Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Quiz Room (2)
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Dokgo Hyun and the other three members of Group 41 read the mission window carefully, staying silent.
In contrast, the ten players from Group 40 muttered among themselves, exchanging opinions.
"Hmm. So it's a quiz where we fight each other, huh."
"But aren't we at an advantage?"
"Y-yeah. We've got more people."
With Group 40 having ten members compared to Group 41's mere four, they figured they held the edge.
Dokgo Hyun shook his head inwardly.
'Wrong. Group 41 will win.'
In team battles, more numbers often meant an advantage, that much was true. But quizzes weren't always like that.
One teammate blurting out a wrong answer could waste the whole team's chance. Or some loudmouth insisting a wrong answer was right despite discussion.
'We're short on numbers, but everyone here backs me. That makes us better.'
"Let's start from Stage 1, then!"
"Group 40 leader Gu Taehyuk. Group 41 leader Dokgo Hyun. Come forward."
Gu Taehyuk from Group 40 was a man in his mid-thirties with a rugged yet intellectual look.
His short hair, thick neck, and square jaw gave off a tough guy vibe, but his casual suit and gold-rimmed glasses made him look like a sharp businessman.
Gu Taehyuk scanned Dokgo Hyun up and down. Dokgo Hyun was dressed in everyday clothes.
Dokgo Hyun bowed politely.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Dokgo Hyun, leader of Group 41."
"Hm. Gu Taehyuk, leader of Group 40."
Gu Taehyuk gave Dokgo Hyun another once-over before looking away.
Swoosh.
The supervisor held out two buzzers equipped with red portable buttons.
"In a moment, I'll give the quiz. It's multiple choice with four options. The first to figure out the right answer presses the button and states it."
"Can we collaborate with our teammates?"
Dokgo Hyun asked, and the supervisor nodded vigorously, its question-mark head bobbing.
"Of course! Pooling your group's wisdom is key."
At that, Group 40's leader Gu Taehyuk suddenly snorted. "Pfft!"
"Hm? Something wrong?"
"I'm not mocking you, supervisor."
Gu Taehyuk smirked openly at Dokgo Hyun.
"With so few heads and looking like a bunch of dimwits, what good is pooling their 'wisdom'?"
He adjusted his glasses, spewing outright insults.
A provocation to rattle their nerves.
A cheap trick, but subtly effective.
If the opponent weren't Dokgo Hyun.
"No need to be scared."
"What?"
"Trash-talking our intellect before the first round even starts means you're actually wary of our smarts. In other words, you're intimidated by Group 41."
Anyone truly looking down on foes wouldn't bother pointing out their intelligence.
Dwelling on it just showed they were on guard about it.
"Which is why we won't comment on your intelligence. High or low, we'll win anyway."
"You little...!"
Gu Taehyuk, who'd started the taunting, got riled up instead.
Dokgo Hyun ignored him and addressed the supervisor.
"Let's begin, supervisor."
Dokgo Hyun had already returned to Group 41's spot in the studio.
Gu Taehyuk wanted to curse at his back but missed the timing.
"Heh. Entertaining. Group 40, get back to your seats and prepare."
Gu Taehyuk irritably stomped back to his spot.
His underlings settled in the back row and asked.
"Uh, you okay, leader?"
"What do you mean?"
"That kid's not just built tough. His brain spins fast too."
"So? You think I'll lose?"
"Ah, well..."
"Doubting me even though you know my skill? In a quiz, no less?"
"...No, sir."
Group 40's members quickly shook off their unease.
"It's just a quiz. Your skill gives us a clear edge."
"Heh. Obviously."
Gu Taehyuk pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.
'D-Grade Tool Creation Skill: [Internet Glasses].'
Glasses created by his skill. They looked like ordinary gold-rimmed ones at a glance.
No smartphone signals here, but Gu Taehyuk could channel mana to search the internet.
Especially, [Internet Glasses] only searched via the lens he focused on, making it hard for third parties to tell if he was using the skill.
Drawbacks: It took a bit of time, like real searches. And only Korean websites.
Still, Gu Taehyuk wielded it well.
'I can nail this too. For multiple choice, just search quick and pick the answer!'
He was confident.
"All set! Cameras rolling!"
At the supervisor's words from the host seat, studio cameras whirred to life.
"Quiz Room Stage 1! Speed Quiz!"
Bam!
An effect sound blared from somewhere in the Quiz Room.
"Five multiple-choice questions total! Solve them for points. The team with the higher total wins! Points vary per question: 1 for Q1, 2 for Q2, and so on."
Even if they aced 1 through 3 for 6 points, losing 4 and 5 to the opponents meant defeat.
"The leader who knows the answer presses the red button and shouts the number! Wrong answers incur penalties based on points, and the chance passes to the other team! Here comes the first question! Get ready!"
Bam!
With the sound, spotlights focused on the supervisor.
"Speed Quiz 1! Which of the following is Japan's current capital?"
① Okayama
② Kyoto
③ Osaka
④ ....
Beep!
Dokgo Hyun pressed first.
Before even hearing option 4.
"Yes, Group 41 leader! But I haven't finished the question. Still want to answer?"
"Yes. The answer is 4."
"Correct!"
"Nice!"
"Great job!"
"How'd you know?"
Group 41 cheered.
Dokgo Hyun explained.
"Multiple choice. No answer in 1-3? Gotta be 4."
Truth be told, Q1 was easy. Gu Taehyuk knew it without his [Internet Glasses].
But he'd waited for the full question.
'Tch! Bolder than he looks.'
Speed quiz meant fast buttons mattered.
But penalties made Gu Taehyuk overly cautious.
Dokgo Hyun judged quick and acted bold.
As Gu Taehyuk ground his teeth inwardly, Q2 hit.
"Speed Quiz 2! Pick the wrong color combo from the options."
① Red + Blue = Purple
② Red + Yellow = Orange
③ Blue + Yellow = Green
④ Blue + ....
Beep!
Dokgo Hyun again.
"4."
"Ooh! Correct!"
"You're killing it! Total pro!"
Choi Hanpoong was thrilled.
"Amazing! We're gonna win!"
Eun Jua clapped happily too.
"Told you we picked the right leader."
Kang O-su beamed.
Group 40's faces soured.
Teammates whispered to Gu Taehyuk.
"Leader. What're you doing?"
"Weren't you a college prof?"
"And using your skill on top of that, but getting crushed."
"Thought you were quiz king. Sigh."
They vented at him.
No fools themselves, they knew Gu Taehyuk wasn't truly smart—just faking it to dominate.
His true colors showed fast, so tempers flared easy.
"Watch your mouths with your leader! Know your place?"
"Leader! Next one, just yell 4 right away."
"Huh?"
"All correct so far were 4."
"You idiot. Just 'cause it was 4 before doesn't mean it will be again!"
"Win or lose, gotta try, right? This way we're getting steamrolled."
Their tone turned insolent.
"Tch."
Gu Taehyuk gnashed his teeth, but after two straight losses, he couldn't yell.
"Speed Quiz 3! Pick the option that's not a standard state of matter!"
① Solid
② Liquid....
Beep!
Gu Taehyuk hit the button first this time.
"Answer's 4!"
"Sure? I haven't finished..."
"4!!"
"Hm...."
Group 40 Wrong!
Wrong answer penalty applied!
Boom boom boom!!
Three Group 40 players exploded, leaving no corpses.
"Agh?!"
"W-what?!"
The supervisor calmly explained to the flinching crowd.
"Wrong answer penalty. State a wrong answer without knowing for sure, and it hits."
"P-penalty is death...!"
"Why act surprised now? Note: Leader doesn't die. Only non-leader members randomly. And as said, one penalty passes the turn."
The supervisor eyed Dokgo Hyun.
"Hm. I can take it easy now? Finish the question."
"Sure."
③ Free Ion Combustion State.
④ Gas.
Dokgo Hyun got it.
"It's 3. Answer's 3!"
"Correct!"
Group 41 hit three straight wins in a flash.
'This is the turning point.'
Now, Dokgo Hyun needed just one of 4 or 5 to win.
But if Gu Taehyuk nailed both? Ridiculous comeback.
"Damn. Even if I use my skill..."
Gu Taehyuk muttered.
A worrying line for Dokgo Hyun.
He still didn't know Gu Taehyuk's skill.
"Speed Quiz 4! From the options..."
Beep!!
"2!!!"
Gu Taehyuk slammed and yelled.
Everyone was stunned.
"Dude, you did it again. What if you're wrong?"
"Leader doesn't die on wrongs, right?"
Gu Taehyuk laughed hysterically.
"S-so?!"
"That make you a leader?!"
Group 40 raged.
"What choice do we have, idiots! Lose 4 and Stage 1's a total bust! Lose Stage 2 too, we're all dead!!"
Gu Taehyuk had a point.
Desperation gamble.
'Gotta watch.'
Dokgo Hyun thought.
Pure gamble, 25% odds. Not smart.
'How's it land?'
"Correct!!"
"Whoa?!"
"It was really 2?!"
Against all odds, it worked.
Even Group 40 was shocked and baffled.
"H-how?"
"No idea."
Eun Jua and Choi Hanpoong were dumbfounded.
"Skill?"
Kang O-su muttered. Dokgo Hyun shook his head.
"No. Pure luck."
Dokgo Hyun focused mana in his eyes via [Mana Circulation Method] to observe Gu Taehyuk.
No trace of mana use if he'd activated a skill.
"Just a blind guess that hit."
Dokgo Hyun was incredulous, but multiple choice luck happened.
"Now, next question."
As the supervisor spoke...
"W-wait!"
Gu Taehyuk raised his hand.
"I-I have a proposal."