The New Home is a Dungeon (3)
"...In the world."
After finishing their hunt for the beasts and returning to the deepest part of the labyrinth, Alex and Yuria's group stared blankly at the towering high-rise building that had sprung up right next to the massive silver-white door Eunhyeon had entered before.
'This madman... what the hell did he do now?!'
She wanted to shout it out loud, but with so many listening ears around, Yuria barely swallowed the curse rising in her throat.
Unable to erase her shocked expression, she scrutinized every detail of the gray high-rise villa before her eyes.
The five-story building's monotonous color scheme, luxurious exterior with glass windows revealing the interior, and meticulous design all screamed of Eunhyeon's terrifying obsession—it felt like he'd logged onto the internet, found a famous architect's design, and replicated it perfectly.
"How on earth... in this short time... where did he get these materials... and how did just the two of them build this house...?"
They'd only been gone for about four hours, yet returning to find a full high-rise standing there would leave anyone dumbfounded, half-convinced they were dreaming.
"You've arrived."
Eunhyeon pushed open the glass entrance door and stepped out with Illyana to greet the party members.
"You... you really did it..."
"I put in some real effort this time. Not bad, right?"
His triumphant expression, practically screaming 'Praise me! Compliment my aesthetic sense!', was so infuriating it bordered on enraging.
"...I have a lot to say, but let's skip it for now. I'm too tired."
"Ah, then why don't you start with a bath? It's all finished, so go take a look and share your thoughts."
Yuria's brow furrowed again at Eunhyeon's words.
"...What did you say?"
"Wow, whoa..."
"...This is truly unbelievable."
Hearing Erin's dazed murmur of admiration, Yuria muttered to herself inwardly.
She stared at the lion-shaped stone statue pouring water like a small waterfall.
"Building a villa was insane enough, but this is even more absurd. What is this massive bathhouse? Where's the water coming from? And where does it drain to?"
Following Eunhyeon's invitation to wash off the beast blood stench and fatigue, the five women of the party entered the grand bathhouse he pointed out—and stood there frozen in awe.
"Princess, let's wash up first. We have to yield the next turn to Brother and Merdin."
"Right..."
Nodding, Yuria glanced sideways at Elenoa, who showed no particular agitation.
"You're not as surprised as I expected."
"I am surprised. But... nothing that man does ever fails to surprise me. Now, it's more like... I'm used to it? Or I've adapted quickly? All sorts of thoughts come to mind, but they just make me tired."
Unlike Yuria, who wanted to question everything, Elenoa had reached a state of enlightenment regarding Eunhyeon's antics.
Yuria gave a wry smile at her demeanor.
"But... how do we use this?"
"Twist the handle to the left like this, and the water comes out."
Erin demonstrated the shower handle for the puzzled Eira and Aisha, who were facing the unfamiliar device.
"...You've never seen it before, but you seem familiar with it?"
"Hehe, Illyana's house has the exact same ones installed."
'Probably that man who installed them. He's ridiculously good at making useless things like this.'
Yuria disliked how effortlessly he recreated Earth's civilizations.
No matter her efforts, she always hit limits in reproducing Earth's tech—and that sparked an inexplicable rivalry and jealousy.
But sensing the magic stone in the lion statue and seeing the mithril showerhead proved it was undeniably made with Arkena Continent materials.
This single bathhouse might have cost several months of the kingdom's budget.
"Haaa..."
Sinking into the steaming bath, she couldn't suppress a sultry moan.
Submerging her body fully, only her head peeking out, she gazed at the ceiling.
"This feels... luxuriously good."
The accumulated fatigue seemed to melt away with the water.
The bathwater wasn't ordinary either—infused with lavender scent that teased the women's noses.
Soaking together in stunned silence, they soon exchanged glances, realized the absurdity, and burst into giggles.
"I couldn't understand why we'd come back to this labyrinth, but building a house like this inside? Even more incomprehensible. Ah, but enjoying this luxury makes me glad I came along."
Aisha, grinning lazily with a relaxed face, drawled her words to match her mood.
The others nodded in agreement, chuckling along.
"......"
Only Elenoa, not laughing, wore a subtle expression and held her tongue.
Inwardly, she debated warning them about what was to come—but ultimately stayed silent.
"This is insane. Better than my house?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you mean 'yeah?' It is."
Illyana narrowed her eyes at Eunhyeon's innocent reply, flopping onto the king-size bed and glaring at him as he sketched blueprints at the desk.
"One floor is yours."
"Mine?"
"Your research lab. You wanted one."
"Ah."
Illyana nodded slightly.
"Might as well install your workshop there too. It's a hassle dragging the stuff we're tinkering with back and forth for checks and tweaks."
"You're really scheming to make me handle the cleaning and organizing, aren't you?"
"......"
She saw through his plan to hand over the entire floor without interference—but knew her desire for a shared workspace stemmed more from calculation than pure intent.
Eunhyeon chuckled.
"Fine, we'll build the workshop together then."
He had no intention of nagging her about chores now, and she helped him plenty anyway.
It wasn't a bother if he saw it as repayment.
Finishing the rough blueprint, Eunhyeon rose and headed to the bed.
He immediately embraced Illyana, who yielded without resistance, pulling him close.
"Mm... chuut."
Their lips met in a kiss, sharing love as they slowly shed their clothes.
Fingers caressed bare skin, feeling the firm and soft textures.
Yet their lips never parted.
Through hands, skin, lips, and tongues, they explored and ignited each other.
"Mm... do you think Hyeon will allow it...?"
[Who knows. But I want to try. Could you at least ask him for me?]
Erin was deep in thought.
Gallerhead, who occasionally advised her, had made an unexpected request.
She couldn't summon the Hundred Ghosts yet, but successfully calling their souls brought her closer to her level when she caught the succubus.
Then Gallerhead suddenly intruded, asking her to arrange a spar with Eunhyeon tomorrow.
Erin's physical abilities paled against his, but witnessing his advanced swordsmanship ignited Gallerhead's competitive spirit—she burned to cross blades with him.
"I'll ask for now."
[Thank you.]
Thus, late at night, Erin walked the dark hallway toward Eunhyeon's room.
She raised her hand to knock but froze at the voices inside.
- You're really crazy?
- What about?
- Soon is really tough. I'm seriously gonna die!
- Don't worry. I'll do everything.
- Ah, seriously! Hauk!
Hearing the bickering couple, Erin tilted her head.
[Oh...?]
"Are they fighting...?"
Knowing they were lovers sharing a room, she wasn't surprised—but she'd never pondered what they did inside.
Puzzled, Erin forgot to knock and grasped the doorknob.
[Ah, no! If you open the door now!]
"Huh? Why?"
Startled by Gallerhead's frantic stop, Erin innocently asked what was wrong.
Click! Creak!
For the naive girl, Pandora's box—far too stimulating—had already swung open.
"Hm...?"
Opening the door, an intense night-bloom fragrance assaulted her nose for the first time, making Erin wrinkle it slightly.
'...What smell is this?'
"E-Erin...?! What is it without knocking?"
"Uh...?"
Uncharacteristically flustered, Eunhyeon hid Illyana behind him, sweating coldly.
"Uh, well..."
Like a child bursting into her parents' bedroom mid-fun, an awkward silence enveloped the three.
Seeing Eunhyeon and Illyana nearly naked, clutching the blanket, Erin realized what had happened—her face flushed crimson.
"I came for a favor... L-let's talk tomorrow morning! Sorry! Good night!"
Bang!
Rushing out and slamming the door so hard the hallway echoed, she slumped against it, covering her burning cheeks in confusion.
"S-scared me... What did I just see... So embarrassing..."
- Ah, forgot to soundproof and lock the door.
- You're crazy! Crazy! What scene did you show the kid?! Seriously!
Illyana's furious roar, pounding him with a pillow, seeped through the door.
Too mortified to stay, Erin hurried down the hall to her room.
The image of the nearly nude pair rolling on the massive bed wouldn't leave her mind.