“So, what are you going to do?”
I managed to drag in one burly guy, but…
I never imagined we’d have to face Jiyoon’s team.
Looking at the face of that guy, number 412, he seemed pretty anxious.
It’s a natural reaction for most Korean men.
The moment you become a woman… it’s practically game over for your life.
“W-Well…”
I can’t think of a plan.
Why?
[Now, let the game begin.]
[Bang!]
“Senior… is it still because of Senior Jiyoon…?”
…Every time I try to think, Jiyoon comes to mind.
I never thought I’d end up like this after growing attached to him for a week…
“We don’t have time…! If they attack…”
[04:22]
While I was hesitating, almost a minute had passed.
Looking around, everyone seemed anxious.
What am I even thinking about in this situation?
I promised I’d do anything to win…
[Thump, thump.]
“If there’s no strategy, I’ll attack alone.”
He started running towards the outside of the base, as if excited.
Honestly, I understood how he felt.
He chose me, trusting in the name of the former champion…
I felt sorry, but I kept thinking about Jiyoon.
I’m not gay, and I don’t love him… is it just my personality?
[03:45]
An attack is probably coming soon.
There’s no time left.
…If this keeps up, Yujin will receive the third penalty… and I’ll have no excuse.
I’m practically a troll in the game.
“Senior, I’m sorry, but I’m going too.”
“Please defend here, Senior.”
“W-Wait a minute…!”
Why did I try to stop them?
I’m so different from how I was in the last game, it feels alien.
“If we don’t do anything, we’ll be eliminated… we have to do something.”
[Shuffle, shuffle.]
As she left too, I could only watch silently.
I’d never felt this before… it felt like the air had become unusually heavy.
I’ve always been weak to this kind of thing since I was young.
Having to betray and face someone I trusted…
I’ve hardly ever experienced it, so I was confused about what to think.
Betraying Ms. Yujin and leaving Mr. Jiyoon again were just rationalizations, I thought.
In the end, I sent Jiyoon to the men’s team, which was more advantageous for the game…
And I apologized to Yujin and restored our relationship, so I thought it was okay.
Even I don’t know why I’m thinking about this in a fight for 3 billion won, gender, and more.
I said I was doing it for myself…
But this happened in the fourth team game.
If this had happened in the last game, I could have done something.
[03:21]
But every time I looked at the timer, my anxiety grew, and even when I tried to think of a strategy, Jiyoon and Yujin kept coming to mind.
…I had to do something.
[Thump! Thump!]
“W-Wait a minute… Mr. 107, where are you going?!”
“Mr. 256, please guard the flag!”
If the opponents are four men, there’s a high chance we’ll be attacked and our defense will be breached if we stay here.
It would be more advantageous to defend if we waited at the opponent’s flag or gathered more people.
But… I can’t decide.
Jiyoon comes to mind again.
Jiyoon had an unusually strong belief in his identity for the past week.
He wanted to protect his gender at all costs… or said he would never abandon her identity…
I didn’t prefer becoming a woman and ruining my life either, but he had an especially strong belief.
If our team wins like this, how can I face Jiyoon in the future…?
Maybe it would be better not to meet him again?
Maybe I left Jiyoon’s side because I thought my personality would harm him.
But what can I do?
I’ve already turned countless men into women in the last game.
And I’m acting like a troll in this game too.
If I hadn’t used the name of the former champion in the last vote, that guy wouldn’t have come to me either.
[Thump, thump.]
I turned my head at the sound of footsteps, and there was 256.
“What… why are you here?!”
“Well… it’s a bit hard to say, but I’m going to quit this game too, haha.”
“It’s not like we die if we get eliminated, right?”
He seems to be misunderstanding something.
If we get eliminated, we’ll be brainwashed by those weird tentacles or machines.
More than anything, we might not get the 3 billion won and have to go back.
…Thinking about it made me feel even more sorry.
“But… we saw what happened to the eliminated people last time. And the prize money…”
“I’m just going to try to become a celebrity with this face.”
“I’ll earn way more than 3 billion won, right?”
Certainly, if we get modified here, we’re guaranteed to have top-tier looks and bodies among women.
But even so…
“I’m really… sorry.”
“If you killed people with this technology, I would have cursed at Seongho.”
The atmosphere was the opposite of when I first entered this game.
Everyone was desperate until last time… does becoming a woman affect their personality too?
I brought a knife just in case… but it doesn’t seem to mean much.
“Still… try your best.”
[Player 456 has used violence, so a warning is issued.]
Huh…?
What’s going on all of a sudden?
I didn’t think Ms. Jiyun would use any means necessary to this extent…
“Mr. 107… what’s your name?”
“Ah… I’m Kim Seongho.”
After hearing my name, she was silent for a moment before opening her mouth.
“I’m Gyeongsu.”
I still can’t get used to the delicate appearance and masculine name.
Come to think of it, I think she was on the list of eliminated people in the last game…
“Anyway, let’s go back to the flag!”
[Shuffle, shuffle.]
She grabbed my wrist and started running towards our base.
I wanted to say something… but I didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere.
[02:19]
As I was being led by her, I glanced at the timer and saw that a little more than half had passed.
If we go back now, maybe we can meet Jiyoon who’s attacking…
I felt nervous for no reason.
…
“You’re back.”
Fortunately, 21, who was defending the flag, welcomed me.
I wonder what the opponent’s intention is for not attacking so far…
“First of all, it’s difficult to defend with just the three of us… but there’s no time.”
“We can’t expect Yujin or the other person to come back…”
Looking at her, she seemed to be guarding the surroundings next to the flag.
“I just heard footsteps.”
“I think they’re hiding nearby.”
Considering that broadcast just now… there’s a high chance it’s Jiyoon.
I don’t know how many people he brought.
…And more than anything, I’m hesitant.
Looking around, there were quite a few walls to hide behind.
I should probably scout the surroundings first.
Then.
[Thump! Thump!]
“Seongho!! I’m taking the flag!”
Jiyoon suddenly jumped out from the wall in front of us.
He seemed determined to use any means necessary.
No one else…?
But when I turned my gaze to Gyeongsu on the right, she seemed flustered and didn’t know what to do.
We can’t stop Jiyoon with this party.
But.
[Whoosh-]
[Bang!]
Jiyoon fell over from a vest someone threw, so I turned my head to the left.
“I threw it!”
However, the vest alone couldn’t stop Jiyoon’s determination that I saw in the last game.
As if responding to that worry, he quickly took off the vest and stood up.
[Thud!]
“Ah…!”
When I came to my senses, Jiyoon was already right next to me.
Immediately, Jiyoon turned his head back and started running away again.
…Does she really not want to become a woman that much?
Jiyoon has often told me that I have a tendency to be overly kind.
I think she’s right.
[Shuffle, shuffle.]
“Seongho!? Where are you going…”
[The first round has ended.]
[Both teams, please return to your respective flags.]
As expected, the announcement rang.
I walked a little further and saw Jiyoon.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have gone too far.
“Seongho, do you have something to say?”
Jiyoon has often told me that I have a tendency to be overly kind.
I think he’s right.
When I let Jiyoon go, he told me to take care of myself first…
I don’t think I can keep that promise.
I had to apologize.
“Jiyoon… I’m sorry.”
…
“So… are you going to be silent again this time?”
“I joined your team believing you were the former champion, aren’t you shameless?!”
I could only shut my mouth at his questioning.
I felt pathetic again in this game…
“Now, now… calm down…”
He seemed to have calmed down a bit at Gyeongsu’s words, but he still seemed excited.
“If a strategy doesn’t come out this time either… I’m going to attack again.”
It was definitely quite disadvantageous if it was a long-term battle like this.
His judgment was right this time.
“Senior… let’s stop thinking about Senior Jiyoon now, okay?”
I felt very sorry for Yujin too.
I don’t know about Gyeongsu, but Yujin must have been desperately participating in the game.
But now… she’s in danger of being eliminated because of me.
I’m hopeless trash after all.
[Now, let the second round begin.]
[Bang!]
As silence continued, time passed.
The man ran out as if he was frustrated being here, as if he didn’t want to lose his chastity.
…I abandoned Yujin and that man in the name of Jiyoon.
But I couldn’t abandon Jiyoon either.
[Thump! Thump!]
“W-Wait a minute…! Where are you going!? Senior!”
I was practically a troll who couldn’t do anything.
Maybe it’s because I hated myself for being like this, but I reflexively quickened my pace.
“Haa…”
I should have died back then…
I shouldn’t have participated in the game and ended up in this awkward situation.
“Senior…! Hngh…”
I turned my head and saw Yujin following me.
She seemed quite tired due to the changed body.
“Yujin… are you okay…?”
“That’s your chronic problem, Senior.”
“You want to save Senior Jiyoon, right?”
At her words, I stopped in my tracks and could only be silent.
I wanted to save Jiyoon, but someone had to be eliminated.
“But…”
“There’s a way.”
There’s a way…?
What is she talking about? Is she going to sacrifice herself?
“Why don’t we change the definition of ‘saving’?”
“Senior Jiyoon is just as pathologically obsessed with masculinity as you are, Senior. How about curing that disease?”
I still had a hard time understanding.
Maybe it’s because I’m not used to dealing with people…
“What… what do you mean?”
“In simple terms…”
“Let’s make Senior a female!”
I was dumbfounded at her confirmation.
I’d heard of female corruption before…
“Yujin… what are you talking about…”
“But if we don’t rationalize it like that, Senior Seongho will be in pain, right?”
It was certain that everyone would be eliminated if we continued like this.
But… can I rationalize it?
“Anyway, Seongho has been thinking of himself as trash since last time, right?”
“I guess I should just become real trash this time.”
…Is Yujin that desperate to avoid elimination?
But this time, I had to go along with her.
I doubted I could do it with my current personality…
I should probably change my mindset entirely.
Maybe losing my mind would help me survive the next eight games.
“Okay… let’s corrupt Jiyoon together…!”
“Hehe… you’re finally talking like trash~”
It wasn’t appealing, but… I had to rationalize it by saying I was curing Jiyoon’s obsession with masculinity.
[00:41]
Looking at the time, about four minutes had already passed.
“Let’s come up with a proper strategy for the next round.”
“First, let’s go back to the flag.”
Yujin seemed satisfied and nodded readily, starting to walk.
Now that I thought about it, ever since I started changing my mindset, I was able to speak informally without any trouble.
…Maybe I was just overthinking things all the time.
[Click-]
[The second round has ended]
Huh…?
Looking at the timer, it was stopped at 22 seconds.
The other team probably won.
…The team’s morale must be pretty low.
“Sunbae! Let’s go back to the base first!”
…
“Wow~! Who would’ve thought we’d get the first score~!”
I was dumbfounded.
From what I heard, it seemed like we won…
“How did you guys win?”
“While you guys were off somewhere being lovey-dovey, we charged in recklessly, and we won?”
…Were they really that careless?
“Also, one of the women on the other team was helping us. That helped a lot.”
Kyungsoo said that the other team helped…?
I didn’t understand.
I had to return as the leader of this team.
“Everyone, this might be sudden, but… can you listen to my plan?”
“What, you got one score and suddenly your attitude changes?”
I expected that to some extent.
I had to organize my thoughts based on the previous explanation while persuading them.
“I’m really sorry about that. But this time, I’ll show you my skills as a former champion.”
“If we lose this round, I’ll take full responsibility.”
After saying that, even the guy who was most wary of me seemed to soften a bit.
Fortunately, I was able to come up with a strategy while persuading them.
“Looking at the first and second rounds, the opponents are overly cautious of us. Even if they aren’t, they’ll be even more cautious because of this score difference.”
“But it seems like there’s a troll on their side, so one male companion and the woman who’s likely the troll will go on the attack, and the rest will defend to be cautious.”
Fortunately, everyone seemed to agree with my explanation so far.
The reputation of being a former champion was beyond imagination.
“So, we don’t necessarily need to defend, but as a minimum insurance…”
“I want to hide our flag.”
“What… is that even possible?”
The guy looked quite flustered.
Since time was short, it would normally be difficult to even come up with a strategy in a short amount of time.
“The game rules only say ‘take the opponent’s flag’ and ‘move it to our base.'”
“Looking at the games so far, isn’t there a high chance it’ll work?”
The guy, as well as Kyungsoo and Number 21, seemed quite surprised.
But… the problem was how to steal the opponent’s flag.
“Um… can you tell me your name…?”
For some reason, his number tag was missing.
Did something happen during the last game or the chaos in the auditorium…?
“Ah… I’m Park Jungbae. Feel free to call me Number 390.”
“Okay, Jungbae, if most of the opponents fall, run and steal the flag immediately.”
“Number 21, you see the vests piled up behind the opponent’s base? Can you sneak around and throw those vests?”
Fortunately, both Jungbae and Number 21 seemed to agree.
[The third round will now begin]
[Bang!]
“What should I do? Sunbae.”
“Yujin and Kyungsoo, wait on the left and right sides of the middle of the auditorium and create confusion with sound.”
“If you see Jungbae, ask him to pass the flag.”
Once Yujin and Kyungsoo were given roles, the timer started running.
“Okay, let’s go right away, we don’t have much time!”
[Swish-]
First, I picked up the flag and slowly started walking towards the pile of vests.
If I hid it here, we wouldn’t be attacked, at least.
Even if they found it, there wouldn’t be enough time.
Jiyoon is overly wary of me.
But that wariness has become the trigger for our victory.
…But I should apologize to Jiyoon about this.
…
[03:13]
Almost two minutes passed, and I saw Jiyoon running from afar.
Soon after, Jiyoon seemed to realize that the flag was gone and looked flustered.
…It’s time to leave.
[Step… Step…]
“Jiyoon…”