it was because of all the gift sets Han Woohyun had brought, the festive holiday atmosphere, or the hanbok that Uncle Junsu had playfully dressed him in, Han Woohyun blended perfectly among the uncles and aunts.

 

“Oh my, you drink well, my kid.”

 

Aunt Misoon had even started calling Han Woohyun “my kid”—

 

“The envelope, the envelope is open~”

 

Uncle Junsoo added an enormous amount of New Year’s money on top.

 

Even Uncle Minhyuk started to shift to a similar mood—more precisely, ever since this conversation took place.

 

“You drove here?”

 

“Yes. Junghyo seemed tired, so I drove.”

 

“…Starting this year, I’ll assign one driver directly under the team leader from Hanwoon.”

 

Aunt Heeyoung had always been weak to handsome men, so there was nothing more to be said.

 

“Please keep up this level of good looks from now on too, dear nephew-in-law.”

 

“…Yes.” 

 

What is ‘yes’?

 

Han Woohyun, though the warm welcome felt a bit unfamiliar, didn’t seem to mind and was happily accepting drinks and food offered from all sides.

 

“You’re eating really well. Lee Semyung made all of this, right? Isn’t that right, Semyung?”

 

Aunt Misoon, looking fondly at how well Han Woohyun was eating, pointed to Dad—who wore a headscarf and a transparent mask—and said it as if proud.

 

But Dad only cast a brief glance at Han Woohyun before turning away, not even bothering to listen to what he said afterward.

 

“This is my first time having holiday food. It’s delicious.”

 

It was obvious.

 

Neither his aunt nor uncle were the type to celebrate holidays, and Han Woohyun didn’t have any other family.

 

But—

 

“Hey, Lee Semyung, bring more food.”

 

“Isn’t there anywhere to order from right now?”

 

“I’ll make this ten times more for next Chuseok.”

 

“From now on, the team leaders at Hanwoon Guild should switch to gift sets of holiday food.”

 

The BJF reactions were strange. 

 

Watching those strange reactions, I grabbed a skewer and took a bite.

 

“….!”

 

Dad’s cooking skills are improving day by day, aren’t they?

 

It was sweet and savory at the same time—a flavor that kept calling for more rice.

 

On top of that, it tasted strangely familiar. Kind of like the skewered meat and vegetables Mom packed for me back when we had that food party in kindergarten where everyone brought something from home.

 

“This tastes kind of like what Mom used to make. That’s kind of amazing.”

 

While I was smiling faintly at the old memories, Uncle Junsoo muttered to himself.

 

“Skewers… recipe… give it to me too…”

 

“Me too.”

 

“Me too.”

 

“Let’s just keep this forever.”

 

Even the uncles and aunts’ voices grew a little moist with emotion.

 

Why do I feel like the uncles and aunts have been getting unusually sentimental lately?

 

‘Is it possible that menopause is approaching…?’

 

I didn’t know Hunter had menopause.

 

I’m wondering if I should bring some supplements when Chuseok comes around.

 

Han Woohyun took a bite of the skewered meat and looked at me with a serious expression.

 

“So this is the taste. I’ll learn how to make it and cook it for you too.”

 

He looked like he was seriously about to start researching how to make sanjeok.

 

No need to go that far, though?

 

Dad will do it anyway…

 

It was just then, as I was flustered by the moist eyes of the five people.

 

System

 

Hey. The spirits are spending too much?

 

Geumdong is already bankrupt, huh?

 

“Pft…!”

 

I accidentally spilled some of the water I was drinking onto Han Woohyun’s traditional robe.

 

What is this?

 

Why did the system window suddenly appear? That was only supposed to be at the Gyeongseong Hotel!

 

Administrator

 

Why doesn’t this window disappear?

 

Even the Administrator window is still there!

 

System

 

Don’t you know? It just won’t go away.

 

No, but Geumdong is crying because he went bankrupt.

 

Bankrupt?

 

How long has it been since this kid opened the spirit shop?

 

“Are you okay? Did you catch a cold?”

 

Han Woohyun was wiping my lips worriedly.

 

I jumped up.

 

“Ah, it’s okay. Wait a minute. I need to go to the bathroom.”

 

System

 

Oh right. And… 

 

As soon as I barely made it into the bathroom, the system said this.

 

System

 

Dad’s been acting a little weird, so watch out.

 

You’re actually the one acting the weirdest right now!

 

Administrator

 

What are you doing strangely?