After the wealthy youth retreated, Ren stood like a statue. Suddenly, in a swift motion, he raised his hand and slapped his own face, startling Arima who was watching him closely.
A mysterious smile played on Ren's lips, his eyes gleaming with a newfound fire. He whispered to himself:
"I can do this... As long as it's a 'game', I'm in my element."
Arima stared in shock, then let out a short laugh. "What's with you? You were trembling moments ago, and now you look like a hero from a battle manhwa! You're actually quite interesting, Ren."
Ren flushed red, his shyness returning, but the moment died as a cold, soulless voice boomed:
[Citizens... Return to your homes. The sun is setting.]
The crowd scattered like shadows. Ren looked at Arima and said sincerely: "Arima... please, stay safe."
She nodded and disappeared behind her door. Once Ren entered his room and closed the door, he heard the mechanical click of an automated lock. He was isolated. He lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, waiting as his heart hammered against his ribs.
Hours felt like eons until a distant scream shattered the night. A plea for help, followed by bitter, hysterical sobbing. The "Infiltrator" was at work. Ren didn't sleep; he watched the door, holding his breath until 10:00 AM when the voice returned:
[Please exit... Please exit...]
Ren rushed out, searching only for Arima. When he saw her standing there, pale but alive, he sighed: "Thank God... she's still here."
But the peace was broken by a girl's scream: "A body! Dash is dead!"
Everyone rushed to a room where Dash lay lifeless. A single, precise stab to the neck. No blood on the floor. The screen flashed: [Count: 39], followed by a timer: [30 minutes to investigate before voting].
Inside, the wealthy youth stood coldly. Ren asked, "Did you notice anything?"
"Why tell a nobody like you?" the youth mocked. "But look at the walls; they've turned a faint red. The village wipes away all traces of the Infiltrator. No fingerprints, no hair."
He added, "Haven't you checked your fridge? Your ID and the thing you loved most in your past life are inside. This place knows everything about us."
Ren tried to return to his room, but the doors were locked. In the plaza, accusations flew until a cold girl named Sojo stepped forward.
"Stop this chaos! I have a solution: (The Static Memory Game)."
Sojo explained: "You have one minute to memorize everyone's position in this circle. Then, we will be blindfolded, and the 'power' running this place will rearrange us. When you open your eyes, no one will be where they were. Your task is to point at the empty spaces and say: 'So-and-so was here.' Whoever has the sharpest memory wins points. Whoever forgets... we vote against them."
Ren began taking "mental screenshots," mapping people like coordinates in a strategy game. When the challenge began, fear clouded most people's minds. But Ren calmly pointed at the vacancies:
"Dash was here... Sojo was there... Arima was on the far right."
Ren secured 15 points. A frail boy, paralyzed by fear, only remembered 4 positions. The crowd turned on him like predators and cast their votes.
Suddenly, the screen flashed green:
[Identity Confirmed: (Infiltrator)]
They had killed him by pure luck and memory. But the joy died as a blood-red message appeared:
[The Infiltrator is dead. The deceased must now choose a (Successor). The game continues. Go and enjoy yourselves.]
Ren was left wondering: Who did the killer choose to be the next blade in the dark?