Among all the quests, the third seemed like the easiest. At least, that was what everyone believed.
The system's cold mechanical voice echoed through the auditorium, cutting through the tense silence.
//ROUND THREE, TRUTH: //
Several students visibly relaxed. Then the next instruction appeared.
// WHO DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON? CONFESS AND GET A KISS //
The relief vanished instantly.
// Players selected: Luis, Yuna, Sooyun, Woong, and Selene //
Luis leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Oh, come on. I hate this x2 thing." He rubbed his forehead. "Looks like I have no choice."
Selene was the first to stand. Her hands trembled as she faced Woong.
"I've been waiting for the right moment to confess my feelings, and I guess this is it." She took a deep breath.
"I feel lucky that I even got this chance. Woong… I've liked you for a long time. I wanted to tell you someday, and I…"
"Hold up." Woong's voice stopped her. "I can't say I feel the same way."
The words hit harder than she expected. Selene forced herself to continue. "Then… at least give me a kiss."
Woong shook his head. "No. I can't."
A notification appeared immediately.
// SELENE HAS BEEN REJECTED. CAN'T LIVE WHEN THE ONE YOU LOVE DOESN'T LOVE YOU BACK. SELENE HAS FAILED TO COMPLETE THE QUEST //
The room frozen. Selene's eyes widened. "What?"
Pain spread through her chest. She staggered backward, struggling to breathe before collapsing onto the floor.
The auditorium fell silent. Woong lowered his gaze. "Sorry, Selene. I can't force myself to love you."
Yuna stood next. Unlike Selene, she showed no hesitation. "King, I've been watching you train for months."
A playful grin appeared on her face. "You look amazing. Honestly, I have a crush on you."
King blinked. Then he laughed. "For real?" His expression quickly turned cold. "I don't deal with trash like you."
Yuna's face darkened. "What did you just call me?"
"You heard me."
Furious, she charged toward him. Before she could reach him, the system interrupted.
// YUNA HAS FAILED TO COMPLETE QUEST//
A scream escaped her lips. Moments later, she collapsed. Several students looked away.
"That's messed up." "No kidding."
All eyes shifted toward Sooyun. She crossed her arms. "Why are you staring at me?" Her voice dripped with annoyance.
"None of you are handsome, and I'd never have a crush on any of you."
The system responded immediately.
// SOOYUN HAS FORFEITED. QUEST FAILED//
A sudden accident sent her crashing to the floor. Within moments, she stopped moving. The remaining students stared in horror.
Woong rubbed his temples. "Oh, come on, System." His frustration finally boiled over.
"We're tired of this."
// WOONG HAS ABANDONED HIS QUEST. PENALTY IS BEING ISSUED //
Woong panicked. A slimy substance poured from the ceiling. The students backed away as his body began to melt, dropping off on the floor.
Luis swallowed hard. The atmosphere had become unbearable. "I guess I'm the only one left." He looked around the room. "Who do I even have a crush on?"
The truth was, he'd never really thought about it. His eyes wandered across the crowd. Then they stopped.
Aera.
She sat quietly among the students. Luis stared. Suddenly, countless small memories rushed through his mind.
The way he always noticed her. The strange comfort he felt around her. The dreams.
His eyes widened. "Wait…" A nervous laugh escaped him. "Is she really the one?"
Gathering what little courage he had left, he stood and walked toward her. His heart hammered against his chest.
"Aera…" She looked up. Luis immediately forgot everything he planned to say.
"Uh… I think…" His face burned with embarrassment. "I think I like you."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Then Aera smiled. She gently held his cheeks and pulled him closer.
The entire auditorium erupted with whispers.
Luis froze. His brain completely stopped functioning. When Aera finally pulled away, she smiled warmly.
"I'm glad you found the courage to tell me."
A notification appeared.
LUIS HAS COMPLETED QUEST
Before anyone could react further, the system spoke again.
"Final round begins immediately."
A collective groan spread throughout the auditorium.
// DARE: HOW WICKED ARE YOU //
A pause followed. Then the final instruction appeared.
// KILL ANYONE ON YOUR TABLE //
The room went deathly silent.
// PLAYERS SELECTED: LEE-NA, TAE, SEUNG, RIA AND CLARA //
Tae slowly stood. A dangerous smile crossed his face. "I'm finally going to make you pay, Rin."
Across the room, Ria clenched her fists. "I've waited for this." Her voice trembled with anger. "My cheating boyfriend is finally going to face consequences."
She rushed forward. The confrontation ended almost as quickly as it began. She tumbled violently as her head hit the table leading to an instant death.
A mistake. A stumble. A hard impact. Ria never got back up.
Meanwhile, Seung faced his own target. The ex-girlfriend who had spent months spreading rumors about his manhood being as small as a pen. When the confrontation ended, only one of them remained standing.
Luis looked away. "Geez…" His stomach twisted. "This is brutal."
Clara trembled. Tears streamed down her face. "I can't do this." She couldn't bring herself to harm another person. She them stabbed herself to death.
Luis clenched his fists. Beside him, Aera sat quietly. She looked devastated.
"Aera looks sad" he thought." I mean who wouldn't be? The auditorium had become a nightmare. At least the x2 penalty had already been used. Otherwise, things could have been even worse."
Rin and Kim's voice shook. "Why does it have to be both of them?" They looked around helplessly. "At this rate, we're all dead."
Tae's eyes locked onto her. "I've held myself back long enough." A chill ran through the room. "You're doomed."
The attack came instantly.
Moments later, silence returned.
Tae stared at the result. "Damn." He clicked his tongue. "That ended faster than I expected."
The students looked at him with fear. While everyone's attention remained fixed on Tae, Lee-na made her move. She picked out a pocket knife and pushed it down Kim's throat. His windpipe began to malfunction suffocating him to death.
Soon after, another body hit the floor. The first game had finally come to an end.