### Chapter 379 – Room 205, The Cursed Room – ‘The Absolute Master’ (28)
—
Human memory is a strange thing.
Many memories, just ten minutes old, can disappear without a trace.
Experiencing that moment when your parents told you to do something, and you completely forgot? That’s something everyone has gone through at least once.
And yet, some memories can remain vivid, like they happened just yesterday, even after hundreds of years.
Yuseong (流星) had such memories.
No matter how aberrant a mind might be, if you trace back your roots, there are parents and family.
Yuseong was born as a member of a tribe living in the jungles of the Southern Barbarians (南蠻).
The tribe was by no means a gentle bunch unaware of what a blade is.
Survival in that relentless jungle was synonymous with battle.
The people Yuseong remembers were warriors with fierce gazes, close to survival experts.
But even in the harshest of lands, love existed.
Yuseong’s mother, her face little more than a blur now, would hug him every evening and sing songs filled with the tribe’s legends.
His father, not the talkative type, would always pat the boy’s head before bedtime.
…
On the day when the storm poured down.
Han Chinese soldiers armed with iron came and burned the jungle, killing everyone.
Women were abused and killed, men had their limbs severed and slaughtered.
Little children were dragged away like beasts with leashes around their necks.
That day, Yuseong still remembers the face of the Han man who killed his parents.
He was Yuseong’s first master.
Daily lashings and grueling labor became the norm.
Yuseong lost three fingers and half his limbs became crooked.
Unable to endure the relentless pain, when he attempted to escape, the Han unleashed dogs upon him.
He couldn’t understand.
“I’ve done nothing wrong. Why is the world so cruel?”
Thoughts swirled while being gnawed alive by a starving dog.
“I want to live.
I want to live.
I want to live.”
He begged and begged.
Desperately pleading for help from any god, devil, or whatever might be out there.
He wished for an opportunity to return all this pain to everyone.
Then, before his eyes, a box appeared.
…
It returned to him what the world had given.
Having endured absurd suffering for a lifetime, he paid back the same kind of torment.
The first master was left tied to a tree under the blazing sun until he withered away.
He had to witness with his own eyes the suffering of all he cherished—his beloved wife, concubines, and children.
At what point did it happen?
His master’s eyes lost all their vitality.
His body remained alive, but his soul had died.
When he saw that gaze…
An overwhelming pleasure, one he had never experienced in his life, paralyzed his spirit.
Though he committed countless murders after that, none could compare to the delight he felt back then.
“Because there was no buildup before it.”
“…”
“The first murder was revenge against those who committed genocide against my parents and tribe. It was the catharsis of ten years’ worth of pent-up resentment exploding in an instant.”
“…”
“To explain it using a recent expression makes it clearer. The first murder was a satisfying release after sufficient buildup, while the subsequent murders felt like senseless chaos without any foundation.”
“… You really do use strange words. You’re nothing but a devil.”
“Hey, buddy! You should react properly upon hearing a story like this!”
“…”
“You too, huh? You were once a victim? The world’s absurdity made you who you are!”
“Shut up.”
That was just one word, but Yuseong found it satisfying.
That’s right.
Shut up.
After all, how many years ago was this?
Over a thousand years have passed, and the ones who killed Yuseong’s tribe returned to dust long ago.
Even Yuseong himself didn’t consider his current murders as revenge for that time.
And….
The thoughts that now consumed Yuseong were different.
“I have this thought.”
“…”
“In fact, I’ve done no wrongdoing.”
“What now -”
“Listen. I’ve never lost my parents, nor have I sought revenge, and I haven’t even killed anyone.”
“…”
“This world was created about a month ago, and it’ll disappear in two or three days. What’s with the talk about a thousand years ago? It doesn’t even exist; it’s just information that entered my brain.”
Of course, it could be otherwise.
From what Yuseong gathered, the ‘Hotel Party’ knew very little about the Cursed Room.
Historically speaking, it seemed that Room 205 could have gone through thousands of years of actual history.
It’s just that the Hotel Party woke up a month ago.
And….
These philosophical musings were of little concern to Yuseong.
“The bottom line is, I need to survive.”
Someone who promised him eternal life.
Those from outside died in vain.
If he were to survive till the end and attain his inheritance, would the promise have been kept?
He believed it would have been.
The “Soul Vessel” was a very powerful legacy, and having the spirit of the Phantom contained within would be a rather tempting choice.
Most importantly, he had no reason to fear Yuseong.
He had known from the beginning.
The Necromancy and that of the mage’s artifacts were similar powers, yet fundamentally different.
One was merely magic created by humans.
The other was power forged by a demon god controlling the stars in one breath.
He was born as a slave, while Yuseong was born on a throne.
This gap could never be filled, no matter how much time was given.
He had no need to fear me, thus had no hesitation in utilizing me as a pawn.
But he was dead.
Would others think similarly?
The fortunate boy, the fluting woman, the disgruntled old man, the mentally unstable beauty from the West.
…
He was anxious.
He feared they might choose the Flame Iron Line instead of the Soul Vessel.
Even if they picked the Soul Vessel, he dreaded that they wouldn’t choose to contain his spirit inside it.
So, he decided to do his best.
*
Late at night, Elena prepared to lie down in bed.
“Ah~ it’s strangely boring.”
Looking back, the one with the least to do after Room 205 was probably her.
Due to her status as the betrayer of the Baehwa cult and an envoy from the West.
Could a foreign diplomat easily get involved in a civil war of that nation?
Of course not! She was just spectating from afar, preparing to flee with the Emperor if need be.
“It should wrap up soon, right?”
Elena figured Room 205 was nearing its conclusion.
“Would’ve been nice to finish it off as soon as we killed the cult leader. Why drag it out so long? How annoying…”
— Click!
Just then, the door opened and Muksung stepped in.
“Grandpa?”
She felt a little displeased.
“It is a woman’s room; at least knock, will you?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Elena, about what you just said.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know the reason why this room hasn’t ended even though Jo Wonhong is dead?”
“Did you figure something out?”
“This is a matter of consideration. It’s the hotel showing you consideration.”
‘You guys?’
“Why, that’s…”
— Bang!
With a gunshot, Elena’s consciousness faded away.
Before she died, she had realized the culprit was the Phantom.
The old man smiled subtly.
Even her ‘realization’ was part of the plan.
“The reason the room hasn’t ended is because of the Soul Vessel. The hotel has given you some time to fill it with ‘the NPC you desire.’ So don’t be too sad; they’ll treat you kindly when you go outside.”
*
As the man opened the door to the next destination, he was momentarily taken aback.
— Clang!
Before the door was even fully opened, Eunsol had jumped out of the window!
“… What the hell?”
He had an inkling.
After getting thoroughly beaten by the Phantom who had possessed Muksung in a previous chapter, it seemed Eunsol had devised some plan.
For instance, sending a message through ‘the conversation tab’ before the door opened?
As soon as the Phantom ignored those procedures and opened the door, she sensed the danger and leapt.
“What a troublesome little lady! The ground’s stone, so it’ll hurt like hell! We’re supposed to be comrades, so let’s not do this to each other.”
That was said sincerely.
The Phantom had no intention of being harsh toward those who would become new comrades.
However, to become comrades required “a bit of a delicate procedure,” in their opinion.
Eunsol ran with all her might, shouting.
“Guard!!! Guard!!!”
The guards patrolling the residence started popping out from everywhere in surprise.
“M-Master! What’s the matter—”
“Lee Jasung!”
“Yes?”
“Where is Lee Jasung? Didn’t you say he returned to the palace earlier?”
If the enemy was the Phantom, ordinary guards would be useless whether there were 100 or 1,000!
At that moment, a shabby-looking old man walked in, exuding a fierce aura.
At that moment, it truly felt like a savior had descended from the heavens.
*
– Park Seungyub
“Eew! Here we go again! Another Phantom!”
After the situation stabilized and I returned to the palace, chaos erupted again less than two days later.
The master, who had been active at the fortress, suddenly revealed his true colors and attacked the First Apostle and Harmonizing Sect Master.
I heard that Grandpa killed Sister Elena and Sister Eunsol, which obviously meant the Phantom had invaded!
At that moment when I thought I had to run away by myself—
“No! Even the Heavenly Lord can’t—”
“Get out of the way! I need to confirm His Majesty’s safety myself!”
My master, drenched in blood, entered my quarters.
If that thing was the Phantom….
Suddenly, I found it hard to breathe.
Is this it? Is this how it all ends?
“Your Majesty! Are you alright?”
“…”
“I’m sorry, but I need to check on you.”
My master pulled out a small orb from his bosom.
“This is the ‘Revitalizing Pill’ made by the Baehwa cult. They say it’s smaller in size than usual but loses only a bit of effectiveness.”
“Revitalizing Pill?”
“It’s an item that prevents possession.”
The orb erupted in sparks as it circled around me and my master.
“…”
“…”
“Thank goodness. Your Majesty seems to be fine.”
Relief washed over my master, and I mirrored that relief.
“Thank goodness! Lord, he… uh, it’s the Devil—”
“It’s the Phantom. The Phantom seized his body and caused bloodshed.”
“What happened?”
The old man tilted his head, contemplating.
“Your Majesty, I’d like to ask you a question.”
“Yes?”
“Did you know that the Harmonizing Sect Master possesses a magical flute of mysterious power?”
Of course I knew. It was Sister Eunsol’s legacy, the ‘Flute of Rest.’
“Yes.”
“The Harmonizing Sect Master played the flute until just before he died. In doing so, the Phantom was caught off guard and couldn’t take over anyone else’s body.”
“Oh! N-no way?”
“Unfortunately, while I couldn’t protect the Sect Master, I managed to slay the Phantom-possessed flesh. And thus, this item emerged.”
Lee Jasung pulled out a small box, blackened and murky.
“Ah….”
At first glance, I understood.
Both my racing heart and the simultaneous feelings of fear and awe told me so.
This box was none other than the second legacy of Room 205, following the Flame Iron Line!
“This is….”
While I was half in a daze, my master opened his mouth cautiously.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes?”
“Seeing this box reminds me of an ancient legend. In the martial realm.”
“A legend?”
“It’s a tale about a box that contains a person’s soul. Have you heard of it?”
—
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