CH 31

“I kinda like that.”

Drinking iced tea, I continued. Hmm, it’s sweet.

“The… unbalance that is slightly given by the contrast of the atmosphere and the situation? For example, this kind of thing. Like in a fairy tale. The prince and the princess are living while laughing happily. They decided to gather the animal friends in the forest and have a party.”

“It’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it? But this is where the variations are given. A handsome prince, a beautiful princess, a brave lion, a cute rabbit, and a laid-back turtle gathered. Together… Hmm, to sit and smoke cigarettes together.”

“Wait, Da-in, why does it sound so weird?”

Seo-eun looked at me with a disgusted expression.

No, there’s nothing to freak out about.

“I think I know what you’re talking about.”

“Soobin?”

When Seo-eun looked at Soobin with a startled look as if she had been betrayed, Soobin startled and shook her hand as if she was trying to say ‘No, that’s not what I mean’.

“No, I mean. I know what Da-in is talking about. Kind of like a cruel fairy tale? You’re talking about that feeling, right?”

“Well, that’s right. Something similar.”

I nodded.

Actually, more than that… It’s more like a drama based on a squid game.

Squid game, playing marbles, and picking dalgona.

Something that is very familiar to us and that makes us feel like children.

That sense of separation when those things are used for survival and death, not for fun games.

If you pick the right dalgona, you’re not going to receive another dalgona as a gift. If you don’t pick the right dalgona, you will die horribly. Such rules. Games with such rules are so cruel but funny and familiar at the same time. It gives a huge sense of separation.

…As I told them both, they both told me to stop talking gibberish but to speak it out. Seo-eun said it directly, while Soobin with her gaze.

And honestly, it’s hard to understand that there’s no drama in this world based on the squid game. Reducing one of Gukppong element, as a patriot I must say that it’s so sad.

“So… That’s what this terrorist attack is about?”

“That’s right. Whatever it is, the concept of terrorism has to be clear. I’ve written the dilemma twice, so this time I’m going to go with the concept of a cruel fairy tale.”

***

[THE EGO SHOW]

[Now Live]

A height of 25,000 feet

All communication with the outside world, such as telephone and the Internet, has been cut off.

An enclosed space in the sky

There are about 80 people in this space.

It was so quiet that the only thing that can be heard is breath.

No, to be exact, it’s just people’s voices are gone.

People were just listening to the voices coming out of the speakers quietly, without saying a word.

[Welcome to The Ego Show, the biggest quiz show in the sky!]

[Let’s start the game!]

They didn’t know.

The voice they heard over dinner on the news.

The voice that they heard while giggling on YouTube.

How terrifying it sounds.

It was definitely a voice that could be heard on the TV at least once.

It’s a bit frivolous and cheerful at the same time, but it also makes people concentrate.

But why is this voice now coming out of the speaker giving a primitive fear to everyone?

They were only now able to reflect on what Egostick has done so far.

Two large-scale attacks.

More than 10 people were killed by his own hands.

Chosen by the Association, ‘Extremely Brutal and Highly to Escape’ A-class villain.

Everyone laughed and cheered Mango Stick Mango Stick, but…

It wasn’t until they were slapped by the reality that they knew.

Why the Egostic is called a villain.

His words from the speaker sound like an innocent child playing a fun game.

The content was brutal.

[The rules are simple!]

[1. Don’t make a sound! As soon as anyone makes a sound, one of the three wires attached to the bomb will be cut! If it gets cut off… You know, right?]

[2. Don’t communicate! Cheating is a crime. If you get caught communicating with each other in any way, I will blow it up immediately. I can do a quiz show anytime next time.]

People’s faces turned pale at his comments.

Some swallowed, some shed tears, and some prayed to God with their eyes closed.

Whether or not, the voice continued to come out from the speakers.

[Now, I will explain the key point, number 3.]

At the same time, the screens in front of the seats changed.

In the 1980s, American cartoon-style black-and-white animations began to play, and letters began to appear in English.

[EGO’s Funny Non-Sense Quiz]

“Nonsense quiz?”

As questions popped inside people’s heads, Egostic’s voice continued to come out from the speakers.

[The rules are simple! There will be 10 questions for the nonsense quiz, so you just have to answer them correctly! If you get even one person right, quietly. And safely! I will let you go. But what if everyone is wrong? The bomb will explode!]

It sounded so simple.

Answer 10 non-sense quiz questions?

It’s like a game that elementary school students can play when they have nothing to play.

It’s too childish for adults to play.

But if their lives are at stake, the story is different.

[Nonsense quiz, I will read the question myself starting from the first one! I will read it for you, and you can also read it on the screen in front of you. Where should you send the answer? You can look at the messages app on your phone! There’s a text message from an unknown number, right?]

As he ended his sentence, people took out their cell phones, and there was actually a text message.

[THE EGO SHOW. Answer here!]

A text from an unknown number.

They don’t know how he could text them on a plane that didn’t even have any radio wave, but somehow a message came.

The announcement came out from the speakers.

[After the question is given, you guys can send the answer to us via text message within 3 minutes. Wow, 3 minutes! It’s enough time to cook a cup of noodles. It’s enough, isn’t it? Why? If you pour water into the cup of ramen and wait for 3 minutes, it feels like you have to wait for a long time until you can eat it. I gave you more than enough. Haha]

‘What’s more than enough, you crazy punk!’

People could only keep the thought to themselves, they couldn’t say it out loud.

Because Egostic warned them that he would activate the bombs as soon as he heard any sound.

[If you get just one wrong answer, you’re out! There’s no chance to try again. If you’re wrong in the first question, it’s meaningless to know the answer to the remaining nine questions, right? But I’m sure there’s someone who can get all the right answers out of all the people. I trust you guys!]

An unreasonable rule when you hear them.

However, they did not have a veto.

Before people could come to their senses, cheerful music began to play on the speakers.

Egoistic shouted out loud as he listened to the cheerful BGM.

[Now! Let’s hurry up and start the first Ego Show! The first question! How many people can ride on the lifeboat in Titanic?]

At the same time, the question just popped up on the screens in front of the passengers’ seats.

[First question. How many people can ride on the lifeboat in the Titanic?]

And below that, the numbers that started counting down in bold red letters.

[3 : 00]

[2 : 59]

[2 : 58]

People rushed to type answers on their phones.

The time’s up, Egostick’s voice began to come out again with cheerful music.

[Yes! The time for the first question has ended. The answer is… 9 people can stay on the lifeboat*! Almost everyone answered it right because it was easy. As expected, our Korea is all about humor! You guys are so cool.] *TN: ‘Lifeboat’ in Korean is written as ‘구명 보트 (Gumyeong Boteu)’, and ‘Gumyeong’ also means ‘Nine people’.

Those who texted [9 people] received [Correct!].

Some breathed a sigh of relief, but some had turned pale.

Whether or not, the broadcast of Egostic continued.

[Okay! Let’s move on to the second question! What is the hottest fruit in the world?] …

***

[Hell’s quiz show]

[Wow, if I were there, I would have peed myself.]

[Egostic is really a villain. Who said he was a hero? They’re all going to die.]

[Fact) As long as it’s not me]

[Wow, how did he install the bombs on the plane? Basically, don’t people check for the bombs thoroughly?]

[I don’t know either.]

[What is the captain doing? Can’t they just make an emergency landing?]

[If they do that, I think it’s going to crash.]

“President, when he’s up there, what can we do?”

“There’s nothing we can do.”

The president of the Association continued, watching the broadcast with a mournful look.

“Go get some popcorn, Stardus.”

Stardus took the popcorn next to her and threw it at the president’s face.