Chapter 727 – Room 302, The Cursed Chamber – ‘Brave New World’ (5)
—
– Kim Sanghyun
About an hour and a half had passed since the first vision ended.
During that time, I kept staring at the second photo—the altar in the center of the Twinkling Bright Star glowing with a strange light…
But I couldn’t recall any additional memories.
“Do I need a trigger to stimulate my memories?”
Gently fiddling with the photo, various thoughts crossed my mind. I wanted to organize the information I’d gathered thus far and trigger the dormant memories in my head.
In hindsight, some points were easy to understand, while others were baffling.
The strangest part was the Bureau’s judgment.
“No matter how you look at it, it’s like driving away wolves by inviting in tigers…”
To drive away the moon, they summoned a great being, landing Room 302 in a crisis of apocalypse.
If a pioneer from the Bureau stood before me, I’d like to ask them: Is this truly a sound judgment?
Isn’t it a clear setup to be eaten by a tiger while trying to chase away wolves?
On another note, I recalled my naivety before coming to this hotel; even I had questioned the Bureau’s plans right upon hearing them.
“I find it hard to understand. Isn’t it like bringing in a tiger to deal with wolves?”
Was it really possible for the Bureau to overlook a judgment that any ordinary person could make?
I felt like there might be more information I was still unaware of.
Just as I pondered this,
— Pwaaat!
The vision began anew.
The contemplation of “why the Bureau made a flawed judgment” was the trigger for the second photo!
*
– Outer Space, Twinkling Bright Star
“Johnny, we just got an ERROR – 387 from the navigation system—”
“Error 387? Hmm, that’s a serious issue. I’ll be there soon. Please hold on.”
‘Where exactly am I right now?’
If this question were posed on Earth, I could respond without a hitch.
Someone would say Texas, another might say New York, and someone else might say Alaska.
The reason we can easily answer that question is simple.
Whether you have a world map or GPS on a larger scale—or just street names and buildings right before you.
In other words, we can easily navigate thanks to the wonders of civilization.
Once the location shifts to space, though, the situation completely changes.
Spaceships operate far above the typical GPS satellites at altitudes of 20,220 km, so they can’t receive location data.
Instead, we rely on deep space antennas, which are also facilities on Earth. Hence, as the spaceship moves farther from Earth, the information becomes inaccurate.
About 20 years ago, technologies arose that could confirm a spacecraft’s position through electromagnetic waves emitted by special neutron stars known as pulsars, commonly referred to as pulsar navigation.
However, even this method has limits when it comes to pinpointing a spaceship’s exact location.
In this way, determining ‘where I am’ in space requires highly advanced technology.
…
The Twinkling Bright Star operates by acquiring location information through roughly three methods, cross-validating the three pieces of information for a final determination.
Occasionally, these three methods yield different coordinates.
As if my smartphone claims I’m in Texas, but the Chinese signs in front of me say otherwise, and the person beside me insists we’re in British Chinatown.
Which coordinates should I trust?
Statistically, one answer is more accurate.
But ultimately, the authority to declare, “This is the answer,” rests with me.
That’s why I boarded the Twinkling Bright Star, pushing aside an agent.
“Alright, this should… be good.”
Astaire, who looked tense, asked,
“Johnny, did you manage? I get what the issue is… the spaceship is lost in its navigation, right?”
“If you understand that much, you’re halfway to becoming an astronaut.”
“Thanks. But, um, you told the spaceship to follow the pulsar navigation coordinates, right?”
“Correct.”
“Is it accurate?”
“95.2491% likely to be accurate.”
On the other side, David asked cautiously.
“… What if it’s wrong 4.7509% of the time?”
“Then we’ll fail the mission and become lost in space.”
A brief silence loomed over the area.
Astaire broke the quiet, mumbling with a dazed expression.
“Johnny, thanks.”
“What for?”
“… Thank you for flipping the coin that someone had to toss.”
Fortunately, we didn’t become lost in space by that 4.7509% probability.
…
Thus, the Twinkling Bright Star navigated through harsh processes towards its destination.
“According to the navigation system, we will arrive at our destination in precisely 32 hours and 13 minutes.”
“Yay~ So this dreadful space journey is finally coming to an end!”
“David, isn’t it too much to say space travel is boring? Isn’t it all fascinating?”
“It was fascinating at first!”
“Haha, I can understand David’s feelings. There’s just too much annoyance! Especially the food. What is this? Is this supposed to be food?”
At that moment, I was aware that the agents were much older than they appeared.
These agents were veterans of chaos who had literally faced heaven and earth in extreme situations.
Even these seasoned agents seemed to have mostly never experienced “space battle.”
“It’s rare for agents to come into space.”
“Of course! That’s why we’re trained by you, Johnny.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Really? But you’re a normal person… So take it easy. Most chaotic entities and disasters are on Earth. Why would a monster that eats people appear in space?”
“Good point.”
“Hmm, ignore what Brian said. According to observations, disasters happen in space, too. But we just don’t pay them any mind.”
“Fair enough. In any case, the core reason is that people don’t live in space.”
The unfamiliar environment of space was challenging even for top-notch agents.
On the other hand, the rough journey created a bond between the spaceship crew.
Thus, at the journey’s end, it wasn’t weird for me to ask such a question.
“As the destination is approaching, I’d like to ask one thing…”
Slowly opening my mouth, everyone’s gaze turned towards me.
“May I ask you one question?”
Sensing a serious atmosphere, the agents exchanged meticulous expressions while glancing at each other.
Soon, Astaire nodded and spoke.
“Go ahead.”
“Before we left, I heard about the plan from Cromwell: the plan to contact the great being and bring down the moon?”
“Correct.”
“Is that a reasonable plan?”
Astaire chuckled.
“Why do you think it’s unreasonable?”
“How can we control a tiger when we can’t even handle a wolf?”
“Aha, you’re asking how we can control a great entity capable of destroying the moon when we can’t deal with the wolf, right?”
“Exactly.”
From the onset of this plan, I couldn’t wrap my head around that part.
The reason I followed along despite finding it illogical was simple.
I figured that the Bureau wouldn’t overlook a basic question that even I could grasp.
David gave a slight smile and answered.
“Johnny, you saw the ‘Brave New World’, didn’t you? There’s a strategy in place!”
“… I don’t see how that could be a strategy. I’ve never seen anything that horrifying in my life.”
“Horrifying? That’s just because you don’t understand the Brave New World well enough.”
Faint memories of dawn flitted through my mind.
Neither science nor magic.
A bizarre hybrid of both.
The horrific offspring conceived when science and magic intertwined in a dark barn.
That was as far as my sentiments towards the ‘Brave New World’ went.
…
This can’t be the entire basis for the Bureau’s judgment.
Surely, there’s something more.
They’re simply not sharing that something with a mere outsider like me.
Now, would they reveal it to me?
“I believe there’s more information. May I hear it?”
Brian frowned and replied.
“Johnny, that much is—”
— Tap!
Astaire tapped the table.
It seemed like she was telling Brian to stay quiet.
From the moment we first met, I felt that Astaire was almost like a leader among the agents.
I heard that if she wrapped things up well this time, she might become a pioneer herself.
Additionally, Astaire was the most courteous agent towards me.
“It’s okay. He deserves to know.”
In the still atmosphere, Astaire’s explanation began.
“There are two main reasons. First, neutrality is a privilege of the strong. The weak claiming neutrality is mere appeal.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“You think humanity can maintain a neutral stance while keeping a distance from great beings? Who made that decision? Can we decide that?”
“…”
“You don’t grasp it yet, but out there are beings capable of sinking a continent with a mere gesture.”
Beings akin to gods, capable of sinking continents with a wave of their hand.
It was a story so distant, it felt surreal.
“Saying humanity can maintain distance from such deities is unrealistic. Even if we try to create distance, they’ll come to swallow us whole.”
Avoiding great beings isn’t something humanity can afford. They come regardless of our attempts to distance ourselves.
“I learned this through 52 beginnings and ends. We need—”
What is this supposed to mean?
“Astaire!”
“It’s fine. You’ll understand. After this journey, Johnny will also be one of ‘us’.”
“But…”
“No, David. I also think Astaire’s right.”
In that instant, I was completely lost in what the agents were saying.
Fifty-two beginnings and ends?
After this journey, am I going to be one of them?
Astaire continued her explanation.
“We need a protector.”
“A protector… you say?”
“Neutrality is a fallacy. It’s a joke and a delusion. We need the help of a great being.”
Amidst the incomprehensible remarks scattered throughout, I mostly understood.
The conclusion reached by the agents who experienced the ‘52 beginnings and ends’ and the Bureau.
Neutrality is an illusion, and without help, humanity cannot stand against the demons from the abyss.
Therefore, we must find a guardian who can protect humanity.
This naturally led to the next question.
How could we trust this protector?
“I understand the general point, but how can we trust this protector?”
“Through history.”
“History?”
“The son of dawn has supported humanity across at least 23 histories. Although there are limits to interference, he has prevented the fates of people from plunging into despair.”
The one who protected humanity across twenty-three histories.
“And he did for us…”
“For us?”
“Fell from the heavens.”
“Wait, what?”
At that moment, I noticed the agents’ reactions around me were hard to comprehend.
They were excessively reverent and respectful.
It felt as though they were worshiping.
“The son of dawn descended from the heavens for humanity. Therefore, we can trust him.”
If the agents had faith, the name of their god would seem to be “the Son of Dawn.”
.
..
…
— Pwaaat!
*
I regained my senses in the car again.
The second memory was of the spaceship heading to meet the ‘Fallen Star.’
“…”
The absurd plan to summon a great being to stop the moon.
I wondered what the Bureau was believing in to pull this off, and there were two reasons.
First, the Bureau of Room 302 deemed it impossible to remain neutral against chaos.
Aside from good or evil, humans lack the ability to maintain neutrality against such beings.
Naturally, scenes from my conversations with Ari before the trip about the Bureau’s factions popped back into my mind.
The Destruction Faction.
Chaotic entities are targets for annihilation; only the good chaotic entities are deceased.
The Isolation Faction.
The Destruction Faction is nothing but delusional extremists.
Given humanity’s limitations, opposing all chaotic entities would simply be suicidal.
Therefore, we need to separate humans from chaos.
The Control Faction.
Get rid of that archaic way of thinking.
By what standard can we separate the realms of chaos and humanity?
Magic is merely another expression of science that we have yet to understand.
Don’t limit the scope of research.
Don’t set limitations on humanity’s potential.
Whichever faction gained dominance could change with the times.
If they were going to summon a great being favorable to humanity, could it be that a radical group from the Isolation Faction or the Control Faction had grasped authority within the Bureau?
…
But what is this ‘Brave New World’?
In my past life, I may have vaguely caught a glimpse of its essence, but what horrified me so much back then?
Secondly, the Fallen Star is a being favorable to humanity.
But I couldn’t understand Astaire’s final statement regarding that.
The Son of Dawn fell from the heavens for humanity?
Then why was Room 302 in the midst of a crisis?
“… Let’s check the third photo.”
Still, my wish hadn’t surfaced yet.
The moment I looked at the third photo, my eyes widened involuntarily.
A sky filled with pale blue light.
Ground hardened like stone from ice and fog.
Unidentified spires sprouting up everywhere.
This was the scenery of an unfathomable alien planet, yet I had seen it before.
It was the place I’d encountered in my dreams when I first entered the third floor!
*
“What’s going on? Is the telescope broken?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no way the hotel’s telescope would break!”
“But, Ari, can’t you see Seungyub?”
“What the heck is happening here? Kain, have you used any advice? Ask if nothing is visible!”
“…”
“Ask him if he can’t see Seungyub, even if he’s trying!”
“Now.”
“Excuse me?”
“Right now, you’re observing.”
“What do you mean—”
“This state of nothingness means we’re in the observation state.”
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