The silence lasted a long time.
And for almost a moment, one could have believed that the game itself was waiting to see what would happen next.
A calculated silence.
I could feel the burning cube against my palm, for a simple chance to use it.
It was no longer burning.
It weighed.
Each symbol engraved on it seemed to disappear.
The mime disappeared without saying goodbye.
The screens remained on.
My face too.
He smiled…
– Why is he smiling?
– He just incurred a debt and he's smiling?
Around me, no one moved. Letting the situation take its course.
Seo-Hwan, on the other hand, stared at me as if I had ceased to be human. His eyes were bloodshot when he looked at his watch.
"The game isn't over yet," he spat.
– Anything can happen
I nodded slowly.
– Yes, I understand, I replied.
– But I learn quickly.
A nervous laugh broke out somewhere. He died instantly.
Kim Young took a step forward, applauding, then stopped. Her gaze slid towards the cube, then towards the screens. She understood. All too well.
"Of course you understand quickly... a little too quickly," she murmured to herself.
Ji-Yunwoo, for his part, said nothing. He observed me as one observes a scene of no interest, something that had no value, but which was nevertheless there, undeniable.
A-09 tilted his head slightly.
"Interesting," he breathed. "I still don't understand anything."
– A weak player… who voluntarily incurs debt.
Non.
But I wasn't going to correct it.
A vibration runs through the ground.
[NEW PHASE IS BEING LOADING]
The lights changed. The yellow disappeared, replaced by a deep, almost painful red. The screens split.
– Oh no…
– What's going on now…
– hein ?!
The neutral voice returns. Deeper.
[DUE TO AN UNPLANNED ACTIVATION]
[THE GAME ENTERS UNBALANCED MODE]
A shiver ran through the assembly.
Kim Young suddenly raised his head.
– …Non.
[SOME PLAYERS WILL NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED STANDARD TARGETS]
All eyes turned towards me.
Even though nothing was clear, the culprit had already been identified in their eyes.
[LAST CHANCE FOR THE MURDERER]
The letters are flashing.
Then they changed color.
[PLAYING UNLUCKY]
A murmur of panic erupted.
– What is this?!
– Can we become like that too?
- Why ?!
I felt a dull ache behind my eyes. An understanding.
I was no longer fully in the game.
I was a common problem for the game.
A way to unite them effortlessly
The voice continued.
[LET THE GAME RESUME]
Seo-Hwan steps forward into the circle .
– …get ready everyone
I slowly raised my head towards him.
"What does that mean…," I said calmly.
– I'm not going to miss you.
His face contorted into a terrifying grimace.
A-09 burst into a clear laugh.
"I don't understand, but it's funny..." he applauded softly.
– Move it so we can get this over with.
Ji-Yunwoo finally looked me straight in the eyes.
I was looking at the cube.
[ REMINDER ]
[ALL DEBT MUST BE PAID]
The message appeared directly on my screen.
– and here I was, wanting to survive without being seen.
A new notification was imposed on me alone.
[ THIS ACTIVE ]
[CONDITION: TO BE DISCOVERED]
[FAILURE = PENALTY OUT OF PLAY]
I was breathing slowly.
"I have plenty of time to sort this out," I said in a choked voice.
The screens changed one last time.
[NEXT PHASE: EXTENDED HUNT]
[NEW TRAINING COURSE]
A symbol appeared. The same one as on the cube.
A smile slowly stretched across my lips.
- Perfect.
I looked up at Seo Hwan.
– we're not going.
– This time… I'll get you too.
And somewhere, far, far away, someone was laughing.