### Chapter 471 – Room 206, The Cursed Room – ‘Demon King Revives After 100 Days’ Re (30)
—
– Han Kain
The ultimate being knelt before me, almost as if pledging allegiance like a knight.
Of course, its appearance was way too far from human.
—
[Advice: 3 -> 2]
“Should I accept this guy’s proposal?”
[At least, it won’t hurt you.]
Hearing that response for a fleeting moment stirred a complex thought in my mind.
The Sacred Sun, my second inheritance, an incredibly powerful treasure.
Long ago, I made a contract with the Sacred Sun, and the contents were as follows:
The Master shall not consume Han Kain’s mind.
Han Kain shall contain 144,000 souls within the Sacred Sun.
“…”
Looking back, it was nearly a scam contract.
At the time of signing, and even till the very end of Room 104, I didn’t quite grasp the true nature of the Master and the Sacred Sun.
The first statement held no significance.
The erosion of the sun doesn’t mean that the Master is inside the sun, tying me down nightly and absorbing my soul and mind.
The erosion is ultimately my choice.
Realizing that I can gain endless power through the sun, I’m merely walking the path of a mad god.
Thus, after acquiring the second statement from the grimoire, I could view myself objectively.
“There’s no harm…”
“What do you mean, Kain?”
The ultimate being I met in the sanctuary pleaded with a fervent look.
He asked me to be our salvation.
He wanted me to be an ark that could escape unavoidable destruction.
The subject wasn’t ‘me’ but ‘us’ because the souls he wanted contained in the Sacred Sun weren’t just his own.
“For a long time, I have collected the souls of loyal citizens.”
“Souls of Demon King worshippers?”
“Haha, that’s right. For a very… very long time.”
“…”
“It was a painful task. Like building a sandcastle on a beach hit by endless waves.”
“…”
“There are more souls than you can even imagine.”
How many could it be?
I felt like it was way more than 144,000.
“Gathering souls—Is that your original power as the leader of the Order? Or the power gained as a Demon King worshipper?”
“Does the distinction even matter at this point?”
“…”
“I assure you, our souls will grant you tremendous power.”
“Seems odd, but how do you know about my Sacred Sun? That it can contain souls—”
“Haha! Well, Kain, because you’ve contained over 100,000 people within 206.”
“…”
This guy is right. I’ve used the sun noisily multiple times throughout various cycles.
So, it’s only natural the Demon King would have gotten wind of this and passed that info to his priests, right?
Thoughts danced in my head.
Just adding more souls into the sun doesn’t mean I become infinitely stronger.
The 144,000 number the Master spoke of referred to the maximum capacity for the Sacred Sun to unleash its full power.
I can exert my power longer.
It’s like equipping a bigger magazine to a gun; it doesn’t increase its firepower but allows you to shoot longer.
Hence, this offer has no downside for me, and the Owl confirmed this.
Since before the Ultimate Being made this request, I had already been filling the Sacred Sun with souls.
But.
Adding to the sun is definitely not a tranquil salvation.
I’m not even sure what exactly happens, and it’s likely closer to falling into hell than attaining salvation.
What the ultimate being desires—“a true life outside the hotel”—is made possible not by the Sacred Sun but by the Soul Vessel.
…
Unable to hold back, I said.
“The sun is quite different from the salvation you think.”
In the past, I might not have said that.
I could have just laughed and devoured countless souls.
But now?
I didn’t want to deceive someone who longs for the salvation of many kin.
“I suspect as much. However, the chance of sending not just my life but ‘everyone’ outside this cursed place is only possible through you. A painful future? I believe a painful existence is better than an empty demise.”
After about two or three minutes of conversation—though not an absolutely long time, it’s considerably lengthy in this place—
— Grooooan!
The entire depths trembled, beginning to produce an enormous booming sound.
Surely, the sacrifices on the ground have stopped.
The awakening of the Demon King has begun.
“Ugh! Hey, Kain! Hurry up and make a decision!”
I heard Ari’s frantic voice as I looked at my status window…
—
[Date: Day 571]
Just entering, it was Day 553, and nearly 20 days have already passed.
Looking at the date gave me a good idea.
“Is the ultimate being’s proposal favorable to me?”
[From a larger framework, it’s certainly a favorable choice.]
“Larger framework? So, there could be slight risks?”
[Is there a choice without risk in the hotel?]
I quickly used the advice twice consecutively, taking a deep breath and waiting.
“Kain? Time is—”
“Hold on, hold on!”
—
[Advice: 0 -> 3]
The date has flipped!
“What’s the ultimate being’s goal? Do you genuinely believe that being contained in the Sacred Sun leads to salvation?”
[The essence is to seek existence and salvation, indeed.]
“Essence? Is there perhaps another detailed purpose hidden?”
[I can’t specify everything for you, can I?]
What’s this?
The Owl’s tone seems to have shifted a bit?
“Don’t hold back! Be a little more specific—”
Finally, I received a type of response that I’ve never had even after using the advice thousands of times.
[You have a strangely locked corner. If I provide you with exact details, you’ll suspect I’m trying to control you this time. I’m merely an advisor, not a substitute for your concerns.]
“Uh-oh?”
“What’s up? Have you decided?”
“…”
This is my first time receiving such a response without lying.
As if engaging in a conversation while rapidly using advice, it feels like I mildly annoyed it.
Also, it feels like I threw in something it’s always wanted to say under the guise of advice.
“There’s a strangely locked corner….”
—
Once again, the depths shuddered loudly.
The ultimate being with a longing expression and Ari were looking at me with urgency.
“…”
Let’s think rationally.
I have nothing to lose, and above all, this guy’s last hope—would I reject that?
He might suddenly do something weird.
— Whalaaah!
With the collapsing underground city, I spoke, holding the flames in my hand.
“Do as you wish.”
“Gladly.”
—
– Park Seungyub
Gulp!
From a rather tall building offering a clear view of the chaos in the city.
I gazed down from the rooftop.
Countless people climbing those pipes like zombies piled upon the base of the floating mansion.
In the place where apartments clustered, there was nothing but devastation that looked as if nuclear missiles had dropped.
A brutal slaughter orchestrated by the grandfather and the doctor.
And this was just the beginning.
Drifting monstrous jellyfish harvested humans without a break, carrying Sister Elena on its back.
After enduring hunger and thirst, the moment a muscular giant appeared among the praying people in the plaza, a light from another world spread in every direction.
In another spot, Sister Eunsol, using dozens of butterflies to make people collapse, was also visible.
“…”
It’s suffocating.
I had planned this, expected it to happen, but seeing it firsthand nearly made me vomit.
Just then, a soft hand wrapped around me.
“Now you can’t see anything! Peekaboo?”
Sister Songee hugged me.
“Sis, I’m not an elementary student.”
“Peekaboo?”
“Ugh, seriously!”
What’s with the irritation?
I mean, I don’t know about others, but she and I don’t have that big of an age gap!
My sister took a step back, assuming a serious expression.
“Seungyub, don’t try to look too closely.”
“…”
“No one is asking you to descend into ethical dilemmas over implicit tragedies. Sometimes, it’s okay to stop pondering problems that won’t yield answers.”
Stressing not to dwell on unresolvable issues—could this be Sister Songee’s lesson gleaned from the hotel?
At that moment, a much colder voice from Yumi reached my ears.
“We all have roles, and you do too. Focus on your task.”
“…”
To defend me, Sister Songee answered.
“Yumi, are you stupid? Seungyub shouldn’t focus! Seungyub, just play around. How about a quick game of LoL while this world goes down the drain?”
“…”
“Welcome to the Summoner’s Rift!”
“What’s that now?”
“I just want to make you feel like you’re gaming. Um, that’s the line, right?”
Sister, was that meant to defend me?
…
Everyone has a role.
I also have a task that no one else can take over.
The progenitor has lost control over the chaotic Paradise, and the unyielding reason has come to a halt.
It won’t be long until the Demon King stirs to life.
While our comrades are busy “putting down” as many survivors as possible before the Demon King descends.
But still, when the Demon King truly awakens, everyone must be safely concealed.
Timing—timing is precisely the problem.
The exact moment a fellow can stop ‘putting down’ survivors and hide from the Demon King should it come.
The precise golden time right before the Demon King’s hand swipes to swallow my comrades whole!
When will that golden time be?
I don’t know.
No one knows, and there’s no way to find out.
Thus, maybe the most critical task has been handed to me.
— Grooooan!
A nightmarish wail fills the city.
Just moments ago, Sister Songee looking composedly at me has turned urgent, and Yumi’s eyes are round.
“Uh, what? Now—”
No, not yet.
It’s not the right time.
I relayed that to my comrades.
Park Seungyub: Not yet! Keep going.
Kim Mooksung: Okay.
Cha Jinchul: The sound’s eerie… But okay.
— Rumble!
A sound as if the sky is crumbling—the noise that could herald the end!
Just as anticipated, angelic songs resound from the heavens.
Naturally, there are no angels in Room 206.
“Ahhh! Now it’s—no way? Now’s the—”
“Nope.”
Not yet.
We must ‘put down’ more survivors.
We need to slim down the ‘prey’ the Demon King will devour.
Park Seungyub: Not yet. Keep the ‘putting down’ going.
Kim Sanghyun: I’m kinda scared now.
Lee Eunsol: Still not it?
More.
More.
More.
…
The sky opened.
The sky of Paradise, which had been blocked by a dome, revealed itself.
The few remaining survivors still present stared blankly at the sky.
As the mad world’s Jesus proclaimed the arrival of the second coming, people began to float up!
At that very moment.
[Heavenly Luck Activated! The cosmic energy bestows upon you!]
The ground started collapsing as it “rightly” threw off balance, and my clenched fist opened.
At last, the hourglass made its appearance.
My blessing is luck.
Luck means making the right choice even amid ignorance.
— Click!
As the ultimate evil stirs from the abyss of the stars—the hourglass turned.
I shouted towards the Demon King.
“Hey! Look! This is what a clutch click looks like! You dumb Demon King—”
This is League of Legends!
… And then I lost consciousness.
—
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