Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 81

77. Say what you want to say and live

 

As expected, Bang Hansoo didn’t come out. 

 

Toto carefully knocked on Room 302’s door, but since there was no answer, it seemed like he was sleeping.

 

So I decided to serve Min Kangjin. 

 

I told Min Kangjin that I would serve him a recommended drink and started brewing Irish coffee behind the bar.

 

One ounce is approximately 29 ml.

 

In terms of grams, it is about 29 grams.

 

I measured the amount of whiskey carefully with a scale I bought in the kitchen.

 

Min Kangjin saw it and burst into laughter.

 

“What kind of whiskey do you measure so seriously? Noona is really cute.”

 

Noona…? 

 

I was surprised because it was unfamiliar to hear this title from an idol, as I usually heard it from students like Lim Hyunggeol and Hwang Seongjin.

 

“Noona?” 

 

“Oh, aren’t you Noona? I debuted through an audition program in my third year of middle school and always called my fans ‘Noona.'” 

 

“Then how old are you?”

 

“Twenty-four.”

 

“Ah, you’re right, I’m Noona.” 

 

Beast-dol is younger than me.

 

It was a moment when I felt a sense of change.

 

Min Kangjin laughed again.

 

“You sometimes make a face like a wise man, Noona?” 

 

No, no matter how many times I’ve seen it, to call Noona… 

 

Is it because of the affinity buff in the banquet hall?

 

Or are you used to having a conversation with someone you’ve never seen before?

 

I laughed awkwardly.

 

It seemed like I couldn’t catch up with Min Kangjin’s sociability with this level of affinity buff.

 

As expected, the reception of guests should have been left to the manager.

 

However, I was the only one who could properly know the effect of the item and use it, so I had the only option.

 

‘If I drink this, my affinity will increase.’

 

As I looked at the coffee I had previously put down, this window came up.

 

‘Meet people at Milky Way Cafe’ Americano (D)

 

—Vitality increases by 400%.

 

— Affinity increases by 1,000%.

 

It was only a D-Class potion, but the vitality buffs were good due to the increase in proficiency, and above all, the affinity buff was great.

 

I prepared this Americano in preparation for the Bang Hansoo, but did I prepare it wrong?

 

After thinking for a while, I suddenly saw Min Kangjin looking lonely at the screen.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Ah, it’s just. It’s been a while since I saw that video. It’s a video from the first concert with the M5 members. We were on good terms then…” 

 

That screen is a screen that shows what the viewer wants to see.

 

However, Min Kangjin seemed to think that I was playing a video on the screen, not knowing that there was only the blue sea in my eyes.

 

Right now, in Min Kangjin’s eyes, it seemed as if a video of him performing on stage in harmony with his members was unfolding.

 

As expected, the depression of the guest in room 301 came from loneliness.

 

“There is such a thing between close people. You can say whatever you want to say, fight, shake it off, and make up with a drink. We talked really recklessly then. No one works hard in the practice room, why is your attitude like that? Still, nothing happened. It’s all about getting along well with each other.”

 

“But not now?”

 

“No. Because I can’t say anything I want to say. Even so, I get cursed just by breathing. Maybe it’s because of my personality, but…” 

 

Min Kangjin looked at me and smiled bitterly.

 

“Honestly, I’m fussy, right?” 

 

I reflexively shook my head.

 

“It can’t be.”

 

“Lie. You’re lying, Noona. Everyone lies in front of me.”

 

For a moment, a look of sadness appeared on Min Kangjin’s face.

 

The loneliness of ‘Guest in Room 301’ increases by +200%.

 

Skill: Increases the power of ‘Melancholy Mold’, increasing the debuff time of ‘Housekeeping’.

 

O, oh. No! 

 

I moved my hand quickly.

 

I hesitated for a moment as I melted the whiskey and sugar into the coffee at tremendous speed and floated the cream on top.

 

I don’t think I should have left him drinking alone—.

 

“If…If you don’t mind, can I be your drinking partner today?”

 

At my words, Min Kangjin’s brow trembled slightly.

 

“Does it look pathetic to be alone without a manager?”

 

Where did Min Kangjin go when he was full of affinity and then suddenly went into sensitive mode?

 

I guess it’s true that he’s fussy.

 

I was a little taken aback, but I answered without hesitation.

 

“Ah, no. It’s not like that, and I’m opening this bar for the first time today, and I’m also curious about the taste of the cocktails I made. Actually, me too… I’m a fan of Min Kangjin-ssi.”

 

Kangjin’s eyes trembled as soon as I said the word fan. 

 

“Are you a fan?”

 

“Yes. That’s why I turned on that video on the screen. I’m an early fan.”

 

I pointed to the screen, where I could only see the sea.

 

“Then why didn’t you get an autograph earlier?”

 

“Because I was too shy…”

 

Min Kangjin’s face slowly turned red. He hesitated and nodded his head.

 

I put whiskey and sugar in a coffee cup I had prepared for Bang Hansoo just in case, floated cream on it, and sat down in front of Min Kangjin with two cups of Irish coffee. 

 

“Then shall we drink?”

 

Min Kangjin raised his glass and smiled.

 

Perhaps because he is an idol, his face seemed to shine brightly even in such dim light.

 

Good. 

 

Then the affinity buff is 1,000%, I believe only you.

 

Thinking so, I clinked glasses with Min Kangjin and drank Irish coffee, no, affinity buff potion.

 

Should I say it’s a feeling of tongue loosening like when you’re intoxicated, without any sense loss like when you’re drunk?

 

Min Kangjin seemed to feel the same way.

 

“This is so delicious… I’m in a good mood… Is Noona like that too?”

 

“Yes. Because I drank the same thing.”

 

“Then let’s be honest. Honestly, I’m fussy, right?” 

 

I got up from my seat with a quick nod.

 

Then I raised my hand and shouted.

 

“Yeaah! It’s fussy!”

 

…? 

 

The effect of the potion was outstanding this time as well.

 

I looked at Min Kangjin, who was sitting across from me.

 

Min Kangjin smiled softly at me as he looked at me with his chin resting and his eyes slightly open. 

 

Oh, you laugh.

 

The ‘Guest in Room 301’ is delighted.

 

It seemed to me that my prediction that Min Kangjin would need a partner with whom he could have a sincere conversation and who was not entangled in delicate business-like relationships was correct.

 

“Noona is really cute… Noona, go out with me.”

 

‘Guest in Room 301’ is showing affection to the opponent with the effect of the affinity buff.

 

…Um, wait.

 

I didn’t expect this until now.

 

“I can’t go out with you, but I can listen to you.”

 

“Whyyy…? Why can’t we date…?” 

 

Min Kangjin’s cuteness gradually increased, even though he drank only a glass of beer because I diluted alcohol with coffee.  

 

The affinity buff effect for idols seemed to lead to excessive fan service.

 

“Because there is someone I like.”

 

Huh? 

 

Even after I said it, I paused for a moment.

 

Who is the person I like?

 

Isn’t this a drink that only speaks the truth?

 

“Who do you like?”

 

“No. It’s not like that, it’s just a pitiful person.” 

 

I unconsciously recalled Han Woohyun and said.

 

Oh, it was about Han Woohyun.

 

“That’s what I like. Originally, the beginning of love is sympathy.”

 

No way.

 

Isn’t love the beginning of desire?

 

“When I first saw Hansoo Hyung seven years ago, I felt so sorry for him. As an F-class hunter, he worked hard as a cameraman at a Duntube production company. After he retired, he joined AM Entertainment and secretly put soju in a glass and drank it, but he was caught. He was the worst adult I’ve ever met.”

 

“A guest in Room 302?”

 

Now, he looks like a manager who is experienced in looking for things he can’t say.

 

“Yeah, that fool brat.” 

 

I was a little shocked by what Min Kangjin said, since he had been saying something lively like idol up until now.

 

Well. Even though he made his debut when he was in middle school, he’s already 24 years old. 

 

Min Kangjin would have had his own problems if he had done the same job for 7 years, when Bang Hansoo became an expert at it. 

 

Because he’s a professional

 

‘Are you telling me to take this rubbish proposal to the boss?’

 

I nodded my head, recalling that part of my corporate life.

 

“Huh? You’re nodding. If you were a fan, would you say, ‘Our Kangjin should only say nice things…?’.” 

 

“I won’t. Our Kangjin has already grown up, so why would I say such a thing? I’m an adult like this, so I have to live by saying everything I want to say.” 

 

‘Guest in Room 301’ gets a bit of an epiphany.

 

The talkativeness of ‘Guest Room 301’ is greatly increased!

 

…Huh? 

 

From then on, Min Kangjin suddenly began to pour out the seven-year hardships that he had endured with me.

 

Starting from his debut, he was dissatisfied with the company’s management, annoyed by the lack of staff’s work, and upset about managers and members who still don’t understand his choices after seven years together.

 

“At first, when I entered AM Entertainment, I was an actor trainee, Noona. I’ve been saying it. I want to act. Still, the M5 is precious to me, so I worked hard on stage and acted hard in front of the camera. But why are they saying it’s an actor disease now? No, everyone else can say that. Still, our members… Hansoo Hyung can’t do that, right?”

 

He poured out a lot of words like a dam breaking.

 

He talked so incessantly that in three hours I felt as if I had heard almost all of his seven years of professional life.

 

How can you tell so many stories to someone you’ve never met?

 

Originally, I was witnessing the effect of drinking an affinity buff potion by a person with high affinity.

 

The causative bacteria are weakened, and 10% of ‘Melancholy Mold’ disappears.

 

Even just by venting his honest dissatisfaction, he was gradually overcoming his depression.

 

Only then did I understand why he was feeling so lonely despite having so many people who loved him.

 

It was because he couldn’t talk about this with people close to him. 

 

Not the bright and lively image he shows on social media, in front of the camera, and on stage, but a story that shows his real dark side.

 

“But why can’t you talk about this to the manager or the members?”

 

Even though I think I know the reason. 

 

Min Kangjin’s eyebrows wriggled at my words.

 

He fiddled with his glass but was silent for a long time.

 

“…I think they will hate me for saying things like this.” 

 

“….”  

 

“I have no family, no friends… If even the manager or members hate me… I have no one.”

 

His face with pouting lips looked like that of a 16-year-old boy, not a 24-year-old beast-dol.

 

Inside Min Kangjin, a good social worker, is a third-year middle schooler who hasn’t grown up yet, is it something like this? 

 

He couldn’t say anything while being conscious, and as the sadness piled up, it seemed like he became more sensitive and fussy.

 

“I hate it. Just how much I liked it. Knowing that I only have them.”

 

It was when his eyes were red.

 

“Uh.”

 

Honest words came out of my mouth.

 

“….?” 

 

Could it be the power of whiskey?

 

I looked at him and narrowed my eyes. 

 

“You are an adult now. You have to live and say what you want to say. If you say you’re having a hard time or you’re sick but they hate you, do you want to continue to be family and friends with those people?”

 

Looking at the short speech flowing smoothly, this is the effect of the potion.

 

“Family and friends are people with whom you can share both good and bad feelings. You can’t do it with people who can’t do it, neither family nor friends.”

 

Kangjin looked like he was thinking something. Then he said it in a gloomy voice.

 

“Now that the contract is over, how can I talk about that…” 

 

“When the contract ends, the members and manager no longer work together, right? Then you should do more. Because you have to be a pure friend now. After hearing the story, it doesn’t seem like you can’t see each other after the contract ends, right?” 

 

Min Kangjin looked at me with an enlightened face.

 

It’s time to push.

 

“Don’t hide it and tell everyone, go.”

 

“Yes…?” 

 

I patted Kangjin on the back and pointed to the elevator door.

 

Kangjin’s eyes widened.

 

I picked up a bottle of whiskey from the bar and handed it to Kangjin.

 

“The cup is in the room, guest…!” 

 

“E, excuse me…!”

 

Min Kangjin, who was pushed out by me, didn’t come out of room 302 for a long time.

 

I don’t know what he talked about with Bang Hansoo there, but…

 

The causative bacteria are weakened, and 100% of ‘Melancholy Mold’ disappears.

 

10,000p EXP has arrived as a reward for completing the unexpected quest ‘Melancholy Mold’.

 

The level of the hotel goes up. (34→36)

 

10,000G has arrived as a reward for completing the unexpected quest ‘Melancholy Mold’.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to pull out the interior costs.