NOVEL NEXT WORLD Welcome to Dungeon Hotel
Chapter 181
About a month later.
“Ah! Ugh! My riiiing!” While moving to Seoul, where the guild headquarters building is located after the raid ended— Kang Sojin’s screams echoed in the car. Everyone in the car turned to Kang Sojin. It was some of the Hanwoon guild members, along with Han Woohyun, Han Minhyuk and Kim Junsoo. Today’s raid was quite large in scale, so both the association president and the guild leader stopped by to give encouragement. “What’s going on? Hunter-nim?” The association president leaned forward and asked Kang Sojin abruptly. Kang Sojin’s eyes widened in surprise at the fact that she had screamed. And she stuttered out a response. “Oh, th-the ring… the ring broke. I’m sorry.” “No~ it’s okay~ But it seems the ring is important~ I guess the guild leader should take care of such things on time, right?” Kim Junsoo, the president of the association, smiled brightly and looked at Han Minhyuk , who was sitting across from him. Because the dungeon was located in a remote mountainous area and it was the driver’s holiday, Han Minhyuk, who was riding in the same large car as the hunters, slightly raised his head. “I will handle the expenses. Purchase new ones and send the receipt.” Kang Sojin couldn’t take her eyes off Guild Leader Han Minhyuk, who maintained an elegant posture even while sitting in the swaying car with his legs crossed. “Oh? N, no. I can’t buy new ones.” “Heuk…! Limited edition!” Kim Junsoo rolled his eyes and looked at Han Minhyuk. But Han Minhyuk didn’t move. “Then I will compensate you with the amount.” Ey. Not fun. Kim Junsoo turned around and sat down. “No, it’s not like that. It’s because my boyfriend made this couple ring for me in his workshop— It’s cheaply made, but it’s really precious to me.” Kang Sojin looked sullen as she fiddled with her broken couple ring. As she said this, a nearby hunter joined in. “Ha. Did your boyfriend make one alone?” “Hehe. The meeting we had with Baekho last time went well, didn’t it?” “Is this even a country!” “Traitor! How dare you get a boyfriend from Baekho!” “Seriously, I’m so jealous. How can you escape being single!” The atmosphere became noisy as the topic of escape from being single arose among the exhausted hunters. It was a car ride with the association president, the guild leader, and even the team leader, and the atmosphere was subdued as they rode together. They even drew lots to determine which team members would ride in this car. None of the three were particularly the type to nag their subordinates. However, none of the three were the type to want to drive in the same car. First of all, guild leader Han Minhyuk always sat in a neat suit and gave off an intimidating atmosphere. He always had an expressionless face and a sensitive nature that made them watch their every move when they were together. Next, the president of the association. The president of the association was the least difficult opponent compared to guild leader Han Minhyuk. As he was an early adopter and was well-versed in MZ generation terminology, the conversation went well, and unlike the leader of Korean hunters, he didn’t have the slightest sense of hierarchy. However, hidden in those seemingly infinitely kind eyes, there was an inexplicable sly snake hiding inside. He was quick-witted and skilled in calculation, and there was even a time when he promptly expelled a hunter from the Hanwoon Guild on the spot for violating the Hunter Management Act. ‘I, I wasn’t trying to smuggle items, I…’ ‘Ey, Junhee-ssi.’ The normally kind voice contained a subtle bitterness. ‘Yes?’ ‘Why do I have to listen to Junhee’s excuses? Let Interpol deal with that. It’s really annoying~ for me to hear things like that.’ The moment he narrowed his eyes and smiled, all members of the Hanwoon guild realized. If you make the mistake of underestimating that person just because they seem timid, you’ll regret it! Lastly, team leader Han Woohyun. A team leader was actually a person who had no problems with either driving the same car or sleeping in the same dorm. Until a few months ago. “I can’t believe Kang Sojin has a boyfriend… I’m jealous. Right, Team Leader?” One of the team members tapped Han Woohyun on the shoulder and laughed. Then Kang Sojin tilted her head and said. “Huh? Our team leader has a girlfriend, though.” “….!” Our tactless Sojin caused an accident! One team member’s face hardened. All eyes of the team members turned to guild leader Han Minhyuk. Guild leader Han Min-hyuk was reading a book in the gently shaking car. He’s not interested…? Maybe he just let it slide. A few months ago, Team Leader Han Woohyun, or to be more precise, Team Leader Han Woohyun, ‘who is with the guild leader’, became someone who should never be present. It’s like a ball hitting Guild Leader Han Minhyuk’s head, disrupting his usual graceful demeanor. As a result, strange rumors began to circulate within the company. The story is that the guild leader, who has never even held hands with a woman in his life and seems to hate anyone even touching a woman, has a secret daughter, and the daughter’s boyfriend is Han Woohyun, which causes a falling out between them. There was also a specific logic made that the reason for opposing Han Woohyun, an S-class hunter, was family issues. Guild leader Han Minhyuk’s family comes from a famous conglomerate, but Han Woohyun is an orphan, so he opposes it. For the past few months, every time he saw Han Woohyun, the look in Han Minhyuk’s eyes seemed to say, “How dare you…!” Even now. Han Minhyuk’s slightly raised eyebrows gave an ominous look. However, Kang Sojin, who didn’t notice this, continued speaking. “Recently, during break times in meetings, he’s always on his phone. And last time during a meeting, when we connected to the team leader’s phone for a presentation, the search history was filled with things like ‘date ideas,’ ‘date night restaurants,’ ‘gift recommendations,’ so everyone thinks the team leader got a girlfriend…” Stop. You damn snout! The moment when everyone wants to shout in unison. Han Woohyun raised his head and asked, pointing at Kang Sojin. “If we match the couple rings, it’s a bit more… I mean, our hearts…” “Yes?” “No, never mind.” Han Woohyun’s earlobes, which were muttering nonsense alone, were red and hot. Han Minhyuk uncrossed his legs. In an instant, a heavy air settled inside the car. Mana release. It was an air adjustment that only an S-Class hunter could do. The team members looked at Kim Junsoo, the association president, with shocked faces as the air suddenly became tense. The only person here who can laugh at guild leader Han Minhyuk is association president Kim Junsoo. But at that time—. The car that had just entered downtown Seoul stopped in front of the guild headquarters building. As the car door opened, Secretary Myunghan popped his head out. “The president of the association!” “Uh, Assistant! Why now! Hing… I’m scared! Hing hing!” The president of the association got out of the car. Everyone’s face was filled with despair when they saw it. “Why are you going out alone? Who’s going to handle the situation?” This wasn’t the end of today’s raid; a meeting was scheduled for the second raid, with even the guild leader in attendance. Everyone, who expected a terrible atmosphere in the conference room, got out of the car and walked to the lobby of the guild headquarters with faces as if they had fallen into the abyss. At that time, everyone was walking with slumped shoulders, starting with Han Woohyun, who was walking with a nonchalant expression as always while receiving the cold gaze from guild leader Han Minhyuk. Someone grabbed Han Woohyun’s arm in the lobby. “Han Woohyun!” Was the slender wrist wrapped around Han Woohyun’s arm quite forcefully, or was Han Woohyun taken aback when he saw the woman’s eyes and unknowingly being led away? Anyway, as the woman clung to him with strength, Han Woohyun stumbled as he was pulled by her. Because of this, it took several minutes for the people around to realize that the woman who had collapsed was a middle-aged woman, about the age of Han Woohyun’s mother. This was because her body was so thin and her face had none of the determination or strength that naturally comes with age. “…You!” Her red, bloodshot eyes were full of resentment. Han Woohyun instinctively stretched out his hand as if trying to lift the woman up, but then flinched and stopped. “Why are you here?” It was a cold voice that he had never heard before, even in a dungeon battle crossing the line of fire. While the hunters around him were muttering in confusion, Han Minhyuk also stopped walking. “Did you know that your uncle went back to the detention center again?” Han Woohyun crumpled his face at the woman’s words. Again. She’s here to talk about that guy again. Even though he doesn’t know what he did, he probably caused some big trouble again this time. And ask him to take care of it… “Your uncle is actually not at fault.” That’s what she always says. He’s not at fault. It seems like there have been times when I’ve felt like saying it was all my fault too, seeing my aunt’s tearful eyes and frightened expression as she said “it’s not his fault.” But not anymore. “Aunt.” “Is it the 2nd Dungeon Hotel or something… That’s a deal that Uncle really thought was happening in Jeongcheon-gun. You know your Uncle’s personality. He can’t deceive others and do things like that. That investment company used him. “ However, the moment he heard the word Dungeon Hotel, Han Woohyun’s face hardened. “What?” This time, he couldn’t just say, ‘again’ and move on. “In some ways, isn’t that woman the problem? The girl who is the owner of the Dungeon Hotel. I wonder if that young b*tch leaked information to an investment company that she was going to open a second branch in Jeongcheon-gun so she could invest in land. Then, she worked together with the mayor of Jeongcheon-gun and sent an official letter saying that there was absolutely no need for a second branch to be opened. That became conclusive evidence, and even your uncle, who was innocent, was arrested and accused of intent to deceive!” Han Woohyun’s mind became dizzy as he heard his aunt’s words. The sentences that went through his aunt’s rationalization were complex, but to summarize, they were as follows. ‘Han Woohyun’s uncle was caught trying to commit large-scale fraud with an investment company, saying that the second Dungeon Hotel branch would be opened in Jeongcheon-gun.’ No matter what, Junghyo will see my bottom. He had a moment of intuition. “Why… why…” Han Woohyun muttered in a voice as if something had clogged his throat. “Why… Dungeon Hotel…?” Han Woohyun squatted down in front of an old, worn-out, middle-aged woman as if he were collapsing. It’s enough just to torment me. You’ve tormented me enough. When Han Woohyun asked, his aunt looked at him with a blank expression. “You know her? That girl who’s the owner of Dungeon Hotel.” It was a look of hope. It was a question that was close to certainty. “…What?” “I saw her. A long time ago. In your closet. Right after you started living on your own, I went to visit. You hid her picture in there as if it would wear out if I saw it. I saw it and couldn’t stop laughing.” Han Woohyun bit his lip without realizing it. Now I understand. The reason why Uncle chose Dungeon Hotel as the next scam item. The Dungeon Hotel has become a hot topic these days, and he thought he knew the owner of the Dungeon Hotel. Yeah. Aunt was right. It was hidden. When he had just become an adult, his aunt came to his house after he became independent and left his room, which was all messed up under the pretext of cleaning. Just the thought of Junghyo’s photo touching Aunt’s eyes and hands made me feel like something big would happen. So he hid it. But now that he looks at it, it seems like he should have hidden it more closely. “…You’re close to her, right? Right? Can’t you talk to her? Can’t you ask her to write a petition?” While Han Woohyun didn’t answer, his aunt’s voice gradually rose. The resentment in Aunt’s voice gradually increased in intensity. “In a way, it’s all because of you that Uncle became like that.” Always the same logic. The story is that Han Woohyun ruined his uncle, the money Han Woohyun earned at the risk of his life made his uncle sick, and as a result, everything fell apart. When she said this, Han Woohyun had to look a little resigned and a little tired, as he always did— This time he didn’t. He just stared at her with bloodshot eyes, saying nothing. With eyes full of disgust. At that moment, she felt her throat tighten. Like lack of oxygen. Even though she knew this logic was starting to fail her, she couldn’t stop the sentences that were becoming an overwhelming force flowing out of her throat. “Why do you make quiet people greedy? If it weren’t for you! If you just hadn’t come into our house! Our household was perfectly peaceful! Everything was fine with us until your parents died, leaving you alone. The price for raising you, feeding you, sheltering you, is this? Just this? Your uncle is like your father. I’m like your mother. You’ve ruined my life, our lives!” His aunt, who couldn’t control her anger on her own, ended up hitting him on the cheek. No, she was going to hit it. If only at that moment, a large hand had not elegantly intervened and stopped him. “….?” Aunt’s gaze followed the owner of the hand. Aunt’s gaze stopped at one place. Sharp eyes stared down at his aunt with an emotionless face. The owner. From Guild Master Han Minhyuk. “It’s troublesome to think that you’ve been raised just by being fed and sheltered.” “What? Who are you…” Han Minhyuk didn’t listen to the woman’s words, nor did he even glance at her. He simply grabbed her wrist and lifted her up. He then snapped his fingers at the guard standing around. It meant to come this way. The woman, who was instantly surrounded by guards, wrinkled her face. “Who are you? What right do you have to meddle in family matters? It’s not your place to interfere in other people’s affairs.” At the woman’s words, Han Minhyuk looked at Han Woohyun with a stern expression for a moment. It’s someone else’s ‘family’ business. Even if he gave him a look like, “Do you think that way too?”, it was no use. It seemed like Han Woohyun was half out of his mind. Han Minhyuk adjusted the slightly wrinkled sleeves of his shirt and glared at the woman. “Because he’s my family, of course, I’d intervene.” Han Minhyuk clicked his tongue inwardly as he felt Han Woohyun’s gaze on him. He recalled what he had heard from Junghyo not long ago. ‘Uncle. Can you please strengthen Hanwoon Guild’s security for the time being?’ ‘Why?’ ‘I think something bad might happen to Woohyun.’ ‘….’ ‘Uncle. When I had no guardian, you became my guardian.’ ‘It was natural.’ ‘If that was a natural thing, please think that this is also a natural thing. As a guild leader. You’re…his guardian.’ It can’t be helped. It might not have been an immediate reaction to the term “guardian,” but regret was already too late. ‘Han Woohyun, seems like he’s already lost it.’ He was feeling the mana flowing from Han Woohyun’s body. A guy who doesn’t usually spill mana on ordinary people— Han Minhyuk, who thought something would happen if he left it like this, seemed to have made up his mind. “From now on, I am this guy’s father.” * * * After that incident, new news circulated within his company. News that Han Minhyuk’s hidden child was not a daughter but a son. Someone left this comment. “No wonder! That’s why they both had the same last name!” This was the birth of a rumor. 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!
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