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luxerians · 6 months ago

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The Last Mask (03)

Hwang In-ho/Oh Young-il/Player 001 x Reader

Chapter 03 - Majority Votes

Story Masterlist

NEXT : Chapter 04

PREV : Chapter 02

Your arms trembled uncontrollably as you squeezed your eyes shut. Fear coursed through you, a cold, unrelenting wave. The thought of the doll catching even the smallest movement from you filled your chest with dread. You tried to will the trembling to stop, but your body refused to listen.

The doll’s head rotated back to the front, and you opened your eyes just in time to see it settling into place. Relief washed over you. Your trembling had gone unnoticed, at least for now.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

Quickly, you pulled your trembling arms to your chest, hugging them tightly to steady them. Your legs instinctively shifted into a wider stance, grounding you for balance. Around you, the field was utterly still. None of the players dared to move. Fear had locked everyone in place, their realization sinking in. Player 456 had been right. This wasn’t just a game. One wrong move, and it would all be over.

…has bloomed.”

The field remained frozen, not a single person daring to move. It felt like everyone was holding their breath, unwilling to risk even the smallest sound.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

You heard the sound of footsteps. In the corner of your vision, you caught sight of player 456 sprinting forward, weaving through the sea of motionless players.

…has bloomed.”

Everyone stopped again, as still as statues. The tension in the air was palpable.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

Player 456 broke through the crowd, dashing ahead with a burst of speed.

“…has bloomed.”

He froze at the exact moment the chant ended. He shouted, “You’ll also die if you don’t make it there in time! That doll is a motion detector! But it can’t detect motion that’s not visible to it!”

He paused and demonstrated, clenching and unclenching his hand behind his back. True to his words, no sound followed. No gunshot. You understood immediately what he was trying to convey.

“Get behind someone bigger than you! Like you’re doing Follow the Leader! We’re running out of time! We’ve got to move!”

“The Mugungha Flower…”

The chant began again, and everyone started moving. The sound of feet shuffling against the sand filled the air as players hurried to follow his advice. You quickly positioned yourself behind a taller player, number 120, a tall woman who stood just ahead of you. From the corner of your eye, you noticed others doing the same, forming multiple straight lines as they aligned themselves behind larger players.

“…has bloomed.”

You stopped immediately, staying directly behind player 120. Bending slightly, you kept your body low, hoping the doll wouldn’t detect you. Your trembling arms stayed locked against your chest, an effort to steady them.

Crack!

The sound made you flinch. Another body hit the ground with a dull thud.

Crack!

Silence followed as another player collapsed. You didn’t dare look.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

Everyone moved forward cautiously, keeping to their lines. The sound of shuffling feet filled the air. You noticed more players had lined up behind you, forming a growing chain. Player 120, standing tall in front of you, had unintentionally become the leader of your line.

“…has bloomed.”

You froze. You noticed player 120 had stood up straighter. She was shielding you and the others behind her. Her actions spoke louder than words; she knew she was the cover for everyone in her line and she had no problem with it.

From your right, a faint commotion broke through the stillness. You heard a soft “why” before three gunshots shattered the air. The field grew quiet again as the chaos subsided.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

The players jogged forward, advancing steadily. You noticed player 120 slowing just before the chant ended, giving those behind her extra time to halt safely.

“…has bloomed.”

The cycle continued, round after round. Occasionally, gunshots echoed across the field, signaling more casualties. Each time, you held your arms tighter to your chest, forcing your trembling limbs to stay still. With each round, the finish line drew closer, inch by inch.

When the doll turned its head toward the tree, player 456’s voice rang out: “Let’s go!”

“The Mugungha Flower…”

Most of the players broke formation, abandoning their lines to sprint toward the finish line. You followed suit. Your arms, no longer locked to your chest, swung freely at your sides as you pushed yourself forward.

As the pink line drew closer, you gave it everything you had. When you reached it, you jumped, your feet landing safely past the boundary. Relief flooded you as you stumbled to the ground, collapsing in exhaustion. For a moment, you just lay there, catching your breath. Around you, others who had crossed also expressed their relief, lying, collapsing, or sitting down out of exhaustion.

You turned your gaze back to the field. From where you sat, it looked like roughly seventy percent of the players had made it across. The remaining players were still on the field, their lines fractured and disorganized.

“…has bloomed.”

The players who hadn’t yet crossed froze in place, their bodies stiff. Gunshots rang out again, and you flinched as a few unfortunate players fell to the ground. One man, hit in the thigh, collapsed with a sharp cry of pain, clutching his leg as blood began to pool beneath him.

“You can do it!” player 456 shouted. “You’re almost there!”

“The Mugungha Flower has bloomed.”

The man who had been shot whimpered. “Please help me.”

You frowned, concern gnawing at you as you watched him struggle. Your eyes shifted to player 456, who glanced quickly at the timer.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

He sprinted past the finishing line, rushing straight toward the injured player. You scrambled to your feet, your heart pounding as you watched player 456 reach the fallen man.

“…has bloomed.”

Gunshots cracked through the air again, but player 456 and the injured player remained unharmed.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

Player 456 quickly wrapped the injured player’s arm around his neck, lifting him off the ground. Together, they began limping toward the finish line, but their movements were awkward and unsteady. Then they stumbled.

“…has bloomed.”

To your shock, player 120 appeared out of nowhere, catching them before they could fall. She propped them up, steadying the pair just as the chant ended. The three of them froze. Everyone in the finishing area, including you, watched with bated breath.

“The Mugungha Flower…”

With only five seconds left, the three of them surged forward, rushing toward the finish line. Your lips pursed as fear and suspense gripped you. You silently prayed they would make it in time.

As they crossed the finish line, the doll completed its chant: “…has bloomed.”

The timer beeped, signaling zero. Relief washed over you as you saw player 456, player 120, and the injured player 444 collapse onto the ground, breathing heavily in the finishing area.

“Are you okay?” player 456 asked, patting player 444 on the back.

“Thank you,” player 444 sniffled, his voice trembling. He turned to player 120. “Thank you-”

Crack!

You flinched as the sound echoed across the area. Player 444’s head snapped back, and his body crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Player 444, eliminated,” the female robotic voice announced.

You stared at the lifeless body in front of you. His face was bloodied from the headshot wound, and a pool of fresh blood began to spread around his head. Your arms started trembling again, this time without restraint. There was no need to stay frozen anymore so your fear had taken over completely. You couldn’t tear your eyes away from the gruesome sight.

This… this was just as horrifying as the day you found your father and mother on the front porch, their tortured and battered bodies lying there like broken shells. The memory slammed into you, raw and unrelenting, blending with the horror of the moment.

All of you who survived the first game were led back to the dormitory where you had first woken up. The atmosphere was heavy. Fear lingered in the air, and many players huddled together under the dim light of the empty piggy bank hovering above.

You found yourself sitting near player 456 and his friend, player 390. Maybe it was instinct or subconscious reasoning – your mind seeking some semblance of safety or guidance. Being near player 456 felt like the closest thing to a haven in this deadly situation.

“Gi-hun,” you heard player 390 say, addressing player 456. “What the hell is that creepy doll? It shoots people with its eyes.”

Player 456 glanced at him. “It’s not the doll. There are shooters.”

Curiosity got the better of you, and you leaned in slightly. “How… do you know?”

Both player 456 and player 390 turned to look at you, as if noticing your presence for the first time. Before either could answer, a beeping noise cut through the tense air.

The lights flickered on, brightening the dormitory. The double doors at the front slid open, and a group of pink-clad guards marched in. The sight of them sent waves of panic through the room. Players scrambled backward, some ducking behind beds or hiding underneath them. Whimpers and muffled cries filled the space as others climbed up to the top bunks in a desperate bid for safety. You instinctively moved behind player 390, who was already using player 456 as a shield.

“Congratulations for making it through the first game,” announced the square-masked guard. “Here are the results of the first game.”

The large TV screen above the double doors flickered on, displaying the statistics.

“Out of 456 players, 84 players have been eliminated. 372 players have completed the first game. Congratulations again for making it through the first game.”

Suddenly, the mother, player 149, dragged her son, player 007, toward the center of the room. Tears streamed down her face. She dropped to her knees while her son stood awkwardly beside her. “Sir! Please don’t kill us! I beg you! As for my son’s debt, I will do whatever it takes to pay you back! Please forgive us!”

Then, she tugged at her son’s arm, pulling him down to the floor. “Don’t just stand there. Beg for his forgiveness!”

Her son reluctantly joined her, lowering himself to the ground and pleading for mercy. As their cries echoed in the dormitory, the square-masked guard spoke, “There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

But the mother and son weren’t alone. More players crawled toward the center, their voices rising in desperation as they begged for forgiveness. The sight of so many people pleading made your chest tighten. You hoped that all of you could be set free due to their pleads. The thought of staying in this killing field any longer was unbearable.

You wanted to go home. Back to Ji-yoo and your parents. The money didn’t matter anymore. You could always find another part-time job, no matter how grueling, as long as it meant staying alive.

Then, player 456 stood up from the floor in front of you. “Clause three of the consent form!”

The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward him. He stepped forward, walking to the center of the room. “The games may be terminated upon a majority vote. Correct?”

The guard nodded. “That is correct.”

“Then let us take a vote right now,” player 456 demanded.

“Of course. We respect your right to freedom of choice.”

A wave of relief swept through the players. You heard murmurs of gratitude, and some players visibly relaxed, hopeful at the chance to leave.

“But first,” the guard interjected, “let me announce the prize amount that’s been accumulated.”

He pressed a button on a remote, and the dormitory lights dimmed. Only the golden glow from the giant piggy bank above illuminated the room. A familiar jingle played, signaling the announcement of money.

Stacks of cash began to drop into the transparent piggy bank, the bills piling higher with each passing second. The sight drew players out of their hiding spots. They moved cautiously at first but soon gathered around the center, no longer fearful. Everyone stared at the growing fortune in awe, including you. The golden light reflected in your eyes as the weight of the moment sank in.

As the stacks of banknotes stopped accumulating in the piggy bank, the guard announced:

“The number of players eliminated in the first game is 84. Therefore, a total of 8.4 billion won has been accumulated. If you quit the games now, the 372 of you can equally divide the 8.4 billion won and leave with your share.”

“How much is that?” player 100 asked.

“Each person’s share would be 22,580,645 won.”

You dropped your gaze, disillusioned. Around you, other players voiced their dissatisfaction.

“Twenty million? You said 45.6 billion!” Thanos retorted angrily.

The guard clarified, “The rule is that a hundred million won will be accumulated for each eliminated player. If you choose to play the next game and more players get eliminated, the prize amount will increase accordingly.”

“How much will it be if you survive until the end?” player 100 queried.

“As I already told you, the total amount of prize money for all 456 players is 45.6 billion won. Those who make it through all six games will equally divide the 45.6 billion won.”

“So if you’re the only one to survive, you get 45.6 billion?”

“That is correct.”

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the group as the players processed this. The sheer possibility of such a massive fortune left many in awe.

“So we can take a vote again and decide to leave after the next game?” another player asked.

“As promised in the consent form, you can take a vote after each game and decide to leave with the prize money accumulated up to that point. We always prioritize your voluntary participation.”

A heavy silence settled over the room as everyone contemplated their choices. The explanation had made you question your own decision, your resolve wavering as the implications sunk in.

“Now, let’s begin the vote.”

The guards moved swiftly, setting up the voting system in no time. A counter with X and O buttons was placed at the front. The dormitory floor lit up to indicate the voting areas: the right side glowed red for X, and the left side shone blue for O.

Almost every player stood at the back of the hall, clustered together, as the guard announced, “If you wish to continue the games, press the O button. If you wish to end them, press the X button. The vote will be held in reverse order of your player numbers. Player 456.”

You glanced to your side where player 456 stood. After a brief moment, he stepped forward, leaving the crowd behind and heading toward the counter.

“It’s all pointless!” a voice called out, breaking the silence. Everyone’s attention shifted to player 044, perched on one of the highest bunk beds. “You didn’t decide when to come into this world, and you can’t decide when you leave it either. When and where you die were already decided by the gods the moment you were born. No matter how hard you try, you can never escape it.”

Player 456 didn’t acknowledge her words. He resumed walking, his focus on the counter ahead. When he reached it, he wasted no time and pressed the X button. A deep ping echoed through the hall as the TV screen above displayed the updated vote.

“Once you finish voting,” the guard said, “put the patch you are given on the right side of your chest and stand on the side you have chosen.”

From your position at the back, you watched as player 456 fixed the red X patch to his chest and walked over to stand on the X side of the hall.

“Player 454,” the guard called next.

A female player stepped forward with steady strides. To your surprise, she pressed the O button, creating a lighter ping sound. After fixing the blue O patch on her chest, she walked to the O side of the room. The process continued, players being called one by one in reverse order. You stayed silent, your gaze fixed on the TV screen as it updated with each vote.

Then the guard called your number. “Player 423.”

You stepped forward. The weight of countless gazes bore into your back, but you kept walking until you reached the counter. Staring at the buttons, you felt the temptation of the piggy bank linger in your mind. But the thought of your own life outweighed everything else. You pressed the X button, and the deep ping filled the air once more.

The guard handed you the red X patch. You fixed it to the right side of your chest before turning and heading toward the X area. As you reached player 456, he nodded politely, and you returned the gesture before standing beside him. Together, you watched the votes continue.

Soon, player 390 was called. He also voted for X and joined you and player 456 on the same side, nodding in quiet acknowledgment as he took his place.

More and more players were called to vote, and the results seemed to be edging toward a tie. When Thanos’ turn came, he jogged up to the counter like an excited kid and pressed the O button with a wide grin.

His enthusiasm seemed to set something off in player 456.

“Wait a minute, everyone! Wait!” he called out, his voice cutting through the murmurs and turning every head.

Stepping out of the X area, he positioned himself in the center, between the X and O sides, facing the players who had yet to vote. “You can’t do this. Come to your senses! Don’t you see? These aren’t just any games. We will all die if we keep playing! We have to get out of here now. With a majority vote, we can! We must stop here!”

Before the tension could settle, player 100 burst out of the crowd of unvoted players, his voice booming. “Who do you think you are?! Why do you keep egging people on like that?! You scared us by saying they’d shoot us before the game even began!”

You frowned, agitation bubbling up. He literally saved us by warning us, and now you’re blaming him?

“That’s right!” a female player who had already voted O stepped forward. “He was going on about how we’d die, and I almost did because I got so nervous!”

“How did you know they were going to shoot us?” another unvoted player, number 226, asked suspiciously. “Are you one of them?”

Player 100 pointed accusingly at player 456 and addressed the pink-clad guards. “Are you conning us all by pretending to be a player? Did you plant him to mess with our heads?!”

Player 390, who had been standing beside you, stepped forward to defend his friend. “Uncle, that’s uncalled for. We wouldn’t have won the game and survived if it weren’t for him!”

Several players in the X area nodded in agreement, silently backing him up. Player 390 turned toward player 226. “And you! I saw how scared you were. Your legs were shaking. You should thank him, not treat him like a fraud!”

Player 226 bristled. “And who the hell are you? Are you conspiring with him?”

“How rude,” player 390 shot back. “How old are you?”

“Older than you. What are you going to do about it?”

“Come on now, stop it!” player 149, the frail mother, stepped into the center beside player 456. Her voice was gentle but firm. “Please don’t do this. Listen, everyone. None of us would be alive if it weren’t for this gentleman. So enough with the greed. Let’s put our lives first and get out of this place!”

The dormitory erupted into chaos as X voters raised their voices in a loud clamor.

“That’s right!”

“Let’s all get out of here!”

O voters weren’t backing down, shouting over them.

“No, we have to keep playing!”

You furrowed your eyebrows, silently hoping the unvoted players would side with X. Lives should come first.

Suddenly, player 456 screamed, his frustration spilling over. “I have played these games before!”

The room fell silent as every eye turned to him. Even you felt a jolt of shock, your eyes widening at his outburst.

“I have done this before!” he admitted, his voice heavy with emotion. “I knew about the first game because I played it three years ago! Everyone who was with me back then… they all died!”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Player 390 looked stunned, his disbelief written all over his face. But you believed it instantly. It explained how he had known about Red Light, Green Light and the deadly stakes involved.

“Hold on,” player 226 asked, his tone skeptical. “If they all died, how did you survive? Are you saying you were the sole winner?”

Player 456 hesitantly admitted. “That’s right. I was the final winner.”

A wave of murmurs swept through the room, a mix of disbelief and awe. You stared at him, still processing the revelation. Player 456 declared, “If we continue these games, every single person here, just like everyone back then, will die in the end.”

Player 100 scoffed, his skepticism turning into mockery. “Bullshit. If you were the sole winner, it means you got 45.6 billion won. If that’s true, why would you come back here?”

“That’s right! He’s lying!” shouted a woman from the O area.

Thanos came forward. “If you really won, it works better for us. You can give us tips on how to beat these games.”

“That’s right!” player 100 chimed in. “We have a previous winner with us, so what’s the problem?!”

You couldn’t hold back a scoff, drawing attention from those around you. Player 100 glared, but you held your ground and spoke calmly. “Do you really think the next games will be exactly the same as before?”

The room shifted as all eyes turned to you. You took a steadying breath and continued. “They know there’s a previous winner here. They’re not going to let him give us an advantage. The games could be entirely different tomorrow, but we know one thing. elimination means death. We should prioritize surviving over chasing money.”

The X voters nodded in agreement, their support growing louder as your words sank in.

Player 100’s glare intensified, his frustration spilling over. “Hush, girl! Stop complicating things. If the Red Light, Green Light game was the same as three years ago, why wouldn’t the rest of them be the same too? Maybe we actually have an advantage this time. Ever think of that?”

His words struck a chord with some of the players, drawing nods from a few O voters.

Before you could reply, Thanos stepped in with a casual shrug. “Pretty lady, you might be overthinking it. There is a previous winner among us. What else should we worry about?”

“And who even are you?” player 226 interjected. “You're still young. You don't know what we've been through."

Player 390 stood protectively beside you. “Wah, you all really got blind. She's got a point. At least she’s thinking ahead, unlike some people who can’t see past their own greed.”

He shot a pointed look at player 100.

“Greed?” player 100 snapped, his voice rising. “I’m trying to survive! I don't give up so easily like all of you! I don't think you all deserve that 20 million won share!"

The room quickly descended into chaos as X voters and O voters began shouting over each other. Accusations and insults flew from both sides, the noise growing louder and more heated by the second.

You sighed loudly, frustration boiling inside you as the shouting escalated. The decision weighed heavily on the unvoted players, who stood frozen in uncertainty. Glancing toward player 456, you saw him watching the chaos with an unreadable expression.

Then he turned to the unvoted players, desperation etched into his voice. “Please, I’m begging you. We have to get out now! If we keep playing, more people will die. That could be you. We have to stop this now and get out of here.”

Before he could continue, a triangle-masked guard marched forward, pressing his gun against player 456’s back. The tension in the room skyrocketed as the shouting stopped instantly. Player 456’s body tensed, his arms frozen at his sides.

“From here on, we will not tolerate actions that disrupt the voting process,” the square-masked guard announced coldly. “Now, let’s resume the vote. Player 228.”

The triangle-masked guard kept the gun trained on player 456, who slowly raised his arms in surrender. The rest of the players hesitantly returned to the voting, the silence now thick and oppressive. You couldn’t help but glance at player 456 who stood under the guard’s watchful aim.

As the voting progressed, you noticed the gun still pointed at player 456 even after several players had cast their votes. Your anxiety spiked. Unable to stand it any longer, you pushed through the crowd of X voters, drawing a few surprised looks as you made your way toward him.

When you reached him, several eyes, including his, turned to you. You gently took hold of his sleeve and said softly, “Come on. Let’s go back in.”

Player 456 gave a small nod before meeting the guard’s gaze. The triangle-masked guard, interpreting this as compliance, finally lowered his weapon. You led player 456 back to the X zone, standing once again beside player 390. The guard returned to his position behind the square-masked guard, and the voting resumed.

The minutes stretched on as votes were cast. You watched anxiously as the numbers edged closer and closer to a tie. Your heart sank when the tally on the screen displayed an almost even split.

[X: 185 | O: 186].

The guard called out the final player. “Player 001.”

All heads turned to the far back of the room, where the last player stood.

“Everyone, say O!” Thanos shouted suddenly.

“O!”

“X!” came the counter-shouts from the X zone.

You bit your lip, your nerves fraying as player 001 walked between the chanting zones toward the counter. Your mind raced with silent pleas. Please. Just one more vote for X. If we gets a tie, we could still vote tomorrow. Some players will come to their sense in time.

The room went quiet as player 001 reached the counter. All eyes locked on the screen, waiting. Then, after a few quiet seconds, a lighter ping echoed through the room.

The tally updated. [X: 185 | O: 187].

Your shoulders slumped. On the other side of the dormitory, the O voters erupted into cheers. They hollered and clapped, their earlier fear and hesitation forgotten in their celebration. You couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness as you watched them, remembering how quickly they had scrambled away from the pink guards after the first game. Now, all they care about is money.

The X voters’ reactions were a stark contrast. Some groaned in disappointment, others shook their heads in frustration, and a few simply stood still, their faces pale and haunted. The fear in their eyes was unmistakable. No matter how they had voted, the realization that they would continue risking their lives weighed heavily on everyone.

As the O voters continued their celebration, players from the X zone began filing out quietly, heading for their bunks. You glanced at player 456, who still stood frozen in place, looking defeated.

You let out a small sigh and nudged player 456 gently. “Hey. It’s disappointing, but what else can we do? Let’s go.”

Player 456 didn’t say anything. His gaze lingered on the screen for a moment longer before he turned to follow you and player 390. Together, the three of you walked towards the corner of the right side of the hall.

NEXT : Chapter 04

PREV : Chapter 02

Story Masterlist

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