### Chapter 267 – Room ???, The Cursed Room – ‘????’ (5)
—
“Achoo!”
In the desolate land, a fierce wind tore through the cave, whipping up sand and dust, causing Mooksung to cough and grimace. But of course, Mooksung’s grimace wasn’t just due to the dust.
“If Sanghyun is right, Elena will be crashing into our direction soon,” he remarked.
“That’s correct.”
“There’s no answer among us, huh? It seems we need Eunsol’s flute.”
“If we consider the contents of the notification we received at the start, the legacy is intact. If it’s Eunsol’s flute, we should be able to turn Elena back. However, we have no way of knowing where she is, so we need to take the best possible action.”
“The best action? What are we going to—”
“Elder, let’s hold off on physical altercations for now.”
Mooksung tilted his head but followed Sanghyun’s suggestion and sent all the warriors who had come to guard him outside the cave. Once they were alone, Sanghyun asked with a peculiar expression.
“Elder, this might be a bit off-topic, but how do you see those primitive folks?”
“What do you mean? They’re just Stone Age ooga-boogas.”
“Do they look like humans to you?”
“Pfft! Sure. Are they too dirty and dumb to seem human and look more like monkeys? I’m saying this because I’ve lived longer than you; when an environment is harsh, humans tend to become ignorant and filthy.”
“No, that’s not what I mean…”
Sanghyun hesitated, contemplating whether or not to continue. As a doctor, he had gained public favor quickly by treating the primitive people’s diseases and injuries the moment he landed onstage.
“I feel… a little different.”
“Hm. When you encountered the Uin tribe in Room 202, didn’t you say they were just humans? These folks look no different from humans, so what’s with your words?”
“Hmm. Let’s drop that topic for now. It might just be a misunderstanding.”
Sanghyun also found it hard to articulate his vague sensations. Expressing feelings like the ambiguous sense he had during the treatment process was no easy feat. So, he deemed it more sensible to return to the pressing issues at hand.
“Have you heard any information about paradise?”
“Paradise? Are you talking about the ‘Sweet Land’ mentioned in the tribe’s legends?”
“Looks like each tribe has a different name for it. That’s right.”
“I’ve heard of it. It must be the site we absolutely need to visit to resolve our current situation.”
“Exactly. But will the tribesmen dare to cross the mountain range?”
Mooksung shook his head instantly. It was impossible. The primitive people regarded the mountain range as a hell descended upon this world. Even if a divine being told them to go there, they wouldn’t follow; primitives aren’t devoid of intelligence.
“The mountain range is an essential place to go, but the tribespeople are unwilling to travel there. It makes the looming crisis hard to tackle. Even if the entire tribe prepares to move, the speed of such a large group will always be determined by the slowest among them.”
“…True. They’ll likely move at the pace of children or the elderly instead of the warriors.”
Sanghyun, quietly watching outside the cave, was the last to speak.
“When you encounter a bear in the mountains, it’s not about outrunning the bear. You only need to move faster than the person next to you to survive.”
“You’re saying that…”
“I’ve made up my mind. How about you, Elder?”
Mooksung was at a loss for words. Right now, Sanghyun was suggesting they abandon the tribe and head toward the mountain range together!
*
– Lee Eunsol
“I’m glad you’re well. I was really worried you might encounter a tough situation. Of course, with that reliable bulgogi-like ally beside you, you probably had no crises!”
Reuniting with her comrade, Yu Songee, Eunsol noted that she looked even better than expected. Unlike her, who appeared a bit rough, Songee was neat in a white outfit and adorned with various decorations.
More than anything, seeing the ‘familiar bird’ that had brought her here filled Eunsol with deep envy. Why does that Perro always start next to Songee? I could use a bit of help from someone as weak as I am!
“What on earth are those decorations on your body?”
“The tribe folks gift them to me every day! They seem to really like me.”
Hearing that made Eunsol’s stomach twist a little more. Why are the tribesmen kind only to Songee? Many of my own tribe members looked at me as if saying “how dare a woman…” and it wasn’t easy to gain dominance.
At least, thanks to ‘the Great Divine One,’ that ‘how dare a woman’ notion was offset, and after subduing the bull, she felt a sense of pride.
“Hmm. I’ve had my share of hardships too. Shortly after arriving at the tribe, a monster pounced on me.”
“A monster? I faced a bull as large as a truck earlier.”
“I was attacked by a giant praying mantis-like monster called ‘The Cutter,’ and I had to take it down with Perro’s help.”
Both Eunsol and Songee had been leaders of their respective tribes from the start, and soon found themselves battling the monsters that attacked their tribes. This couldn’t be just coincidence. Every comrade probably faced similar struggles, and she couldn’t help but worry about the others.
The conversation naturally shifted toward the topic of ‘beyond the mountains.’
“I heard a song from the tribe folks. They said all ancestors were children of the sky god and dwelled in sacred land. One day, they were supposedly chased away from that land.”
“To be honest, it sounds like a common myth. There’s a nearly identical story in Christianity, and there are several similar religions.”
“That’s true. The peculiar point is that the location of that ‘sacred land’ is rather specific according to the folklore?”
“They said we need to cross the mountains. But… I’m feeling a bit differently.”
“Really?”
“Son, how do you think we can escape?”
“First, we need to find out what this ‘curse’ is all about.”
Based on past experiences, the criteria for escape judgments varies from room to room. Simply surviving for a long time won’t trigger the escape; they’ll need to delay or evade the ‘curse’ itself.
“Here’s my guess, so give me your thoughts too.”
“Okay.”
“Haven’t you heard from the tribespeople? They say the seasons are strange. It shouldn’t be this cold yet.”
“I’ve heard something like that.”
“As soon as I confirmed it’s the Stone Age, I began to wonder: what could the ‘curse’ be in this setting? If I say it sadly, the world appears to be doomed from the very beginning. It’s as if it’s already gone to ruin.”
“I vaguely feel it’s somewhat similar to Room 101. We are all scattered, and the state of the world is inherently ruined from the onset.”
“What calamity could truly ruin this already ruined world? What could deal another critical blow to the primitive humans? Just observing the weather turning absurdly cold brings to mind a word: ‘Ice Age.’”
After a moment of contemplation, Son responded, “That does sound compelling. Could the scenario for this room be humanity’s extinction due to the Ice Age? Then what should we do? We can’t exactly banish the Ice Age, can we?”
“It may not even be a natural Ice Age. Perhaps a wicked and horrific existence is orchestrating it.”
“Hmm.”
“Let’s think about the cause of the Ice Age later. Honestly, I’m convinced that solving this round is impossible.”
“…”
“The blessings have malfunctioned. I wonder if Elena is okay? Seungyub might already be dead, and Jinchul is probably not doing well either. In this state, it’s impossible to resolve anything. The best bet now is to focus on survival and strategize for an escape. Want to hear my plan?”
“Do you have a plan, Sis?”
Eunsol stood up and gazed blankly at the sky. The incomprehensible divine figure she had seen from above just yesterday filled her heart.
“I saw a divine being in the sky.”
“Eh?”
“It resembled an azure seal or whale swimming in the sky like an ocean.”
“That… doesn’t sound dangerous, right?”
“Songee, what do you think about this place we’re currently in?”
Upon hearing her words, Son looked around in confusion.
“Uh, it’s just a grassy field, right? There’s soft grass and trees bearing delicious fruits—”
“Does it feel different?”
“… It seems more flourishing compared to other places. There’s a slight darkness to it.”
“Unreasonably bountiful, right? You saw it while riding Perro, didn’t you? This world’s seasons are gradually getting colder; it’s fundamentally a desolate place. You won’t find fruit-laden trees just anywhere.”
“…”
“Songee, this place is a ‘shadow of a god.’”
The unseen entity in the sky is so immense that its shadow stretches for kilometers, causing those on the ground to be unaware that it’s even a ‘shadow.’ Should anyone casually notice that it’s suddenly gotten darker, they might simply think the sun got covered by clouds.
However, once recognizing the existence drifting behind the clouds, one can distinctly feel the sluggish ‘shadow of the god’ on the ground and discover the unnatural prosperity flourishing under its shadow.
Two hours.
That was how long it took for Son to grasp Eunsol’s words. Mounted on the grotesque creature, she raced along the path of the ‘shadow’ and returned with a vacant expression.
“The ecosystem has completely changed along the path of the shadow. Even in this rocky desolate area, there are unexpected thickets bursting with cherries, and amidst the cold, trees bare of leaves are thriving—the only trees along the shadow’s path bear fruit like it’s spring or summer.”
“Now you’ve come to understand. Whatever that celestial entity is, I can’t quite pin down. But….”
“But?”
“From what I sense, it doesn’t seem to be malevolent. It might even be a prisoner, but just because it’s a prisoner doesn’t always make it a wicked being.”
The ‘Sea God’ in Room 202, the ‘Teacher’ in Room 103—prisoners are not necessarily evil beings.
“So what’s your plan, sis?”
“Let’s follow the shadow. Yesterday, the heavenly presence met my gaze and then began to move slowly as if beckoning me to follow.”
“…”
“There can’t possibly be a coincidence. If that being is a prisoner, it would surely know that we’re ‘hotel participants.’”
“Is the prisoner leading us somewhere?”
“Surely, we have many mouths to feed. You and my tribe folks. Where can we find food and drink for everyone? Following the shadow could just resolve that problem.”
Son leaned thoughtfully against a tree, wearing a worried expression.
“This all seems to lack solid grounding. That mysterious being in the sky, with divine powers akin to a life-giving deity, I get it. But is there truly a reason to follow it?”
“Good point.”
“Well, if we were real primitive people, we’d undoubtedly follow that shadow because food would spring forth based on just that one reason. But our goal isn’t merely survival; after all, the shadow is moving in the opposite direction of the mountains.”
“Good, I get what you’re saying. But let me ask you in return: have you found any reasons to head to the mountains for certain?”
Upon those words, Son fell silent.
“After all, it’s just a legend that descended to the tribe. There are even tales that the mountains are filled with absurd monsters. Do we really need to go to such a place right now?”
“Right now?”
“I think I’ll eventually have to go to that sacred land beyond the mountains. I need to go there to resolve things, but I don’t think this round is the time for that. If we head to the mountains without proper assembly like this, we’ll face extermination. So for now, let’s aim for an escape while we follow the safe paths.”
After conversing this long, Eunsol and Son sank into deep contemplation, unable to make easy decisions.
Before them lay two choices: one was the ‘sacred land’ reportedly full of monsters beyond the mountains, and the other was a path brimming with milk and honey led by the great being hovering in the sky.
Where should they go?
*
Gazing down at the grassy plains battered by the fierce wind, the boy thought deeply. How on earth did things get to this point!
The boy’s body was floating up into the vast sky. It was clear others had lifted him into the air; he hadn’t spontaneously grown wings.
And it was evident who was holding the boy during this flight. That being resembled an angel descending from the heavens.
The golden hair, shimmering like sunlight, flowed below the waist, and gazing into the eyes filled with the lushness of the forest warmed his heart. The transformation that resulted in transparent dragonfly-like wings sprouting from the back was undeniably creepy, but that angelic aura made it seem somewhat plausible.
If the heyday of countless people hadn’t been transformed into silky cocoons, and he didn’t know the truth of the cocoons scattered over the grassy fields just a short while ago…
Seeing hundreds turning into cocoons was enough to send Seungyub toward the brink of insanity.
“Thank goodness.”
“Eldest sister…”
“Thank goodness. I found you before you got hurt. I was really worried.”
“Sister…”
“It’s a strange place, isn’t it? Right after waking up, there were monsters all around.”
“….”
“Seungyub, you don’t have to worry anymore; I’ll protect you now. I wonder where the others might be?”
Behind Elena were the moths. Even now, they were flying around, harvesting the fleeing humans from the fields. Seungyub had a feeling he could guess what would soon emerge from the many cocoons in the plains.
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.