Chapter 732
Chapter 732 – Room 302, The Cursed Chamber – ‘Brave New World’ (10)
—
– Kim Ahri
It’s been quite a while since we started observing the situation in Room 302.
We still haven’t laid eyes on Seungyub.
At first, there were even some funny rumors that the telescope was broken.
Of course, a telescope handcrafted by someone who sheds tears for the Three Thousand Worlds couldn’t possibly be faulty.
I secretly wondered if the prisoner from Room 301 was interfering again, but looking back, that seemed vague.
The prisoner in 301 could at most suppress the poltergeist; he couldn’t prevent the observation itself.
This doesn’t seem possible with the prisoner in Room 302.
Kain used some advice and got the answer, “You’re currently in a state of observation.”
As time passed, we gradually began to understand the situation.
As Kain said, we were indeed observing Seungyub.
“Hmm…”
Something… something’s there!
A form wriggling in the darkness.
Twitching movements, rustling sounds.
I could clearly see something, but I had no idea what it was.
It was an extremely dark and quiet place.
But there definitely was something, and it corresponded to the essence of Seungyub.
“Ugh… this is so frustrating.”
I wished it would just show itself clearly, but on the other hand, I thought that the mere act of showing such bizarre darkness might be a sort of hint.
Should I check on Sanghyun?
He’s just moving around over there.
…
At that moment, I felt someone grab my shoulder, and my consciousness was pulled out of the telescope.
“Are you okay? I thought it was about time for a shift.”
It was Kain.
“Oh, so it’s already that time.”
“What about Seungyub?”
“I haven’t figured anything out. It’s pitch black, and there’s a vague twitching feeling.”
“Hm… what about Sanghyun?”
“On the other hand, he seems to have figured out quite a bit. He’s such a thoughtful colleague.”
Kain smiled slightly at the mention of “thoughtful colleague.”
“True. Sanghyun really is a considerate colleague.”
When Kain and I call Kim Sanghyun a considerate colleague, it’s not just because he’s easy to see.
Seungyub is a special case where observation is difficult; Eunsol and Songee had no issues with observation itself.
“Sanghyun has been regularly explaining what he’s figured out to us. At first, the whole situation was a bit funny, right? It felt like he was suddenly talking to the ceiling.”
“It seems that for him, thinking we’re there makes him feel more at ease.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
At first, I was worried he was too aware of us.
Being aware of the outside colleagues means he constantly reminded himself that he was a participant in the hotel.
This could hinder his ability to recreate his initial life, right?
Fortunately, Kim Sanghyun started to recover his memories without much difficulty.
“I found three pictures. One is a photo taken in front of a space shuttle.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about that.”
From the first photo, Kim Sanghyun realized that he had trained the administration bureau agents in space flight in the past and had ventured into space together with them.
“The second is a photo taken during the trip to space.”
From the second photo, Kim Sanghyun learned that the prisoner the bureau was trying to meet was the ‘Son of Dawn’ and that he was a great person dedicated to humanity.
“It seems the bureau wished to find a god for humanity at that point in time.”
“A god for humanity…”
I spoke a bit sharply.
“That’s a grandiose idea.”
“…”
“But yes, it’s true that there was a faction in the bureau that became obsessed with such thoughts. The 302 room’s bureau seemed to want to accept the Son of Dawn as an ally or protector.”
“Son of Dawn… that sounds like the prisoner’s name. What reason did the bureau have to trust him?”
“It seems in several loops, the Son of Dawn helped humanity.”
“Hmm… what about the third photo?”
“I’m trying to find that memory now. You go take a look.”
— Creak!
At that moment, Eunsol, who had been listening to our conversation at the table, spoke up.
“Ahri, I have a slightly out-of-the-blue question…”
“Sometimes the essence comes out from a random story. Go ahead.”
“During Seungyub and Sanghyun’s time, the bureau’s top brass was called the ‘Pioneers,’ right?”
“Yeah. Sanghyun met Cromwell, who referred to himself as a Pioneer.”
“It was also called Pioneers during my and Songee’s time, right?”
“… That’s true.”
“Could it be that the same organization established the civilization? Hmm, the same Ark?”
“It could be or not.”
“Your top brass were called the ‘Silent Ones,’ right?”
“That’s right.”
“What could those words mean?”
“…”
“Hmmm, am I focusing too much on niche details? It feels like a meaningless thought. Sorry.”
Eunsol immediately shook her head, dismissing her thoughts as unimportant.
However, I didn’t see her words as pointless.
Words have meaning.
They’re not just random names that drunk people thought of; if the name of the head of an organization that controls the world lacks meaning, that would be weirder.
Pioneer, Silent Ones.
Both are words that carry significance.
What did they realize first to be called pioneers?
What are they remaining silent about to be considered the Silent Ones?
I don’t know.
It was a question even I, a former Silent One, found difficult to answer.
At that moment, Mooksung, sitting at the back table, spoke up.
“Ah! I hear that Seungyub is the problem, huh?”
“Indeed. I have no idea what he’s doing.”
“Hey! Did you guys realize that the two who entered Room 302 are quite contrasting?”
Mooksung pointed out the differences between Park Seungyub and Kim Sanghyun.
“For example, the doctor’s observations are almost laughable. He’s so considerate.”
“Seungyub’s observation is nearly impossible.”
The ease of observation.
“In terms of abilities… uh, I’m saying this because Seungyub isn’t here but-”
“I know what you’re saying. Kim Sanghyun is an absurdly competent person. He studies well, excels in sports, and has been in special forces and is a doctor, even an astronaut.”
“His interpersonal skills are amazing too. After training a few agents for months, he quickly earned everyone’s trust. Why do you think every agent unanimously recommended him when it came to changing one person?”
“It tells us that Kim Sanghyun was very exceptional in the eyes of the 302 Room’s bureau agents.”
“On the other hand, before entering the hotel, Seungyub was—”
“That’s enough.”
The stark difference in abilities.
A dazed Songee, who seemed to be dozing off, suddenly opened her eyes.
“Ahri, something struck me while I was listening.”
“What is it?”
“Isn’t there a huge difference in the colleagues we met at the hotel?”
“The differences among colleagues…”
“Seungyub met an angel-like colleague, right? Isn’t that so?”
If we’re talking about the colleague Seungyub met, it’s definitely us.
Songee calling herself an angel made me chuckle, but honestly, it’s not entirely false.
We probably showed at least angel-like traits to colleagues like us, right?
“In contrast, the doctor met… the worst colleague.”
“You’re not saying my mother is the worst colleague, are you?”
“… I thought you were rapping just now.”
Going through one by one, it was surprisingly fascinating how many contrasting points there were between Seungyub and Sanghyun.
At that moment, Kain, who was watching our conversation through the telescope — she’s the only one among us who could observe the cursed room while listening to our discussion — muttered.
“There might be one more.”
“One more?”
“… Roles in 302 Room?”
“Roles?”
“From what we’ve learned so far, Sanghyun hyung is at the starting point of every incident that has occurred in Room 302.”
The space voyage that involved drawing in the prisoner.
He was not only part of the space voyage but also the one who trained the others.
At the start of Room 302’s narrative is Kim Sanghyun.
“That makes sense. Then what about Seungyub?”
“…”
The opposite of a beginning is an end.
If Kim Sanghyun is at the start, does that mean Park Seungyub is at the end?
*
– Kim Sanghyun
After obtaining three photos related to my past memories, I recovered quite a few of my memories.
However, the secret behind the third photo, which surely holds the most important memory, isn’t easily unraveling.
I feel like I need to do something more.
The answer will always lie in my first life before coming to the hotel.
What kind of person was I before coming to the hotel?
How would the past Kim Sanghyun have responded to the current situation?
…
The past me wouldn’t have seen the first wish as a welcome.
However, there’s a note I hid back home.
Thanks to that, I would have figured out that my memories periodically disappeared, as well as found the camera and photos.
I can naturally deduce this far.
My forgotten past is tied to the administration bureau.
I might be a former agent or employee of the administration bureau.
Furthermore, my character in the past is quite different from now.
I was impulsive, straightforward, and bold.
I was the type of person who had to do what I wanted to feel satisfied.
Everything is big in TEXAS.
Texas men are characterized by their large spirit.
Summarizing this leads to one line.
The past me would have immediately contacted the bureau.
Just like now.
*
“Grrk! Grrk! Wh-what is this—”
It didn’t take long to find and subdue the man lurking around me.
Despite appearances, I’ve done this type of work like a job.
Maybe if it was a bunch of agents or soldiers, it would take longer, but a mere employee of the administration bureau can’t escape my grip.
“Grrk! My m-my neck, it hurts so much! Please—”
“…”
As I relaxed my grip, the administration bureau employee collapsed and began catching his breath.
“Heh… Heh… What the heck are you doing? Do you know who I am—”
“You’re an employee of the administration bureau. Josh Steven, right?”
“…”
“Need me to say more? You or your colleagues have been tailing me for the past few days. There’s probably a listening device at my house, and a tracking device in your car.”
“…”
“You probably haven’t been too tense. I’ve been unable to search for my memories for nearly ten years. You guys must have seen it as just routine work keeping an eye on me.”
“That’s—”
“But suddenly, the target being monitored began wandering around near the Houston Space Center. It seemed like I might have recovered my past memories, causing an emergency alert, right?”
At this point, he muttered in a daze.
“… So you didn’t go to the space center to recover your memories. You must have already found them and gone to the space center to pull us out— Grrk!”
Once again, I grabbed him by the collar.
“Seems you understand the situation; now I’ll convey my demands. Report to your superiors.”
“Grrk! What are you talking about—”
“I want to ask you not to erase my memories. And I need to know what the hell is going on in this world.”
“Tha-that’s beyond my authority.”
“Did you not hear me say to report to your superiors? You must have a cellphone.”
“But—”
I applied a bit of pressure to his neck.
Thanks to enduring long periods in Room 203, I’ve developed skills in various martial arts and bodily techniques; my physical strength now surpasses that of an average human.
“Grrk!”
Some might question why I’d treat an administration bureau employee so roughly.
They might wonder what I’d do if a soldier nearby shot me.
Knowing that there’s no way that would happen, I act decisively.
According to my past memories, many agents of the bureau were favorably inclined towards me.
In fact, one of them — Asteire — was even a strong candidate as a Pioneer.
That’s why the bureau might erase my memories to manage them, but they’ve not killed me.
And now, they won’t kill me just because I choked an ordinary staff member.
So I tightened my grip on the staff member’s throat even more.
“Can you hear me?”
“Grrk! Grrk! Uh—!”
At that very moment.
— Crackle!
A voice began leaking from Steven’s body.
— Johnny, that’s enough.
“…”
— Steven is a diligent employee, and he has two kids. Show him some mercy.
As I naturally lowered my hand, the employee began staring blankly at his clothes.
He seemed to realize there was a surveillance camera on his clothing.
“Did you hear my requests?”
— Riaka, number 249, 49. Get there before sunset.
*
When I arrived at the promised location, I realized that a being from my past memories had jumped into reality.
A high-ranking agent on the brink of becoming a Pioneer.
A colleague I had traveled to space with.
And…
Astear, who worships the Son of Dawn, had appeared.
“It’s been a long time.”
With skin so pale it was eerie, he wore a gentle smile.
Astear said with a radiant grin, “Johnny, you’ve almost regained your memories, haven’t you? You recognized me right away?”
I thought I had managed my expression well enough, but as a seasoned high-ranking agent, he was hard to mislead.
“…”
Many questions sprang to mind.
So many that I was confused about what to ask first.
Sensing my confusion, Astear calmly said, “I’m sure you have plenty of questions. You’re probably curious about why we erased your memories in the first place.”
“…”
“Shall we start with an old story?”
The beginning was somewhat unexpected.
“There’s a secret rumor passed down in the administration bureau. If you trace it back countless times to the beginning and end, there truly lies a magnificent history.”
“…”
“Our ancestors were builders of a civilization that far surpassed anything we can compare to today. Hard to believe, right?”
It’s hard to agree with Astear’s statement about disbelief.
I’ve not only believed, but I also know the extraordinary history is indeed true.
What Astear refers to as the secret rumors of the administration bureau are likely about the first civilization.
“They say there have been two great downfalls.”
“Two downfalls?”
“They say the one who caused the second downfall was a genius and a madman. A genius, yes, but considered insane.”
“…”
The genius and madman behind the second downfall.
“He was the creator of the lunacy of the moon. Because of him, everyone’s fate has been locked in eternal darkness. If given the chance, I genuinely want to meet that person and really ask him. Why did you do this to us?”
For a moment, I was startled into silence.
Personally, I hoped it wouldn’t be Kain who watched.
“The second downfall is said to have reduced humanity’s capabilities from 10 to 1.”
10 to 1.
It seems to refer to civilizations before and after Aleph.
“The first downfall reduced it from 100 to 10.”
100 to 10.
It likely refers to the difference between the first civilization and the civilization before Aleph.
“We sought to gain insight into the second answer from the first’s cause.”
“What?”
Gaining insight from the first’s cause to obtain the second’s answer?
As I was about to demand a detailed explanation in confusion—
Astear suddenly clasped his hands together in a polite manner.
“… Bow down to the Son of Dawn. He is one who fell from the heavens, and some consider him a member of those preventing enlightenment.”
