“Wow… how much is all this…”
As the containers opened, 50,000-won bills poured out.
I was momentarily stunned, staring at the bills, when the mask in the center began to speak.
“All this money is part of the promised prize money.”
“Each container holds 50,000 bills of 50,000 won, which is equivalent to 2.5 billion won.”
“And since we brought a total of 16 containers… that’s about 40 billion won in total.”
It was an amount that was impossible to keep my mouth shut about.
I glanced around at the participants, and everyone’s eyes were glued to the bills.
“I-Is it counterfeit money…?”
“Whether this is really counterfeit money or not is up to your judgment.”
I was tempted by the money, but… at this rate, I might not be able to go home.
“E-Everyone! Don’t be tempted by the money! It’s just money they’ll take and throw away among themselves anyway!”
I barely managed to open my mouth, and Mr. Seong-ho next to me chimed in.
“That person is right!”
“If we win the vote, we can go home!”
“Everyone, please lend me your strength…!”
“We can go home~?”
A languid voice made me turn my head, and there stood a young-looking woman.
The white patch read ‘001’.
“Didn’t you just say~? That if we vote, we can go home…”
“Doesn’t that mean they can also give us the prize money~?”
Then Number 63 came out again and started to chime in.
“Isn’t that person right, everyone?”
“If they’re generous enough to send us home if we vote…”
“Doesn’t that mean they can properly give us the prize money when the game is over!?”
Seized by momentary anxiety, Mr. Seong-ho made a slip of the tongue.
The fact that someone with the setting of being the previous winner of the game said ‘If we vote, we can leave’ meant…
That the rules of this game were properly established after all.
Rather, the title of previous winner had become poison to us.
[Thud… thud…]
Then Number 63 approached Mr. Seong-ho and opened his mouth.
“Everyone! I’m suspicious of that person instead!”
“What that person is saying doesn’t make sense at all…”
“Isn’t he pretending to be the previous winner on purpose to beg for votes?”
“Yeah, yeah! Isn’t that obviously a trick from the other side?!”
The hall gradually began to fill with bustling noise.
Then anxiety seized me.
‘At this rate… the third game will begin…’
I thought about the third game in advance.
The first was Mugunghwa… the second was Jegichagi…
‘Ugh…’
I couldn’t figure it out at all.
But at least I knew it wasn’t an ordinary game.
We must win this vote.
It was when my body was trembling with that anxiety.
One of the women on the opposite side walked out and began to speak.
“Hee… um… maybe this is a trick that the people here want…”
“Who the hell are you to talk! This is none of your business!”
“Heehee… I’m sorry…”
Due to Number 63’s coercive attitude, the woman quietly went back inside.
But thanks to this woman’s words, the people on the opposite side gradually began to speak.
“Isn’t the condition of letting us go with a vote a trick of theirs!”
“That’s right! How can we trust a place that doesn’t even give us proper information!?”
There were still people who sided with the opposite side.
“Still, the prize money is almost confirmed!”
“It’s good for you guys since you’re men… but we might still be debtors even if we’re released!”
Gradually, the opinions of the opposite side and the agreeing side diverged and began to clash.
[Bang-!]
Then another gunshot rang out.
“Then we will continue with the vote.”
“Number 133, please come forward.”
Then Number 63 stepped forward and opened his mouth.
“Is… is a revote possible…?”
“In the case of a revote, we will proceed after all the votes are finished.”
“Number 133, please come forward.”
If this happens, all the matches will be decided in the revote.
If there is someone who goes from the opposing vote to the agreeing vote…
That’s not a loss of 1 vote, but a loss of 2 votes.
I wanted to prevent that at all costs.
…
“Then, please continue with Number 455.”
[Click-]
[274:181]
“Lastly, Number 456, please come forward.”
[Thud… thud…]
[Click-]
[275:181]
Since we had secured the lead in the beginning, the opposing votes were still advantageous.
But… the real deal starts now.
“Now, we will begin the revote.”
“Participants who want a revote, please raise your hands.”
Then dozens of people started raising their hands in a rush.
‘This many…?’
I was slightly taken aback.
I didn’t think it would be this many…
“Then, starting with Number 63, please come forward.”
[Thud… thud…]
[Click-]
[274:182]
“Everyone!!! Let’s go with the circle!!”
Then dozens of participants in the back cheered.
“Yujin, this looks a bit dangerous…”
Mr. Seong-ho next to me said to me, but I could only answer with silence.
…
“Next, Number 218, please come forward.”
[Click-]
[234:232]
The votes had become almost equal.
It was a very dangerous situation.
“Then, is there anyone else who wants to revote?”
No more revotes should happen.
‘Please… please…’
But now I could only pray in my heart.
It was that desperate for me.
I usually don’t believe in God.
But paradoxically, I look for God in desperate situations.
Even now, I was unconsciously putting my hands together and praying.
It seems that humans are originally like this.
Swept away by situations… swept away by emotions…
Like trash on the sea.
That’s when it happened.
“Number 258, please come forward.”
[Thud… thud…]
“X’s everyone… I’m sorry.”
[Click-]
[233:233]
When I opened my eyes, I saw a tie.
It seems that God does not exist after all.
“Is there anyone else?”
“Since there is a tie… the vote will continue tomorrow…”
[Swish-]
I turned my head towards the sound of someone raising their arm forcefully.
The other participants also turned their gaze to that arm, as if they were the same.
“… I understand. Number 001. Please come forward.”
[Thud… thud…]
“W-What… what are you… you were on our side…”
Ignoring Number 067’s dumbfounded words, she continued to walk.
[Click-]
[234:232]
“I’m sorry~ Circle everyone~”
“But I’ve grown to like this person too much~”
[Thump-]
“W-Wait a minute!? What…”
She leaned on my arm and said.
… What on earth is going on?
Then the mask in the center continued to speak.
“Are there any more revote participants?”
“Then, unfortunately, we will stop the TS game here.”
“It’s a pity that we can’t be with the participants until the end…”
“But you will be returning home.”
H-Home…?
I didn’t understand the situation, but for some reason I felt a sense of joy.
“C-Can we go home…?”
[Tss-]
Gas that I had seen in the second game began to flow out of the ceiling.
“W-Wait a minute…! Let us play the game among ourselves…!”
Number 63 protested, but soon one by one began to fall.
“Haha… hahahaha…!! I won!”
As I said loudly for the last time, I felt my body gradually becoming languid.
‘Ah… this is so good…’
[Thud!]
✦✦✦
“Ugh…”
When I woke up, my body was a little stiff.
When I looked down, my whole body was tied with rope.
It seemed that I was in a car.
When I turned my head towards the window, it was a quiet night outside.
[Rumble… rumble…]
Come to think of it, this street… is familiar.
It seemed that we were gradually entering my neighborhood.
…
[Squeak-]
The car stopped.
When I looked out the window, it was the place where I had been kidnapped.
I could see the people in the front seat getting out.
[Click – Thump]
Soon my seat opened and the rope began to be untied.
When I looked closely, they were also wearing masks.
“Come to think of it, who are you guys…”
“…”
Even while I was talking, the masks were silent and only untying my rope.
Even though I was released as before…
To kidnap me and drive me into such a place…
I couldn’t forgive them.
[Rustle]
[Swish]
“W-What…! Let go…!!”
As soon as they untied the rope, they put their arms around my arm and forcibly took me away.
I tried to resist by using kicks somehow…
But it was no use.
[Bang-!]
“Ouch…”
They threw me to the ground as it was and returned to the car.
“W-Wait a minute…!”
[Thud]
I tried to chase after the car, but my legs wouldn’t move properly.
“Haa…”
I should go to the police station tomorrow.
To kidnap so many people like that…
At least I wanted to rest now.
Fortunately, all the clothes I had worn 4 days ago were all dressed on me…
And all the items remained in my pocket.
‘The phone has no battery now…’
I felt a little hungry.
[Rustle… rustle…]
Fortunately, my wallet was still there.
When I opened my wallet, the credit card that I couldn’t use anymore and 4,000 won in cash remained as they were.
‘What on earth was their intention…’
I was a little curious, but I didn’t want to think about it now.
Whatever the case, I would never go again if they handed me a business card again.
I wanted to eat cup ramen for now.
[Thud… thud…]
I started walking towards the nearby convenience store that I knew.
It felt refreshing to breathe the outside air after a long time.