Kim Rae bin’s declaration that he, the security guard, would snipe Park Mundae triggered the mechanism.
Vrrrr—
“Wah!”
“What... what is that?!”
A flash burst from the coffin like a camera, the beam swirling around the members like a spotlight, ratcheting up the tension.
Buzzzz—
Then, like a roulette, it finally settled on one person.
–Security guard will snipe participant Park Mundae!
Park Mundae.
Right at the target Kim Rae bin had named!
“.......”
Kim Rae bin swallowed hard.
Park Mundae stared impassively at the beam emitted from the coffin.
A suffocating silence filled the room.
And then:
[Bang!]
“Gah!”
A harsh gunshot echoed, making several members flinch.
The speakers crackled.
A mechanical voice announced:
[Correct.]
[The criminal is the mortician.]
“...!!”
“Waaah!!”
The light that had been aiming at Park Mundae turned blood-red.
[The security guard has shot the criminal.]
Everyone forgot to breathe.
It was a success...!
‘So....’
Park Mundae really was the criminal!
“Ugh.”
Kim Rae bin’s legs nearly gave out and he almost fell.
“Kim Rae bin!”
“Rae bin, what did you just do? That was your security guard ability?”
“Y-yes....”
“Amazing...!”
The atmosphere instantly brightened with excitement.
“If we’d known this, we could have just shot someone every time the game started!”
‘But if we’d been wrong, two people would have died....’
Kim Rae bin was about to explain this to a red-faced Bae Sejin when Park Mundae chuckled and shrugged.
“Yes. You got me. Rae bin, that was incredible.”
“...!!”
“We could all have used that trick of taking two cards to the entrance, but I was the one who asked Geon woo to do it. Your deduction was perfect.”
“Ugh!”
“And I really am the scholar.”
“Wow, unbelievable!”
Good grief.
Kim Rae bin looked over at Ryu Geon woo, who was smiling broadly.
‘When...?’
It happened then.
Park Mundae tapped Rae bin lightly on the back of the head.
“You figured it out without any proof. Well done.”
“Th-thank you....”
“See? Without proof, your security guard role mattered most. Amazing.”
A few members replayed events in their minds and shook their heads in astonishment.
In fact, Park Mundae had used no ability at all—just his wits—to come up with an unprovable trick.
Seon Ah hyun, who had spotted it exactly, was equally amazed.
“You played the detective role so well, Ah hyun.”
“A-ah....”
Seon Ah hyun’s face brightened at the praise for a moment, then fell.
“Um, Mundae. I’m sorry... for passing you the sacrificial marker.”
“You didn’t know either.”
“But still. There was a reason....”
“...?”
Seon Ah hyun hesitated, then answered.
“As the detective, when you exchange cards, you learn the other person’s profession.”
“...!”
“So before I told you mine, I wanted to confirm what your profession was....”
‘Ah!’
Of course—Ah hyun wanted to form an alliance with Mundae and so checked in advance.
Kim Rae bin nodded at the realization.
And Park Mundae nodded too.
“But then suddenly the mortician came up.”
“.......”
“......Yes.”
From that point it all descended into chaos.
Park Mundae commented briefly.
“I would have suspected myself first.”
“Ha ha ha!”
The members burst out laughing.
The mood lightened further, as if the game were already over.
“You were awesome, hyung!”
“But when did you actually exchange cards??”
“Please check the broadcast for that.”
“Ha ha.”
Ryu Geon woo smiled sheepishly. Bae Sejin’s face turned crimson.
“And why did you even ask Mundae to exchange? That was a suspicious request!”
“We’ll cover that in the broadcast too.”
“Ugh.”
“We’ll also see on the broadcast which of you and Lee Sejin is really the lawyer.”
“No, I want to hear now!”
“Hey~ hyung, are you going to hold out until the end?”
“Hey!”
Bae Sejin was huffing but didn’t seem genuinely upset. He ended up chuckling.
“Well, anyway... we succeeded!”
“Yes.”
I’m not sure it’s right to say that in front of the captured criminal, but the tension had definitely eased.
Suddenly, the room’s lights went out.
“...!”
One by one, LED candles reignited.
A deep crimson # Nоvеlight # glow.
And they began blinking mercilessly.
“What now?!”
“Oh, this atmosphere is...!”
From the speakers, a chilling voice began to whisper.
[Criminal, burn the mortician, the black sheep.]
“......!”
As the crimson LED candles cast a gruesome light, a low-quality string ensemble played over the speakers.
An amusement-park-style orchestral theme.
[Criminal, burn the mortician, the black sheep.]
[Criminal, burn the mortician, the black sheep.]
[100 seconds remaining.]
Kim Rae bin’s heart dropped.
Wow, what a mood killer.
‘The art team really outdid themselves.’
I looked around at everyone’s expressions. Not great.
‘I’m off duty now.’
“Then I’ll be going. Everyone, stay alive till the end.”
“B-but....”
Ryu Geon woo raised his hand.
“Ah, then me too?”
“N-no, you won’t!”
“...?”
Why not?
“My reason for sniping Mundae hyung was to save the sacrifice too!”
Kim Rae bin began explaining vigorously that if the security guard hits the criminal, the sacrifice survives.
‘In other words, replacing the sacrifice with the criminal on this cultish altar.’
Security guard really is cost-effective.
I thought it was unbalanced, but after hearing the rules, I see Rae bin would die if he picked wrong.
Well, at least his conscience is intact...
‘It would have been hilarious if he’d shot the wrong person.’
I mean, for a variety show.
Imagine discovering two dead participants at the start with no explanation—peak chaos.
Of course it would have been a total wreck, but that’s a crowd-pleaser too.
‘They could’ve gone even crazier.’
I clicked my tongue at production for not rigging it so the security guard targeted Bae Sejin.
But thanks to that, we got this.
‘Hmm.’
I tapped the coffin’s crimson surface a few times.
Tap-tap!
“So how do I become the sacrifice?”
“Eek, creepy.”
On cue, the coffin opened automatically.
Screeeech.
“Ah!”
Inside...
“Good lord.”
A ruin of wood, as if it had dried blood baked into it.
[60 seconds remaining.]
At that cue the BGM grew even more grotesque.
Normally two people would enter and joke around, but now I was going in alone.
Maybe that’s why everyone’s reactions shifted.
“Um... this is way more realistic than I thought.”
“Mundae, you’re scared, huh....”
“Enough. What are you doing with this thing?”
It’s not like there’s a real corpse—why all the fuss?
‘This food dye is going everywhere.’
“I’m going in.”
I climbed into the coffin. It wasn’t as sticky as I expected.
‘I can even see infrared cameras in here.’
Honestly, fine by me.
“Is it closing now... Mundae, you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.”
Why do they treat me like a coward?
Nothing can jump out in this cramped space. Just keep eyes closed.
I nodded, fists clenched, and the lid shut.
Thunk-thud.
With a heavy sound, darkness enclosed me.
But I could still hear outside perfectly.
‘Good that it isn’t soundproof.’
I pressed myself against the lid and listened.
First, the creepy mechanical voice:
[Place the candles on the altar.]
“What??”
“It looks like we just need to place the candles here! Ah!”
Amid panicked voices, the coffin trembled—members were placing those grotesque red LED candles on top.
‘They’ll think of anything.’
I folded my arms.
“What now. Just place them?”
“Hey, these circles match the candle holders exactly.”
“Okay, let’s put them there.”
“Got it! We need seven candles!”
Moments of vibration, shuffling, footsteps outside.
“Is this right?”
A brief silence.
[Burn!]
“Argh!”
Suddenly a chorus of gloomy shouts rang out and wind howled.
Then the chaos outside grew.
“Yikes!”
“Oh my...! What the—”
‘Did the bathroom ghost escape or something?’
Glad I’m inside this coffin. I was about to nod in relief when:
Whirr—
“...?”
A small mechanical sound and vibration right beside me.
Like an engine or device activating.
...Right by my head.
“.......”
What the hell.
I turned my hand toward the sound in the pitch-black darkness.
My fingers brushed sticky dye and wood as I probed sideways, and then:
Click.
“...!!”
Hold on.
‘I think I pressed some button....’
At that moment:
“Aaah!”
“What is that!?”
Another intense reaction from outside. I gritted my teeth.
‘You crazy producers!’
The coffin trembled violently!
‘What now.’
And, two seconds later.
The bottom of the coffin I was lying in began sinking like an elevator.
“...?!”
Where are they taking me?
