Everyone returned to the dormitory.
Lee Jung-Hyuk saw the child from earlier and went up to him, saying:"If you need anything, just come to us."
Il-hoon said:"It's okay, that's my father's friend. He'll take care of me, thank you."
Jung-Hyuk patted his shoulder and said:"Anyone who can come here is not a good person."
After saying that, he turned and walked away.
Il-hoon looked toward Player 123.
Player 409, frightened, leaned closer to Jung-Hyuk and said while trembling:"I'm so scared. I want to go home."
Jung-Hyuk was about to reply when the big door opened. Masked men walked out, and one of them said:
"Congratulations to everyone for passing the first game. Now, we will announce the results of the first game."
As he spoke, the number on the overhead screen began to drop:"456… 400… 350… 300."
The masked man continued:"Out of 456 players, 299 were eliminated. The number of players who passed the first game is 157. Once again, congratulations to everyone who passed the first game."
At this moment, a man stepped into the middle, knelt down, and pleaded:"Sir, please let me go. I swear I'll pay the money back, I promise!"
Seeing this, more people stepped forward to beg for mercy.
The masked man said:"It seems you have misunderstood. We are not here to harm you. We are giving you an opportunity."
Il-hoon stepped out and said:"Clause three of the agreement: if more than half the players agree, the game can be terminated."
The masked man replied:"That's correct. We respect your freedom to decide. Before voting begins, I will reveal the total prize amount accumulated so far."
He pressed the remote control in his hand, and the giant piggy bank above slowly descended. Then, piles of money began pouring into it.
Everyone stared in shock — even Jung-Hyuk was no exception.
The masked man continued:"In the first game, 299 people were eliminated, accumulating a total of 29.9 billion won. If you choose to give up now, the 29.9 billion won will be distributed to the families of the eliminated players — 100 million won per family. Those who remain will leave empty-handed. Now, let's begin the vote. Press the circle button to continue the game, press the cross button to terminate it. Voting will proceed in reverse order of player numbers. Player 444."
Player 444 pressed the circle button.
"Player 443."
Player 443 pressed the cross button.
The score between circles and crosses quickly came to 10:10.
"Player 409."
Player 409 hesitated, glanced back at Jung-Hyuk, then looked again at the two choices in front of him. In the end, he pressed the circle button.
From afar, Jung-Hyuk looked at him in shock.
"Player 369."
He pressed the cross button.
The scores between circle and cross remained tied.
"Player 357."
Jung-Hyuk looked at the scoreboard — 49:48 — and hesitated. In the end, he pressed the cross button.
"Player 201."
Il-hoon pressed the cross button without hesitation.
"Player 123."
He pressed the circle button.
Il-hoon looked at him in confusion, while Ji-Xian glared at him with a vicious look.
The score became 50:60.
At this point, Jung-Hyuk couldn't sit still anymore. He ran to the center and said:"Are you all crazy? Risking your lives for a game — for money? Is it worth it?"
Player 300 shouted:"This is God's gift! God led us here, and He will bless me! I'll walk out of here with that 45.6 billion! Hahahaha!"
Player 332 said:"Do you want to go back and live in hell? We have no choice. At least here there's still a glimmer of hope."
Il-hoon suddenly shouted:"You bunch of trash, useless waste! You can't earn money with your own strength, so you rely on this unrealistic nonsense! Idiots!"
Player 101 retorted:"You little brat — whose kid are you?"
Il-hoon said:"None of your business, you bastard."
Hearing this, the circle supporters couldn't hold back anymore and wanted to beat Il-hoon. Jung-Hyuk pulled him behind him and said:
"You really are insane — you'll do anything for money. A bunch of idiots. How can you be sure you'll survive the next game? For all you know, the next one will be your turn to die. You—"
Before he could finish, the masked man pressed a gun to Jung-Hyuk's back and said:"From now on, we will not tolerate any behavior that interferes with voting. Now, continue. Player 110."
He pressed the cross button.
Finally, the score came to 78:78.
The masked man announced:
"Lastly, Player 10."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Player 10 stepped forward.
A beep sounded — 78:79.
Circle won.
Those who chose circle began celebrating. Jung-Hyuk stood frozen in place.
Not long after, the masked men distributed food. All players queued up for their portions.
Player 409, after getting his food, sat next to Jung-Hyuk and said:"I'm sorry."
Jung-Hyuk glanced at him, then continued eating his food.
Il-hoon came over with his food and sat next to Jung-Hyuk.
Jung-Hyuk asked:"Why did you come over?"
Il-hoon replied:"Didn't you tell me to?"
Jung-Hyuk looked at him and smiled.
After finishing, Il-hoon returned to his bunk.
Jung-Hyuk pulled Player 409 to a dark corner and said:"Do you know why I pressed cross?"
Player 409 shook his head.
Jung-Hyuk said:"Look at that kid. Sure, I'm short on money, but I don't want to watch such a young life die in front of me."
From above, Player 300 overheard them and said:"This is God's choice for us. You can't escape. All of you will die here."
Jung-Hyuk pulled Player 409 back to their bunks.
That night, Jung-Hyuk lay awake beside the sleeping Il-hoon. Player 409 came over and said:"I'm sorry."
Jung-Hyuk looked at him and said:"It's okay. Don't bring it up again."
Player 409 sat down next to him."I didn't have a choice."
Jung-Hyuk asked:"What do you mean?"
Player 409 said:"I can't earn money outside."
Jung-Hyuk asked:"Why?"
Player 409 said:"I'm gay. I've been ostracized by classmates since I was young. I thought it'd be fine once I entered society, but it got worse. When my boss found out I was gay, he constantly targeted me and refused to pay me. I went to the police, but they ignored it."
A tear rolled down his cheek.
He continued:"I just want to earn a bit more in this game so I can live without worries. Even if I die, it doesn't matter. Sorry for disturbing your sleep."
He turned and went back to his bunk.
Jung-Hyuk looked at him, feeling a pang of sadness.
Meanwhile, outside, Il-hoon's mother was anxiously looking for him. She shouted angrily at Il-hoon's father:"You don't know where our child went?"
Il-hoon's father replied:"How would I know? He said he went to play with a friend, and then he didn't come back all day."
Il-hoon's mother said:"Useless man! You can't even watch over your own kid. I must've been cursed for eight lifetimes to marry you."
Slamming the door, she stormed out.
The scene shifted. Music began playing, and an announcement came over the speakers:"Important announcement: the second game will begin shortly. Please follow staff instructions."
Jung-Hyuk looked at Il-hoon and Player 409 and said:"No matter what, stay behind me."
They both nodded.
They walked up the same stairs as the first day. As they walked, a door in front opened, revealing an all-white space.
The announcement said:"Welcome to the second game. This is a team game. Within ten minutes, form groups of three. Repeating — this is a team game. You have ten minutes to form groups of three."
Jung-Hyuk looked at Il-hoon and Player 409 and said:"Let's be a team."
Both replied:"Okay."
On the other side, Ji-Xian and Player 94 were together, still needing one more teammate.
Just then, Player 369 approached Ji-Xian and said:"Let's team up. We don't know what the game will be yet, but if it's something like jacks or a game girls usually play, I can help you."
Ji-Xian sized him up and said:"Alright."
Time ran out, and most had formed teams. However, Player 300 and Player 13 were missing a member.
The masked man said to them:"For fairness, you cannot participate in the game."
They were dragged away.
Player 300 shouted:"You can't do this to me! God will punish you!"
Player 409 looked at the departing Player 300 and said to Jung-Hyuk:"Look at that lunatic. Yesterday he said we'd all die, and today he's dead himself."
Jung-Hyuk said:"You talk too much."
Player 409 lowered his head awkwardly.
Then the announcement said:"Now, each group please follow the staff to the game area."
Inside, the announcement continued:"This game is Three Bears Three-Stage Competition. The three events are: first, jump rope; second, basketball shooting; third, archery. Two teams will compete — the first to complete all stages wins. The losing team will be eliminated. If neither team finishes within three minutes, both will be eliminated. Please decide which member will play each event."
Jung-Hyuk asked Player 409:"What are you good at?"
Player 409 nervously replied:"I… I'm good at… jump rope."
"Ah~ then you do jump rope," Jung-Hyuk said.
Il-hoon said:"I'll do archery. I train a lot at school."
Jung-Hyuk said:"Then I'll do basketball. Alright, it's decided."
On the other side, Ji-Xian said to Player 94:"Good thing we chose a girl."
He then asked Player 369:"You can jump rope, right?"
Player 369 replied:"Yes."
Ji-Xian said:"Great."
The announcement said:"Team 1 and Team 2, prepare to start."
At the masked man's command, the two teams started. The children's song Three Bears began playing.
Soon, Team 1 reached the first stage. The rule: two people hold the rope while the person in the middle jumps — complete ten jumps to pass.
Players 212 and 96 held the rope, and Player 21 jumped. They coordinated well and completed the ten jumps.
On the other side, Team 2 failed repeatedly. A minute passed, and Player 444 began panicking. He grabbed Player 332's sleeve and said:"Didn't you say you were good? Why are you jumping like this?"
Player 101 pulled them apart and said:"If this continues, we'll all die. Hurry up and jump!"
Back with Team 1, they reached the second stage. Rule: one person stands outside the three-point line and makes five baskets to pass.
Player 96 began shooting. The first shot — miss.
Player 21 said encouragingly:"It's okay, there's still time, take it slow."
Player 96 kept shooting, but his hands were shaking badly.
Another shot — miss.
Player 212 shouted:"Hurry! We're running out of time!"
Team 2 had just completed stage one and quickly finished five baskets. As they were about to move on, the masked man stepped in front of them.
A beep sounded — time was up. Both teams failed and were eliminated, shocking the watching players.
The announcement declared:"Eliminated players: 212, 96, 21, 444, 332, 101."
Player 409, terrified, buried himself into Jung-Hyuk's arms. Jung-Hyuk did not push him away.
The announcement continued:"Important notice: please wait patiently while the area is cleared."
After cleaning, the announcement said:"Team 3 and Team 4, prepare to start."
Jung-Hyuk, in Team 3, told his teammates:"Come on, we can do this."
With the sound of a gunshot, the game began.
They charged forward.