### Chapter 453 – Day Off – Meeting, Re-Entry to Room 206 (3)
—
– Han Kain
“Wake up!”
…
“Hey, you lazy bum! The sun is high in the sky!”
…
“I didn’t want to go this far, but what choice do I have?”
“Ugh! What the heck?”
Waking up to a booming trumpet sound was quite the shock!
Even now, the loudness was jabbing my ears!
Han Kain: “What kind of prank is this, grandpa?”
Kim Mooksung: “Get moving! Lunch time is coming!”
Ah…
It seems I overslept because I was up all night using the Dream Kingdom.
*
As I strolled over to the snack table, my colleagues were already gathered, and Eunsol waved at me.
“Did you finally show up? You look pretty tired today!”
“Sorry about that.”
“No worries. Everyone has days like this.”
As soon as I arrived, I discreetly scanned the room for Elena and Songee.
Elena looked like she had completely forgotten about last night, smiling like nothing happened.
Must be she didn’t wake up until the very end.
On the other hand, Songee…
“Hey, big brother, did you enjoy your dream trip?”
“… Good morning.”
“It’s not morning anymore.”
“…”
Judging by how she was openly talking about entering the dream, it seemed Ahri had already told her about painting’s usage.
Of course, if Ahri hadn’t mentioned it, I would have thought about spilling the beans myself, so no big deal—
“Wow! It must have been super fun! Whose dream did you enter? I bet it was 100% Ahri and me!”
What a weird vibe! Why am I the only one getting scolded?
Anyway, since Songee’s the only one who remembers, I’ll just make my case.
“It was you last! Remember? Songee, you made that cola tidal wave and threw me into a wall!”
— Tch!
As I clinked my coffee cup down, Elena interrupted.
“That’s a lie.”
Wait, was she using her lie detector powers?
“Wow! You’re lying right to my face! Big brother, where did our trust go? What did you do in there to—”
Crap! This is a crisis!
How do I dodge Elena’s lie detection?
“Ah, Ahri!”
“Ahri?”
“Ahri took the Dream Kingdom! So I couldn’t use it anymore!”
I tossed the ball over to Ahri.
It’s true that Ahri took the painting, so it’s not a lie, right?
And the vibe shifted a bit awkwardly.
…
Until just now, we were casually teasing each other, and I thought we were about to have some fun with Ahri too.
But instead of joking around, everyone started glancing sideways.
Suddenly, I realized that Miro, who usually would’ve jumped in, was completely silent.
Ahri was leaning back in her chair across from Miro, her expression blank.
Kim Mooksung: (Private Message) Ahri and Miro had a huge fight this morning.
“…”
What kind of situation is this?
They entered Miro’s dream, and suddenly fought? What gives?
Eunsol cleared her throat to redirect the mood.
“Uh-huh! Good to see you guys know how to use the painting. So, should we start the meeting?”
*
The first topic of discussion when the meeting finally got underway was evaluating the escape plan for our second attempt.
“Let’s clarify this: During the second attempt, Ahri and Kain used the last means prepared by the Rationalist Coalition to subdue the Demon King. But why is it considered escape rather than a solution?”
In the second attempt in Room 206, Ahri and I used the ‘City Control System’ the Rationalists set up deep in Paradise to sacrifice most of humanity for the Unyielding Rationality.
It was undoubtedly a tremendous sacrifice, but it’s undeniable that the overwhelming human offering created a restraining force that subdued the Demon King again.
But why is it just an escape?
“Is it because we sacrificed too many people…?”
Songee muttered that, then trailed off as if she herself doubted it.
Ahri replied calmly.
“I don’t think so. There were heavy casualties in Rooms 201 and 203 as well.”
Wanting to avoid dragging it out, Ahri gave a straightforward response.
“The sealing of the Demon King through Unyielding Rationality demands constant offerings. That’s the problem. While the ongoing crisis was halted through great sacrifice, there are no humans left to give.”
We managed to put the Demon King back down with a ‘punch’ crafted from 2.34 billion humans.
What comes next?
There are too few survivors left to offer anyone again!
“There’s no longer anything to fuel the Unyielding Rationality. The Demon King will likely awaken in a few months or years, and when he does, it’ll be the end of us.”
Songee’s face fell in despair.
“No… So why did the Rationalists prepare such a meaningless measure?”
“Why is it meaningless?”
“After sacrificing 2.3 billion, we only delayed the apocalypse by a few years—”
“If you let someone die today without doing anything, would a treatment giving that person an extra three years be meaningless?”
“… Is that so?”
Just then, the teacher lightly clapped his hands.
“Anyhow, what matters is that we finally found a ‘reproducible escape method.’”
A reproducible escape method.
“As you all know, the method we used in the first attempt can no longer be used.”
During the first attempt, I blocked the Demon King while using the Resurrection and Unyielding Rationality at the same time to escape.
Since I can’t use Resurrection this time, that option is off the table.
On the other hand, we can reuse the escape method from the second attempt.
We just need to go deep into Paradise, seize the research facility, and use the City Control Device.
“When the third attempt begins, some of you should head directly into the depths right away. We also need to secure the research facility and wake up Miro. Right, Miro?”
“…”
“Miro?”
“Ah, um, yes.”
When the teacher smoothly shifted the conversation to Miro, she, lost in her thoughts, suddenly seemed flustered.
“You mentioned that you could resist the time control underground with the Unyielding Power, right?”
“Uh, maybe?”
“If that’s the case, then we can count on Miro in the third attempt.”
“I-I’ll do my best.”
As the comrades discussed how we’d proceed in the next round, I too fell into contemplation.
In broad strokes, it seemed we’d proceed similarly to the last attempt.
The difference is, we now need to consider the ‘solution.’
How on earth do I solve Room 206, this bizarre space?
“…”
I thought finding an escape method would also lead me to a solution, but it didn’t.
‘The Demon King who revives after 100 days.’
The Demon King is currently in a fit to devour humans, and securing an escape means we’d need a horrifying number of sacrifices.
But after one sacrifice, wouldn’t we have no one left to offer? That means a solution is impossible.
“What the heck….”
As my head began to throb, Seungyub, who usually stayed quiet, suddenly raised his hand.
“Whoa, whoa! I just had an amazing idea!”
“You?!”
“Uh… Ahri? What’s with that tone?”
“Never mind. Spill it out.”
“Ahem! What about the ‘One More Chance’ with those coins! When the dead came back to life, remember?”
Songee nodded her head.
“That’s right. Time reversal brought dead people back to life.”
“If so! After we sacrificed 20 billion, couldn’t we just turn back time and resurrect the dead?”
“…”
“…”
A moment of silence enveloped the room as everyone digested the statement, and Ahri let out a sigh.
“Seungyub, people sacrificed for the Unyielding Rationality can’t be brought back even if time is reversed. Their souls were likely burned away.”
“… Is that so?”
“Just munch on some cookies or something.”
“…”
It wasn’t until evening that the meeting wrapped up.
As everyone got up, the teacher dropped a bombshell announcement.
“Uh, teacher?”
“… It’s dangerous, so I’ll attempt it alone. For the escape, city governance, or managing the sect, let’s leave that to everyone else this time.”
*
– Han Kain
Waiting at the entrance to Room 105 at a late hour, I finally met Ahri.
“What are you doing there?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“About the Dream Kingdom.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll return it.”
As I handed over the circular Dream Kingdom to Ahri, I subtly observed her expression.
“What happened with Miro?”
“… We made up.”
“Thank goodness.”
I did see them reconcile earlier.
However, what really piqued my curiosity, was why they fought in the first place.
“…”
“…”
As if sensing my question, Ahri gave a light cut-off.
“It was for personal reasons.”
With that said, she brushed off further inquiry, and just as I was about to step inside…
— Snap!
Ahri grabbed my arm.
“Huh? Why?”
“If I keep this painting, I might need to use it sometimes.”
“Whoa! Wait, wait, there’s a misunderstanding! Yesterday was just practicing how to use the painting—”
“I’m not scolding your naughty desires.”
“Whoa! You’re saying some wild stuff! What naughty desires? I just—”
“Be quiet and listen. Don’t enter Miro’s dream.”
“… What?”
“It’s dangerous. Miro’s dream is extremely perilous.”
“What do you—”
— Click!
Instead of explaining herself, Ahri entered her room.
“…”
No…!
How could she just drop that without any explanation and go to bed?
I’m dying to know what happens inside Miro’s dream!
…
The next morning, we began the third attempt to Room 206.
*
– Yu Songee
“Ah.”
Waking up for the third time in the garden of the luxurious mansion.
“…”
— Click-clack! Click-clack!
Recalling yesterday’s day-long meeting while strolling through the garden, I heard someone approaching.
No need to turn around; I know who it is by this point.
“Dad, is that you?”
“Yes. Were you out for a walk?”
“Yep.”
Just your regular dad and daughter chat.
I still haven’t used ‘the one who is loved,’ but that doesn’t mean the mayor treats me coldly.
“…”
I turned to look at Leon Kadilov.
Lost in thought, the mayor cocked his head and glanced my way.
“Why? Is there something on my face?”
“…”
I used to apply ‘the one who is loved’ at this kind of moment.
I thought it’d make things easier if the city’s ruler favored me, but…
“Dad.”
This was brought up during yesterday’s meeting.
Was it wrong to handle things this way?
Using ‘the one who is loved’ caused me and this man to face tragic endings time and again.
He always escaped the false love no matter what.
One More Chance, the help of the progenitor.
There might be more ways to protect the mind than that.
“Why do you ask?”
So…
“Dad, I have something to say.”
This time, let’s do it the straightforward way.
*
– Kim Sanghyun
“Everyone! Today’s message is about ‘equality.’ All are glorious descendants, and under the mighty gaze, each class is merely a façade—”
Ugh, here comes the cult sermon again!
How can he repeat the same words so perfectly without a hitch?
At this point, I could recite it in my sleep, and the congregation that’s still moved by the same old spiel is quite the crowd.
“No, no. Such rebellious behavior should be corrected…”
I’m a level two secret agent infiltrating the Demon King’s Church.
I’m about to undertake a perilous mission this round.
“Phew…”
I steady myself.
Resentment toward the supernatural beings, anger against those who claim to be gods.
I worked hard to suppress such negative emotions in order to become a ‘submissive human.’
… But does it even make sense?
From now on, the beings I encounter will surely read even the shallowest human hearts like an open book.
I don’t know.
For this mission, I feel like I know less than I do.
“Let’s talk about the progenitor after a long time.”
As I listened to the sermon, I thought back to last night.
About the idea I casually tossed out.
*
“While I’m repeating myself… there must be some secret in the Demon King’s Church, right? So…”
An impromptu idea.
Ridiculous, absurd, and bizarre.
“A bit gruesome, but…”
‘A bit’ gruesome?
“The Curse Room is a survival issue for us. Let’s toss out the ethical concerns—”
I thought I went on for too long, but Ahri cut me off decisively.
“The management bureau tossed that out a century ago, just say it plainly.”
In the end, I opened my mouth.
“Fine. The Demon King’s Church has somehow managed to become the true servants of the Demon King, haven’t we?”
“True.”
“So… what if we all convert ourselves toward the Demon King?”
The room fell silent as everyone gaped with their mouths half-opened.
“The wolf has fought against humans for ages, but they could never outmatch us. Yet….”
“…”
“A wolf betraying its kin becomes the best friend of humans and flourishes until today!”
*
My heart raced wildly.
This round, I will…
Become the Demon King’s pawn.
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