Chapter: 109
### 109 – Party Time (11) – Final Check, Entering the Gate Room
—
Lunch on Day 4 of Party Time
– Han Kain
When morning came, Seungyub stepped out and everyone sighed in relief. He looked even skinnier than usual, but he seemed recovered enough to move around normally.
Old Man Mooksung quietly settled next to him and started piling meat onto Seungyub’s plate.
As he devoured the food, what Seungyub shared was quite fascinating.
He mentioned that his Sponsor appeared in a dream and discussed the use of his blessing.
Though it was a bit confusing, the content was clear.
The key point was not to overthink or calculate too much—just do it.
Believing that things would resolve positively and acting on it is the wording of such an odd blessing.
I suddenly understood why he said, “I chose Seungyub.”
If that was truly the essence of the blessing, then someone who thinks too much would find it useless.
Honestly, I can’t imagine jumping into the sea and genuinely believing a sea turtle would rescue me.
But no matter how ridiculous that blessing might seem, there must be limitations.
After all, the existence of an “active skill” suggests there’s a boundary to normality, right?
“Seungyub, I got curious listening to you. Have you tried any experiments? Regarding your usual luck—”
I barely got that far when Ahri suddenly covered my mouth.
… Did I just say something I shouldn’t?
After finishing our meal, as we strolled near the front desk, Ahri came closer.
“Earlier, what was that? You surprised me when you suddenly covered my mouth.”
“Never discuss luck in front of Seungyub from now on.”
“Huh?”
“You would’ve started analyzing it, talking about limitations and principles. Of course, there might be some principles and limitations too, but even your attempt to analyze and relay that to Seungyub weakens that blessing.”
“…”
“I think I get it. I’ve had a similar experience. Sometimes the blessing’s owner needs to be a little out of sorts for it to grow stronger. I think ‘luck’ is a blessing that thrives on pain.”
“… You shouldn’t say that in front of Seungyub either.”
But I understood her point. I almost made a mistake.
I conveyed what I heard from Ahri to the others.
From now on, analytical discussions about ‘luck’ in front of Seungyub are strictly prohibited.
Even attempting to relay our understandings complicates his thoughts, hence weakening his luck.
With Seungyub’s “awakening” completed, we finished all preparations to enter the Gate Room.
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 37
Current Location: Floor 1, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 3]
– Han Kain
Gulp.
I unconsciously swallowed. Standing before the Gate Room, Room 107, there was a palpable tension among us.
Eunsol spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
“Last check of equipment! I have my brooch and badge, Grandpa has gloves and a gun, and Kain has his pen. Everyone has their legacies ready, right? Songee, don’t forget your Pepper; everyone ordered sturdy clothes, so wear them well—”
“Sis, we’ve checked that multiple times already. Let’s head in.”
“Right. It won’t change anything by just waiting out here.”
Just as Old Man Mooksung grabbed the doorknob of 107, everyone received a notification.
/Warning!
The Gate Room requires you to go through multiple trials without rest and is exceedingly difficult.
Minimum requirement: Escape from all Curse Rooms, and obtain at least one legacy.
Recommended condition: Obtain 2 or more legacies.
…
…
…
Participants have met the recommended conditions.
Would you like to proceed?/
“Just in case, I want to clarify; the notification says there’s no rest. Does that mean absolutely no breaks?”
Ahri replied ambiguously.
“This Gate Room might have no breaks at all, or it could allow for a brief breather. But it definitely implies we won’t get long breaks like those multi-day Party Times.”
—Click!
We entered the Gate Room.
Inside was a strangely glowing, bright area.
As everyone looked at each other in a daze, the notification chimed in again.
/Participants attempting the Gate Room, welcome.
You now need to pass five trials.
The theme of the trials is ‘Constraints.’
Do you regard blessings or legacies as your everything?
Remember this: blessings or legacies are ultimately just external forces.
Show us your true abilities within constraints.
30 seconds until the first trial begins.
“Looks like they’re planning to prevent us from using blessings or legacies, huh? Has it been like this before?”
Ahri responded in a defeated tone.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing! This hotel is a nightmare. It changes every time, rendering our preparations useless!”
“Haha… Who knew you had moments when you could vent like this?”
The first trial began amidst everyone’s awkward chuckles.
—
First Trial
—Clang! Clang!
My consciousness faded and came back.
I was on a train. As I attempted to stand up and look around, I felt an inexplicable discomfort.
Turning to survey my surroundings, I found my teammates wearing puzzled expressions.
Other than my comrades, no one else was in the train car.
An announcement echoed from the ceiling.
/You cannot use blessings inside the train. Please be aware./
… Lo and behold, my status window wasn’t appearing.
Naturally, everyone started to stand up and converse.
“How on earth do we pass this?”
Eunsol answered.
“Thinking simply, wouldn’t it be about getting out of the train car?”
Right after that, Jinchul moved toward the train door.
“The door won’t budge.”
“Given that, it seems leaving is indeed the escape. They probably locked it to prevent us from getting out!”
Others began to touch everything around.
The most absurd place was the passage that led to the next train car.
“There’s nothing, but we can’t get through.”
Despite the passage being visually clear, we were unable to pass through.
It looked as though an invisible wall was blocking the way.
A blurry view of the next car appeared across the passage.
Outside the train window was a beach, but the window itself wouldn’t open nor break.
“Hey, Wild Boar, give that a punch!”
“Old Man, I don’t have that kind of strength anymore. I could hit it a dozen times, and it wouldn’t budge.”
The sealing of our blessings brought significant changes.
I couldn’t see my status window, Jinchul had reverted to regular athlete-level abilities, and the conversation tab was gone, among other transformations.
Songee cried out, flustered.
“Where did Pepper go?”
Indeed, Pepper had vanished from sight.
What in the world? It felt like we ought to leave this place, but there was no way out.
Everyone searched every corner of the train car, but we couldn’t find any exit.
As we rummaged, I felt that familiar discomfort again.
Ahri suggested.
“I don’t think we break out physically. The passage looks open, yet it’s blocked by some transparent barrier. Given that supernatural forces are restraining us, maybe some conditions need to be met?”
“What could those conditions be?”
Everyone fell into silence.
In the end, everyone grew tired and began to find random places to rest.
I sat vacantly and started looking out of the window.
What’s going on? Isn’t it reasonable to give at least the slightest hint?
Catching myself, I realized I had relied quite a bit on the status window up till now.
Typically, I would’ve started asking for ‘advice’ right away.
—Clang! Clang!
… The train is moving on, time flows.
It feels like about 30 minutes have passed. It seems everyone is trying something, but nothing seems to work.
Then I heard a familiar sound.
—Piyoooon!
The sound of Pepper came from the back!
Everyone stood up and turned their heads. Pepper flew in from the rear passage of the train!
Was Pepper unaffected by the barrier?
Songee was the most eager to stand up.
“Pepper!”
Songee seemed ready to embrace Pepper, as if reuniting with family—
But Pepper simply zipped past her.
?
??
???
What? Where is it going?
“Yow! What are you doing!”
Pepper glanced back at us and pecked Seungyub teasingly before flying to the front car.
What the heck? Is that all it came for? Just to peck at Seungyub?
Eunsol’s incredulous voice echoed through.
“What on earth is this? Songee, why is Pepper acting like that?”
“I don’t know… Maybe the affinity disappeared.”
Aha! It seems the affinity Songee had with Pepper had vanished, hindering communication.
That’s a bit disappointing.
Even with the affinity gone, Pepper used to cling to Songee, rubbing its beak affectionately—now it just flies by indifferently!
Songee visibly sulked.
“Hah! That parrot! What was I even expecting from that birdbrain?”
Old Man Mooksung grumbled as if comforting Songee by cursing Pepper.
But why did Pepper go to the front car? Is there parrot food or something up there?
And just like that, we found ourselves in another incomprehensible situation.
—Clang! Clang!
The train endlessly continues on the infinite tracks. Time flows as if it’s a wave.
Leaning quietly against the window, I gazed outside.
This experience of idly sitting on a train journey is a rarity indeed.
When I was much younger, I used to take train trips like this.
Back then, when I visited the countryside where Grandpa lived, the wheat harvest was in full swing, and it was indeed effective.
All the mountains seen from the window were brimming with trees!
But wait, thinking back, those mountains aren’t even real, so what does it all matter?
?
What is that? I felt an unsettling sense.
—Kyaaaaah!
—Waaaah!
Suddenly, screams erupted from the train. My comrades shot up in shock.
From the front car where Pepper flew to, loud noises and tremendous screams filled the air.
… That familiar sound.
I realized the source of the ‘discomfort’ and ‘unease’ I felt earlier.
Just to be certain, I summoned my grimoire and became convinced.
Here we go. Looks like someone is starting to figure things out. Thanks to Pepper?
I had my suspicions but needed confirmation.
I approached Seungyub and asked.
“Seungyub.”
“Yes? Hyung? What’s going on with that sound—”
“What rank are you in League? What’s your favorite champ?”
“Suddenly, what—”
“Answer me.”
“… I’m still Plat. I can hit Diamond soon. I used to main Yasuo, but now I prefer Yone—”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. So it’s definitely you.”
“Huh?”
“You stay back there.”
I quietly gripped the handle of the dagger hidden inside my clothes.
This hotel is a truly cruel place.
—
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