227 – Returners Are Mentally Weak (6)

There is no big difference in the color of the sky, but the damp air tells you that it is morning. When did you fall asleep? It looks like he was quite tired and slept soundly.

No, more than that, I was on watch duty. Why didn’t you wake me up?

“… “

“… “

Other players hesitantly get up from their beds. One, two, three… Heat. When I see all ten people getting out of bed.

“… It seems to be a gimmick. I was clearly on guard, but when I came to my senses, it looked like this.”

I guess everyone should sleep at night, regardless of the vigil. Otherwise, there is no way a person who was standing upright would get out of bed.

“… There is a well. “I wonder if I can get some water.”

“I don’t think I should drink it.”

“…I’ll think of it first.”

While one person went to fetch water, I looked around at the other players.

Everyone has a bad expression. My complexion is darker than yesterday, and the area under my eyes is puffy. These are the faces you might see in Noryangjin Gosi Village.

“This. Do you think it’s okay to drink it?”

Then a player handed me a bucket of water. My face reflected on the surface is quite unfamiliar.

Pretty… It’s a shocked expression. It is that of a person who has seen something that should not be seen.

“Hey.”

While you were asleep. What happened? Why did everyone else, including me, look like this? Only afterimages of the negative emotions I felt last night are floating around, and the true nature of them is unknown. I am… What did you see?

Now I understand. Perhaps, while you were asleep, you suffered a direct mental attack. And right before I woke up, I forgot all about it. As a result, only shitty emotions such as irritation, despair, and anger remain and clutter the brain. You can only be good if you have a good expression…

“When someone speaks, answer back, you fucking idiot.”

While I was assessing the situation, a rough hand suddenly reached towards my neck.

-Kang!

While striking it away with the back of my hand, I pulled out my sword with my other hand and cut off his arm …

“Stop!”

“Hey, hey! “What’s wrong?”

Just before it was cut down, it barely stopped. Because the guy also had a surprised expression.

“No, that… “

“… “

“I’m sorry. Why am I like this… “I’m not the type of person to go out first.”

“I’m sorry too.”

This person. It wasn’t like this yesterday. It means that I am not the only one who is sensitive.

A small conflict that arose in a situation where both parties became sensitive. There is nothing you cannot understand. I also reacted harshly.

“Everyone, I don’t think your condition is very good. Is that right? I am now… I feel so shit.”

“Me too.”

“Me too. I feel like I want to kill and beat up someone.”

When I opened up and revealed that the condition was bad, others also complained as if they had been waiting.

“Maybe… This is the same ‘disadvantage’ that TOP mentioned. It takes a toll on your mind while you are asleep.”

“Actually, should I say thank you for erasing the memories of being disadvantaged? “If I had still remembered, I probably wouldn’t have been able to say this.”

“If you don’t proceed with the mission, won’t your memories remain? “I said it was a big disadvantage.”

“There is a possibility.”

Once people recognized that their strange behavior was not due to weakness but was intended by TOP, they regained their senses and resumed constructive discussions. Now, this ‘disadvantage’ suggests many facts.

“This is just my guess… The monsters may be much weaker than we think.”

“Monsters are much weaker? “I need a detailed explanation.”

“This floor has different characteristics from typical mafia games. Everyone knows the Mafia game, right?”

Mafia games may have slightly different rules, but there are some national rules.

A mafia that can kill people. A police officer who can identify if someone is a mafia person. And a doctor who can prevent mafia attacks.

“The point is, there is a way for both sides to defeat the other.”

There are a lot of people on the citizen side, and there are police to catch the mafia. The mafia may have fewer people, but they can kill citizens by shooting them directly.

Or, to compare it to Among Us, which was popular at one time… Citizens can win by completing all missions. Since the monster’s side is destined to be defeated someday, they have no choice but to take action.

“But what about us?”

However, the 23rd floor has a slightly different structure. First of all, there is no way for us to find out who the monster is. There are no police (they may be hiding), and there are no doctors. If a monster attacks this area, it has to be dealt with without a move.

“But the monster didn’t kill any of us.”

Is it because they don’t want to be suspected? Or is it because I can’t kill him? This is not the only basis.

“This disadvantage… “Isn’t it too much?”

Just, if this ‘disadvantage’ is given every day that passes… That is too disadvantageous for the player. Let’s say the monsters have no intention of coming forward at all. Let’s say a year has passed. So is there anyone among us who can remain sane? It can’t be.

“So I think… I think the actual combat abilities of the monsters will be weak. Or maybe they are the type that self-destructs after a certain number of days. Whatever it is, I think waiting is the key. We will definitely be given the means to uncover the monster. Otherwise… Because it’s unreasonable.”

“If you put it that way, isn’t this floor too easy?”

“No. There is a disadvantage. If we give ourselves a chance because we have become sensitive due to disadvantage… Monsters will target us at any time. As far as I can tell, the 23rd floor is like that.”

If everyone’s mentality is shaken and the spark of conflict grows, the monster will dig into the gap. It’s just speculation so far, but I think this is the most likely.

“Therefore… “The disadvantage is so strong that this disadvantage itself must be the alpha and omega of the 23rd floor?”

“As long as we don’t fight because of our disadvantage, we can clear it. “Is this what you mean?”

“Yes. The guy who invites conflict here or starts arguments for no reason… It also means that it is safe to view it as a monster.”

“Hmm.”

“That seems plausible.”

“For a moment. “There is one part I still don’t understand.”

Everyone seemed to agree, but one man disagreed at the end.

“Therefore… I’m not in a very good mood either. If you consider whether it is good or bad, it belongs to the bad axis.”

“So?”

“But… The situation is so good that it would be absurd to consider it a disadvantage. It’s as unpleasant as a truck passing by on a rainy day and muddy water being splattered. Is this just a disadvantage? “Aren’t you thinking about “Something wrong?”

“… “I’m in a much worse condition than that, so just shut up.”

“… Okay. If that’s the case.”

After roughly controlling the traffic.

“Then… Our immediate goal is to just not fight. By carrying out the mission without fighting. Everyone agrees, right?”

“The monster may be trying to catch us off guard, so let’s not let our guard down.”

“What about rice? “I did find bread in the building.”

“Rice is…” “

“Don’t eat rice or water, just in case. Since I’m a player, I should be able to last a week.”

“There is no need to take risks.”

The players endured hunger and dispersed to carry out their respective missions. We did not let down our guard to prepare for any possible disaster, but there was no sign of any special signs of popularity. The extent to which you pass by other people in the process of carrying out a mission.

“No one was hurt, right?”

“Yes. It looks like the prediction was correct.”

“Good.”

There were no casualties today, and no one noticed any abnormalities. The day’s work ends a little earlier than yesterday.

Night has come again.

[Disadvantages are imposed.]

**

It’s morning. When you see that your eyes are forced open, it is clear that it is morning.

“Okay… “

“Wow, wow… “

“Hold on. Because it smells like shit.”

“Whoa, whoo… I endured it. There is a lot of resistance.”

Other players stand up from their dark seats and warm up. It doesn’t look like it’s in good condition, even with empty words, but it looks pretty bearable.

“How much longer do we have to endure like this…” ” ” “

“It was similar in the past on the wilderness level. In the end, it is a battle of mental strength.”

“Hehe… Let’s see who wins.”

Players who pull themselves together and take care of each other even when their condition is bad.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

The moment someone so kind tried to put their hand on my shoulder, I took a step to the side and avoided their touch.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“… “

But I… It’s in bad condition.

Dizzy. I feel nauseous. The body is a body, but to the extent that it can overcome this physical pain… Uncomfortable. It feels like someone stuck their hand inside my brain and stirred it up.

“… “

This has gone beyond the limit. I can’t stand this. That’s it for today, what about tomorrow? What happens after that? What if I had to stay here for a month?

No, what if I fail in the process? What if I return midway? So what damage is left to my brain? I am? What is my reason?

I don’t know the exact cause, but the degree of ‘disadvantage’ I was given every night seemed to be much greater than others. Pain. I feel like I’m going to collapse.

“… It can’t go on like this.”

It’s a plan change. I can’t wait in vain like this. Even if waiting is really the right answer…

I need a faster solution.

[You have suffered damage.]

[It returns to the moment when you first entered the 23rd floor.]