### Chapter 200 – Party Time – The Ninth Companion (2)
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 95
Current Location: Floor 2, Snow Globe Snowfield
Sage’s Advice: X]
—
The Patron’s defense regarding Doctor Kim Sanghyun stated clearly that he’s a diligent person and not a villain at least. Jinchul’s reaction to that was anything but positive.
“Can you actually trust those words? The Patrons always want their participants to rise in the hotel, right? It doesn’t sound like an objective opinion.”
“That’s true. The problem is we really don’t know what kind of person we’re reviving,” I replied.
“Exactly.”
“Should we say a prayer for Kim Sanghyun?”
Ever since that ‘prayer’ incident, several people had been in a slump for days. Jinchul, who had dropped at least 10 kilograms in weight from just that single prayer, suddenly fell silent.
Ahri let out a light sigh.
“Now I understand another reason why there’s a process called ‘Ancestral Prayer’ in this hotel. It’s basically a procedure to find out what kind of person the participant is before reviving them.”
“A brutally difficult way to go about it. But we can’t do it now anyway.”
I glanced at Jinchul, who looked so thin he might float away if a gust of wind hit him. Even if we were to pray, today would be impossible.
In truth, it was hard to say if we’d have the luxury to pray again in this harsh hotel. At first, we didn’t realize how high-stakes the risks of the ‘ancestral prayer’ were. We just did it for the sake of putting the hotel back in order without fully thinking it through.
“Tough times aside, praying doesn’t really help us learn much about the participant either.”
Ahri’s point was valid. If the previous participant entered the hotel in their 40s but their trauma developed during their teens, praying would show us their teenage self. Knowing what they were like as a teen doesn’t guarantee we know who they are at 40. It’s an unanswered question.
Finally, Ahri asked the guide a question as the Patron faded away, returning the guide to its original state.
“Can I ask how significant Kim Sanghyun’s healing abilities are? For example, can he perform at the level we see from Room 105?”
“Kim Sanghyun’s abilities are equivalent.”
“Equivalent?”
“The tools provided by the hotel for the NPC in charge of doctor duties will disappear.”
The guide seemed to have no further information to share and vanished into the sky.
*
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 95
Current Location: Floor 1, Room 105 – Room of Rest
Sage’s Advice: X]
—
“This is the information we’ve gathered. What do you all think?”
During lunch, I shared the details I learned in Ice Hell with the others. Grandpa spoke up right away.
“Considering the mechanics of the ‘Diligence’ blessing, the doctor’s healing ability likely reflects the skills and knowledge he accumulated over years of practice, enhanced by that blessing.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s a bit vague, though. If the ‘tools provided by the hotel’ disappear, then his godlike healing ability would significantly diminish… But it’s also true he appears to be the best choice among the candidates we discovered.”
“When considering the nature of the blessing, who knows? He may excel in other abilities too. The blessing doesn’t specifically specialize in medicine.”
“That makes sense. His physical prowess or marksmanship could outperform our expectations.”
Eunsol chimed in, agreeing and summarizing.
“Once we start nitpicking, we’ll never stop. There’s no perfect candidate, and everyone has some sort of uncertainty. Instead of endlessly debating, let’s just make a choice. We need to bring him back by lunchtime, so we can all introduce ourselves and get to know each other, right?”
We’d have to enter the curse room to face the implications of reawakening a new companion. Going into the curse room while being clueless about who each other is would be quite concerning. At least we needed a day to learn about each other.
Ultimately, we decided that the final decision would be made through a secret ballot. Eight pieces of voting paper quickly filled out with five options: four revival candidates and the choice to save the ticket.
The results rolled in immediately.
Kim Sanghyun: 5 votes
Miro: 1 vote
Estavio: 0 votes
Cha Seungjin: 0 votes
Keep: 2 votes
Unexpectedly, there was more than one person voting for keeping the ticket besides Jinchul. Was that a vote from Ahri for Miro? She seemed surprised, responding:
“I voted for the doctor!”
Eunsol cut in immediately.
“It doesn’t matter who you voted for. If we cared, we would’ve voted publicly. The important thing is we’ve counted the votes, and Kim Sanghyun has 5.”
The final meeting for resurrection concluded.
*
As we all made our way toward Ice Hell, an unspoken tension filled the air. After spending some months in this hotel, we were about to recruit our ninth companion, Doctor Kim Sanghyun. Who exactly was this guy? Shortly after entering hell, the drone we saw for the second time today descended once more.
“Have you all decided?”
Everyone nodded, signaling our intention to revive ‘Kim Sanghyun.’ Moments later, an ice statue started to rise from the ground, while the ticket in Eunsol’s hands floated up into the air.
“I will ask one last question. Your choice cannot be reversed. Do you choose to resurrect the participant, ‘Kim Sanghyun’?”
“… Yes.”
The ticket ignited instantly. The flames starting from it hovered like will-o’-the-wisps in the air before gradually descending onto the ice statue below. The statue began to melt, and we focused our gaze on the man inside.
He looked to be in his early 40s—not too old, but not a spring chicken either. His physique appeared sturdy, and he didn’t seem uncoordinated while moving. Despite his build, he gave off the impression of a scholar. While judging someone based on appearance can be rank superstition, I couldn’t help but feel a little reassured seeing the scholarly aura.
Eunsol nudged Ahri.
“Now we can see his face. Do you recognize him?”
“I don’t know him. That’s the first time I’m hearing that name.”
“His expression looks twisted.”
“He’s probably having a nightmare right now. But it will be over soon.”
Finally, the ice melted completely, and the man, who couldn’t even twitch a finger before, began to stir.
And then, Kim Sanghyun opened his eyes.
*
Having been trapped in his own private hell for a long time, the first reaction of the man freed from his worst moments in life was crying.
He wept. And wept. And wept some more. It was as if an endless stream of tears flowed from him like a child, leaving us all speechless. Even Jinchul, who was the most opposing when it came to reviving a doctor just hours ago, looked touched and approached to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.
The man cried silently for nearly ten minutes before finally managing to speak through choked sobs.
“Thank you, thank you…. Truly, thank you. The gratitude I feel right now is something nobody could express. I….”
He paused there and suddenly gripped my hand tightly.
“Thank you! I honestly can’t even put into words what I should say!”
Is it just me, or did this guy’s speech sound strangely awkward? His enunciation and word choices felt off—as if he were a foreign expatriate. Maybe it was a result of all that crying.
“Oh, it’s nothing really. I didn’t decide this alone—”
“I was trapped in hell for a long, long time. Until you all arrived at this hotel, there was no salvation for me.”
“Did you become the ‘doctor NPC’ when we arrived?”
“Yes, indeed. However…. I barely remember anything from the time I was the doctor in Room 105.”
I imagined that part. NPCs inevitably learn the hotel’s secrets. Considering the natural erasure of the memories related to those secrets when they come back to life seems rather fitting, given the hotel’s nature.
“Still, there are some things I clearly remember. For example, I vividly recall the moments when I begged you for salvation. Had you not remembered my wishes, this moment would not even exist.”
How do I even respond to that? Here’s this middle-aged man grasping my hand and endlessly thanking me; what on earth do I say to him?
In the awkward moment, Eunsol jumped in.
“Alright! Mr. Kim Sanghyun? Let’s go to the first floor and grab something to eat while we chat. It’s feeling too awkward here, don’t you think?”
“Understood.”
With that, Kim Sanghyun began to gradually regain his composure. His previously tear-streaked face softened, and his usual self-assured demeanor returned. Soon, he started looking over all of us. I’m sure he had just as many questions about us as we did about him.
Then, his eyes landed on Ahri.
At that moment, the emotions reflected in Kim Sanghyun’s face were beyond description with mere words.
Joy, despair, a faith bordering on reverence, the crushing fear of the heart, longing, and affection. A chaotic whirlwind of all the emotions a person could feel swirled together.
Like he had been struck by lightning, the man stammered.
“How are you… here ‘again?’”
He recognized Ahri—or rather, ‘Miro.’
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.