"Ah, I don't know," I said as I put my left arm on my forehead.
"Simulation is the most realistic one, but since when am I in simulation?" I continued while closing my eyes to think.
"You also said something about remembering me, right? So you knew me all along."
"Well, this removes the first option, because God or an angel wouldn't make this kind of mistake. They would always remember."
"Am I a test subject?" I asked, opening my eyes suddenly.
"Are you testing something on me?"
Text on paper changed again. But this time, instead of a rustling sound, it made writing sound as if someone was taking notes.
"I can not answer that question. You have 3 minutes left."
"3 minutes," I repeated.
Simulation was the only reliable answer, but who would do it? Why would they do it?
"Maybe I am right."
"Yes, why not? You put me in a simulation while I was asleep and made everything up. You tried to use me as a test subject. " I said as if I revealed a big secret.
"Yes, it has to be it." I agreed with myself.
"But this doesn't exactly tell me who you are."
Text on paper changed again. Same as last time, with writing noise.
"Last 2 minutes. Reminder, if you don't answer, you will move to the next game."
"At least you won't kill me right away," I said jokingly.
"I have a question," I stood up and sat on my bed as I said it.
"What if I don't give a name, but say something like, 'You are my principal at school'. Is that acceptable?"
Text changed again to a single word.
"Yes"
Now I had a hope of guessing. I could never give a name. So if I said, you are the person who arranged the simulation, it would work.
I was sure. This was a simulation that I was put in when I was asleep, and everything that happened here was designed to simulate real life. I can't explain how I can feel pain and bleed as if it is real, but everyone knows that governments have technology that we can't even imagine. That is the best explanation I have.
"I decided," I said.
"You are the person who arranged this simulation. Now, please let me out of this."
As I gave my answer, the text changed again, revealing its correctness.
"I am sorry, but the answer you provided was wrong.
You have 5 hours of rest time until Game #2. I advise you not to waste it."
It took me a few seconds to grasp the meaning of the text.
"Wait," I said. "It is impossible. I am in a simulation. There is no other explanation."
The response made the fear come back to me. I was expecting my answer to be correct.
"Well, but you are someone who is in that team who manages the simulation. Maybe… maybe the team lead? A team member?"
I was panicking. My answer should have been true. There is no way that it is wrong.
Text changed again.
"Your guess was wrong. And for your information, you are not in a sinulation."
I couldn't believe what I was reading. Not just was my answer wrong, but I was also, in reality, not in a simulation.
Text changed again as I was still trying to digest the earlier message.
"Your guess was wrong. And for your information, you are not in a simulation."
"Huh," I blurted out.
"There is no new text here." I checked carefully.
"Come on, are you playing with me?" I asked.
But I was sure the text changed because I heard a writing sound. However, it was the same as before.
"I guess I am losing my mind," I said as I tried to stand up.
"Ah," the pain in the injured leg just kicked in.
"There is nothing I can do right now. At least in this situation." I mumbled as I lay down on my bed again, closing my eyes.
I was planning to sleep and build my energy for the next game. If it were going to be something like the first game, I needed all my strength.
Suddenly, I heard the writing sound again.
As I opened my eyes, I saw text actually changing this time.
"If you are worried about the next game, don't worry. It is going to be a question-based round. You won't need to run again."