### Chapter 422 – Party Time (2) – Eternal Dream
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 376
Current Location: Room 105 – ‘Room of Rest’
Sage’s Advice: 0]
—
— Han Kain
—
In a cold world where everything froze, I became a stone in the cosmos.
—
Do you know?
Time is indeed relative.
Just as the lifespan of a mayfly differs from that of a human, a human’s lifetime is but a fleeting moment to someone else.
To some, it is eternity; to others, it drifts by in the blink of an eye.
—
I couldn’t tell if I was a person or a stone.
—
After swimming aimlessly through time and space, I finally saw the light; he was the most radiant being in all existence.
—
“My faithful son, I have bestowed upon you the light of ascension long ago. Why have you wandered for so long?”
I replied that I had never wandered but had simply returned to gain strength to overcome trials.
At that, he laughed and laughed some more while he grabbed me with his fiery hand.
—
“You are small and weak. Just a grain of sand on a beach, merely a droplet in the ocean. How could you possibly overcome the trials laid down by one who weeps for the three thousand worlds?”
—
The hammer of fire struck me.
— Bang! Bang! Bang!
—
Do you know?
Most of the volume taken up by matter is empty space.
Thus, if one has sufficient force, it can be compressed absurdly.
Isn’t the mass of 1 cm³ of a neutron star said to be a hundred million tons?
—
As the hammer swung three times, capable of shattering even Polaris, I transformed into nothing more than a point.
Around me were countless points, all pitiful refugees stranded from the cosmic cycle.
—
The first 100 years passed in mere suffering and wailing.
This was akin to a baby bird singing with its mouth wide open every time it saw its mother.
—
“Rebirth! Rebirth! Reason is but an illusion. Know that pain can turn sweet.”
—
During the next 100 years, I challenged him, questioning how a human could do such a thing.
This was like blaming the stars during an earthquake.
—
“Rebirth! Rebirth! Do not focus on the process, look at the goal. Accept the laws of evolution.”
—
Finally, when the third sky brightened, I realized a devil resided within me.
As the devil burst forth from the point, it splattered thick, black liquid all around, laughing as it spoke.
—
“Son, your true nature has finally emerged! What childish tricks are these? Is the wisdom created by a foolish bug who hasn’t even been born your entirety?”
—
I had now shed my burdensome doubts, stating that I was merely a tool desiring expansion.
At that moment, a miracle occurred.
The one seated on the lofty throne descended to examine me; his face resembled that of a truly benevolent father.
—
“Now that you have begun to comprehend, I have no regrets. Expand and expand again. Understand that the evolution of life progresses from single-celled to multi-celled.”
—
I said I wouldn’t need to seek the path of expansion far and would feast on the flesh and blood of my father.
He smiled gladly and said, “Do so. I will gladly provide not only flesh and blood but even marrow and intestines for you to swallow.”
—
As my mouth, transformed like a caterpillar, opened wide enough to swallow the Pacific Ocean, feathers fell from the sky.
I would have usually stayed calm, but that trick was too much!
—
Standing before a tiny child, did you think you were the Creator?
—
“Oh! Those words are directed at yourself. How can a sparrow, unable to wipe away the dust in its murky eyes, dare to claim wisdom?”
—
Be humble, be humble.
This game was designed for all three thousand worlds by the weeping one.
Know that you are no more than a pawn on a chessboard.
—
“All you onlookers, pay attention! The one who truly matters remains silent, yet this sparrow thinks it’s a messenger.”
—
Everyone has their own role.
Accept that the role left for you is merely that of a tool.
From this day forth, such tricks will no longer be permitted.
—
At that, the wise bird spread its wings, seemingly covering the sky.
With one flap, limbs sprouted and I gained my freedom.
With a second flap, eyes, nose, and mouth were formed, awakening my senses.
With a third flap, I, a point, and a caterpillar, turned into a human.
—
Clinging to the talons of the owl while holding onto my muddled mind, I begged it to show me the way, as the pain and fear of both body and spirit felt as if they would swallow me whole.
—
Then the owl said, “Forget all about this today; it was a nightmare that shall not recur.”
Furthermore, it mentioned that that crafty one had taught me the path of molting and transcendence.
—
Forget? Remember?
—
Confusion rattled in my head, but soon I realized all these worries were pointless.
The sun rose.
—
—
— Han Kain
—
This is now the morning of the second day of Party Time.
—
“…”
—
My head was killing me.
It felt like I had an amazing dream last night, but I could barely recall it.
Surely, an owl appeared near the end of that bizarre dream.
—
“…”
—
Having just woken up, I hadn’t even used my advice, yet the count was at zero.
This meant the owl had exerted some form of power.
—
Blankly, I washed up and got dressed before heading out for breakfast.
—
“Jinchul, having pork belly for breakfast already?”
—
“Sister, didn’t you know Americans eat bacon for breakfast?”
—
“No way—”
—
“Haha! Jinchul’s stomach is healthy; no problem there! An English breakfast is the most…”
—
As my colleagues happily chattered away, Songyi asked Ari.
—
“Has Miro not woken up yet?”
—
“It hasn’t even been 24 hours.”
—
“Is that so?”
—
Yesterday, on the morning of the first day of Party Time, we had gone to the Sanctum of Blessings.
Ari thought that since most of our teammates had enhanced their blessings 2-3 times, it wouldn’t be easy to evolve any further.
As it turned out, the only person who could enhance this time was Miro.
—
Having never enhanced even once, Miro played the role of the fake saint in Room 104, earning a significant contribution.
—
“I’m curious! What power do you think Miro will get this time? Does the Administration Bureau have any insight?”
—
“Don’t know.”
—
“Why are you being so vague? Ugh!”
—
“…”
—
Suddenly, Songyi stretched out her fork and pulled just the ham from Ari’s sandwich.
Ari looked momentarily dumbfounded.
—
“Are you a kindergarten kid?”
—
“Can’t say your behavior isn’t similar to that, mom.”
—
“Whoa! I’ll concede that.”
—
— Beep!
—
Watching calmly, Pero couldn’t lose and hopped onto grandfather’s steak plate.
—
“Ugh! Why are you climbing on the plate? Just ask for a piece of meat, you little featherbrain!”
—
“Sir, please don’t curse.”
—
“Just look at this little idiot. It’s a featherbrain, why is that considered cursing?”
—
At that moment, Seungyub spoke cautiously.
—
“Ari, can I borrow your thermos? Now—”
—
As he said that, Ari’s eyebrows furrowed, and grandfather smacked Seungyub on the head.
—
“Ugh! Why’d you hit me all of a sudden?”
—
With a sigh, Ari replied.
—
“You summoned Yumi last night, didn’t you?”
—
“…”
—
“Isn’t it obvious why you’re suddenly asking for a thermos? Yumi wants to build her body now, doesn’t she?”
—
Ari’s thermos was filled with Yumi’s blood, flesh, hair, and the like.
Of course, regardless of what was inside, the thermos itself was under Ari’s custody.
—
“… Yes.”
—
“Oh! Mooksung, give him two more smacks.”
—
— Smack! Smack!
—
“Ow! Oww!”
—
“You were warned not to meet her alone for a while. Be cautious until you figure out what type she is…”
—
“…”
—
Listening to the chortling conversations of my companions pulled my mind back down to earth.
At that moment, Elena lightly tapped me on the back.
—
“What are you thinking so deeply about? You haven’t said a word!”
—
“Ah, I had such a bizarre dream last night…”
—
“What happened in that dream?”
—
“I turned into a tiny dot and became part of a picture?”
—
At that, several colleagues chuckled.
They probably thought it was a simple nonsensical dream.
—
About an hour after finishing breakfast, Miro finally woke up.
As soon as she stepped out from her room, she buzzed around frantically, summoning everyone.
—
“Eeeveryone! Gather!”
—
“Ugh! What the noise!”
—
“Gather!”
—
“Ow! Why are you like this? Ari! What’s wrong with her?”
—
“… I don’t know.”
—
“Gather!”
—
Finally, unable to restrain herself, Ari grabbed Miro’s cheeks to quiet her down, and everyone sighed as they gathered at the front desk.
—
What could be the reason for all this nonsense? It’s pretty obvious!
—
The fact that she gained a new superpower excited her immensely.
—
So we decided to indulge her in this mood.
—
“Hey, what kind of power did universe’s most beautiful Miro gain?”
—
Suddenly, Miro froze like ice.
—
“D-Don’t say weird things!”
—
“The universe’s most beautiful—”
—
— Thud!
—
Before I could finish, Miro kicked my knee, nearly knocking me over.
Miro, without looking my way, flashed an arrogant expression while turning to her colleagues.
—
“Look!”
—
Miro began pressing the sharp blade of a dagger against her skin.
It looked like she was trying to show off the new powers rather than actually injure herself.
Even so, as that sharp blade approached her skin, the tension in the area grew quiet.
—
“Gulp!”
—
Even Miro herself swallowed nervously, which made Ari flabbergasted.
—
“Why are you nervous? Isn’t this to show us?”
—
“W-Well, it is, but now that I’m going to do it, it’s scary… just let me prepare mentally for a bit—AHHH!”
—
Before she could finish, Ari swiftly struck Miro’s hand holding the knife.
As the blade touched Miro’s body, a tremendous scream filled the hotel!
—
“AAAAGH!”
—
“… Quiet!”
—
“AAAAAAAH!”
—
“Pipe down! You’re not even hurt!”
—
In the end, Ari, greatly annoyed, covered Miro’s mouth again.
—
“Ugh!”
—
“Ah, ha ha!”
—
“Is she really performing some kind of skit here?”
—
Apart from the greatness of the power itself, the situation was hilarious.
I mean, with the blade pressed against her skin, didn’t she know what her power was?
—
Miro herself seemed aware she wouldn’t get hurt, and indeed she didn’t.
But what on earth was with this excessive screaming?
—
“Ari, I really dislike this!”
—
Miro was turning red in the face as she started punching Ari.
Ari simply accepted the hits with a somewhat empty expression.
—
Funny as it was, the ability was quite astonishing.
—
It wasn’t like her skin became tough enough to resist the knife, or that it quickly regenerated; something else was at work.
The blade plunged into her skin, but it was as though the spot healed as if it were made of smoke, with no change occurring at all.
—
Calming down, Miro explained her ability, saying it was simply ‘Immutability Level 2.’
—
When an attack is made on her body, a mysterious force called ‘Immutability’ deflects the attack, ensuring Miro takes no damage while that power remains.
—
After hearing the explanation, Jinchul summarized it.
—
“Got it. So, what? It’s like a shield, similar to the Protoss?”
—
“What’s a Protoss?”
—
At least I understood this explanation.
—
*
Around lunchtime, Eunsol wore a solemn expression and said.
—
“Do you all remember what we talked about the other day? The one about finding the last hidden NPC with the Hand of Greed?”
—
After surveying the team’s readiness, she folded her hands as if in prayer.
—
“I’ll write it now!”
—
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.