Welcome to Dungeon Hotel

Chapter 171



 Watching the space being crushed and distorted made me feel sick.

 Checking the Book of Memories has never felt like this before.

 It felt more like watching a video in a 4D theater.

 However, now it was difficult to endure the sensation of my body being disintegrated and twisted.

 I felt like I would faint if this continued, so I decided to close my eyes.

 And when I opened my eyes—

 ‘Hehe… It’s fun…’

 I saw the back of a man wagging his tail.

 No, wait a minute.

 He’s a man and has a tail?

 Does this make sense?

 When I looked closely, I saw that the man’s tail looked familiar. Because it was the same as the red-scaled tail I saw on Alex.

 Then that…

 ‘Merlin Grey.’

 Am I looking at Merlin Grey’s back right now? 

 ‘Until now, the Book of Memories has been told from Merlin Grey’s perspective, so I haven’t been able to see Merlin Grey at all!’ 

 How is this possible?

 As I was thinking that, there was a close-up of the man’s eyes widening as he lifted his head.

 The eyes, with their vertically elongated pupils, seemed as though they were staring right at me, and I almost screamed involuntarily.

 ‘…’

 But soon, a blurry afterimage was visible on the iris surrounding the pupil.

 When I looked closely, it wasn’t me reflected there, but it looked like a game screen.

 I could see things like a paint can, stagnant water, burning buildings, and speech bubbles floating in the graphics.

 Strongman: You idiot b*stard ㅋㅋㅋ   It’s the first time I’ve seen someone running a lodging business here while doing DT for 6 months! ….? 

 What? DT? 

 I thought about where I heard that abbreviation that seemed familiar to me.

 no_answer: I can’t believe that the company that was criticized by DT is succeeding by riding the Metaverse platform;; What a world we live in. I saw it in the Monster World chat window. 

 The name of the game created 20 years ago by Monster World is Destroyed City. 

 DT for short. 

 I looked it up and found that it was a management simulation game about rebuilding a city destroyed by a zombie attack, and it was said to be a dark story for the game company. 

 The reason is that this game was released 20 years ago, right after the apocalypse broke out. 

 Due to the fact that the city had actually become a “Destroyed City” as a result of the disaster, the storyline involving rebuilding the city using materials such as wood or steel, and forming alliances with neighboring cities to enjoy the pleasure of reconstruction, was inevitably criticized as “gamifying disaster.” 

 Huh…? 

 Wait a second. 

 Wood or steel?

 And allies?

 

It’s a setting that gives me a sense of déjà vu.

 ‘No way…’

 sorcerer_merlin: Who cares how others play the game? If you’re not going to stay at our hotel, then get lost. Strongman: Yeah~ I was thinking of quitting the dead game~  After seeing the chat of a player called Strongman, Merlin’s hand hit the desk with a loud sound.

 At the same time, Merlin dropped the tablet he was holding while playing the game, causing its corner to crack.

 Merlin turned his head. 

 A mirror in the corner of the room caught Merlin’s eye.

 Then Merlin’s face in the mirror came into my view through his vision.

 A handsome man with tightly tied red hair.

 ‘Crazy…’

 He looks just like Alex.

 It’s not just a little bit similar, it’s just the same!

 I was taken aback by Merlin Grey’s face, which I saw for the first time but somehow felt familiar. 

 Moreover, Merlin Grey’s tablet, which he had been playing DTY on until a moment ago, looked very familiar to me. 

 How does Merlin Gray have things that belong to humans?

 The question was soon resolved.

 This was because a Malamute came barreling into a room that appeared to be Merlin Grey’s office and said this. 

 – Owner Grey! Shall we incinerate all the belongings of the humans taken from the Kumari Hotel? The humans who flowed into the Kumari Hotel were also released back to the place where the dimensional gap was created. Whether they returned properly is uncertain… Anyway, one of them muttered strange words about the Demon King.

 At the same time, Grey’s hand swiftly snatched… No, he snatched away the tablet. 

 Merlin GrEy, who hid the tablet in the desk drawer, spoke solemnly.

 – What do you mean?

 – It was like a spell praying for the return of the Demon King… it appears that portals connecting this world with the human world have been opening lately. It probably isn’t a spell intentionally memorized for its purpose, but rather, the followers of the Demon King might have inadvertently acquired the incantation they chant.

 This statement seems rather significant, doesn’t it?

 – What does the owner of Kumari Hotel say?

 – It’s the same as before. He claims to have received slaves from the ‘King of Humans,’ but he says he knows little about human affairs. He only intended to use them as employees. 

 King of Humans? 

 Is the king of humans that Malamute speaks of the king of humans that I know?

 – I get it.  For now, burn any human belongings remaining here. If human items persist in this place, there’s a risk of continued entanglement between their world and ours.

 – Yes! I understand! 

 Mhm? 

 Aren’t what you just said and what you did contradictory?

 So, it seems like there was an incident where humans got into the Kumari Hotel by mistake.

 You said you were worried about ‘cause and effect’ and told them to burn everything they left behind, but then you stole the tablet PC and played games?

 You didn’t rebuild the city like the city reconstruction management simulation game asked you to do, but you played the game by running a hotel for the city’s outcasts?

 What is this?

 I never would have guessed that the hotel’s system looked like this because Merlin Grey got caught up in a real business simulation game. 

 It was then.

 The Malamute was waving its white tail and trying to leisurely leave the office, but suddenly stopped.

 – B…boss? 

 I saw it.

 Just now, Merlin was about to take out the tablet but quickly put it back in.

 You’re addicted to games, you reptile!

 Is that really why this chapter is called ‘Secret Chapter’?

 Because it’s a memory that can’t be shared with others?!

 – M…hmm? 

 – I was hesitating whether I should tell you or not.

 – Just say it.

 The Malamute, despite its dignified appearance, lowered its tail slightly and uttered with a pitiful look in its eyes.

 – Miss Alex left on a trip this afternoon, leaving behind a note.

 The Malamute held a small note in its mouth and walked over to him.

 Dad. I’m leaving. My nature is to wander along with the wind and the water.

 As soon as he saw that, Merlin let out a groan.

 – Ha…

 – Don’t worry too much! Our Young Miss is strong, so she will come back soon as before.

 – I’m not worried about Alex’s well-being, bellboy.

 – Yes? Then… 

 A long sigh escaped from Merlin’s lips.

 – I’m worried that I’ll have to pass this hotel on to my daughter someday.

 At that moment, a notification popped up on the tablet that he was about to pull out from the drawer.

 Quest ‘Rebuild the highway.’ —Highways are a type of social overhead capital. In order to rebuild the city…  I also see that quest window a lot.

 The flash of Merlin’s eyes was reflected dimly on the tab screen.

 Then the Malamute spoke.

 – First of all, wouldn’t it be necessary to get the Young Miss interested in hotel work?

 – Interest? 

 Merlin emitted a slightly joyful groan as if a good idea had just occurred to him. 

 – Interest… That’s a good idea.

 As Merlin turned his head, a mirror briefly passed by in his field of vision, revealing Merlin’s face.

 Merlin’s face smiles brightly.

 The moment I saw it, I had a strange feeling.

 So… this system is all about Merlin’s feelings towards his daughter.

 The father’s desire to teach his daughter about his hotel business. 

 In the same way, he enjoyed the game, he hoped his daughter would enjoy learning about the hotel business.

 Is that why the quest was like that? 

 The hotel owner must also find moments of happiness and wish others to have a good night. 

 Even when the moment came when I had to enter an EX-Class dungeon, the system gave an error and turned off completely. 

 Like something interfering with entering a dungeon.

 All of that… was Merlin’s heart for his daughter.

 I felt dizzy again.

 I tightly closed my eyes.

 The cool air tickled my head.

 Then I opened my eyes.

 At the same time, Dad’s worried face appeared before my eyes. 

 “Are you okay? Junghyo…!” 

 The soft feel of the blanket touched my skin.

 Blanket…? 

 Looking around, it seemed like this was the bedroom of the women’s association president on the second floor of Yonggung Sashimi Restaurant. 

 Ah, that’s right. 

 I fainted while trying to delay accepting the reward.

 Did they move me to Yonggung Sashimi Restaurant after I passed out? 

 Dad’s eyes widened as he followed me as I struggled to get up.

 “Junghyo-ya…” 

 There was still concern in Dad’s voice.

 Why?

 

Because I passed out? 

 As I was brushing up my flowing hair, I suddenly realized something.

 The moisture around my eyes.

 The reason why Dad kept looking at me like that was simple.

 Because I was crying.

 “Why are you crying, are you okay?”

 Dad looked like he was going to find the guy who made me cry and kill him right now.

 But I couldn’t bear to answer.

 My mind was still confused.

 Something kept filling my eyes.

 If I think about it, this system contains Merlin Grey’s feelings for Alex Grey…

 Check out the accumulated rewards! The reward isn’t the problem.

 I took out the master key from my pocket without even checking the accumulated rewards.

 Now it’s an item I always carry with me.

 I told Dad, who was trying to dissuade me from going to work again.

 “I need to confirm something.”

 Actually, I need to confirm with Alex.

 Confirm? 

 Is the confirmation correct?

 Isn’t it about a delivery message?

 Her father’s feelings and then…

 The system has left you with its commands, so, would you like to find a way together to take this system with you…?

 ‘…Now you come?’

 I quickly arrived at the hotel lounge using the master key and stood there dumbfounded for a moment.

 I have had my eyes on the hotel I created for a long time.

 And after a while.

 I went out on a mission to find Alex at Gray Hotel, only to be greeted by the solemn face of the Samoyed.

 – Boss Alex has left…

 The Samoyed was clutching tightly the dog treats I had given a few days ago.

 The Samoyed had an expression as if seeking comfort from the dog treats instead of the missing Alex.

 “S, she is leaving?” 

 – She has always been someone who enjoys traveling. After closing the hotel for the day and going to her office, all I found was this note left behind…

 Note?

 Ah, it can’t be. 

 Guys, take care. The hotel should be back on track. I’m going to cast off all constraints and shackles…

 Let’s stop reading.

 I pressed my head.

 Meanwhile, the Samoyed shouted urgently.

 – What should I do? Boss!  Even though Miss Alex didn’t have much interest in hotel operations, I thought she might come to her senses after the hotel really failed… Oh did I just say ‘really failed?’ I’m sorry… I got a little desperate… But now that the hotel is back on track, she’s been looking at a lot of travel photos little by little. It seemed ominous, though…

 …These crazy reptiles!

 It was a moment when I cursed inside.

 A window opened before my eyes.

 Sudden Quest ‘Partnership Hotel’s SOS’  —Let’s help run an allied hotel in crisis. Completion Reward: Addition of Branching Feature for Allied Hotels  Hello! You can also buy the advanced chapter in Ko-fi now, just click the ko-fi button and look for the title of the novel in shop. Thank you for your support!


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.