Attempt 3

[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 22
Location: Floor 1, Room 101 (Room of Curses – The Bizarre Family)
Sage's Advice: 3]

 

Let’s combine what we’ve discovered with our hypotheses.

The state of media content on the internet is clearly abnormal. So, where are these pieces of media created?

Primarily at broadcasting stations.

Of course, many individual streams and alternative media outlets produce content nowadays.

But considering all those possibilities is overwhelming. For now, let’s start with broadcasting stations as the most likely candidates. If it turns out not to be them, we can look elsewhere.

Should we head to a broadcasting station?

New Questions

1. Which broadcasting station should we go to?

 

There isn’t just one. Even considering terrestrial stations, there are multiple options. Add in general programming, cable, and news networks, and there could be dozens of choices.

2. How can we get there?

 

Normally, after creating some distance from the 'bizarre family' and running for about 10 minutes, the system counts it as an escape. While this mechanism has been our lifeline, it could now hinder us from reaching a broadcasting station. The escape condition might trigger and prematurely end our attempt before we arrive.

3. What about those who can’t leave their starting points?

 

If progression requires everyone to leave their starting points and reach specific locations like a broadcasting station, what happens to Ahri? Starting in the hotel inherently makes her progress impossible, doesn’t it?

I don’t think so. The hotel is a cruel, incomprehensible place, but it hasn’t thrown us into an outright impossible trial, like unleashing a monster that kills us all in three seconds.

These thoughts were difficult to parse. But sitting still and ruminating wouldn’t solve anything. Instead of waiting to resolve every question, I decided to act and figure things out as I went.

Step 1: Choosing a Broadcasting Station

After some thought, I sat back at the computer and began digging through old news articles.

"Kain! Are you done yet? If you are, come out and help me take down the laundry!"

The 'bizarre family' was beginning to interfere. I had to buy as much time as possible.

"I’m looking up school-related stuff! I’ll be out soon!"

Unlike videos, scrolling through text-based articles wasn’t too overwhelming. While the articles were riddled with absurdities, they lacked the vividness of video content and seemed far less effective at transmitting the curse.

I kept changing the date filters, searching for the first location where abnormalities seemed to arise in this world.

After rolling the dates back about eight months, I found a promising lead.

 

ABS Broadcasting Station.

It was a relatively new public broadcaster, if I remembered correctly. Around 30 articles heavily criticized ABS for producing excessively provocative content within the span of just one or two days.

And then, suddenly, the flood of criticism stopped. It was as if, in those one or two days, the curse spread across Korea—or maybe even the entire world. After that point, every broadcaster seemed to go insane.

For now, ABS would be our target.

Step 2: How Do We Get There?

...

A simple idea occurred to me.

Why does the escape condition trigger? Because we realize the strangeness of the 'bizarre family' and create physical distance from them.

So, the solution is simple: don’t create distance. Bring the family with me to the broadcasting station.

...

Then reality hit me.

Even brief interactions with the family—brushing past them or exchanging a few words—caused intense headaches and required the filter to mitigate the effects. Without the filter, I’d be defenseless, unable to endure even a second.

How could I survive a prolonged journey with them?

As I scrolled through the internet, I came across an article mentioning COVID-19 treatments.

Oh. COVID-19 still exists in this 'stage.' It makes sense—this world is modeled after reality.

Suddenly, a solution hit me.

The Plan

"Ugh! Oppa, are you an idiot? Why would you schedule a COVID treatment at a hospital so far away?!"

"What?"

"And seriously, get rid of those stupid earplugs. Why are your eyes half-shut like that?"

"Hey, hey! Don’t come any closer! Didn’t I tell you earlier that I wasn’t feeling well?"

—Whoosh! Thud!

My 'sister' threw a hand axe at me, narrowly missing my head.

...

When I meet my real sister again, I’ll treat her better. Watching this fake casually hurl a hand axe she somehow obtained made me miss my real sibling.

In this world, about half a year had passed since the global spread of COVID. A revolutionary Type-3 treatment developed by the Administration Bureau had begun to restore order. Naturally, with such high demand, securing reservations for the treatment was almost impossible.

That morning, I feigned sickness and lied that I had reserved treatment at a hospital near ABS. My 'sister,' despite grumbling, agreed to accompany her 'sick brother' to the hospital. She was a good sport about it—if you ignored the frequent attempts to throw sharp objects at me.

We left the house while maintaining a 10-meter distance.

"Don’t get too close; I’m worried you’ll catch COVID. But I need you to come with me to the hospital."

Even I thought my excuse was ridiculous. My clearly unhinged 'sister' found it laughable, too. But when I promised her 100,000 won in pocket money, she started tagging along.

What did it matter? It’s fake money in a fake world. I’d promise her a million if I had to.

I hailed a taxi as soon as we left the house.

Given the nature of this cursed world, I wasn’t sure the taxi would even take us to our destination.

The Taxi Ride

"You see, the problem with those xx Party folks is that they just don’t get it. What on earth are those Yeouido idiots thinking? Sure, I know people are dying left and right because of the 'freedom policies,' but banning battle royales? That’s insane! Battle royales are great for building mental toughness in kids these days."

Why do taxi drivers always talk too much—even in cursed worlds?

"Oh, this reminds me of my college days. I don’t like bragging, but I went to Y University. Back then, during freshman orientation, we’d always start with a round of Russian roulette. You know, to weed out the weaklings. I heard 130 students died last year, but hey, who cares? The country’s overpopulated anyway."

Listening to this insane chatter was melting my brain. Even with my ears blocked, the cursed words seeped in.

The problem with taxis is you can’t create distance. No matter how tightly I pressed against the door, the driver in front and my 'sister' beside me ensured the curse’s influence was constant.

Without the filter, I’d have gone mad long ago.

Even with the filter, I felt like I might pass out.

"I just don’t get the xx Party! They say the planet has 7 billion people. Why does this tiny country need 50 million? Isn’t that too many? We should cut it down to 30 million. Or even 2 million. That’s plenty!"

Please just throw yourself out of the taxi. But only after I get out.

After enduring 30 minutes of this, I arrived near ABS. My ears were ringing, and I could barely stand.

The moment I stepped out, I heard a familiar sound.

—Thunk!

My 'sister' had buried her hand axe in the taxi driver’s stomach. The driver, strangely, thanked her.

...

I didn’t even flinch. I just kept walking. At this point, nothing surprised me anymore.

"Oppa? Isn’t this the wrong way to the hospital?"

"I wanted to stop by ABS first."

"Why?"

"Apparently, they’re filming 'Black Hole Princess' right now. Isn’t that your favorite?"

"What? Really?! Why didn’t I see that online?"

Because I made it up.

With no time to waste, I sprinted toward the broadcasting station, dragging her along.

After another five minutes of running, we finally arrived at ABS.

Looking back on the ordeal, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Who else would think to bring their cursed 'family' to the broadcasting station?

As I approached the station, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I froze.

Since entering Room 101, I’d developed a heightened awareness. When someone cursed approached me, the filter weakened the effect, causing headaches and ringing.

This time, there was no sensation at all.

I slowly turned my head and saw a familiar face.

—Bang!

My 'sister’s' head exploded.

"So, you actually brought your family here?"

"Yes."

"Incredible. I considered that approach, but I didn’t think anyone would actually try it!"

"..."

"Don’t you find it strange? That method only works for people like you with a filter or Songyi with her bracelet. No one else could withstand their family’s presence for that long. Even Ahri would wither under the pressure.

"Do you think the hotel would design a solution that only one or two people could attempt?"

"I thought it was odd, too."

"Odd or not, you managed to get here. That’s impressive. And to be honest, I’m relieved. I thought I’d be the only one to make it to the broadcasting station. Having at least one other person is reassuring."

"But… how did you get here, Mookseong? You don’t have a filter or a bracelet. How did you bring your family?"

"I used a simpler method. One anyone could replicate if they learned it."

"What is it?"