Chapter 609 – The Stolen World (24)
—
— Miro
A wondrous liquid bubbled like foam before suddenly transforming into an opaque smoke.
Moments later, it hardened into a solid rock, and with more time, it began to change back into a liquid.
It was a peculiar tool—a hourglass that incessantly oscillated between liquid, gas, and solid states.
“Now that I think about it, we haven’t used the hourglass yet, have we?”
Elena remarked, and Muksung nodded in agreement.
“Isn’t that typically used to withstand the light that brings about the apocalypse?”
Ari shook her head in response.
“That’s just our guess; the hotel never explained how to use it.”
“Then how do we use it?”
Might Kain know?
“The person holding it would know. So, what’s our next move?”
Ari seemed to be on the same wavelength as me.
With the hourglass in hand, Kain, deep in contemplation, glanced at us.
“You understand the general idea, right?”
“To unlock the Virgin and restore the relationship with the Moon by using the former Wisdom’s death as a justification?”
“After that, we just need to step into the realm of the Moon and uncover its biggest secret, then turn back time.”
“Are you going alone?”
The next words startled me immensely.
“I’ll only take Miro with me.”
“Hiiiik!”
Just me?
Of course, I wouldn’t mind going alone with Kain—
But isn’t the Moon like no amusement park?
Why would you choose to bring only me to the most hellish place on earth!?
Eunsol immediately interjected.
“The Moon has a powerful hypnotic ability; wouldn’t it need a flute?”
Right! Eunsol needs the flute!
“The flute needs to be played to be effective, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Right now, I’m trying to approach the Moon as a loyal servant, and it would be awkward with my sister playing the flute beside me.”
I see, is that how it is?
Then Ari chimed in.
“What about me?”
“The Moon fundamentally dislikes the Management Bureau.”
“Isn’t Miro also with the Bureau?”
True!
“There’s a difference in rank. You’re royalty, and Miro doesn’t hold that position.”
“…”
“Although Miro is indeed dangerous. The Moon might kill her. But if I had to choose one, it would be Miro.”
“Hiiiik!”
I couldn’t help but let out a noise.
Kain looked at me and smiled reassuringly.
“Miro, don’t worry about it.”
“I-I was surprised! That the Moon would kill me was just a joke, right? I’m Kain’s ally, after all… Don’t make scary jokes.”
“…”
“As a partner of the saint, that should be acceptable, right?”
In the meantime, Ari seemed to reach an understanding, nodding her head.
“Due to mental erosion, I can’t take multiple companions. Excluding me, since I’m part of the Management Bureau, and Elena would power up the Virgin immediately upon death, so that won’t work.”
Meanwhile, I’m scared out of my wits, and Ari’s talking about strategy like it’s just another day!
“There’s a permanence to this, and thanks to this time zone, it feels like we have many allies gathered. Miro is indeed the optimal choice.”
Glaring intensely at Ari, I noticed her awkward grin as she averted her gaze while Kain continued.
“Alright, everyone focus. Especially you, Grandpa?”
“Sure thing.”
“Back in Room 207, Ari lost her memory, right? If we turn back time with one more chance, she’ll lose her memory. Except for one person—Grandpa.”
“That means I need to remember all the important stuff, right?”
“Of course! I’ve documented key points in the status window.”
Ari subtly avoided answering my question about whether everything would be okay!
I’ve caught on to that!
Eunsol voiced her concerns.
“Wouldn’t the Moon or Raiders notice that time has been turned back?”
Kain provided a straightforward answer.
“They will notice.”
“Eek! Are you sure?”
“It’s not just the Moon or the Raiders; the Management Bureau will notice too. Don’t forget, ‘One More Chance’ cannot revert the obliteration of souls.”
“…”
“If suddenly millions or tens of millions of people vanish from Earth, they’d have to notice. From the Moon’s perspective, how would it not recognize that there are souls it hasn’t consumed, filling its belly?”
“…”
“They probably won’t know specifically what occurred before we turn back time.”
Muksung wore an anxious expression.
“Are you sure about that?”
Kain chuckled ruefully.
“Who can be sure about anything?”
“I realize I was asking a foolish question.”
“‘One More Chance’ and the hourglass are powers granted by the hotel. They believed this would help in resolving reality’s issues! So I trust that it will be possible.”
Kain spent a while explaining the information we gathered so far and what would happen next.
When I first acquired clarity, no explanations were provided, but now his actions are different.
What could be the reason for that?
“I think I’ve said all I need. Grandpa—”
“I memorized everything!”
“Good to hear! Miro, should we find a quiet place for a bit?”
Under normal circumstances, this kind of invitation would’ve set my heart racing.
Right now, I felt a bit scared.
“Y-yes.”
*
The reality was filled with choking dust.
A place that had grown even more hellish than the hotel.
Kain looked up at the ominously glowing crimson orb, then suddenly turned his gaze down to scrutinize me.
“…”
He slowly examined me from head to toe.
As if he were trying to read every possibility that belonged to me as a human.
After an uncomfortable thirty minutes, Kain finally spoke up.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“Was it uncomfortable? I had a lot on my mind too—”
“I’ll report this to the police! This is some kind of crime, right?”
Like sexual harassment, perhaps!
Kain’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“…What you just said wasn’t something I considered in any possibility.”
“Really? Then do you know the relation between a frog and a tadpole?”
“What?”
“Seungyub said that tadpoles don’t know about the troubles of frogs! So when the tadpoles are in the tank—”
“No, no. Miro. Just stay quiet for a moment. Don’t add any strange info and confuse things.”
Ha! That’s it!
Whether it’s insight or whatever, my creativity is unmatched, they can’t keep up!
Thinking that way, I felt the instinctive unease towards Kain and insight fade.
“Phew…!”
Seeing me react this way, Kain wore a rather complex expression.
“… Whatever it may be, I’m glad you seem to be feeling better. Yes, that state is better than being afraid of the Moon.”
“Humph! This is me—”
“Don’t open your mouth. Whenever you do, it confuses me.”
“…”
I felt my spirits sinking again.
“Miro.”
“…”
“Miro?”
“You told me not to talk.”
“…Take a look at this.”
One hand held the hourglass I had seen earlier at the hotel.
The other hand held what appeared to be a fist-sized object that was a mix of organic matter and machine?
“Ah! Is this a living camera? Isn’t it Ari’s item?”
“Correct. I’ll show you how to use it.”
At this point, I started to realize something.
“W-wait, you’re not saying I need to use both, are you?”
“Yep.”
“Kain! Think this through calmly!”
“I’m perfectly calm right now.”
“Am I putting too much faith in myself? Bringing me alone to an extremely dangerous place is one thing, but also trusting me with the most crucial tool!”
Suppressing the pounding of my heart, I looked into Kain’s eyes, and his calm voice echoed.
“I have something different from the former Wisdom.”
“Eh?”
“There’s one more thing.”
“What is—”
“I trust you. If I can’t count on my comrades, who else can I rely on? So don’t worry.”
“…”
“I saw the possibility of you succeeding through your insight. Now do you understand my trust?”
I felt a strong intuition rise within me.
Are those words a lie?
No, it’s closer to saying that he only expressed part of it.
He probably saw a great chance for me to succeed, but he also perceived that I could fail miserably.
However, what’s the point of bringing up ominous things at this time?
“I believe!”
Kain smiled broadly.
I responded by beaming back.
*
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 238
Current Location: 1, Eui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Sage’s Advice: 3
—
Day 238, just one day until the Moon descends.
I liberated the sealed Virgin.
As soon as Aedia woke up, she grabbed me by the collar with a furious force.
“I’m going to chew your flesh alive—”
“Let’s hear an explanation first! My flesh probably doesn’t taste that good.”
I began to speak the thoroughly prepared lie while gazing at the flaming Virgin.
It didn’t even take a minute for her to be aghast.
“What, what do you mean? You killed the former Wisdom—that old coot?”
“Can you see the corpse here?”
The former Wisdom rarely manifested in reality.
I worried that the Virgin might not recognize the corpse since it’s been a while, but I worried for nothing.
The Virgin mournfully caressed the severed head of the former Wisdom, her face filled with conflicting emotions.
“It truly is, isn’t it? Truly, you’ve killed this grotesque old man!”
Contrary to her words, the Virgin’s expression carried a somewhat sorrowful look as she closed the former Wisdom’s gaping eyes and joined her hands in prayer.
“May he have found solace at the end of a harsh life…”
Were they closer than I thought?
They had only bickered over the public reason of being the Virgin and a member of the Raiders, but it seems there were no personal grievances.
Or perhaps it’s a sign of mercy, because he’s dead now.
“I’m sorry. Battling the former Wisdom is likely to be exceptionally dangerous, and I feel the Virgin might oppose—”
“Enough! There’s no need to speak of the past any further. Killing this monster is indeed a tremendous accomplishment. The Prince will surely embrace you kindly.”
I realized after observing the Moon a few times.
The Moon no longer expressed its fury towards me.
“The Prince shall likely… descend tomorrow.”
The date given by the hotel was indeed accurate.
“Prepare yourselves. The time of victory is near.”
*
Date: Day 239
The sky’s color changed from early morning.
The ominously glowing crimson Moon seemed about to overpower the sun even in the daylight.
Following the Virgin’s instructions, I bathed and knelt in waiting when suddenly space began to tear.
In that moment, the Virgin showed an extremely touched expression.
“Saint! The time of victory has finally arrived!”
“Congratulations.”
“It’s not something just for me to celebrate; it’s a matter of joy for everyone!”
A matter for everyone to celebrate…
The Virgin’s concept of “everyone” probably differs from the general meaning of “everyone.”
Still, I forced the happiest smile I could muster.
“Hmm… Virgin.”
“What is it?”
“… Do we really have to take this girl with us? I don’t mind bringing a hotel colleague as a crew, but this girl…”
As the Virgin glared at her, Miro seemed to shrink back in fear, hiding behind me.
“Is it because she’s from the Management Bureau?”
“… The Prince is not fond of the Bureau.”
“Please, she’s a rather useful ally. She will aid the Prince.”
“Hmm…”
Aedia let out a small sigh and closed her eyes gently.
It seemed she was inquiring about the Moon’s intention.
“Considering the Saint’s merits, he will graciously accept her.”
I immediately knelt and bowed my head.
Miro, who had been standing dumbfounded, also knelt beside me.
“Saint, that should be enough. Let’s go in.”
*
What awaited beyond the entrance was an endless fall.
Miro was about to scream as her mouth was sealed, and we fell endlessly.
Was it because I had regained complete clarity of insight?
One absurd fact dawned on me.
Ah…
The hazy shape of the Moon in the sky wasn’t the Moon’s true form.
The part that had protruded in the past when facing the former Wisdom was merely a piece of its body.
The Moon had never come out of the Earth!
Isn’t that just common sense?
If something this colossal like the Moon were to emerge from underground, Earth might be physically shattered!
That would immediately lead to the extinction of humanity, and the Moon would incur substantial losses by trying to devour survivors.
Ha ha!
Common sense, common sense…
If we’re going to talk about common sense, the fact that the Moon is hidden within the Earth is the real problem!
How did they even put it in there?
No matter how advanced primitive human civilization was, how could they manage such scientific nonsense?
“…”
Suddenly, another revelation struck me.
The entity that confined the Moon within the Earth was a participant from ancient times!
The audacity to consume science as if it were candy?
If it was connected to the power obtained at the hotel, such a task would surely be possible.
They earned the right to ascend after granting humanity tens or perhaps hundreds of loops in return.
And what about the former Wisdom?
He also accomplished quite a bit, didn’t he?
Is there a reason the former’s methodology was “absolutely” impossible?
My mind, now remarkably sharp, reaches for a singular answer to the endless queries.
— Rumble!
I heard a sound of thunder.
Moreover, I realized it wasn’t a physical sound.
It was the joy of a living storm welcoming an old friend.
It was the joy of sealing the victory of what felt like an everlasting war.
It was the emotion of the great.
It was the reality of the great.
The thoughts one has immediately materialize, merging the two realms into one.
Understanding.
Understanding.
Understanding.
…
This isn’t the knowledge I’m looking for.
I didn’t come here to learn how much more magnificent and powerful the Moon is than me!
I’ve experienced the overwhelming power of a prisoner enough in the hotel.
What I need is a different revelation.
Something that can aid me in reaching the answer—
At that moment.
「You have come.」
「The Savior.」
「The Researcher.」
「The Wizard.」
「The Teacher.」
「The Traitor.」
「The Returned Saint.」
Countless voices echoed simultaneously.
It was a conversation that both was and wasn’t a conversation.
Voices expressing the will of a living star, resonating from a world where the boundaries of thought and reality collapsed.
“Heh!”
Even with permanence, there seemed to be a limit to what one could endure. Holding on to Miro’s hand, I focused my mind into a singular point.
…
I realized one bizarre truth.
The number of souls that the Ark can swallow has limits.
If it had no restrictions, then there would be no need to eliminate survivors ahead of time just to stop the Moon’s growth.
Just put all of humanity on the Ark, and that’s that! There’s no need for any culling!
The Arks made by the Bureau, and even the Raiders’ Ark have capacity limits.
Even the divine Sun has capacity restrictions.
But why does the Moon have no such boundaries?
I know a being that’s similar to the Moon.
In the hotel, I harbored a being condensed with an unimaginable number of mortal souls!
As my consciousness began to fade, a dizzying feeling washed over me.
For the first time in a long while, I heard a voice.
「My son.」
「Did you understand? I paved the way for you long ago.」
「Now that you’re starting to awaken, I have no regrets. Expand and further expand. Understand that the evolution of life progressed from unicellular to multicellular.」
Is this an auditory hallucination?
Or perhaps the final voice of the divine Sun?
I couldn’t tell the difference.
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