### Chapter 255 – Party Time – The Package and the Mysterious Craftsman (1)
—
#### [User: Han Kain (Wisdom)]
Date: Day 108
Current Location: Floor 2, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 3
—
– Han Kain
A ticket that can be used for acquiring abandoned heritage or resurrecting the dead. This might just be the most valuable treasure in this hotel!
Next to me, Jinchul was grumbling.
“What’s up with only giving half a ticket? It’s basically telling us to scramble for another half somewhere else!”
No matter how valuable it seems, it only matters when it’s completed as a full ticket. Like Jinchul said, we had to find a way to grab that remaining half to make it worthwhile. Speaking of which, I was bombarded with tasks ahead.
We need to check the package, look into the mysterious craftsman, and visit the Sanctum of Blessings. This time, there’s a pretty high chance Seungyub will get a boost, right? Plus, I need to scour the hotel for the Mirror Room whenever I get the chance.
“Let’s check that package and craftsman on the second floor.”
Sure enough, the package showed some changes. The box became semi-transparent, revealing something inside!
“What do you think is in there?”
As Grandpa flipped it around, he offered his input.
“It looks like a solid piece of glass…or something like that – whoa!”
A notification popped up for everyone.
/3 days left until delivery./
“3 days? It will arrive soon then.”
Songee tilted her head.
“That’s an ambiguous time. In 3 days… since we just solved Room 202, wouldn’t that mean ‘Party Time’ will happen then, right?”
“Dunno…”
It did seem a bit odd. Whatever that delivery is, the hotel slapped on those terms, and the key part is that the hotel thinks three days is the right time to hand over the package’s contents.
“Isn’t it weird? If the next room, say Room 203, has useful items, they should give them to us right away to help us get accustomed. On the flip side, if it’s something we shouldn’t use in Room 203, then just giving it after isn’t a big deal.”
“Let’s think about the package after it arrives! But more importantly, everyone, come this way!”
Ari’s excited voice echoed from across the way, pulling everyone into motion. The ‘Mysterious Craftsman’ made of Legos was finally coming to life.
“Hello, participants! I hope you’re having a great experience at Hotel Pioneer. The Mysterious Craftsman is responsible for crafting flying shoes that can be of great help to you. If you would like a description of the flying shoes, please press 1.”
“1? Do I just press this keypad on my chest?”
“If you would like a description of the flying shoes, please press 1.”
“Seriously? You don’t have any intelligence?”
“If you would like a description of the flying shoes, please press 1.”
“What’s option 2?”
“If you would like a description of the flying shoes, please press 1.”
“Hey! Stop chatting with this rockhead and just hit 1 already!”
Grandpa snapped in irritation. I expected some intelligent response from an NPC, but what we got was a robot-like entity just repeating set phrases. Is it because it’s made of Legos?
Meanwhile, the doctor chimed in.
“Flying shoes? Could this be… an escape tool?”
Everyone fell silent. It felt ridiculous to lie and say no. The awkward atmosphere lingered, and the doctor seemed to catch onto it, letting out a chuckle.
“Why the sudden fuss? It’s pretty reasonable to think if the sky is outside the main entrance, then flying shoes popping up is logical. Why not give it a press?”
“R-Right! Exactly! Everyone, why are you acting so tense? Let’s hear the explanation, it looks like just pressing a button alone won’t bring it out.”
Sister Eunsol stepped forward and pressed 1.
“Flying shoes, or Wing Boots, are a common item that all participants can use after obtaining them. When worn, you can fly. With sufficient training, you can escape the hotel using the main entrance. Unfortunately, we lack the materials needed for crafting them. To place a crafting request, please press 1.”
Now that it blatantly stated we could escape, I felt rather relieved. We didn’t have to play a game of charades among ourselves after all.
But still, the phrase ‘with sufficient training’ bothered me. Ari chimed in, with the same thought.
“What do you think ‘sufficient training’ means?”
“It sounds like it might be more complex to use than we thought. After all, flying is tough to pull off.”
“No, Eunsol, my point isn’t about how hard the shoe is to use. Even if we can fly, there seem to be genuine dangers using the main entrance for an escape.”
Back when I asked if we could use a ‘parachute’ for getting out via the main entrance, Owl basically said if you’re not afraid for your life, then give it a shot! Simply falling slowly wouldn’t be enough to head out through the front.
“Are there man-eating birds flying outside? By the way, what is a crafting request again? I think I heard previously that to get Wing Boots, we’ll have to solve a quest given by the Mysterious Craftsman…”
“That was from a trader. I’ll hit 1.”
“Crafting request. To make the flying shoes you will need a total of 3 materials. First, the feathers from a bird that soars through a typhoon. Second, the fur of a warrior that can withstand the power of thunder. Third, the eye of someone who observes all things from the peak. All materials can be found within the hotel. If any materials are in the Curse Room, you may retrieve them.”
Once again, silence fell over everyone.
Feathers from a bird soaring through a typhoon.
Fur from a warrior that can withstand thunder.
The eye of someone who observes all things from the peak.
As I read the phrases blankly, I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.
“I’ll just use an advice point here. These phrases are so abstract; pondering among ourselves won’t lead us anywhere.”
‘Give advice about these materials.’
[Questions about the Mysterious Craftsman must use up all your advice points. Will you ask?]
“Oh, here we go again.”
“Does it mean we have to burn all three advice points up?”
“It always happens like that when you’re trying to ask something that sounds plausible.”
“Just use it. After all, today isn’t Party Time, and we can’t explore nor has the package arrived yet. There’s not much to ask anyway.”
[Advice: 3 -> 0]
[You cannot complete it now; all materials can be found on the 2nd floor.]
That was a somewhat useful answer. At least we don’t have to worry about spinning our wheels over something we can’t craft yet.
As soon as we returned to Room 105, a notification popped up congratulating us, announcing that Party Time would last for the next three days starting tomorrow. As always, there was also a notification that the hotel would reveal its hidden secrets during Party Time.
*
“Great job, everyone!”
“Thanks, you too!”
After sharing some pleasantries, we settled into a cheerful atmosphere over a meal, and the to-do list for the rest period began surfacing.
“On Day 1, so tomorrow, we should head to the Sanctum of Blessings first. Lots of people are likely to get boosts.”
“Those left should look through the hotel. We need to find the Mirror Room. Oh, and everyone, there’s something we shouldn’t forget.”
With that, Ari scrawled something on a whiteboard.
Hidden NPC on Floor 2: Mysterious Craftsman, ???.
Hidden Rooms on Floor 2: Resurrection Room, Mirror Room.
“See? We found the Mysterious Craftsman and know the details for gathering requests. We’ve already used the Resurrection Room once, and while we know about the Mirror Room’s existence, there’s another hidden NPC on the second floor whose identity remains a mystery.”
202 truly is a floor with depth, giving and giving without end. I couldn’t even hint at what that hidden NPC could be.
“We’ll have to search when we can. It could be on the second floor or down in the basement.”
“By the last day, we should think about what room to go to next. Though I suppose it’ll likely be Room 203.”
Songee added one more thing.
“We also need to check the package. Looking at the date, it seems to show up on the final day.”
Ugh….
Feels like I’m going to choke on this meal. Why are there so many tasks piling up? Beside me, Seungyub muttered in disbelief.
“There are games out there where you can soak up three days of fun and not have a thing to do, yet this hotel has insane amounts of content! It’s a total game god, a divine game! Even the princess bunnies are probably exhausted from all this!”
Grandpa chuckled softly.
“Well, isn’t this all talk about stuff we’re gonna snag for ourselves? Let’s think positively about it. Just take a peek into reality! The monsters out there take lives without handing over anything, but here they’re actually rolling out treasures.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but Grandpa had a point, and I found myself smiling.
Maybe it’s the weight of all that’s left to do, but I casually started discussing our adventure in Room 202.
“Having solved Room 202 gets me thinking. Everyone, give it a serious thought. This ties into how we move forward.”
“Sis, why do you suddenly sound so heavy-handed about it all?”
“Our resolution method. Do you really think that’s the ‘solution the hotel intended?’”
The final solution we chose in Room 202 was to appease the Sea God’s grudge and retaliate against the Administration Bureau.
“You seem to think otherwise.”
“Exactly. I believe we solved it in a way that swims against the hotel’s intention. I have a good deal of evidence for this.”
With that, my sister pointed out a few facts.
“First of all, let’s look at Elena, the one who was sealed. Elena was the second daughter who was purged by the first daughter, right? And she woke up just when the resurrection of the Sea God was near, alerting us that Lee Sooho was the culprit. What does that imply?”
Ari answered.
“It means the role the hotel assigned to Elena was to provide information to stop the resurrection of the Sea God, right?”
“Exactly. Elena’s position was aimed at thwarting the Sea God’s revival. Plus, Kain’s understanding of the scenario fits as good evidence.”
Since I grasped what she was getting at, I answered for her.
“The understanding of the scenario led us to the Sea God Island on our first attempt, guiding us to hunt for hidden secrets within the island. Meaning, the hotel offered no information that would raise suspicion about the Administration Bureau.”
Listening in, Ari asked.
“When we were making our big move against the Administration Bureau on our third try, what kind of information did we get?”
This was an easy question to answer.
“Nothing. The moment we entered, it said ‘Go to Sea God Island,’ and after ignoring it, nothing else updated.”
“That’s like….”
“It feels like there wasn’t anything prepared. It was too far from what they expected.”
As my sister pointed out something I vaguely felt, a realization hit me hard. Room 202, the way we resolved it, perfectly deviates from the hotel’s intent.
The placement of Elena and the guiding guidelines provided by the hotel’s script fell completely flat on its face, proving that point.
As everyone nodded in agreement, my sister continued, her confidence revived.
“We found a response completely outside the hotel’s guidelines, and instead of criticism, they handed us extra rewards. What does this signify?”
I felt a glimpse of understanding.
Every Curse Room must have an appropriate answer in the hotel’s eyes. If you look closely at the NPC’s roles or the information revealed when sealed participants are freed, it’s possible to deduce the hotel’s prepared answer.
In Room 202, the hotel’s intended answer was undoubtedly to quickly deal with Lee Sooho and Rilinganor to deter the Sea God’s descent, right?
We were entirely off that answer. Yet, the hotel was pleased enough to hand us bonus points.
In other words.
“There’s no need to adhere strictly to the hotel’s intent. In fact, the hotel itself seems to rate responses based on their ability to solve problems. Should we weather more than just a 50-point score, they’re practically telling us to seek out better answers.”
As the impending crisis loomed, some worlds collapsed under the weight of that threat. Meanwhile, others made imperfect responses and survived, yet reaped countless sacrifices or left lingering fears in their wake.
Some might have wondered. Wasn’t there a better answer out there?
Not one conjured by gods or Buddhas casually waving away demons, but answers that beings can craft.
It felt like I grasped something, yet it was also perplexing.
Following this reasoning, there’s a limit to the solutions we can form based on the arrangement of NPCs or information from released participants, and the insight provided by ‘scenario understanding.’
Even if we analyze the information granted by the hotel, it may lead to a mere ‘huh, 50 points!’ reaction from the hotel.
Let’s keep in mind to think comfortably. Essentially, we should earnestly attempt to draft a 50-pointer response based on the provided information but also aim for those ‘No way!’ realizations that might lead to astounding solutions.
The following day, we headed for the Sanctum of Blessings.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.