### Chapter 449 – Room 206, The Room of Curses – ‘The Demon King who Revives after 100 Days’ Re (14)
—
– Yu Songee
“Mayor, come out! How is Cadilof going to fix this situation?!”
On the screen illuminating Paradise, a massive protest crowd was visible. It was no longer a situation that could be resolved with the enforcers taking a hard stance—they had actually joined the protesters.
“This is bad… What do you think, Elena?”
Elena wore a bitter expression. “I don’t think the real problem is those people.”
That was true. The protesters were merely a result, the real issue was the supernatural disaster that had started to overturn the whole city.
“Aaaagh! Help, please! It’s a… a monster! There’s a monster on TV—”
Images reminiscent of a B-grade horror movie were playing on the screen. A crocodile the size of a car burst out from a manhole, swallowing a bystander whole. A snake as thick as a log wrapped around a car, crushing it, and red liquid gushed out.
“Doesn’t that look like pizza?”
“What?”
“You know, when you roll a pizza and squeeze it, all the tomato sauce spills out—”
“Stop talking nonsense. Are you too immersed in the mayoral role?”
“Too immersed in the mayoral role?”
That remark from Elena made me flinch a little. Thinking back, my pizza comment was a bit too Ahri-like, wasn’t it? I didn’t want to be too sensitive, but I also didn’t want to turn into a management bureau agent.
“Ugh… How did our plan go so awry?”
“I know, right?”
What was the original plan again?
The idea was to have the people sent to the depths of Paradise gather information, then relay that info to the people above to facilitate an escape. However, the plan crumbled when not a single person returned from the depths after more than two months.
“Gain went to the depths a week ago too.”
“And now Gain has also disappeared.”
What on earth happened in the depths of Paradise? I have so many questions I want to ask if we ever escape.
“Have you heard anything from the doctor?”
“He cut off contact three days ago.”
The doctor had remained in the lecture hall after Gain left, but now it was just me and Elena.
“Cadilof, come out! You irresponsible—”
Elena jumped at the coarse shout that echoed from afar. Of course, she had no intention of going down there at all.
“Where would you find a ruler as responsible as me? If you feel wronged, come up here! The mansion is filled with well-maintained turrets!”
— Tap!
At that moment, a petite girl suddenly showed up in the floating mansion. At this point, it was someone I expected to see, so I wasn’t surprised.
“Mei! Why did you just get here?”
“….”
The elder looked somewhat bewildered as she stared at the screen. Did the sight of citizens suffering from the monsters writhing around tug at her sensitivity?
I feel it every time, but she isn’t like an “Administration Bureau agent.”
“…Cadilof.”
“What?”
“Just moments ago, the Order gave me my final command.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly? The Order’s final command? Didn’t they say there hadn’t been contact with the forces in the depths for over a hundred years?
“That expression of yours says you have a lot of questions. But for now, hold it in. We don’t have time to waste. I’ll explain while we go.”
“…Yes.”
I held back my questions as she suggested. Curiosity can wait until survival is secured.
“I’ve already selected most of them. Young age, good character, outstanding intelligence. These are all kids who are suitable as the next Adam and Eve.”
What do you mean “selected”? The next Adam and Eve?
Holding back my questions is getting harder!
“You have one issue, though.”
“What?”
“I got the impression that your character is a bit too malicious.”
“….”
Can you talk like this while looking someone in the face?
I felt affronted, no, outright uncomfortable.
“For the greater cause, you might need to be ruthless. Let’s go.”
At that moment, Elena couldn’t hold back, and she asked, “What do you mean? What did you select—”
“You should come along too.”
—
After arriving at the shelter prepared by the first Order over the years, Elena and I finally understood the situation. The term “Adam and Eve of the New World” was not a metaphorical expression but rather taken literally.
“So… we don’t know exactly why, but it’s come to a stage where stopping the Demon King’s resurrection is impossible?”
“Exactly.”
“So you plan to sacrifice all the people of Paradise?”
“Not just the people of Paradise. We plan to sacrifice all of humanity beyond Paradise as well.”
Survivors across the entire Earth. I couldn’t pin down exactly how many there were, but it surely exceeded at least a billion, right? And all of them would be sacrificed to awaken the suppressed Demon King once again.
Both Elena and I gaped in unison.
The scale was way too gigantic. It was a story that transcended the limits of imagination, making it feel utterly unreal.
Elena let out a small moan.
“This is why… This is why we started in Paradise! They had a means of controlling the cities across the entire star here!”
“Started in Paradise? What do you mean—”
“Never mind.”
Thankfully, there was no need to cover for Elena’s slip of the tongue.
— Rumble!
Everything was nearing its end.
…
…
…
“E-Elena? Sister!”
This was my last memory from Room 206.
—
– Han Kain
“I will execute the death sentences on the 2.34 billion souls who have survived till now. We will start everything anew…”
As the memory of the head was searched and the activation phrase reached its conclusion, a radiant flash of light engulfed the world.
This was my last moment in Room 206—
—
?
“What’s going on?”
In the midst of inexplicable circumstances, I realized I no longer had a physical form. As per hotel regulations, now that I had lost my body, I was no longer a participant, and the status window was not visible either.
The human known as Han Kain was already gone from this space.
However, wasn’t there a saying left by Descartes?
Cogito, ergo sum.
I think, therefore I exist.
I still exist. But how is that possible?
It wasn’t a complicated problem. If something supernatural has occurred to me, it’s either a blessing or a heritage, and the blessing has faded, so it must be the heritage causing this.
Moreover, the grimoire could not cause a phenomenon like this now.
The culprit must be the sacred sun.
…
In a space filled with light, I heard a voice strongly pulling at me as I floated aimlessly.
— Lord… the end is near.
— To the Father in Heaven, I plead, bestow salvation upon our foolish selves!
— Please! I have lived enough, but Kevin is only seven years old!
Prayer.
Prayer.
Prayer.
The fervent voices of the faithful pulled me ‘up.’
I must respond to their desperate wishes.
That is my mission.
“Therefore, neither the most wicked Demon King crouching in the abyss nor the arrogance of the Order seeking to protect the world with foolish hands can stop me.”
…
…
…
My consciousness gradually rose ‘up.’
—
<1st Chapter>
(1:1) As I rose in the looming end, I found around 50,000 gathered in the wilderness.
(1:2) The innocent lambs all kneeled and wailed, a terrible sound to hear.
(1:3) “Little ones, what is it that you fear so much?”
(1:4) The lambs replied, “Demons are everywhere! What should we do?!”
(1:5) I bestowed warmth upon the poor souls.
(1:6) Suddenly, all fears were forgotten, and they sang praises, looking beautiful at last.
(1:7) It was then that I spotted a goat dwelling among the sheep, one who knew no obedience.
“Gain, is that you? Can you understand me right now?”
(1:8) I asked all in the wilderness, “Why do you lack faith when I wish to grant salvation?”
(1:9) “…I’m your colleague, not your believer. I didn’t expect it would come to this!”
(1:10) I found this amusing, so I asked, “What’s your plan?” The goat wore an expression of slight panic.
“I thought to stir the believers’ fear and inspire their faith! Charging up the sacred sun would help you out, but this isn’t what I expected.”
(1:11) Only then did I understand why things had unfolded this way.
(1:12) Though this goat knew no obedience, I knew he could be useful.
(1:13) So, I informed him that I would also take him aboard the Ark when the final moment arrives.
“Take me aboard the Ark? What do you mean by that?”
(1:14) I told the sheep gathering again in the wilderness, “You have been given salvation, so fear not.”
(1:15) I ignited the glorious flames to save everyone.
(1:16) Soon, the little ones wept sorrowfully, throwing themselves into the flames, a truly beautiful sight.
(1:17) Oh! Is this not how a chicken plucks out its own feathers and jumps into boiling water?
“Ugh! Is this how ‘charging’ works?!”
(1:18) I told the goat, “In this futile world, flesh is prisons, so do not be stingy.”
(1:19) So I declared, “Today is genuinely a joyous day.”
(1:20) The weak, quaking on their knees, looked utterly ridiculous.
(1:21) “I… I think I may have made a mistake! I had no idea you’d lose your body, Gain! With the loss of your body, your status window’s protection has vanished, and now excessive faith is gathering, unable to control the heritage!”
(1:22) A sigh escaped me as I reflected on where to begin correcting this foolish assumption.
(1:23) Reassuringly, I told him, “Unlike you, I knew from the start this would happen.”
(1:24) Everything is proceeding as planned, so do not fear.
(1:25) At that moment, a gigantic, brilliantly shining spirit approached, one I recognized well.
“…This is? Could it be Elena?”
(1:26) Excellent, excellent! Truly wonderful! This soul differs from the countless little ones scattered in the universe; it has been refined through countless smelters in the hotel.
I can assure you, it’s incomparable to the little chicks of the false world.
(1:27) At that instant, the foolish one lamented, “I’m sorry. We should discuss this outside. I’ve become death. I have become the destroyer of worlds.”
— Bam!
—
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 479
Current Location: Hotel Second Floor, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 0]
—
– Han Kain
I awakened.
On the familiar second floor of the hotel, my colleagues wore exhausted expressions.
“Ugh! I feel so nauseous. Is it time to escape? Did anyone see the announcement?”
Ahri was figuring out the situation.
“Yep! We were waiting in the elder’s shelter when we saw the escape announcement.”
“Great job, everyone!”
Songee and I smiled joyfully at Sister Eunsol, our co-escapees.
And then…
“Ow… my head hurts. What happened at the end? Why did I suddenly collapse?”
Seeing Elena panic nearly suffocated me.
Honestly, if I had lost my memory as well, I might have felt more at ease instead!
The memory was all too vivid. The utterly disgusting thought filled my head.
Just before, I was looking at Elena…
And I thought, ‘I want to eat her.’
The soul of a participant possesses value incomparable to an ordinary human soul!
“Gah!”
— Thud!
A firm hand gripped my swaying shoulder.
“Whaaa… Teacher…”
“It was an accident.”
“Wha? What?”
“What happened earlier was an accident. In fact, it wasn’t even Gain’s mistake—it was mine. Let’s calm down.”
An odd atmosphere settled, with my colleagues unable to grasp the situation.
“What gives? What happened with the two of you? This is weird. Gain was right next to me at the end!”
Uurp!
I couldn’t hold back any longer and threw up.
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