### Chapter 352 – Room 205, The Cursed Room – ‘□□□□’ (1)
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 154
Current Location: Floor 2, Room 205 – The Cursed Room ‘□□□□’
Sage’s Advice: 3]
—
– Han Kain
… It’s cold.
The chill seeps through to my bones, freezing my very soul.
What on Earth is going on right now?
I woke up this morning, had breakfast with my comrades, came up to the second floor –
and realized I was in the cursed room, Room 205.
And, once again, I’ve been sealed.
I tried to open my eyes to at least see the title of the room on the status window, but it decided to keep that to itself.
Looking back, it was the same when I got sealed back in Room 201, wasn’t it?
As I was pondering this, my consciousness shattered.
*
Dozens of people gathered in a barren field filled with gravel.
Soon, the murmur of followers began to spread across the field, as if something ominous had happened that should not exist.
“The flames have gone out. What could this calamity be?”
“We pray! Please forgive us!”
“How could this happen amidst such great endeavors?”
“Oh, great flame… Agni…”
“If we have sinned, please let us know -”
At that moment, an elderly man in the front row lightly clapped his hands.
And then, something utterly incomprehensible happened.
It was as if a hole had formed between the man’s hands, swallowing the sound around him, as the noise from all directions hushed.
If a ‘time traveler’ were present, they would have probably said it felt like someone hit the mute button on reality.
“Calm down.”
The elderly man’s demeanor was remarkably nonchalant, as if the extinguished flames were no great concern.
Soon, this natural aura spread, and the followers found peace of mind.
How could there be a problem with their leader being so composed?
He was the noblest being under heaven, one destined to behead the false king, who called himself an ‘Emperor,’ and liberate them all.
However, at this moment, the heart of the cult leader, Jo Wonhong, who calmed the followers, was anything but peaceful.
“What on Earth is happening here!”
What kind of place is this?
To an unknowing observer, it seemed like a wasteland without a single blade of grass, but in reality, this land was the most mysterious in the world.
Wasn’t this where the one who first established the cult, the prophet, received commandments from the noble Agni?
But….
For the past 780 years, this sacred flame that had withstood storms and tempests without faltering, a miracle proving Agni’s greatness by its mere existence—
has gone out.
“Of all times, why today, when we are conquering the Empire!”
At this moment, Jo Wonhong was no longer the supreme leader of the ‘Heaven’s First Cult’ or one of the three great masters of the past.
He was just one frightened human, terrified that the lifelong ambition and faith he had cherished would shake.
“Let’s go back!”
His commanding voice resonated, and the kneeling followers stood up.
They began to follow their leader, forgetting the anxiety and doubt they had mere moments ago.
*
– Park Seungyub
“Your Majesty, I express my gratitude on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, Lee Woncheol. I have come to report on the impending aggressive actions from Baehwa Cult to the south.”
It feels like my head is going to explode any second.
“There are reports that the defenses along the Holy City have been breached, and the 13 Commanders of Baehwa Cult have begun to appear near the barrier! Also—”
I wanted to ask the old man in front of me if he thought I understood this convoluted report.
At that moment, my sister, sitting beside me in a pristine white outfit like a painting, opened her mouth.
“Provide more details about the movements near the barrier. What is the situation of the Great Commander of the Big Dipper?”
“The Great Commander is—”
Fortunately, someone was managing to comprehend the endless reports and respond.
Thinking back, these old men seemed to merely pretend to report to me.
My head is throbbing.
Room 205, the unspecified stage of the yet-to-be-named cursed room, resembled a pre-modern, Eastern-style nation.
A country on the brink of collapse, half of its territory seized by rebels, where the sharp-eyed were already absconding with their riches.
And, ironically, it’s named ‘Light.’
I am the boy emperor of this crumbling empire.
Typically, an emperor receives their title posthumously, yet here I stand, alive, and already the people call me by that title.
Thanks to this title, I am none other than the “Last Emperor.”
*
“Well done~!”
Even a crumbling empire’s emperor needs to eat.
Thanks to that, I could catch a short break.
“… Eun-sol, haven’t you gotten too casual with your speech?”
Didn’t you say I should be addressed by my title whenever we are in Room 205, even when alone?
Wasn’t it so that I wouldn’t make a fool of myself in front of others?
“Seungyub, this country is basically done for, so let’s just chill.”
“… Right.”
— Thud!
Suddenly, the emperor’s bodyguard, the famed Kim Sanghyun, lightly slammed his hand on the table.
“Chowamunju, let’s keep our promise. The nation’s fortunes may be in decline, but we are in a situation where we must protect this country. Title!”
“Of course. I just found myself laughing too much earlier….”
“Chowamunju, as you know, I serve as the emperor’s guard, which restricts my mobility. Have you managed to find out the roles of the other comrades?”
“Yeah. Cha Jinchul is the ‘Great Commander of the Big Dipper’ mentioned in the earlier report. He’s currently near the barrier, where it seems he had encountered the forces of Baehwa Cult.”
“Starting with a battle… Well, he’s got a tough position. What about the other comrades?”
“Elena is acting as a messenger and missionary from the Western Empire. More precisely, she is the First Apostle of the Abester Church, the state religion of the West. I ran into her earlier; she should be able to attend the evening meeting.”
“Hm… While Seungyub and Eun-sol are part of the Empire, Elena hails from a different faction. This role allocation must have some meaning. What about the others?”
“Grandfather and Songyi are like shadows, with no record of their official positions. They seem like wandering masters of martial arts, bestowed with those kinds of roles.”
“What about Ari and Miro?”
“I’m not sure with them either. Probably the same as wandering masters? Usually, martial artists have special titles, but these guys seem to lack a ‘name,’ so it’s hard to tell them apart.”
“Seems like many warriors live lives where they could die at any moment, which means they often live without an established identity.”
“Anyway… Room 205 is overly straightforward in its scenario. It feels like a very honest room, if you will?”
The teacher nodded, responding.
“Our task is to stop the cult from attacking this endangered empire. Our opponent is the Baehwa leader, Jo Wonhong.”
“The source of the curse is likely the ‘Ascension Ritual’ that the Baewa Leader plans to carry out after conquering the world. He’s even announced it openly, handing out proclamations to the entire world.”
“That’s not something to take lightly. What does it mean for the scenario to be so obvious and clear?”
“It’s going to be hard to win, even if we know the path.”
“They’ll be strong. Jo Wonhong and his 13 Commanders will undoubtedly be powerful. We were already warned during the divine revelation.”
Once the conversation between my sister and the teacher concluded, I took a moment to mentally sort out the current roles of our comrades.
Park Seungyub: Emperor of the Light Empire, known to all as the Last Emperor.
Lee Eunsol: Advisor to the Emperor and distant relative, the Chowamunju.
Kim Sanghyun: The Emperor’s bodyguard, a famous warrior’s disciple. Alias: Steel Spear.
Cha Jinchul: Great Commander of the Empire’s Big Dipper. Guardian of the barrier.
Elena: First Apostle of the Abester Church, a messenger from the West.
Next, what about Kim Mooksung, Yu Songee, Miro, and Ahri?
As I reflected on each one, I realized I had forgotten someone.
“What about Kain oppa?”
Both of them turned to me simultaneously.
“Seungyub, you—no, Your Majesty, it seems you haven’t recalled yet.”
“Kain must be sealed again.”
“Excuse me?”
My brother got sealed after Room 201 again? That could happen, I suppose.
From what Ari had told me about her experience at the hotel party in the deep sea, a person can get sealed multiple times.
But how did they know he got sealed already?
There isn’t a notification from the hotel saying someone got sealed, is there?
Couldn’t one of Kim Mooksung, Yu Songee, Miro, or Ahri have been sealed instead?
At that moment, the doctor chuckled as he explained.
I then realized how famous Kain oppa was in this world.
*
It was already late, and the pale moon hanging in the night sky was gently illuminating the world as it rested against the mountain peaks.
Two people walked along a faintly illuminated mountain path, using the dim moonlight as a lamp.
“Grandfather, I’m really dead tired…. Isn’t it too dangerous to walk this mountain path at this hour?”
“It is, but what can we do? They say the Empire’s doom is imminent.”
“Ugh….”
“I was actually planning to sleep a night at the inn and head out. But if I hadn’t heard that song about the Last Emperor drawing near!”
“The Last Emperor Park Seungyub. It sounds kind of cool. I’ve heard there are surprisingly sympathetic comments about Seungyub going around?”
“Because he’s a boy-emperor. The world isn’t filled with fools; they know a kid who has only been on the throne for a year and a half isn’t totally responsible for the nation’s downfall.”
“Could it be an issue of the late emperor?”
“Probably. The brat who ruined the country seems to have already perished.”
“Ugh! Speak a bit more politely!”
The teenage girl walking the mountain path frowned and lightly kicked the old man.
Of course, the old man wouldn’t even flinch even if she swung her fist with all her might.
“My lower back feels a bit sore; that was nice. Go ahead, hit me again.”
“… I’m exhausted.”
“Should I carry you?”
In that split second, the deity bird Yu Songee actually contemplated climbing onto the old man’s back.
The overnight mountain journey had indeed drained her energy considerably.
“No way. I’m not a kid anymore.”
“What’s that? You are a child.”
Songee focused more on the reason she was given the title “Deity Bird” than on conversing with Mooksung.
Something that had been giving off a subtle weight from her shoulders since earlier!
“Perro! You –”
Before she could finish her sentence, Perro flew into the air.
“…”
“Wow! What a savvy little fella! He’s so sharp! Just as I expected, he took off before I even could ask for a ride. No wonder he’s qualified for that ‘Deity’ title.”
“… Seriously, that guy—”
“Stop right there.”
All of a sudden, Mooksung shouted sharply, stopping Songee.
A moment later, sounds of clanking metal echoed all around, followed by torches springing to life here and there, illuminating the darkness.
“Hey! You must be important people? I couldn’t recognize you in the dark!”
Songee let out a deep sigh.
In this crumbling empire, law and order had long since vanished.
In a world in this state of disrepair, it was hardly strange for something to happen during a mountain night hike.
So, it didn’t come as a surprise when five or six bandits appeared.
What was more surprising, though, was that these bandits boasted rather decent armor with metal fittings and sharp spears.
“Uh? Who is this lovely lady? What brings you up this treacherous mountain path at this hour?”
“….”
“You seem quite shy, but we aren’t bad people at all. We’re just stopping by, so if you could hang around for a bit—”
“Songee.”
Mooksung spoke nonchalantly as if he didn’t even see the bandits in front of him.
“What?”
“Do you know my alias?”
“… Didn’t you brag about it like ten times since earlier? What? The Assassin of the Lost Soul?”
“Do you know what ‘Lost Soul’ usually signifies in martial arts stories?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s often a title given to assassins and hitmen.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m considered the best in terms of ‘lost souls.’”
“Lost souls?”
At that moment, the bandit in front of them became visibly upset.
“Are you having a hard time understanding what I’m saying? Is it the Lost Soul? What’s so amusing about that—”
— Bang!
With a thunderous sound, the bandit couldn’t finish his sentence.
As the other bandits tried to turn in alarm at the feeling of danger, it was merely a matter of order.
— Bang! Bang!
Before even a minute passed, only one old man and one girl remained on the mountain.
“Fools. Haven’t you heard the saying that one should beware of an old man and a woman in the martial world?”
“Is that actually a saying?”
“It is.”
“Grandpa, but this is lost soul magic?”
“Of course it is. Kid, what do you think it is?”
“Isn’t a dagger or shuriken considered lost soul magic?”
“I can guarantee that those morons, even if they tried to fire a single shot, would switch right to this.”
“That sounds convincing.”
“By the way, I envy Kain…”
“Excuse me?”
Mooksung murmured, almost like reciting poetry.
“In this vast world, how many masters are hidden among the mountain and streams? Yet under heaven, only three masters have achieved undying fame.”
“…”
“One who establishes peace in the world with a single sword, known as the Heavenly Sword Izaseong. There’s a cult leader who commands more people than any king, referred to as Jo Wonhong of Baehwa Cult.”
“…”
“All the secrets of the world lie in his hands! Laughing at life and death, considering the body merely shackles! His name is Han Kain.”
“….”
“Isn’t it amazing? I wish I had such a setting for myself.”
“When Kain oppa wakes up later, make sure to recite this for him right in front of his face.”
“Of course.”
—
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