Part 28: Sheep's Clothing

Now, it's time for us to go back and get going on a new route! The thread has voted, and this time we'll be starting at the first choice that influences the route- when the group splits up at the start of Round Two and Mouse is given several potential groups to investigate with. We're actually going to be going with someone else this time around, instead of Rooster and Snake...

[BGM: Silence]


I decided that I had already talked with Ox quite a bit when I woke up, and it would be best to brach out.

Actually, I'll help Horse and Sheep with their search. I think checking out the training room seems like a good idea.

[BGM: Friendly Bunny]


It'd be great if you came with us, right Horse?

Hmph. Couldn't hurt.

Doesn't sound like he's thrilled to have me.

Don't worry about him. I'm happy to have you.

Well then, I'm glad to come along.

Fine. Mouse, you go with them. Now can we quit talking about searching and just start searching?

Yeah, let's do that. The rest of us can just split up and look around. Oh, and everybody, remember to input your moves and reconvene here before the round ends.

Got it.

With that, we all spread out and began our search. The workout room Horse told us about wasn't far from the cafeteria, so it didn't take long to get to it.



We just had to walk down a hallway, take a turn, and we were there.

So this is where we're going to look first?

Is it a dumb idea?

If it was a dumb idea, I wouldn't have decided to help you guys look here. I think it makes a lot of sense. If you were going to hide weird items for your demented death game, you'd most likely hide them in memorable places, right? And this place looks pretty memorable.

My thoughts exactly.

But man, for a school workout room, this place looks pretty high-end. There's a bunch of weights, bikes, treadmills, and is that a rock wall over there? And this isn't even the gym, this is just a room to work out! Incredible. My school never had anything like this.

I think most don't. It seems like the location for the Jade Emperor's race is pretty fancy.



It's a good investment though. A good training environment is a big part of getting in shape.

I wish I could work out at a place like this. I'd like to get stronger.

You would?

Who wouldn't?

Fair point, I guess. So why don't you?

Oh, well... I guess I'm just too busy. I feel like I always have something to do.



I just can't set aside the time to regularly do something without much immediate benefit, you know?

Yeah, that makes sense. A big part of why I'm in rubbish shape is simply because I've been too busy with life. But I guess I don't really have a strong desire to get fit anyways. I don't see the need.

What? How is there not a need to be strong?

I don't know, how often is there a situation where you have to be strong?

What would you do if someone stuck a knife out at you and tried to mug you?

I'd probably give them my money and hope I wasn't mugged again.

See.



Okay, but being mugged is a pretty unlikely thing to have happen.

But there's a chance.

There's always a chance! With that logic, there's an advantage to not being strong.

When is it better to be weak than it is to be strong?

Let's see... I bet since you're so strong, all your friends call you when they need help moving furniture and stuff. That's gotta be super inconvenient, right?

What is the drawback in being able to help my friends when they need to be able to move things?

Okay, maybe bad example. But the time you spend getting in shape could be spent on other good things. What if you researched the cure to cancer for all the time you've spent working out? You could have found the cure to cancer!



I could not find the cure to cancer.

You never know until you try!

I am reasonably certain I could not find the cure to cancer.

Um, not to interrupt, but I feel like we might have gotten off track.

You're right Sheep, we need to start looking for Minor Trinkets.

Yes.

We began to look around the workout room for any sign of something being hidden. Sheep and Horse didn't make for the most talkative partners. But that was fine with me. The top priority was finding a Trinket. We spent plenty of time inspecting every corner of the room. After some time, I noticed Sheep trying to climb the rock wall. I didn't think much of it, but a few moments later she called us over.



Look what I found at the top of the rock wall!

She pointed out a safe.

Great work!

Does it have anything to do with the race?

I mean, probably. Why else would there be a cheap safe at the top of a rock wall?



What does it say on top of the safe? 'Work Out!'... What do you think that could mean?

It's just giving good advice. More importantly, we need to get the safe open.

There's a four digit lock combination to this.

Horse picked up the safe and started examining it.

Hm. This is pretty shoddily made. If I used one of the weights, I could pry it open after repeatedly striking it at the right angle.

Woah, hey, maybe we use that as more of a last resort.

It doesn't look like there's a limit to the number of guesses we can put in. There are 10,000 possible combinations to that safe. Assuming that each entry takes 5 seconds-

How about we just look for the safe's code?

Where?



I bet the message on the safe is actually a hint how to open it. Maybe we can find the numbers if we use the equipment in here.

It's worth a shot, I think.

I was able to dissuade Sheep and Horse from more extreme plans. Instead, we started frantically using all the workout equipment.

Sheep started turning on treadmills. One of them had the number '5' taped on the tread. Horse went around the weight lifting machines and set the stopper at the various weight levels. At each level, he'd look underneath the block he was lifting. Eventually, this method resulted in finding another number. '3'. With some difficulty, I moved the manual weights from their resting places, and under one was the number '5'. Finally, stretching out one of the ropes turned a black smudge into a number '5'.

There! That's gotta be all of them.

Three 5s and a 3.

That's four digits. The only problem now is what order to put them in. Maybe there's something about an ascending level of difficulty? Or is there an order you should generally work out in? Horse, do yo-

*beep beep*

I heard the sound of the safe opening.



I thought with 2 numbers, it would be more reasonable to just try all the combinations. It was 5535.

Oh. Okay then. I guess that makes sense.

I was a little annoyed we didn't solve the puzzle 'properly', but Sheep was right to just brute-force it. We didn't need to play along with Brian's games.

Well, let's see what's in this bad boy.

I reached my hand in and found a blanket of white cloth. Looking at it closer, there was a string of numbers on it. Wrapped in the cloth came an explanation of what this was.

"Sheep's Clothing – Sheep Major Trinket. Activate this item, and become a copy of a separate contestant. This will replace your information with theirs. One time use."



So basically, whoever uses this can replace their ability with someone else's.

Seems like that could be useful in the race.

But it's not a Minor Trinket.

No, it's not.

Does that mean this was a failure of an exploration?

Not at all! We still found an item, and we crossed off a room to search. That in itself is a victory. We don't need to rush. Anyways, I don't think this item's going to have any application. Sheep, since it's your Major Trinket, I guess you can hold onto it.

Um, okay.

She nervously took ahold of it. The mood in the room was a bit sour. After all that work, we found something that didn't actually seem to be that useful. Still, we couldn't give up hope.

So, what's next?

[BGM: Silence]


Um, well, that actually took a lot of the time we had this round. Maybe we should input our moves and meet back up in the cafeteria?

That's a good idea.

Fine. Sheep and I will go to different rooms. You stay here and press the run button. We will meet again at the cafeteria.

Horse didn't suggest this so much as he ordered it. And so, he just began walking out of the room. After a moment, Sheep began following him. Once they were gone, I pulled out my tablet and turned it on. There was no need to think much about my choice. I just pressed the RUN button. Afterwards, I returned to the cafeteria.

[BGM: Lamb to the Slaughter]


Horse and Sheep arrived shortly after me. We were the first ones back. Horse took a seat by himself at the side of the room. Sheep, on the other hand, approached me.

Um... Mouse?

Yeah, Sheep?

We weren't able to find anything useful, were we?

Objectively speaking, I guess not.

If things keep going like that... people might get desperate.

Maybe.

So then, do you think we can trust everyone? I mean, I want to, but...

She raised a good point.



This choice only comes up if you explore with Sheep and Horse during Round Two, and it IS one that influences what route you end up on. To get to the route that was voted for, our answer for Sheep is...



It may look bleak, but if we can't trust each other, bad things will happen. We can't give up, no matter what.

Right... you're right. Thanks for the advice, Mouse.

Don't mention it.

Right as I said that, the others began walking into the cafeteria. Many of them were in low spirits.

I couldn't find anything.

Me neither! Are we doomed? Is this it?!

I thought I'd at least be able to find one.



Have no fear citizens, for Team Rooster has secured a Minor Trinket.

Really?

Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

Huh. Looks like I wasn't the only one to find one of those things.

Dog, did you find a Minor Trinket, too?

Yup. Wasn't that hard. Just had to solve a simple problem.

Nice work, everyone! We're well on pace to getting out of here.

We found an item, but it wasn't a Minor Trinket. It is going to be pretty useless to us getting out.



Do not be discouraged. You found something that Brian hid. That's progress, direct or not.

Ox cleared his throat.

Yes, yes, we are certainly performing adequately. However, we can talk more about that after these results.

Not that I have reason to doubt you all, but I would just feel safer seeing everyone has stuck to the plan.

Of course everyone just ran. ...right?

Round 2 has ended. Now, let us see how the race has progressed.

The round plays out like it did in previous updates- every participant simply RUNs as they did in Round 1. Next update, we'll pick up from the point where people are separating into groups again, and our next route-determinant choice shows up!