Chapter 692 – Room 301, The Cursed Room – ‘The Origin of Species’ (30)
—
– Kim Ahri
— GOOOOO…!
At the moment the world erupted with a thunderous roar, everyone nearby looked up at the sky in shock.
Soon, a massive beam of light stretching from the ground struck the heavens in a magnificent display.
Finally, as the blue sky split open and the profound darkness beyond the atmosphere unfurled!
“Ah…”
Honestly, all I could say was ‘Ah!’
With the situation spiraling out of control, I strangely felt a sense of calmness wash over me.
This attempt was already doomed to fail.
I could only hope that my escape party would handle it well.
The one relief was that at least Songee had realized her “first wish.”
Could Eunsol have also recognized her wish?
As I was trying to mentally pat myself on the back for my small victory…
“Ugh! Aaaah!”
A frustrated scream from behind cut through my thoughts.
Curiously peeking into the apartment, I saw Songee with a furious expression.
“What is it?”
“A moment ago, ‘Mom’s’ spirit suddenly disappeared!”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. It felt like her soul got sucked away somewhere – huh? What’s that?!”
Songee’s eyes widened as she discovered the split sky.
From her late realization, it seemed her last moments with ‘Mom’ had truly been happy.
So, I took this chance to ask casually.
“Did you settle your grievance?”
“To some extent.”
“It feels like you’ll need to do it one more time, and when that time comes -”
I hope it doesn’t involve torturing the Is race again.
Leaving aside ethical issues, it’s just a waste of time.
Songee smiled brightly and nodded.
I was confused about what exactly that nod meant, but I decided not to ask.
“The chat box has been chaotic for a while, and now the sky is in chaos.”
“It feels like we might have to do it one more time.”
“I hope so.”
To get one more chance, the post-apocalyptic party needs to succeed in the escape.
Let’s not think about failure!
— GOOOOO…!
Once again, a tremendous roar erupted.
This time, I could distinctly feel a tingling sensation on my skin, and as I opened my eyes wide,
A notification popped up.
「Failure to resolve the issue has occurred. Therefore, the ‘Post-Apocalyptic World’ will begin!」
Soon, just like the Is race, my soul too began to be sucked into the unknown void, free from its physical form.
This was my last memory in the second attempt.
*
「User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 16
Current Location: Floor 3, Lobby
Sage’s Advice: 0」
– Han Kain
I’ve used up all three pieces of advice?
Or perhaps it was because I asked for advice with a heartfelt wish?
The reply was longer than usual.
‘Don’t forget that opportunities are not singular. Don’t waste energy on impossible tasks, and think about what you can do. Lastly, know that you won’t die just from biting your tongue right now.’
Wow, that was wordy!
“What the hell!”
I asked for something more understandable!
And what’s with the ‘Hey! You won’t die even if you bite your tongue!’ nonsense in the reply?!
Calm down and think.
‘Don’t forget that opportunities are not singular.’
Ah, so it means I should aim for the next round since this one is a bust, right?
I get it, but to get to that next round, I need to escape this one first! How am I supposed to escape?!
“Argh! What should I do, Hyung?!”
“Kain! W-What’s happening?!”
My comrades, in a state of extreme panic, turned to me for answers.
Since I had no clarity myself, I was also gasping for air!
“U-Over there, something is appearing!”
— Rumble!
An immense presence emerged with a thunderous noise.
“Kugh…!”
“Ugh! My eyes -”
“Close your eyes! It’s dangerous to look!”
While Sanghyun’s warning was valid, someone still needs to see what that monster is to understand the situation.
Thus, I forced myself to look, using the status window and even borrowing the power of the Divine Sun.
…
It appeared I had the exact same physique as Eunsol.
It seems the ‘participant’s qualifications’ were indeed impacting physical identity.
Radiant hues were constantly emanating from my entire body, and the immense aura nearly swept the area away, making it hard to breathe.
It was as if a supernova illuminating the universe had transformed into a living entity.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed countless tiny beings swirling around her in the air.
They revolved like living whirlwinds around her, singing an endless hymn that felt like it wouldn’t cease.
At some moment, I recognized the identity of these innumerable ‘microorganisms.’
Every single one of them was an Is race being!
“Kugh…!”
At this point, I felt a fierce headache, but the entity began to approach without acknowledging my agony.
Instinctively, my next action was to protect myself and my comrades.
Having already summoned the Divine Sun that was shielding me, I also invoked the grimoire, gritting my teeth to block their path!
As a result, the being walking calmly stopped and regarded me for about three seconds.
That was it.
…
At this moment, I had no choice but to accept the overwhelming gap between us.
Some might refer to me as a ‘sorcerer who has reached the domain of demigods.’
That might not be entirely wrong, but the gap between a demigod and a great being is exactly this!
Back in the first attempt, I fought convincingly enough against Is’s Duke.
Yet that duke was now a barely visible microorganism floating around the king, singing hymns!
Thus, it made logical sense that I would not even be an obstacle for the Is king…
But it felt so hollow.
I expected this, understanding logically that it was correct…
Initially, I thought that completing the third floor might bring something different.
At that moment, Sanghyun, who had been keeping his eyes shut, reached out.
It seemed he instinctively sensed I was in peril.
“I’m about to die -”
In that instant, I suddenly understood part of the advice the Owl had given me earlier!
‘Don’t waste energy on impossible tasks -’
“Stop!”
I immediately reached out to stop Sanghyun.
The sense of pressure from the entity was overpowering, and it was hard to stay sane, but I had to think rationally in such moments.
Let’s think according to hotel logic. Trying to stop a prisoner with brute force is foolhardy!
Whether it’s the Divine Sun, the avatar’s script, or the last ray of hope—none of those should be used.
That would be a waste of resources for the next round.
Most importantly, why are we still alive?
The entity did not wish to kill us.
“Move back, everyone. Hyung, Seungyub, Miro!”
After shoving the others back, I clasped my hands together, hoping to appear as polite as possible.
Think of it as saying, ‘I apologize for my rudeness from earlier!’
Soon, the entity reacted.
“You are Eunsol’s companions, aren’t you? It was you who was warning me from the celestial realm.”
Like other prisoners, the entity seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the hotel.
“That’s right.”
“Why did you attempt to obstruct me?”
“While I may seem like mere fodder to your greatness, that body you occupy belongs to my dear companion. I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”
The entity shook its head with a subtle smile.
“Children around me are not mere grass, and neither are you.”
“…”
“Even if you are lost now, your ancestors reached the high realm. It feels like you have half-recreated that glory. You are not lacking when compared to my most extraordinary offspring.”
A degree of exaggerated praise.
It seemed the entity was showing it bore no hostility towards me after all.
I could vaguely guess the reason behind that.
“You have no intention to fight us, do you?”
“Do I look like I do?”
“While you may be stronger than me and us… you are not stronger than the hotel.”
The level of greatness is not uniform.
The gap between the Is king and someone crying tears for the Three Thousand Worlds?
Perhaps it’s even greater than the distance between me and the king of Is!
“So?”
“You have intruded upon the hotel without permission. If you barge in and wreak havoc, the hotel might take immediate action.”
“You’re quick-witted. It’s amusing to converse like this, kid. No, I did not come here to brawl with you.”
The most significant discussion began naturally.
Why did the king of Is commit the madness of breaking into the hotel?
“I simply wish to meet the highest authority of this place.”
At that moment, Sanghyun, who had been bowing in the back, exclaimed in astonishment.
“Y-You mean you wish to meet the Buddha?”
“Indeed.”
“And what do you plan to do upon meeting him?”
The king of Is seemingly found no need for further answers, extending his hand to point at an arrow.
⇨ Heaven – Under Construction.
Without a second glance at us, he began to walk in the direction of the arrow.
“If you wish, follow me. Aren’t you curious about what the great being curled up in heaven is doing?”
*
In the domain forming on the heavenly floor, heaven.
When the first wish was realized, the ancient ascendant told me.
The one shedding tears for the Three Thousand Worlds—the ultimate goal of the Buddha is to create heaven.
This is all the information I possess.
I have no clue what heaven is supposed to be or how it’s made.
However, today, a line was added to my knowledge about heaven.
The location of heaven is on the third floor of the hotel, within the heavenly realm.
⇨ Heaven – Under Construction.
“…”
The king, who occupied Eunsol’s body, strode boldly down the path.
I followed behind, my headache growing, while my companions trailed after me.
The king of Is began to reveal to the hotel why he was here.
“I have seen the fates… I have witnessed the fate of all my children born until now, and the horrific despair awaiting those yet to be born…”
The power of the Is king to read fate.
I recalled the conversation Ahri had with Songee before time turned back.
“I believe the king of Is used deception.”
The king of Is, who knew Eunsol would become a participant even before she was born.
Ahri saw it as a deception.
Reflecting on it now, it seems it wasn’t a complete deception.
He seemed to have partially read the fate and partially realized that fate through his own hands.
Soon, the king expressed a desire to understand why his children could not attain salvation.
“…”
Listening in, I began to feel curious too.
Humans, as well as alien races like the Athanasia, could participate as mentioned in Room 103.
The object of salvation is ‘all living beings,’ not just ‘humans’ or ‘Athanasia’.
Thus, it should follow that the Is race also falls within the scope of salvation.
Is the issue that they are malevolent beings who steal human bodies?
That’s a matter of perspective. Isn’t there no more wicked creature in the eyes of a chicken or cow than a human?
And…
In the distance, a faintly glowing golden door emerged.
‘The door to heaven.’
When I looked ahead, overwhelmed by that sense of presence!
“Everyone, stop.”
The rough, machine-like voice of the manager echoed.
He had suddenly appeared between the king of Is and us.
“And you all?”
“This area is dangerous. According to hotel safety regulations, you cannot proceed.”
“…”
It didn’t feel like an absolute prohibition.
More like, it was some place we could go someday, but not now.
Reluctantly, I stepped back and raised my hands.
The king walked toward the golden door without even glancing our way.
The manager too, paid no mind to the prisoners.
Soon, as the king paused before the golden door and reached out his hand!
“…”
I was curious. I was so very curious.
Compared to this cursed curiosity, all prior worries felt utterly meaningless!
Thus, avoiding the manager, I peeked my head out slightly to catch a glimpse beyond the slowly opening golden door.
I thought my action seemed like that of a curious cat, yet the manager made no effort to stop me.
.
..
…
?
Beyond the door, there was nothing.
Absolutely nothing—really, nothing.
Not even colors like black or white were visible.
It was truly a void, an emptiness.
The realm of zero.
“What the –”
However, the king’s demeanor was different.
What seemed invisible to me was visible to him.
He suddenly dropped to the ground and…
“Ugh…”
He released a painful moan.
It seemed he was engulfed by an indescribable sorrow.
Or perhaps, it felt like he was about to take revenge on an existence he had hated his entire life, only to realize that the root of his hatred held no meaning right before him.
At that very moment!
From the manager came a voice that was distinctly different from usual.
That voice was directed not at me, but at the ‘king of Is.’
‘This is where your fear ends.’
Who is saying this right now?
‘You have always blamed me, and you reached this point powered by that hatred.’
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