### Chapter 189 – Prayer for the Maze (8)
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 94
Current Location: Maze Hell
Sage’s Advice: 3]
—
A few hours earlier, as I was strategizing on how to deal with Santa, my keenest focus was on deciphering his behavioral patterns. Just what makes Santa tick? He was no ordinary monster out there randomly attacking everyone he saw.
I managed to identify a few key patterns. For example, he doesn’t really act until Christmas rolls around, and he bursts into magical phenomena when he sings the corresponding carols. But what loomed larger than all that was a sort of “fundamental principle.” The repetitive actions and words Santa had exhibited several times had the answer we stumbled upon in the remnants of consciousness—inscribed on that metal plate:
‘A reward for a good boy and a punishment for a bad boy.’
Santa appears to gift good boys while punishing the naughty ones. Upon realizing this, the first step of my plan took shape: let’s get things wrapped up before Santa even shows up!
And then, Santa began to stir with a level of fury I’d never seen.
“Do you really think I, Santa, just flings gifts at every child without a thought? That’s delusional! Only the ‘good children’ are worthy of gifts! It’s clear that all the kids in this place have already received their presents. Your actions speak volumes about how little you understand Santa!”
His first argument was that ‘only good children deserve presents.’
Well, we kind of figured that one out already! I stood up right away and approached Santa.
“Santa Grandpa, we met earlier, remember?”
“Of course, I remember. Your name was Kain, right? It’s so nice to see you. I prepared your present—”
“Grandpa, I remember your earlier words well. ‘There’s no one in this world who is completely good. Everyone makes mistakes and gets dirty. What matters is repentance and reflection.’ Isn’t that right?”
“… That’s true.”
“Your words have enlightened me! What really matters is reflection, isn’t it? Since you said it yourself, no doubt about it!”
“…”
“Alright, kids! It’s ‘Time for Reading Repentances!’”
…
There was a brief awkward silence. The children stared at me with expressions that clearly said, “What are you doing?” Santa’s eyes began to narrow ominously.
“Oh? Unlike you, Kain, it seems the other kids haven’t properly repented?”
This plan is collapsing because these kids refuse to read their repentances? What is going on here—
Just then, a bunny-eyed girl shot up like lightning.
“Repentance! The Maze is—”
“… the Maze is what?”
“… Yesterday, I threw away all my broccoli during lunch. Plus, at dinner, I ate Ahri’s ham!”
Kim Ahri: So that’s why my ham was gone?!
Han Kain: You totally forgot the content of your repentance, didn’t you? Is your head all foggy?
Kim Ahri: Don’t talk smack about the Maze!
“Also, also…. During math class, instead of studying, I had a snowball fight. Oh, but this isn’t really a big deal! The teacher joined in too! And when we had the snowball fight, I threw an ice ball at Kain. He laughed, so it’s all good. Um… is that enough?”
While Santa was astonished into silence, the Maze swiftly kicked the kid next to her.
“Hey! Thomas!”
“W-What?”
“Repent! Hurry up and repent!”
Santa muttered wearily, “Child… you shouldn’t kick your friend.”
“Well, I’ll repent for that too. Now, are you hurrying up to repent?”
In all fairness, compared to me, who’s a newcomer, this girl had ruled the school like a dictator queen with her firm words. Thomas stood up without hesitation.
“I, Thomas, hid my history test score from my dad last month.”
“…”
“And…. and…. Oh! I also hid my science test score! Haha! You know, it’s pretty easy for me to change a ‘3’ to an ‘8.’ So I turned my 35 into an 85—”
…
“I also splattered bird poop on Ms. Julia’s car last week.”
…
“I fought with Steve. But it was because he started it!”
“What the heck?!”
“You doodled in my book!”
“You broke my pen first!”
“Can’t you two just shut it? Joshua! Repent before I pull your hair out!”
“Child… you shouldn’t curse at your friend either.”
“I’ll repent for that too.”
And that’s how it went.
Santa’s face, which looked half-astonished as he watched, turned beet red with anger as he glared at Grandpa Mooksung.
“You little brat! You’re ruining Christmas for everyone! How dare a bug like you try to impersonate Santa!”
Santa’s second argument was, “Do you have the right to call yourself Santa?”
“Impersonating? Look at your own face! Do you even have a Santa license? Have you even passed a Santa examination?”
“Examination? What kind of nonsense is that! To be Santa Claus, you don’t need licenses or exams! Only an overflowing love for the children makes one worthy of being Santa!”
“Love? To hear the word ‘love for children’ come from your mouth is truly astonishing! I also love these kids! I was their teacher here before, so who cares more about them than me? And by the way, don’t you even know the origin of Santa Claus?”
“Or- origin?”
“Ha! You’re so ignorant! The original Santa Claus is the Christian Bishop Saint Nicholas! Have you ever read the Bible?”
As Santa found himself speechless, Grandpa proudly interjected.
“By the way, I used to be a cardinal.”
Is that where his ‘Pope experience’ from the ‘Mansion of Horror’ would come into play?
Amazingly, it worked! Stumbling, Santa seemed to contemplate a retort before starting to speak again.
“Being Santa isn’t just about mimicking the outfit! What were you doing last year? The year before? Have you ever thought of spreading love to the children waiting for gifts on Christmas?”
Santa’s third point was, “Have you ever played Santa?”
“Oh, so now you bring experience into this? Great! I’m starting as a new Santa this year, so wouldn’t it contribute to the Santa world if you step back a bit since you’ve been at it for a while?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Why should I step back?”
“Hey! If seasoned Santas keep hogging the spotlight, where are the new Santas supposed to get their experience? If you’ve taken enough spoils, you should make way for the new Santa!”
… Am I going crazy?
As this Santa-versus-Santa showdown kicked off, the kids on the first floor could only gawk in disbelief, utterly silent. I was feeling pretty close to losing my mind myself.
It was confusing, but somehow it felt like Grandpa had the upper hand. Did Santa feel the same? After a long moment of shaking with rage, Santa suddenly burst into song!
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Seems like the fact that he hadn’t sorted out the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ kids yet meant no one was dropped dead on the spot! But that carol definitely packed some magical power. As soon as it began, a snowstorm hit the first floor, and randomly, reindeer jumped out!
Are we doing another carol battle now?
Santa’s fourth argument was, “Can you sing a proper carol?”
Grandpa, flustered, started singing too.
Riding through the snowy night feels mighty fine!
Han Kain: Wow, you really sing well!
Kim Ahri: This isn’t a time to compliment him! His momentum is slipping away!
Feeling the atmosphere, it was obvious: facing off against an enchanting carol that summoned blizzards and reindeer confirmed we were starting to lose the edge!
Soon, the colorful Santa opened his mouth.
“That’s all you got? You can’t even sing a carol properly and dare to impersonate Santa?”
What do I even do now? It’s been such a wild ride, I’m at a complete loss!
Suddenly, the Maze shot up again and shouted.
“Everyone! Sing along!”
“Huh? Huh?”
“M-Maze?”
“Sing along, through the white snow!”
What is going on here—
Kim Ahri: Hurry up and sing!
“Through the white snow! Riding in a sleigh!”
Caught in confusion, I—and the other kids—started following suit and singing along to the carol. For some unknown reason, the momentum shifted back in our favor.
This time, Grandpa let out a chuckle.
“Hah, hey. ‘Senior.’ You’ve been bragging about your Santa experience, but do you still not understand the essence of a carol?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Is the magic of calling forth snow and reindeer the true essence of a carol? Who was it that spoke about ‘overflowing love for children’ as a reason to be Santa just a moment ago?”
“…”
“Look! The fact that all children are here, singing along with me! This is what a true carol is!”
With the bells ringing and everyone keeping rhythm, we joyfully sang out loud!
“The bells ring, and we clap our hands!
We sing out loud, filled with joy!”
The demonic Santa could only stand there trembling, unable to form words. Is this the end? Is this enough to secure our victory?
Just as the atmosphere turned victorious, Santa pulled out a trump card.
— Hooook. Hooook!
Seeming as bewildered as us, the cannibal reindeer approached demonic Santa, leaning forward as if to comfort him. The scene, viewed from the outside, looked almost peaceful—like a failed businessman being consoled by a graceful reindeer, yet Santa’s mouth curled back into a sneer once again.
“Alright, fine! I’ll concede that your notion of being a teacher and former cardinal earns you at least a bit of respect. I’ll let your caroling slide. But….”
As soon as Grandpa’s expression hardened, you could predict what he was about to say.
“Where the heck is ‘Rudolph’? You’re not suggesting that you consider yourself Santa without a sleigh of reindeer, are you?”
The atmosphere in the school suddenly froze over.
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