### Chapter 216 – Room 104, Cursed Room – ‘Prestigious Hotel High School’ Re (10)
—
– Elena
It felt like a scene from a movie playing in slow motion.
The moment my comrade, who came to save me trapped in a cage, was pierced by an enemy’s bullet. Quite a classic sequence, right? The difference is, it felt way more real than any film!
As the doctor fell apart, I felt a line snap inside me. Simultaneously, a fierce anger welling up!
I sensed the expansion of ‘judgment targets.’ The scales of justice were once again placed on a new group.
— Raaaah!
Light burst from my entire body, and the scales twirled like a spiral, tearing the cage apart. I regained my freedom amidst the chaos.
My heightened senses caught something flying from the sky. Kind of like a new combat helicopter—
In the next moment, an unimaginable light illuminated me. Is this what it feels like to be exposed to a flashbang? The overwhelming brightness left me unable to see anything. The entire world was filled with light. Soon, it was accompanied by a deafening noise.
I could see nothing and hear nothing.
Only then did I realize the strategy the Administration Bureau set against me, aimed to render me useless and buy time with that immense flashbang!
What’s the point of simply stalling? It’s a silly question. If an organization has protected the world for ages against the chaos of the universe, they’d bet that the immense power I wield now wouldn’t come for free. They might even think there’s some kind of time limit.
As my sight and hearing all became numb, paradoxically, I found calmness. In the empty white space, I wondered how far I should extend my judgment.
Amidst the chaotic battle, I couldn’t help but ponder. Can I just execute without a trial in such turmoil?
When capturing a vicious criminal, countless people always yell to kill that scumbag right then and there. “Off with their head!” “Burn ’em alive!” “Let’s go for some physical castration!” That fury is indeed a driving force behind humanity’s pursuit of ‘justice.’
But it can’t be so simple. Even if I catch someone on camera committing murder, wouldn’t the trial be about making sure there’s zero misunderstanding and doubt after three drawn-out years?
This frustration itself embodies the essence of justice and the core of my blessing.
While attacking the innocent Doctor was undoubtedly wrong, the Administration Bureau is clearly an organization that safeguards the world. I cannot judge the entire group. The previous events were closer to an ‘accidental mishap due to lack of information.’
From that perspective, there’s no need to exact vengeance by taking the life of an agent. I’m sorry to the late doctor, but let’s just settle this with some cash. After all, the doc might come back to life outside; they aren’t completely gone, are they?
Of course, I’m not saying I’m going to take money from the Bureau to give to the doctor’s family. Let’s just keep it casual.
I decided to vent my frustrations by smashing a lot of the Bureau’s equipment instead.
With that conclusion formed in my heart, I waited until something became visible and audible again. It might seem odd that I’m just sitting here, defenseless against the flashbang, lost in strange thoughts, but I don’t worry too much.
The Bureau’s tactics had a fatal flaw from the get-go.
Sorry to say, but in my blessing, the one actually fighting is not me, but the Scales! My role is simply to provide the ‘standard’ to the scale!
*
– Lee Eunsol
The bizarre multi-legged robots I couldn’t identify surrounded us in a triangular formation! Grandfather had to stop, feeling lost.
There were clearly no signs of human presence in those robots, but as the machine guns protruded from their tops and aimed at us, their intentions were clear without any words.
One more step, and it’s lights out for us!
“Well, at least they’re not shooting immediately.”
Grandfather let out a sigh.
“They probably plan to take us in for interrogation since we seem like a bunch of weaklings. They’re likely frustrated not knowing what’s happening. We’re the ones who can clear up their confusion. This is tiring. Getting captured won’t mean it’s over, but if the Big Man recovers while we’re stuck, I have no clue what we’ll do.”
As Grandfather and I began pondering all this complicated mess, suddenly—an enormous flash of light and noise erupted!
…
Everything in the world froze.
So this is what happens when someone gets exposed to too much light. The entire space filled with blinding brightness, rendering everything in sight mute and invisible.
How much time had passed? It felt like about ten minutes, but with my senses overloaded by the flashbang, accurately judging was a challenge.
When I regained my senses, I realized I was once again in Grandfather’s grip, moving about. Had he snapped back to reality a bit quicker since he’s an agent?
“What the—what’s going on?”
“Glad you woke up. I have no idea what’s happened. By the time I regained my wits, the robots just vanished.”
“Elena!”
“What?”
“Don’t you see? Elena’s up there dropping lightning bolts everywhere!”
I barely pieced the situation together. What was once a weakened Elena standing before the Bureau’s army now seemed filled with incredible power, rampaging!
Grandfather chuckled lightly.
“To you, Eunsol, that might look like Elena, but all I see is a yellow dot.”
I jumped off Grandfather’s hand and started running. Just a moment ago, Elena seemed unable to use her power of justice against the Bureau. What in the world had happened?
No idea. But figuring it out can wait until later. I sped towards the Old Main.
I dashed endlessly into the Old Main, tearing aside the curtain set up for disguise, and began navigating the passage to the Underground City. Aurelia was in the corridor.
“Did you think I’d go alone to the Underground City? Were you waiting for us or what?”
“I figured I’d wait for about ten minutes. Things are chaotic, and if you’re the new Apostle, I expected you’d come easily, but it seems you had a harder time than I thought.”
Her condescending tone felt almost like a scolding, and while she was never really my comrade, this girl’s something else!
“No need to wear yourself out over trivial matters. You must have been afraid of handling it alone, so you waited for us, right?”
Aurelia simply turned to walk away instead of responding to Phero’s snarky retort.
…
As we trekked through the Underground City, I considered how wise it was to bring Aurelia along. In this place, finding our way would be impossible without her.
I never knew the layout of the Underground City, but at least there was plenty of light and good ventilation inside. However, after the ground caved in due to Elena’s antics while escaping from the Lord, the Underground City was literally in ruins.
Using the headlamp on my protective suit, I secured a minimum of light, but that was about it. With everything in shambles, I couldn’t figure out where to go even with my own eyes.
Only Aurelia walked out confidently, totally unaffected by the situation.
…
“Where are we heading? Any guesses on where the Lord might be?”
“I’ve been thinking since yesterday. According to your tale, the Lord descended into the body of the boy who was part of your group. That body is now on the brink of death.”
“More like body snatching if you ask me, but whatever. You’re right.”
“To restore a dying body, where do we need to go? This place, now that the ground has collapsed, must be about the safest spot. Plus, it needs to be a place where the Lord’s powers are strongest.”
“Any holy place in the Underground City or something?”
“Sort of. Technically, the whole city is the Lord’s sanctuary, but there’s a particularly sacred spot within it.”
A sacred spot inside a sanctuary, a domain of sanctity.
… For us, who have to break down that divine presence, it feels like walking straight into the enemy’s jaws. Will it really be okay? I had a rough idea of the plans from Kain, but my anxiety bubbled up nonetheless.
After nearly 30 minutes of walking, the moment we stepped into a strange corridor, I could feel this was the place. Unlike the collapsed Underground City, light flowed in through this passage. Not long after entering, an unfamiliar girl appeared.
“You really made it this far. Ohhh… everything in the world lies in the hands of the Great One; hence, His predictions never fail.”
Twelve? Thirteen? She barely seemed older than a preteen, radiating an unknown brilliance. Aurelia stepped forward.
“Saint, has your father granted you strength?”
“Aurelia, don’t belittle me with your words. The father of all has bestowed a revelation upon me. I am now the new pillar of the Church.”
Her face carried boundless pride. Finally realizing that ‘the father’ had forsaken her and placed a new saint, Aurelia’s expression twisted in horror.
From the side, Phero Kain expressed his disbelief.
“Wow, the Lord really raised a ‘minors’ saint, huh? Do you know what that implies?”
Grandfather chuckled slightly.
“Did you really think Elena would drop by here? Little girl, you look like you’re still in elementary school!”
With that ‘little girl’ remark, light began to flicker around her body. Aurelia stepped forward once again.
“Wait, Saint, I am not here to fight you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I—I’m just here to ask my father a question.”
Aura swirled across the new saint’s face, mocking.
“This is precisely why the father thinks you’re unqualified! What kind of question could you possibly have? Daring to ponder upon the father of all with that small mind, the very fact that you harbor doubts signifies your shortcomings.”
Ahh, the Lord must’ve thought Aurelia wouldn’t listen because she matured and chosen some insane little brat as the new saint. What an extraordinary piece of work.
Even now, Aurelia strove to stay calm.
“Right. Saint, no, Saintess! What you say holds truth. But I simply desire to uncover my doubts, just once. Feel free to kill me afterward. Saintess, or rather Father! I believe you are watching me through this child’s eyes. I’ve devoted my life to you. Do you really have no intention for a brief conversation?”
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