### Chapter 170 – Room 201, The Cursed Room – ‘The Cube’ (19) Fin
—
– Han Kain
As the finger descended from the boundless sky, like a falling meteor, everything came to a halt.
The song of Beatrix, who had been screaming in agony from a distant plane, ceased.
The noise from the fluttering books and displays in this bizarre space stopped.
The cruel deity that had filled the world with bizarre laughter fell silent.
In the stillness of time, the finger that came down from the heavens pierced through me, leaving me paralyzed.
…
When I regained consciousness, I realized that I had returned to my complete self as ‘Han Kain.’
“What the heck—”
“Feeling a bit more aware now?”
Startled, I turned to see a man in his late fifties with an intelligent look on his face.
“You are—”
“Ah, so you recognized me as the lead researcher. Not the most original conversation, huh?”
“… What exactly is going on? What’s with that finger?”
“Just a little kindness bestowed upon you in the first room on the second floor.”
“Excuse me?”
“Did you even understand the concept of ‘seals’ before stepping into this room?”
“Well, I got a rough idea from Ahri, but to be honest, I really didn’t understand. Ahri didn’t either.”
“You started Room 201 without properly understanding the sealing system. Not your fault, really. It’s not like the hotel has a manual, right? How could you know before experiencing it? And when you get swept up in a character’s mindset, it can alter your identity. Could you have known that beforehand?”
“…”
“So, this consideration exists in the first room on the second floor. It forcibly separated you and me. Congratulations! You’ve regained your true self.”
“Thanks, I guess?”
“Isn’t it amusing? This hotel seems to gather all sorts of absurdities, yet there’s such peculiar consideration hidden within.”
The lead researcher pulled out a cigarette and slowly began to smoke, releasing a crumbly mist from his mouth before he spoke again.
“Want a puff?”
“I’ve never smoked.”
“Care to learn now?”
“…”
“Haha, you’re a joyless rookie, aren’t you?”
“I’m not a rookie!”
“Really?”
…
“Looking into your eyes is entertaining. I feel like I have countless words to say, but I don’t know what to say. Or is it just me?”
“Was there truly no other way? Did we have to sacrifice Beatrix and humans?”
“Seems you really didn’t like my method.”
“You… During the time I was fused with you, I noted how you treated all humans as mere tools, except for yourself.”
“Ah, that’s one of the common faults of the high-ranking folks. And you’re under a grave illusion.”
“An illusion, you say?”
“You think I view all humans as tools, but my goodness, I’m the most useful tool of all!”
“…”
“Why do you think I’m here?”
“Are you saying you came to the hotel for some sort of gain—”
“Close enough. You won’t meet me again in your life, so why ask personal questions about me? They won’t amount to anything but curiosity. Instead, we need to discuss what you’ll need going forward.”
With that, the researcher pointed at my ‘status window.’
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 87
Current Location: Level 2, Cursed Room – Room 201, ‘The Cube’
Sage’s Advice: 3]
…
It was the first time someone besides me had seen my status window.
The ‘Sage’s Advice’ flickered.
“This is….”
“Use the advice to ask me a question. As much as I’d love to tell you everything, I can’t do that anymore. You know how to use it, right?”
“You want me to ask you something and act like the owl? What the—”
“I told you not to ask curiosity-driven questions, right? Ask something you need.”
“…”
“If you can’t figure out what to ask, I’ll pick something suitable. Our first question… Yes, this should work.”
‘About the system on the second floor.’
[Advice: 3 -> 2]
… I let out a dry laugh.
The lead researcher, who seemed to be a long-lost master of wisdom, began using the status window as if it were his own. Now he was even asking questions and answering them himself.
But it was true that I had many questions for this man, and the question content was on ‘the second floor’s system.’ That sounded like something that would drive anyone mad with curiosity! I decided to just listen.
The researcher began his first self-interrogation.
“Like the first floor, each room on the second floor has its own scenario, and at its core, is a seal. The seal is not only a seal on one of you but also encompasses characters crucial to solving the scenario. The moment the seal is broken, the mind of that character awakens.”
…
“Is breaking the seal essential for solving the room? Not necessarily. However, it’s generally better to aim for breaking the seal. Your group seemed a bit mesmerized by the idea of breaking the seal in Room 201. They might not have known exactly what they were doing, but it turned out to be the right approach. You all seem to have developed a knack for holding out in this hotel?”
…
“Once the seal is broken, it’s as good as solved. Someone with knowledge of the right answer, like the ‘lead researcher’ of Room 201, awakens.”
…
“However, there’s one issue— oops. From this next answer onward, it’ll be classified as beyond the limit of one piece of advice. To explain more, I’ll need to write another piece of advice. Any other questions?”
“Just write one more and finish explaining.”
“Good idea. Let’s make the second question concise.”
‘The problem with the answer known to the character.’
[Advice: 2 -> 1]
“The character who wakes up alongside you after breaking the seal knows the answer to that room. However, the problem lies in the fact that their answer isn’t particularly great.”
“Wait, what?”
“What do you mean ‘wait’? You’ve been whining at me non-stop, asking if there was no other way.”
“…”
“It’s the same for the other rooms. The moment you release the seal, you’ll learn the answer for that room. Simultaneously, you’ll realize that the answer holds many problems. In most cases, you’ll have no choice but to follow that problematic answer due to urgency, like you have now. However… if you have any leisure time.”
“If I have leisure time?”
“Consider whether there might be a better answer. By the way, if you find a better answer, there’s often additional reward involved.”
My head started to spin. I focused all my mental energy to sort out what I’d heard so far.
The second floor, like the first, has scenarios in each room, and one of us is sealed. Once the seal is broken, not only does a companion escape, but also a character with the answer for that room is released. Thus, the chances of solving that room skyrocket the moment the seal breaks.
However, the answer known to the character is incomplete. If we can find a better answer, we’ll gain additional rewards.
Is that about it?
As I pondered if I had missed anything, my status window flickered again.
‘Regarding the limits of advice.’
[Advice: 1 -> 0]
“What’s going on—”
“Sorry, time’s up.”
As he said that, the still world began to move again. With the resolution of the cursed room, everything started to slowly collapse.
“The last answer isn’t significant. After reviewing your memories, it seems you hold quite a grudge against the owl.”
“…”
“You should probably clear up any misunderstandings, considering you were once indebted to him. The reason the owl gives you somewhat playful answers isn’t to toy with you; it’s because he has many constraints himself and chose that path.”
“Chosen?”
“There are answers that are simple and clear but contain only one meaning, and then there are answers that, while cryptic, can reveal multiple meanings based on interpretation. He merely chose the latter to pack in more information in one response.”
“…”
As the surrounding space began to crumble slowly, the resolution was drawing near. The long journey through Room 201 was coming to an end. Just as the platform we stood upon was about to collapse, I couldn’t help but speak out.
“I don’t want to become like you in the future.”
“Good thinking! Good luck, rookie!”
/Congratulations! You have succeeded!
The Cube. An enigmatic place where people kidnapped without a clue endlessly die at the hands of monsters.
The most shocking reason this terrifying place was created was surprisingly to save humanity. Stuck in front of an irredeemable source of evil, those who couldn’t find a way to confront that being with strength or wisdom ultimately chose to offer living sacrifices to beg for their lives.
Was there really no other way? Who knows? But don’t worry! You have successfully solved the room!
The monsters hiding in each room, the girl who seemed more like a living natural disaster than a human! Plus, the mysterious research lab hiding secrets.
After overcoming all these trials, you successfully saved the world from the Zero-Dimensional Eye. Quite impressive.
.
.
.
.
Another final solution from among your companions has occurred! Congratulations! A final solver has emerged, and all members will return safely.
Choose what treasure you will receive and who will receive it!/
???
I was reading along when my eyes widened in surprise at the last line!
‘You can choose what treasure to receive?’ And it even had ‘who will receive it’ listed. Was there another living person besides me?
After resolving Room 101, the ‘time for selection’ returned. Soon, the next notification appeared.
I’ll reward you with diligent serialization.
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