The profiler, the scammer and DHB (9)

Fortunately, there was no penalty for losing the second scenario.

However, I didn't understand what happened.

Receiving a reward doesn't depend on whether we win the scenario.

Then why?

[Poule, renard, vipère: Scenario 2#43193

Make your group win.

Additional rules:

1. The scenario will begin once everyone receives their 'card'.

2. Everyone will be divided into three groups: chicken, fox and viper; which group you belong to is shown on the card you will receive.

3. The chickens' preys are the vipers; the vipers' preys are the foxes; and the foxes' preys are the chickens.

4. The group that stole the most cards at the end of the scenario wins (only the prey's cards are counted).

5. Cards are considered stolen when they are in the enemy's camp at the end of the scenario.

6. An object to temporarily hide your identity in the rankings for the duration of the scenario will be hidden for each camp somewhere in the scenario area. Only the top ten will be shown.

7. Rewards will be distributed based on personal performance. You won't be rewarded if your card is in the hands of another group at the end of the game.

8. The yellow area is the chickens' camp; the orange area is the foxes' camp; and the green area is the vipers' camp.

9. Your camp becomes a safe zone for 30 minutes every 150 minutes when its boundaries glow brighter. If the enemy steps in at that moment, they are disqualified for breaking the rules and the zone loses its effect. Disqualified people will immediately die.

10. The scenario will end automatically 48 hours from now. In the meantime, players and non-players will be unable to leave the scenario area. Food and water will appear in the camp for each member every 6 hours.]

I took out my cards.

I am a fox and I have a lot of chickens' cards…

Wait.

If it's that…

I checked my other pocket then every card I had but couldn't find it.

「7. Rewards will be distributed based on personal performance. You won't be rewarded if your card is in the hands of another group at the end of the game.」

At some point in time, my own card had disappeared.

I realized what 'loophole' my skill was talking about.

We won't be rewarded if our card is in the hands of another group 'at the end of the game', which means that whether we still have our own card or not isn't reflected in the rankings 'during the game'. Then, when the scenario ended, we suddenly disappeared from the rankings because it was recognized that we had lost our card and we couldn't be rewarded.

Since it also happened to at least 7 other players, it doesn't seem to be a mistake on my part either.

Does that mean that it was stolen? But when?

Moreover, my skill only put forward my own thoughts before, but this time it gave an ominous foreshadowing. Is it because it has leveled up?

I think I understand what it does a little at present.

Until now, my skill seemed to have a slight strengthening power. It puts forward the thoughts that I believe to be possible by making them clearer and slightly strengthens their influence over reality.

However, it's very weak now so it only seems to affect myself. For example, now that I think back on it, I should've have been able to last as long as I did when I was running away. My willpower and stamina are too weak. I shouldn't have been able to think due to having to focus on managing my breathing either.

I think my skill at that time made it easier to run and process the information, I also regulated my breathing unconsciously without having to focus on it.

Even though it didn't improve my stamina, if it gets stronger, it should be able to help me push through my limits.

As its name indicates, it's very centered on 'thoughts' and 'imagination', so it should depend on what I want to achieve and how much I want to achieve it, or how much I believe I can do it.

It's still hard to control the skill and I'm not sure if its activation depends more on 'faith' that something will happen or 'desire' for a situation to occur, but it should at least be related to the 'importance' of the thought to me. I don't know if I'll be able to control it better with time.

At level 2, it seems that it can also put forward the subconscious thoughts I missed to warn me of possible danger or things that will go wrong.

The sirens of police cars snapped me out of my analysis.

Now that the barrier had disappeared, we could see the police who had been waiting for the scenario to end.

They had most likely come after someone noticed the barrier and called them, guessing that another scenario was in progress and the individuals involved should be supervised.

Actually, considering the big number of corpses laying on the ground, they aren't wrong. A big number of players here had killed someone during this scenario as well.

I should probably escape now.

They were now busy facing and apprehending everyone in their sight, but their cars were only positioned in front of the main roads.

I should go somewhere where they can't see me and try to slip through them while they are focused on the main roads. They wouldn't notice me if I stealthily went out of an alleyway right now.

When they begin exploring around, they'll pay more attention to their surroundings and it'll be too late.

I headed toward a deserted alleyway. However, I didn't seem to be the only one who had that idea.

When I was about to enter a narrow street, I crossed paths with DHB. On his wrist was a silver bracelet that seemed similar to the necklace I had.

I now knew the identity of the anonymous player of the chickens' camp.

It's surprising I didn't meet him earlier.

The number 1 in the rankings, 'Anonymous Player', was DHB.

As expected of him.

His gaze also stopped on the necklace I was wearing as he realized my identity.

DHB paused in his steps.

I had already shown an unusual ability to analyze the rules in the first scenario, an unnatural calmness faced with a life and death situation, and a good adaptability.

I had also been able to quickly pinpoint the weaknesses of others and deliberately chose players against whom I could win easily to play the games of 'luck'.

Moreover, even though I helped people survive, I didn't insist further when the woman refused my help and didn't tell her that killing a dog wouldn't work, thus letting her die. My morality was somewhat questionable.

And this time, I had managed to reach first place near the end of this scenario, even though it was only for a moment.

I was a menace.

I was dangerous, far too skilled, too suspicious.

I should be eliminated.

While thinking this, he approached and stopped in front of me.

"Considering what you showed until now, you are a threat. I must eliminate you."

DHB raised his sword and pointed the blade to my neck.

As expected, being desensitized to facing dangerous people really got me into trouble.

I know I shouldn't think of this in this situation, but DHB is really cool.

Feeling the cold touch of metal, I searched for a way to dissuade him, but my head was blank.

So, I decided to do what I do best.

"Do it then," I said.

His gaze seemed to be analyzing my actions, trying to anticipate what I would do next as the sharp blade of his sword pierced through my skin.

"Kill me."

There's no way I can convince him to spare me.

If I try to escape, he'll also end my life without any hesitation.

Then, there's only one solution.

"What?"

It's to give up.

My eyes met his as I repeated myself.

"Go ahead and kill me."

I will neither try to convince him, nor attempt to run away.

I made up my mind.

If he cut off my neck, then I would really die. However, it didn't matter.

"Death doesn't scare me."

I don't care whether I die or not.

At my words, DHB's blade delved into my skin, but I still calmly met his gaze.

I could see he didn't believe me.

However, if we're playing at who of us two is more stubborn than the other, then I certainly won't lose, even if I may die.

It slowly cut deeper and deeper into my neck, but I ignored the pain.

My heart was unconsciously racing, but I didn't care.

A big amount of blood was now pouring from the wound.

And after around two to three seconds, I understood.

That blade isn't going to stop.

DHB really intends to kill me.

He may be testing my reaction and waiting to see if I'll change my mind while thinking that I wasn't serious, but I could see in his unwavering cold eyes that he will still end my life whatever my choice is.

I looked at DHB with slight disappointment.

I see.

I lifted my arm.

Then, since I'll die anyway, let's not drag this out. I don't like pain.

I grabbed the blade cutting through my skin.

As DHB thought that I had indeed been bluffing, my actions were the contrary of his expectations.

Instead of trying to move away the blade, I pushed it toward my neck as hard as possible to finish it immediately.

"Ugh."

I now understand why he was so slow, this is really hard to cut. He wasn't only testing me in the end.

His eyes shook as he reflexively tried to stop the sword.

Then, the sound of footsteps was heard behind us.

The police was coming this way.

DHB had lost his chance to kill me.

Since the blade wasn't pressing on my neck anymore due to DHB's surprise, I stepped back and slipped away, heading toward another alleyway as the police approached our location.

DHB had no choice but to let me go since he also had to escape.

I covered the deep wound on my neck and left. I hope he didn't cut any artery or that'll get even more troublesome.

As I ran, I was suddenly reminded of how much it hurt to move my body since I was beaten up, a fact I had forgotten for a while.

Then, I reached the tram stop of Commerce. Considering that the police was still nearby, I decided to follow the rails and wait for the tram at the next stop.

While walking, I also took off my jacket and attempted to stop the bleeding.

Wow, I've really done crazy things these last two days. I hope the scenarios in the future aren't as life-threatening.

"…"

Nevermind, I already know what will happen, and I have an uncanny ability to jinx things.

I hope my wounds won't take too much time to heal…

Hmm? Wait, healing?

I opened the system's inventory and took out the reward I received at the end of the first scenario.

I had forgotten about it. I feel dumb sometimes.

[Low-grade healing potion.]

I didn't think I'd use it so soon.

I poured its contents into my mouth and immediately felt better. The bleeding on my neck had also stopped.

I should be completely fine tomorrow, at worst maybe it'll leave a scar.

Now that it didn't hurt as much as before, I thought back to DHB's shocked expression at the end.

I hope I didn't traumatize him.

Actually, I pity him a little. It's not like he could know the girl he wanted to eliminate would suddenly show suicidal tendencies.

But giving up on my life was the only way I thought of. It's the only way that works to be spared in these situations in mangas. After all, bad people are usually reluctant to kill suicidal people because that ruins the fun.

Good to know that at least DHB doesn't murder others for fun.

DHB, although you had good reasons to end my life and I don't really seem trustworthy, I don't work well under pressure, okay?

However, as I reached the hospital, it was my turn to be surprised.

Riiing.

Something vibrated in my pocket.

No…

Riiing. Riiing.

That guy…

I slowly took out my phone and looked at the caller.

It was written 'DNA'.

DNA for 'Do Not Answer'.

That's how I nicknamed my first brother.

For real?

Can he read minds?

I knew it was a bad idea to even think about him yesterday.

Does he have a sixth sense that lets him know when his siblings are in trouble?

I glanced around me to check if there were any cameras.

Can he hack cameras to spy on us?

It seems a little paranoid to think so, but it's not impossible.

Shaking my head, I turned off my phone to not accidentally pick up the call—because I'm pretty sure he'll try to reach me for a long time.