Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 305 - End

299. We will continue to operate as usual. 

 

Junghyo now seemed to understand what misunderstanding had brought all these people here, and for a moment, she felt a tightness in her throat.

 

“Excuse me…” 

 

“We all remember everything, we all do.”

 

At that moment, Kim Junsoo spoke from behind the crowd.

 

Kim Junsoo, with bloodshot eyes, was sniffling. But he was no longer shedding any tears.

 

“What we pretended not to remember was…”

 

“I had more or less noticed it too.”

 

Junghyo was speaking to her uncles and aunts when she suddenly realized something.

 

Ah, my words are getting tangled.

 

“To be precise, everyone had noticed the fact that we all remembered what happened back then. I was just pretending not to know.”

 

While everyone else looked surprised, Lee Semyung’s face showed that he wasn’t particularly shocked.

 

Because he already knew.

 

“Why? Why did you pretend not to know?”

 

Flustered, Hwang Misoon asked. But soon, she felt a bit down, thinking she already knew the answer.

 

“As expected, you didn’t want to bring up that memory?”

 

Huh? That’s not it.

 

Seeing the atmosphere grow gloomy again, Junghyo waved her hand dismissively.

 

“It’s not important! And… it’s kind of embarrassing too.”

 

Of course, right? How many dark pasts did she carefully rack up in there?

 

And more than anything, the truly important thing was the memory of being together. What happened after returning safely didn’t seem nearly as important.

 

“What?”

 

Han Minhyuk frowned.

 

“No, don’t you feel embarrassed? You called me ‘noona,’ ‘unnie,’ and I even confessed to Uncle Minhyuk that he was my first love…”

 

Even now, thinking about it, it was such a mess.

 

Junghyo lowered her head low and muttered to herself.  

 

But then…  

 

“…What? Were you even thinking about that?”

 

Hwang Misoon placed a hand on her lowered head.

  

The moment Junghyo slightly raised her head, Hwang Misoon’s eyes softened.

 

Black eyes, with the corners slightly lifted.

 

Sometimes her expression is unreadable, but when Hwang Misoon looks like this, she wears a face that’s purely innocent, like a child.

 

“As expected, I missed you.” 

 

“Yes?” 

 

“You’ve grown so much over the years, I miss your old self. You don’t show that cute expression anymore, do you?”

 

“….!”

 

Seeing Junghyo press her lips tightly together, Hwang Misoon ruffled her hair wildly.

 

Then Junghyo briefly frowned, but soon after, she smiled slightly.

 

Just like she did in her childhood.

 

Just like back when she came to Hwang Misoon’s workshop to make a robot for a vacation assignment, played games together, and took long naps.

 

The young Junghyo would only fully wake from her nap and smile gently when Hwang Misoon ruffled her hair wildly. 

 

‘So, back then you used to make things like plastic models?’

 

‘Yeah. I guess you could call it a talent. After the Great Disaster, when I thought everything was useless, I suddenly gained the talent to make weapons.’

 

‘Wow.’

 

‘So listen, you must remember this: even when you think everything has become useless, in reality, everything still has its use. What’s accumulated inside you doesn’t go anywhere.’

 

The time when the two of them lay together in the cramped workshop, talking about things like that.

 

She heard the story of those days back at the Gyeongseong Hotel.

 

‘How about trying to make a weapon? Someone once said that even when you think everything has become useless, in reality, everything still has its use. What’s accumulated inside you doesn’t go anywhere.’

 

Thinking back on her memories at Gyeongseong Hotel, she still felt a tightness in her chest.

 

You remembered.

 

You remembered everything I told you.

 

The moments I thought were memories only I had were alive inside you too.

 

So—

 

“It wasn’t embarrassing, it was good.”

 

Hwang Misoon smiled.

 

The little one, who used to barely reach her waist, now meeting her eyes didn’t make her feel any resentment.

 

It was astonishing to realize that the kind words from Hwang Misoon—or rather, from adults—took root in a child’s heart and helped them grow this much.

 

“You’ve grown up so well. That’s why we… we’re so sorry and thankful. We’re sorry that someone who grew up so well had to face such dangerous situations, and yet we’re still grateful that you’ve grown up so well.”

 

“….!”

 

Junghyo looked into Hwang Misoon’s eyes and moved her lips.

 

What will these small lips answer?

 

At that moment, with everyone holding their breath, Junghyo’s lips parted.

 

“…Mhm.” 

 

The answer was simple.

 

But at those words, everyone laughed—and then cried.

 

A simple answer showing that the feeling was conveyed—that was enough.

 

* * * 

 

“You’re a step too late.”

 

The last to appear was Han Woohyun.

 

Han Woohyun only arrived at Yeongchun Hotel after this stormy time had passed.

 

Fortunately, my uncles, aunts, and I had cleared up all the misunderstandings during that time.

 

‘I’m going to continue running the hotel. Now that I think about it, I think I was able to give my heart to others because I grew up receiving so much love. That must be my talent.’

 

If earnest waiting and a kind heart are my talents, then I quite like that too.

 

Just as hunters are needed to fight monsters, this world also needs hunters who pour their hearts into caring for the guests.

 

‘You’ve somehow managed to defend the Earth through the hotel business.’

 

Merlin Gray spoke to me as if feeling proud.

 

Since the Demon King had finally been neutralized, it wasn’t wrong.

 

But underlying all that I was able to accomplish, there was Merlin.

 

‘It’s thanks to Merlin. Merlin’s care for Alex is what helped me grow.’

 

‘…!’

 

Merlin’s face looked quite moved.

 

‘I really want to hug you… but I’m not ready for that level of contact with a human yet…’

 

‘I’ll pass as well.’

 

Well, it’ll still take some time to get fully close. 

 

But it doesn’t matter. There’s plenty of time ahead.

 

“Well, most of it’s settled now. I was worried the BJF might cause another commotion…”

 

Han Woohyun ran his hand through his hair, looking worried.

 

The still-cold sea breeze whipped through his hair.

 

As I looked over Han Woohyun’s hair, his gaze was fixed on mine.

 

We were both looking at each other.

 

I could sense it.

 

Han Woohyun untied his scarf and wrapped it around me.

 

“Why did you pretend not to notice?”

 

I asked, feeling his meticulous touch. Then Han Woohyun’s hand froze. 

 

His brown eyes stared intently into mine.

 

It took a moment for the answer to come.

 

“I don’t care.”

 

“…?”

 

“Even if you said you wanted to go back to that world instead of this one, I’d want to let it slide.”

 

Han Woohyun’s brown eyes looked so deep at moments like this that it was impossible to read his thoughts. They even seemed distant.

 

I unconsciously grabbed his cheek.

 

“….?”

 

As his cheek squished like mochi in my hand, Han Woohyun looked at me with a flustered expression. But I didn’t avert my gaze and spoke.

 

“Merlin gave you a ‘gift,’ didn’t he?”

 

“…!”

 

“Did you use that gift?”

 

Han Woohyun hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

 

Mind communication skills.

 

Merlin, that damn reptile was playing a prank on Han Woohyun.

 

But it’s okay. From now on, you’ll be my ‘spirit,’ so no more pranks will be possible.

 

“What did it say? My feelings?” 

 

Han Woohyun, seemingly flustered by my straightforward question, struggled a bit but, seeing that I wouldn’t let go, spoke with a resigned look.

 

“A little… sinister.”

 

Oh, right. It must have been sinister.

 

“A little… cute, too.”

 

“No! Not that.”

 

I said, feeling my face flush.

 

“Right now, in moments like this, what do you think would be floating above my head?”

 

When I asked, Han Woohyun looked at me intently and said.

 

“Do you want to kiss me…?”

 

“…”

 

As my face grew even hotter, Han Woohyun smiled, the corners of his lips curling up in amusement. 

 

You’re just teasing me right now. Tch. 

 

Han Woohyun pulled me into his embrace and briefly kissed me on the lips.

 

As our lips parted with a soft sound, Han Woohyun took my hand, which was holding his cheek, into his own.

 

“You’re precious.”

 

Even though I knew the answer.

 

I nodded.

 

“You’re precious to me. That’s why I wouldn’t want anything else, just you, right here, right now.”

 

Han Woohyun’s face heated up so much that I could feel it through my hand.

 

A bright smile spread across his face.

 

Intuitive evidence of happiness.

 

I felt it, looking at his face like a mirror.

 

I thought, ‘My face must be shining like that, too.’

 

“Precious.”

 

I laughed out loud, listening to him repeat my words clearly.

 

And then, hugging the back of his neck, I gazed out at the sunset over the sea.

 

Precious.

 

Here on this beach, all the countless hearts I’ve received through this hotel are truly… precious to me.

 

So, let’s continue…

 

“…Let’s work together.”

 

“…Mhm?”

 

Han Woohyun released the hug.

 

Looking at his bewildered eyes, I said.

 

“Someone posted online an hour ago that the hotel was closing, and suddenly we got swamped with guests. They want to have coffee before the hotel disappears. So I want to hire you as a one-day part-timer. You’re quick, right?”

 

“…!”

 

The message window was on the verge of bursting.

 

Even from Kang Sojin, the first guest, 

 

I’m coming right now! Please wait for meeee!

 

Even from Shim Jiyoon, the second guest,

 

I’ll take over the hotel, Boss. 

 

Messages also came from other guests like Min Kangjin, Hong Seongoh, and so on.

 

Everyone was clamoring, saying the hotel must not disappear.

 

I’d clearly posted the notice quickly.

 

It seemed like it was already an unstoppable trend, and everyone was now heading this way.

 

I felt a chill run down my neck and shoved my still-vibrating phone deep into my pocket.

 

I wrote another notice and posted it.

 

In the largest, most legible font possible, it read:

 

We will continue normal operations from now on.

 

—Yeongchun Hotel

 

 

Ah, I should include something like this.

 

Thank you to all the guests who visited the Dungeon Hotel today.

 

Thinking of that message, I forgot all my worries about the tiring day ahead and smiled like an idiot.

 

<Welcome to the Dungeon Hotel>

 

End of the main story.