Chapter 534 – Room 207, Gate Room – Fourth Trial ‘Fallen King’ (20)
– Han Kain
The dramatic agreement was reached.
Sofia, after agreeing to accept Fortuna, seemed to fall into self-hatred, sitting on the sofa with a gloomy expression.
I approached him with a bright smile.
“Glad we sorted that out! How about we go outside and check the Guardian’s position?”
“Check the position? You want me to go alone since you have to bundle up in those clothes—”
“Just something I need to say.”
“Oh, got it.”
I led the slightly flustered man outside.
Just like that, the two had vanished from the hotel room.
A moment later, ‘another me’ appeared in the hotel room.
“Huh?”
Ari and Grandpa looked a bit surprised.
Sofia’s eyes widened in shock.
“Mu—”
I mouthed ‘shh,’ and everyone fell silent, with Grandpa covering Miro’s mouth, worried she might blurt something out.
Soon, Ari nodded and gestured.
“Alright.”
“…”
“I’ve blocked the area with a transparent wall, so no sound will escape.”
“It wouldn’t be strange if it did. Just break down the walls and chat for a few minutes. I’ll lead him away.”
About ten minutes passed.
With this distance gap, even a martial arts master wouldn’t hear us, right?
— Clap!
With a light clap, everyone’s eyes focused on me.
“I sensed something strange at the end earlier.”
“Strange?”
“The part where I suggested paradise to Sofia.”
“Ah… huh?”
As Ari belatedly caught onto the oddity, I confirmed with Sofia.
“Sofia.”
“Yes?”
“Did you ever mention wanting to go to heaven to anyone else 50 years ago?”
“Absolutely not. I’ve never told anyone but you.”
“I only shared that with the people here. How does he know that?”
Tension thickened the air as everyone quieted down.
“An unidentified someone transmitted our information to him. This means there was intervention. And…”
“And?”
“Sofia, you mentioned you turned Fortuna into a mass of flesh 50 years ago?”
“That, that was my unilateral decision—”
“No need to make excuses. You killed him beyond recovery, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“How did he recover? You didn’t use the Soul Vessel, did you?”
“Ugh!”
Miro gasped in surprise.
“There’s one more point that really puzzles me.”
Understanding dawning, Ari’s expression hardened.
“I realized this after distancing from Fortuna, not before.”
Three troubling issues emerged.
First, Sofia only told me, but I’m aware of the goal shared only with Ari, Miro, and Grandpa.
Second, he resurrected without using the Soul Vessel.
Third, the team only became aware of the previous two points after moving away from Fortuna.
“I’ve thought of a very solid hypothesis.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Yaldabaoth revived Fortuna. He transmitted information related to Sofia.”
“Wait, how would Yaldabaoth know? Isn’t he supposed to perceive everything happening on Earth?”
“That possibility isn’t impossible, but there might be a simpler explanation.”
“Like?”
“Sofia, you always keep a mirror shard as a trump card.”
“Ah.”
Ari asked,
“Is it possible he granted Fortuna a sort of hypnotic ability, just as he made people love and hate one another?”
“….”
“So we wouldn’t suspect Fortuna?”
“Probably.”
“Ha, but knowing doesn’t solve the issue here?”
“….”
“We need Fortuna. Who else could handle the Guardian?”
I glanced at Ari as she reverted back to calling him ‘Fortuna.’
“Why is that?”
“….”
“Kain?”
“I think I’m starting to understand one of Yaldabaoth’s traits.”
“What’s that?”
“Just because another entity made a legendary sword doesn’t mean I can’t wield it.”
Finally, the doppelganger that had been wandering the hotel room vanished.
*
– Han Kain
For some time now, the relationship between my comrades and me had been subtly shifting.
No matter how much I saved Aedia, did they really believe I could be swayed for hundreds or thousands of years by that one action?
If they were my comrades from the past, they wouldn’t act like this.
They’d be thinking something like, ‘Look at Kain! He seems a bit clueless!’ and end up dispatching Aedia.
Much had changed after acquiring insight.
Even a grimoire or a sacred sun wouldn’t change me this much.
This perspective illustrates the intense pressure Insight imposes.
The same goes for the other side, I guess.
“Seungyub, can you stop for a moment?”
“Okay?”
I was deep in thought.
Is there a chance Yaldabaoth taught this guy that I lack insight right now?
The answer lies in my conversation with Aedia.
Before I mentioned wisdom, Aedia didn’t even know of its existence.
Moreover, when I pretended to possess insight without being able to restore a blessing, she didn’t doubt me.
“I think an incident is about to happen in about 30 seconds.”
“Huh? All of a sudden?”
“I can’t bluntly charge in, so you’ll have to handle it.”
— Screech!
“AHHH!”
“What the heck!”
A bus suddenly started performing ballet, charging towards a building.
It was all because the driver had been controlled by an unknown sorcerer, but even a martial arts master wouldn’t be able to notice this in time.
As everyone froze, anticipating a horrific accident—
“Taah!”
A martial arts master pierced the scene in an instant, restoring order.
People rushed to him in awe, showering him with gratitude.
Now, I can’t just call him a ‘boy’ anymore; he returned to me awkwardly smiling, moving swiftly.
“Hyung, we should get out of here.”
“Why? Everyone’s calling you a hero.”
“It’s just too much pressure! If you think about it, you did most of the figuring out beforehand.”
“…”
As we strolled beneath the night sky, I gazed intently at him.
At first, he looked amused, but over time his expression turned more anxious.
Even after millennia had passed…
The young man, and the Virgin still felt the pressure of Insight.
“Why, why is that?”
“Come here.”
Next to a beautifully decorated fountain, I plucked a single purple flower that had sprouted beside it and let the petals dance in the wind for a while.
What does this mean?
Honestly, I have no clue.
You know how movies often have mystical scenes where petals flutter around?
Like the time Buddha was preaching and suddenly lotus flowers started flying; it’s a common human sentiment.
“…”
“…”
I dipped my hand into the flowing water and lowered my voice.
“It’s much like our lives.”
What on earth does that mean?
Again, no idea, but in Chinese films, the immortal characters sometimes say such things abruptly.
I continued spending time displaying all sorts of ‘mystical performances’ until he began to see me more like a ‘mysterious demigod’ rather than just one of the hotel crew.
Eventually, the pressure he felt grew too much for him, and he finally spoke up.
His tone subtly shifted.
It seemed as though the ‘boyish demeanor’ he maintained before had completely drained away.
“Did you see something?”
“Not really.”
“Can’t you just tell me?”
“Is there really a need? The person who knows you best is you.”
“…”
“Before a big fight, if you have many worries, it tends to slow you down.”
Slowly, I began to perceive a certain nonchalance from him.
“When I first woke up, I pondered—”
“…”
“Who am I? Am I really Park Seungyub?”
“…”
“Originally, Seungyub always looked at an opaque screen with a number on it. Kind of like a status window telling him when he could use ‘Divine Luck’ again. I can’t see it anymore.”
“…”
“Divine Luck and even the original human being are gone. Well, it’s weird to say they disappeared. In Room 207, I’ve never used blessing.”
“What an interesting story.”
“The power I wield isn’t a blessing granted by the hotel. It’s merely reflecting the ‘traces’ of luck remaining in my body, like an imitation of something greater beyond the mirror.”
“It’s similar to what the Demon King did in Room 206. A prisoner can imitate a blessing, after all.”
“Losing my blessing and having my sense of self twisted, am I really Park Seungyub?”
By this point, I vaguely understood his struggles.
“You think you’re not Park Seungyub, but a separate being born from Room 207, Fortuna.”
“…”
“If you think like that, then solving Room 207 isn’t an escape for you but rather death. Because your reality resides within this room.”
“Is that right?”
Could this be Yaldabaoth’s intent?
Fortuna, accepting that solving Room 207 equates to his own death, indeed going on a rampage in those final moments?
“When I gained Insight into you, I saw two possibilities.”
“Two possibilities?”
“One that leads to a shattered relationship with your teammates. Some would claim you need to be cast out, while others would say your fall must be ‘purified.’”
“…”
“The other possibility was entirely different. Just like every time before, we’d laugh, chat, and enjoy good food together at the table. Eunsol noona would joke about how much your ‘jabs’ hurt, while you’d apologize, and we’d all share a good laugh.”
Both possibilities encompass the contents ‘beyond Room 207.’
In other words, I was attempting to plant one recognition while speaking of the man’s future.
‘You’re not going to die in Room 207; there’s more ahead. Fortuna and Park Seungyub are one and the same.’
“W-what about Yumi? Was she beside me?”
It’s probably best I refrain from giving the answer he desperately seeks.
Keeping that longing strong is essential.
“Sorry, I couldn’t see that.”
“Ugh…”
“Possibilities are just that—possibilities. Look, I’ve envisioned many possibilities with Insight, but to realize what I wanted, I had to use all sorts of tricks, didn’t I?”
“…”
“The important thing is the choice. It’s all about which possibility you choose.”
With that, I turned my back towards him.
…
I gazed at the man who had slipped into endless self-reflection.
It’s paradoxically proven by such ‘struggles’ and this sort of ‘conversation.’
Ari, who had looked beyond the mirror, is still helping us of her own free will.
‘Another me,’ who gained stronger powers, choosing to end things by his own volition.
Yaldabaoth doesn’t steal autonomy from his creations.
What could that mean?
Perhaps we will…
Come face to face with Yaldabaoth in the end.
*
– ???
At the break of dawn, Ari approached.
“Seungyub, do you understand the plan entirely?”
“Yep.”
The plan is absurdly simple.
Sofia and I stir up a ruckus in downtown Florida to draw the Guardian’s attention and engage in a tussle with it.
Meanwhile, Kain and Ari should get to the moon.
“Think you can manage?”
“I gotta give it a shot. I, the unmatched Park Seungyub, you know?”
“Pfft!”
Ari’s light laugh felt soothing.
As always, her beauty made my heart skip a beat, though I caught myself just in time.
I do have Yumi, right?
“Just saying, about Sofia and um…”
“It’s all good.”
“…”
“There won’t be a fight. If she can’t control her emotions and curses me, I’ll just ignore it.”
“What if she giggles about having killed Yumi?”
At that, Sofia reacted from a distance.
“Ari! Do you think I’m some psychopath?”
Right before we parted ways, Ari asked one last thing.
“Seungyub, did you talk with Kain last night?”
“Did he tell you anything?”
“No, just said something about you being troubled. Did you resolve it?”
To ease everyone’s worries, I wore a bright expression.
“Of course! I got a clear answer. The world’s greatest master mustn’t be swayed by distractions before a big fight!”
“Don’t you dare overdo that ‘world’s greatest’ nonsense!”
*
About 30 minutes later.
Sofia and I stood in downtown Jacksonville, a bustling area crowded with people.
Now, it was time to create a commotion and lure the Guardian.
“….”
The tension was palpable.
Sofia nervously murmured.
“It… it’s time to begin…”
“Sofia, let me ask you something.”
“A question?”
“Can Kain see me through you right now? Did a part of your consciousness possess him? Or are you communicating through magical means?”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her calm answer didn’t suffice to fool the eyes of the world’s greatest master.
“I had a hunch, but… that’s rather disappointing.”
“W-what…?”
“Kain, listen here. I pondered all through last night.”
“…”
Calmly, I stated.
After thinking until dawn, I reached a conclusion.
About the realization of the world’s greatest master.
“I’m not Park Seungyub. When I first beheld the mirror due to Aedia’s touch, whether at that point or post-death during resurrection, Park Seungyub is effectively dead.”
Sofia’s eyes widened in alarm.
“I mentioned before, right? From that moment onward, I’s been under the influence of some strange power masquerading as a blessing. Plus, this morning, while gently probing Miro, she mentioned that the Dream Kingdom no longer regards me as a comrade.”
“…That reckless girl!”
“Don’t be too hard on Miro; her innocence may yet turn out to be a strength. Moreover, you’re kinda the same, aren’t you?”
“We’re talking about Horus—”
“Tell Sofia to be quiet.”
“….”
“From now on, I won’t speak as Park Seungyub but as the greatest master. Horus, what sort of teammate ever deceives and keeps watch over one another?”
“….”
“You don’t even consider yourself my comrade, so how could I possibly believe I’m Park Seungyub?”
Sofia, or rather Horus, was at a loss for words, glancing at me and then pulling out the ‘Vessel of Souls.’
“This is…”
“Congrats! You’re off to heaven now! You’ll even see your long-lost mother again. Though, Eunsol noona might be a bit shocked!”
In that final moment, the newly immortal girl gazed at the martial arts master racing toward an end.
“What are you going to do now?”
“By confirming I’m not Seungyub, it terrified me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I fear death. Having lived for thousands of years, I’ve hardly feared death, but… I was tormented by that fear all night.”
Watching Sofia’s confused blue eyes triggered those age-old worries.
Though I had trained far longer than anyone before, I never witnessed the ultimate peak.
I believed it was due to the lack of talent.
As I lacked the prodigious aptitude of those like Ija Seong, no matter how long I trained, I couldn’t quite surpass the final hurdle.
The Vessel of Souls, which had endowed me with immortality, was my greatest weapon.
Yet, it was also my greatest limitation.
…
I slowly pulled my strength together.
Cleared my mind, leaving just one resolve behind.
Eventually, the presence, sensing the change, approached.
A great sight that overlooked existence itself.
The guardian of the world’s false creator.
“Scary.”
I felt a tingling fear surge and laughed.
“The belief in next time makes us weak.”
“….”
“When we think there’ll always be a next time or that it’s okay to give up this time, that’s when the immortal chooses to flee, always plotting for the next.”
“….”
“There has to be an end for us.”
“Is that your advice?”
For the first time, Horus spoke through Sofia’s lips.
“In those moments that matter most, I hope you don’t retreat either. In this world, not every wall can be overcome by two or three attempts; only the first time is what must be crossed.”
“…I’ll take that into account. Just one question: If you’re not Seungyub, why help us?”
The answer was so simple.
“You can only bring Yumi back if you win!”
“Absolutely.”
“Absolutely?”
“I’ll work hard to make it happen.”
“I’ll trust you.”
Then, the tip of the sword in my hand…
Was graced with starlight.
— Fwoooosh!
“Oh, just one last question. I’ve been contemplating your words from last night, but I still don’t understand their meaning. Just how significant is this realization?”
“…I’m sorry.”
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