Chapter 707 – Someone’s Rest, Someone’s Hardship (3)
—
Yu Songee
Early in the morning, everyone headed to the Sanctum of Blessings.
“Participant Yu Songee, Participant Lee Eunsol. Will you answer the Patron’s call? (Y/N)”
It felt like something changed with the notification that appeared in the Sanctum?
As I turned around, my comrades were also tilting their heads in confusion.
“Huh?”
“Wait, wasn’t the wording different before?”
A few colleagues with good memories shook their heads.
“If I recall correctly, it used to say, ‘You can enhance A. Will you proceed?’”
“There’s no mention of ‘enhancement’ at all!”
“You’re right.”
After a brief silence, Eunsol unnie casually responded, “The phrasing can change based on the moment, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Anyway, it seems like Songi and I can meet the Patron. No reason to refuse.”
That is correct.
Nodding my head, I reached out and pressed the Y button.
Suddenly, my consciousness faded into the distance, dragging me to another realm.
*
I awakened on a soft lotus petal.
The lotus petal floated on a clear river surface, beginning to drift somewhere along the constantly flowing water.
From what I could feel, about ten minutes had passed when the lotus petal finally came to rest as if docking like a boat.
Before me stood a mysterious temple unlike anything I’d ever seen.
“Wow…”
Though this wasn’t my first time in the Sanctum, I’d never experienced it in such a noisy situation before.
Swallowing hard, I opened the temple door.
— Creak!
“Huh?”
The first thing I noticed was a massive gray wall. My entire field of vision was filled with this gray wall, and nothing else was visible.
It didn’t take long for me to realize the true nature of this gray wall.
“Ah!”
A huge—ridiculously huge—form before me.
To exaggerate just a little, it was like a continent-sized elephant right in front of my eyes. Its skin, so immense, made parts of it look just like that gigantic gray wall.
This was the true form of the Patron.
Until now, it had hidden its real appearance from the participants!
In an instant, I felt an unbearable headache and groaned.
If I were the same as when I first entered the hotel, I might have lost consciousness and collapsed right here.
Fortunately, I was not who I used to be, and as the headache gradually faded, I started to grasp the situation.
The power of shared intentions without direct conversation.
This was my first blessing enhancement, and it was a power that must naturally exist in the Patron.
Soon, the giant will of the Patron began to convey its intentions to me.
The first thing I realized was rather disappointing.
“Ah? So I’m not getting a level 4 enhancement this time?”
Ugh… I had been looking forward to a significant level 4 enhancement all night.
There was no mention of ‘you can enhance’ in the notification at all!
Could it be that Eunsol unnie also couldn’t enhance?
No, if she enhanced, it would still be at level 3; maybe that’s different?
…
After Kain oppa obtained insight with his level 4 enhancement, it was a thought that crossed everyone’s mind multiple times.
Insight was the greatest power among all abilities we had acquired until now.
Combining blessings and inheritances, it still stood as the supreme.
Before gaining insight, Kain oppa often appeared swayed by the two inheritances.
Sometimes he was disturbed by malignancies outside the framework of the Divine Script and suffered under the greed of the soul created by the holy sun.
He tried hard to hide it, but as I lived with him daily, it was harder to ignore.
Ari and the doctor mentioned Kain oppa’s confusions from time to time.
That was all in the past.
After gaining insight, the two inheritances no longer held sway over Kain oppa.
“Hah…”
Honestly, I envied him.
I hadn’t realized it when he gained the other inheritances, but since he received insight, he truly seemed otherworldly.
I wondered about the world reflected in Kain oppa’s eyes.
What’s it like feeling the flow of destiny every time someone appears before him?
What kind of feeling is it to look down at the world from atop a building and sense the myriad flows?
Truly, insight was an ability that perfectly matched the term ‘Divine Power.’
So I was incredibly excited, but apparently, it wasn’t my turn yet.
As if sensing my disappointment, the giant will of the Patron conveyed its thoughts once more.
It indicated that I had only recently gained the powerful enhancement, favored, and that my contribution was still insufficient for level 4.
“Ah… I see what you mean.”
Reflecting on Kain oppa’s case, I saw potential in receiving a level 4 enhancement, but there had been no such premonition for me.
The Patron’s next intention was somewhat hopeful.
In a way, it felt like it was soothing my disappointment.
It stated how arduous the journey to the third floor had been and how my arrival at this point was a truly rare case.
Though not this time, soon enough, I would be able to acquire a level 4 enhancement!
“Thank you.”
Bowing my head, I conveyed one question.
Is there a reason you called me now, when it’s not yet time for enhancement?
+ … +
In the next moment, an overwhelming number of thoughts flooded into my mind all at once.
I nearly collapsed from the surge of thoughts crashing down on me like a wave.
…
When I first connected with you, I didn’t have expecting too much.
I saw somewhat mundane appearances in reality.
Fearful, lacking incredible powers, and absolutely not unparalleled in judgment.
Surviving against a powerful enemy was admirable, but it’s hard to view the results as something the participant intended.
I merely clung to a bit of luck and the weak mind of the enemy.
…
Ugh! What… is this?
Is this the Patron’s first judgment on me?
No…! This is too much!
Did the old me really only see myself as an ordinary high school student?
What could an average high schooler do against aliens?
…
Especially regrettable was the lack of action.
Despite having many complaints about my parents, I failed to show any attempts to resolve the situation.
…
What kind of absurd reasoning is this?
What? How am I supposed to deal with my parents fighting and trying to get a divorce?
An attempt to solve it? How can a daughter solve her parents’ divorce?
Should I threaten them with a hammer at night to say if they divorced, they would die?
…
All this collectively points to an ordinary human being.
Not particularly lacking, but lacking extraordinary aspects.
…
I think I have to honestly admit that.
I’m, um, not particularly special like some of my comrades from the beginning.
Now that I think about it, I kind of understand the earlier evaluation, which I thought was outrageous.
The Affinity Patron didn’t think ‘Yu Songee’ was particularly inadequate.
It only meant I fell under the category of an ordinary human being.
“Ugh!”
Just as I regained my senses, the Patron conveyed the next will.
…
However, after coming to the hotel, you changed rapidly.
Room 103 was surely the beginning of your fateful transformation.
You found a path to survive hell, which would be unbearable for those of weak minds, without anyone’s help.
Your out-of-the-box thinking sparked inspiration in other participants.
Your extraordinary actions without hesitation paved the way through trials.
Your beginning was weak, but your conclusion will be magnificent.
…
Unlike the prior criticism, this time it feels like I am being greatly praised?
I felt a bit embarrassed and bowed my head.
The Elephant seems to want to compliment me.
The previous words were undoubtedly about my initial evaluation, right?
It’s historical, speaking of me before coming to this hotel, so it holds little meaning now. The latter part is genuinely true.
“Hmmm! Is this somewhat like an thoughts and evaluations of Participant Yu Songee so far?”
It was fascinating, but I don’t think I was called here just to hear such words.
According to what I learned from Kain oppa about the owl, calling us without reason is quite a burden for the Patron.
Indeed, the Patron’s complicated intentions flowed again.
Various pieces of information seeped into my mind.
For example, things we’d never thought about while chatting among ourselves.
“Room 301 is no longer a cursed room. Just like the truth outside the first and second floors, it’s literally another reality.”
What do you mean by this?
“If Eunsol unnie and I die after our descent, do we go to the next loop? Like a regression?”
As I said it, I realized it was a mistake.
It’s not like we’re unregressed.
Of course, this doesn’t mean dying doesn’t matter.
I also thought countless times about the horrific possibilities that would arise if we did die.
Various pieces of advice and warnings also seeped into my brain.
…
Just as I barely grasped the complex information, the space began to shake slowly.
The Patron called me to praise me and inform me about the precautions for the post-descent situation.
Right at that moment.
— Swaaaaa…!
A dizzying vision struck down on my head like lightning.
The turbulent waves of the world.
The many mortal minds composed of that wave.
And in that whirlpool, ‘I’ stood at the center!
I exist.
I exist.
I exist.
My presence was so powerful that it became difficult for those tiny mortal beings to endure.
Even gathering hundreds of thousands of humans might not match my single being!
Some might call such a presence ‘the protagonist.’
—
Lee Eunsol
In a hall filled with gold, gleaming like the ancient Roman royalty, I raised my head in a daze.
No matter how much I tilted my head, I could barely see the head of the opponent in front of me.
This individual was an unbelievably massive dragon.
So huge. Really, too big!
If just a drop of saliva fell from that mouth, it wouldn’t be strange if I drowned!
Then, a booming voice reverberated throughout the hall.
+ Fortunately, I need not disappoint you. +
“Huh?”
+ You will be gaining new powers this time. +
I struggled to understand the Patron’s words for a moment and quickly grasped their meaning.
It seemed like Songi wouldn’t be getting a level 4 enhancement this time after all.
No wonder the notification in the Sanctum felt different than usual.
The reason was clear.
Unlike Songi, the reason I could gain enhancement was simple.
She was already at level 3 while I was only at level 2.
“My enhancement growth is just terrible!”
+ Are you joking right now? +
“Hehe…”
+ Hmm… You seem to have a grievance against me. +
“Grievance? No way?!”
To be honest, I did have some complaints.
Not just a little, but a ton!
Let’s be blunt here. Isn’t the worst blessing really wealth?
I admit the greed of the hands!
I’ve used it effectively many times, and it seems I can use it even after my descent, so that’s fine.
But what about the basic ability of the HP Market?
Is Coupang a blessing now?
Wow, at this rate, they’ll start calling next-day delivery an inheritance!
As I grumbled inwardly, I sensed an intense gaze.
+ It seems you’ve certainly grown compared to the past. +
“… Huh?”
+ Judging by your openly cocky thoughts, it means you’ve matured. +
“… ”
+ Do you happen to like poker? +
Suddenly, poker?
“Well, I’ve played Texas Hold’em several times. I know the ranking of hands and all.”
+ There’s a great game happening in the heavens, where we’re dealt hands. +
Unexpected strange stories began to unravel from the greedy dragon.
+ Each hand differs, but most are quite average. Most times, it’s barely a single pair. +
“…”
+ Occasionally, if luck strikes, you might get two pairs or a triple. Sometimes even a straight. Since this game goes on indefinitely, the variations are endless. +
I began to catch onto the Patron’s metaphor.
The greedy dragon was speaking from the perspective of the Patron regarding the hotel’s progression.
To the Patron, a ‘hand’ equaled a participant.
This was a first for me.
I wondered if Songi was listening to a conversation like this from the Patron as well.
+ After judging how strong each hand is, the betting begins. Naturally, the betting changes based on the hand. If it’s a good hand, you start going wild, and if it’s not so great, you cautiously observe. +
“An example of going wild over a good hand, perhaps -”
+ Yes, that brat. Acting all mystique, pretending to be wise. +
“…”
I think this level of plain backtalk is a first.
I felt like I was closing the gap between us and the Patron in many ways.
If I borrowed the Patron’s expression, I could say I’ve “matured.”
Just like I don’t feel as tense around the dragon anymore – the Patron is also expressing their thoughts without hesitation.
+ When you got a good card, it’s a frenzy right from the start! +
A four of a kind…
I find that assessment quite convincing.
Based on what I’ve seen at the hotel, I knew Kain had been quite distant from ordinary since before coming here.
A question naturally popped into my mind.
How would I be viewed from the Patron’s perspective?
+ I thought I might have at least a straight. +
A statement that seemed to read my thoughts – not just my thoughts, but perhaps how I felt.
It felt a bit like I was being teased.
+ Yet, when I played out my hand, it was vague. +
I furrowed my brow slightly, letting my inner thoughts slip.
“If I had a good hand, shouldn’t I be able to bet strongly? If it’s a straight, shouldn’t you have given it a decent amount of strength too?!”
+ Betting strategies vary from person to person. +
Strategy? What strategy? Honestly, how’s the HP Market a blessing?!
Then, from the dragon, I heard something I had never thought about before.
+ There was a misjudgment in evaluating your tendencies. +
“Huh?”
+ Living comfortably in a stable nation, as part of the social upper class has made your tendencies overly mild. +
“What do you…”
In that instant, I was at a loss for words.
+ If you grew up in a harsh environment… Even if your mother wouldn’t want that situation… +
“…”
Suddenly, I thought of something.
The manifestation of blessings is greatly influenced by the participant’s tendencies, and Elena is living proof of that.
Didn’t I have that kind of thing?
In the end, the HP Market isn’t an actual shopping mall existing in reality.
It means I don’t have to follow the laws of Korea.
Why can’t I sell a gun?
What’s the issue with having a bomb?
The answer lies within my heart.
That unthinkable item shouldn’t be easily obtainable by civilians was my ‘common sense.’
What if I were from Somalia?
In an outrageous news article I saw once, the reward for a Qur’an recitation quiz held by Somali rebels was an assault rifle and a grenade.
In a country like that, if I were the ‘if’ version of Eunsol, I might be able to buy an AK 47 from the HP Market…
Who knows?
+ And thus, I lowered my hand of greed. +
The dragon revealed the simple problem of evaluating my nature.
The shocking incidents of childhood were buried by my mother, and my formed personality grew too gentle, lacking bitterness and greed.
Thus, the powerful enhancement given was the Hand of Greed.
The gains would take the form that I desired, and the losses would be pushed onto others.
Truly, it embodied the essence of ultimate selfishness.
By using this power, would my tendencies naturally change to match wealth and greed?
When I realized this, an unintentional coldness slipped from my lips.
“It seems it didn’t go as you intended.”
+ Yes, it didn’t go as I intended. +
The dragon’s desires fell short.
As for me… I had always feared the effects of the Hand of Greed on my comrades.
Should I see this as a failure?
Contrary to the dragon’s intentions, I had failed to awaken a sufficient level of selfishness and greed?
“Until now, I understand that the way I’ve been progressing has been a deviation from your intentions.”
+ … +
“However, I reached the third floor this way. I also resolved the room of my wish, Room 301.”
Though not in the direction expected by the Patron, my way wasn’t wrong.
To my heartfelt determination, the Patron simply responded.
+ Yes, in the end, you’ve made it here, so this is the path you found. +
In that moment, I felt freed from some burdens.
The dark shadows that had tormented my heart for a long time seemed to melt away.
The dragon smiled warmly, relaying the words it had been waiting to share.
+ Therefore, I shall grant you the power you need and also that which suits you: ‘Noble Virtue.’ +
— Swaaaaa…!
*
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 19
Current Location: Floor 1, Lobby
Sage’s Advice: 3
—
Han Kain
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Songi awakened in less than a minute.
“So you didn’t get a blessing enhancement after all?”
“Nope. A bit disappointing, but… maybe soon enough!”
“So that’s why you woke up early.”
“Did unnie remain fainting the whole time?”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like you got yourself an enhancement.”
Afterward, Songi shared quite an interesting story.
The Patron conveyed Songi’s initial and current evaluations to her.
“Initial and current evaluations, huh…”
“And there were also lots of advice surrounding the descent.”
“Those are points to keep in mind.”
While Songi shared various insights about the descent with the crew, I too began to harbor a question.
What does the Owl think of me?
“… I can’t take this.”
Sage’s Advice: 3 -> 2
“What do you think about me?”
“She was rotten from the start. However, since she was so rotten, I thought of it as also a quality.”
“…”
—
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.