### Chapter 483 – Room 207, The Gate Room – First Trial – ‘Eternal Life and Resurrection’ (1)
—
– Han Kain
— Clink! Clink!
“….”
I woke up on a train.
Turning my gaze, I spotted my bewildered companions.
Cha Jinchul muttered in confusion, “Wait, weren’t we supposed to split into groups of four, three, two, and one?”
“Seems like we haven’t really started yet?”
“I’ve got a train ticket in my pocket.”
On Seungryub’s cue, I rummaged in my pocket and, sure enough, everyone had a train ticket.
“Welcome aboard the Pioneer Gate Train participants! Please disembark at the fourth station, participant Han Kain.”
Quite simple enough.
“So, what station are you getting off at, Seungryub?”
“First.”
“How about you, Songee?”
“Me too.”
“Looks like based on our dinner party experience, we’re all on the same team this time, huh? I’m also getting off at the first station.”
“True enough.”
The others were in the same boat. Elena, Eunsol, and Jinchul were set to disembark at the second station, while Ahri and Mooksung were scheduled for the third.
Just then, Miro asked, “What happens if we ignore the designated stop and just get off wherever?”
Eunsol jumped in with a firm reply, “Let’s not do anything reckless. That would likely end badly.”
As if waiting for this moment, the train compartment door swung open, and a cheerful voice rang out.
“Participant Lee Eunsol, that is correct!”
“…”
That voice! It’s the merchant. Has it been since the hotel cinema?
Oh wait, I ran into him underground once, right?
“Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin, there are a few important announcements.”
“Announcements?”
“I’m sure you’ve already guessed: First, one or more blessings or legacies may be sealed.”
One or more?
“Secondly, you will all be disembarking from different stations.”
“Different stations means different eras, doesn’t it?”
“Well, who knows?”
“…”
The view outside the train window was just darkness.
Whether we were racing through a dark place, or if the outer space just didn’t exist, it was hard to tell.
“Haha! From the looks on your faces, it seems you already know this, so why should I bother saying it? After all, the first two announcements were just things you learned at the dinner party.”
That’s true enough.
“But the third one might be different. Or is there someone here who has already vaguely figured it out?”
At those words, the merchant looked at me with a sparkle of interest, and I quickly averted my gaze.
“… What’s the third announcement?”
“There will be a ‘boss’ for each of the trials you will face.”
Four parties, four trials, and four bosses.
The most threatening entities blocking our path in the Gate Room.
With that, the merchant stopped speaking.
At that moment, Ahri pointed out something sharp.
“Where did all our tools go?”
Eunsol nodded in agreement. “Right? We definitely packed everything before leaving.”
I wore the protective suit as it was a solo party for me, Ahri had her wing boots restored, and Peero was still perched on Songee’s shoulder.
All of them were gone.
“Hey, merchant! Where did our tools go?”
“Who knows?”
“…”
“Finding lost tools can be a delightful experience, can’t it?”
I could feel Eunsol’s expression that screamed “I want to smack you” and I agreed wholeheartedly.
It’s like the hotel had hidden them in some appropriate spot in the trial, but when were we supposed to go looking for them?
— Clink! Clink!
Soon, the train stopped, and the people supposed to get off at the first station stood up.
Up front, Seungryub turned to Miro, Songee, and me with a grave expression.
“Before we set off, let’s at least pump ourselves up.”
“Let’s do it!”
“Let’s do it!”
The four of us lightly exchanged high-fives as we paused in front of the door.
As we all waited for the train door to open, the merchant spoke one last time.
“Oh, by the way, this is just my pure goodwill towards you all.”
“Goodwill?”
“Why do you think we’re starting in this ‘train’ space, instead of jumping straight into the trials?”
“…”
I had been wondering about that since earlier.
They could’ve just tossed us into our trial locations right away, so why start with some meaningless announcement on a train?
Without offering any more explanation, the merchant turned and vanished, but no one here was oblivious to what he was implying.
A train stopping at four stations!
This whole place is a sort of hint.
“Let’s get started.”
—
[First Trial – Eternal Life and Resurrection]
—
– Yu Songee
I woke up in a cold, dimly lit room.
Soon enough, a notification flashed for three seconds in a pitch-black space.
“Beginning sealing of participant’s blessings. Please be cautious.”
Our party was facing the sealing of blessings.
Seungryub’s luck, Miro’s permanence, the teacher’s diligence, and my own affinity would all disappear.
Meaning, we could still use our individual legacies.
“… Where am I?”
Back at the dinner party, we woke up near the Nile, but the actual Gate Room felt entirely different from the start.
— Screech!
As I opened the heavy wooden door and stepped outside, it was nighttime.
Nearby, torches were set upon sturdy wooden posts, illuminating the surroundings, and as soon as I saw the torch, I felt something profound.
If I were the average high school girl Songee, I might have just thought, “Oh, a torch,” without a clue, but now I know better.
From what I’ve learned in the past few days, this impressive stone structure and the oil-soaked torches are considered quite rare based on ancient standards.
Meaning, my status when waking up in a place like this isn’t ordinary.
That made me confident enough to respond to the footsteps echoing from the darkness.
“Who goes there?”
“I am Bahat, the loyal servant of Malkab. What brings you here at this hour, Priest?”
“…”
In a second, I chewed over the information I’d just picked up, nearly giving myself a headache.
Bahat is this man’s name, and I’m identified as the priest?
Then Malkab must be the god I’m supposed to be serving?
“Just taking a breath of fresh air.”
“Priest, it’s late. You know… don’t you?”
Don’t I?
That clearly sounds like vital information!
“What is it about?”
“Ah, I almost overstepped my bounds. No, never mind. It’s late—”
“Don’t mumble nonsense. What do you know?”
I probed more forcefully, practically barking at him.
It seemed my status was considerably higher than his.
“Ah, that’s not—”
His flustered face triggered a sense of alarm, as I couldn’t tell why he was scared.
Maybe if I calm him down, he’ll open up?
“Ahem. Bahat, I’m not interrogating you. I’ve been focused on the scriptures lately and haven’t been in tune with worldly affairs. Any noteworthy rumors?”
I had only heard of Malkab today, but if it’s a religion, surely there should be scriptures involved.
“From what I’ve heard, although not confirmed….”
“Then I’ll take it as something I heard from afar.”
“… It’s been rumored that the Pharaoh is recently suffering from a fever.”
With that, Bahat bowed his head deeply and returned to his position.
“…”
So the Pharaoh is unwell, and that’s a topic taboo for the guards of ancient Egypt.
On the contrary, if even the guards knew that in an era with no internet or cell phones, then everyone who matters certainly must be aware of it.
That was the fruit of midnight contemplation.
As the dawn approached, the arduous daily life of Malkab’s young priest, Songee, would begin.
“Why am I making so many mistakes today? Did you have a nightmare last night?”
“…”
The aged priestess with a gentle demeanor, Amira, wore a frustrated expression.
But I had my fair share to say too.
I had never had to preserve a rotting corpse in my life!
I always imagined as a priest I’d stand before statues, praying, reading scriptures, but what is all this?
Why are there so many corpses in a shrine?
“I’m sorry.”
It turned out Malkab is a deity overseeing death and the afterlife.
Recalling what I studied on Egyptian mythology before entering Room 207, he’s similar to Anubis.
“Number five! Recite chapters 1 to 4 of the Book of Death.”
“…”
What on earth, hotel? Why are you doing this to me?
It’s already frustrating to get in trouble for failing to preserve corpses, and now I have to memorize scriptures I’ve never seen before as a punishment?
“I’m sorry.”
“No! Priest Songee!”
What an injustice.
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten everything from chapter one? Even the little kids in our congregation know it by heart!”
Unfair.
“… I’m sorry.”
“Get inside immediately. You’d better prepare yourself for severe punishment.”
This is really too unfair!
…
Holding back my annoyance, I thought about something.
I wonder what everyone else is doing right now?
I hope someone else is in a similar predicament.
“If you fail to memorize the scriptures by dinner time, you can forget about walking on two legs tomorrow!”
“… Yes.”
First, let’s just work hard to memorize these scriptures.
Or maybe I should cheat with my bracelet?
—
– Park Seungyub
— Clatter! Clatter!
I came to on a cart.
Not long after, an alarm blared about sealing blessings.
“Waaaah!”
“Urrggh!”
“Moooom…. Moooom…”
What’s going on here…?
“Ah, Mr. Uncle! I want to go home…! Home—”
There was a scruffy little kid clutching the black snake-like man’s cloak, sniffling and sobbing.
If there had been even a shred of humanity left in the brutal guy’s heart, he would have shown some sympathy.
Instead, the snake-like man sneered menacingly, “You foolish little brat, can’t you keep that filthy mouth shut?”
“Urrggh!”
“Home? You little pest, we’re the folks who’ll help you find your new home. You’ll soon arrive at a place where you’ll be rotting away for eternity!”
“Ha! Dottie, you’re going to scare the kids! Ease up on the terror!”
“Boss, I’m just telling the truth; that’s all!”
The rough men laughed darkly.
By now, I understood the situation.
So, it turns out the kid and I are currently snatched up by these guys as slaves?
The “home” they keep referring to seems to be where they plan to sell us off.
“…”
I wasn’t scared.
The sealing of blessings implies we can still use our legacies.
People like these would crumble to the ground with just a flick of Yumi’s finger.
However…
The calling for the soul is not limitless.
So, isn’t it better to watch a bit longer?
Or should I summon Yumi before we get dragged somewhere worse?
“Aaaah, this is such a hassle!”
I didn’t know.
Thoughts like this were something our teacher would handle; why was I left behind?
“…”
But then, an idea struck me.
— Bang!
“What are you doing?”
A guy scoffed, “Little dude, even a cart can’t break with your tiny hands.”
— Bang!
“Is he just an idiot?”
“Just ignore him; he’ll pass out soon enough.”
— Bang!
“Dude, why are we even paying attention to this loser? If he hurts himself, it’ll drop our value!”
“Just leave him; from the looks of it, he’s already half-dead anyway!”
Bang, bang, bang.
As my failures piled up to five…
— Crack!
Suddenly, heated energy surged from my heart and literally shattered the wooden bars holding us captive!
In that unbelievable moment, all eyes, from the slaves to the slavers, went wide.
Then, I hurled myself outside without missing a beat.
I even managed to yell out a line.
“Kids, run!”
I have no idea if my words would actually make them follow, but it’s better than saying nothing, right?
“Whaaaat! He’s getting away!”
As I bolted, I could hear their rough voices behind me.
“Urrgh! Is this some crazy stunt?”
So I thought while desperately sprinting forward.
“Ugh! Is this really a meaningful action?”
Even if I run by myself, they’ll catch me for sure. Should I just summon Yumi and take care of these guys from the start?
“… I don’t know!”
I don’t know!
I just want to keep running and thinking—
— Ding! Ding!
Huh? Is that the sound of metal clashing?
—
I realized I took too long to amend the story order. I’ll be more careful not to let that happen again.
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