Part 37: Jacks High

Another route down, another bonus update.

This route was, obviously, the Rooster Route, and the endings in question are the Jack cards. Themis stated that pretty much since they began development on this VN, they knew they had to make sure at least one route had the motivations be something unrelated to the role assignment, and the route that was chosen when first planning as the 'no matter what, this one will be like that' was Rooster's. (Is it the only one? ...Stay tuned to find out! ) It's also a route where Rooster gets the spotlight he so desperately craves, and boy does he do a lot with it

Once again, the route itself is pretty straightforward- ultimately its just 'make a bad decision or a good decision', its just that for two of the major choices you have multiple bad options to possibly hit- though you all did admirably in avoiding those. That said, let's not waste any time and get to them- starting with if we look in the wrong place after finding Bunny and Horse with Dog...

[Look in the wrong place in the murder room.]

There are two “wrong” places to look here, leading to this ending. The first is below the body...

[BGM: A Bite That Persists]


The answer had to be somewhere in the crime scene. Beneath that... smoldering wreck of a body, lay vital clues. I knew it. And so, I got to work. It was not appealing work. Moving the corpse in this instance wasn't as simple as rolling it over. I had to actually move chunks out of the way.

I felt like barfing. I would kill for a pair of gloves or something to help. But slowly and surely, I made my way through the wreck. At the bottom, there'd be something, anything, that would light up the way.

...and the other is somewhere else in the room.



The answer had to lie in this room. I just didn't know where. Frustrated, I started looking around. I wasn't looking somewhere in particular, just poking around at any place that could be considered suspicious. I was familiar with the layout of the room- I had already searched through it before. So I was sure I could find any secret that may lie dormant in a nook or cranny.

If you pick either of these two, eventually...



Before long, Dog spoke up.

Uh, Mouse? You keep doing what you're doing, but I'm gonna go inform the others about this.

Yeah, yeah, you do that.

I shooed him away, more focused on solving the case. I paid little mind when I heard the sound of footsteps leaving the room. ...And unfortunately, I paid little mind when I heard the sound of footsteps entering the room. Well, in a vacuum that wouldn't be suspicious. But only one set of them? In this context? I really should've seen it coming.

Instead, my back was entirely turned to my assailant. And that was a mistake I simply couldn't get away with making. 10 seconds after the footsteps had entered the room, I was on the ground bleeding. 30 seconds after they had entered the room, I was dead. 250 seconds after they had entered, more footsteps entered the room to find my corpse.



Ending - Jack of Diamonds

Mouse's fate in this timeline is surprisingly complex. The reason for her murder doesn't become clear unless you look at the entire board of dominoes. However, one way or another, she will definitely become the target if she wastes too much time at the crime scene.

For perhaps obvious reasons, this path is not good for our long-term sustainability. And so, to keep searching for a better line of play.

The other bad ending we avoided is if we pick the wrong option on 'who should die' in the standoff.

[Rooster/Dragon should die.]

Once again. We have a choice with two wrong options, and one correct one. This time, though, while the ending card is the same, the actual endings are completely different based on which person you pick. Therefore, we'll start with Rooster...

[BGM: Bullfighter]


Rooster, I don't care what sob story you have. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But whatever the case, the facts don't change. You murdered 3 people in cold blood. You're trying to murder a fourth.

This isn't some light offense, this is serial murder! If anyone here deserves to die, it's you.

Rooster looked me right in the eye. After a brief staredown, he sighed.

Oh, Mouse. How I hoped you would see things my way. It would've been better for both of us, don't you think?



Without a second word, he raised his pistol towards me. Instantly, I realized my mistake.

Wait, wait, hold up Rooster. We should talk about this. What I actually meant wa-

BANG!

And then, if we pick Dragon...



You're right, Rooster. To be honest, I can't make a strong judgment call without all the facts. But if you're right, it sounds like this blackmailing ring is a seriously villainous organization. If I were you... I'd probably shoot Dragon, too.

Exactly! Now that's what I'm talking about, Mouse. See, I knew you were smart.

Mouse... you bitch! Even you'll turn on me?!

Did you kill Rooster's parents?

No!

…

[BGM: Fire Breath]


Sorry, I just don't believe you.

RAARGH!

In an instant, Dragon was up and charging at us. It was truly a remarkable sight to see. Made less so by the fact she was obviously aiming to attack me. She grabbed a nearby pen and before Rooster could aim a shot, she slashed at his eyes. Then, as Rooster recoiled, she closed the distance between me and her.

I tried to get out a single word of explanation. But before I could even do that, she had stabbed me right through the throat. Next thing I know, I'm lying on the floor, gurgling out my own blood. My consciousness was slipping fast, my pain was immeasurable, and my vision began to fade. But I had enough energy for one last thought.

I always thought the phrase 'the pen is mightier than the sword' to be bullshit. Now, I believe in it.

Cool final thought, brain.

[BGM: Silence]


Ending - Jack of Hearts

Mouse is in a room with two highly dangerous, easily angered people. Perhaps starting a conflict in this situation is not the wisest course of action.

Next update, we start on a different path towards a different route!