Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: How to Seize Victory in a Game
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The faint noise was quickly drowned out by the cheerful music.
As if nothing had happened, the people resumed their fun with joyful faces.
The happy, enjoyable time continued.
But not everyone felt that way.
The ominous warning had carved a tiny sliver of doubt.
A mind, once cracked, can never truly go back.
Those in whom suspicion had sprouted, a very small fraction—perhaps one in a hundred—quietly slipped away.
The children, too, watched Red with slightly anxious faces.
Red smiled, reassuring them that everything was fine.
The children's expressions brightened once more.
That's Red for you!
Her single word was enough to uproot the seeds of doubt in their hearts. It was a fresh reminder of what Red meant to these children.
After all, she was the famous Crime Killer.
If anyone were plotting something here, it would surely be crushed at her hands.
The moment the children turned their heads forward, Red's smile vanished.
The look in her eyes had changed. She scanned her surroundings, her guard never lowering.
As the saying goes, 'Look before you leap.' There's no harm in being cautious.
But something was strange.
For now, there was no sign of anything major about to happen here.
No presence of death, no scent of blood—none of that ominous atmosphere could be found.
Even if I don't look it, they call me the Grim Reaper.
Not even I could see anything suspicious.
Right now, it just looked like an ordinary amusement park.
Of course, in a world like this, one can't let their guard down even in the face of normalcy. So, just like her, I didn't completely dismiss my suspicions.
“Big sis! Look over there, there’s something cool.”
Lena tugged repeatedly at Red’s sleeve, pointing toward a certain spot.
[A Machine That Draws the World Within Your Mind]
Ooh~.
What an interesting machine.
Encountering something novel is bound to spark curiosity.
The children pestered Red to go check it out.
“…Alright, let’s go.”
“““Yayyy!!”””
The children scampered off toward the attraction.
Watching their innocent backs, she wore a faint smile.
Did I just see that wrong?
Just before she spoke, it looked like she glanced at me.
What was that all of a sudden?
“Come on, Lily, let’s go too.”
Red took my hand and led me toward the attraction.
I was internally puzzled by her recent behavior, but I quickly forgot about it and walked on.
The moment we entered the building, an android greeted us and slowly guided us.
The android explained how the machine worked.
If you put your hand into the slot, which was large enough for one hand, the machine would read your mind, measure the data, and draw a picture of your inner world.
Then a piece of paper would come out.
I didn't think it was 100% accurate, but it was an undeniably amazing machine.
The children, intrigued by the machine, decided the order with rock-paper-scissors.
The result of the game was that Lena would go first.
As Lena went to put her hand in the slot, a look of nervousness crossed her face.
Still, she bravely put her hand in.
Bee-bee-beep—!
The machine made a sound, and a moment later, a piece of paper was dispensed.
Everyone gathered around Lena, looking at the drawing with curious eyes.
Lena’s picture was of a green meadow under a bright, sunny sky.
The refreshing atmosphere suited Lena perfectly.
The other children were thinking the same thing I was.
“It looks so warm.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Next was Bada.
Bada’s picture depicted a dreamlike landscape with colorful clouds, rainbows, and various other elements blended together.
It was a world befitting Bada, who loved books.
The other children took their turns, and while the landscapes themselves were different, the atmosphere of the pictures was similar.
They were bright, refreshing, and endlessly rich.
“You try it too, Lily.”
I was just planning to watch.
The children chimed in, urging me to try.
Having no choice, I stood before the machine.
“What will Lily’s look like?”
“I bet it’ll be a really beautiful picture.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
We'll see.
I was a little curious myself.
I didn't fully believe in it, but I wondered what my world would look like.
I put my soft hand into the slot.
In some movies, people get their wrists chopped off putting their hands in holes like this.
As I waited with such stray thoughts...
[#@!$!@$!@$@!$$#@$%$^]
The machine made a violent noise, as if it were about to explode.
It was so loud I wondered if it had broken, and I was debating whether to pull my hand out when the picture safely emerged.
Phew.
I guess it’s not broken.
The children gathered to look at the picture and let out a collective, “Huh?”
The machine must be broken.
There’s no other way it could come out like this.
My picture, unlike the children's, had nothing drawn on it.
To be precise, the entire front was black, as if someone had splashed black ink on it.
“What is this?”
“It’s totally black.”
“Big sis, look at this. I think the machine’s broken.”
The moment Red saw my picture, her eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
After a very brief pause.
Red spoke, trying to sound normal.
“…You’re right. It looks like the machine is broken. I’ll go tell them.”
Red turned to go and explain.
I didn't know why, but for a fleeting moment, sadness and pity flashed in her eyes.
The children kept consoling me until the moment we left the attraction.
Did they think I was heartbroken because I didn't get a proper result?
Even when I gestured that I was fine, they didn't stop.
Sigh.
After that, we started riding the attractions again.
Even though we were just having fun, we were tired from moving around so much, so we sat on a bench to rest.
As I was resting, Red sat down next to me.
She handed me a synthetic ice cream, and I didn't refuse it.
I shifted my mask slightly and flicked my tongue, letting the treat soothe my fatigue.
Red placed her hand on my head and gently stroked my hair.
I tilted my head in confusion.
Red gave a warm smile.
“It’s just that Lily is so cute. Did you mind?”
Mmm. The touch felt a little embarrassing.
But I let her be.
She went to the trouble of bringing me here; it wouldn't be polite to refuse.
The pat-pat on my head.
Just as we finished resting and were about to move again, an announcement echoed throughout the amusement park.
[To all our visitors at Squid Amusement Park. Are you having a good time?]
Was that the park manager speaking?
The young voice continued.
[I can feel the heat and excitement all the way from where I am. I’m sure you’re all having plenty of fun, but it’s not over yet. The most popular event at Squid Amusement Park is still to come.]
Things were fine as they were.
But at the news that an even more fun game was prepared.
Excitement and anticipation erupted from the crowd.
[You are all the luckiest people here today. This game will completely change you. Say goodbye to your old lives! Victory awaits, bringing you people! Money! Dreams! You will gain the absolute power to fulfill the desires you could never dream of in the city!]
Red’s expression turned cold and hard.
I, too, sensed that something was wrong.
[Now, let’s begin! The greatest game that will change your lives!!!]
As the broadcast ended, the ground beneath people’s feet began to glow.
Geometric patterns rose up, filling the entire space.
Excitement, anticipation, or perhaps bewilderment began to bloom on people’s faces.
The murmuring grew louder.
For a moment, I remembered the beastman's warning.
Immediately after, the entire amusement park was engulfed in a brilliant light.
***
I looked around.
After being swallowed by the light, we were transported to a strange place.
It was a vast plaza, large enough to hold everyone who had been at the amusement park.
One by one, people began to open their eyes.
Those who were awake looked at each other and began to talk.
Where on earth are we? What just happened? Is this some kind of event?
Some observed with curious eyes, some trembled with anxiety, and others drew a crescent on their lips in excitement—each person reacted differently.
The murmuring grew steadily louder.
Naturally, the children were trembling with fear, and Red was calming them down.
After some time had passed.
Just as complaints began to erupt, demanding an explanation for the situation, a strange sound echoed.
Then.
A massive number of unidentified people armed with guns, along with giant robots, appeared and surrounded the crowd.
And on a platform, people wearing strange masks began to stand.
A large hologram lit up above the platform so that everyone in the plaza could see and hear.
When a person in a black mask spoke, a deep, static-filled, modulated voice spread throughout the plaza.
[From this moment on, you are all participants in the game prepared by Squid Amusement Park.]
As if reciting a prepared script, they began to explain the current situation and the rules of the game.
To summarize it simply:
One, all participants must take part in every game prepared by the organizers.
Two, only those who pass all the games can leave this place.
Three, the final survivor will receive a massive cash prize.
The people grew even more confused.
The commotion grew, and some began to protest being forced into the game without their consent.
“Why should we listen to you!”
“That’s right! I’m not playing any game!”
“Just let us out of here already!”
It was crowd psychology; once one person spoke up, everyone found their voice.
With this many people, I thought they might just be able to overturn the whole game.
Despite the fierce protests, the masked people on the platform seemed unfazed.
Rather.
[You do not have the right to refuse the game.]
The crowd erupted, about to charge the masked figures.
The person in the black mask raised a hand, and immediately a gunshot was fired into the air.
The people who had been about to rush forward froze at the sound.
When the guns and the giant robots surrounding the crowd aimed their weapons at them, the earlier momentum vanished, and everyone quieted down.
Most of the people here were ordinary citizens, not enough to overpower those numbers.
There seemed to be a few Fixers mixed in the crowd, but they weren't particularly skilled and appeared to be just observing the situation.
Once it was quiet, the masked person continued speaking.
[Please look at the ceiling. That is the prize money the winner who passes all events will receive.]
The crowd’s gaze turned to the ceiling.
There was a giant piggy bank on the ceiling.
As it filled with money, the look in people’s eyes changed drastically.
[In addition, the prize money will increase as the number of participants decreases.]
At those words, the people's eyes began to shimmer with deep desire.
“This could be dangerous.”
I agreed with Red.
It was as if I could hear the gears turning in the minds of the very people who had just been complaining, now scheming how to get their hands on that money.
“It can’t be helped. Kids, I’ll be right back. You have to stay put until I return.”
The children nodded.
Red took a step forward.
[From now on, the first—]
The head of the black-masked person who was speaking exploded.
Not brains, but machine parts scattered into the air.
Suddenly, a red-haired woman in a black coat stood on the platform.
The masked people and the giant robots charged at Red.
But they were all easily destroyed in return.
Even bullets couldn't leave a single scratch on Red's body.
Red was left standing alone.
She brought her mouth to the microphone on the platform and began to speak.
She announced who she was and that she would personally resolve this situation.
And she warned everyone.
“From this moment on, no one here is to do anything. The instant you follow their orders, you will die at my hands.”
A few, unable to let go of their greed for the money, subtly voiced their complaints or tried to use the crowd's sentiment.
“Quiet.”
That one word was more than enough to silence them.
The greed that had bloomed in their hearts was completely crushed by the pressure Red exuded.
She really is amazing.
I inwardly applauded her for her audacious actions.
There's no need to participate in the game and win.
In fact, participating and winning would be a defeat.
If you want to truly win this game, if you want to defeat the game master who planned this whole thing.
You just have to flip the game board itself.
Normally, that would be nearly impossible.
But for Red, it's more than possible.
You go flip the game board.
I'll stay here and eliminate the malice surrounding us while you take care of things.