Jeong-hyuk wandered back to the dorm in a daze. Il-hoon saw him and hugged him tightly. The two of them said nothing. Soon after, So-yeon also walked over.
The number of participants had now dropped to 12. The prize money stood at 44.4 billion won.
Jeong-hyuk stared at the number in silence.
(In Korean, the number 4 sounds the same as the word for "death.")
At that moment, the VIPs arrived.
One VIP said, "I'm looking forward to this game. Just tell us what it is."
The Host replied, "You will know when the game starts."
Elsewhere, Jeong-hyuk stared blankly into space, not touching the food in his hands.
Il-hoon sat beside him and said, "Don't be sad. We have to learn to let go. That's what my mom used to say when I was little."
Il-hoon smiled and continued eating.
That night, no one trusted each other. Nobody dared to close their eyes.
Before long, the lights came on. They were told to line up and move to another area.
In front of a screen, one VIP asked, "Who are you all betting on?"
Another VIP answered, "123. Easy number to remember."
The other VIPs chuckled.
Jeong-hyuk and the others arrived at the site.
The broadcast announced: "Welcome to the fifth game. Before we begin, please pick a number from 1 to 6 on the model in front of you. There are two sets of numbers. Repeat: Please pick a number from 1 to 6 on the model in front of you."
Jeong-hyuk looked at the numbers, then pulled Il-hoon and So-yeon over to the model and said:
"You two take number 3—it's in the middle, should be safer."
Il-hoon asked, "What about you?"
Jeong-hyuk replied, "I'll take number 1. If there's danger, I'll be in front of you."
They each took their numbers.
Player 123 walked up, hesitated for a moment, then took number 2.
The Host turned to the VIPs and said, "Now, the game has begun."
The screen in front of the VIPs slowly rose.
"Wow, is that BINGO?" a VIP said.
"Yes," the Host confirmed.
Jeong-hyuk and the others entered the game arena.
As soon as they stepped in, the music "BINGO" started playing.
They were shocked by the transparent glass beneath their feet. Seeing the height from the ground made them break into cold sweat.
The broadcast continued:
"Welcome to the fifth game. Today's game is BINGO. Players will be divided into two teams of six. Each round, one player from each team will compete. The winner remains in the game; the loser is eliminated. Eliminate all six opponents to win. Now, the game begins. Player 6 from Team One vs Player 6 from Team Two."
A VIP commented, "This should be the fairest match."
Jeong-hyuk looked at Il-hoon with worry, thinking: Why is it in reverse order?
He walked up to Il-hoon and said, "I'm sorry."
Il-hoon was about to speak when Player 123 interrupted, "Why apologize?" He looked at Il-hoon and said, "You better die for me."
Jeong-hyuk grabbed him by the collar.
Player 123 smirked, "No violence allowed."
Jeong-hyuk let go.
Player 308 stepped onto the glass platform. Once the glass opened, he would fall. For someone afraid of heights, this was a nightmare.
308 looked down, legs trembling.
As they looked at the buttons in front of them, the broadcast said:
"Just press the button in front of you. A ball of your team's color will drop into the board."
308 hesitantly pressed his button.
Red ball: 1,1
Then it was Player 325's turn.
Blue ball: 1,2
One by one, they pressed:
Red ball: 1,3
Blue ball: 2,1
Red ball: 2,2
Blue ball: 2,3
Red ball: 3,1
Blue ball: 2,4
Red ball: 3,2
Blue ball: 3,3
Red ball: 4,1
Blue ball: 4,2
Red ball: 4,3
Blue ball: 5,1
A VIP said, "That useless number 308, what kind of garbage am I betting on?"
308, hands shaking, pressed the button.
Red ball: 1,4
"Damn it!" 308 cursed.
Only one square left—everyone, players and VIPs alike, held their breath.
Blue ball: 1,5
325 jumped up in excitement.
Suddenly, the glass under 308 opened. A loud scream rang out—
"Aaah!"
308 fell, terrifying everyone.
The VIP who bet on him shouted, "Bastard!"
The broadcast continued: "Player 5 from Team One, please step forward."
They played four more rounds.
"Player 3 from Team One, please step forward."
So-yeon walked out.
Shortly after, she defeated Player 144.
144 glared at her, "F**ing btch!"
Then the glass opened, and 144 fell.
"Player 3 from Team Two, please step forward."
Il-hoon stepped out.
The two looked at each other. Jeong-hyuk, like a guilty child, couldn't meet their eyes.
Number 3—both the safest and most dangerous number.
They began playing, pressing buttons alternately.
Red balls: 2,4 → 3,4 → 4,4 → 5,4
Il-hoon smiled helplessly.
So-yeon pressed her button.
Red ball: 1,4
So-yeon said to Il-hoon, "I'm sorry."
Il-hoon looked at Jeong-hyuk.
From a distance, Jeong-hyuk silently closed his eyes.
Il-hoon looked at him with a forced smile and said, "Thank you, Lee Jeong-hyuk."
A single tear fell.
Then the glass opened, and Il-hoon fell.
Jeong-hyuk heard the thud and trembled. Tears of regret streamed down his face. A young life lost before his eyes—he felt like he deserved to die instead.
"Player 2 from Team Two, please step forward."
Ki-hyun stood before So-yeon. "Just wait to die, you f**ing btch."
The game began.
Red ball: 3,4
The VIP who bet on 123 silently prayed.
Ki-hyun pressed his button.
Blue ball: 4,2
"YES! That's right!" a VIP shouted in excitement.
Ki-hyun grinned creepily.
They continued.
Blue ball: 4,3
Only these squares were left:
1,4 | 1,5 | 4,4 | 4,5 | 5,3 | 5,4 | 5,5
So-yeon said, "Even if I die with you, I won't let you win."
Ki-hyun sneered, "We'll see."
"Come on, come on!" a VIP chanted.
Eventually, red and blue balls filled:
4,4 → 4,5 → 5,3 → 5,4 → 5,5
So-yeon stared ahead in despair and pressed the button.
Red ball: 1,4
Ki-hyun let out a twisted laugh.
"Hahaha… HAHAHAHA!"
He pressed his button.
Blue balls connected: 1,5 → 2,4 → 3,3 → 4,2 → 5,1
Ki-hyun said to So-yeon, "It's over. Everything's over."
Jeong-hyuk looked at So-yeon.
The glass opened. She fell.
Then, Ki-hyun played two more rounds and won them both.
Jeong-hyuk advanced without even playing.
A VIP said, "Yes! I won!"
Another VIP replied, "There's another game. Don't get too excited too early."
Jeong-hyuk stared at the corpses beneath the glass. He was lost in thought.
How he wished he had been the one to die.