Chapter 40: Sanctum of Blessings, Entering Room 104
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 14
Current Location: Floor ???, Sanctum of Blessings
Sage’s Advice: 3]
It was an odd space. Was it because it was called a “sanctum”?
Brilliant light, akin to starlight, poured endlessly from the high sky, while down below, there were enormous clusters of light and displays reminiscent of everything seen all over the hotel.
At the very least, it didn’t feel dangerous.
Just when the tension began to ease, words appeared on the display.
Congratulations on reaching the Sanctum of Blessings!
At the Sanctum, you may understand your own blessings and empower them.
However, that will be limited to those who have the qualification.
Unlike the usual hotel announcements that obfuscated things with a plethora of fancy words, the Sanctum’s announcement was short and clear.
You can understand and empower blessings. But empowering requires qualification.
Everyone stood around in a daze for a moment, then began to comprehend the situation.
“This… doesn’t seem like a dangerous place after all? It literally seems like a spot that provides help related to blessings.”
“Understanding and empowering. Both sound pretty good, right? Some of us, like me, can see a status window and go, ‘Ah, this is my blessing!’ but others still don’t even know what theirs is. And empowering… that goes without saying, it’s awesome!”
“I’m really relieved. Honestly, everyone else has got some superpowers while I was left with just ‘Justice,’ which felt like a vague notion. It was so frustrating.”
“But what’s this ‘qualification for empowerment’? And what even happens if we empower? Do I become strong enough to punch through concrete?”
“Let’s head toward that light first. I bet something will happen.”
As everyone drew near the source of light, the display changed.
1. Understand 2. Empower
The two words loomed large.
Feeling I might understand something, I reached out and touched ‘Understand.’ Instantly, there was a reaction. Oh, it can be touched!
Han Kain (20) – Wisdom -> Acquire knowledge that aids survival at the hotel
Cha Jinchul (31) – Courage -> Enhancement of physical abilities
Yu Songee (17) – Affinity -> Creates affinity towards chaotic beings
Park Seungyub (14) – Fortune -> Periodic manifestation of luck
Lee Eunsol (32) – Wealth -> Access and provision from the HP Market
Kim Mooksung (64) – Communication -> Mental connection among participants
Elena (23) – Justice -> Punishment for evildoers
Kim Ahri (16) – Suggestion -> Hypnosis for oneself and others
Most of this was already perceived by us.
Wisdom, Courage, Affinity, Fortune, and Wealth turned out to be just as we expected. Suggestion wasn’t different either.
As anticipated, what captured everyone’s curiosity was ‘Justice.’
Punishment for evildoers?
“Miss Elena, do you have any inkling about this?”
“I still have no clue. We’ve encountered a lot of wicked beings at the hotel, but I’ve never gotten any powers that could let me punish them,” she replied.
“I think I might have a notion. It’s not about ‘evil beings,’ but rather ‘evildoers,’ which means they have to at least resemble human beings, right? Looking back, the Athanasias weren’t really ‘humans’ and the farmer family didn’t seem evil at all, which would explain why nothing activated.”
“Well, it might be true that there were no ‘evil humans’ in Room 103, as Kain stated, but what about the Strange Family in Room 101? Surely, they were evil.”
“And even in Room 102, the Mansion of Fear, the final person Elena confronted, the possessed Songee, was undoubtedly wicked.”
Room 103 was easy to grasp, but not knowing why Justice didn’t activate in Rooms 101 and 102 puzzled me. While we remained silent in deep thought, Ahri finally spoke up.
“Isn’t it something you need to recognize for it to trigger?”
“You mean Elena has to realize the opponent is an evil human?”
That was persuasive.
In Room 101, the Strange Family, her mind was twisted, making normal judgment impossible, which meant she couldn’t ‘recognize’ it. In Room 102, she had died in her sleep, so she probably didn’t have time to perceive the evilness of the possessed Songee.
“If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean my blessing has too many limitations? Even understanding what occurs in this hotel is quite difficult.”
“Sister! Think positively! This hotel operates somewhat like a game. If there are many conditions, the moment those conditions are met, you’ll be super strong. That’s just how balance works!” Seungyub exclaimed.
Balance.
It wasn’t an irrational thought. If what we deduced was true, then Elena’s blessing was indeed more complex than others.
If fulfilling all those conditions is difficult, then it stands to reason that when they are fulfilled, it must result in a powerful ability to maintain balance.
Having summarized the situation to that extent, I pressed the next button on the display.
2. Empower
You can empower Park Seungyub, Han Kain, and Yu Songee. Will you proceed? (Yes/No)
Only three names appeared—there were no others.
In that moment, everyone suddenly realized what ‘qualification for empowerment’ meant.
It must be about the contribution made to escaping or solving the Cursed Rooms!
In Room 101, Seungyub escaped alone,
In Room 102, I had honestly done most of it,
And Room 103 was cleared by Songee alone.
“Kind of disappointing, isn’t it? I always felt like I was contributing, but the final three are clearly those three, huh?
“Try clicking it. I’m curious about how empowerment works!”
I instinctively clicked ‘Yes.’
Empowering in progress ———— Complete!
!!!
Suddenly, the brilliant light that had illuminated the center of the Sanctum struck Seungyub, Songee, and me.
In an instant, I felt my consciousness pulling away from my body.
*
Up.
Up.
Ah, am I… flying in the sky?
Is this what it feels like to experience out-of-body?
In my current state, I had no body.
Something – my consciousness was endlessly ascending.
In a fundamental sense—not just physically speaking—there was ‘up.’
I reached a place that transcended the surface of the earth truly.
A land that exists nowhere.
Suddenly, the ascent came to a halt.
A towering – bird stood before me.
An owl.
As I gazed at it, realization dawned; it seemed familiar.
The sculpture I had captured the night before entering the hotel. It looked just like that.
It has been quite disappointing recently.
Was it addressing me?
I thought you weren’t a fool, yet you couldn’t catch on to Athanasias’ simple trick.
Was this pertaining to Room 103?
But you weren’t entirely lacking at the Mansion, so overall, I would say you have potential.
What manner of creature was this, to evaluate me?
Let’s call me your patron. You will see me several more times…
I’ll give you a little more. Next time, I hope you’ll obtain an Inheritance when you come back here.
A brief conversation, no, could it even be called a conversation? It was more like a one-sided conveyance of intent.
Then, my consciousness plummeted from that endlessly lofty expanse…
*
[Han Kain (20) – Wisdom -> You may now see the locations of your teammates.]
*
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 15
Current Location: Floor 1, Room 105 (Room of Rest)
Sage’s Advice: 3]
I checked immediately upon rising from bed. It was Day 15.
In a bizarre twist, a whole day had been erased in that short span of time.
I wanted nothing more than to enjoy my sumptuous three-day holiday fully, but…
Day 13 had gone to the bracelet tests, the morning of Day 14 was all about exploration, and then to blink and find the evening of Day 14 and the morning of Day 15 wiped clean?
If I had come back with any encouraging words, maybe I wouldn’t be feeling this dejected.
What a drag. Bring back an Inheritance next time.
Hearing such pointless “evaluations” only left me dumbfounded.
Did I ever request to be kidnapped into such a bizarre place?
As I was about to erupt with exclamations of frustration, I suddenly noticed a new feature in my status window.
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 15
Current Location: Floor 1, Room 105 (Room of Rest)
Sage’s Advice: 3
Teammate Location Information(!)]
Just to check, it indicated that everyone was in Floor 1, the Room of Rest. Would it show more specific details once we entered a Cursed Room?
That would definitely come in handy.
It seemed to be mealtime, so I headed over to the dining area where my teammates were hanging out.
“Hey! Look who’s finally awake. Do you know how flabbergasted I was when the three of you suddenly collapsed? I carried you all back! Plus, Seungyub and Songee woke up ages ago, so I was wondering why you took so long!”
“So, Kain, did you score anything new?” Eunsol-noona asked.
“Yes! Now, I have a feature called ‘Teammate Location Information’ that shows where you all are. Right now, it just shows the rooms, but I bet we’ll get more detailed locations once we enter a Cursed Room.”
Unlike me, who immediately noticed a difference, Songee and Seungyub exchanged puzzled glances.
“Hmm… I can’t check anything since there are no chaotic beings around us.”
“I just got an opaque window that says [98%].”
“Looks like hitting 100% will reset the cooldown. It sounds like you can choose your lucky moment when it fills up! 98% means it’s almost full.”
After a brief talk about the changes in our blessings, I also joined them for a late dinner.
It was truly aggravating.
I had been yanked into this place against my will, then criticized for not doing well, and one of my rest days completely vanished.
I doubt even the military could be this inconsiderate!
*
After finishing our meal, we got into a serious discussion.
The agenda: “What items should we order from the HP Market?”
“I said this yesterday, but one will be capsaicin. I have gathered four sprays as I roamed around, but we’re out of capsaicin itself,” I stated.
“Are we turning the other two into weapons? Like my tonfa?” Seungyub asked.
“That’s a dilemma. I think physical tools are simply less effective than a capsaicin spray for the girls, and besides, there are decorative blades all over the hotel. Kain’s silver dagger was just something we picked up here,” I responded.
That made sense.
There wasn’t much in the HP Market that could be considered an actual weapon. Maybe a kitchen knife at most.
“Ahri then chimed in,” “How about a lighter?”
“A lighter?”
“I think a device that can ignite a fire could be useful in various ways. Plus, I haven’t seen one around.”
“Not a bad idea. But if we’re not using it for lighting cigarettes, why not a blowtorch instead? It can double as a weapon,” Jinchul-hyung suggested.
“Hyung, wouldn’t a blowtorch be cumbersome to carry?” I countered.
“Then let’s go with a gas lighter, shall we?”
“What’s that?”
“You know, the long ones used at barbecue places. You’ll know it once you see it.”
After throwing around some ideas, nobody could think of a good third item.
In the end, we decided to order two canisters of capsaicin as consumables and settle on a lighter for the last item, marking the end of that day.
The following morning, on Day 16, we entered Room 104.
*
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 16
Current Location: Floor 1, Room 104 (Cursed Room – College Prep Elite Hotel High)
Sage’s Advice: 3]
Ding Dong!
Familiar uniforms.
My teammates observed their surroundings with blank expressions amidst a crowd of countless student NPCs.
I was back at high school, the peak period of life when transitioning from high school to university loomed over.
I had returned to high school—specifically, to a ‘Hotel High School’ without any hope.
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