Escaping the Mystery Hotel

Chapter 166: Room 201, The Cursed Room - The Cube (15)

- Han Kain

“…There’s something I haven’t told you all yet.”

“What is it?”

“You know how I mentioned that when I stepped out of the lab, the Administration’s army was outside?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I didn’t immediately escape after I stepped outside. I actually witnessed the fight between the Administration’s army and Beatrix.”

“What?!”

Everyone looked at Eunsol-noona in shock.

“Exactly. When I first saw the Administration’s army, I thought, ‘If I just hide somewhere and survive, maybe the Administration will kill Beatrix, and everything will be resolved, right?’”

“That makes sense. We don’t necessarily have to kill the Adversary ourselves. After all, in Room 103, it was ‘The Devouring One’ who killed the Anathasia.”

“So, I used my badge to hide as soon as I got out. The Administration recognized me and didn’t attack.”

Grandpa impatiently asked, “Oh, for crying out loud, who won?”

“If the Administration had won, I’d have brought back an Inheritance, wouldn’t I?”

“…”

“At first, it looked like the Administration had the upper hand, they even managed to destroy Beatrix’s body with their firepower. But then she just regenerated her body as if nothing had happened, let out a singular roar, and then an army of monsters crawled out from underground.”

We were all speechless.

“The Administration put up a good fight, though. They managed to kill almost all of those monsters. That’s how I was able to escape. But in the end, the tide turned in Beatrix’s favor, so I ran away without looking back.”

Barely holding onto my composure, I said, “So, Beatrix’s successful creations weren’t just in the Cube.”

“I think the ones left in the Cube were the weaker ones. The real threats were underground.”

“…Do you really think everything will be resolved if my seal is broken?”

Noona calmly sipped her coffee before replying in a surprisingly relaxed tone, “Actually, seeing that scene made me certain.”

“Certain about what?”

“Room 201 wasn’t designed with beating Beatrix through brute force in mind.”

“Not designed to be beaten by force…”

“She’s too strong to be beaten by sheer power. I mean, even an organization that protects the Earth couldn’t defeat her after bringing an entire army, right? I’m sorry to say this, but the Beatrix you all struggled against in the second attempt… was just playing with you.”

Noona paused for a moment, but Elena answered, “She was just toying with us. Her true power lies in creating monsters, and she didn’t even bother using her most successful ones buried under the headquarters.”

“Exactly. She was just playing with us. Beatrix never truly felt threatened by us. And because she’s that strong, it’s clear now—Room 201 wasn’t designed to be beaten by brute force. The Hotel doesn’t give impossible missions. If it can’t be done by force, there must be a way to win without fighting—there was to be.”

I thought back to the Nebula Dragon’s Child in Room 102 – The Mansion of Fear. It was an unbeatable opponent in a normal scenario.

The scenario had become so twisted that we had no choice but to use the cheat code of “Descent” to break through, but normally, fighting that being wasn’t even an option.

Beatrix was similar. If even the Administration’s army couldn’t defeat her, she was essentially an invincible foe for us right now.

“Now that I think about it, the Owl’s repeated Advice of ‘Seeing the finger, but not the moon.’ might have meant something like that. This room wasn’t designed to fight Beatrix, so why are we fixated on trying to defeat her by force? It all makes sense now, but if that’s the case, what should we do?”

Noona calmly pointed at me.

“Am I really the solution? Are you thinking it can be easily handled with possession?”

“That might be possible, but I don’t think that’s the solution. That’s also a somewhat ‘forceful’ approach, and I don’t think that’s the right answer. Kain, can you possess her main body just by seeing a clone in front of you?”

That seems unlikely. It’s like asking if you can possess someone on TV just by watching them. That’s impossible.

“I think I can only possess the Beatrix clone or the monsters in front of me.”

“Exactly. So, your possession isn’t the answer. There are too many monsters. Possessing one won’t make a difference. If Beatrix just commands the monster army to destroy your body, she’ll win.”

Ahri, who was sipping her drink beside us, spoke up, “I get what Eunsol is saying. There’s no way to beat Beatrix with force, so we need to find another solution.”

Grandpa seemed to understand why Eunsol-noona was so confident.

“The one who raised Beatrix to this level was the Chief Researcher. If he wasn’t a complete idiot, he would have prepared some means of controlling her. Of course, it wasn’t perfect, so he suffered in the end, but there must be something.”

Listening to them, it became clear that Noona’s belief that just breaking my seal would solve things had some basis.

Beatrix can’t be defeated by force, and the Hotel doesn’t give impossible missions.

To put it in gaming terms, it’s like encountering a boss with 99,999 health points and an invincibility cheat!

At first, we didn’t know any better and attempted to fight it head-on. But once we understood her power, it was clear that she wasn’t meant to be defeated by fighting.

There has to be a way to neutralize her without fighting.

The one most likely to have prepared such a method was the Chief Researcher.

After all, he wouldn’t have conducted experiments on a girl who created monsters as easily as breathing without preparing a method to control her.

“Were there any clues about that method in Patrick’s room?”

Noona sighed lightly.

“If I’d found it, I would have mentioned it first. But there is something…”

“What is it?”

“There was a sort of diary that mentioned how Beatrix feared the Chief Researcher.”

I understood. If a monster as powerful as Beatrix was afraid of something, there must have been a good reason.

Perhaps because it was getting late, Songee tiredly chimed in, “At this point, I think we’ve said everything we can among ourselves. Shouldn’t we use Kain-oppa’s Advice?”

I agree.

We’ve discussed everything we can, and it’s getting late.

It’s time to consult Sage’s Advice.

Does the Chief Researcher have a way to control Beatrix?

Even though it seemed likely, it was worth confirming with advice.

Advice: 3 → 2

A dog owner never keeps the leash far away.

Since it was a question regarding a topic we had already gathered a lot of information on, the response seemed to be surprisingly helpful!

Not only does a method exist, but it’s also near the dog owner, meaning the Chief Researcher.

When I relayed the answer to the others, their faces brightened.

Elena curiously asked, “The answer was pretty kind this time. No cryptic phrases?”

I now understand why.

“It’s because we had already gathered enough information and asked to confirm the answer. It’s only unkind when we ask something while we have a lack of information.”

“It’s both understandable and frustrating, isn’t it? We ask because we don’t know, and when we don’t know, the answer is unkind.”

“True.”

One of my wishes before leaving this Hotel is to punch that Owl at least once.

Eunsol-noona spoke with a pleased expression, “See? I told you. The situation clearly suggests that Kain’s seal is closely linked to the solution. While we can’t win by force, there’s a way to win without fighting, and who else but the Chief Researcher would have prepared a method for that?”

With everyone’s speculation and the Advice leading in the same direction, I started to feel more at ease.

The two remaining Advice were used for essential questions to solve the room.

***The contents of the answers were somewhat expected, but they were surprising in other ways.

We discovered where Beatrix’s true body was located.

I also realized why it had to be “me” who was sealed rather than anyone else.

Room 201 - The Cube.

With the information we have now, I’m confident we can solve this within an hour after I wake up.

***

User: Han Kain (Wisdom)

Date: Day 85

Current Location: Floor 1, Elevator

Sage’s Advice: 3

- Han Kain

“Do you think we can solve it today?”

“I hope so.”

Perhaps because we had figured out a solution during yesterday’s long discussion, I sensed a mix of tension and anticipation among my comrades.

“It’s morning, so the Advice count has refreshed. Any burning questions?”

Noona answered firmly, “There are a lot. So, let’s save them.”

To be honest, I was going to save them anyway. I only asked out of courtesy.

The plan we devised was mainly focused on “unsealing Han Kain”, and we’ve gathered almost all the information needed for that.

What remains unknown is what to do after I wake up.

What needs to be done once Chief Researcher Han Kain is freed remains largely unknown.

That’s something future me will have to figure out based on the Chief Researcher’s memories.

So, it’s better to leave the remaining Advice for future me to use.

- Ding! Dong!

As the elevator alarm sounded, an intense chill rushed in.

This freezing cold is really a problem!

I’m speculating that after Room 201 is resolved and Party Time begins, there might be a “Hotel Repair Event”, but how will that play out?

I have no idea.

What kind of idiotic hotel makes its customers do the repairs?

“Everyone, let’s do our best!”

As soon as Jinchul-hyung reached the door and shouted, “Let’s go!” while opening it, I was pulled inside.

***

******

*********Bubbles rose all around me.

The now-familiar test tube.

The people busily moving outside.

Before long, my consciousness began to fade.

*********

******

***- Shatter!

The seal has been lifted!

Now, it’s time for the main character to take the stage!

***- Third Attempt, Kim Ahri

“Team Leader Elizabeth, we’ve arrived at Hestbert Mansion.”

“Hmm. Are you telling me that this place has already claimed three-digit casualties?”

“At the current rate, it’ll reach four digits by next year.”

“That’s why we’re here—to prevent that. Let’s head in.”

- Clunk!

“What was that sound?”

“Team Leader Elizabeth! The door is locked!”

“What are you talking about? Contact headquarters!”

“What is this? The signal’s gone!”

- Bzzzzz!

The beginning was no different from before.

The only difference is that I no longer had any intention of playing along with Elizabeth.

It’s better to deal with her in advance before she can cause any trouble.

“Hey, Team Leader.”

“Cha Jinchul? Do you have a problem with me—“

- Crack!

“It’s time for the extras to exit.”

Cha Jinchul immediately twisted Elizabeth’s neck 360 degrees and observed for a moment to make sure she wasn’t going to turn into a monster.

Fortunately, she didn’t transform once she was killed.

Of course, Oliver made a loud fuss, but Mooksung just beat him up to keep him from following.

Sorry, but it’s better if this guy just stays put.

Eunsol approached.

“Let’s just follow the first route we took. Didn’t we find the TV room quickly last time?”

“Yeah. First, the basement in the first mansion, and the front entrance in the second mansion. That led us straight to the TV room.”

Before long, we all arrived in the TV room.

As soon as the pledge began, I muted the sound and the path to the headquarters opened.

It didn’t even take ten minutes to get here.

Cha Jinchul exclaimed in amazement, “This time it went smooth and fast!”

“Don’t relax just yet. The real action starts once we enter the headquarters. There’s quite a few special forces units on the other side of the TV.”

Once those words left Mooksung’s mouth, tension filled the air as we stood before the TV.

Now it’s starting for real!

We’ll unseal Kain, find a way to neutralize Beatrix through the Chief Researcher’s memories, and finally put an end to this wretched Cube!

Everyone’s eyes were on me.

Ah, I know, but there’s only one safe way to enter the headquarters.

With a deep sigh, I had to pull out the syringe.

“For goodness’ sake… everyone should at least pay me. I’ve inherited the power of a vampire, yet I’m the one whose blood is getting sucked?”