Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 303

297. It Was a Good Hotel

 

Standing before the Demon King—no, the now-purified Owen Black—was Kim Euihae, who wore a faint smile and bowed his head. 

 

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was a little worried.”

 

Owen could more or less understand his Korean, but he deliberately pretended not to and stayed still.

 

Either way, the sincerity behind the words “It’s delicious” would have gotten through to him.

 

While Kim Euihae hesitated, the bellboy stepped in to translate.

 

But at that moment, the owner of the hotel approached him.

 

“He says, ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was a bit worried.’”

 

Translating Kim Euihae’s words into flawless French.

 

But her smile somehow carried a hint of slyness.

 

‘I think this every time, but she’s kind of scary in her own way.’

 

Her eyes are clear, yet somehow twisted.  

 

Owen felt a vague sense of unease, but he brushed it aside and looked up at Kim Euihae.

 

“What do you mean by ‘worry’? What were you worried about?”

 

Kim Euihae replied through the interpreter.  

 

“I’ve never studied abroad, and all I have are the humble skills I learned from my master at a vocational school. I was worried it might not suit your taste…”

 

Owen looked up at Junghyo as he listened.  

 

‘I thought he must be someone incredible, considering how desperately they were trying to recruit a pâtissier… but that’s not the case, is it?’

 

Junghyo, as if seeing right through Owen’s thoughts, spoke to him in French. 

 

Junghyo hesitated for a moment to answer Owen’s question.

 

“Well… that’s only half true.”

 

“What’s so special about that baker, anyway?”

 

Owen grumbled, as if annoyed that no one had mentioned the cake was prepared for him.

 

“I think for Kim Euihae-ssi, the joy comes from making someone’s birthday feel special. That’s what makes him unique.” 

 

Visiting Happy Bakery in person made it clear.

 

The main menu item was undoubtedly cake.

 

The display case was filled with cakes.

 

The prices are affordable, making them accessible to everyone, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

 

Happy Bakery was a beloved local spot where both young students and elderly patrons would stop by to buy cakes for their special occasions. 

 

So on the way back to the hotel, she asked why he had chosen cake as the shop’s main product, even though it’s something that probably sells best only during special seasons.

 

‘I’ve never had cake on my birthday.’

 

That was Kim Euihae’s answer.

 

‘When I was young, I lost my parents and lived with my uncle. My uncle was physically disabled, so I got teased a lot by my friends. We were so poor that we went hungry two days a week—how could we have money for cake? But my uncle loved cake. Even the day before he passed away from meningitis, he said he wanted to eat cake.’

 

She tightened her grip on the steering wheel but tried not to let it show.

 

‘Every year on my uncle’s birthday, the social worker would bring him a cake, but when he was in the hospital, we didn’t have the money to buy one. So I was just going to let it pass, but that year my uncle really insisted. I got really angry and told him, ‘You’re sick, why do you want cake?’ But honestly, inside… it was because I wanted to eat cake. I wanted to have cake on my birthday too, but I felt so pathetic, thinking, ‘Why am I the only one who has to live like this?’ So I took it out on my uncle. Looking back now, I feel so sorry. That’s why I make cakes every day. When I see old people, they remind me of my uncle’s age, and when I see students in school uniforms, they remind me of myself back then. Now that I think about it…’

 

We’re both just so pitiful.

 

Kim Euihae’s words lingered in Junghyo’s heart. 

 

It wasn’t just because the story was heartbreaking.

 

It was because, upon seeing Kim Euihae smile and say he wanted to make it truly delicious—since the butter cake the social worker had brought was really bad—she realized something.

 

The reason Kim Euihae’s cakes are so cheap and delicious.

 

He must have practiced all along with the thought of making a cake for his uncle and for his younger self.

 

He didn’t come from a good school, didn’t have good parents, and didn’t have good mentors or colleagues either.

 

For Kim Euihae, there was the version of himself who once couldn’t eat cake, and there was his late uncle.

 

“So I decided to think that way too. Earnest waiting. You were the one who told me about it.”

 

Owen frowned at Junghyo’s words. 

 

“I’ve decided to believe that what you said about it being my talent… was true.”

 

“….”

 

“So, this cake is half a scheme to bring in a certain special baker, and half a genuine desire to treat you.”

 

Junghyo’s black eyes quietly gazed at Owen.

 

Like a black stray cat standing guard in the alley, watching over a little kid walking home at night.

 

It was a quiet, gentle gaze.

 

Why on earth?

 

Owen was perplexed.

 

If you really think about it, wasn’t Owen Black this woman’s greatest enemy?

 

After all, hadn’t he even thrown this woman into a world on the brink of destruction and used cruel schemes against her?

 

He thought the woman would naturally fall into deep despair when even her mother from Lee Semyung’s memories was brought up.

 

Whether she chose to save the world or abandon it,

 

From her perspective, in the end, abandoning someone is still the same thing.

 

Why did you serve me this cake after making me choose something like that…?

 

While Owen was confused,

 

Junghyo spoke with a languid expression.  

 

“The final quest… it really sucked, but to me, it was a memory I’m grateful for.”

 

“….!”

 

“It was really frustrating, but I’m thankful. Thanks to it, I got a good memory. It was the first time I’d ever received a birthday wish from my mom since becoming an adult. From now on, every birthday will remind me of something special too.”

 

That’s a return gift.

 

It was the moment Junghyo, having answered briefly, stood up.

 

Owen wanted to say something.

 

Well… something like… “I was sorry,” or words to that effect.

 

But unsure if he deserved to say such things, Owen barely managed to mutter these words.

 

“It was a nice hotel. I’d love to stay here again.”

 

“…”

“Just like you said, to the point where the end of the world feels like a bother.”

 

Blushing at the woman’s gaze upon him, Owen averted his eyes toward the sea.

 

A faint laugh came from behind.

 

Maybe she was touched.

 

Owen tried not to turn around, sensing the woman’s gaze from the corner of his eye.

 

But then, a strangely cold feeling passed.

 

That was the moment Owen turned to look at her again.

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

Reptile Spirit (Guardian of the Purified World)

 

—Cynical.

 

—Due to advanced age, be cautious of arthritis when assigning tasks.

 

—!Must Read! Thanks to the title ‘Reptile Trainer,’ hiring reptiles is now free! Now on sale with rave reviews.

 

 

“….?”

 

“I was just about to need a reptile spirit anyway.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“Shall we work together from now on?”

 

Seeing Junghyo’s gentle smile, Owen felt a tingling sensation at the back of his head. 

 

So, it wasn’t that she was touched after all…

 

* * *

 

Owen, having shed the guise of Louisa Villani and returned to his original self, sat facing me and Merlin.

 

“You think I’d fall for something like this?”

 

“Mhm, I think you would. You don’t have any magic at all right now, anyway.”

 

The Demon King looked at me with a shocked expression at Merlin’s answer.

 

Merlin’s words were true. Since eating the cake, the Demon King had noticeably weakened, just like the other ‘purified’ monsters.

 

So…

 

“You really want to hire me?!”

 

I could definitely hire him.

 

I shook my head as I watched the Demon King, whose face had even turned red.

 

“I don’t want to work with you either.”

 

“Our hotel doesn’t hire just anyone so easily. Haven’t you noticed Kim Euihae?”

 

When Merlin spoke, Owen’s expression somehow twisted even further.

 

He looked almost a bit hurt.

 

Watching Merlin’s satisfied smile, I couldn’t help but feel, for some reason, like I was being played by his grand scheme—but by now, it didn’t matter. 

 

Reptile Spirit (Purified Hotel King)

 

—Can interfere with the system window.

 

—As expected, due to advanced age, be cautious of fatigue and recovery.

 

—!Caution! This staff member is already employed. Buying them again from the shop will downgrade them to a regular employee.

 

Merlin has now become nothing more than a reptile spirit I can hire.

 

 “What I mean is, if you don’t want to be hired by me anymore, then both of you better keep quiet and stop coveting my hotel, you damn reptiles.”

 

“….!”

 

“Why am I being lumped together with the Demon King?”

 

Watching Owen and Merlin looking like they’d just been hit with a blow, I felt a deep surge of relief wash over me.

 

It felt as if all the teasing I’d endured from the reptiles through the status window, chat window, and system window had finally been washed away. 

 

“Y, you’ll still let me keep working here, right?” 

 

Merlin even asked me with a rather humble expression.

 

This was a bit surprising.

 

“Are you sure about that? If you wanted, I was even planning to build a new hotel in Paris and make you the manager there.”

 

“So what, you never really intended to give me the Yeongchun Hotel from the start?”

 

“That’s why I won’t give it. You should just covet what’s worth coveting.” 

 

In the first place, this hotel was given to Alex by Merlin, and then Alex gave it to me again, so there’s no sense of obligation or anything like that. 

 

If anyone should feel a sense of obligation, it should be Alex, but Alex is just excited about experiencing gold mining in the Goblin village and doesn’t seem to feel the slightest bit of guilt for selling off a hotel that’s been passed down for generations. 

 

So, it’s true that I still had a bit of sympathy for Merlin Gray, whose entire hotel ended up in human hands thanks to that remarkable daughter.

 

But even that was taken care of by the Demon King.

 

You told me I had a “talent.”

 

The talent to build this hotel was mine.

 

So, the hotel didn’t just come to me by “chance.”

 

“I was thinking of negotiating to some extent.”

 

“Ugh, really. If that’s how it was! You just toyed with our poor general manager for no reason!”

 

“…Toying around? The general manager probably didn’t take it that seriously.”

 

Even if she did take it seriously, the general manager told me she would ‘support’ whatever choice I made.

 

Couldn’t that mean she believed there wouldn’t be any major changes to this hotel, no matter what choice I made?

 

Even if I really quit the hotel, I would make sure that the general manager’s position and situation wouldn’t change before I leave.

 

“You sometimes tend to underestimate your own influence.”

 

Merlin clicked his tongue. Then he pointed at the elevator. Just then, the elevator doors opened at the perfect moment, and a familiar face came toward me.

 

“Junghyo, Junghyo! Waaaaahhh, uncle did something wrong…!” 

 

That’s Uncle Junsu, right? Why is he here…?

 

Merlin said. 

 

“You seriously underestimate the influence you have on others. That’s why I even gave a ‘gift’ to your partner, so you’d understand.” 

 

Yes?