Part 38: Selfless Guard

It's time to get started on another route! The vote which resulted in Rooster's route was actually tied with the one we're about to start on, so I decided we'd just do them back to back to respect the tie (and just had an unrelated party pick between the two).

The first choice we'll be making is who we go with in Round Two, and for the route we're going onto we'd need to go with Horse and Sheep again- which we've already seen! This is the workout room where we eventually find the Sheep Major Trinket. Where we're going to start is actually the conversation with Sheep after exploring the room, back in 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 time, we're going to recommend the other option...



Obviously, we need to try to work together. But Sheep, there may be some people who try to take advantage of you to try to save themselves. So just, you know, keep that in mind. Be careful.

Of course. Thanks for the advice Mouse.

Don't mention it.

From here, we get the same scene once the others return- only Rooster and Dog found Minor Trinkets. The results for Round Two are shown- as usual, everyone hit RUN. From here, the group begins splitting up once more. The pair we're going to be going with this time are Tiger and Dragon, which we've seen as well- the gymnasium, where they have to find the key taped to one of the building supports.

And, just like before, they find the room full of weapons.

They hastily make their way to other rooms to enter their actions, and then hurry back to the cafeteria, where the results of Round Three are displayed- everyone hit RUN like usual, but, like before, the Jade Emperor has a message for the group...

[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 DETERMINED personality. The determined 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 SELFLESS 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 SELFLESS personality and those possessing the DETERMINED 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.



Like I said, you all need to calm down. There isn't a need to fall into chaos, because there aren't going to be two traitors. The people with the determined and selfless personalities are going to confess.

[BGM: Queen of the Jungle]


Starting with me.

Tiger, you're not saying-

I have the selfless personality.

Seriously?

No way!

This is certainly a surprise.

You're... admitting it?



Of course I'm admitting it!

I... I really don't want to die. My inner me is screaming at me right now not to do this. Dying here will leave over a hundred promises broken.

But the most uncool thing would be to sacrifice all of you just to save my own skin!

If it means keeping everyone together, then I'll proudly stay true to my 'selfless' personality and announce it! This just means you all are going to have to finish my promises for me.

Of course. Of course we'll do that for you.

Tiger, my friend, you will be hailed as a national hero for this. Your name will live on in perpetuity after you're dead.

In perpetuity, huh? I like the sound of that.

[BGM: Silence]


Now come on, whoever has the determined personality, join me! We should face the music with our heads held high!

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

Determined personality...

[BGM: Hear No Evil]


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.

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 determined personality try and reach the finish line before that? What if it's, say, Pig?

Me? 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 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.

Hey, before we get to that, there's something we should bring up.

Oh yeah! We found a weapon closet in the gym.

What?

Yeah, the place looked like a damn weapons shop. It's pretty wild.

Weapons? Here? Why would Brian give us that?!



It is a curious decision...

That could be a problem. The last thing we want at this time is to give people a way to kill easily. The mere presence of those things is going to elevate the tension in here tremendously!

We should do something about them.

Yeah, but what?

You said the closet was locked? Could we relock it?

Nah, the lock actually fell apart. I guess Brian did that intentionally, huh?

Curses. Foiled again by that wily Brian. What a cad.



Look, we should just get someone trustworthy to guard them. That way, no one could use them.

But that means one less person would be looking for Minor Trinkets.

A necessary sacrifice. Tiger's right, a guard system would be simplest, and safest. Furthermore, I propose Dog should be the guard.

Me?

What a curious choice. Almost traitorlike, picking someone as useless as me to be the trustworthy one.

Anecdotally, I believe your personality is least likely to be 'determined'. I think the personalities given somewhat reflect an aspect of our real personalities. Tiger has certainly proved herself worthy of the mantle by announcing her personality, right?

And mine is no exception to that fact. If we take that into consideration, I can think of no candidate less 'determined' than Dog.



Solid argument. I pass.

What?

Don't wanna guard. Seems like a lot of work. And like I'm primed for being killed.

Now Dog, doesn't that seem a little, um, selfish of you maybe?

Yeah.

…

…

Okay then.



How about we have Tiger do it?

What?!

She's already proven not the 'determined' personality, right? So she should be safe.

Yeah, but she also would die if she went along with us. How do we know she won't turn around and attack us?

She already confessed.

She could change her mind!

Anyone could change their mind and think things were too dangerous to not turn on the group. Tiger has proven herself to be loyal to the group, and no one would be able to get the jump on her. She should be the guard. Agreed?



Dragon looked angry, but no one looked like they wanted to argue with Ox.

Aw, that's nice of you Ox. So, should I just go to the gym and sit in the closet until the race is done?

Is that really alright? The gym is kinda separated from the rest of the building. If something bad happened, it'd be hard to get other people.

Then let's just move the weapons here to the cafeteria.

Good idea, Horse!

Then we'll go with that.

And just like that, we were decided. Tiger, Dragon and I led the group to the gym. We made sure to take careful stock of everything in the closet before anyone was allowed to touch anything. Then the group carried the items back to the cafeteria. We piled all the weapons in the center of the room. An inventory was taken to make sure everything was there, and no one had pocketed anything.



Great! I won't take my eyes off this pile.

No one's laying a finger on these weapons on my watch.

See to it that no one does.

If that's everything, then let's split up and begin looking for Minor Trinkets.

Let's.

[BGM: Friendly Bunny]


I think I'll search some of the nearby classrooms.

Ah! I'll join you.

Oh, oh, so will I.

Both of you want to come with me?

Due to recent events, I don't like the idea of searching on my own as much.

Is that why you are going with her? How strange.

I simply go this way because I choose to.



You all do what you want, I'm gonna search by myself.

If it's all the same to you guys, I'll also go by myself.

Um, I'd rather be alone right now too.

Look people, if you want to work as a group, do so. If you don't, don't. We're all adults, we can make our own decisions. Let's just stop talking about searching, and start searching.

Ox's definitive statement broke up the group and sent us all on our way. Like they said they would, Rooster and Pig searched the nearby classrooms with me. As a group, searching rooms went by much quicker. We determined a certain room didn't have any clues in no time flat. We then began to search through the next classroom.

However, we weren't searching for long before an announcement started to play out of the speakers of our tablets.

[BGM: Silence]


Attention, animals. Attention, jurors. A Major Trinket has been used, and upon activation this announcement plays on all tablets.

Th-this can't be good.

Someone has activated the Butcher's Knife. With the Butcher's Knife in play, at the end of every round, the user will move an additional 3 spaces forward for every corpse the knife has slashed.

Corpse?!

Of course, if a corpse already slashed by the Butcher's Knife is slashed again, the movement won't take place. To the innocent, I wish you luck.

To the butcher, happy hunting.