Part 30: All Tied Up

We're going to be skipping the results of Round 3 because, like previous updates, everyone simply RUNs again. Therefore, we'll be starting at the Jade Emperor's message after Round 3's results are given...

[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 DESPERATE personality. The desperate 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 CONTENT 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 DESPERATE personality and those possessing the CONTENT personality will be executed.

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

Like before, the Jade Emperor gives everyone 15 extra minutes to process this new information.

[BGM: Silence]


Everyone, calm down. We don't need to descend into chaos.

Seems like if there were a time to descend into chaos, now might be the one. After all, we've now got two people who'll stop at nothing to survive. Even if it means letting the rest of us die.

That's outrageous!

Indeed. Trading 10 lives for one's own is quite selfish.

Who cares about the numbers, depriving the world of the culturally significant art I provide is a war crime!

It's not unthinkable many would prioritize their own survival. It's merely a Plank of Carneades where the scales are a bit unweighted.

Everybody, everybody, settle down. There is no need to resort to panicking.

[BGM: Weak Pig]


I have the CONTENT personality.

What?

Seriously?

No way!

This is certainly a surprise.

You're... admitting it?

Naturally I'm admitting it. To not do so would bring the group undue stress, no?

Monkey... But, with this, y-you...



I struggled to get the words out of my throat. On the one hand, this revelation was a blessing. Monkey was giving herself up to the group. However, that meant that she... that she would certainly die. I had known Monkey for a while. Out of everyone here, she was the person I least wanted to see die. So for her to meet an end like this? What was Brian thinking?

My distress must have shown plainly on my face.

At ease, Mouse. You must move past this.

I need to move past this? What about you?

Death will come to us all, eventually.

I can't... I can't claim that I am not distraught at this outcome.

However, it unfortunately appears I do not have a choice.



For the sake of others, even if my body wishes to reject this fate, I will give myself up.

Just as I have done all my life. Luckily, I don't need to work up the courage to actually kill myself. I simply must prevent myself from acting untowardly.

But will you be able to, though?

Rooster?

Sure, she's admitting things herself now, but it's probably just a ploy, right? She's clearing herself from suspicion by confessing, so when things go wrong later, we won't blame her.

That's not it at all! How could you say that about Monkey?



Monkey, you may have our backs right now, but can the same be said about later, when you're really facing death head on?

Seriously, guys?

That'll be a lot harder than it sounds, I think. It sounds impossible, actually.

So what do you suggest? You should all kill me now? That since I am going to die anyways, there's no reason to not stab me at this very moment?

That would be barbaric.

Yeah!

We'll just restrain you so you can't do anything suspicious.

Yea-

We will?



Horse, would you be a doll?

Horse looked at Rooster for a moment, as if considering the proposal. Then, he made his way towards Monkey. Immediately, I intervened.

Woah, woah, woah! What are you doing?

I'm going to restrain her.

Why are we doing that?

Did we not just discuss this matter?

No, Rooster just said some dumb shit per usual, and everyone seemingly went along with it! This is an outrage, Monkey doesn't deserve this at all!

Now now, Mouse. There's no reason to be upset.



If they would feel safer were I restrained, I see no reason to refuse that.

Great! Thanks for your approval, babe.

...can I rescind my approval?

Nope. Anyways, I thought I saw some jump rope up in the gymnasium. Why don't we tie her up on a chair with some of that?

That will work well enough.

And just like that, the plan to restrain Monkey was put into motion.

[BGM: See No Evil]


Before we knew it, Monkey was firmly tied to a chair in the middle of the cafeteria. Rooster seemed to take particular delight in the restraining process, a mildly concerning fact.

Now, this should certainly satisfy everybody's fears. Now then, I would ask the DESPERATE personality to also confess at this point. I understand how scared you are, but know that we are all here for you. Things will go much better if you speak up now.

Monkey's voice was inspiring. However, her words fell flat. The rest of the room stayed silent.

Come now, surely you can speak up now.

Save it. While I admire your bravery and willingness to sacrifice, most aren't willing to give up on everything in their life just to help some strangers.



Unfortunately, this is kind of the expected result.

I see. If it was a matter of actively betraying the group, most would shudder from action. However, when action leads to one's death, betrayal by inaction is much more palatable.

So then what are we going to do?

We don't need to change our strategy at all. We now just need to gather 11 Minor Trinkets instead of 12. Then we can all cross the finish line at the same time.

But won't the person with the desperate personality try and reach the finish line before that? What if it's, say, Pig?

Me? I-It's not me!

It was an example. You could use your ability and rush ahead 11 spaces. That puts you way in the front!



That would be much akin to getting Check in chess by crashing your Queen through the line of pawns. A move that temporarily gets you in the lead, but will immediately end your chances of success.

If Pig makes her intent to betray the group clear from the start, the whole group will team up and make sure she doesn't beat us. Therefore, it would be in her best interest to hide for the time being, and look for some other opportunity to win in one strike.

Stop talking about me l-like I'm going to betray the group!

The bottom line is that if we all stick to the plan, and nothing major goes awry, then the traitor won't have an opportunity to cross the finish line alone. Therefore, we should focus on searching for the Minor Trinkets.

Let us split up and search for them now.

Hold on a moment- that was an odd suggestion.

What do you mean?



The person with the DESPERATE personality is still at large. Splitting up seems like a rather dangerous idea, given the circumstances.

I don't know what you're talking about. A single person can't do much on their own. What's dangerous is not finding enough Minor Trinkets in time.

We have ample time, and have been making fine progress. Splitting up only increases the risk posed. Bad things could happen if everybody is split up.

I doubt it. We're in a school, and everyone's on guard.

A naive take.

Excuse me?



I must say Ox, it feels weird for me to be this aggressive, but your suggestion strikes me as rather suspicious. It's the type of thing that someone plotting something would say.

Is that so? It appears that even tied up, you intend to sew discord.

For everyone's information, I am the last person who would do anything untoward in this building. If you're accusing me of being the other traitor, Monkey, I'll have you know you're gravely mistaken.

I never said you were a traitor. I just said the proposal sounded like you were scheming something.

…

Things could take an ugly turn if somebody didn't step in quick. It felt a bit bad, but in this argument, I had to support...



Here we find ourselves at another route-determinant choice. For the route that was voted on, the person we have to side with is...

[BGM: Rooster Style]


Monkey, I think you're going a bit far. Ox's suggestion is perfectly benign. I don't think you can say he's planning anything because of that.

Ah, apologies. I may have overstepped my bounds there. I mean no offense, Ox. Just on the lookout.

It's fine.

Anyways, Ox is probably right. The sooner we find the Minor Trinkets, the sooner we can get out of this place. I say splitting up is the way to go.

I agree, it makes a lot of sense.

Same with me.

Very well then, it appears the group has made a decision. It's not my place to intrude.



With the objective of finding Minor Trinkets clear, we all split off, planning to reconvene in the cafeteria at the end of Round 6. Hopefully, we'd have found 10 or 11 Trinkets by then.

And like that, we'd be home free.