Part 89: Group Up

It's time to get started on another route.

In Round Two, Mouse goes to explore with Ox, and the duo end up exploring around the school library. While Ox finds a strange black disc in the library, it doesn't seem to be connected to anything, so their search ends up being a waste of time. Towards the end, they split up to vote; Mouse runs, as usual, and then returns to the cafeteria. The results are posted – everyone ran– and then everyone splits up once more.

For Round Three, Mouse decides to go explore with Bunny and Dog, and the three end up in a forum-style classroom, where they solve a true/false puzzle and find a Major Trinket. With that, they split up to input their votes and return to the cafeteria, where the results show that once again, the group as a whole have all ran – only for the group to witness the additional rules given after Round Three ends:

VICTORIOUS can only win if they finish first with no more than two other people, and DEFEATED wants to finish last, which will result in only the two of them surviving.

Like before, the Jade Emperor gives everyone 15 extra minutes to process this new information. Tiger tries to get the people with victorious and defeated to speak up, but nobody comes forward. Ox attempts to get the group to resume searching for trinkets, but several members express doubt at how safe that would be. Dragon proposes they explore in groups of three rather than pairs, to make it easier for the group to stay safer as a whole. She also proposes that Tiger, Horse, Bunny, and herself each be in one of the groups, as all four are good enough at fighting that they can prevent any altercation that might be attempted.

No one voicing any complaints, Dragon then follows this up by proposing that the four fighters in turn pick a teammate – her choice being Ox, who she is suspicious of. Horse chooses Sheep, Bunny chooses Dog, and Tiger chooses Snake. Monkey and Rooster each pick a pair to join, which pushes Mouse to decide fast which of the two pairs left she wants to search with. She decides on Ox and Dragon, because she's already searched with Ox before and knows she can trust him. Before the groups set out to explore, however...

[BGM: Stampede of Truth]


Uh, actually, I have another suggestion.

What is it, Mouse?

I'm worried about the possibility that someone might have both traitors in their group.

Oh come on, what are the chances of that?

Or, or, what if the traitor is someone like Horse or Tiger? No one in those groups can stand against them.

She's not wrong.

Nope.



For that reason, I think we should, as a collective, pledge to all look in the same general area. Obviously not in the same specific places, that defeats the purpose of spreading out, but the same area of the floor.

That way, if something goes wrong, we can call out to each other.

I like that idea a lot!

Me too.

There is strength in numbers. The suggestion makes sense.

Alright, okay. We'll go with that.

[BGM: Silence]


If this is the plan, then what section of the school should we look through first?

How about the second floor? You know what they say, first is the worst, second is the best.

Sure, let's just do it already. I'm sick of talking about this.

Dragon's curt remark cut the conversation off. We were all sick of just talking. We were antsy and nervous and sick. What would make us feel better? Looking for the dang Trinkets. So everyone started searching throughout the same general portion of the second floor.

We decided it would be best if we checked out the second-floor restrooms. After all, no one had seemingly bothered to look there yet. It was a little bit awkward to enter the men's restroom, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I don't think anyone really would have minded. The good thing about searching through restrooms is that there isn't a lot of area to cover. We were able to completely search through the men's restroom in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, that search didn't wind up with any leads. We then decided to search through the other restroom. For a while, it looked like it would be the same thing...

[BGM: See No Evil]


However, just as we were going to leave, Ox stopped us.

Hey, look at this.

Right behind the door, a safe lay on the floor. Due to the way the two-door entrance was set up, it was located in a place very easy to overlook. However, once Ox pointed it out, it was obvious.

Great! This probably hides a trinket.

Good, so we weren't completely wasting our time.

Let's not start celebrating until we actually see what this is. We need a combination to open this safe. And there don't appear to be any hints written on the safe.

Then the combination has to be hidden in the restroom.

But we didn't find anything.

We were looking for objects. If we start looking for numbers, we might find something!

Well, we can try it.

Fine. I don't have a better idea than this, so sure.

Great!



So we went back to looking for any hint as to what the safe's combination could be. Eventually, I rolled out a roll of toilet paper. Completely unfurling it revealed a four digit combination written on the final piece.

I've got it!

You do? Great.

Let's try and preserve some semblance of dignity and open the safe outside the restroom.

Works for me.

We exited the restroom and brought the safe with us. Once outside, we input the code. Sure enough, the safe opened to reveal a whistle and a sheet of paper.

Huh?

It must be a Major Trinket.

Gimme that.



Dragon leaned in and grabbed the whistle. Ox, on the other hand, grabbed the paper. All this commotion brought some of the other searching parties to us.

Hey, what's going on?

Did you guys find a Trinket?

Yeah, but we're not sure what it does yet.

Well then, I suppose I'll read the explanation. *ahem*

[BGM: Silence]


“This is the Grouping Whistle. Once activated, the 12 participants will be divided into their four packs. The packs each consist of three animals that move directly after one another. That is to say, Mouse, Ox, and Tiger would be one pack. Bunny, Dragon, and Snake would be another. Once packed, the participants cannot be unpacked. Participants in a pack will all move together. If Mouse chooses to move one space, then on Mouse's turn, Mouse, Ox, and Tiger will all be moved forward one space.

The three members of a pack will share their fate. Every member of a pack will possess the personalities of their other pack members. Additionally, if one member of a pack is executed... all in the pack will be executed.”

...and that's all it says.

Wait, I don't get it. What's the point of this?

I think it's actually a pretty useful item. Like, um, if I was in a group with Horse and Monkey, I'd have an opportunity to move forward with my action, with Horse's action, and with Monkey's action, right? That effectively triples how far we can move.

Oh, right. So, we should activate it?

No, the Trinket has a very fatal side-effect. Members of a pack share personalities, right? It then stands to reason that the victorious personality and the defeated personality will “spread” to fellow group members.



It increases the number of people with disadvantageous personalities.

Oh, right.

Just then, Dragon confidently entered the restroom.

Um, Dragon? Where are you going?

This isn't the time to take a shit!!

...Rooster, come on.

What?

[BGM: The Undying]


Just then, a highly pitched whistle played on all our tablets, and then an announcement.

Congratulations! You have successfully been grouped. Your pack members are: Ox and Tiger. Your life now depends on the survival of your pack. Don't forget that!

What... what the hell?

Hey, what's this? I thought we just explained why this was a bad idea!

You should've said it a little louder to the person with the whistle.

Dragon! Why would she do this?

As if cued by our complaints, she exited the restroom.

Dragon! What the hell is this about?!



You got a problem with it?

Oh no, no no, just curious as to your decision making is all.

Coward.

…

Coward?

It's an apt title for those without the cajones to stand up to evil. That's what you are! Evil!

You saying I'm evil? You? You're talking to me? You're calling me evil to my face?

Um, yeah. That's what I just did. Apparently you're evil and you have poor listening comprehension. Imagine being 0 for 2 in such important categories. I weep for your offspring.

Heh. I respect the balls on this guy.

I'm afraid you may be misinterpreting his behavior.



Forget that, Dragon, what's the deal with grouping us like that? Weren't you listening to what Monkey said?

Oh, I was. And I realized that this whistle represented a way to settle all of this fairly.

Fairly?

Before this, we had two secret traitors. By their silence, they weren't willing to give up their lives for us. That means they were just waiting for their opportunity to try and kill us all. Seems like a real shitty situation.

My guess? It was just gonna lead to backhanded trickery, mystery murders, and a whole breakdown of this group culminating in a bunch of complicated logic stuff. No part of that sounds appealing to me.

But with this, six people now have 'defeated' or 'victorious' personalities. Know what this means?

Oh!

Heh. So I'm not the only person paying attention.



If the 'defeated' personality is in last place when someone crosses the finish line, everyone with a 'defeated' or 'victorious' personality survives. Originally, this just referred to two people, but now–

It refers to six. So the defeated personalities and victorious personalities should work together. Essentially, we now got a good ol' fashioned gang war. Six versus six! Perfectly fair.

Fair? You just made sure half of us would die!

And I made sure six would survive. Instead of a confusing, backstabbing game of tricks and smart people shit, this is a way fairer way of settling things.

An earnest brawl between two teams.

B-b-brawl?!

Oh, you don't think this is gonna be settled by just using the race mechanics, do ya? This is now a turf fight. Work with your team and win. Survival of the fittest. Straightforward, and fair. The best way to determine who gets to survive.



I understand your point Dragon, but I can't agree with your way of thinking.

Well, too bad, because I already made the decision for us, and you can't undo it. So come on, Bunny and Snake, follow me to the third floor. My pack needs a strategy meeting.

Without another word, Dragon started walking away.

Uh, sorry guys, but this is how it is now. Good luck? I guess?

I, for one, can't help but see this as an extremely crude method of settling things. I doubt that woman and I can see eye to eye on anything. However, I will, as they say, go with the flow on this one.

Bunny and Snake followed Dragon as she walked away.

What on earth is she talking about?! How is a gang war fair?



It's not fair to people like me! People who can't fight at all. Oh god, I really am going to die here, aren't I? Fuck. Shit.

Take a chill pill, would ya?

Chill pill? My team is you and Rooster! How am I supposed to feel calm about this?

You just said why – I'm on your team. Have no fear. I never lose anything. ...Well, I guess I've lost one thing.

…

I'm talking about my virg–

Okay, that's enough of that.

Pig anxiously started walking away from the group down the hallway, muttering furiously under her breath.

Hey, where are you going? Get back here! You're on my side!

This should be fun.

Dog and Rooster followed after her.



Tch. People are all splitting up like nothing?

What is Dragon talking about when she says this is like a turf war?

I get it. Honestly, I'm surprised she'd make the game like this, knowing that I'm here.

You believe she would be intimidated by your overwhelming physical presence?

No, that's not what I mean.

Oh?

For now, Dragon's right. No offense, Mouse, Ox, Tiger, but you're not in my pack. I think it would be best if I had a private discussion with Sheep and Monkey.



Well, we're in no position to stop you, so go right on ahead.

Horse nodded, and confidently walked to the nearby staircase. Wordlessly, Sheep and Monkey followed him. It was clear who the leader of that pack was. ...And just like that, I was alone with Ox and Tiger.

My pack.