Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 359 - Webtoon Side Story: Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Branch 4 (30)

Webtoon Side Story: Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Branch 4 (30)

 

“But how did you end up continuing the Dungeon Hotel?”

 

“Hmm….” 

 

I pondered for a moment after hearing Georges’ question.

 

Come to think of it, how did I, someone who didn’t even dream of a hotel, end up continuing to run the hotel?

 

Wasn’t my original plan to buy that old building in Yeongchun-myeon and run a cafe?

 

‘Of course, I think I was blinded by the money at first…’ 

 

But from the moment I took in a few guests, I think I began to realize the charm of the hotel business. 

 

The charm of being a place where tired and exhausted people could always come to rest.

 

Just as I had wanted to do for my dad,

 

And just as my BJF had done for me.

 

I wondered how to briefly convey such thoughts before opening my mouth.

 

“I decided not to limit my dreams.”

 

“Pardon?” 

 

“Dreams, you know. They don’t necessarily have to be grand, and they don’t necessarily have to be a profession. I didn’t think the Dungeon Hotel would grow this big; I just wanted to become a place where tired and weary Hunters could rest. Thinking about how it would have been if my dad had encountered a revolving door like this when he was tired and weary—how it would have been if he had eaten a meal in a place like this and slept in a place like this.” 

 

“Ah…”

 

Georges nodded as if he understood my story to some extent.

 

“And while I didn’t necessarily want to be a hotelier, I felt like I would be happy if I could spend my days doing that kind of work. I wasn’t originally a person who dreamed; I was a person who made plans. Not everyone has to live their life by defining its form, right?” 

 

When the fox spirit showed me the future, I was shaken for a moment.

 

But I was soon able to regain my composure.

 

The reason is simple.

 

I don’t have an ultimate image that I desire for myself.

 

Therefore, there is no reason to be disappointed if my future self doesn’t match that image, nor is there anything to feel empty about if I achieve that image.

 

I am just me. 

 

The present ‘me’ simply accumulates and at some point becomes the future ‘me.’

 

If so, the only thing needed to fill the space in between is planning.

 

Just as I check the back of the package, measure the ingredients, and boil ramen, I am simply doing what I can do in the present.

 

Because even if I do that, life won’t completely flow exactly as I want it to.

 

“…I, I hadn’t thought of it like that. I just felt like everyone else had a dream but me…. And like I was the only pathetic one…. Honestly, I… I’m not looking forward to my future at all.”

 

“Mr. Georges.”

 

I spoke at those words. 

 

“Um, there’s actually something I haven’t told you, Mr. Georges.”

 

“Pardon? What is it?” 

 

Georges widened his eyes.

 

I hesitated for a moment before continuing.

 

“I… I think I can see your future, Mr. Georges.”

 

“…Yes?!”

 

Georges looked flustered.

 

Of course, the manager was flustered as well.

 

The two looked at me with expressions that asked what kind of crazy nonsense this human was spouting.

 

“It’s not that I have that ability. You know the bellboy you saw earlier, right?”

 

“Ah, that handsome red-haired man?”

 

Handsome, my foot.

 

I definitely remember thinking he was handsome when he first appeared. But he only does hateful things, so the feeling of him being handsome has completely vanished.

 

“Yes. Well, I suppose he looks like that…. Ah, that’s not what’s important. That guy has the power of foresight.” 

 

“If you say foresight…”

 

“Yes. It seems he can see the future of others. I also saw my future through his ability, so I can trust it to some extent.”

 

“Oh, how does the future look?”

 

The manager immediately showed interest. It was understandable. From the manager’s perspective, it was practically like being able to see the future of her employer and the company she was employed at.

 

“Shall I tell you?”

 

I quietly looked at the manager.

 

Then I turned my head to look at Georges.

 

“Shall I tell you? That guy said he could show you your future as well, Mr. Georges.”

 

He even gave me a slight spoiler.

 

That Georges’ future was bright.

 

The two seemed to ponder for a moment before opening their mouths.

 

“…Yes!”

 

“No.”

 

And their answers popped out at the same time.

 

I looked back and forth between the manager and Georges.

 

The manager said ‘yes,’ and Georges said ‘no.’

 

So Georges was saying he chose not to see the future.

 

Of course, I had thought I didn’t want to show him his future in order not to ruin his present.

 

But if he had wanted it, I truly intended to show him his future.

 

Because whether he sees the future or not is his choice.

 

Because his choice shapes his ‘present.’

 

And above all—

 

‘I… honestly don’t look forward to my future at all.’

 

Seeing him so discouraged, saying he wasn’t looking forward to his future, I was confused if my choice was right. 

 

Just as I couldn’t give Georges one-sided advice, I couldn’t drag his choice to what I deemed was right either.

 

But…

 

‘This is unexpected.’

 

Hearing Georges’ answer, the manager tilted her head.

 

“Aren’t you curious? I’m curious…”

 

“Why didn’t you want to show me the future, Boss Junghyo?”

 

Georges asked.

 

Answering a question with a question.

 

Thinking that, I said,

 

“Because I didn’t want to ruin your present, Mr. Georges. Even if the future is what you want, you might feel empty, and if it’s not what you want, you might feel desolate. And actually, they say the future shown by a spirit isn’t immutable. They say it can change depending on how you live your present.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

The manager widened her eyes.

 

“Yes. So, the act of seeing the future itself could end up changing the future.” 

 

“Ah…”

 

The manager seemed to be deep in thought.

 

After thinking for a while, the manager soon raised her hand slightly and said,

 

“Then I won’t see it either.”

 

“Why?”

 

The manager glanced toward Georges and said,

 

“It’s probably for the same reason…”

 

“…..”

 

“It means the present determines the future. Unless some natural disaster happens in the future, I’ll just be me. So I wonder if there’s any point in seeing the future. To be honest, I’m most curious about whether Dungeon Hotel Branch No. 4 will do well.” 

 

“…!”

 

She grinned and said,

 

“As long as I’m here and you’re here, Boss, I believe it will unconditionally be successful. So I’m not worried.”

 

At those words, a corner of my heart ached.

 

To think there is someone who believes in me this much.

 

I bit my lip.

 

‘She even brought kimchi for the ramen….’ 

 

I recalled the taste of the ramen I ate with the kimchi the manager brought.

 

As expected, ramen shouldn’t be without kimchi, and the Dungeon Hotel shouldn’t be without its manager.

 

It was when I felt my mood, which had been confused all afternoon, settling down.

 

Georges spoke.

 

“I have the same reason. But there’s one more.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Today has been so good.”

 

“…?”

 

Georges picked up the wine decanter placed on the table.

 

Then he poured wine into my glass, the manager’s glass, and his own glass, and said,

 

“Just getting a good rest, eating something sweet and salty, taking a bath, and things like that. Even if my present today wasn’t perfect, I was sufficiently happy. Honestly, except for the bath, these weren’t things I couldn’t normally do. Getting a good sleep in a house with mice, or eating something sweet and salty, are all possible. But I don’t know what was so hard, when I felt like I was living chased by a future that hadn’t even arrived yet, I couldn’t feel any joy in these things.”

 

Georges smiled softly while talking about ‘mice.’ Then he gestured with his eyes toward somewhere.

 

I turned my head toward where Georges’ gaze was directed. Then, the mice that had been hiding in a corner of the kitchen scurried out.

 

“When did you guys…”

 

When did they start hiding here when I didn’t even hide them?

 

It was while I was wondering.

 

The mice spoke while reading my expression.

 

“We just wanted to see the guest satisfied.”

 

“We can do other things besides food too!”

 

“We can lift heavy things well now too!”

 

It was when I was about to quickly gather those guys into my arms, fearing Georges’ face would stiffen.

 

Georges opened his mouth as if to stop me.

 

“No. It’s okay. I’m not scared of mice anymore…”

 

“…?”

 

“I think they might be… a bit cute.” 

 

Saying that, he scratched his cheek. Then he picked up his wine glass and slurped the wine.

 

The moment he drank the wine, his eyes widened.

 

He opened his mouth. His face looked truly impressed.

 

“This is…”

 

“…?”

 

“…?”

 

“…?”

 

The mice looked up at him with puzzled faces.

 

At that moment, he smiled brightly.

 

“This is really delicious!”

 

It was a bright smile.

 

For the first time, it was a flawless smile fitting for his age.

 

A perfectly pure sense of happiness, untainted by despair or worry.

 

At the same time, a number popped up above his head.

 

100

 

“I take back what I said about being happy enough even if it’s not perfect! This is perfect. What wine is this, exactly?” 

 

The moment he asked, the windows above the mice’s heads exploded.

 

The mice’s affinity skyrocketed.

 

25

 

One of the mice even sat down midway, saying it was dizzy.

 

And at that moment, the bodies of the mice began to change.

 

Having reached the affinity threshold, all three transformed into human forms.

 

I saw Georges’ eyes widen upon seeing that sight.

 

“…?”

 

And soon, an awkward standoff between the mice and Georges began.

 

“Am I drunk, Boss?”

 

When Georges asked, the manager chimed in.

 

“I-I definitely didn’t drink even a single glass of wine… Who on earth are these men…”

 

I squeezed my eyes shut.