Chapter 488
Chapter 488
I stared at Seon A-hyun.
‘He wants to exchange cards?’
Furthermore, the guy who had called me to the outskirts of his room pulled something out of his pocket.
“…!”
It was Gold with a QR code attached.
It was the currency used for card exchanges.
“Where did you find that?”
“Uh, actually…”
Seon A-hyun whispered quietly. He explained that when he first woke up in the room, he had searched the area while reading his profile.
“I found it… under the bed back then.”
“…….”
In other words, he had found it right when the game started.
‘And he kept his mouth shut until now?’
Seon A-hyun did?
I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
‘Everyone’s developed a real knack for variety shows.’
It was almost commendable. I was actually looking forward to seeing how this would turn out after Ryu Seo-rin edited it according to her scenario.
“But I’m not sure if it’s okay to use it like this. We might need it for a more decisive moment.”
At that, Seon A-hyun nodded with a look of determination.
“We need to get information, so it’s okay to use my Gold…!”
“Hmm.”
If I were playing seriously and calculating efficiency, the right answer would be to wait until someone else moved first, but…
‘This is a variety show.’
It was better for the progression of the show to get the first attempt out of the way quickly. So, I nodded.
“Then let’s at least share our jobs with each other first. I think that would be better.”
“Yeah. I’m… a Scholar.”
Oh.
I nodded.
“What about you, Moon-dae…?”
“I’m a Doctor.”
“Ah, I see!”
Seon A-hyun blushed and nodded, saying it was a good job. With that, the conversation ended.
“We’re going to exchange cards.”
“Huh?”
“You found Gold?”
I gathered the other members and stood in front of the front door.
“We’re just going to try it out once as a test.”
“Okay.”
Keun Se-jin nodded.
I summarized the game rules once more.
“If one of us is the sacrifice, the sacrifice changes through this card exchange, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
It was like passing the Joker in a card game.
‘Or like passing a bomb.’
However, this felt more like a survival game with a hidden culprit—a murderer—similar to a Mafia game.
But whether they were Mafia or a Citizen, I didn't think anyone would bother claiming a job like ‘Scholar’ or ‘Doctor’ first.
I recalled the answer I gave Ryu Cheong-woo earlier.
When he asked which job seemed most likely to die?
—Either the Detective or the Jester.
If the person choosing the sacrifice was the Mafia, they’d pick the Detective; if they were a Citizen, they’d pick the Jester.
‘That’s the standard route.’
Jobs like Scholar or Doctor didn't draw as much aggro as those two.
And so, in front of the front door—the only place that was still pitch black because the lights hadn't come on—we held up our cards, relying solely on the light emanating from the panel.
“Here goes.”
“Okay.”
I scanned the QR codes for myself, Seon A-hyun, and the Gold.
“…….”
Then, the screen on the front door panel began to swirl in a silent, dark red vortex.
“Ooh!”
“Gosh, that’s creepier than I thought.”
Listening to the nervous voices of the guys, I kept my eyes fixed on the panel.
The vortex lasted for about three to four seconds before it soon vanished.
All that remained on the screen were the backs of two cards.
[Mark Exchange Complete]
[Park Moon-dae <-> Seon A-hyun]
“Oh.”
“So that’s how you do it.”
The members let out small exclamations of wonder.
I ran my fingers over my card.
‘No other information.’
It seemed that only the exchange record was cleanly stored inside.
“It wasn't much.”
“Yeah. But… it was cool!”
“I guess so.”
There were no other frills. Seon A-hyun and I stepped away from the front door, seemingly satisfied with having demonstrated the process.
After that, it was a continuous cycle of exploration.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae~ Don't tell me you couldn't open the bathroom door in this dorm either? Oh, if it’s this difficult, there might be Gold inside here too…”
“There’s a ghost inside.”
“Gah!”
And then, some skits.
“There’s chicken in the fridge!”
“…!!”
“They’re actually feeding us. I’m so moved.”
As the skits continued, the atmosphere was just starting to loosen up.
The members, perhaps having grown accustomed to the environment, scattered and began poking around the two spacious dorms.
‘Has it already been two hours?’
A moment later.
BEEEEEEEP!
“…!”
An alarm blared from the entrance.
Then, a voice began to repeat like an emergency announcement along with the siren.
[Warning: Please enter your Starting Room.]
[Warning: Please enter your Starting Room.]
[Warning: Please enter your Starting Room.]
“W-What is it?”
“Starting Room?”
The scattered members came running out. I shouted loudly over the sound of the siren.
“I think it means the rooms we each started in!”
“Ah!”
“See you all in a bit!”
The guys who had run to the entrance immediately scattered in an orderly fashion. They truly acted like veterans of broadcasting.
I also returned to the room where I had started.
The room that was a recreation of my room from the previous dorm.
Click.
The moment I entered and closed the door, muffling the siren by a layer.
Ding-dong!!
“…!!”
[It is time for a mid-term announcement.]
…There was a speaker in here too.
‘…Whew.’
They must be doing this on purpose to startle people.
Since the fluorescent lights still weren't on, I sat on the edge of the bed in the corner of the dark room.
Then, that eerie mechanical voice came over the speaker again.
[Check the drawer at the head of the bed.]
Fine.
I moved my hand. Inside the drawer at the head of the bed, there was an electronic device.
It definitely hadn't been there earlier.
‘Did a staff member filming from back there come out and put it in?’
They’re working hard. I muttered to myself as I looked at the black box in the corner with only the camera lens peeking out.
Then, I carefully turned on the screen of the device. It was an Osung Tab, likely provided as PPL.
Beep.
The glowing screen flickered, cutting through the dark air.
[Job Ability Revealed]
[Your job ability is…….]
‘Ho.’
So this is why they separated the members.
I slowly read through the entire text.
“…….”
‘So… this is what I’m supposed to use it for.’
It was quite interesting.
As I rubbed my chin, thinking of a few ways to apply it, another notification sounded.
‘Hm?’
The screen of the pad changed again.
[01:00:00]
[※ Mark Verification Available ※]
The time remaining until the end of the game, and… the mark on my card.
“…….”
I reached out and touched the pad.
[Kyahahaha!]
The first thing I heard was the laughter of a young child.
That innocent sound created a sense of dissonance, sending a chill down my spine.
Then, without warning, a massive red circular pattern filled the pad.
The pattern of a lamb’s skull.
[Your card is the ‘Sacrificial Mark’.]
[Current Lamb: Park Moon-dae]
“…….”
I see.
I took my eyes off the pad for a moment and caught my breath.
I have the Sacrificial Mark.
Which means, if things stay like this, I die.
“Heave-ho~ Did everyone see that!”
“Yeah, bro!”
The siren blared again, and the members emerged from their respective rooms.
The remaining hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Instead of searching for Gold, the focus shifted toward conversation and surveillance.
“Uh-oh? Where are you two hyungs going~? Exchanging cards, perhaps?”
“…W-We’re going to heat up the chicken.”
“……Yep.”
To the outside world, the hour passed smoothly without any particular incidents or conflicts.
However, a strange tension was mounting.
‘Soon.’
It’s the end.
I kept track of the time, waiting for the ending.
A moment later.
BEEEEEEEP!!
“Whoa.”
“I guess time is up.”
This time, we weren't that surprised.
However, everyone had slightly tense expressions.
‘The person to be eliminated has been decided.’
After being inside for several hours, the level of immersion naturally deepened, and the word ‘Sacrifice’ began to feel a bit frightening.
It was like being in a haunted house at an amusement park.
“It’s up.”
And indeed, the countdown on the front door panel had finished.
[00:00:00]
Then, as if to cover it, giant letters appeared.
[Exchange Closed]
“…….”
The distorted mechanical voice began to flow from the speakers again.
[Notice before the announcement.]
[The first Sacrificial Mark you received was determined by a vote from the sponsors.]
“S-Sponsors…?”
[As a result of the vote by the fans who love you,]
‘……Fans?’
A bright red graph on the screen shot up endlessly until it reached a staggering figure of 20,374 votes.
Combining that high number with the explanation…
“No way… was this a fan vote?”
“When on earth did you take the votes?”
‘My thoughts exactly.’
Whether the shocked members were surprised or not, the panel stoically continued the narration.
[The one that received the most votes was a single job with 20,374 votes.]
Now, everyone was holding their breath as they watched the panel.
[And now that the time limit has passed, the job holding this Sacrificial Mark is…….]
Gulp.
In the moment the sound of someone swallowing hard was heard amidst the eerie tension.
The result rang out.
[The Scholar.]
“…!!”
“Ah.”
Reflexively, I glanced back at Seon A-hyun.
Seon A-hyun’s face was pale.
‘…….’
—Yeah. I’m… a Scholar.
Seon A-hyun had definitely said that.
And the members immediately began looking around to find the person in question.
“Scholar?”
“Who’s the Scholar? Speak up!”
“…….”
But it was silent.
No one stepped forward, and Seon A-hyun also kept his mouth shut.
“Huh?”
“…Why isn't anyone coming forward?”
Bae Se-jin narrowed his eyes, and Kim Rae-bin looked around in confusion.
“I-Isn't it a situation where the result can't be changed anyway?”
“Right!”
“But why…?”
It was while everyone was talking with confused expressions.
[The Sacrificial Room has opened.]
Creeeeak.
“Gasp.”
The front door opened automatically.
And behind it, I saw another door opening automatically as well.
It was… the single room in our dorm.
The room that hadn't opened.
“Is that the Sacrificial Room?”
“It looks like it.”
A thought reflexively popped into my head.
The note that had been lying under that door, which Kim Rae-bin had picked up.
—I open at the end.
‘Did that mean that room would open when this game ended?’
Or, was it when it was confirmed who would die, who would be finished…
I followed the guys while making that assumption for now. Thinking that, given the atmosphere, I should mention this in the interview.
And in front of the open door of the single room.
“I’m going in!”
Cha Yu-jin stepped inside without hesitation. But…
“Oops!!”
“W-Why, what is it?”
He frowned and pulled his foot back.
‘What?’
Startled by his reaction, everyone peered into the room.
“…!!”
The inside of the room… looked like some kind of cult altar.
Tattered black wallpaper and burning red candles flickered ominously.
And in the very center was a massive coffin-shaped altar. On top of it, a bright red lamb’s skull pattern was engraved.
‘This is insane.’
CRASH!
“Agh!”
They even have thunder sound effects?
In front of that space, which the art team must have poured their souls into, the members became a huddle of penguins again.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae, I don't think I can sleep in this room anymore…”
“It’s a good thing we’re moving.”
“Yeah.”
At any rate, we cautiously entered the room.
“…There are name tags.”
“Ugh.”
And soon, we were arranged around the coffin-shaped altar according to the names marked like a guest table.
It was at that moment.
[Participants.]
“I knew this would happen.”
“Me too.”
The eerie narration began to flow through the speakers again.
A camera emerged from the coffin and rotated to capture our faces.
[Welcome to the Sacrificial Room.]
“Are we really supposed to sacrifice a member here?!”
“Calm down, Rae-bin.”
[Participants, you must find the Black Sheep here.]
“…….”
Black Sheep?
[The participant who passed their sacrificial fate to another participant.]
[In other words, the culprit who made the ‘Scholar’ the sacrifice through the final mark exchange is the ‘Black Sheep’.]
“No way.”
“Wow, this is getting more and more confusing.”
I quickly organized my thoughts.
‘Hmm.’
So, in the end, it means we have to find the person who last passed the mark to the ‘Scholar,’ who became the final sacrifice.
It seemed they considered that act to be the work of a ‘Mafia’ or a ‘culprit.’
‘Then we just have to find the person who last exchanged with the Scholar.’
Just as I was thinking it might be too easy to deduce.
Another condition was added.
[If you correctly deduce the Black Sheep, that culprit will be offered as a Burnt Offering along with the sacrifice.]
[However, if you fail to find the Black Sheep,]
“…Then what?”
[Everyone except the Black Sheep and the sacrifice will be offered as a Burnt Offering.]
“Aaaaah!”
“Wow, this is a total horror game!”
At the mention of a total massacre, screams and intense reactions erupted from all over.
‘Oh.’
So, this is a structure where the sacrifice can also survive if they keep their mouth shut.
‘If it’s like this, they won't say who they exchanged with.’
I marveled at the production team’s wickedness.
[Then, good luck.]
Luck—, luck—, luck—…….
The speaker, which had been echoing ominously, soon crackled and cut off.
Then, a red light came on in the skull pattern on the coffin.
“Oh!”
“I guess it’s time to start.”
While shaking our heads at the incredible room, the atmosphere soon settled in its own way.
The members seemed to be organizing their thoughts and coming up with things to talk about.
Of course, wouldn't this be the number one priority?
‘It would be who the Scholar is, the one who became the sacrifice.’
In fact, if we could somehow interrogate that person and catch the one who made the final exchange, wouldn't that be the end of it?
But the first person to speak was…
“Wait! I have something to say first.”
It was Bae Se-jin.
He continued calmly.
“I knew exactly what jobs there were.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m the Lawyer.”
And just as he had told me, he began to reveal all the information he knew.
‘Since it’s the final stage, I guess this is rational.’
I nodded inwardly.
If you know all the jobs, it’s easy to deduce who has which job through the process of elimination.
“But, there’s exactly one person who claimed a job that doesn't exist! That person is…”
And just as Bae Se-jin was about to say Kim Rae-bin’s name.
“Uh-oh? Hold on a second.”
‘…?’
Keun Se-jin suddenly cut in. He immediately asked Bae Se-jin, who had stopped talking in surprise.
“Hyung, what did you say your job was?”
“…I’m the Lawyer. The Lawyer’s job ability is being able to know the other jobs…”
“…? No, hyung, you’re the Lawyer?”
Keun Se-jin let out a short laugh.
Then, he dropped a bombshell.
“That’s strange. Because I’m the Lawyer.”
“……!!”
“Uh-uh-uh?”
“There can't be two of the same job. Right?”
“…….”
The members, their mouths agape, looked back and forth between the two namesakes.
Keun Se-jin stroked the back of his neck.
“Hmm. Looking at the reaction, it seems Se-jin hyung has been going around telling everyone he’s the Lawyer, but, uh, a Lawyer isn't supposed to do that according to the mission.”
“…!!”
After observing the members’ reactions, Keun Se-jin frowned and gave a bitter smile.
Then, he let out a sigh.
“Oh boy~ You were all fooled by hyung. Completely fooled.”
“…….”
A moment of bewildered silence split the members.
At that moment.
“Wait a minute.”
Bae Se-jin, his face turning pale, said firmly.
“The one who’s lying is you!”
‘Oh my god.’
I swallowed a groan.
‘So one of them is definitely trolling, is that it?’
I could already see the viewers holding their breath and munching on popcorn.
It was, quite literally, the beginning of a free-for-all.