Chapter 564 – The World I Can’t Remember (3)
—
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
My Memory Manipulation.
Doubt It.
Sage’s Advice: 3
—
– Han Kain
I woke up on a soft bed.
As soon as I regained consciousness, I saw the ominous phrase written in the status window.
My memory has been manipulated?
I leaned against the wall and pondered for a long time, but I couldn’t figure out what was unusual.
Should I use the advice?
“…”
Useless.
After all, it was the Owl who advised me to accept it instead of resisting, so do you think it would tell me how to resist?
What’s more, it seems I hastily wrote that sentence out of urgency.
I scribbled it across the status window instead of enlarging the empty space beside it, blocking out the date and current location.
So, I erased it again.
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 38
Current Location: Reynolds Research Institute
Sage’s Advice: 3
38th Day?
A whole day has passed since then.
It says the location is Reynolds Research Institute.
Is Reynolds a person’s name?
“…”
No matter how I think about it, most of my memories don’t feel off.
Of course, it could be the manipulator was so skilled that I didn’t notice.
However, I did have this thought.
This doesn’t seem to be an extensive memory manipulation that rebuilds one’s psyche.
If it was that severe, the Owl wouldn’t have told me to just accept it.
Just small, simple information.
But extremely important information.
It seems that’s the only thing that has shifted.
*
Stepping outside my room, I observed a vintage mansion with Grandpa sipping tea.
He must’ve woken up before me.
“Oh, you’re out?”
“Yes. Did anything happen?”
“I met the lord of the mansion.”
“… Is he a former participant?”
Grandpa silently tapped the air.
To the unknowing, this might look odd, but from Grandpa’s angle, he was where the conversation window would be visible.
“Hmm…”
“Don’t let your guard down.”
“Of course.”
“What’s more, listen carefully; it seems some of our memories have been edited.”
“You noticed too, Grandpa.”
I figured it out quickly since I noted it in the status window, but Grandpa caught on too?
This just goes to show the title of former agent wasn’t given for nothing.
“The date has changed. I’m not sure exactly how many days, but—”
“One day.”
“Ah! I’m glad you’re here. We entered here yesterday afternoon and it’s morning now… So, half a day’s worth of memory is unclear?”
“Hmm…”
“Nevertheless, this has caused us to lose a very important memory.”
“What is it?”
“Sorry, but I have no idea how to get out of here.”
“Ah….”
This place is an otherworldly realm; you can’t just walk in or out like usual.
Was the manipulated memory about ‘how to leave’?
What has changed in my memory?
…
Settling my confusion.
What can I do with memories that have already vanished?
If worse comes to worst, I can go outside and ask for Eunsol’s help.
If a long time passes without me returning, Ahri promised to come rescue me, so at least I have some insurance.
“It’s okay. I’ve got backup.”
“Phew… That’s true.”
A moment of silence.
Then, an unexpected guest appeared on the railing.
“You both are awake.”
A white man, appearing to be in his mid-40s, stood there.
He was about as tall as me, maybe in the 170s, and with muscles visible through the gaps in his clothing, he seemed well-trained.
As for other physical features—
“Isn’t it a bit obvious you’re examining me?”
“Of course I can’t just ignore the one who meddled with my and my colleague’s memories.”
“Ha! Let’s get straight to the point. This is my house, and you two barged in unannounced.”
“…”
Thinking it through, he’s not wrong.
At that moment, Grandpa pulled out a gun and aimed it at the guy.
“Ha! Quit with the nonsense, punk.”
“… You really lack manners.”
A bit harsh, starting off with a gun, right? Did something bad happen while I was waking up?
— Zzziiii—! Clank! Creak!
This time it’s the middle-aged man’s turn.
As his eyes lit up with menace, mechanical sounds echoed throughout the mansion.
Gun barrels emerged from various places: the railing, under chairs, inside potted plants, next to paintings — all pointing at us.
“You gonna shoot? Just because you have a lot of bullets doesn’t mean you’ll win. Just one bullet is enough for that big head of yours, you know?”
“…”
Then suddenly—
“Ah, Dad! What’s going on?”
A boy appeared from the door on the second floor, a scared voice escaping him.
“Don’t! Joshua! I told you to stay put!”
“Oh, no!”
The voice of a startled woman, followed by one more child’s voice weeping.
“Olivia! Take the kids inside!”
“Arthur!”
“…”
Arthur?
Is that the guy’s name?
Anyway, this is really a house.
It seems Arthur, considered a former participant, is hiding out here with his family.
Realizing this, my and Grandpa’s situation became very ambiguous.
At first glance, we looked like regular home invaders with guns in a typical house!
“…”
“…”
Grandpa and I exchanged glances, sharing a similar thought.
No need to escalate this.
Considering the people from the Bureau who had infiltrated a world they can’t remember and lived on to return.
The opponent is not the type to just go around killing intruders on a whim, and this is where he lives with his family.
— Tap!
Grandpa lowered his gun without a word.
Soon, Arthur waved his hand, disabling the mansion’s security system.
“Excuse my intrusion.”
“From now on, let’s both keep our manners.”
“Let’s try.”
At this point, it’s almost certain that Arthur is both the owner of the mansion and a former participant, but just to double-check, I asked one last time.
Han Kain: Arthur, we didn’t come here to fight.
If he’s the master of communication, he should respond.
At least I hope so.
“…”
Yesterday, the name of the conversational partner didn’t show up.
No matter how much I concentrated, I only got the meaningless phrase ‘Searching….’
Suddenly, I realized how that person might have ‘misused’ the chat window while climbing the hotel.
*
The moment we stepped outside the mansion, Arthur spoke up.
“I don’t like the outside world.”
“…”
“It’s a place where ugly things happen constantly.”
I could somewhat agree with that.
The reality outside the hotel was far too different from the peaceful world I remembered from long ago.
“Do you know the most horrific part? It’s the Administration Bureau.”
“…”
“That’s the lesson the hotel taught me.”
How intriguing.
Beyond the conversation itself, just having an experience talking to another hotel participant, who isn’t my ally, felt refreshing.
“So you’ve hidden out here with your family because of this place?”
Arthur gave a slight nod in response.
“Olivia, my wife’s name; she’s a true connection.”
“A true connection?”
“It means it’s not a fantasy made from dreams! I do not cherish the foolish toys of the hotel. I—”
It sounds like he’s explaining that his wife and child weren’t created via dream manipulation, but naturally in reality.
I get what he means, but it’s not really something to say in front of me and Grandpa.
Hearing this could very well be offensive to Grandpa, who resurrected his family through dreams!
“Come on, that’s quite amusing. It’s as if you’re saying you didn’t use your dreams at all. Just barely made it out from the entrance on the second floor!”
“Even if I’ve gained dreams, I wouldn’t create a false family.”
Arthur must have used some escape tool to get out when going through the early part of the second floor, huh?
By the way, I’d known his relationship was rocky from the time he waved that pistol menacingly, but now I finally understand the reason.
They must have been discussing about family and dreams when I wasn’t around!
Still, it seems odd for Grandpa to be so emotional about it.
Was it due to the influence of family and memory editing?
Or perhaps is it just an exceptionally sensitive subject?
“Let’s calm down. Grandpa, we didn’t come here to fight; we’re here for information, right?”
“…”
“Arthur, Grandpa told me you forgot how to get out of here.”
“…”
“Since you’ve prevented us from leaving, it means you have something to discuss with us.”
A moment of silence followed.
I took the lead.
“Let’s introduce ourselves first. My name is Han Kain.”
“I’m Arthur. It isn’t a scheduled meeting, but I hope we gain a lot from each other.”
“I have many questions about this place and about you; I’m sure you do too. Let’s take turns asking questions. And…”
— Flutter!
When my grimoire appeared, Arthur visibly tensed.
“… Inheritance.”
“Let’s not play lies with each other; it would be a waste of time.”
It was a bluff that we could discover any lies with the grimoire.
It’s not a completely unfounded statement.
If possession happens, we can figure it out, but of course, that’s a different problem if the other party possesses mental defense inheritance.
Arthur fell into silence for a moment before tossing his first question.
“Did you really pass through to Room 207?”
I wonder why he’s so curious about that?
Seeing how that debate with Grandpa went, he already seems to know, but he wanted confirmation from me.
First answer.
“Yes.”
“Wow… Impressive.”
His voice sounded like groaning mixed with genuine admiration.
“I escaped at the entrance of the second floor according to that old man; I’ll accept it if he calls me a coward.”
“I have no intention of saying that.”
Earlier, a family appeared out of nowhere, and now he’s displaying weakness by saying he only escaped from the second-floor entrance while you passed through to Room 207.
While boasting is irritating, this kind of ‘weakness’ is also quite bothersome.
After all, the hotel isn’t a place where you get stronger just by participating for a long time.
Just think of the past maze where those eliminated in the middle of the second floor overpowered most of their mates with sheer strength.
This man is no exception.
Who knows if he schemed something to claim a large portion of the first-floor inheritance and monopolize the escape tool.
Second question.
“My turn. What’s the reason for this place’s existence?”
“I already told you, it’s a place for my family to hide—”
I pulled out the grimoire again.
“Let’s cut the unnecessary mental warfare. When I came in, I saw the mirror.”
“…”
So it’s impossible that the sole purpose is hiding.
Arthur awkwardly smiled, fixing his words.
“You know about the mirror.”
“…”
“It’s not a lie; my goal is indeed to live safely with my family. If you’re suspicious, you can check it with that book.”
“…”
It doesn’t seem like a lie.
“Then what about the mirror?”
“It’s my father’s goal.”
Your father?
“Is your father’s name Reynolds, by any chance?”
Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise.
“How did you know!? Is there still information about my father in the Administration Bureau?”
“…”
I wasn’t linking it to the Bureau. I just assumed because the status window showed I was at the ‘Reynolds Research Institute.’
“Is Reynolds a former agent? Did this place conduct mirror research?”
“… Yes.”
Second answer.
This place was established by Reynolds, a former agent and participant’s father.
Soon, Grandpa exclaimed incredulously.
“Ha! Arthur, if you’re right, did Reynolds push his own son into the hotel?”
“…”
“Ha! What a respectful father! Is he still alive?”
“That man is no longer a normal person. The mirror….”
Arthur trailed off with a complex look, but I didn’t need to hear more.
I already confirmed many times in Room 207 that mirrors can grotesquely twist people.
“Now it’s my turn. The Administration Bureau has thrown countless people into the hotel to prevent the end of days.”
I heard this story from Ahri.
“And since you made it out, did you achieve your goal?”
“…”
“Did you obtain the power to stop annihilation from the hotel?”
Third question.
‘Did the hotel party gain the power to prevent the end?’
This is the Bureau’s aim, and a question that a former participant hiding in a secret place would be curious to know.
“Maybe.”
He obtained it.
Besides, both items are right in this room.
The hourglass is with me, and One More Chance is with Grandpa.
Arthur’s eyes lit up with excitement at my answer.
“Can you show me? I’m so—”
“Not here.”
First lie.
At least the one thing the opponent desires most is best kept under wraps until the end.
“Phew… How about your allies?”
“Exactly. I wouldn’t carelessly carry precious items around.”
“That’s true.”
Now it’s back to my turn.
“How many participants are there in reality?”
“I believe there are fewer than 20.”
Fewer than 20? That’s way too little!
Slightly surprised, I looked at Grandpa, who was also tilting his head.
“Is that even possible?”
“Why do you find that strange?”
“We all know each other, so why not be honest? The hotel must have gone through countless repetitions in different timespans. Many must have failed to escape—”
“Many likely did escape too; once they break free, they can endure through the loops and won’t die easily. That’s what you’re getting at, right?”
Our conversation flowed easily because we understood each other well enough.
“You missed an important point.”
What did I overlook?
“About the third floor.”
“….”
Hotel Pioneer has a third floor.
It doesn’t feel relevant since we’re in the real world now, but isn’t that a problem waiting to happen?
“While many might have escaped, a significant number likely died by the demons or the Administration Bureau once outside. And…”
“And?”
“Some of the stronger individuals went to the third floor. Those who leave never come back.”
What do you mean by those who depart for the third floor never return?
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“…”
“When you find out, let me know.”
“…”
“You could say us who remained are merely those who didn’t quite measure up and stayed back while those who went to the third floor are called Heroes as a half-joke and half-truth.”
Heroes who went to the third floor.
I stumbled upon unexpected information about the third floor from an unexpected source.
At least this isn’t a wasted trip.
At that moment, a soft voice interrupted.
“Would you care for a cup of coffee?”
It was Olivia, Arthur’s wife, who we had seen earlier.
She placed three cups of coffee on the table, looking anxious as she glanced at me and Grandpa.
A cup of coffee during an important conversation to clear the head.
Very appropriate.
Just when it felt like we’d established at least minimal trust in each other, I had my doubts.
I still have unclarified memories on which parts were edited.
Regardless, this guy can’t be trusted.
Arthur’s arm awkwardly reached for the coffee cup in front of me, his gaze shifting erratically.
I’m sure he’s startled as his hand automatically moved to grab someone else’s cup.
Soon, just as Arthur was about to take a sip from my cup—
— Crash!
Olivia struck the coffee cup away with a pale face.
We might have a lot to learn from each other, so it’s not like they rolled poison in it, but…
I have heard that the Bureau has many strong confession agents.
If his father was an agent, that’d be the least of it.
“…”
The three men fell into silence.
Then Arthur forced out a wry smile.
“Well, I’ve picked up some bad habits from the hotel. I apologize for the rudeness.”
A habit of putting unpleasant additives in the coffee.
“It’s alright. The hotel is originally like that. I’ve acquired some odd habits as well.”
Arthur’s gaze wavered.
It was because that statement came not from my mouth, but from ‘Olivia’s’.
“Eek!”
Olivia’s frightened voice echoed.
The atmosphere turned peaceful yet eerie.
In my opinion, the hotel participants besides ‘our party’ are likely such people.
“Let’s ask one more question.”
“Isn’t it my turn now?”
“Considering the coffee incident, let’s say Arthur’s turn has slipped by.”
“…”
“What did you learn by researching the mirror?”
—
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