Chapter 20: Night Falls, Please Close Your Eyes
"I call this game Werewolf."
Everyone froze.
Not a single person had any idea what Pu Tong was talking about.
"It's pretty simple. Once I explain it, you'll understand."
Pu Tong tore a sheet of scratch paper from his notebook and cut it into eight equal pieces.
"Are you about to perform a magic trick?" Yu Wanwan asked curiously.
"I know you're anxious, but hold your horses. You'll have plenty to be anxious about later."
Without hurrying, Pu Tong picked up a pen and began writing roles on the slips of paper.
Two Werewolves.
Three Villagers.
One Seer.
One Witch.
"...What's this? Playing house?" Yi Zhi Xuenai instinctively looked toward Lin Yuxi.
Lin Yuxi shook her head.
"I don't get it either."
"To be more precise, it's a deduction game."
Pu Tong deliberately left them in suspense.
"The Werewolves belong to the evil faction. The Villagers belong to the good faction. At night, the Werewolves disguise themselves and secretly kill innocent players. During the day, the good side has to figure out who the Werewolves are and vote them out."
Everyone looked completely confused.
Only Lin Yuxi nodded thoughtfully.
"So everyone's identity is hidden. You analyze what everyone says to determine who's lying... It's basically a social deduction game."
"But if the Werewolves simply lie and mislead everyone... wouldn't it be very difficult to tell?"
After hearing Lin Yuxi's explanation, the others finally understood the general idea.
"Exactly."
"That's why the Seer exists."
Pu Tong held up the paper labeled Seer.
"Every night, the Seer may investigate one player's identity and learn whether they're a Werewolf or a good player."
"So that role is really important!"
Yi Zhi Xuenai nodded earnestly.
"If I were a Werewolf, I'd definitely kill the Seer first!"
another girl blurted out.
"Exactly."
"That's the difficult part about playing the Seer."
"If you openly reveal your identity, you're almost guaranteed to die."
"But if you don't reveal yourself, the information you've gathered can't be shared with your teammates."
"What about the Witch?"
Yu Wanwan interrupted.
"The Witch may either save a player attacked by the Werewolves or poison one player to eliminate them."
Pu Tong smiled.
"In other words, she has two potions—one saves people, one kills people."
"Holy crap! That role sounds awesome! If I don't like someone, I'll just poison them!"
Liu Neng laughed loudly.
...Why do I have a feeling this guy's going to be a terrible teammate?
"One more thing," Pu Tong continued.
"Once the Witch uses her antidote, she can no longer receive information about the Werewolves' nightly attack."
"So if nobody dies during the night, it's very possible the Witch used her antidote."
"This sounds so fun!"
"We should totally play this at parties!"
The entire group was eager to begin immediately.
Even Lao Yang, the cameraman, found himself itching to play.
Forget poker next time.
We're playing Werewolf.
Pu Tong interrupted everyone's excitement.
"There are actually plenty of other roles too."
"Hunter."
"Bodyguard."
"Cupid."
"But with so few players, we won't be using them today."
Yu Wanwan frowned.
"Where in the world did you come up with something this bizarre?"
"I was born gifted."
Pu Tong glanced at Lao Yang and smiled.
"If this game ever gets broadcast..."
"Make sure the copyright belongs to the right person."
A plan had suddenly formed in his mind.
He was going to use the production crew to advertise his game.
Learning programming well enough to make games would take time.
By then, the opportunity might already be gone.
Game ideas were highly time-sensitive.
The people in this world weren't stupid.
What if someone else invented it first?
He had to prepare in advance.
The production crew had been riding his popularity.
Now...
It was his turn to ride theirs.
There was no reason not to make use of free labor.
Xu Lei might be stubborn and full of himself...
But at least he was trustworthy.
This little game was merely an appetizer.
Once Pu Tong became skilled enough, he'd be able to truly begin building his own game empire.
"So..."
"Does anyone still not understand?"
Only Yi Zhi Xuenai slowly raised her hand.
This Japanese girl really is...
...hopelessly dense.
"It's fine."
"You'll understand after one round."
"I'll deal the cards and act as the Game Master."
Since the Game Master's only job was narrating, there was no need for the cameraman to film him.
Pu Tong shuffled the seven paper cards and handed one to each player.
"Check your role."
"Don't let anyone beside you see it."
He cleared his throat.
"The game begins."
"Night falls. Everyone, close your eyes."
Only three people actually obeyed.
"...So we're really supposed to close our eyes?"
Yi Zhi Xuenai stuck out her tongue.
"I thought it was just some over-the-top dramatic rule."
"If you don't close your eyes, then you'll see the Werewolves killing people."
"Come on. Everyone, close your eyes!"
Yu Wanwan frowned, looking as though she wanted to say something.
This guy...
He isn't going to do something weird while my eyes are closed... is he?
"Night falls. Close your eyes."
Reluctantly, Yu Wanwan shut her eyes, her entire body tensing unconsciously.
"Werewolves, open your eyes."
Liu Neng and another girl in the class opened theirs.
"Werewolves, choose your victim."
The girl couldn't decide who to kill.
So she left the decision to Liu Neng.
Grinning mischievously, Liu Neng glanced at Pu Tong...
Then pointed directly at Yu Wanwan.
...Why are you looking at me?
"Werewolves, close your eyes."
"Witch, open your eyes."
Lin Yuxi opened hers and calmly scanned everyone present.
Liu Neng was still grinning.
This idiot had completely exposed himself.
That was one of the funny things about Werewolf.
Sometimes outside factors made the game even more entertaining.
"She was attacked tonight."
Pu Tong pointed toward Yu Wanwan, who still sat with her eyes tightly shut and body stiff.
"You have one antidote."
"Will you save her?"
Lin Yuxi frowned...
Then nodded.
"You also have one poison."
"Do you want to use it?"
"Very well."
"Witch, close your eyes."
"Seer, open your eyes."
Another girl slowly opened her eyes.
She looked utterly helpless.
Being the Seer is stressful, huh?
Don't panic.
The Witch is carrying this game.
"Seer, choose one player to investigate."
The girl pointed at the classmate sitting beside her.
Coincidentally...
It was the other Werewolf.
...This game might actually end in one round.
"Thumbs up means good."
"Thumbs down means evil."
"This is their identity."
Pu Tong gave a thumbs-down.
The girl nodded.
She had apparently already prepared herself for a one-for-one trade.
"Seer, close your eyes."
"Day breaks."
"It was a peaceful night."
Everyone took turns speaking.
Since it was only the first day, the Seer chose not to reveal herself.
Of course, she didn't know Liu Neng had already exposed himself.
Had she simply come out as the Seer, the game would have ended immediately.
Lin Yuxi only had her poison remaining.
Not wanting to get killed during the next night, she also kept Liu Neng's suspicious behavior to herself.
Then came the second night.
The two Werewolves once again targeted Yu Wanwan.
This time...
There was no antidote left.
Watching Liu Neng's smug grin, Pu Tong suddenly had the urge to punch him.
"Witch, open your eyes."
"You have one poison."
"Would you like to use it?"
"Who will you poison?"
Lin Yuxi nodded.
She pointed straight at the still-smiling Liu Neng.
The grinning fat guy had absolutely no idea...
That he was already dead.
The next morning...
Yu Wanwan died.
Liu Neng died as well.
"What?! Damn it!"
"Ahem."
"Watch your language. Follow the game rules."
Liu Neng looked utterly miserable but could only accept reality.
"Please give your final words."
"Please believe... I'm a good guy..."
he forced out an awkward laugh.
"Heh."
Lin Yuxi merely sneered without saying anything.
At least...
She had avenged Yu Wanwan.
"Everyone, speak in order."
And then...
The game ended at lightning speed.
The Seer immediately revealed her identity and identified the remaining Werewolf.
After everyone voted that player out...
They discovered the game was already over.
The Witch earned MVP.
The Seer won the title of Luckiest Player.
"You can't blame me!"
"My teammate was terrible!"
The girl playing the Werewolf complained bitterly.
Pu Tong could only sympathize.
"I'll never grin again!"
Liu Neng regretted it so much his intestines turned green.
Everyone chattered excitedly, insisting on starting another round immediately.
The first game had ended so quickly that no one had gotten their fill.
Only Yu Wanwan remained standing off to the side, looking oddly downcast.
"What's wrong with you?"
Pu Tong waved a finger in front of her face.
As the Game Master, checking on the player who had died twice in a row seemed perfectly reasonable.
"Nothing."
Yu Wanwan herself wasn't quite sure what she was thinking.
It really wasn't anything.
It's just...
She had obediently closed her eyes.
And he hadn't even tried to do anything.
Wasn't that... kind of disappointing?
(End of Chapter)
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