[♪Young Turtle, play, trotting, trotting, plays well♪]
“Seongho, don’t you think the music’s gotten faster than before?”
“It seems like each round has a different type of music.”
“Anyway, everyone, we don’t have much time, so let’s vote with our fingers on the count of three!”
[♪Let’s float Cheongju, let’s float Arangju♪]
“Okay, one, two, three!”
I wanted to vote for Seongho, but…
If the leader leaves in the second round, this tent will surely become a scene of chaos.
I had no choice but to raise my finger at the person to my right.
[♪Pine tree’s first night, my chopsticks♪]
Looking around, only about 5 out of 8 people actually pointed their fingers.
“Everyone! If you don’t participate, we’ll all be eliminated anyway!”
“L-Let’s send out the person with the most votes here first!”
[♪Wooden plate goes woogyaengkaeng♪]
“Haa… but…”
Looking closely, there was a tie of 5 votes each.
“First, let’s decide who will go among those who voted!”
We were able to narrow down the candidates to 5 people.
Me, Seongho, Number 182, Number 369, Number 218.
“Okay, then who among us will g—”
[Thump!]
At that moment, the floor stopped, and the lights turned red.
[00:10]
[00:09]
“Everyone…! First, stay calm!”
“I’ll stay, so let’s decide among the remaining four!”
Seongho continued, but time was running out.
“Just anyone go!”
“Ah… then I…”
“I… um…”
Everyone was about to speak but hesitated, looking at each other.
It seemed to be because of the incident in the first round.
[00:04]
“No time!”
“Then I’ll go first…!”
“Ah… but…”
Number 301 seemed to try to hold Number 182 back for a moment as he was about to leave.
There was no more time.
[00:02]
“Just let the first person who spoke go!!”
[Thud, thud]
“N-No…! Time…”
[00:01]
[Thud! Thud!]
[00:00]
[Whoosh-]
“D-Did it work…?”
Fortunately, Number 182 seemed to have safely left the tent. But…
[Shuffle, shuffle]
“W-Wait a minute…! He left properly…!”
“Why are you coming back…!”
[Bang!]
The shadow of the ‘Mask’ we saw earlier appeared outside the tent and shot Number 64.
“Haa… haa…”
“I can’t feel… my lower body…”
“N-No… only one person left…! Why…!”
[Thud-]
“Why…!”
[Shuffle… shuffle…]
As Number 182 was dragged away by them, the shadow gradually disappeared.
“Um… it seems like you’re eliminated even if you leave after the time limit…”
Seongho said, and I could roughly understand why he was eliminated.
Elimination for exceeding the time limit by a little…
…It’s too harsh of a game.
“Jiyoon…”
“Yes…?”
“There are 7 people left here, and about 5 rounds left.”
“If we eliminate 3 people, the remaining 4 can live…”
Even though so many people had been eliminated, we still had to eliminate 3 more.
But… something was off with the calculation.
“Why… 3 people…?”
“From the last round, there’s a high probability that we won’t be able to control things like this.”
“In fact… a chaotic scene like the first round will unfold…”
“First… let’s try to get out in the early rounds if possible.”
I roughly understood what he meant.
From the next vote, we had to vote for each other no matter what.
But… one vote wasn’t enough.
There was also the option of standing right in front of the tent exit…
But there was the risk of ‘elimination’ and it could break the trust between teammates.
[Thoong-]
The floor started rotating clockwise again.
[We will now begin Round 3]
[♪Tangle, tangle, pumpkin vine, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
“Okay…! Everyone, we don’t have much time, so let’s vote quickly…!”
“First, you know you have to get out within the time limit!”
As Seongho drew the attention of the other teammates, I quietly walked towards Number 301 next to me.
[Shuffle… shuffle…]
[Tap, tap]
“Number 301…”
“Yes…? What is it?”
[♪Even if it didn’t grow for a year, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
“You remember I voted for you earlier, right…?”
“So… would you like to team up with us…?”
“Ah…”
He seemed to hesitate for a moment.
[♪Handing over beyond the ridge, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
“We’ll help you get out of here.”
“Number 107 is over there too.”
[♪Schoolboy, our lover, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
When I pointed my finger at Seongho, he seemed a little relieved.
“O-Okay… you’ll keep your promise, right…?”
“Yes… we’ll definitely send you.”
“Follow my vote.”
He quietly nodded.
We needed one more person, but when I turned my head, I saw someone eavesdropping on my conversation with Number 301.
Number 369… Fortunately, he seemed to have noticed our intentions.
[♪When will you grow up and give me your hand, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
“Okay…! Then everyone, vote on the count of one, two, three!”
“One, two, three…!”
As soon as Seongho finished speaking, I pointed my finger at Number 369.
Number 301 and Seongho also pointed their fingers at Number 369 after seeing my finger.
If possible, I wanted to escape first… but I couldn’t vote for myself, and there wasn’t enough time to explain.
If I did this, I could build trust with Number 301, so it didn’t matter if I left in the next round.
I’m sorry, but after I leave… Number 301 is now a stranger.
[Thump!]
The floor stopped, and the lights began to turn red.
[00:10]
“Wait a minute…! But why are so many votes suddenly going to Number 369…?”
Number 122 protested, and I paused for a moment.
I only need to make excuses well for the next two turns…
“It’s probably a coincidence, or they voted for anyone because they didn’t have time. Let’s send Number 369 first.”
[00:05]
“Ah… everyone… thank you so much…”
[Bow]
After giving his thanks, Number 369 started running towards the tent exit.
[Thud, thud]
[00:03]
[00:02]
[Whoosh-]
Number 369 left the tent. Next is my turn.
[Shuffle… shuffle…]
“Number 301… can I go next?”
“Next turn, I’ll ask Seongho and find one more person to help you.”
“Ah… I understand.”
Number 301 hesitated for a moment after hearing my words, then nodded.
It’s a bit much to say this, but… he didn’t seem very smart.
Unfortunately, except for the last round, it’s not easy to find one more person.
Let’s leave Number 301 aside… now I have to be careful of the remaining 3 people.
There’s a high probability that they’ve already noticed our teaming…
Even if they team up in this round and the next round, it will already be too late.
…In fact, it was our victory.
‘Hehe…’
As I became certain, my mind gradually filled with joy.
Certainly, Ganggangsullae was a more difficult game in many ways compared to the previous game.
But Seongho and I could break through it.
With this… we won…!
[We will now begin Round 4]
[Thoong-]
The floor started rotating clockwise again.
[♪If you meet my mother, Gang~gang~sullae]
“Then let’s start voting right away this time. I’ll start counting.”
As he spoke, I nodded actively and signaled Seongho.
Seongho looked at my eyes and seemed to understand, continuing to speak.
“Okay… let’s start. One… two… three…!”
I raised my finger towards Seongho.
Ah… finally, escape.
[♪In the freezing wind of December, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
…
Huh…?
There was someone else who received 2 votes besides me.
It was Number 218… What’s the reason?
Looking around at the direction of the votes, it was Number 122 and Number 64, excluding me, Seongho, and Number 301.
Unless it was a case like us, it would take at least 2 rounds to entice the remaining two people.
Seongho must have been watching until the 3rd round.
“Okay, what do we do in case of a tie?”
Number 64 said nonchalantly, making me even more certain.
Those three had already formed a team.
No… I can’t panic…
“First, then… I’ll go first. It won’t be too late for you to go in the next round.”
“Isn’t that a bit unfair? That person also received 2 votes…?”
[♪Can’t live barefoot, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
When Number 122 spoke, I was certain that they were trying to oppose our team.
“There’s no time, so let’s not do this…!”
Seongho tried to stop them, but the opponent seemed even more excited by this.
[♪Send the messenger of death, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
“…Okay… you’re right, we don’t have time…”
“You guys formed a team first, so isn’t it because of you that we don’t have time?”
…They didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it anymore.
[♪Tell them my news, Gang~gang~sullae♪]
“…What are you planning to do?”
I spoke, but the opponent still didn’t respond.
[Shuffle… shuffle…]
Number 64 slowly started walking counterclockwise.
As Number 64 and I got closer, tension was flowing. At that moment…
“Jiyoon! Run away!”
[Thump!]
[Thud! Thud!]
[Bang!]
As soon as the floor stopped rotating and the lights turned red, Number 64 ran towards me and pushed me over.
“Ugh…”
I tried to resist, but as he continued to choke me, I gradually became breathless.
Looking around, Seongho and Number 301 were also being attacked by Number 122 and Number 218, respectively.
“Cough…”
Before long, I realized that their intention was to knock us out.
If this continued, my testicles would already be cut off when I woke up.
I had to avoid that at all costs.
When I turned my head to the side, I saw a round light protruding from the floor.
[Thud-]
The light embedded in the floor came out surprisingly easily.
[Clang-!]
[Bang-]
“Cough…!”
When I hit Number 64’s head hard with the light, Number 64 fell to the side, bleeding from his head.
[Thud! Thud!]
[Thud-!]
I barely ran and pushed away Number 122, who was attacking Seongho, and the red lights turned white again.
The surroundings seemed to have calmed down for a moment.
“Haa… haa… Are you okay…?”
“Ugh… yes… more than that, the timer…”
“Ah…”
[00:00]
[Thoong-]
[We will now begin Round 5]