Part 8: The Other Shoe

Like the previous safe, its not necessary we get this right to progress, but we're still going to be inputting the right answer for any safes we encounter; the break between updates should've given you enough time to solve the answer for yourself, if you so desired.

As for the correct answer, it is, in fact, a true statement!

[BGM: Lucky Foot]


If you took a pile of coins equal to the number heads up and flipped all of them, you'd always have two piles with an equal amount of heads-up coins. This wasn't a lie. Good thing I didn't falsely claim this was one of the wrong statements.

A bit later, Bunny cried out that he had found the two lies. He tried inputting the numbers found above his statements into the safe, and sure enough, it unlocked.

What's inside?

It appears to be a bell? There's an inscripted number on it.

You forgot this piece of paper. 'The Second Caw. Use this item and it will act identical to the last item activated.'

A Major Trinket!



It's an echoing effect. Basically, it can copy any other item being used.

That means this is as good as if we found a Minor Trinket!

Yeah! Great work.

Not bad.

We had spent quite a bit of time trying to solve this puzzle, but in exchange, we found a Major Trinket! If we kept at this rate, we'd be out of here in no time.

Anyways, the time's starting to get low. How about we input our actions in separate rooms and return to the cafeteria?

I don't not want to do that.

You know you can just say sure, right?



Where's the fun in that?

You have fun answering simple questions in slightly roundabout ways?

Marginally so.

Neat! Now let's do that thing I just said.

And, with a still-tense atmosphere, we left the forum and entered separate classrooms. Without much thought, I pressed the 'RUN' button. No reason to do anything else, right? After that, I swiftly headed back to the cafeteria.



Pretty much everyone else had already gathered when I arrived.

Mouse! There you are. Hey, you won't believe this good news: two more Minor Trinkets have been found.

In no small part thanks to yours truly, you're welcome.

We actually found a Major Trinket, but it will work like a Minor Trinket!

Yes, yes, that's all very well and good, now could you all be quiet? They're about to show the race results.



Why does it matter? Isn't it obvious what they'll show?

Better to keep a close eye on them regardless.

Before that discussion could continue, the speakers cut on.

Round 3 has ended. Now, let us see how the race has progressed.

[BGM: Silence]

The Rat has RUN one space.

The Ox has RUN one space.

The Tiger has RUN one space.

The Bunny has RUN one space.

The Dragon has RUN one space.

The Snake has RUN one space.

The Horse has RUN one space.

The Sheep has RUN one space.

The Monkey has RUN one space.

The Rooster has RUN one space.

The Dog has RUN one space.

The Pig has RUN one space.



[BGM: Mousetrap]


Before Round 4 begins, I have an announcement to make.

What?

There is an additional rule I have yet to inform you all of. A quirk of the race, if you will, that you all may be interested in.

No doubt those of you who checked the information tab will have noticed you each have a 'personality' assigned. From the Rat to the Pig, each of your personalities are unique to you.

Most of you probably dismissed that, and for most of you that was the right choice. However, for two of you, this personality is an incredibly important variable.



First up, I'll talk about the VICTORIOUS personality. The victorious personality wants to finish the race in first place, just like everyone else. However, this personality type isn't content in a big ol' shared victory.



For this personality to be satisfied, no more than three animals can tie for first. If this condition isn't satisfied, the animal with this personality will be treated as if they have lost. They will be punished accordingly.

Wait, but that means-

Are you kidding? That's crazy!

No...



The other personality to take note of is the DEFEATED personality. Unlike the other personalities, this personality doesn't actually wish to win the race.



The animal with this personality wants to be in last place when the race finishes. If that happens, all animals except those possessing the DEFEATED personality and those possessing the VICTORIOUS personality will be executed.

However, this caveat is not applicable if first place is a tie between 9 or more animals.

What a farce.

Does this guy think he's fucking with us?

I apologize for not making these rules clear from the start. I fear you might think this would've been good information to have from the start. And you know? You are absolutely right.



Therefore, to make up for keeping this from you until now this round will be extended by 15 minutes. Use that time to regroup. And as always, choose wisely. Heh heh heh.

[BGM: Stampede of Truth]


This couldn't be happening, right? There was no way! That BASTARD! There was no way that that was unintentional! He let us foster a false sense of peace. And then, when we were sure about our safety, he introduced this bullshit rule which forced our hands! Now, no matter what, at least 2 people would have to die. This couldn't be right!

I thought... I thought he said that if we did everything right, everyone could escape!

It was our fault for believing that psycho for one minute.

Is he serious?

Probably.

Then people are going to have to die, aren't they?



Everybody, everybody, calm down! We can't descend into madness just like this!

First off, the people with the victorious and defeated personality types should just admit it now. It'd be best for everyone.

You moron! You seriously think they'd out themselves like that? They're not that stupid.

It's not stupid, it's noble. Think about it- either 11 people could die, or 2 could. Which sounds better to you?

If you confess now, we'll make sure you are honored after your death.

That's seriously your offer? Doesn't sound worth it to me.



Criticizing the offer? What, are you one of them?

Nah, no way. Trust me, if I had one of those personalities I'd admit it. Why would I hide something like that?

Because you want to survive.

Yeah see, I'm not hearing a good reason.

EVERYONE, QUIET!

[BGM: Silence]


If your personality is victorious or defeated, please speak up right now. Obviously, no one is going to blame you. We just want to come to an agreement.

However, if you don't speak up now, we'll have no choice but to treat you as an enemy. So please, think carefully about how you want to proceed.

With those words, a plague of silence came over the room. No one even dared cough. It was as if you could breathe in the tension. I was hoping that maybe things could be resolved easily. However, it didn't seem as if we would be so lucky.

[BGM: A Bite That Persists]


Eventually, Monkey chimed in.

Everyone... actually remembers their personalities, right? It wouldn't be too odd for someone to forget such a seemingly useless detail.

It's possible that the defeated and victorious personalities don't even know it themselves.

Actually... I'm not super sure about what mine is. I mean, I think I remember correctly, but I'm not certain certain, you know? Maybe I should go and check.

Like hell you don't remember! It didn't happen that long ago.



But Dragon, what's the harm with letting people go check? Better safe than sorry, right?

I think letting anyone retreat at this stage would be unwise. The flaws are twofold.

First, it allows time for those with secrets to hide to compose themselves. At the moment, they're likely still flustered, and more likely to slip up. Additionally, letting them walk away and think by themselves will give them time for justification.

The subconscious mind is awfully effective at convincing the conscious mind of what it wants using sweet-sounding arguments. There's a saying that the best way to make a man murder someone is to give them a good reason and then give them time with nothing to do but think by themselves.

That sounds like a bit of a reach, Snake.

[BGM: Ox's Logic]


No, Snake's right. No one needs to check their tablet because no one needs to know their personality. It doesn't matter if you've been affected by this motive or not, your actions needn't change.

I'm sorry if this sounds callous or dismissive, but the simple fact of the matter is that we must prioritize saving the most lives possible. If we must let Brian murder two of us to secure the safety of the rest of us, then that's a trade we must make.

This isn't self-preservation speaking. I swear I'd make that promise whether I was affected by that announcement or not.

So then, what's the plan, chief?

The plan hasn't changed at all. We're going to find all the Minor Trinkets, and then we'll all reach the finish line at the same time.



Hold on, isn't it a super duper bad idea not to change anything now that we know about the personality types?

Now there's a really good reason for someone to betray us!

And how exactly do you propose they'd go about doing something like that? We've heard everyone's abilities, and there's no quicker way of moving than all of us using the Minor Trinkets.

If the victorious type tries to get ahead of the others before we begin using them, we'll immediately know their intentions. From there, the group can work against a common enemy and stop them.

Once we get all of the Minor Trinkets, we can make it to the finish line in a matter of two rounds. Even if the defeated type doesn't activate their trinket, more than 9 will receive a joint victory, so their immunity will be forfeit. I suspect that is why the '9-person caveat' was added in the first place.

Brian must have deemed it too easy for the defeated type to win had that rule not been in place.



So ultimately, if we just proceed with this strategy, the ten of us with normal personalities will be fine.

Great! So there's really no need to fear at all!

Thank god.

You all are being awfully naïve.

What?



Do you seriously think that those burdened with this rule would simply roll over and die? If they were willing to do that, they would've spoken up when we asked them to. Those with the will to survive will find some way to do so.

To think they wouldn't is to underestimate the desire to live.

Horse's words hung heavy. Of course he was right. If they hadn't outed themselves already, then the people facing harsher rules wouldn't be content with things operating smoothly. The air would now be plagued with a brutal sense of distrust. How could we, when traitors lurked in our midst? But we had no choice other than proceeding with the plan, even if we knew something was likely to go wrong.

So, what, are we just going to look for Trinkets like nothing's wrong?

I suppose.

[BGM: Eyes of the Dragon]


Oh, so you're just cool with us wandering around by ourselves in a creepy school when there are people who want us dead. I see. That's cool. Good leadership there.

Do you have a problem with me?

The girl's scared, and who can blame her? You're the shitty commander not thinking about the safety of your grunts.

Okay, well, do you have a suggestion?

We'll move around in groups of three. Tiger, Horse, Bunny, and myself will each be in one group, so all of them have someone who looks halfway decent at fighting. Sound good so far?



Why did you not include me on the list of fighters? I'd give my opponent the people's elbow! Get 'em screaming for their mommies, but their mommies won't be there, because I'd have fucked them already so hard that the mommies wouldn't be able to walk!

While I would kill to test that theory by beating the shit out of you, we don't got that kinda time so I'm just gonna move on by. Any real objections? No? Great. In that case, each of us should choose someone they're most suspicious of to keep an eye on.



As for me, I choose Ox.

Seriously?

We just brought up how the traitors would try shit, and then you proposed we let everyone walk off on their own. That's a traitor move if I've ever seen one.

I will look over Sheep.

You suspect me?

Not what I said.



Uh, gee, I don't think I suspect any of you!

I guess if I had to pick, I'll keep an eye on Dog.

What, you think I'm lying to you all right now?

You might be.

I guess you're right.



I want to keep an eye on Snake! That guy creeps me out. I don't trust his shifty eyes.

How rude.

Alright Dragon, you've split us up into four pairs, what now?

For the four people not in a group yet, uh... just pick someone. I don't really give a shit.

What an elegant solution.

Who gives a shit about 'elegance' at a time like this?

I got along swimmingly with Tiger earlier, and Snake seems like a nice fellow. Those two shall make fitting partners.

Well, great to have you on board!



It would be wisest to pick the group without a traitor in it, yes?

With that in mind, I believe the safest choice would be with Horse and Sheep.

Aw, thank you.

Do not worry, it is not a compliment.

I realized that if I kept on doing nothing I'd be left in a group without a say. There were only two left, so I had to pick now! Who to go with?