Part 52: Sleight of Hand

[BGM: Silence]


What?

The normally disinterested Dog's eyes shot open, a look of panic and fear spread across his face. It looked like he had more to say, but before another word could exit his mouth, he began to dance the familiar death. I couldn't bear to watch it again. It was always utterly horrifying. I only turned back around when I heard the thud of a body hitting the floor.

Bunny picked up the tablet and started interacting with it.

Heh. Arrogant bastard really didn't see it coming.

Did you just chuckle at someone dying? What the fuck is wrong with you?

Don't get too offended yet, Mouse. I don't think many of us are going to be mourning him.

What do you mean?

Take a look at his tablet.

[BGM: See No Evil]


His personality is defeated.

Wait, so that means...

We finally hit a traitor.

A wave of relief flooded my heart. Thank God! I shouldn't be feeling this good about someone dying, but I couldn't help myself. For once, a death wasn't in vain. But after the initial jo y, I turned to being puzzled. I mean, yeah, I voted for Dog, but he was really the type to kill this many people just to get his way? What could have motivated him so much? To drive a man to commit such acts... Was it all in the name of self-preservation?

While I was hung up on this, the rest of the group celebrated.

Hell yeah! We finally got one!

I knew something was off with that fucker.

[BGM: Bullfighter]


For the record, who actually voted for him?

I sure as hell did.

I also voted for him.

I voted for Dog.

I see, I see.

You were all convinced?

Well we were right, weren't we?

I guess that's true.



Dog must've been the one behind Ox's death. He likely lied about who he voted for in the second cycle, and he was also probably the one who collected the tablets off the dead person.

Crafty little bastard, isn't he?

Indeed. While he was forced into unfortunate circumstances, I cannot condone his actions. Still, I will pray for his soul. Hopefully his actions, spurred on by the cruel heart of a boy, can be forgiven.

Well, I won't.

Fuck him. And fuck anyone who tries to step to the Slugger Queen!

So, what now?

Huh?



Surely you didn't all forget that there are two traitors. Just because one is dead doesn't mean things are over.

Shit. You're right.

Not necessarily.

Huh?

Think about it- we don't know the personality of a number of the deceased. We theorized it was possible, but we never got confirmation that the two traitors contacted each other. That idea actually sounds fairly far-fetched.

It's very possible that, in all the hubbub of what's happened, the other traitor is already dead.

But how likely is that?

Well, think about it.



If both were alive, don't you think there would've been more 'moves'? Ever since Snake's death, all the votes have been entirely explainable. There haven't really been any liars or anything.

Yeah, that's all well and good, but we don't actually know that they're dead. Are we supposed to just take it on faith?

What's the other option? Start killing each other and hope the traitor's still alive? That seems like a recipe for pointless slaughter.

Guys, I have a great idea!

What?

We just have to tie again.

This plan again?

No, trust me, it'll work this time! There's only five of us left, which means anyone breaking from the plan will be super obvious.



Mouse is totally right! Mouse and myself can vote for Horse, Horse and Dragon can vote for me, and Monkey can vote no one.

If we do this, hopefully no one will die!

A clever plan.

I suppose that makes sense.

We also need to input this round's action. Grimly enough, with all the deaths, the Minor Trinkets we have now are enough. Let's spread them out and activate them.

So we each took hold of a Minor Trinket and took turns entering the restroom to use our tablets. I used my Minor Trinket and prayed for Horse's death. ...Of course, I didn't actually pray for that, but that's the button I pressed on my tablet. This was the first time I actually went into one of these things confident. There were too few people for a traitor to make a move. In fact, the other traitor was probably dead. Nothing to worry about!

[BGM: Silence]


By the end of the cycle, we were all gathered around in the cafeteria. We heard the television announcing the Round's results. However, it was drowned out by the announcement on our tablets.

With a total of 3 prayers, the great Draconic Gods have heeded the group's wishes and strike down Horse.

See, just as-

WHAT?

How is-

Horse's face scrunched up in a look of determination. I knew what was about to happen. I turned around once more. My mind was too clouded with despair to figure out what had happened. It took longer for the thud to come than usual... but a thud did come.

[BGM: Rabid Rabbit]


Horse died just like the rest of them. Four were left. What the fuck?

What the fuck? How the hell did this happen?

No! I thought this was over...

This is certainly unexpected...

Monkey! The traitor's gotta be you!

What?

Didn't you hear? Horse got three votes! You must have voted alongside Bunny and Mouse and killed him!



There has to be some sort of other explanation!

How?

Maybe a dead person's tablet was used!

Seriously? We would've seen if someone took an extra tablet with them, and there are no tablets in the bathroom.

What a desperate excuse!

Then it was Dragon!

Huh?!



Playing coy. The standard maneuver of liars. Instead of voting for Bunny, like she said she would, she voted for Horse.

There, simple as that.

No way it's me! Stop trying to pin the blame elsewhere!

I'm just looking for the most logical explanation.

The most logical explanation is that you did it!

Everyone, shut up!

I shouted at them with all the emotions I had been bottling up. They turned to me and looked disturbed by my outburst. I didn't care. I had had enough with the traitor and their shit.

I'm sick and tired of this. The traitor is obvious.



This could've been a vote if we didn't already know explicitly who the other traitor was. Oh well!

It's definitely Bunny.

What?

Mouse, what are you talking about? Bunny couldn't have made Horse get 3 votes, he was already supposed to vote Horse.

Yeah, the argument's between me and Monkey right now.

That's exactly what Bunny intended to happen. Why he did things like this.

Did things like what? Mouse, you're being ridiculous right now!



You voted for Horse, and you used a dead man's tablet to vote for him as well.

How? You saw that I only brought my own tablet into the restroom!

You didn't need to bring a tablet into a different room. You voted right in front of us.

Huh?



Bunny, when you were 'checking' Dog's tablet, you used it to vote for Horse without any of us noticing, didn't you? As the other traitor, you must've realized you were entering an unfavorable situation once there were only 5 of us left.

It doesn't surprise me you had a plan prepared for that round. After voting Horse, you guided the conversation so Horse was one of the options we were voting on to tie it. All so you could be 'innocent' in this debate.

That all makes sense to me.

You bastard! You tried to set us up, didn't you, you son of a bitch?

Woah, woah, hold on a second, Mouse is totally off base! I didn't do anything like that. You think that's evidence that I'm the traitor?

This isn't a game about evidence. It's about who's the likeliest traitor. And if we're talking about who's suspicious, there are piles and piles of red flags with you. Starting with the formation of the library group.



What about it?

You said Pig founded that group? No way in hell. She's not proactive enough to form something like that. In fact, it looked to me like she was the last to join!

She surprised me too, but she was super enthused about it.

No, she wasn't. You formed that group by taking the most desperate people and gathering them together. You hoped to take control of the game by staying in the majority. But Dog interrupted that plan by overwhelming your group with numbers.

Which is probably why you convinced the same people to reform that group and bring in Dragon.

I seriously don't know what you're talking about!

For a time, you used that group to vote people out. However, for some reason, you sensed that that was a sinking ship, and decided to pivot. By offering a hand out to us, you gained our trust while taking out another big competitor.



That was the point it devolved into a complete contest of the group voting out the most suspicious. And being the social manipulator you are, that's the situation you were aiming for.

At that point, you were fairly confident that Dog was the other traitor. Since you knew which actions you were responsible for, you could more easily narrow down who the other traitor must be. That's why you contacted with him there, didn't you?

Contacted with him? Mouse, you're spitting off nonsense at this point... I was right in front of you guys the whole time!

The random comment about a 'Carl Leone'. That was some sort of code, wasn't it? A code only fellow cops would get?

Now you're just being ridiculous. Carl Leone is a very respected actor, I'll have you know.

Really? Name three movies he was in!



He doesn't do movie work, he acts in television.

Then TV shows.

Uh, Holy Holes, Shake Hands with Danger, and Frankenstein Cop.

I haven't heard of a single one of those!

How's that my fault?

I would know about Frankenstein Cop if that was a thing.

Clearly, you wouldn't!



You and Dog conspired to pin suspicion on Sheep.

You're saying I worked with Dog? Then why did I vote for him?

You voted for him because you realized public sentiment was against him. He had the most votes other than Sheep the round before. Then, when you heard Dragon talking about him being suspicious, you decided it was best to jump aboard the bandwagon.

Tch. This is all ridiculous!

Oh yeah? Then who do you think is the traitor?



I don't know. Monkey? Dragon?

It's not me!

It's sure as hell not me.

You're both right. It's Bunny!

You're totally right, Mouse. This guy's been scummy no matter how you look at it. In all but one vote, he's been on the majority's side. That's the kind of situation that only occurs if you're deliberately pulling some strings.

The traitor in this case is likely someone who possessed an acute sense of social awareness. That does not appear to be in Dragon's style.

[BGM: Silence]


It is, however, consistent with the personality Bunny has displayed.

It's over, Bunny! Just admit it!

With an angered look on his face, Bunny started walking towards me. He also stuffed his left hand in his pocket. He was walking past Dragon. He had previously inspected Dog's body. So that means... Just as he suddenly yanked out a golden knife from his pocket and slashed at Dragon's neck, I slammed into him. I had almost forgotten the last move available to him. With just 4 left, he only had 3 people left.

If he could have ambushed Dragon with a weapon, he might've been able to get away with it.