Chapter 714 – Conclusion and Choice (1)
—
— Park Seungyub
— Dada-dak!
“…”
— Dada-dak! KUNG!
“Ah, ow!”
I snapped awake late at night, feeling a sharp pain.
“… What’s going on?”
Where am I exactly? I was just sleeping in Room 105—
“Wait, what? The third floor?”
To my disbelief, I was in the corridor on the third floor. Did I sleepwalk, only to wake up?
What’s the term for that…?
“Uh, was it… sleepwalking disease?”
“No such term exists. It’s called somnambulism,” came a mechanical voice.
Startled, I turned my head to see the third-floor manager.
It’s not my first time meeting this creature, but I can’t shake the eerie feeling it gives me every single time.
According to Kain, that monster is some kind of living microphone.
“W-wait, somnambulism? So I must’ve come down with that—”
“Actually, it’s not that either. It’s closer to a funny prank,” the manager replied.
“A funny prank?”
At that moment, the manager’s gaze twisted oddly, as if it were looking at something behind me.
“Such interference is inappropriate when it’s not a sanctum.”
“Interference?”
“Participant Park Seungyub, it’s late. Please return.”
Suddenly, that thought hit me. I woke up on the first floor, only to suddenly find myself on the third!
Even if it were somnambulism, how would I take an elevator from the first floor to the third while asleep? Something’s off!
Moreover, the manager said it wasn’t somnambulism, but an ‘interference.’
“…”
This must’ve been caused by a sponsor.
They might’ve wanted to show me something.
As I thought this, trying to glance around discreetly—
— KUNG!
The manager slammed a massive form threateningly against the wall.
“Don’t strain your head if it can’t turn.”
“… Sure.”
The manager’s warning felt like either an insult or advice.
Reluctantly, I had to trudge back toward the elevator.
After a few steps, I looked up to see the nameplate of Room 301, which felt like it had tangled an eternity.
I thought we were almost at the end by now.
“…”
After walking a few steps, reaching the nameplate of Room 301 meant the place I had initially woken up was Room 302?
I tumbled through the corridor on the third floor due to the sponsor’s interference, and ended up waking right in front of 302.
Could this be coincidence?
“Ah! No way!”
“No way!”
— KUNG!
“302 is my—”
— KUNG!
“Would you just shut up and go back to the first floor?”
“… Sure.”
So, Room 302 was mine!
The first wish is a precious memory lost by everyone. Realizing that my memory unraveling wasn’t far off, my curiosity started to bubble up with excitement.
On the flip side, I also pondered: does knowing the room number hold any significance if it doesn’t reveal its contents?
It seems grand but holds little value, doesn’t it?
In another sense, maybe it could be something to reveal.
— Ding! First floor!
Once I arrived at the first floor, I realized someone was waiting for me.
“Oh?”
“… You’re here.”
“K-Kain?”
In that moment, all sorts of thoughts rushed through my mind.
Why is Kain here at this hour? It feels as if he guessed I’d take a trip to the third floor with the sponsor’s guidance!
No, not just guessed! Knowing Kain, he must’ve calculated the 125,000 possibilities for the name ‘Park Seungyub’ and appeared where it was calculated I would be…
“Not really.”
“What?”
“Not that. It’s not like that.”
“… How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I don’t know what it is, but it’s bound to be nonsense.”
Then, he shook his head and said, “Yesterday, there was a meeting where several people were hearing voices, right?”
“That’s what happened.”
“When I saw you then, you looked off.”
“…”
“I haven’t been sleeping well lately. When I walked through the corridor at dawn, I saw you suddenly sprint past with your eyes shut.”
“…”
“As I reached for you, it felt like someone suddenly tugged me from behind, causing me to fall. It felt like a strange harmony, so I decided to wait.”
You mean you observed me because I acted weird when you saw me?
This has to be a tall tale.
In the past, fine, but after Room 205, I’ve learned the supreme secret arts from the best!
No one can easily read my mind!
Kain must’ve glimpsed my actions after peering into the fountain of possibilities, spotting 223,248 assessments in the end.
“Looks like you’re in a weird thought again…”
But I decided to keep Kain’s secrets safe.
After all, we’re companions.
“Understood.”
“What do you mean understood? Wait, never mind. What’s up?”
“The manager threatened me, but I dodged with Aksha’s spirit while realizing the sponsor’s arrangement—”
“What? Why would the manager— No, just tell me.”
“- It seems the arrangements among the sponsors might lead to Room 302 being mine!”
“Room 302 is yours? Hmm…”
Silence fell between us.
As we slowly walked down the first-floor corridor back to Room 105, Kain murmured as if he had recognized something.
“Seungyub.”
“Yeah?”
“In this situation, I think the fact that you were told itself is more important than what was told.”
“Eh?”
“When the sponsor intervenes outside of the sanctum, they must be using their resources.”
“Ah, the manager mentioned something similar—don’t interfere outside of the sanctum?”
“… Why are you realizing that now? Forget it. Either way, your sponsor must’ve incurred some cost with their intervention.”
“And?”
Kain placed a hand on my shoulder as we approached Room 105.
“This means your sponsor is investing in you.”
“…”
“The next room is incredibly important for you, so it means you mustn’t lose confidence.”
“… Oh.”
After hearing Kain’s words, I realized the sponsor’s true intention.
I’m currently investing in you.
I chose you, and you chose me.
Don’t lose confidence.
Don’t doubt your lucky choice.
The gloomy feelings that had been coiling in my heart began to melt away like snow.
Could this be the reason?
「Another failure. This time, again, afterward…」
“Shut up! No, that’s wrong!”
I could laugh off the voice in my memory.
“What?”
“Oh, that wasn’t directed at you.”
“Right… By the way, I should get some rest. Speaking of which…”
“Yeah?”
“Is that why I’m here? Probably because you thought I wouldn’t get it, and told me to explain? Ugh… I need to sleep.”
“…”
The last sentence stung more than the voice in my memory.
「Seungyub, don’t listen to those people.」
“Hmm?”
「Trust me. I am always on your side.」
“…”
—
— Lee Eunsol
Early morning vibes hit me as I woke up feeling refreshed, only to be consumed by gloom.
A new announcement popped up on the displays located in each room.
“Ah.”
The previously open-ended party time now had a set end date—exactly three days from now.
I was hoping to recharge my Greedy Hand in the hotel and then head down…
Ah, are they trying to prevent me from recharging my Greedy Hand in the hotel?
Just as I reached this thought, I heard someone’s voice echoing in my head like a whisper.
‘Having already summoned one duke with the Greedy Hand, that’s enough. Don’t delay; tidy up the lower realm.’
“Ah~ Got it.”
—
Once I’d washed up and headed outside, several comrades were already waiting outside.
Since they’d all seen the same display notification as me, no explanations were needed.
Some were discussing alternate tactics considering the hotel rules—like Ahri mentioning a sand timer and utilizing the difference in temporal flow between realms—
“No, no. I think it’s better to just go down now.”
“… Well, if you think so, then…”
Interestingly, Songi’s thoughts aligned perfectly with mine.
Through my experiences in the hotel, I’ve realized this place doesn’t really go by strict principles.
When participants move according to the hotel’s intentions, the rules seem to bend.
When participants go against the hotel’s desires or try to outsmart it, new rules just get made to block us!
Put simply, it’s a flexible operation where intentions come before rules—or just plain chaotic.
So, engaging in a battle of wits with the hotel is pretty pointless.
Better to just do as they say.
“… Is this thought also something the hotel led me to? To obey willingly?”
“What?”
“Never mind. Sometimes I think about how the hotel can be disheartening.”
“Disheartened? I’ve never felt that way!”
“Ha! You’re right, Songi.”
“Yeah, let’s start moving slowly.”
The fact that three days remain until the end of the party time suggests something significant.
To the hotel, it means the complete conclusion of Room 301, whether it’s a success or failure is imminent.
“Take care out there.”
Hearing Kain’s farewell reminded me of something I’d heard before departing.
I think it went like this: ‘… Take it slow and don’t try to end it all at once.’
“Wow…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, your words were spot on.”
“Me?”
“It really didn’t end in one go, did it? We came back, right? Isn’t that cool, Songi?”
“Whoa! You’re right, big brother! So amazing~!”
Wow… Seriously amazing.
Did my insight truly reach this level?
At moments like this, Kain didn’t feel like a human but rather god-like, almost divine.
Kain awkwardly chuckled. “I didn’t mean it that specifically. Just thought there might be more than one chance.”
“Right! Surely, that’s impossible!”
That only made me admire him even more.
Isn’t there an old saying about a noisy empty cart?
People who have nothing are the ones who busy themselves boasting about trivial things.
Truly extraordinary individuals tend to be extra careful in their actions.
It’s because their uniqueness may trigger discomfort or inferiority in others.
… In truth, rich heirs know this best.
With some anticipation, I asked, “Kain! Don’t you have something to share this time?”
“Haha! What can I say, I feel like I’ve become some living fortune teller lately.”
“Tell me, what’s Eunsol’s fortune for today?”
“… This time, I have nothing to tell you. Seriously.”
“Then at least offer some blessings.”
“Hmm, may you both obtain what you desire.”
“How?”
“By listening closely to the truthful voice in your heart?”
“Sis, I called the elevator.”
— Ding!
Time to descend again.
It seemed time to end my long-standing feud with my mother.
—
After Eunsol and Songi left, a girl with snowflake-like hair grabbed the young man’s clothing, shaking him as she asked,
“What’s up? Why did you say there’s nothing to say?”
Kain replied calmly. “Because there really isn’t anything.”
“Come on, there must be something! Didn’t Eunsol see a vision of herself growing 3,000 tentacles or something?”
“No, really—”
Suddenly, Kain realized other comrades were listening in on his words.
“Nothing at all.”
“Huh?”
“I saw absolutely nothing significant.”
“Haha! Miro, don’t you think it’s inappropriate to make Kain uncomfortable? Let’s head to the observatory!”
“Okay, got it! No need to say anything if it’s hard for you!”
As the comrades left for the observatory, trying to accommodate Kain, he realized anew that no matter what he said, they would always come up with their interpretations.
Just like when they listened to the sponsors’ words.
“…”
Every time he used advice, he could almost hear what the Owl was feeling.
「Sage’s Advice: 3 -> 2」
‘What do you think about this situation?’
「If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.」
“Oh, come on! What are you even saying now!”
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