Welcome to Dungeon Hotel

Chapter 176



 “How did you really know?!”

 Alex shouted as if she was really unfair.

 Of course, contrary to her tone, the ten empty cups of coffee I gave her were piled up next to her.

 Even during this time, she was living a steady life as a fan.

 “First of all, I found out that you were really into our Dungeon Hotel.”

 “T, that’s…!”

A blush appeared on Alex’s face.

 “And then, as if to make a point, you left behind numerous travel brochures.”

 “I thought I would choose one of them.”

 Oh, should I really kill her? 

 I clenched my fists and barely opened them when I saw Alex’s scared face.

 Yeah. Still, this guy is the guardian deity of ‘real’ wanderers.

 So I can’t kill her. 

 “Among them, the ancient dwarven mine and all were probably fakes. Right? You released a few dwarves into the closed dungeon to make me go into the dungeon and check it out.”

 Now that I think about it, the brochure for the ancient dwarf mine job experience seems somewhat sloppy.

 It was similar to the Grey Hotel flyer I made a while ago. 

 “A wolf appears among 12 frantic little lambs…No, maybe a dragon sneaked in and did a little memory manipulation. I don’t know how they did it… For dragons, that’s a piece of cake. Because they have great magic skills.” 

 Alex easily became arrogant at my words.

 She crossed her legs, lifted her chin haughtily, and said.

 “Yeah, yeah, of course! Actually, fooling twelve clueless humans is nothing special. And you know what? As hotels become more and more sophisticated these days, my mana has also strengthened. At this rate, I could probably use all sorts of magic. It’s all thanks to our boss…” 

 Alex’s eyes met mine as she spoke excitedly.

 At that moment, Alex made a noise and quickly closed her eyes.

 “I… I didn’t mean to manipulate the status screen. It seems like my magic has become stronger, even to that extent. So, naturally, I thought you wouldn’t be able to recognize it, but how did you know?”

 I crossed my arms and sighed deeply.

 When I heard from Secretary Myunghan that one of the guests at the banquet hall was a fake, the first thing I suspected was the transfer student. 

 He’s the type who stands apart from others, not easily swayed by others’ satisfaction.

 If Alex had intervened among the group guests, it would have seemed like the perfect character for the role. 

 But then again, it seemed like Alex wouldn’t have chosen to take on the role of a transfer student just to avoid suspicion.

 Instead, she might have disguised herself more as a core member to avoid any suspicion. 

 For example, towards the vice department representative or the department representative side.

 There was only one reason why I first suspected the vice department representative rather than the department representative. 

 “Because out of all those people, you were the most sensitive to other people’s satisfaction.”

 “…Huh?” 

 “The number above your head changed the fastest in response to fluctuations in others’ satisfaction levels.”

 Yeah. 

 Even though she looks like a random person, Alex is the guardian deity of wanderers. 

 She had a constitution that sensitively responded to others’ satisfaction levels.

 “Satisfaction?”

 Alex touched the top of her head where I pointed. 

 There’s no way anything like that could be detected.

 Satisfaction is visible only to me.

 It’s thanks to the kindness of the system, which originally should have gone to Alex. 

 “Alex. I can see the satisfaction of our guests.”

 “Oh, really?! That’s so cool!”

 Seeing cheerful Alex, my head throbbed slightly, but I couldn’t give up.

 “But this is something you should have seen in the first place.”

 I squeezed Alex’s hand.

 And I told Alex everything I saw, without hiding anything.

 Of course, to summarize it appropriately.

 “…!” 

 And when Alex heard all that, tears began to well up in her eyes. 

 As expected, listening to her father’s feelings must have been painful.

 A father who prepared succession lessons for his talkative daughter—

 “…It’s old-fashioned.”

 Old-fashioned? 

 I frowned at the unexpected reaction. Alex yawned and scratched her ears. 

 “Ah, really. Anyway, the old man is thinking and all that. It’s old-fashioned, it’s old-fashioned. You know how old-fashioned it is to follow the new generation and it seems so old-fashioned?”

 I get it! 

 Without realizing it, I grabbed Alex’s collar for a moment.

 * * *

 After a while.

 Finally, I calmly sat down and spoke to Alex.

 “Anyway, this hotel isn’t mine. I said before that I got my hands on it by chance, and I thought so too, but now I know. This hotel was initially asleep waiting for Alex Grey. The system somehow made a mistake and recognized me as the owner. It must have led me to Grey’s Hotel because it realized that mistake.”

 “Mistake…?” 

 Alex still tilted her head with a sullen expression at my words. 

 Then she raised her hand and said

 She looked quite frightened after I scolded her earlier.

 “But would my father’s words be so shabby that he would mistake me for Traveler 1, who was just passing by?”

 “Yes?” 

 That’s… 

 I hadn’t thought about it.

 I didn’t even think about why the system mistook the owner.

 “No, it’s just… My father is a dragon who runs a hotel that is much bigger than the Gray Hotel and the Yeongchun Hotel, right? As you know, the guests of such a large hotel are highly satisfied, and with the power of that satisfaction, the power of the dragon becomes stronger. However, it’s not like our father’s order would confuse me with another dragon, let alone another species…?”

 What Alex said made sense.

 If the system was created for his daughter in the first place, why did they judge me as a ‘qualified person’ and awaken me to it?

 Suddenly, my head felt confused.

 But that’s beside the point; right now, I had something to tell Alex first.

 “The important thing is that this hotel belongs to Alex. And if Alex wants to take it back, it seems like there might be a way.”

 “How to get it back…?” 

 Alex widened her eyes. 

 At that moment, I received the reward in front of Alex.

 This damn system. 

 Even cursing at you might be the last resort now.

 Thinking so, I called up the alliance window after receiving the reward.

 <It’s Here> —Alliance level: 20 —EXP: 1,000p —Alliance Dispatch: (Shortcut) —Alliance Construction: (Hinoki Hot Springs under construction…) —Branching  (NEW!): (Shortcut) When I clicked on the newly appeared “Branching” option at the bottom, a guide window popped up.

 Branching (NEW!) —Alliance hotels can be branched out. —To proceed with branching, you must designate the 1st branch owner.  —The owner of the 1st branch has the authority to operate the 1st and 2nd branch. —The 1st branch owner can freely designate the EXP and profit sharing ratio to be shared with the 2nd branch owner. —The 2nd branch will be able to operate automatically through dispatched staff without the hotel owner. It’s just as I expected.

 Branching out is a type of merger and acquisition.

 Through this branching, it’s also possible for Alex Grey to obtain the operating rights of the Yeongchun Hotel.

 ‘Maybe this was the bigger picture of the system.’

 First, by presenting a fake successor, the hotel can be developed, and then invite Alex Grey to operate it at the Grey Hotel. 

 Afterward, when Alex Gray’s power becomes stronger, mergers and acquisitions become possible.

 If this is the case, no matter where this hotel ends up in the dimensional gap, it will eventually fall into Alex’s hands.

 It’s a well thought out plan.

 For some reason, I spoke with a calm mind.

 “If you want, I can transfer the operation rights of the Yeongchun Hotel to you right now. Operating it shouldn’t be difficult. Automated operation is also possible. If you promise me one thing, I will do it right away.”

 “…Promise just one thing?”

 “Please don’t just close down the Dungeon Hotel. This place is the only hotel in this world for weary and tired people like the F-Class hunter you saw today.” 

 Even though I knew that Alex was a fake guest, this was why I treated her to a generous meal and let her play with the other guests. 

 I want Alex to feel it.

 How important this Yeongchun Hotel is to the hunters in this world.

 How relieved the hunters feel when they discover the purple sign, having not bathed, eaten, or rested.

 How happy a hotel owner can be when they satisfy such guests. 

 I really wanted to show it to Alex.

 Both the guests and… my happiness.

 “I don’t need any guarantees regarding experience points or profit distribution rates. As long as you let the current hotel staff continue working at the Yeongchun Hotel, that’s all I ask.” 

 I don’t want Lim Sehwan and the manager to suddenly lose their jobs because of me. 

 As long as you ensure that, everything will be fine.

 Of course, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a waste of money, but to be honest, I made a lot of money and was happy during that time…

 Above all, I am not the ‘real’ one. 

 Because I’m just a fake. 

 It’s right to return this hotel to its original owner, as designated by the system—

 “Eung…? I don’t want to…?” 

 It was then.

 With a simple response, Alex suddenly placed her finger on the window in front of me.

 Then she pressed the branching button.

 “…?!”

 What is it? Could you see it?

 No, not only can you see it, but you even have to press the menu?!

 Branching is underway! Please designate a branch manager. Lee Junghyo Alex Grey Alex’s hand approached the boss’ designated button without hesitation.

 And—

 Congratulations! Owner Lee Junghyo has been appointed as the owner of the 1st branch ‘Here’. Suddenly, I had a second branch. 

 What’s with this unexpected development?

 “Hehe. Congratulations~ 1st Branch Owner~ Will you give me a lot of money?”

 Don’t laugh when you’ve done something terrible.

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