Escaping the Mystery Hotel - Chapter 652
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EP.652 Episode 652 – Meeting, Exploration (3)
Episode 652 – Meeting, Exploration (3)
“User: Han Ga-in (Jihye)
Date: Day 1
Current Location: Tier 3, Lobby
Wise Man’s Advice: 0”
– Han Ga-in
After a period of sadness where everyone was hurt, it was Songi who opened her mouth cautiously.
Thanks to that, I was able to forget the painful memories of confession.
“Only Elena and I are left? I’ll start with myself. The setting is when I was 6 or 7 years old. My parents were busy and came home late, and I was a poor girl, Yusong, who spent my time alone with cute animals.”
“Pfft! That’s an interesting explanation. Tell me more.”
Eun-sol was taken aback by the description, which seemed to be from a third-person perspective.
“Because I didn’t have any friends, I thought of Happy, Somi, and other puppies as my friends. Like most children, I also believed that animals could speak human language. I told this to adults, but they all said it was just Songi’s cute delusion.”
“and?”
“But what on earth happened? Surprisingly, the animals actually spoke human language! Young Songi spoke only the truth with a pure heart, but no one believed her.”
It was fun to hear it adapted like this, and also a little funny.
I think Songi said it that way on purpose.
However, when I experienced it firsthand, it was extremely terrifying, and the memory of it is still vivid.
Soon, several colleagues began to voice their opinions.
“Is the human soul trapped in Songi’s dog?”
“Or maybe the animal’s intelligence has increased. If there was an unknown cell-like force involved, such as the legacy of No. 203, then that’s possible.”
Eunsol and Sanghyun’s hypothesis.
“It might not have been a dog in the first place. Or an unidentified monster disguised as a dog?”
“According to Songi’s memory, other animals also spoke?”
“Those animals could also be monsters.”
“That sounds plausible.”
Elena, who was talking about the possibility that it wasn’t a dog in the first place, and Grandfather Mukseong, who nodded.
In addition, various other stories sporadically emerged.
At that time, Songi asked me.
“What do you think, Gain oppa?”
“I don’t think we have enough information to have a meaningful conversation.”
This happens often when you have a meeting with insufficient information.
There are so many blank spaces that each person fills in with their own imagination, which can be a good thing if you ask me, but a bad thing if you ask me, it can lead to a situation where baseless imaginations are pouring out.
“Rather, I want to ask you. Songi, what did you think?”
“… I, um, was focused on other thoughts.”
Any other thoughts?
“I feel better already. Tell me.”
“Why is Somi…?”
“why?”
“Did you say it was scary and painful?”
“ah?”
“Why are you in pain? Being in a dog’s body? What do you mean, take me out of here? Can you take me out? Is this a request to just take my mind out and put it in a human body?”
It’s an interesting approach.
Is that why you said you had different thoughts?
In Songi’s past memories, there was a strange phenomenon in which animals spoke like humans, and her colleagues focused on the cause of the strange phenomenon.
On the other hand, Songi seems to have been concerned about the content and meaning of the words rather than the strange phenomenon of animals speaking human language.
Eunsol nodded and summarized.
“That’s a good point. However, as Ga-in said, it seems difficult to talk more. Let’s stop here.”
Yoo Song-i: I will think about why animals can speak human language and the content of their speech.
The last person was Elena.
“My memory isn’t that complicated. I went to the theater with my mother and sister and watched a movie, and my mother noticed something strange and left the theater. When I got home, my father had already passed out from drinking poisoned tea.”
Sister Eunsol asked to confirm.
“Didn’t your father pass away at that time?”
“Yes. He became very unwell after that, but he didn’t go back until I was taken to the hotel.”
Elena, who had said that, looked at Ari and me.
“I think Ga-in and Ari know the secrets hidden in my memories better than I do. In fact, there are scenes that I haven’t seen…”
Ari glanced at me as if to say, ‘Do you want to talk?’ and then opened her mouth.
“The first time Ga-in and I felt uncomfortable was at the theater. And Elena’s mother’s reaction, and seeing the hotel show that scene, it seemed like something had happened.”
“Yes.”
“But Gain and I couldn’t find it. Isn’t that strange?”
As soon as he heard this, Grandpa Mukseong nodded his head repeatedly.
“That’s certainly strange. The Russian dictator – what’s his name?”
“Alexander Vasiliev.”
“Ahem, I don’t know how great Alexander is, but even if he was a skilled KGB agent, it would be difficult for Arina Gain to avoid his eyes.”
Ariga continued her explanation.
“I confirmed the specific scene at Elena’s house. I put the whole family in the bedroom, and Gain and I waited.”
The last word was mine.
“The announcer on TV was looking around unnaturally. As if he was looking for someone.”
Elena looked noticeably displeased, as if she still got goosebumps when she heard it again.
“It’s disgusting. If it’s as Ga-in said, then what my mother saw at the theater was something beyond the screen?”
“Maybe. A character in a movie might have suddenly rolled his eyes and searched the theater.”
“I didn’t feel it.”
“Ari and I didn’t feel it either. In fact, who would suspect something just because the eyes of a character in a movie move a little strangely?”
“… Now that I hear it, that’s true. Normally, I would just think that the actor’s acting skills are lacking and move on.”
“Elena’s mother must have been through something similar many times already.”
“Why didn’t you tell me or Natalia? Are you afraid they wouldn’t believe you?”
The person who answered this question was Grandpa Mukseong.
It seems that thanks to his experience as an agent, he was able to easily predict the attitudes of ordinary people.
“I guess you felt like it would be meaningless to talk about it?”
“…”
“It’s not like you can avoid screens your whole life. Talking about it will only create anxiety.”
“…”
“Also, your mother probably wasn’t sure either. She must have thought a lot about whether I was crazy.”
“… okay.”
Elena, who had a somewhat gloomy expression, began to express her opinions separately from her colleagues.
The content was more specific than Songi’s, because there was a clear enemy in the form of the dictator Alexander.
“That guy named Alexander, it seems like he wields some kind of magical power?”
“Huh! Not even Rasputin!”
“Did I make a contract with a demonic being?”
“That could be it, or maybe I just got lucky and got a strange item. Either way, I can guess the purpose.”
“Suppression and surveillance of the opposition. It’s very clear.”
Eunsol and her grandfather came up with a plausible story.
The storyline was clearer than Song’s, as there was a clear enemy in the form of the dictator Alexander.
At that time, Sang-Hyeon Hyung brought up a sharp story.
“If television and theater screens can be used as surveillance devices, then one question arises: How did Mr. Mikhail escape from the hands of such an absurd sorcerer?”
How did Elena and her family escape from the hands of a dictator who was not an ordinary dictator, but one who wielded supernatural powers?
It was a plausible question, but the answer came to me quickly.
“There must have been an organization similar to the Management Bureau in the world Elena lived in.”
Elena nodded as if it was obvious.
“Alexander also has to be careful?”
“It would have been difficult to use physical force against the opposition with openly demonic force.”
“Hmm… That makes sense.”
Ariga chimed in.
“It may not have been a coincidence that Mikhail survived.”
“Are you saying you never intended to kill him in the first place?”
“We will keep the minimum line by keeping an eye on the administration. Do not create opposition within Russia. However, we will allow you to seek asylum abroad.”
“…”
“If you go abroad, don’t go on broadcasts and say weird things. Just keep your mouth shut and I’ll spare your life. Have you seen the poisoned tea? The first time is a warning. Live the rest of your life like a dead rat. Take the information you know with you to your grave.”
The surroundings became quiet for a moment, and Ari shrugged and said.
“What do you all think of my hypothesis?”
I answered.
“That makes sense. It also resembles the behavior of actual dictators.”
As we were talking, this thought occurred to me.
If, as Ari said, Alexander is the type of dictator who keeps a close eye on the administration and maintains a minimal level of good…
That being is unlikely to be the ‘main villain’.
Could it be that there is another real adversary at the center of the Cursed Room scenario?
Eunsol smiled lightly and tapped the whiteboard.
“Now, here’s a brief summary of the first wish. Read it over and think about it when you have time.”
1. Cain: Overcoming
2. Silence: Almost Overcome?
3. Ari: A Milky Way train that runs through space. There is an unknown enemy.
4. Jincheol: Gym. No additional information.
5. Sang-Hyeon: An unidentified outer planet. Fear upon encountering an incomprehensible being. Problems with the location, target, and background of going into space.
6. Eunsol: Whether the chairman of Daeyang Group is a returnee. Relationship with the scenario.
7. Maze: A mass slaughter by the monster Santa. A wish is made to realize justice.
8. Seungyeop: There is insufficient information. Some say it is somewhat convenient.
9. Songi: A talking animal. You will ponder the cause and the content of the conversation.
10. Elena: A dictator who watches through a screen.
At the end of the meeting, Ari opened her mouth.
“Let’s take a quick look at the hotel situation.”
Eunsol immediately refuted.
“Should we explore now? It’s not even midnight yet.”
The point is that it’s dangerous to explore when there’s no advice available.
Ariga corrected the misunderstanding.
“I know. I’m not saying we should go to the dangerous third floor. I’m saying we should go to the first and second floors.”
“That was the story?”
*
“Current location: Tier 3, Lobby -> Tier 1, Lobby”
— Ding!
The moment the familiar scenery on the first floor appeared, the strength in my shoulders disappeared.
It was only then that I realized that I had been quite nervous the entire time I was on the third floor.
Other people also started smiling for no reason, and I started laughing because I thought the third floor and the first floor were so different.
“Wow…! I didn’t know the first floor could feel this comfortable.”
“Haha! Gain, you’re right. Huh! I only came down two floors, but why do I feel so at ease?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As I walked down the hallway in front of the elevator, I came across familiar sights, such as a snack table and a front desk.
“Oh, there’s a protective suit over there!”
“You brought it to the front desk. How kind of you. The wing boots are -”
“I keep reporting.”
As the scale and intensity of fighting increases, protective clothing becomes less useful than before.
But what about the third floor?
“The protective suit will be of great use on the third floor.”
“That’s right. The interstellar train running through the Milky Way, and the unidentified exoplanets too….”
“There will be many occasions when you will have to go to space.”
Many of my colleagues can’t even last 10 seconds in space.
The protective suit will be a vital lifeline.
Sang-Hyeon Hyung said while looking outside the main door on the first floor.
“The outside scenery is the same. If I put on wing boots and jump off here, is it real?”
Grandpa Mukseong asked as if he found it amusing.
“Why? Go out?”
“Haha! Agent, if you were going to leave right away, why did you come in the first place? I can’t even wear wing boots anyway.”
As the mood began to ease, Ari spoke, unable to hide her hesitant gaze.
“That… Gain.”
“why?”
“You’ve been watching us since a while ago, right?”
“…”
“Did you see anything?”
Everyone seemed to be unconsciously aware of my gaze, and as soon as Ari’s words came out, their expressions began to show a mixture of worry and anticipation.
“…”
A small starting point.
Confusing reasoning.
Possibilities boiling over like bubbles.
Several guesses that are not easily narrowed down to one.
“I’ll tell you if you need anything.”
“Wow~! You’re really kind.”
I can completely understand the slight protest mixed in Ari’s playful tone.
However, I am not yet at the stage where I can easily say this or that.
“Let’s have a meal and think more about your first wish. Please gather in the lobby on the third floor at midnight.”
*
“Date: Day 1 -> Day 2”
“Wise Man’s Advice: 0 -> 3”
Midnight.
Normally, this would be a time when quite a few people would be asleep, but not today.
Everyone gathered in front of the elevator.
“Let’s start from the rooms on the third floor.”
? Rooms
After moving to the guest room area, everyone realized.
As soon as I started exploring, unexpected information suddenly popped up.
“Huh? There are fewer rooms than I thought.”
The colleagues responded to Eun-sol’s surprised voice.
No one has said outright how many cursed rooms there are on the third floor, but I think everyone secretly expected there to be at least nine?
Because the first wish and the third floor are deeply related.
Let’s exclude Sang-Hyeon and Miro’s empty wish in Pioneer because it wasn’t the ‘first’ wish.
I overcame my wish as the manager official, so let’s exclude that as well.
Still, the first wish is 9.
If each wish constitutes a scenario, then there should also be nine rooms of curses.
However, the actual number of rooms on the third floor was confirmed to be 6.
Songi pointed out another peculiar thing.
“… The sixth room doesn’t have a number written on it.”
“Okay. There are only rooms 301 through 305. What’s the sixth room?”
“If we go downstairs, wouldn’t it be the gateway room?”
“Why is there a ‘gateway’ when there is no next floor?”
“That’s true.”
“Also, the rooms at the gate had numbers. They were 107 and 207.”
“I know.”
Ari is getting more and more confused.
The last room felt like something different from any other room I’d been in before.
Sang-Hyeon muttered.
“Then there are probably five rooms of curses at most. That means…”
Everyone’s eyes were focused, and soon everyone reached the same conclusion.
“The room of wishes and curses is not a one-to-one correspondence.”
“I wonder if there are two or more wishes mixed in each room?”
This is also unexpected.
Because when I looked at my colleagues’ memories related to their first wish, I never thought that these memories were intertwined.
I thought it was a completely different story, but it wasn’t.
At that moment, a vision of a mystical prism flashed through my mind.
“…one light.”
“Cain?”
“A single projection, and the resulting dispersion of light.”
“Please explain it in a way that I can understand.”
“Let’s say there is a root cause called A. It could be a demon, or a paranormal phenomenon. In reality, it’s something that corresponds to a mirror or an ark.”
Everyone looked at me with thoughtful eyes.
“The root cause is only one, A. However, in reality, it appears as a variety of phenomena. Just like a single light splits into seven colors.”
Sang-Hyeon nodded.
“The paranormal phenomena in our memories that we thought were completely different turned out to be one?”
“It’s not like they’re all the same. Not even the rooms are the same.”
“I understand. For example, if Ari-yang and I have the same wish… I would ride the Milky Way train in Ari-yang’s memory and arrive at the outer planet in my memory.”
“That could be possible.”
As I was nodding, I heard Miro’s voice.
“Look at this!”
“hmm?”
“There’s writing on the ceiling!”
“You can’t see the whole thing from the inside. You can’t touch the inside from the outside. There’s only one answer.”
“…”
I realized this anew in the silence.
A place full of riddles and zen questions – yes, this is a hotel!