Chapter 12
Yeniel naturally glossed over my question and slowly explained.
“…Let’s say we trade things by taste as the value standard. Then, compared to the same weight of a red, sweet apple, a green, sour apple would have a lower value. So, to make the values equal, you’d either have to bring more green apples or make the green apples weigh the same. Only then does equivalence balance out.”
It was such a kind and simple explanation that she could’ve been a kindergarten teacher.
“Wow, I understand now!”
I smiled brightly.
Of course, no one here actually believed I truly understood what she said.
“In other words, we are weaker than our ancestors, and this otherworld was created to kill them. Therefore, to satisfy the law of equivalent exchange, this world itself must either take on a penalty or give us some kind of advantage, right?”
The Crown Prince concluded.
“Exactly so, Your Highness.”
Smiling, he pressed a handkerchief to his bleeding neck.
“So, because we’re weaker, that actually means there’s hope.”
Sian’s face brightened as he continued explaining.
I suddenly realized: this was the “Awakening System Tutorial.”
Traits.
Simply put, it was like your character stats improving on their own.
“Yes. Perhaps we’ve been given powers equivalent to what the Founders once had.”
The awakening of abilities once possessed by the first Emperor and the Four Founding Heroes.
Which ability one gained was random, but the possibilities were endless.
In my opinion, the best traits were the ones that dealt real damage to monsters or increased speed. Since this was a horror game, the rest rarely mattered.
‘Problem is, I can’t remember who got what.’
The only one I recalled clearly was the slave knight Urel, from villainess Evelyn’s faction.
Oh, and Yeniel’s too. Hers was like a <Gallery> function on a phone.
After finishing his explanation, Sian asked expectantly:
“Since coming here, has anyone noticed anything different? Even the smallest change?”
No one answered.
‘Why is Yeniel staying quiet?’
I was puzzled.
Yeniel should’ve known. Early in the game, screenshots would auto-save whenever she noticed something suspicious or important.
But now, she just shook her head.
“I don’t know. I haven’t felt anything unusual.”
I glanced at her calm profile.
Was this an anomaly?
Or… did she awaken her trait and just choose not to say anything?
The Crown Prince gave a bitter smile.
“Nothing for me either. Perhaps it’s the pain—I can hardly think straight with my throat like this.”
“Max would tell me if he had something, so that’s unlikely. As for Lady April… let’s just pass.”
That bastard?
Sian nodded.
“So no one has gained anything yet. Still, it’s too early to judge. If anyone notices something unusual, please speak up. Now, let’s head to the 2nd floor.”
The group began ascending.
The white marble stairs connecting the 1st and 2nd floors grew darker the higher we went, shifting into a blackish shade.
“From now on, we’ll face cultists who sacrificed 99 people, and likely the demon itself.”
Yeniel spoke quietly. Max swallowed hard.
But honestly, it wasn’t so bad—the mid-boss was a pushover, and the main boss wasn’t even meant to be fought.
On the 2nd floor, unlike the barren 1st, the interior resembled a noble’s mansion.
We arrived in a wide corridor lined with rooms on both sides.
“Twelve rooms… 201 to 212. What did they do here? Ah… human sacrifices.”
The Crown Prince’s face paled as he realized the answer himself.
At the corridor’s end was a short lobby, and beyond that a massive door—the one leading to the temple’s rear garden.
“This door seems to lead to the next area.”
We approached, but—
“It’s locked. How are we supposed to leave?” Max grumbled after trying it.
I bent down, scanning the bottom of the door.
‘Didn’t my brother pick up the Master Key here?’
That key opened every door on the 2nd floor.
But there was nothing—no glint of metal, no trace it had ever existed.
Maybe the Master Key never existed here at all.
That meant: not only were the monsters stronger, but convenience features were gone too.
‘If only my trait would awaken soon… stronger would be nice. Trait window. Awakening window.’
And just then—
A cheerful sound rang out, and a translucent window appeared before me.
[April Sharon: Awakening in progress… (76/100)%]
‘Awakening? Me?’
The percentage kept climbing rapidly.
[April Sharon: Awakening in progress… (76.1713941…/100)%]
[April Sharon: Awakening in progress… (76.226137…/100)%]
Then—
■■■■ Patching….
Black squares blocked the letters. I couldn’t read what was being patched.
‘What on earth is being patched?’
