Escaping the Mystery Hotel - Chapter 707
Only Krnovel
EP.707 Episode 707 – Someone’s Rest, Someone’s Suffering (3)
Episode 707 – Someone’s Rest, Someone’s Suffering (3)
– Yoo Song-i
From early morning, we all headed to the Sanctuary of Blessing.
“Participant Yoo Song-i, participant Lee Eun-sol. Will you respond to the sponsor’s call? (Y/N)”
It seems like the text that appears in the sanctuary has changed a bit?
When I turned around feeling puzzled, my colleagues were also tilting their heads.
“huh?”
“Huh? Was the original text like this?”
A few of my colleagues, who had good memories, shook their heads.
“If I remember correctly, A’s enhancement is possible. Would you like to proceed? It was something like that.”
“There is no such expression as reinforcement?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
After a brief silence, Eunsol answered as if it was nothing.
“Can’t expressions change from time to time?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Anyway, it looks like Songi and I can meet a sponsor. There’s no reason to refuse.”
That’s right.
He nodded, reached out, and pressed the Y button.
Soon, my consciousness faded away and my mind was dragged into a distant realm.
*
.
..
…
I woke up on a round lotus leaf.
The lotus leaf was floating on the clear river surface, and began to move somewhere along the ever-flowing river.
After what felt like about 10 minutes, the lotus petals stopped as if a boat was anchored.
Before I knew it, there was a temple in front of me with a mysterious atmosphere that I had never seen before.
“Ugh…”
It’s not my first time coming to the sanctuary, but it’s never been as noisy as it is now.
I swallowed hard and opened the door to the temple.
— Squeak!
“uh?”
The first thing I noticed was a huge gray wall.
The entire field of vision was filled with gray walls, and nothing else could be seen.
…it didn’t take long to realize what the gray wall was really about.
“Ahh!”
Huge – an absurdly huge, distant shape.
To exaggerate a little, there was an elephant the size of a continent right before my eyes.
It was so massive that what was only a small part of its skin appeared like a giant gray wall.
This is the reality of sponsors.
This is the true side of myself that I have not been able to show to the participants for a long time!
For a moment, I groaned as I felt an unbearable headache.
If it were me when I first came to the hotel, wouldn’t I have just lost consciousness and collapsed?
Fortunately, I am different now than I was in the past, and the headache gradually subsided.
The power of telepathy, the ability to share thoughts without direct conversation.
This is the first blessing enhancement I have received, and it is a power that is naturally given to the sponsor who is the source of the ability.
Soon, the great will of the sponsor began to be conveyed to me.
The first realization was somewhat disappointing.
“Oh? So, this time you weren’t getting the 4th level enhancement?”
Ugh… I was so excited for the 4th level upgrade all night last night.
Why doesn’t the text say ‘can be strengthened’?
Surely, Eunsol can’t be strengthened too?
No, it might be different since it’s stage 3 even if you strengthen it this time, right?
…
After Gain Oppa gained insight through the 4th stage enhancement, there was a thought that everyone had countless times.
Insight is the greatest power we have ever acquired.
The same was true when you consider the blessings and even the legacy.
Before gaining insight, Gain Oppa often seemed to be swayed by his two legacies.
Sometimes I was shaken by evil spirits that went beyond the framework of the Book of Incarnation, and sometimes I was tormented by the greed for the souls created by the divine sun.
I tried my best to hide it, but as we lived together every day, it became harder to not know.
Dr. Arina often mentioned the confusion that Gain oppa experiences.
It’s all a thing of the past.
After gaining insight, the two legacies no longer had any power over Cain’s brother.
“phew…”
Honestly, I was jealous of my brother.
I didn’t know it when I got another inheritance, but after I got insight, it really felt like I wasn’t human.
I’m curious about the world reflected in Gain oppa’s eyes.
What does it feel like to see destiny every time you look at someone?
How would it feel to be able to look down on the world from the top of a building and feel the flow of all things?
Indeed, insight is a power that truly fits the description of the power of God.
So I was really looking forward to it, but it wasn’t my turn yet.
Sensing my disappointment, the sponsor’s great will was conveyed once again.
It’s only recently that I’ve gotten the Powerful Reinforcement and Beloved, and I’m already short of contributing to getting to level 4.
“Ah… I know what you mean.”
Looking back at Gain Oppa’s case, the sponsor had informed him in advance that there was a possibility of a 4th level enhancement. I didn’t have any such warning.
The sponsor’s next statement was a bit more hopeful.
In some ways, it seemed like it was comforting me when I was disappointed.
It was hard to get to the 3rd floor, and it was a really rare case to get here.
Not this time, but hopefully we’ll be able to get the 4th level enhancement soon!
“thank you.”
After nodding, he asked a question.
It’s not time to strengthen yet, so is there a reason you called?
+ … +
In the next moment, a tremendous number of thoughts came to me simultaneously.
I couldn’t handle the thoughts that came crashing down on me like waves, and I collapsed without realizing it.
…
When I first connected with you, I didn’t have many expectations.
Some rather ordinary appearances seen in reality.
He is timid, has no great abilities, and has no outstanding judgment.
Surviving a formidable foe is commendable, but it is hard to see this as the intended outcome for the participants.
We survived only by a little luck and the weakness of our enemies.
…
Eww! What the heck is this?
Is that like the first judgment my sponsor made about me?
No…! That’s too much!
The old me was just a high school student?
What would a normal high school student do against aliens?
…
What is particularly regrettable is the lack of action.
Although he had many complaints against his parents, he did not seem to make any attempt to resolve the issue.
…
Does that make sense?
No, what do you want me to do when my mom and dad are fighting, cheating, and trying to get a divorce?
Attempts to resolve? How does a daughter resolve her parents’ divorce?
Should I threaten to kill myself if I divorce you by secretly hitting me with a hammer at night?
…
Overall, an ordinary human being.
It’s not particularly lacking, but it lacks something extraordinary.
…
I think I have to admit this honestly.
Because I, um, wasn’t that special from the start like some of my colleagues.
Thinking about it this way, I think I understand the meaning of the previous evaluation that I found absurd.
The sponsor of the friendship did not judge that ‘Yoo Song-i’ was particularly lacking.
I just thought he belonged in the category of a normal human being.
“Ugh!”
As I was slowly coming to my senses and staggering, the sponsor immediately conveyed his next message.
…
However, after coming to the hotel, you changed quickly.
Number 103 must have been the beginning of a fateful change for you.
In a hell that is too much for a weak mind to endure, you found a way out without anyone’s help.
Your out-of-the-box thinking inspired other participants.
Outstanding action without hesitation often provides a breakthrough in trials.
Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be great.
…
Unlike your previous words, which were almost sarcastic, this time it feels like you’re giving me too much credit, right?
I felt slightly embarrassed and lowered my head.
Mr. Elephant, um, I think he wanted to compliment me.
The words above are literally the first evaluation, right?
This is a story about me before I came to the hotel, so it doesn’t mean much at this point. The aftermath is the real story.
“Ahem! It feels like a summary and conclusion of the past. A comprehensive evaluation of the participant, Yoo Song-i! Is that what you do?”
It’s funny, but I don’t think you called me to say something like that.
This is something I learned from listening to Gain Oppa’s story about owls, but it is a huge burden on the sponsors to call us without any particular reason.
Indeed, once again, a complex will was conveyed from the sponsor.
A lot of information seeps into my head.
For example, facts that we didn’t even think of when we were talking among ourselves.
“Room 301 is no longer a true cursed room. It’s literally another reality, like the reality outside the first and second floors.”
What does this mean?
“If Eunsol and I die after the descent, does that mean we’ll go to the next loop? Like a regression?”
I said it and realized it was a mistake later.
Not like a regressor.
Because we are already regressors.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to die.
Countless terrible possibilities arose that would come to mind when I died.
In addition to this, several pieces of advice and cautions have permeated my head.
…
As I was barely able to understand the complex information, the space slowly began to shake.
The sponsor called me to compliment me and to warn me of the situation after the descent.
At that very moment.
— Saaaaa…!
A dizzying vision hits you like a thunderbolt.
The waves of the beating world.
The countless mortal spirits that make up that wave.
The tiny spirit of the eons was the driving force that moved the world, a gigantic whirlpool.
And, at the center of that whirlpool was ‘me’!
I am here.
I am here.
I am here.
My presence was so powerful that it was difficult for small mortal beings to handle.
Even if all the people of eons gathered together, they would not be able to compare to me!
Some people call this kind of being a ‘protagonist’.
I realized it only when I was on the verge of losing consciousness.
The sponsor has shown the reality of the 4th level enhancement that he will one day obtain!
*
– Lee Eun-sol
A splendid castle hall filled with gold.
He looked up blankly, wearing purple clothes that looked like something an ancient Roman royalty might have worn.
No matter how much I raised my head, I couldn’t see the other person’s head clearly.
Because the opponent was a truly absurdly huge dragon.
It’s big. It’s seriously soooo big!
If just one drop of saliva falls from that mouth, wouldn’t it be strange if I drown?
At that moment, a thunderous voice was heard that echoed throughout the hall.
+ Fortunately, I won’t have to disappoint you. +
“yes?”
+ You will gain new powers this time. +
After trying to understand what the sponsor was saying for a moment, I soon understood what he meant.
It seems like Songi didn’t get the 4th stage of enhancement this time.
Why was the notification from the sanctuary different than usual? There was a reason.
The reason why I can get reinforcements unlike Songi is simple.
Songi is already at stage 3, and I am at stage 2.
“I’m glad my blessing growth is poor.”
+ Are you saying that was a joke now? +
“Ehehe…”
+ Hmm… You were like that the other day too, it seems like you have a complaint against me. +
“Father, are you dissatisfied?”
To be honest, I do have some complaints.
It’s not just a little bit, it’s a lot.
Let’s get this straight.
Isn’t wealth the most absurd of blessings?
The hand of greed is acknowledged!
I’ve used it many times and it looks like it’ll still be usable after the descent, so it’s OK.
By the way, what on earth is the basic ability HP Market?
Are they saying Coupang is a blessing these days?
Wow~ If this continues, rocket delivery will become a legacy!
As I was muttering to myself, I felt someone’s gaze.
+ It’s definitely bigger than before. +
“… yes?”
+ If you see him openly expressing his arrogant thoughts in front of you, it means that his brain has grown. +
“…”
+ Do you like poker? +
Poker all of a sudden?
“Oh, I’ve played Texas Hold’em many times. I know the rankings.”
+ There is a great game going on in heaven, and we are always dealt a hand. +
An unexpected and strange story began to emerge from the Dragon of Greed.
+ The pattern is always different, but most of them are similar. In many cases, it is at best one pair. +
“…”
+ Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll get two pairs or trips. Rarely, you’ll get a straight or better. It’s an endless game, so there are many possibilities. +
I’m starting to understand the metaphor of the sponsor.
The Dragon of Greed is now talking about the hotel’s progress from the sponsor’s perspective.
The sponsor is the one who tells the participants that they are the losers.
This was the first time I’d heard a story like this.
Is Songi hearing stories she hasn’t heard before from her sponsor?
+ After each person judges how much they have lost, they start betting. Of course, the amount of betting varies depending on the hand. If they think it’s a good hand, they start betting wildly, but if they think it’s not, they end up watching from a distance. +
“An example of going wild because you think it’s a good match. Maybe -”
+ Yeah, that bird. The one who pretends to be mysterious and wise all over the world. +
“…”
I think this is the first time I’ve heard such explicit gossip.
In some ways, it felt like the gap between us and our sponsors had narrowed.
To borrow the expression of the sponsor, you could say, ‘the hair has gotten thicker.’
Just as I am not as nervous as I used to be when facing a dragon – the sponsors are also more open about expressing their opinions.
+ I thought I had a four card in my hand, so it wasn’t chaos from the beginning. +
Four cards…
I thought it was a convincing assessment.
Even just looking at the way she looked at the hotel, Ga-in was far from ordinary even before she came to the hotel.
A question that naturally arises.
To what extent was ‘me’ in the eyes of the sponsor?
+ I thought I had gotten to the point where I could do straight. +
A remark that seemed to read my mind – or indeed, it did.
It felt like he was teasing me a little bit.
+ When I actually rolled the cards, it was ambiguous. +
He frowned slightly and spoke his mind.
“No, if you think the hand is good, shouldn’t you bet hard? If it’s a straight, you should have given it a reasonable amount of strength!”
+ Betting strategies are different for everyone. +
What’s the strategy? Honestly, what a blessing the HP market is!
At that time, I heard a story from the dragon that I had never thought of before.
+ There was a mistake in judging your personality. +
“yes?”
+ It’s because you’ve been living comfortably as a member of the upper class in a stable country, that your personality has become too moderate. +
“What is that -”
For a moment, I was speechless.
+ If you grew up in a harsh environment… well, I don’t think your mother would have wanted that to happen. +
“…”
Suddenly, this thought occurred to me.
The manifestation of blessings is greatly influenced by the participants’ dispositions, and Elena is living proof of this.
Haven’t we had something like that in our country?
Strictly speaking, HP Market is not a real shopping mall.
This means that there is no need to follow the laws of the Republic of Korea.
Why can’t I sell guns?
Why else would there be no bombs?
The reason was in my mind.
My ‘common sense’ is that such an absurd thing should not be easily accessible to civilians.
What if I was from Somalia?
According to an absurd news article I saw a while back, the prizes for a ‘Koran memorization quiz contest for children’ held by Somali rebels were assault rifles and grenades.
If Eunsol had grown up in a country like this, she might have been able to buy an AK 47 from the HP Market…
I don’t know.
+ So I put down my hand of greed. +
The problem with my personality that the dragon has figured out is simple.
The traumatic events of his childhood were forgotten by his mother, and the personality he developed afterwards was so gentle that he lacked both malice and greed.
So the powerful reinforcement given is the hand of greed.
The power to take advantage in the form I want and pass on the losses to others.
This is an ability that truly embodies extreme selfishness.
If I use this kind of power, wouldn’t I expect my disposition to naturally change to suit wealth and greed?
When I realized this, I spoke a little coldly without realizing it.
“It doesn’t seem like things are going your way.”
+ Yeah, it didn’t go my way. +
Things didn’t go as the dragon intended.
I… have always feared the influence that greed would have on my fellows.
Should we consider it a failure?
Contrary to the dragon’s intentions, sufficient levels of selfishness and greed have not awakened?
“I understand that the way I have proceeded so far has deviated from your intentions.”
+ … +
“But, this is how I got to the third floor. I also found room 301, the room that contained my wish.”
Even if it is different from what the sponsors expected, it is not the wrong direction.
To my intentions, the sponsor simply replied:
+ Yes, you have finally come this far, so this is the path you have found. +
In that moment, my mind was blown.
The dark shadow that had plagued my mind for a long time seemed to melt away.
The dragon smiled broadly and said the words he had been waiting for.
+ Therefore, I will give you the power that you need and that suits you. I mean, ‘noble virtue.’ +
— Saaaaa…!
*
“User: Han Ga-in (Jihye)
Date: 19th day
Current Location: Tier 1, Lobby
Wise Man’s Advice: 3”
– Han Ga-in
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Songi woke up in less than a minute.
“So, you didn’t have any blessing enhancement?”
“Yes. It was a bit disappointing, but… Well, maybe it will be possible soon!”
“So that’s why you woke up early.”
“Is your sister still fainting?”
“huh.”
“It looks like you’re getting reinforcements.”
After that, Songi brought up a rather interesting story.
The sponsor reportedly gave his first and current evaluation of Songi.
“The first evaluation and the current evaluation…”
“There was also a lot of advice on getting down.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
While Songi was telling her colleagues various stories about the descent, one question also arose in my mind.
What does the owl think of me?
“…I can’t stand this.”
“Advice: 3 -> 2”
‘What do you think?’
“It was rotten from the very beginning. However, it was so badly rotten that I considered it a quality.”
“…”