Chapter 296 - The 19th Round Begins
Surprise was evident on Ryu Min's face. It was clear there was a misunderstanding between them.
"Wait a moment!"
Ryu Min hurriedly grabbed Min Juri before she could leave. Before he could speak, she spoke first, avoiding his gaze.
"I'm sorry for coming suddenly without saying anything. I didn't know you two were like this. I'm sorry for interrupting your good time."
"What are you talking about? A good time? It seems there's a big misunderstanding here..."
"I was a fool. I should have been more cautious or suspicious when a pretty celebrity lives next door, but I’m a fool..."
"Listen, listen to what I have to say. It's not what you think."
Min Juri looked up at Ryu Min's explanation. Then, as if she were telling the truth, she stared into his eyes and spoke.
"Are you really not dating?"
"No."
"Not even in a complicated relationship?"
"We're not."
"Then why are you in the same house? Why are you in the same room?"
"We were just talking. She came because she had some questions."
"..."
Looking as if she was trying to read their minds, Min Juri suddenly lowered her head. A sudden feeling of embarrassment overwhelmed her. Seeing Ryu Min's firm expression, it seemed there wasn't even a hint of a lie. Moreover, Seo Arin's appearance backed up Ryu Min's claim.
"It's as Ryu Min said. We were just talking in the room. Nothing else happened."
The situation became clear as a fact. With this, Min Juri felt too embarrassed to raise her head.
"Oh... it seems I was wrong to think you were dating. I'm very sorry..."
Ryu Min was about to say it was fine, but Seo Arin's voice was faster.
"It's not a misunderstanding."
"...?"
"Miss Seo?"
"I like Ryu Min."
Seo Arin's surprising announcement made Min Juri abruptly lift her head.
"What... what did you say?"
"I said I like Ryu Min."
Min Juri regained her composure suddenly. The newly recovered peace vanished in an instant. The same happened to Ryu Min.
"What are you doing? Why did you say that?"
Although Ryu Min knew Seo Arin's feelings, he didn't expect her to say it this way. Despite her surprising confession, Seo Arin seemed unfazed.
"It's not a joke. I'm telling the truth. I really like Ryu Min."
"..."
"Do you really mean it? You're not joking?"
Min Juri asked, hoping it was a lie. But Seo Arin wasn't the type to lie about something like that.
"I wouldn't go crazy in this situation. It's true. I really like Ryu Min."
"..."
"Did you know about this?"
"Unless you're a fool, you realize these things."
"..."
"I heard you were classmates in high school. So, have you been in love with him since then?"
Min Juri's gaze narrowed.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Can't you give information to a rival?"
"Besides that, it's unpleasant, you know? It's unpleasant to suddenly try to get information, and it's unpleasant to hear that Seo Arin likes you in front of me."
Facing Min Juri's cold attitude, Seo Arin didn't back down easily.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be bothersome. Simply, if I don't say it now, there might not be another chance. Min Juri, can't you understand? Haven't you had a similar experience of unrequited love? Wouldn't you rather try and not regret not having done so?"
"..."
Min Juri said nothing. She simply stared at Seo Arin in silence. Seo Arin did the same. Determined not just to watch, she raised her head and faced the gazes. Observing these two people suddenly entering a bidding war, Ryu Min sighed.
"Ugh, I told you not to do this in the apartment hallway, please."
July 1st, 30 minutes before midnight.
Ryu Min lay in his bed, preparing for the start of the 19th Round. Other players would be at home, lying like Ryu Min. However, they would be more anxious than ever. Because they had no information about the 19th Round.
"But I suppose I won't be as anxious as them."
Why would Ryu Min, who has the information, be anxious? Surprisingly, there is a reason. And that reason is Seo Arin and Min Juri. He was worried they might get into trouble even in another world.
"After all, they seem not to have spoken since then... Why are they like this? Can't they just get along?"
He could understand fighting over a man they liked. But what about the unease he feels worrying about the conflict between them?
"I don't like either option."
If he rejected one of them, she might suffer a great emotional shock. And that impact could affect even in the party battles.
"With Round 20 about to begin, I can't afford to make mistakes."
In moments like this, it's better to stay neutral rather than choose one over the other. He had no personal feelings towards either of them.
"They can fight all they want. Both are valuable to me as allies and powerhouses."
Time passed worrying about that, and before he knew it, it was midnight. A flash...
He closed his eyes for a moment and, when he opened them again, he was met with a familiar sight. A colorless space, no different from before.
"We're already in the 19th Round."
"But, is this the whole group?"
"It seems fewer than usual."
The players who arrived early sighed as they looked around. Normally, it would be crowded, but with only 143 people, they could count easily.
"These are all the players in the world..."
Although it was impressive that more than a hundred people were still here. In the previous round, there were only three, including Ryu Min.
"But even with so many players, probably less than half will remain after this round."
It was a shame, but it couldn't be helped. The system's power was absolute. And that was true even for Ryu Min, who had a divine status.
"Hello, humans!"
Once again, an angel appeared with a flash in the sky.
[Welcome to the 19th Round. Unfortunately, this time not all 143 participants will survive until the last round. Only half, as usual.]
Rarely did an angel express such regret. But this time, it was all for Ryu Min. Who knows if he might feel offended and decide to kill someone. Wasn't he right now looking around cautiously?
[Well, without further ado, I will reveal the mission.]
With a gesture from the angel, a message appeared in front of the players.
◀ ROUND 19 ▶
<Mission>
Survive in the fantasy world for 72 hours
[Integrated Area CA-EA001]
Participants: 143
Completed: 0/72
The players who saw the mission for the first time opened their eyes wide.
"72 hours?"
"Do we have to survive for three whole days?"
"And without side missions."
It was a fairly simple mission in appearance.
[As you can see, the mission is simple. You just need to endure for 72 hours in the fantasy world. However, not everyone will survive. There is only space for 72, half. The rest will disappear.]
The players nodded at this point. But their expressions hardened when they heard the following.
[However, if there are more than 72 survivors, everyone will be eliminated. So be careful not to exceed that 72-person limit when time runs out. If a single person surpasses that number, everyone will fail and die.]
"Everyone will die...?"
"S-so, will we all die if there are more than 73 people?"
[That's correct.]
"In other words... do we have to make sure there are fewer than 72 survivors?"
"Is this a cooperation mission?"
"W-wait a moment, angel. Are you saying we have to control the number of survivors?"
Hearing someone's question, the angel smiled kindly.
[That's right. You must control the number of survivors by eliminating each other.]
"..."
The mission, in fact, encouraged players to kill each other.
[Some of you might be confused. You are not a team this time. This round is purely individual. Each must survive on their own for the 72 hours.]
However, it would be problematic if, at the end of the 72 hours, there were more than 72 survivors. That would only lead to the worst-case scenario: everyone's death.
[What matters is the number of people at the end of the round. You must ensure there are fewer than 72 people, even if you have to kill each other to achieve it, to avoid the worst.]
In a sense, it was similar to Round 4, where they had to kill their teammates to survive. Of course, there were differences in the details.
[You might see it as similar to Round 4, but this time there is no resurrection. Once you die, that's it.]
"Is that all...?"
"Not even skills will work?"
[You can use skills or potions to resurrect. However, if you don't resurrect after 10 minutes, the system will eliminate you on the spot. It's an immediate disqualification, unlike before.]
Usually, in the final settlement hour, everyone disappeared at once, but this time was different.
[Another thing is that you can track each other at any time.]
"Can we track each other?"
[When the round begins, in the mission progress window, your usernames, faces, and the distance between you appear in real-time. This makes it easy to find other people. The system is providing conveniences for you to track each other.]
Saying "track each other" was practically encouraging killing in this round.
"They're literally setting us up to kill each other."
"With this, I won't be able to sleep due to anxiety, right?"
"We'll have to be alert all the time."
"Ugh, we're in trouble for sleeping."
Players who thought this way looked at each other and began to discreetly distance themselves. Even if they were comrades from the same guild and had gone through life and death together, now they were enemies. It was possible they would suddenly draw a knife to reduce the number of people.
Watching the people who were already on alert against each other, Ryu Min sighed to himself.
"There is no other option. We can't remain comrades forever."
For players whose lives were at stake when the system said so, it was their fate. While watching his acquaintances, Ryu Min, although maintaining his composure on the outside, was full of confused and complex thoughts inside.
"Will we be okay? I hope I don't worry about nonsense."
Especially, he was worried about Min Juri and Seo Arin. It would be good if they didn't fight each other.
Although Ryu Min secretly worried, he wasn't too concerned. As a precaution, he gave orders to his slaves. He had no intention of indiscriminately hunting.
[During the 72 hours, you can run or hunt as you wish. However, you cannot use the city, so you must resolve food and water yourselves. Isn't there a saying in the human world that says 'self-sufficiency'? Haha...]
Seeing the angel's smile, who laughed, Ryu Min changed his terrified expression suddenly.
[By the way, the method of ranking is secret. That's all for the explanation. Now I will take you to the fantasy world, and the starting place will be decided randomly so you don't worry about being stabbed. See you all alive after 72 hours. Goodbye!]