Chapter 204
A brief commotion arose, but Paradox subdued everyone with a single light question.
“So, are you not going to do it?”
Silence flowed.
A prison break from a facility where escape is impossible. Even though it was a simulation and not reality, there were no cowards among those trapped here who would hesitate to challenge that impossible feat.
Except for Cheonchilbaek. However, in a stroke of irony, Cheonchilbaek was such a coward that he lacked the courage to say he wouldn’t do it.
“Good, good. Just as expected of the members I chose. Then I’ll assume there are no objections and proceed. Why don’t you all share the reasons you were locked up in prison?”
Various stories came out.
Like Osai’s “One-Eyed Jack” being locked up in Glitch Hall on charges of insolence for seducing the child of a high-ranking noble house, or Samsao’s 'Crusher' being caught after being betrayed by a colleague during a commission…
However, the decision maker, Paradox, seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the companions' imagination.
“Hmm, good. It’s all good, but… it lacks a certain specialness, should I say.”
Not only Cheonchilbaek’s but everyone else’s expressions crumpled.
Just what kind of specialness did he want?
It probably felt similar to a superior demanding of a subordinate employee, 'It’s all good, but… could you give it a slightly more classic yet modern feel?'
When everyone seemed unable to grasp the point, Paradox sighed.
“No, pretend you didn’t hear that. Let’s go with this. However… we might need to add a little spice.”
“Spice, you say?”
Samsao asked, but Paradox did not answer easily.
“You’ll find out once we enter the simulation. I’ll leave it as a surprise gift. It’s no fun if you know everything in advance.”
Osai stared with a look that showed he couldn’t completely understand finding fun in a game where GP was on the line, but Paradox didn’t care in the slightest.
“Just talking is starting to get boring. Seeing is believing, so shall we begin? Everyone, just keep three things in mind.”
Paradox raised three fingers and spoke.
“First, as I said earlier, act naturally, immersing yourself in your character as much as possible within the Simulation, to avoid any sense of incongruity. This is a game where you can only succeed by doing so, so I won’t accept any objections.”
“Second, listen carefully to the GM’s explanations, especially the parts regarding settings or judgments. They’re not absolute, but they’re correct in most cases.”
“Third, once we start, let’s gather in a highly visible place first. The location… right. The dining hall would be good. Try to refrain from individual action if possible. It’s better to stick together.”
There were many, many things to ask, but Paradox didn’t explain in any more detail.
He merely glossed over it vaguely, saying, 'You’ll find out once you try it.'
The Simulation began, and Cheonchilbaek woke up in a White Room, a space no different from Glitch Hall itself.
If there was a difference, it was that there was something else on his body besides the bright, tight-fitting prisoner uniform.
A mechanical restraint emitting an ominous red light was fastened around his neck.
Not only was it large, heavy, and uncomfortable, but the bizarre whirring sound of its operation was terribly ominous.
, an uneasy premonition that it might make a clunking sound at any moment, sprout a blade, and slice his neck off.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar, alien voice, or perhaps a string of text, entered Cheonchilbaek’s mind.
『
GM
: You examine the Supernatural Ability suppressor.
It is no coincidence that you feel an unusual amount of anxiety toward this collar binding you, this heavy mass of iron. It is because you are a supernatural ability user, and this restraint is the cage that confines you. The anxiety you feel might be some kind of warning sent by your innate ability…
New quest:
“Struggle to Emerge from the Egg”
Created!
->Release or destroy the Supernatural Ability suppressor.』
Cheonchilbaek was speechless.
* * *
There were several reasons why the current situation made absolutely no sense.
First, this was completely different from the other simulation games in Glitch Hall.
The unidentified system called GM, and the simulation space - a spitting image of Glitch Hall, albeit modified in various ways. There was no way the Glitch Hall side would tolerate such a thing.
“Didn’t I tell you? This is different from an ordinary game.”
Second, Glitch Hall’s simulations are strictly based on reality. They never create a virtual space with settings that could absolutely not exist. But what about a supernatural ability?
“Are you certain it’s a setting that cannot exist? Perhaps supernatural abilities exist in reality too. Even if not right this moment, this might be a natural sight in the near future. Besides, didn’t I tell you beforehand that there would be a surprise gift, though even I didn’t know it would be such a unique background…”
The middle-aged fat prisoner, Paradox, tapped the dining table when the backlash seemed strong.
“Enough! All I can say is that this is a special game, and because it’s special, it can offer significant rewards. I guarantee that you will receive in full the game reward you expect from this game. As long as you clear it, that is.”
“…”
At those words, Osai and Samsao nodded with doubtful faces, seemingly having accepted it in their own ways.
Since the Game reward couldn’t grant him a pardon, Cheonchilbaek was indifferent, but his opinion didn’t matter anyway since he was in a position where he couldn’t defy them.
“I’m glad you seem to have understood. Even if you have questions, I can’t explain any further. The GM doesn’t really like this kind of meta-conversation that deviates from the flow inside the Simulation and is out of character for us. They will probably try to impose sanctions in some way… oops!”
Paradox abruptly stopped talking and tore into the disgusting food block for prisoners distributed in the dining hall.
It was shameless acting. The problem was that the others were not as quick in their judgment and actions as he was.
“You four there! What are you chattering about instead of eating?”
A high-handed, commanding voice.
Cheonchilbaek stiffened rigidly with an attitude befitting a newcomer to Glitch Hall.
A guard? Unlike the real Glitch Hall, are there guards stationed here?
That was the first thought that came to mind.
However, as he cautiously raised his eyes, the other person was also wearing a white jumpsuit.
Except, unlike their group of four, he didn’t have a restraint.
He had already seen in the dining hall that all the other prisoners were wearing restraints, as if they all possessed supernatural abilities too.
『
GM
: He is an ordinary man with short, neatly trimmed hair and a clean-shaven beard. If there is anything unusual, as you have also noticed, he does not have a restraint. Could he be an ordinary person without a supernatural ability?
That can’t be. This Glitch Hall is a correctional facility exclusively for supernatural ability users. It is clear that the man is a prisoner. Then there is only one conclusion. The man is definitely a “model prisoner” who can use his abilities.
Quest Updated!
“Struggle to Emerge from the Egg(!)”
->Find out about the model prisoner.』
A model prisoner who can use his abilities? What on earth does that mean?
Unlike the bewildered Cheonchilbaek, Paradox seemed to have realized something.
He licked his lips.
“Fortunately, the GM is quite kind. The encounter is rather favorable… I’ll handle it this time. Watch closely and learn, everyone.”
Whatever he was thinking, Paradox stood up from his seat alone. Then he spoke.
“You all know I’m a well-connected person, right? Since my 'connections' are wide, I know a lot of people here in Glitch Hall too, and perhaps this friend is one of them.”
It was somewhat strange. Paradox’s words sounded more like a declaration to someone else rather than to them.
『
GM
: Upon the player’s request, a
[Connections]
check will be conducted. Please roll the dice.』
A transparent die appeared on Paradox’s hand. He promptly scattered the dice onto the dining table.
The strange thing was that the other prisoners around them showed no reaction, as if they couldn’t see it.
The dice rolled.
Four six-sided dice.
The result was ⚂⚁⚂⚄.
『
GM
:
[Connections]
stat 3 plus modifier <0 - 0 +> makes a total of
3 (excellent)
, so the result is…
Success
!
Herlock Sholmes recalls his memories of the model prisoner in question. His name is Gleck, a fellow inmate of the same year. He has a boastful nature and became a model prisoner relatively recently.』
“Very good. This will be a piece of cake.”
Paradox muttered so, grinning, his middle-aged face taking on the persona of Sholmes.
And it went exactly as he said.
“Hey, Gleck! What kind of disappointing nonsense is that? My friend, are you abandoning your prison mate like this just because you became a model prisoner?”
“Huh? Uh - Herlock? I couldn’t see you because it was far. No, but still, in the dining hall…”
“Wow, time really flies. It feels like just yesterday we were suffering together as 1st-year newcomers, but before I knew it, you’ve become a model prisoner! Seeing you living freely with your restraint off makes me so envious and proud. What’s the secret? For someone like you, isn’t that incredibly fast?”
“Is that so? Hey, I don’t think I’m that fast.”
“Hey, don’t be so modest and just slip it to me quietly. Everyone knows you’re amazing, so don’t even think about hiding it!”
He wasn’t a Glitch Hall 17-year Veteran and a Monster for nothing.
Paradox’s oratory was truly amazing, succeeding in perfectly sweet-talking the model prisoner named Gleck with just a flimsy fake friendship.
Gleck, who had become an informant fluently answering whatever was asked without even knowing what he was saying, made an excuse that he was busy and belatedly ran away, but they had already gotten everything there was to get.
“Now, there was quite a lot of useful information. You were all listening carefully, right?”
Paradox said, rubbing his hands together.