Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 343 - Webtoon Side Story: Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Branch 4 (14)

Webtoon Side Story: Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Branch 4 (14)

 

Of course, it isn’t entirely clear. 

 

Even if I ask, there is no guarantee he will answer.

 

However, if he isn’t “human,” then there must be a connection between this quest suddenly appearing, my encounter with this non-human entity, and my meeting with the spirits. 

 

I asked the squirrel and rat spirits about the “owner,” but they acted as though they knew nothing.

 

They claimed their only job was to harvest grapes from the vineyard, turn them into wine in the basement, let them age, and then deliver the finished product back to the winery’s shop. 

 

But as I listened to the process, I realized that even for thousand-year-old spirits, this was blatant exploitation. 

 

‘They may be rats, but they don’t even seem nocturnal, yet they have to keep working in the dark, and they can’t even see the people drinking the wine and being happy.’

 

I frowned as I looked at the rats whose intimacy had already reached 5% just from working together.

 

They were happy simply because I had worked alongside them.

 

A faint urge to kidnap them and take them back to the Dungeon Hotel began to bloom in my mind. 

 

But I held that in and began cleaning the castle while the grape juice matured into wine.

 

“Cleaning? Why would we need something like that?”

 

The spirits seemed entirely unable to grasp the need for cleaning.

 

“Gray.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Wine isn’t something people consume for the taste alone.”

 

“You drink it for the taste!”

 

Gray’s thin foot flew toward me.

 

The kick, once light as air, felt slightly heavier now.

 

‘Maybe there’s been some growth from all the getting angry.’

 

I did not know the reason, but.

 

“Taste changes depending on the food you pair it with, the atmosphere, and the emotions the person carries at that moment.”

 

“That’s impossible! If we just carry out our mission quietly, the taste of the wine will naturally—”

 

“You. Didn’t you feel that something was a bit different when you made wine among yourselves versus when you made it with me?” 

 

“W-why are you bringing that up all of a sudden…!”

 

Affinity 5% 

 

I looked at the glowing number above Gray’s head.

 

His affinity had clearly risen while making wine with me. That affinity existed because the time spent together was enjoyable.

 

“The process of making the wine may have been the same, but the time spent making it became more enjoyable, right?”

 

“…!”

 

“Wouldn’t it be the same for the person drinking the wine?”

 

I smiled gently and held out my hand to Gray.

 

“Even if the act of drinking wine is the same, the time spent drinking can become more enjoyable depending on who you’re with and how you drink it. And if that happens, the taste of the wine can’t help but feel different.”

 

Gray’s eyes widened.

 

I thought of the wine in the basement, aging well under the blessings of the rat spirits.

 

And then—

 

The aging of the wine is complete. The conditions for the sudden quest ‘Ultimate Recipe—Wine’ have been met.

 

As a reward for completing the quest, 10% Affinity with a spirit has arrived.

 

Please select a spirit to increase affinity with.

 

Along with the message that the “Affinity” reward had arrived, a prompt appeared urging me to select a spirit.

 

Along with the message that the “Affinity” reward had arrived, a prompt appeared urging me to select a spirit.

 

I pointed at Gray’s affinity in front of me.

 

The reason was simple.

 

‘Because it’s the highest.’

 

It was only 5%, but clearly higher than what I had built with the other rats.

 

And the moment I increased the affinity with Gray—

 

“…!”

 

Only then did I realize the true meaning of “Affinity.” 

 

* * *

 

Three hours after receiving the quest completion reward.

 

I looked above the heads of the guests who were admiring the dramatically improved cleanliness of the castle.

 

Among the nine guests, Lloyd’s satisfaction had risen the most sharply.

 

150

 

Based on my observations throughout the previous night, Lloyd’s satisfaction levels tended to fluctuate wildly.

 

It dropped easily due to dirty conditions or gloomy lighting.

 

At the same time, it rose with good wine or delicious food.

 

But above all, the easiest way to raise his satisfaction was—

 

170

 

“What is this? It’s completely different from the place we left earlier, Lloyd.”

 

“Y-yeah, it is.”

 

Olivia, looking startled, leaned close to Lloyd.

 

Immediately, his satisfaction surged like a heartbeat.

 

So that was it. The cheat code to raise Lloyd’s satisfaction.

 

‘Even if the act of drinking wine is the same, depending on who you drink it with and how you drink it, the time becomes more enjoyable. Then the wine can’t help but taste different.’

 

I recalled the words I had said to Gray.

 

A hotel is the same as wine.

 

Even the same hotel can feel entirely different depending on who you spend your time with and how.

 

In Lloyd’s case, that meant being “with Olivia,” and also…

 

50

 

30

 

21

 

I watched the other guests’ satisfaction plummet.

 

That must be about the “how.”

 

“What is this…? It doesn’t match urban legends at all!”

 

“It’s so bright any ghost would get exorcised on sight!”

 

“This is no fun. I’d rather sleep in that abandoned hospital we saw yesterday.” 

 

In other words, those guests had no interest in hygiene or cleanliness.

 

Rather, they seemed like the type whose satisfaction might rise when cleanliness dropped.

 

I regarded them with a subtle expression.

 

‘Even so, I cannot let them breathe filthy air.’

 

So I chose another method.

 

“Excuse me… guests. If you don’t mind, we’re currently hosting a hide-and-seek event at Liber Castle. Would you like to participate?”

 

A hide-and-seek event.

 

At those words, I saw the screens appear before the nine club members.

 

Player 1

 

Would you like to start the game?

 

Y / N

 

Naturally, this was the work of reptiles.

 

Specifically, Owen Black.

 

Demon King

If I help you, what will you give me?

 

Hotel Owner

I asked Merlin for help.

 

Former Hotel Owner

Exactly! She asked me for help!

 

When the Demon King—no, Owen Black, the former Demon King—said he would help me, I had hesitated.

 

What kind of bet was he planning this time. Was he going to stake the Earth again?

 

That thought had crossed my mind. But unexpectedly, the Demon King’s condition was simple.

 

Demon King

Order a whole cake for Kim Euihae.

 

One cake.

 

The same order I had used to lure the Demon King in the first place. Apparently, he had liked it more than expected.

 

Hotel Owner

This isn’t the Dungeon Hotel. Can you still do it?

 

Demon King

Do you think I’m called the ‘Guardian Deity of the World’ for nothing?

 

Former Hotel Owner

The guardian deity of wanderers is listening here!

 

Hotel Owner

All right. Please help me.

 

Demon King

Fine.

 

Reptiles have aspects that are difficult to understand—

 

60

 

78

 

80

 

But at times like this, they are useful.

 

I smiled as I watched the numbers rise above their curious eyes.

 

“This sounds fun.”

 

“The hotel even prepared an activity like this.”

 

“We can properly explore the old castle!”

 

Each of them carefully lowered a finger toward their respective screens.

 

Of course, their choices were the same.

 

Yes.

 

Soon, the rules were transmitted to the players.

 

Game ‘Hide-and-Seek’

 

—One player will be randomly selected as the seeker.

 

—Players who are not the seeker may hide throughout the monastery. However, they must designate a new location once every five minutes.

 

The rules weren’t difficult. It was essentially normal hide-and-seek with the added mission of having to find a new spot every five minutes.

 

And one more thing—

 

“Hide-and-seek will take place in the dark. In five minutes, the hotel lights will turn off. Everyone except the seeker will wear a bell around their necks. Ah, the seeker may remove their bell after five minutes so as not to reveal their identity.”

 

I distributed bells to each person.

 

Once I confirmed they were all wearing them, I turned off the lights.

 

Whoooosh.

 

A strange wind whistled through the castle. 

 

It was unavoidable. There were windows in the Liber castle that were shattered and had yet to be repaired. 

 

With bells hanging at their necks like a proverb, they gazed with anticipation at the darkened, more oppressive castle.

 

The most reluctant expression belonged to Lloyd.

 

However, even his satisfaction hadn’t dropped. Because Olivia’s eyes were sparkling. He probably felt it was enjoyable enough just for that.

 

“Then, we will begin the five minutes.” 

 

They scattered throughout the castle to claim favorable hiding spots.

 

And five minutes later.

 

One player raised his head.

 

Player 10

—You have been selected as the seeker!

 

The tenth player.

 

A man with gray hair and a slender face.

 

He removed the bell from his neck, tucked it into his chest, looked at me, and muttered,

 

“…I really cannot get used to a human body.”