Chapter 151
No, 58 months...? Sometimes our deliberations dragged on a bit, but we never hit a complete wall. Everyone was pretty sharp to begin with, and Park Harin was getting the hang of things, starting to pitch in on the puzzles.
"Hiiing..."
Of course, whenever there was a loud noise or the lights shifted, she'd let out her signature scream without fail. But we'd heard it so much by now that it almost felt like background sound effects.
Yoo Seol-ah, who'd probably heard it more than anyone, didn't bat an eye from the start. Lee Seo-yeon seemed pretty accustomed to her role as the damsel in distress by this point too.
"...Seo-yeon-ah, let's check over there."
"Sure thing. Just say the word."
Lee Seo-yeon gave off total escape room master vibes, but she had no intention of hogging all the puzzles from the get-go. She stuck close to Park Harin on purpose, probably figuring she'd freak out and topple over if left alone. And honestly, it was a smart call—Harin had once plopped straight down when a closet door swung open while she was hunting clues solo.
With Lee Seo-yeon dialing up the help on tough spots and staying quiet on easy ones, the three of us could really crank our brains into gear, pushing forward on the grand mage's immortality magic research.
It was a premium room—success meant escaping in 120 minutes—and we were around 90 minutes in. Story-wise, the next room had to be the finale.
"Ah, but we're stuck... The immortality magic research succeeded for sure, but there's zero record of using it on Hans."
We'd solved everything from ingredient sorting to all sorts of puzzles. Pressure plates needed actual weight to trigger, and the temperature one required holding a candle up to it. It was a model candle with a heat element for safety, but you could feel the effort put into the mechanisms.
We'd gotten fully immersed and snagged the final-stage potion model, but slotting it into the device for the next room did zilch.
I pulled out the third diary again for another look.
I've finally borne the fruit of my immortality magic research.
But like an idiot, I'm hesitating to give this potion to Hans.
Immortality isn't a blessing. Unlike me, Hans has people around him. Having to outlive everyone and watch them go—one farewell after another—is never easy for the survivor.
For now, delivery of the potion is on hold.
Yoo Seol-ah tilted her head my way, reading the diary carefully, but no lightbulb yet—she was still tilting it in confusion.
Our clues were just Grand Mage Bianca's diaries and the magic research book. Lee Seo-yeon had vouched that we didn't need to hunt more.
Yoo Seol-ah's face had a hint of unease.
"...No way it's a sad ending, right? I hate sad endings..."
"No chance."
I wasn't a fan of sad endings either. Sure, they left more lingering impact than happy ones, but even in a predictable story, I preferred the "and they all lived happily ever after" vibe.
But with the diary harping on not wanting to give Hans immortality, I got why her anxiety was spiking.
"...If Bianca just keeps living forever alone, that's a sad ending for her too..."
"Ah, hold up."
I was mulling the final clue when her words clicked something.
She caught my expression and looked startled.
"What? Figured it out?"
"Where's that magic research book?"
"Right here with me."
Park Harin, still clinging to Lee Seo-yeon's arm, handed it over.
The magic research book had seemed way less clue-heavy than the diaries at first glance. It was packed with lore on this world's magic—casting methods, potion handling, that sort of thing—so I'd pegged it as pure immersion bait.
But I flipped back to page 4, the one I'd skimmed before.
Antidotes and poisons have surprisingly similar components.
The same goes for magic-related potions.
To brew a potion that cancels a spell's effect, reverse the compounding process exactly.
I'd thought it was random filler, but revisiting it hit different.
Yoo Seol-ah was sharp as hell, so I just passed her the book without a word.
She puzzled over my intent for a sec, then slapped a hand over her gaping mouth in shock.
"...Whoa, wait. Think that's it? Bianca brewed the antidote and turned herself mortal?"
Even for lovers, one immortal and one not? Total sad ending.
But if Bianca undid her own immortality? Then they could age and fade together like normal folks. Sure, lifespans end eventually, but beats one outliving the other forever. Straight-up "happily ever after."
Yoo Seol-ah's huge eyes went wider as she bounced around excitedly.
"...Let's reverse what we did earlier."
She looked dead certain this was the route.
We all grabbed the potion recipe and flipped the order dead reverse. Temperature first, then pressure.
Once we hit that step, Lee Seo-yeon flashed a bright smile and gently covered Park Harin's ears.
Even swapped the final jars' ingredients side-to-side, and pop—a black vial appeared.
Yoo Seol-ah let out an awed sigh.
"...Wow, you're a genius for real..."
"You clocked it right away too."
Her "no sad endings" line had been the spark.
Her hand trembled a bit—excitement or nerves?—as she snatched the vial and headed to the device.
The new vial sealed the deal. Click—the door unlocked. Heading inside, Yoo Seol-ah beamed like she'd been moved to tears.
"...Ahh, I love stuff like this."
...Her pure, innocent glow never failed to catch me off guard.
Before us stretched a cozy home where Bianca, Hans, and their kids must've lived. Moments later, a wall projection played a short animation: the couple marrying, having kids, growing old together.
The final door's lock clicked open, signaling escape room's end, but we lingered, soaking in the last room.
"Whoa... I saw it on camera, but you guys are insanely fast! New record for 'Grand Mage's Lab'—first place. No hints? Legendary..."
The staffer looked stunned greeting us outside, still buzzing from the afterglow.
...It had tons of reviews, and we're number one? Probably couldn't have without Lee Seo-yeon's occasional nudges.
"First-place teams go on our Hall of Fame wall. Cool with a photo?"
"Yeah, snap away."
They always took pics post-escape, but wall-mounted? First time.
I figured a casual pose like usual, but Yoo Seol-ah poked my side and made a half-heart with her hand.
...She doesn't usually pull this.
I stared silently, and she flushed embarrassed.
"...The theme's romance, y'know..."
Fair, but with the group shot? Probably swept up in the romantic vibe.
I didn't budge, so she shot me a quick glare.
"...Hey, hurry up?"
Didn't wanna get chewed out, so I meekly added the other half-heart next to hers.
"Say cheese~ One, two, three!"
Sipping complimentary drinks while waiting, the printed photo came quick. Yoo Seol-ah beamed radiantly in it—clearly overjoyed.
"Ah... Now I get the high ratings. Felt less like an escape room, more like a movie."
"Totally. Good call coming here."
She'd been so immersed, we chatted till her drink was gone.
"That last animation... Almost teared up at the baby birth."
"You were full-on misty-eyed."
Lee Seo-yeon teased lightly, but Yoo Seol-ah just nodded meekly.
She turned super soft and maternal whenever babies came up—total baby person.
"Ah, I wanna have one soon too..."
Still riding that vibe, she trailed off mid-sentence.
In this flow, what came after "I wanna have one soon..."?
As our three stares converged, her face burned red. She darted her eyes like seeking an exit, gave up, and powered through.
"...I mean, wanting a baby isn't wrong, right...? Not like I want one right now or anything..."
She swallowed her shame, owning it boldly—no real comeback from me.
Lee Seo-yeon, not the target, just giggled.
"...Seol-ah-ya, hang tight. With how your folks are, you'll see one soon enough."
"Wh-what?!... I'm graduating college first...!"
"So, 48 months... No, 58 months...?"
"Khk!"
Yoo Seol-ah, chugging her drink to cool her flushed head, choked hard on the curveball.
Lee Seo-yeon patted her back apologetically, but even after the coughs stopped, she kept her head down forever.
Adding those extra 10 months... Classic Lee Seo-yeon.