### Chapter 488 – Room 207, The Gate Room – First Trial – ‘Eternal Life and Resurrection’ (6)
—
– Park Seungyub
At this point, the whole of Egypt was echoing with screams filled with fear and pain.
We moved alongside Menes, who was commanding a legion of unknown robotic weapons.
“Wow… that’s so cool!”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Regardless of Miro’s harsh words, those robots definitely looked impressive.
One robot resembled a giant seated statue of a Pharaoh, while another looked like a massive bird.
There were also those that resembled leopards, and oversized blades floating through the air.
Despite their diverse forms, they all had one thing in common: they radiated a golden glow.
Our teacher, who was observing the robots with interest, muttered to herself.
“Seems like their design isn’t just about efficiency.”
I could easily understand her point.
Even though I knew nothing about robotics, it was clearly weird just from that perspective.
Why would a combat robot need to look like a seated Pharaoh or an animal?
Same goes for the flying blades. Shouldn’t they look more like planes to fly efficiently?
Even the fact that they were shining like gold seemed like a waste of lighting and energy.
But still!
“Isn’t it cool, though?”
“True. And that’s the whole point.”
A golden Pharaoh statue comes to life and repels demons.
What did the ancient Egyptians think when they saw such an unbelievable sight?
I bet they knelt and pledged their loyalty to Menes on the spot.
Menes didn’t need any supernatural powers to cultivate charisma.
“Looks like we’re getting close to our destination.”
“Yeah.”
Not a single word was exchanged between Menes and us until we arrived, only endless exploration of each other.
Perhaps it was because he had just awoken from his sarcophagus after hundreds of years, but Menes wasn’t in his prime condition yet.
He struggled to walk and relied on his descendant Aidia for help.
Every now and then, Menes manipulated what looked like a remote control.
Each time he did, sleeping weapons across Egypt gradually joined us.
With the rising tension, we finally arrived at a vast plain.
At that moment, our teacher pointed toward the sky, speaking to Menes.
“What’s that?”
Menes easily replied,
“That’s the Skull Tower.”
“…”
“The beautiful city of Memphis has fallen under the shadow of that tower, a mere ploy to conceal its true danger.”
“Can we destroy it?”
“Ah! Are you asking if breaking that tower will stop Malkab?”
“…”
“Sorry, but you’re mistaken. That tower has already served its purpose. Malkab will soon manifest in this domain.”
“Looks like we’re in for a troublesome fight.”
“That’s right. So, you should also prepare.”
“We’re always ready! So—”
“No, no—”
Menes’ firm refusal surprised not only our teacher but me as well.
What did he mean we should prepare?
Our teacher wasn’t lying; we truly had nothing special in reserve.
“Haha, you sly one! Shouldn’t you block a god with a god?”
“What do you—”
Block a god with a god?
You don’t mean Menes is thinking—
“Of course, I believe the great Horus will save Egypt. However, I am old, and the elderly tend to be quite suspicious.”
“No, that’s uh….”
“I’m terribly anxious. I can’t help but suspect you’re trying to lead me and Malkab to mutual destruction.”
— Clap!
As Menes lightly clapped his hands, nearby robots began to encircle us!
What should we do about this?
If they’re robots, Songyi’s bracelet or Yumi’s magic won’t be any good against them!
What if Miro uses the Time Traveler well?
Or what if our teacher shoots a flash to take Menes out!
Wait, no, that’s a stupid thought!
If we kill Menes here, doesn’t that mean Malkab will let us fend for ourselves?
How should I resolve this situation—
“Alright.”
A clear, melodious voice rang out, and the tension immediately dissipated.
“If you want to see our… um, Horus, I’ll make that happen.”
Both our teacher and Songyi looked at Miro with expressions that said, “Is this the right call?” but didn’t stop her.
Aidia, however, widened her eyes in surprise.
“M-Miro! What do you mean by that? You’re not saying—”
What could that princess be thinking?
A friend I’ve known since childhood turns out to be a mysterious saint of a cult?
— Click!
The clock’s hands pointed to noon.
“Horus” has arrived.
*
The first words that emerged from Kain, who appeared in the desert plain, were:
“Oh, you could use an inheritance?”
Even Kain, it seems, wasn’t sure what the hotel would seal between blessings and inheritance in the first trial.
Immediately after, light flashed from Songyi’s wrist.
She was probably conveying the situation to Kain through a vision.
From the outside, the appearance of “Horus” seemed to be a mystical sight, reading fate as he looked up to the sky.
And then,
— Whoosh!
A tiny sun appeared in the air.
Kain stood, backlit by the holy sun, staring at Menes.
It was a bluff.
That holy sun didn’t have a pinch of heat left in it, and the power of the grimoire meant nothing before a soulless robot.
But that was a thought possible only because we knew Kain so well.
What about Menes’ perspective?
A mysterious being appears out of nowhere, walking with a burning sun behind him.
The intense charisma radiating from the sun suppressed Menes’ spirit!
He could barely catch his breath.
“You are… what?! The sun, the sky, is this your symbol?”
The sun and sky, wholeness and wisdom, abundance, vengeance, guardianship—all of this is a summary of Egyptian mythology.
At this moment, the being approaching Menes was not a human but Horus himself from the myths.
“… Oh.”
A sigh came from behind.
Miro murmured as if she realized something.
“Could it be…?”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“It’s too similar!”
“Huh?”
“The symbol is the sun, the transcendent appearance is like a bird. It can take many forms!”
“What—”
“It’s the same…! The power of mythological Horus and Kain—”
— Snap!
Our teacher’s firm hand pressed down on Miro’s shoulder.
“Let’s keep quiet. There are many listening ears. Of course, Menes won’t bother with us now.”
“I think I get what the trial is about! So—”
“Let’s talk about it later. After we’ve taken down Malkab.”
So you understand the nature of the trial, huh?
Our teacher and even Miro seemed to have a realization from the current situation!
But I’m just a fool, completely lost here!
Why can’t I understand what they’re saying?
Fortunately or unfortunately, everyone turned their attention back to Menes as his voice rang out.
“Horus! If that’s your majesty, then you should be able to subdue Malkab! You—”
“Menes, have you heard this?”
“Are you going to give me some wisdom?”
“The heavens help those who help themselves.”
“…”
“While I might assist you, oh great Menes, didn’t you build this land?”
In simple terms, since you built this land, you should protect it yourself.
The logic was sound but effectively rejected Menes’s request for help.
Just earlier, Menes had surrounded us with robots and even threatened us.
But he didn’t show any of that behavior towards Kain.
“… I have one question.”
“Go ahead.”
“I heard from that girl, Aidia, that you have the power to read futures.”
“…”
“Can you see my future now?”
With the blessings sealed, it likely wouldn’t be possible anymore.
I wondered if the companions summoned through the Time Traveler could ignore the hotel’s blessings.
But I thought not.
Sneaking around the hotel that way seemed way too underhanded.
Surely the hotel wouldn’t allow that…
“Curious, are you?”
Kain grinned as he locked eyes with Menes.
I was confused about whether he was truly reading Menes’ fate or merely mimicking a “god.”
How burdensome must that gaze be for Menes, cloaked in the halo of the holy sun?
I felt he would turn his head away, unable to bear it, no matter how great Menes was.
…
But he didn’t.
The one who unified Egypt, the great Pharaoh, the master of knowledge transcending the ages—Menes gritted his teeth and endured!
“Yes, great Horus! Have you glimpsed my future? A pitiful old man’s miserable death?”
“Want to hear it?”
“Prophecies…! Destinies…! To rely on such things is to be weak!”
“…”
“My fate will be determined by my own hands from this moment forth! The answers lie within; why seek them from others?!”
At that moment, everyone, myself included, dropped their jaws.
We’d confirmed how powerful the charisma of the sacred sun was multiple times!
It could make normal people from room 206 kneel and pray!
Even facing such pressure, Menes could still show that level of nobility, and I couldn’t help but admire him.
Menes had the right to hear the heritage of Egypt, the progenitor of ancient civilization.
Kain seemed to feel something similar, as his unique “god cosplay” momentarily faded, displaying a human expression.
Though it seemed a mix of admiration and a slight sense of crisis.
“… Very well, Pharaoh. I respect your answer. You may write your own future.”
Immediately, Kain nodded back at Miro.
The clock’s hands turned once more as Horus vanished.
*
In the now-empty plain where Horus had just appeared.
It seemed the conversation with Kain had left Menes quite winded, as he leaned heavily against Aidia, breathing hard.
I hoped we could start the fight once Menes regained his strength.
Of course, Malkab had no reason to show us any mercy.
— Gooooooh!
The voice of the malevolent god resounded, shaking heaven and earth.
In that moment, there was an illusion that the dark sky brightened.
Countless white bones began flying towards us from all directions!
I heard Malkab’s voice.
Well, Menes.
Looks like the negotiations with the new god didn’t go so well, huh?
With a poise that showed no signs of faltering, the elderly man shouted.
“Malkab! So the sun god seems rather threatening to you, doesn’t he? He shows up right after he leaves!”
Threatening?
I merely thought it wise to reduce unnecessary conflict.
“Didn’t we negotiate a long time ago? We agreed not to cross the line!”
“A line? Seems you’ve misunderstood; I wasn’t the one who crossed it.”
Your descendants longed for eternal life; how could that be my fault?
“Ha! What a ridiculous thing to say! Fine, let’s decide who the master of this land is today.”
Yes, indeed.
Let’s directly determine our fates, using that high-and-mighty bird’s words!
— Boom!
Lightning struck down from a clear sky.
This was the signal for the battle to begin.
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