Juho frowned at the obvious mockery hanging in the air. It seemed that every single one of these seemingly simple questions contained a hidden danger. It was like a knife waiting to strike.
He looked at the masked man next to him and nudged him lightly in the arms. "I'll give it a try, okay? Just listen carefully. If I look like I'm dying inside, then you'll know that's not the answer."
The man seemed caught off guard by Juho's unexpected willingness to take a risk. Doubt flickered in his eyes as he hesitated, considering Juho's offer. "Are you sure about that?" he asked carefully.
A brief smile appeared on Juho's lips as he sensed the man's uncertainty. He tapped him lightly on the back, a playful gesture despite the countdown echoing around them. Speaking of which, Juho still doesn't know what his name is.
"Yeah. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, what's your name? I'm tired of referring to you as 'the man' or 'the masked man' in my head."
Surprisingly, he still had the audacity to ask for the man's name. Like Lucian said, everyone seemed to be taking their precious time, and not a single person had tried to answer.
The masked man paused, surprised by Juho's blunt question. He shifted, like he was deciding whether or not to answer. For a moment, something flickered—maybe curiosity or perhaps caution in his posture.
After a moment, he replied, his voice low, "Names hold power, you know. But if it'll make things easier... I'm Park Hye-su, you can call me Hyesu."
Juho nodded, feeling a bit more connected now that he had something personal to hold on to. "Park Hyesu, huh? I like it. Sounds mysterious."
Park Hyesu tilted his head, the dark fabric of his mask hiding his expression. "Mysteriousness can be dangerous. Just remember that."
Juho's smile faltered slightly, he certainly did not expect this kind of reaction. For a moment, he considered asking more, trying to read into Hyesu's guarded expression—but he brushed it off with a quick nod. "Sure, it's a nice name too.. I'm Han Juho, call me Juho."
He hesitated, watching Hyesu's face for any sign of response, maybe a hint of warmth or familiarity, but Hyesu remained unreadable.
Juho shifted, trying to regain his focus. "Anyway, remember the 'theory' I mentioned earlier?" He smiled, a hint of confidence returning to his voice. "I think it might be worth a shot, especially since we're running out of time."
Hyesu nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he offered a small, encouraging smile. "Good luck. I hope your theory works."
Juho took a deep breath, steadying himself as the countdown ticked on. 'Alright, here we go,' he thought, letting his expression turn serious.
But as he raised his hand, aiming to catch Lucian's attention, he suddenly felt a wave of awkwardness. Why do he feel like a kid asking for extra napkins at a fancy restaurant? The thought made him cringe internally, though he kept his hand up, hoping nobody noticed his cheeks turning red.
Around him, players panicked, each person desperate to be chosen as the first to answer, like students racing to meet an approaching deadline.
[MadameLemuria]: "Oh my~ why does everyone look like students racing to meet a deadline?"
[LateNightLamp]: "Seriously, it's giving 'end of semester' vibes."
[Procrastinator_42]: PTSD intensifies
Juho's attention shifted to the live chat for a moment, and he almost laughed. Why was it so funny? No, he shouldn't focus on that. Stay focused, Juho.
He paused, sensing the heavy tension in the air. Everyone was eager to answer, desperate for a chance at survival. Yet, despite the chaos, Lucian's eyes found Juho, cutting through the crowd as if drawn by an invisible thread.
Juho felt his heart skip—a mix of dread and disbelief. He wasn't even the first to raise his hand. In fact, he almost hesitated too long. But as Lucian's intense gaze fixed on him, icy and piercing, it was clear the choice had already been made.
Juho paused, took a deep breath, his mind racing. He met Lucian's eyes and tried to keep his voice calm.
"I don't think the answer is just 'two,'" he began, his voice surprisingly steady. "This question... it's meant to test more than our ability to add numbers, right? 'One plus one' could mean a lot of things, not just two things added together, but something greater. Like how two people or forces can combine to create something greater than themselves."
Juho paused, his gaze showing a hint of uncertainty, yet his words came out clearly. "But I think, here, it's a symbol... for the start of something. For creation. For endless possibilities."
He swallowed, feeling the fear in the back of his mind, but continued. "So my answer... is the beginning of all possibilities."
Lucian was silent for a moment. A glimmer of interest flashed in his eyes as a faint grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Then, in a voice that cut through the room and echoed over the crowd, he responded, "Oh? A bold answer... Let's see if that courage will be rewarded."
The silence that followed was deafening, enveloping everyone in the room as Lucian's words hung in the air. Juho could feel the intensity of countless eyes on him, each one waiting.
[LateNightLamp]: "Bruh, did he really just say that?? Goosebumps!"
[Fortune's_Fool]: "Either he's a genius or just overly poetic... maybe both?"
[Procrastinator_42]: "Cue the dramatic music, please!"
Juho's heart raced as he tried to take in the seriousness of the moment. Players glanced at each other, their faces showing anxiety, disbelief, and hope. Some whispered, while others stood frozen, struggling with the weight of Lucian's proclamation.
_________________[ANSWER]_________________
> || "The Beginning of All Possibilities"
Responder: Player_ke9QSgPF
Location: Seoul
Rewards: Honor Bonus (Responder: Full Amount, Others: Partial)
Status: Correct
Remaining Time: [Countdown Paused]
____________________________________________
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Congratulations! You have earned 2.000 Honor for correctly representing your city, Seoul!
Juho blinked, his brain loading as he interpreted what he had just seen in the panel. What do you mean, representing the city?
Lucian, witnessing his reaction, chuckled softly. "Ah, yes. It's quite a turn, isn't it?"
"Wait, what do you mean?" Juho's eyes twitched, still processing the revelation.
Lucian stood, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over Juho. He leaned forward slightly, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. "You see, since this is only the first trial, it is crucial that someone represents the answer. If the answer is indeed true, then everyone lives—specifically, only for this city." He paused, relishing the weight of his words. "I forgot to mention that part," he laughed, the sound both chilling and oddly light.
Juho felt his stomach twist as he realized what that could mean. "And if someone answers wrong?"
Lucian's smile widened, his gaze sharp. "Then you will all die. Fortunately, some of you still have brains, I presume." His words lingered, heavy with certainty.
Juho looked around at the other players, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern. Some players exchanged nervous glances, while others wore determined expressions, as if bracing themselves for the next wave of challenges. They had dodged a bullet this time, but the stakes were clear.
"Guess we're not all hopeless, then," he muttered under his breath, feeling the weight of expectation press down on him.
Lucian, now towering over Juho, straightened up, his demeanor changing. "Remember, dear player, your words carry power. The next trial will not be so forgiving." His voice carried, resonating like a warning to all present.
Juho nodded, feeling a surge of determination. This was just the beginning and he had to be ready for whatever came next. With Lucian's piercing gaze upon him, he braced himself, knowing that the next trial would push him harder than ever—it would test his will to the core.
Lucian's serious aura changed in an instant, his expression softening as he idly twirled a strand of his hair. A gleam of amusement flickered in his eyes, as if he were toying with some hidden thought.
He let out a soft, almost playful chuckle and released the strand of hair. "I think that's enough for now," he said, his tone light. "The next trials? Who knows when they'll come. But remember... they won't be easy."
He stepped back, his gaze lingering on Juho for a moment longer, as if to analyze something only he could see. "Until we meet again," Lucian murmured, his voice drifting like a shadow before he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
In the silence that followed, Juho thought he caught a glimpse of another figure at Lucian's side—a faint silhouette. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, leaving only questions in its wake.
Juho stumbled forward, almost tripping when he felt a hand smack him across the head. He turned around, heart pounding, ready to face whatever was behind him, but stopped in surprise.
Instead of a monster or a ghost, he found himself surrounded by people, all rushing toward him.
"Thank you for saving us!" one man shouted, practically embracing him.
"Yeah, you were awesome!" a woman added, eyes shining with admiration.
Juho blinked, speechless. "Yeah? You're welcome! Just doing my—"
Before he could finish, the crowd started cheering and chanting "Player_ke9!" like he was some kind of hero. They couldn't remember the rest of his complicated player name, but it didn't seem to matter.
Feeling a little awkward, he decided to go along with it. "Okay, everybody," he said, clearing his throat. "I appreciate the thanks, but saving your lives wasn't easy. So... how about 6,000 won each?"
The crowd fell silent, staring at him in surprise.
"Six thousand won?" someone finally asked, confused.
He nodded, trying to keep a straight face. "Well, it was risky, right? Just think of it as a... life-saving fee."
A few people chuckled. Others just looked confused. Juho's confidence wavered, but he continued.
"Look, if you don't want to pay, that's fine!" he said, holding up his hands. "I'll just.. pray for you all next time, think of it as a spiritual donation."
To his surprise, someone stepped forward and pulled out a few coins with a grin.
Juho beamed and raised his hands like a game show host. "See? We're starting a trend! Who else wants to donate to the Juho Survival Fund? No amount is too small!"
The crowd burst into laughter and for a moment everyone forgot about the danger. Juho grinned, somehow managing to turn a life or death situation into a mini-fundraiser.
This day just keeps getting better... he thought, shaking his head with a smile.
•
•
•
To Be Continued. . .