WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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◈ Escaping the Mystery Hotel ◈
Episode 595: The Stolen World (10)
──────
「User: Han Ga-in (Wisdom)
Date: Day 225
Current Location: Searching....
Sage’s Advice: 0」
- Han Ga-in
While Elder Wisdom suppressed the Stone Tablet, I quickly summoned the Sacred Sun.
Han Ga-in Solar Style Secret Technique: Fall Asleep Anywhere Instantly, activate!
As my consciousness faded, I prayed desperately.
Please, let A-ri realize that the Stone Tablet's pursuit has stopped and use Kingdom of Dreams!
...
...
...
At last, I heard the voice I'd been waiting for.
“It's been a while-”
A space filled with gray mist. Kingdom of Dreams!
I immediately sat up and hugged A-ri.
“- Eek! D-don't scare me like that!”
“It was seriously so hard just to see your face once!”
How many months had it been since I'd last seen her?
“Is it because you're such an important person?”
“Get off me....”
A-ri sighed and pushed me away.
“A-ri. You probably felt it already, but the Stone Tablet is currently being suppressed.”
“I know.”
“It can't stay suppressed for long. Three minutes at most? We need to get somewhere safe before then. We can talk there-”
“Somewhere safe? Is there even such a place?”
“The Otherworld Grandpa knows about! It's similar to The World That Cannot Be Remembered, but it's completely isolated from reality, so even the Management Bureau can't interfere. If we go there, we can avoid the Stone Tablet-”
A-ri reached out and covered my mouth with a finger.
“Impossible.”
“...”
“Mook-seong doesn't understand how powerful the Stone Tablet's pursuit ability is. Entering a mere pocket dimension won't be enough to escape it. Kingdom of Dreams itself is a kind of pocket dimension, and the Stone Tablet can enter it just fine.”
“Then how have you avoided its punishment all this time?”
“The place isn't the important part. The protector is.”
The moment she said that, I remembered the enormous gaze I'd seen before.
A-ri had been atop a creature so vast it was beyond imagination!
“A protector?”
“Past Arks that rejected their fate.”
“What-”
A-ri spoke even faster.
“The Ark is the process of gathering humanity's consciousness to create a pseudo-god, then splitting it back apart into individual humans. During that process, some pseudo-divinities refused to be completely dismantled.”
“That's-”
“They awakened a crude Self-awareness after becoming pseudo-gods? Their survival instinct overwhelmed their fate of preserving humanity?”
“...”
“Usually, something went wrong during their dismantling, so they're not in their right minds.”
If they were human, it would be like being unable to endure the pain of having their body divided into smaller humans, then running off the operating table mid-surgery.
“Either way, they're still Arks! By their very existence, Arks are halfway into the next Loop, so even the Stone Tablet can't interfere-”
--- Kooooong!
The familiar pressure shook Kingdom of Dreams once again.
The Stone Tablet was already recovering its power in that brief moment!
A-ri's expression turned urgent too.
“Do you have anything to ask? Just one thing!”
“... I heard that every Ark has a Mirror, and humanity is being corrupted every time the Loop repeats because of it. Is that true?”
“That's right!”
--- Rumble!
An even stronger pressure.
At this rate, the Stone Tablet would soon try to kill A-ri and me again, just like before.
“I can't keep this up! Go back to your dream!”
“...”
Only then did I vaguely realize it.
This entire situation had been Elder Wisdom's intention from the start.
There had never been any “safe place” where A-ri could avoid the Stone Tablet.
So even if I met A-ri, all I could do was have a conversation like this.
Ask A-ri the question Elder Wisdom led me to, then have her hastily say, “That's right!” because there was no time.
What would happen if I parted from A-ri like this?
“Ga-in, I said go back!”
I would have no choice but to be swayed by Elder Wisdom.
From now on, Elder Wisdom would say, ‘Didn't your companion say I was right?’ and I wouldn't be able to refute it.
“...”
I'd fallen into the clever trap Elder Wisdom had designed.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, overcome by a hollow feeling-
A change appeared in Kingdom of Dreams.
“Huh?”
“Mm?”
* * *
- Lee Eun-sol
“The true identity of the demon you call ‘Elder Wisdom’!”
“...”
“Do you know why that being cannot even set foot in reality?”
It was a story about Elder Wisdom's true identity and why Elder Wisdom could not appear in reality.
“Elder Wisdom was originally a member of The Silent. Also, a loser! One who has longed for Ascension through countless eons, yet lost the chance!”
Long ago, Elder Wisdom had been one of the Management Bureau's leaders and a member of The Silent.
Ga-in asked in surprise.
“Ascension? I've heard that word from Ryan.... Are you referring to the Hotel's third floor?”
“That is correct.”
“So you're saying Elder Wisdom failed while trying to reach the third floor?”
“Precisely.”
The Hotel, and specifically its third floor, had suddenly entered the conversation.
Elder Wisdom was a Hotel escapee, so it made sense for the Hotel to come up, but I hadn't expected it at this point.
This time, Ga-in asked with a hint of curiosity.
“Are there conditions for reaching the Hotel's third floor?”
“...”
“Or is there some kind of test? Elder Wisdom failed that test and, um, became unable to appear in reality directly?”
“...”
“It's an interesting story, but....”
Ga-in looked uncertain, so I answered in his place.
“What does failing to reach the third floor have to do with the current situation?”
Then a heavy voice came from afar.
“I shall answer in Osdork's place. Osdork has never entered the Hotel.”
The strange being who had been speaking with us until now was named Osdork.
Apparently, he was not from the Hotel.
At that moment, Mi-ro saw the newly appeared man, flinched hard, and whispered.
“He's one of The Silent too! And that's Dominion!”
“Dominion?”
“H-he tried to do bad things to me!”
Bad things?
“H-he kept touching my clothes and-”
Ga-in's eyes widened, and Dominion asked in disbelief.
“Mi-ro, have you kept lying until you convinced yourself?”
“Shut up!”
Dominion shook his head as if there was no reasoning with her, then looked at me.
“Elder Wisdom has lived for an extremely long time. No one knows how many Loops Elder Wisdom has gone through.”
“I knew that much.”
“You, the escapees of Pioneer.... Have you ever had thoughts like this?”
“What thoughts?”
“That reality is empty.”
“...”
“The family created by Dream feels fake. Wealth and power feel empty, and ordinary people around you seem less like people and more like dolls.”
Silence fell.
Han Ga-in, Park Seung-yeop, Cha Jin-cheol, Mi-ro, and me.
None of the five participants refuted Dominion's words.
“You who have only just escaped feel that much. Then what do you think Elder Wisdom, who has repeated countless Loops, feels?”
“...”
“Elder Wisdom has long regarded reality itself as empty. It isn't simply that relationships with ordinary people feel meaningless. Elder Wisdom considers the entire real world where we live to be an empty dream.”
Elder Wisdom was an incredibly old participant who considered reality itself empty.
“So do you think the path guided by such a being could truly be for humanity?”
Would someone who saw all of reality as meaningless really aim for humanity's Salvation?
That was Dominion's argument. The “destruction of the Ark” that Elder Wisdom advocated was a massive trap.
Then what was Elder Wisdom's goal?
...
Just as everyone was confused and unsure what to do, Ga-in suddenly vanished with a pop.
Had Mi-ro unsummoned Ga-in?
When I looked at Mi-ro in alarm, I saw murky mist pouring from her entire body!
Right after that, a chilling voice declared the start of battle.
“I was planning to watch if possible, but I can't anymore. I don't know what sort of thing this Elder Wisdom is, but....”
--- Crunch!
A pitch-black spear tore through the air and pierced Osdork's writhing suit in an instant.
Osdork's human disguise was stripped away at once, revealing his horrific true form!
“I see. You're a bug wearing human skin.”
“Ah.... So it has come to this after all!”
--- Rumble!
* * *
Rumble, boom!
Flash, flash!
Crash...!
I couldn't describe it any better than this.
If I still had the Eye of the Monocular Giant Bird, I could have described the tremendous battle between The Silent and my companions in concrete, impressive detail....
Sorry, everyone.
Honestly, I had no idea how any of you were fighting.
A sad fact.
The moment the battle began, Seung-yeop grabbed me and ran away. Then he said, “Wait here!” and went back to fight.
It was obvious they were better off without me, and I couldn't deny it. That somehow made me feel even worse.
“...”
As I tried to swallow my gloom and searched for a suitable place, somewhere safe but close enough to join my companions if needed, a strange being in bizarre armor blocked my path.
“Ugh!”
Just as I tried to raise my hand to use Butterfly Dream, an incomprehensible force stopped my hand.
My opponent was incredibly strong!
“...”
Right?
I was subdued in one second, so I couldn't really tell.
Please tell me you're strong.
I'm a Hotel escapee too. It would be too depressing if I got subdued in one second by some insignificant enemy.
“I am Basilio-”
“You're one of The Silent, right?”
“You-”
“You're one of The Silent, right? Please say you are. You're not some ordinary agent or something, are you?”
“I am.”
“Thank you.”
Basilio looked baffled.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.”
“... Ordinarily, I would have killed you already.”
Since Basilio subdued me in one second, they probably could've killed me in two.
“Right now, the Stone Tablet has lost its light.”
“The Stone Tablet?”
“Also, while the Ark is at the Boundary, I will not be punished even if I speak with you.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“The decisions of The Silent are made by majority vote.”
“Even elementary school class meetings usually use majority votes.”
“... It is far more thorough than you think. Once a decision has been made, it cannot be rejected, and the moment someone defies it, they are punished.”
“So?”
Basilio continued, mysterious eyes gleaming.
“The question of whether the Ark should be protected.”
“...”
“Three against six.”
“What?”
“The Ark has problems too. We only maintain it because we have not found a better alternative. It is true that Elder Wisdom, that demon, cannot be trusted, but....”
“We should separate the messenger from the message?”
“... Correct. Elder Wisdom's claim that the Ark must be destroyed is persuasive.”
After hearing that much, I understood what Basilio meant.
Even among The Silent, their views on the Ark differed, and three of them believed the Ark should be destroyed, like Elder Wisdom.
Then....
“Don't tell me! Basilio, you're on the side that wants to destroy the Ark? Is that why you're saying you'll help us?”
“No.”
“What?”
“I intend to watch the situation.”
“... What?”
“What if I help you rashly, and the six win? What if the Stone Tablet recovers in that state?”
“...”
“Would I not become a target for the Stone Tablet's punishment? Therefore, I will remain here and keep you in check.”
“...”
“Once the outcome is decided, I can act then.”
“You....”
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“You fucking idiot!”
The moment Basilio's eyes widened, I lost control of my anger and shouted.
“You idiot! At least the others have beliefs! They believe the Ark should be destroyed for this reason, or protected for that reason!”
“...”
“They decide what to do according to those beliefs, but you, argh! What are you saying? You're going to watch and side with whoever wins?”
“How foolish. You have endured all kinds of trials in the Hotel, yet you still understand so little.”
“What?”
“The winner is not strong. The one who survives is strong.”
What a disgusting opportunist!
“The fact that an idiot like you is at the top of humanity is everyone's tragedy!”
Basilio standing before me was more revolting than Dominion or Osdork, who were fighting my companions.
If you were supposed to be at the pinnacle of humanity, shouldn't you put your beliefs before your own life?
As my blood pressure rose and the back of my neck tightened, I realized I still had one powerful force left.
And there was no one around except Basilio and me!
“Stay still. You won't be able to move a finger anyway.”
I looked into Basilio's mocking eyes and smiled.
「Greedy Hand: 1 -> 0」
“Please, punish that trash!”
“What-”
I don't have to move a finger, you idiot!
[It has been granted.]
--- Whiiiiir!
Right after that, a strange sound rang throughout the Ark, and gas began pouring from the ceiling!
“Huh?”
“Mm?”
What was going on?
Basilio muttered in disbelief.
“Sleep gas?”
“What?”
“It is equipment meant to suppress unnecessary disturbances, though it is quite effective on humans.”
“Huh?”
“I do not know how you activated it.... How foolish. Osdork and I are not human. On the other hand, all of your companions are human.”
“...”
“The battle has now become even more unfavorable for your side.”
“L-Lord Dragon!”
Don't tell me you decided my companions were near me too?
So you passed the risk onto my companions?
“Eek! Dragon, you bastard!”
“... Of all the participants I have seen, you are the weakest. Still, I admit you are the funniest.”
The acrid smoke entered my airways, and my consciousness grew hazy.
* * *
「User: Han Ga-in (Wisdom)
Date: Day 225
Current Location: Searching....
Sage’s Advice: 0」
- Han Ga-in
A change occurred in Kingdom of Dreams.
Another dream had appeared.
In other words, one of my companions had fallen asleep at exactly this moment.
“Isn't that Eun-sol's dream?”
“...”
An interesting thought came to mind.
“A-ri.”
“Yeah?”
“... You said that even a fallen Ark is still an Ark, so by its very existence, it is halfway into the next Loop and can avoid the Stone Tablet, right?”
“That's right.”
“Then a real Ark would be much safer.”
“What-”
Without another word, I grabbed A-ri's hand and ran!
Footnotes:
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