WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Escaping the Mystery Hotel ◈

Episode 253: Time to Choose (1)

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- Lee Eun-sol

Standing in the center, Elena took a moment to gather her thoughts before she began explaining.

“Let’s start with the Rudah. First, we need to determine what kind of entity this is. As you know, Rudah are broadly divided into three types. First, the ‘ordinary entities’ found in the bodies of ordinary Merfolk. Second, the ‘queen entities’ that dwelled within the Daughters of the Sea God. Lastly, the ‘conductor entities’ created by the Management Bureau through various experiments.”

“This one doesn’t look like a Conductor.”

“No. It isn’t large enough. Besides, if it were a Conductor, everyone except Jin-cheol would die the moment they accepted it, so there’d be no point. This is a queen entity.”

One of the two Inheritances, the Rudah, was a queen entity.

“So what abilities would someone gain by being implanted with a Rudah? They can be divided into two broad categories. First, it enhances overall physical abilities.”

Grandfather asked, “Would it be similar to the enhanced humans the Management Bureau created in Room 202?”

“Similar. Extended lifespan, strong resistance to disease, greater strength. It’s an all-around enhancement that can’t be defined by any one thing. It isn’t an explosive increase, though. Second, someone implanted with a queen entity like this one gains control over other Merfolk.”

“Does that mean anything? There won’t be any Merfolk outside Room 202.”

Elena’s expression turned meaningful.

“Didn’t I mention that Rudah ecology resembles bees or ants?”

“... Don’t tell me!”

“A Queen Rudah can create subordinate entities. Of course, it needs Rudah-style ‘reproductive activity.’”

After saying that, Elena approached the writhing Queen Rudah.

“This one has already completed all its ‘preparations.’ Once someone obtains it, they’ll be able to create subordinate entities immediately.”

Grandfather muttered with an uneasy expression, “So the Rudah could be implanted into NPCs in other rooms.”

“Exactly.”

Seung-yeop, who had been listening, raised his hand.

“Didn’t all the Daughters of the Sea God have supernatural powers? Can’t we get those abilities?”

Elena gave a faint smile.

“Good point. Like you said, the Daughters of the Sea God and the Saint of the Deep all gained special supernatural powers.”

In Room 202, the Daughters of the Sea God and the Saint of the Deep each possessed a variety of supernatural powers.

Serenade could paralyze anyone her gaze fell upon, while Lee Su-ho wrote strange characters. Elena’s Ominous Imagination was treated the same way within the scenario. Riringanor herself seemed to serve as something like the Sea God’s final safeguard, so she appeared to have gained all three types of abilities.

Elena soon gave a negative answer.

“Unfortunately, those ‘special supernatural powers’ aren’t powers granted by Rudah. Jin-cheol obtained a Conductor Rudah, which is stronger than a Queen Rudah, yet he didn’t gain any special powers. On the other hand, Riringanor’s Rudah wasn’t much different from mine or Serenade’s, yet she gained everyone’s supernatural powers. That proves it.”

It seemed those supernatural powers had been granted by the Sea God.

Now that Room 202 had collapsed, the Sea God no longer existed anywhere in the universe. Obtaining this Inheritance wouldn’t allow the Sea God to interfere with the user’s mind, but it also meant no additional supernatural powers could be gained.

By this point, the abilities gained from obtaining the Queen Rudah were clear.

First, overall physical abilities, including lifespan, disease resistance, and strength, would improve slightly. Honestly, that didn’t feel like a particularly meaningful advantage. Lifespan and disease resistance would only matter after escaping the hotel, and unless it made someone as strong as Cha Jin-cheol, becoming “slightly” stronger wouldn’t stand out in a place like this hotel.

Second, it could create and control subordinate Rudah. If subordinate Rudah were implanted into NPCs within Curse Rooms, they could be used like servants. That had to be the core ability of this Inheritance.

“Elena, what side effects do you think it would have?”

“Um... The Rudah being implanted is a creature with intelligence and spirituality. It might make someone anxious that their identity could be shaken. Other than that, I don’t know.”

The Rudah’s weaknesses seemed even fewer than they had been inside Room 202. In Room 202, there had been fatal problems like control by a stronger Rudah or interference from the Sea God. Neither mattered outside. There were no stronger Rudah outside Room 202, and no Sea God either.

After wrapping up the discussion about the Rudah, the subject shifted to the Flute.

“I mentioned it once before, but the Flute is an item directly bestowed by the Sea God. It was called the Flute of Rest. Simply put, its effect is similar to my Clear Mirror, Still Water. It’s a tool for healing mental pain or damage.”

“There is an important difference. Your Clear Mirror, Still Water and Ga-in’s Status Window only work on yourselves, but this Flute seems like it can be used on others.”

“That’s its greatest advantage. And the most remarkable thing about this Flute is...”

Elena’s expression filled with wonder.

“Its effect even works on gods.”

Thinking about it, the Sea God had created the Flute for the Sea God’s own use from the beginning. It had already proven effective against divine beings. Unlike the Queen Rudah, which required a fairly long explanation, the Flute’s effects were simple and clear.

The Rudah could slightly enhance physical abilities and control NPCs. The Flute could heal mental damage suffered by party members. Once we had organized the powers of the two Inheritances like that, we began seriously discussing which one would be more useful.

Grandfather examined the Flute with curious eyes and gave his opinion.

“Isn’t the Flute the better choice? More than half the attacks we experience in this hotel feel like powers that shake the mind. Of course, we have ways to resist them, like Elena’s Clear Mirror, Still Water, Ga-in’s Status Window, and Song-i’s bracelet. Still, aside from the bracelet, they all only work on the user. A-ri’s blood can’t be used whenever we want, either.”

I had a slightly different thought.

“Grandfather, if you look at it the other way around, don’t we already have quite a few ways to achieve effects similar to the Flute’s? Elena’s Clear Mirror, Still Water, Ga-in’s Status Window, Song-i’s bracelet, and even A-ri’s blood if necessary can all be used for similar purposes. On the other hand, the Rudah’s greatest ability is NPC control.”

“That would be difficult to replace through other means?”

“Right.”

“But Eun-sol, aren’t you overlooking what it means for the Flute’s effect to work even on gods? Ordinary people might never meet a god in their lives, but in this damned hotel, we keep running into gods like they’re neighborhood old men.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

As Grandfather said, we encountered evil gods and demons almost every week.

Of course, looking back at our progress so far, every Curse Room seemed designed to be resolved without fighting a Prisoner. But things didn’t always go smoothly. Hadn’t we already clashed with quite a few divine beings that had gone mad? The moth in Room 102 and the enraged Sea God who had descended in Room 202 were good examples.

Couldn’t the Flute become our final safeguard in situations like that?

Around the time everyone was putting their heads together and thinking it over, Sang-hyeon, who had watched in silence, gave a bitter smile.

“This... I don’t think any of you will realize it unless I say something.”

“What?”

“Honestly, at first, I thought you all knew and were avoiding the subject. But that isn’t it. It seems none of you have considered that kind of possibility at all. To be honest, I’m a little impressed.”

That kind of possibility?

“The moment I heard the descriptions of the two Inheritances, I got chills. The hotel’s intention in preparing these Inheritances was so obvious.”

“Hey, Sang-hyeon. We know you’re a smart, well-educated astronaut, so quit showing off and-”

“That truly isn’t my intention. I’ll get right to it. Don’t you think both Inheritances are items meant to seize control within the party?”

Everyone fell silent at once.

“First, this Rudah. It’s too obvious. Why do you think the subordinate entities created by a Queen Rudah could only be implanted into NPCs?”

“Ah!”

“Of course, they could be implanted into us as well. In fact, if you think of it that way, the ‘slight’ increase in physical abilities that seems insignificant becomes much more impressive. It would make all our bodies stronger. And once everyone receives a subordinate entity to improve their physical abilities, the person who obtained the Queen entity might become the king among us.”

The benefit of enhanced physical abilities provided by the Queen Rudah was not a power solely for its owner. It was a benefit every other participant could receive.

Song-i spoke in confusion.

“If you’re afraid of being controlled, then other people can just choose not to get implanted, right? And we’d never use it that way...”

“Miss Song-i. There’s already a contradiction in that short statement. You say you trust that none of us would ever use Rudah to control our companions, so why say, ‘If they’re afraid, they can choose not to get implanted’?”

“...”

“Let’s assume something. You all trust each other. I trust you too. If everyone trusts everyone else, is there any reason to be suspicious? One of us obtains the Queen Rudah. There’s no need for suspicion, so why refuse a free physical enhancement? Everyone will accept the Rudah. Now, the person who obtained the Queen Rudah has gained the ability to shake the minds and bodies of every other participant.”

In the quiet room, Sang-hyeon continued.

“I’ve only talked about the Rudah, but I think the Flute is similar. The Flute’s power is very simple, isn’t it? Mental recovery. It’s an Inheritance focused entirely on one ability. It’s a game-like way of putting it, but items with abilities concentrated in a specific field tend to surpass other items within that field.”

The Flute could only heal the mind, but within that field, it was powerful enough to work even on divine beings. I was starting to understand what Sang-hyeon was getting at.

“I believe the Flute could neutralize a considerable number of the Inheritances you possess. It could break Song-i’s hallucinations and drive out Ga-in’s Possession. Since Elena’s Ominous Imagination requires her to be consumed by madness during the casting process, its activation itself could be blocked.”

Everyone’s thoughts grew increasingly complicated. Sang-hyeon looked around before bringing the discussion to a simple close.

“I debated whether to bring this up. You all seemed not to have considered this possibility at all. Still, I think it’s better to know before choosing than to obtain one and realize it afterward.”

“You did well bringing it up. Like Sang-hyeon said, we should know what we need to know before choosing.”

“I’ll withdraw from this Inheritance selection.”

Grandfather looked slightly flustered.

“Sang-hyeon?”

Kim Sang-hyeon gave everyone a faint smile and stepped back. I thought I understood why he had withdrawn. Many of us still called him “Doctor.”

Footnotes:

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