Escaping the Mystery Hotel

Chapter 178: Party Time – Exploring the Second Floor (5)

- Whooosh! Thunk!

“Ugh, the hell is this?”

An ice shard the size of a finger struck my face, propelled by a blizzard that felt more like a storm.

Are we even still on Earth?

It’s almost impossible to take even a single step in this weather with a human body.

Lee Eunsol: What?

Cha Jinchul: Talking to myself.

Kim Mooksung Hurry up, I’m dying over here.

…Normally, I’d joke about how the old man was exaggerating again, but not this time.

In this kind of environment, he really could freeze to death if we stay here too long.

At least Perro, despite his grumbling, was able to move around without too much trouble.

The situation on the 2nd floor had worsened.

If the weather during our daily trips to Room 201 was akin to a midwinter in the Northern Hemisphere, now it felt like we were in the Arctic or Antarctic.

Considering how cold I felt despite having Courage, this cold might be beyond Earth’s winter at this point.

The sheer force behind every gust of wind made every step a struggle.

Ironically, Noona, who was weighed down by the Protective Suit, was walking more easily than I was.

It felt like I was blind.

The blizzard was so intense that anything beyond 5 meters was just a white blur, making it impossible to see any landmarks.

Noona was the only one who could see and guide us through this white hell.

Lee Eunsol: This way.

Following her signal, I moved forward until I saw a massive block of ice blocking our path.

“Hi-ya! Take this!”

Perro pecked at the ice block with his beak, breaking it into pieces, and I moved the shards out of the way.

Even though we were working quickly, the snow immediately started piling up again.

We’ll probably have to clear it all over again on our next trip.

Cha Jinchul: See anything?

Lee Eunsol: Nothing much.

Another dead end, it seems.

Still, it was fortunate that at least one person could see where we were going while exploring.

Kim Mooksung I’m freezing to death.

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Cha Jinchul: Hang in there a little longer.

Lee Eunsol: We’ll just check one more place, Grandpa.

Just one more place?

Noona must have spotted something worth investigating.

Sure enough, she gestured for me to follow her, and without changing direction, she quickly led the way.

Lee Eunsol: Here.

As we pushed through the snow, a space that could be called a “room” came into view.

Unfortunately, due to the unfinished construction on the 2nd floor, it lacked proper doors or walls and was instead blocked by ice. However, it was definitely a room-like structure.

Cha Jinchul: Will this be a Cursed Room when it’s completed?

Lee Eunsol: No idea.

After struggling for a while, I realized it was impossible to move the whole thing.

We’d have to break it into pieces and carry it out.

“Perro, come over here and peck at it with your beak.”

“…”

“Come on! I know you can hear me!”

Unlike Noona, this bird had excellent hearing. His only issue would be that he always tried to slack off whenever Songee wasn’t around.

Still, he dutifully followed us, which was admirable in its own way I guess.

With a look of pure annoyance—yes, I could read this bird’s expression now—Perro approached.

- Thud! Thud!

Perro pecked at the ice again while I cleared away the broken pieces.

As the path opened, something opaque appeared on the floor inside the room.

“What is this?”

Lee Eunsol: Can’t hear you.

Cha Jinchul: What’s that on the floor?

Noona tilted her head at my question, then stepped into the room and approached the opaque floor—

“Ugh! What the hell is that doing here?”

I panicked and rushed over to grab her by the Protective Suit and yanked her back!

“Ack! Is that… an ice pit?”

“Yes. Be careful. With that heavy Protective Suit, it’ll be tough to pull you out if you fall in.”

“Why is there a pit here? Is it a trap?”

“Just watch your step—wait, I can hear you clearly now?”

We hadn’t been able to hear each other’s voices at all up until now, so what changed?

“The noise coming from the blizzard has stopped.”

“…This must be a special space.”

Something inexplicable had happened.

Outside the room, the blizzard raged as if it were being engulfed in an ice age, but inside, the sound of the storm was almost non-existent.

For the first time since we arrived on the 2nd floor, we found a “quiet place”.

“What do you think this place is?”

“No idea… But next time, we should bring Grandpa here and continue our search. It’s much warmer here.”

“Let’s do that. But what’s this thing?”

At first, I thought it was another block of ice.

But then I realized the room’s temperature wasn’t cold enough for such a large ice formation, and upon closer inspection, it became clear it was something else entirely.

It was a massive door.

“…”

“…Doesn’t it look like it’s inviting us to open it?”

“Isn’t it a bit too suspicious?”

“Still, if it’s a door, we should at least try to open it…”

As I reached out to grab the handle, a notification appeared.

Do you wish to open the door to the Frozen Hell? Opening the door will immediately end Party Time.

I instantly let go of the handle.

When I looked back at Noona, she was also wide-eyed with excitement.

It seemed we both received the same notification.

After spending half a day exploring the frozen 2nd floor, we had finally found something.

***- Cha Jinchul

As soon as we returned to the 1st floor, our comrades warmly greeted us.

“Great job!”

“You did well, Hyung!”

“Yeah, yeah, step aside, everyone.”

We immediately brought Grandpa to the tea table.

Fortunately, this time, there was a warm drink waiting for us.

While Grandpa sipped his hot tea, warming his blue lips, Noona and I began discussing what we had discovered.

“Did you find anything, Oppa?”

“Yeah. We found something. It was to the right of the entrance and then you follow a straight path after that, I think?”

“It’s more diagonal than straight. Don’t worry, I know the location.”

“Anyway, if you go along that path, you’ll come across a strange thing called the ‘Door to the Frozen Hell’. When I grabbed the handle, a notification said opening it would immediately end Party Time. Naturally, I let go and came back.”

“The name ‘Frozen Hell’ sounds terrifying.”

“What do you think is beyond it?”

Everyone fell silent.

The name itself, “Door to the Frozen Hell”, was ominous enough.

Who knows what sorts of horrors await us beyond that door?

As Grandpa warmed up, he finally spoke, “The situation is clear. It seems we have something to do beyond that door. But there’s no need to end Party Time early. We should prepare as best we can. Kain, it’s best if you use your Advice tomorrow. But this… this ‘hell’”

“Does something about the term stand out to you?”

“You all know the story. Kain, you’ve probably heard about it from the ‘Nebula Dragon’, and the Administration is aware of it as well.”

“Just get to the point, please.”

“Ah, this brat is as impatient as ever. Hey, do you remember the ‘Buddha’? We’ve all heard about it, haven’t we?”

…An old, forgotten term suddenly hit everyone like a hammer.

An unknown entity, “Buddha”.

Even the “Nebula Dragon”, the Convict of Room 102, had spoken of this mysterious transcendent being with utmost reverence and caution.

“When you think of the Buddha, you think of Buddhism, and Buddhism is a religion famous for its depiction of hell.”

“Famous for hell… That’s a strange way to put it.”

“Eunsol, just try to understand. Anyway, with the Buddha possibly in this Hotel, hearing the term ‘hell’ doesn’t seem like a coincidence. I doubt it’ll be a term they’d use lightly.”

“Then why do you think they used it?”

“How would I know? Maybe it’s a place where sinners are judged?”

Another silence fell over the group.

“Cough, cough!”

“Ah, Grandpa, maybe you should rest in your room.”

“I’m fine. It’s nothing—”

“Come on, old man. Don’t be stubborn; just lie down. We should all take a break too.”

Thus, Day 1 of Party Time came to an end.

And the very next morning after that, Elena woke up.

***- Han Kain

User: Han Kain (Wisdom)

Date: Day 90

Current Location: Floor 1, Room 105 – Room of Rest

Sage’s Advice: 3

On the morning of Party Time Day 2, as soon as I arrived at Room 105 for breakfast, I spotted Elena. She was sitting alone at the table but immediately ran towards me.

- Thud, thud!

Her golden hair rippled like waves, and her eyes, filled with the vitality of a green meadow, stared directly into mine, making me rooted to the spot.

“… Elena?”

“…”

“Is there something you want to say?”

Elena kept staring at me intently and then muttered, “Is it? Or is it not? I’m not sure…”

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry, I was just confirming something the Patron told me.”

“What did they say?”

Elena smiled slightly before answering, “Oh, she told me to consult you about the ability I just got, ‘Ominous Imagination’.”

“Aha! I was planning to have a chat about it anyway. As expected, your Patron knows everything.”

I relayed to her the information we had discussed last night, during the meeting where Elena wasn’t present, regarding how to handle ‘Ominous Imagination.’

“…Do you understand the gist of it? In summary: first, don’t be afraid of your power. Be confident. If you can transfer your consciousness to the creatures you create, even better. Gaining strength is a good way to build confidence. Second, instead of trying to hold back your power, focus it all on creating one extremely powerful creature, and then try to communicate with it.”

“Hmm… I think I understand why my Patron told me to consult with you. That bucket analogy really clicked. It clearly explains why it’s so hard to control Ominous Imagination.”

“Really?”

“It is spot on. I’ve been trying so hard not to spill a single drop of the overflowing power inside me, but some drops inevitably splatter, creating these strange creatures.”

“It’s probably something the Chief Researcher discovered during his research.”

“Transferring my consciousness to a creature… I honestly don’t understand that part. I’m not really interested in trying it either.”

“I see…”

“But the second method really resonates with me.”

“Oh! As long as one method works, that’s great.”

“Pouring all of Ominous Imagination’s power into creating a single entity. An entity whose malevolence and ominousness are boundless, but who can also communicate with people. Actually, several entities immediately come to mind. I might as well test it right now.”

With that, Elena said she was heading to the Safari to test her power and left immediately.

Did she have an epiphany?

In the end, it’s not me but Elena who has to use this power. I can only offer advice; she has to solve the problem herself.

Seeing her leave with such confidence did ease my mind a bit.

When Party Time ends, we’ll have to head for that incomprehensible place called the “Frozen Hell”.

Before that, it would be a relief if Elena could gain some control over her power, removing one of our worries before facing a major trial.

But… What exactly is it?

An entity whose malevolence and ominousness are boundless, but who can also communicate with people.

What kind of entity did Elena think of that made her so confident as she headed for the Safari?