Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 320 - Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance (15)

Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance (15) 

 

…So, in the end, it’s drinking again.

 

I shook my head as I looked at the drinking party spread out before me.

 

‘If I drink again, I’m a dog—a complete dog.’

 

Which means that right now, the one holding a glass is a dog.

 

But today, I’m a dog that doesn’t get drunk.

 

Thanks to Yoojun, who had completely fixed my body.

 

“Why do you have to throw a drinking party in my studio?”

 

Aunt Misoon grumbled as she placed the ramen in an aluminum pot on the workbench, which she called the dining table but everyone else called a garbage pit.

 

When I was little, I felt there was a certain charm in eating in such a weird place—

 

“Aunt, I think it’s about time you start taking care of your health too.”

 

I put down my soju glass and started tidying up the area.

 

The one who stopped me was Aunt Heeyeong.

 

“Just leave it. Everything will be back to normal by tomorrow anyway. By the way, you’ve got a quiet talent for driving people crazy, haven’t you?”

 

“…Me?”

 

No way.

 

Aunt Heeyeong shook her head as if fed up, looking at the messy surroundings.

 

In response to Aunt Heeyeong’s reaction, Aunt Misoon snapped and spoke up.

 

“This is what I cleaned up! Do you know how much work it took me to get this ready just because you were coming?!”

 

Yes?

 

I tilted my head as I looked at the stacks of paper and parts piled up as high as Aunt Misoon was tall.

 

“By the way, you’re heading down to Ganju County tomorrow, but is it okay for you to be messing around with us like this? Date? Shouldn’t you be on a date or something?”

 

Aunt Misoon scooped up a big bite of the steaming ramen, only to shout “Hot! Hot!” and spill it all back onto the pot lid.

 

“You must have had a great date. Weren’t you two together in the apartment the whole time?”

 

“What?”

 

At Aunt Heeyeong’s remark, Aunt Misoon looked at her with an unreadable expression.

 

“Isn’t a date supposed to mean going out and having fun?”

 

“…You just… eat your meal. When are you going to grow up?”

 

“I’m not just becoming an adult—I’m getting old, you know?”

 

At my words, the two of them stopped bickering and looked at me.

 

“Being with you two really feels like being with my aunts. You know how kids go to their aunts’ houses to hang out during vacation? This place feels like one of those aunt’s houses to me.”

 

When I was little, I used to come to this studio to play every vacation.

 

Back then, this dusty studio was filled with things for me to play with.

 

Strange machines, maze-like blueprints, and everyday items precariously placed around.

 

Aunt Misoon’s eccentric world.

 

Whenever I step into this world, I feel like I’m on vacation.

 

For some reason, Aunt Misoon froze for a moment at my words, then immediately ruffled my hair roughly.

 

“My baby.”

 

“Why would Junghyo be your kid? She’s our kid.”

 

Aunt Heeyeong quietly wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

 

I stayed still, feeling the slightly cool touch of Aunt Heeyeong’s skin refreshing against me.

 

Aunt Heeyeong was like a cold-blooded animal, cooler than most people, but that chill often made me feel surprisingly good.

 

Anyway,

 

A few days ago, Han Woohyun left just this message and hasn’t replied since.

 

Han Woohyun

 

I probably won’t be able to answer because of the raid.

 

I miss you.

 

Seeing that message suddenly made me miss him too.

 

But you said you were busy.

 

‘He’ll probably call me soon, right?’

 

Since he took a long vacation because of me, I shouldn’t be whining about wanting to see him too.

 

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s have a little girls’ secret talk.”

 

Aunt Heeyeong spoke as she clinked her glass, and, surprisingly, Aunt Misoon immediately responded in kind.

 

“Okay. I’ll go first.”

 

“What, what, what are you going to do?”

 

Aunt Heeyeong cast a look of contempt toward Aunt Misoon.

 

“Did you see Junghyo stammer? What secret talk are you even talking about? I don’t want to hear about 2D guys.”

 

“2D is true pure love! They never betray you!”

 

Aunt Misoon spoke in an angry voice, but Aunt Heeyeong just shook her head.

 

Seeing that, Aunt Misoon let out a hollow laugh and muttered to herself.

 

“And this time, it’s about 4D. Don’t regret it.”

 

“Uh… um…”

 

As expected, all of this was just built up so they could listen to my story.

 

I expected it, but still… I didn’t know what to say.

 

“We’re getting along well… though there was a bit of a crisis in the middle.”

 

“Crisis? Oh, the Han Minhyuk rampage incident.”

 

Aunt Heeyeong pursed her lips into a small “o,” as if she had just remembered.

 

The so-called “Han Minhyuk Rampage Incident,” passed down among BJF, happened back when I spread false news—under the pretense of teaching Han Woohyun a lesson—that he had cheated and broken up, even though it wasn’t true.

 

According to witnesses, Uncle Minhyuk was so genuinely angry that he “beat up” Han Woohyun.

 

‘The fallout was much bigger than I expected…’

 

Recalling that time, I licked my lips.

 

“So he must’ve gotten his act together after that, right?”

 

I let out a small laugh at Aunt Heeyeong’s words.

 

“Rather than saying he got his act together…”

 

We just got a little closer.

 

Enough for Han Woohyun to show his lowest points, and for me to show mine as well.

 

“Anyway, we’re getting along well. My dad, Uncle Minhyuk, and even Han Woohyun are all getting along too.”

 

My dad is wary of Han Woohyun, saying he’s sly, but I also know that he sometimes calls him secretly.

 

I overheard them talking secretly.

 

[Take some side dishes.]

 

‘Yes.’

 

[You ran out of salted fermented oysters, right? I’ll pack some of that too.]

 

‘Yes.’

 

I’m not sure what exactly they’re up to, but it’s clear that they’re getting closer.

 

It seems Uncle Minhyuk, as the guild leader, is taking good care of Han Woohyun.

 

By the way, I didn’t get to see Uncle Minhyuk at all during my vacation.

 

It seems the guild leader got busy too because of the raid Han Woohyun went on.

 

‘I should give him a call later.’

 

As I was thinking that, Aunt Misoon, looking a little tipsy, leaned back in her chair and asked.

 

“Is that true?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“No, I mean… are you really doing well?”

 

“What are you trying to say?”

 

Aunt Heeyeong frowned slightly and grabbed Aunt Misoon’s arm.

 

Aunt Misoon gently pulled her arm free and ruffled her own wild hair.

 

Judging by the slight flush on her face, Aunt Misoon was tipsy too.

 

Well, we had the first round with Chinese food and kaoliang liquor, and now we’re on the second round—three packs of ramen and five bottles of soju.

 

‘Did we eat a little too much?’

 

I wasn’t drunk, so I couldn’t gauge the aunts’ condition properly, but it seemed like they were getting tipsy little by little.

 

I poured soju into my glass, feeling like I was drinking it just to get rid of it.

 

“….”

 

I recalled something my dad had said earlier.

 

About marriage—

 

At the time, I wondered why he asked that question so urgently, but hearing those words now, I get the idea.

 

So they had some kind of related conversation.

 

Between Han Woohyun and BJF.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

There’s no way Han Woohyun casually shared his views on marriage, but seeing Aunt Misoon talk like that, he must have said something negative.

 

‘I see…’

 

When my expression froze for a moment, Aunt Heeyeong helped Aunt Misoon to her feet.

 

“Hey. Stop talking nonsense and go to sleep.”

 

“You said we’d have a girls’ secret talk, right? Isn’t this the kind of story you meant?”

 

Aunt Heeyeong quickly subdued Aunt Misoon’s resistance, moved her to the 1.5‑story studio with a bed, and came back.

 

“Anyway, that kid is way too noisy, right?”

 

“Um. Yes. Well.”

 

Seeing that my expression hadn’t softened, Aunt Heeyeong clinked her glass against mine with a subtle expression.

 

Gulp.

 

A sound that was neither light nor heavy passed by, and I took a sip of my drink.

 

The alcohol went down my throat, but it no longer made me drunk.

 

There’s no longer a reason for Han Woohyun to rush over worrying about me.

 

‘Why… do I feel a bit disappointed?’

 

I fiddled with my phone for no reason and spoke.

 

“Something feels off.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“It’s just… uhm…”

 

I rested my chin on the table and carefully chose my words.

 

I chose, and chose again, searching for the right words, but in the end, I had no choice but to admit it.

 

“I feel greedy. People aren’t objects, but somehow—”

 

“You want it.”

 

Aunt Heeyeong rested her chin on the table just like me and grinned.

 

Feeling like my thoughts had been read, I blushed and straightened my posture again.

 

“Well… yes… that’s right…”

 

I lowered my head deeply for no reason.

 

Soon, a hand lightly brushed the back of my head.

 

When I lifted my head, Aunt Heeyeong gave me a bright smile.

 

“Wanting something isn’t a bad thing. I’ve met various men, but there wasn’t anyone I really wanted badly enough to be greedy for. That was my problem. Of course, I can’t say there was absolutely no one.”

 

“….”

 

Listening to Aunt Heeyeong, I became a little curious.

 

Where does Uncle Minhyuk stand for Aunt Heeyeong? Just one among all those people?

 

Or was he the one and only she wanted badly but couldn’t have?

 

“A relationship without regrets is nothing but an illusion. If you chase that illusion, you won’t be able to form a real relationship. So—”

 

A relationship without regrets.

 

I knew exactly what those words meant.

 

‘I… I… don’t like you. No, I mean, I don’t think I do.’

 

I was someone who always started relationships lukewarm, and because of that, I was the kind of person who could easily cut them off even if they ended badly.

 

To avoid getting hurt, I don’t create situations where I could be hurt.

 

That was the attitude I carried toward every relationship.

 

But this time, for some reason, that approach didn’t seem to work.

 

“You’re learning right now. Forming a real relationship, holding onto sticky regrets, and discovering sides of me you’ve never known—it’s all new to you, isn’t it?”

 

That’s right.

 

Aunt Heeyoung is absolutely right.

 

This is my first relationship like this.

 

This is truly the first time I’ve had a relationship where I can show all my raw, unrefined self, not just the polished version of me.

 

‘…I wish I were a stronger person too. I’m not there yet… so, um… I don’t want to show my weak side.’

 

“Call him.”

 

“Yes?”

 

But why did the conversation take a turn like this?

 

I quietly watched Aunt Heeyeong push my phone away.

 

Then Aunt Heeyeong naturally picked up my phone, unlocked it under the light, and dialed Han Woohyun’s number.

 

“No, yes?”

 

How did you unlock that?

 

“Giyeok. The hint was Giyeok.”

 

Oh, that’s right.

 

I stared at the phone, still on the line, with a puzzled expression.

 

“What, what should I say?”

 

“You should just say you miss him. Is something so small a problem? Go to him right away. That’s how people in their twenties usually date, Junghyo. That’s what a normal, ordinary romance looks like.”

 

“….”

 

But I’ve never done anything like that!

 

I stared at the phone screen, unable to bring myself to pick it up, as if it were on fire—

 

00 : 00

 

Finally, I picked up the phone the moment the other person answered.

 

[….]

 

But he remained silent.

 

“Hello?”

 

[….]

 

Did the call hang up?

 

I checked the screen once more, confirmed the call was active, and then put the phone back to my ear.

 

[…]

 

“Um… uh…”

 

I bit my lip and looked nervously at Aunt Heeyoung.

 

But Aunt Heeyeong just looked at me with a “Go ahead” expression, like a parent strictly guiding their child.

 

Damn it.

 

Okay, let me say what I wanted to say.

 

“I miss you too.”

 

[…]

 

Please say something—

 

[I’ll call you back.]

 

Suddenly, the static on the other end of the line grew louder—

 

Tuk.

 

The call ended.

 

“….?”

 

What is this?

 

Before I knew it, I had grabbed an awl from the workbench.