User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 99
Current Location: Floor 1, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 3
The chaotic cooking competition had ended.
Naturally, everyone’s attention shifted to the rewards: the glass bottle Ahri received and the hat Noona got.
The glass bottle had tiny writing on it,
Freshness Thermos: Use to store ingredients where freshness is crucial!
It was a container that preserved the freshness of its contents, preventing spoilage.
Songee tilted her head curiously and asked, “What kind of tool is this for? Storing drinks? Is there a Cursed Room where it’s hard to find water? Should we pack supplies for that?”
That didn’t seem to be the case.
“It’s too small for storing supplies. It’s the size of a regular thermos. Even if we put high-calorie food in it, it wouldn’t be enough for even one meal for our group.”
Others came up with a few ideas as well.
Jinchul-hyung suggested that there might be a scenario in one of the Cursed Rooms where we needed to store a specific liquid.
It was plausible but unlikely that a tool meant for a single room would come from a special hotel event.
Since we were entering a Cursed Room the next day, I felt the need to quickly understand how to use the tool, so I used Advice.
Advice: 3 → 2
Ingredients are typically living organisms. Humans are living organisms.
Upon hearing this, Ahri’s eyes widened with realization.
“It seems that the meanings of ‘freshness’ and ‘ingredients’ are broader than we thought.”
“What?”
“It’s not just about preventing bacterial growth in food. It also seems to prevent the magical properties in a liquid from dissipating! The advice sounds like it’s telling me to store my blood in it.”
Everyone quickly understood Ahri’s sudden idea.
“Are you seriously planning on putting your blood in the bottle?”
“My blood usually starts to lose its properties as soon as it leaves my body. But maybe it’ll be different if it’s in this bottle.”
With that, Ahri pulled out a syringe and started filling the bottle with her blood.
Of course, only a Hotel tool would have such a gruesome use, even if it was meant for storing ingredients.
Watching this, Jinchul-hyung smirked.
“So, we can use the bottle to store Ahri’s blood and use it like a potion?”
The experiment showed that this wasn’t exactly the case.
As with most Hotel tools, they only displayed their supernatural features when used by their designated owner, and the glass bottle was no exception.
While the bottle preserved Ahri’s blood and maintained the power of the Ancient Blood as long as it was in her possession, it rapidly turned into regular blood once someone else held the bottle.
At this point, we understood the purpose of the bottle.
It provided Ahri with an additional 500 mL of her blood, which she could only use.
Ancient Blood consumed actual blood when using its powers.
The amount of blood available directly influenced the potency of the Ancient Blood.
This was the reason why Ahri could use overwhelmingly powerful abilities after being beheaded in “The Cube” or after her self-sacrifice in “Hotel High Re”.
In those unavoidable situations, she used all the blood in her body, allowing for that level of power.
Considering that, this bottle was quite useful for Ahri.
Unlike the straightforward conclusion about the glass bottle, the hat was trickier.
“There’s no manual for the hat?”
“We know one of its effects.”
Everyone knew one feature of the chef’s hat that Noona received.
While wearing it, she couldn’t speak insincerely and would bluntly express her true feelings, often in a rather harsh manner.
“…”
Noona, unable to hold back her frustration, exploded, “Hey! What the fuck? Does this hat just turn me into a foul-mouth lady? What am I supposed to do with it? This piece of sh—”
“N-Noona, maybe take the hat off first?”
“…Sorry, everyone. This hat just makes me feel like swearing. What on earth is it meant for?”
When worn, the hat forced the wearer to speak only the truth and added insults.
This effect was quite useful against enemies. The swearing was ridiculous, but it could catch opponents off-guard, and the compulsion to tell only the truth was advantageous in situations like interrogations.
The problem was that, like other Hotel tools, the hat had no effect when used by anyone other than its owner.
When any of us wore it, it turned into a normal white hat.
By this point, Noona started muttering curses even when not wearing the hat.
Fortunately, today was a rest day, and with the cooking competition done by lunchtime, we had plenty of time to spare and nothing to do. I also used up my last two pieces of advice.
By the evening, we had finally figured out the nature of this peculiar hat.
“It’s an interesting hat. I’m sure it’ll come in handy.”
Eunsol-noona no longer complained about the hat.
The boy who had been missing since lunch finally “escaped” from Room 105.
“I’m alive! I really made it out alive!”
“Seungyub? Did you really eat all that chicken? I thought it was impossible.”
Instead of answering, Seungyub hugged Perro and showered him with kisses.
The parrot, clearly annoyed, pecked him with its beak before flying away.
“Perro helped me eat it!”
Thankfully, we avoided a situation where Seungyub would be trapped in Room 105 until just before we entered the Cursed Room.
Late at night, we decided to head into Room 202 the next day.
***
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 100
Current Location: Floor 2, Corridor
Sage’s Advice: 3
“Um… This might not be the time to say it, but according to the Status Window, today marks day 100 since we first arrived at the Hotel”
The tension was palpable as all of us stood in front of the Cursed Room.
Ahri responded, “Doesn’t it feel meaningless? We’ve all spent different amounts of time in various rooms. Your Status Window doesn’t even count the days when you die in a room.”
“True. I was just saying.”
Elena asked worriedly, “Who will be sealed this time? Kain again?”
“Maybe. There’s no rule saying the same person can’t be sealed twice.”
Grandpa looked thoughtful.
“I don’t know. I feel like it’ll be someone else this time. Just a hunch.”
After understanding the hat’s power yesterday, Noona seemed in high spirits and spoke cheerfully, “Alright! Let’s go in. Did everyone bring what they needed? Ready in your minds?”
Dragging out time didn’t help anyone.
The Hotel was known for hosting strange events if it sensed idleness.
The door to Room 202 opened.
***
A surge of anger welled up from deep within me.
The boundless malice of those barbaric beings walking on two legs above the sea!
Our ancestors once extended their grace toward them, but that kindness was repaid with bloody tears from those ungrateful beasts.
The countless memories of suffering that my people endured slammed into my mind relentlessly.
“”…””
My head throbbed.
These memories were not mine, and the overwhelming, eternal grudge bore into my mind, impossible for a human heart to handle.
You have been sealed! The skill, “Calmness and Tranquility”, is not functioning. Await assistance from your allies.
The consciousness of “Elena Ivanova” sank deep within.
Just before losing awareness, I offered my best encouragement to everyone.
“Good luck, everyone!”
***
User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 100
Current Location: Floor 2, Room 202 – Cursed Room ‘The Little Mermaid’
Sage’s Advice: 3
“Chief, did you read the materials sent by Cheongseong Group?”
“I read them, but what on earth are they trying to say?”
“It seems their public stance and actual position differ somewhat.”
“Isn’t that why we’re going to see that chairman face-to-face? Oh, that man—”
“Chief, please be cautious at Cheongseong Group. Despite everything, the chairman’s son died tragically.”
A notification echoed in my mind, pulling me back to awareness.
The sheer amount of information made everyone silent for a moment.
“…”
“J-Jinchul! Pull over for a moment!”
After stopping the car, we began assessing the situation.
“Everyone’s here except one. Elena’s been sealed.”
“What does it mean? They said the essential person for solving the room would be sealed.”
“Maybe it means we need the power of Justice against the Adversary? Let’s each take a moment to process this.”
I glanced around. All of us, except Elena, were in a luxurious limousine.
We were dressed in elegant uniforms adorned with a badge that practically announced itself to the world.
Calamity Administration Bureau
The high-profile uniforms and the attention-grabbing limousine suggested two things.
First, we were members of the Administration.
Second, in this scenario, the Administration was operating far more publicly.
Information began to click into place.
Given his age and actual status as an Administration agent, Grandpa had the title of “Chief” and was leading us.
We were tasked with “uncovering the truth” and dispatched to Cheongseong Group.
Reports indicated that sea-dwelling merfolk on the “Sea God’s Island” off the coast of Busan had killed several of Cheongseong Group’s high-ranking members, including the chairman’s eldest son.
The merfolk denied these allegations vehemently.
Our job was to uncover the truth and resolve the situation.
“What is going on here?”
As we started to piece together the scenario, everyone’s mouths fell open! What kind of story was this?
Though the background was clearly South Korea, the situation was beyond understanding, leaving us speechless.
Grandpa suddenly took out his phone.
“Hello! Yes, it’s Chief Kim. Is the chairman doing well? Just calling to say we might be about an hour late. Please let him know.”
All eyes turned to Grandpa. He signaled to Ahri.
“Should I do it?”
“I’m not great at talking.”
“Alright. It seems we need to explain the ‘background’ of the scenario. That’s why Mooksung is buying us some time.”
Fortunately, two of our group seemed to grasp the situation.
“Have any of you heard about the Administration’s ‘factions’?”
***
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