### Chapter 346 – Party Time – Revelation of Secrets (5)
—
[User: Lee Eunsol]
Date: Day 150
Current Location: Floor 1, Corridor
Advisor’s Advice: X
— Eunsol
When I proposed that we seek useful information rather than tools with the Hand of Greed, Grandpa and Sanghyun seemed okay with it.
“Eunsol, not a bad thought. Rather than gather useless and ambiguous tools, it’s better to acquire valuable information.”
“The idea’s good, but let’s discuss what information we should ask for.”
If we’re using the Hand of Greed to obtain information, what should we be after?
“There are several conditions to consider. We aim to obtain info we can’t get from Kain’s advice. The Hand of Greed can be used far less frequently than the sage’s advice,” I added.
Ari chimed in.
“I think we should request information that has definite answers. From what I’ve felt watching Kain use his advice, the responses can often be vague, yielding little more than riddles.”
Elena also shared her thoughts.
“It might be awkward to ask where we should go next. Isn’t there no specific order for the Curse Room? I feel like we’d just get a vague response, like ‘you can go anywhere.’”
Sanghyun nodded in agreement.
“Then how about asking about the contents of the next room itself?”
Feeling a bit uneasy, I interjected.
“Are we even allowed to ask about the contents of the next room?”
The room fell silent for a moment. It was unclear how much information we could actually obtain.
After a brief pause, Ari picked up a pen and began scribbling ideas on a whiteboard.
“Let’s brainstorm different questions. We’ll start with the important ones, and if those don’t work out, we can ask for other information instead.”
1. Hints, threats, keywords for the remaining rooms.
2. Are there other escape methods for everyone?
3. How to find hidden NPCs?
“This is a list I came up with, but if you have any other ideas, voice them.”
Grandpa responded.
“Number 2 seems a bit ambiguous. We already heard about escape methods at the souvenir shop and reaffirmed it, right? People said everyone could escape once we break through the second floor.”
“But there could be more we don’t know about,” I argued.
“What if there aren’t? It’ll just end up being a ‘no’ then.”
“That’s exactly why I included it at number 2,” I retorted.
“Well, in that case….”
Soon, everyone started throwing out different ideas.
Sanghyun wanted to know how to meet the ‘Buddha.’
Jinchul was curious if there was a way to obtain ‘immense power.’
Miro pondered whether a ‘secretive question’ might be possible.
Songee earnestly suggested we ask about the path to immortality.
Various suggestions came up, but amidst the chatter, I realized something.
Quite a few of us seem to want to gain something more from the hotel rather than leaving right now.
For instance, if I asked Songee to choose between a door out into reality and a potion for immortality, she’d probably pick immortality.
It struck me anew how much we had changed since we first entered the hotel.
That said, since the conversation was getting a bit chaotic, I decided to take the wheel.
— Clap!
“Alright, guys! I get that everyone’s wishes are diverse, but let’s focus on getting urgent information first instead of fluffy dreams.”
In the end, everyone agreed to start with questions about the ‘remaining rooms.’
The fact that we all collectively agreed on at least one question from Ari’s initial list held weight.
Around that time, Grandpa brought Kain back.
After briefly informing the team of the situation, he expressed his thoughts were similar, choosing not to add any questions to the list.
“I’ll start using it now!”
Silence and tension filled the room.
Everyone understood that one specific characteristic of the Hand of Greed didn’t need to be mentioned.
Those not using the ability would be put in danger.
What kind of cost will the Hand of Greed demand this time?
I cleared my mind.
Since everyone was in agreement, this was merely an issue for my teammates to bear.
[Hand of Greed: 1 -> 0]
— Thunder rumble!
With a loud noise like lightning striking, all the lights in the hotel went out.
In an instant, our surroundings plunged into darkness.
And then – a notification appeared.
“A surprise event has occurred at the request of the participants…
Surprise Event: Revelation of Secrets”
My consciousness began to blur.
*
[User: Han Kain]
Date: Day 150
Current Location: Floor 1, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: X
— Kain
As the surrounding darkness descended, moans could be heard from various corners.
Ari and Grandpa were trying to calm everyone down when a notification about the ‘Revelation of Secrets’ event popped up.
“Revelation of Secrets?”
“Sounds fancy….”
At that moment, light shone only on the spot where Eunsol was standing.
A table and a crystal orb, which hadn’t been there moments before, appeared, and she was holding the orb with her head bowed.
A voice, rough and deep, unlike Eunsol’s usual tone, emerged.
“Do you wish to obtain secret information that is not easily attainable?”
Tension filled the air as everyone’s focus turned to Eunsol. It seemed something unknown had possessed her.
“Very well. This is also your choice… You may ask three questions. But remember— to seek the secrets of the heavens, a price befitting must be paid. Questioners, expect divine punishment.”
Silence enveloped the room as everyone started brainstorming intensely.
I quickly grasped the structure.
We were to request information from the mysterious entity possessing Eunsol. We had a total of three questions, but the questioner would face divine punishment.
Due to the nature of the Hand of Greed, users would bear no risk, but it appeared Eunsol was rendered unable to ask questions herself.
The term “divine punishment” sent shivers down our spines, causing everyone to hesitate to speak up.
Ari cautiously raised her hand.
“Can I ask, apart from the authorized three questions, what exactly is ‘divine punishment’?”
“Unacceptable!”
Even questions about the event itself counted as one of the three. This made speaking up quite daunting.
Just then, Jinchul stood up.
“I’ll ask the first question.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’m curious about the contents of the remaining room, Room 205. Can you tell us the entire scenario?”
— Thunder crash!
With a thunderous roar somewhere, the entire hotel seemed to vibrate. It felt like we were being threatened.
“Because you were the first to courageously rise when all others are frozen in fear, I shall show you mercy. Yet, you cannot bear the consequence of that question. Lower the stakes.”
In that moment, I realized a key characteristic of the ‘Revelation of Secrets.’
The severity of divine punishment is not fixed; it depends on how excessive the information requested is.
The dialogue window flashed.
Cha Jinchul: Shouldn’t we refrain from asking about the room’s details?
Kim Sanghyun: No, he said to lower the stakes a bit. Avoid asking for the whole scenario.
Kim Ari: Just provide the necessary keywords instead. Short phrases are enough.
Han Kain: Keywords, keywords!
Elena: What dangers lie ahead? What hints will there be?
Jinchul carefully responded again.
“Thank you for your mercy. I will ask my first question again.”
“Remember, there are no second chances at mercy.”
“I’d like to know what dangers are present in Room 205, and please provide a simple hint or keyword for the solution. Just a few words.”
In the next moment, the crystal orb began to vibrate strangely on the table.
Unintelligible images or drawings flashed by, accompanied by an unpleasant sound reminiscent of metal scraping against a chalkboard.
“Absolute mastery. Inescapable death. Luck will not prevail. Exceptional strength is needed.”
Luck won’t prevail? Exceptional strength?
Is it a room that heavily relies on pure physical power instead of some mystical ability?
I heard Ari hurriedly scribbling down the answer.
Suddenly, Jinchul vanished!
“Whoa! Hyung!”
“Jinchul oppa!”
Seungyub and Songee screamed while I quickly checked the status window.
I can’t believe the question was too excessive, leading to the ‘inescapable divine punishment’!
[Companion Location Information (*)
Cha Jinchul: Hell of Gluttony]
“He’s alive!”
“Kain oppa?”
“Jinchul hyung is still alive, just calm down!”
Grandpa’s voice resonated in the darkness.
“Kain, did you check the location? Where did he go?”
“He’s in the Hell of Gluttony!”
“Hell of Gluttony, after Ice Hell, this hotel keeps bringing up even more sinister locations…”
Ari’s sharp voice cut through.
“Silence!”
I pondered.
The Hell of Gluttony, whatever that place might entail, sounds like a hellish location from its mere title.
The cost of divine punishment is being cast into a perilous place!
Moreover, since it seems we cannot choose where we land, we practically have to escape alone.
Just then, I could hear Ari’s voice, a light bulb going off in her head.
“It seems anyone can’t just ask a question. The one who needs to question must be capable of escaping a dangerous place alone. Let’s unify our questions.”
Who will ask? And why unify questions?
“I’ll take on the second question. Kain, keep checking my location.”
“Ari!”
Ignoring Miro’s alarm, Ari opened her mouth.
“I’ll ask the second question.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’d like to know what dangers await in Room 206, and give me a simple hint or keyword for the solution. Just a few words.”
What on earth does it mean to unify our questions? It was quite literally just changing ‘Room 205’ to ‘Room 206’ while maintaining the same essence as Jinchul’s query.
At that moment, considering what I had realized about the ‘Revelation of Secrets,’ I understood Ari’s intention.
The severity of the divine punishment isn’t fixed; it’s determined by the level of the questions asked.
In other words, if the questions posed are of the same level, the divine punishment is the same.
So, even if we fall into a dangerous place, it’s clearly better to fall with a partner than alone.
“Three-way battle, a staple of creative works. Remember to check the date frequently.”
Three-way battle? One of them will obviously be us, and the other two, the adversary and the prisoner?
What does ‘a staple of creative works’ mean?
Does the mentioning of frequently checking the date hint there’s time travel involved?
Countless thoughts rushed through my mind.
Once again, Ari vanished. I immediately checked her location.
[Companion Location Information (*)
Kim Ari: Hell of Gluttony]
“Ari is also gone! Hell of Gluttony!”
Now, who will pose the next question?
With Jinchul and Ari gone, who else is even capable of escaping that unidentified Hell of Gluttony?
“I’ll take the third question.”
Gulp!
“Now I’ll be asking my third question!”
The moment I opened my mouth, the teacher nearby reached out and covered my mouth, then began speaking instead.
“U-um, sensei!”
“Kain, you’re already in a cursed state. Falling into hell while already cursed is foolish.”
“But…”
“You won’t have anything to worry about. You’ll be out soon.”
“Is that supposed to be reassuring?!”
Just then, a gravelly voice rang out.
“The questioner has already been decided. Ask.”
“I’d like to know about the last room. Room 207…”
— Crash!
Before I could even react, a chair came sliding over and knocked the doctor down!
I couldn’t shake the feeling that Seungyub had something to do with it.
“Seungyub! What did you do?”
“J-just now, the luck of the draw—”
“Forget it, quiet down.”
“Kain, this is—”
“Room 207 is different from the other cursed rooms. It’s the Entrance Room, right? Since it’s the highest-ranking room, asking a question about this one seems to incur an unmanageable divine punishment.”
“…”
“Let’s ask about Room 104. We need to unify our questions, and since Room 104 is the only remaining cursed room…”
“Alright then. I’ll ask my third question! What dangers lie in Room 104, and could you provide a simple hint or keyword for the solution? Just a few words, please.”
As I listened to the doctor’s question, I felt uneasy.
Room 104 is, in numerous ways, unlike the other cursed rooms.
If we think about it, Room 104 doesn’t actually present a ‘solution’ issue.
In fact, we’d merely be spectators while the prisoner goes wild trying to solve the room!
The real problem with Room 104 is the reward for solving it—the ‘Sacred Sun’ itself.
Since the inheritance itself is like a twisted copy of ‘the Lord,’ there’s no telling what might happen when we attempt to acquire it.
Would we even receive an answer of any meaning?
The gravelly voice began to speak again.
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