The four of them sat together. Jeong-hyuk asked, "Are you guys okay?"
Yun-ho said, "I... I need to go to the bathroom."
Jeong-hyuk said, "I'll go with you."
Then he said to Il-hoon and 369, "You two stay here and be careful."
Il-hoon replied, "Okay."
At the bathroom, Yun-ho said to Jeong-hyuk, "Can you come in with me? I'm scared."
Jeong-hyuk reluctantly agreed.
Inside the stall, Yun-ho suddenly hugged Jeong-hyuk and started crying. "I'm really scared."
Jeong-hyuk patted his shoulder. "It's okay, it's okay."
After Yun-ho calmed down, he asked, "Have you ever done it?"
Jeong-hyuk looked confused. "What?"
Yun-ho said, "With a girl... or with a guy."
Jeong-hyuk realized and chuckled, "No."
Hearing this, Yun-ho sat on Jeong-hyuk's lap. "Would you be willing to give your first time to me?"
The two stared into each other's eyes with deep emotion.
Before long, the two returned looking weak.
Player 94 saw them and said to Ki-hyun, "Look at those two. Probably gay."
Ki-hyun looked at them, then glanced at the screen showing the number of players. "Only 38 dead? What kind of dog luck do you have, not needing to play?"
Elsewhere, Il-hoon noticed how drained the two looked and asked, "Did you guys fight in the bathroom or something? Why do you look so weak?"
Jeong-hyuk said, "Grown-up stuff. Kids shouldn't ask."
That night, the four of them sat together, and none of them got good sleep.
Outside, Il-hoon's mother, overwhelmed by guilt and stress over her missing son, decided to hang herself.
Soon, the lights came on and the familiar music played again.
Then the broadcast said: "The third game will begin shortly. All players marked red yesterday, please follow staff instructions. Repeating: the third game will begin shortly. All players marked red yesterday, please follow staff instructions."
Jeong-hyuk and 369 walked over.
Il-hoon said to them, "Good luck. I believe in you."
Yun-ho gave Jeong-hyuk a big hug. "You better come back alive."
Jeong-hyuk looked back at them one last time, then reluctantly walked away.
Soon, they arrived at a massive game arena.
The broadcast played: "Welcome to the third game. This game is Musical Chairs. Repeating, Musical Chairs. All players, please stand outside the red circle. When the music plays, you will walk. Once the music stops, you have 20 seconds to sit on a chair and fasten the seatbelt. Each round, five chairs will be removed."
Jeong-hyuk looked at 369. "This game doesn't favor you. You're not as strong as the guys—especially 123. Be careful."
369 nodded nervously.
The screen shows 46 people.
"Now, the game begins."
As the broadcast ended, the children's song Radish Song began to play.
A creepy atmosphere filled the space.
Everyone focused on the music.
The music stopped, and the lights started flashing. The 20-second countdown began. Everyone rushed forward like maniacs.
Jeong-hyuk reached a chair and immediately pulled 369 down into it, buckling her seatbelt. After helping 369, he tried to sit in the next chair, but a large man shoved him to the ground.
With little time left, 369 pointed, "There's still one over there, hurry!"
"5... 4... 3... 2…"
At the last second, Jeong-hyuk managed to sit down and buckle up.
Masked men shot those who failed to grab a seat.
The broadcast announced, "Eliminated players: 50, 311, 258…"
Then it continued, "Important notice: all players, please wait patiently during area cleanup."
The screen shows 40 people.
Not long after, round two began, and the eerie children's song played again.
When the music stopped, Jeong-hyuk pulled 369 and they ran together, managing to sit and buckle up in time.
Ki-hyun, seeing the countdown near its end, kicked someone away and sat down himself.
Another burst of gunfire—more players eliminated.
The screen shows 31 people.
Round three began.
Before the music even stopped, Ki-hyun shoved someone over. Like dominos, people began to fall one after another.
The music stopped, and Jeong-hyuk quickly pulled 369 to run.
Along the way, 369 fell. Jeong-hyuk turned and helped her up. "Hurry, we're out of time."
He got 369 to a chair and sat down himself. The person next to him kept pushing him, but thankfully he had his seatbelt fastened.
Elsewhere, Player 300 found a spot and was just about to sit when Ki-hyun pushed her down and took her seat.
Lying on the floor, 300 shouted, "You piece of s**t! Even if I die, I won't let you go!"
Time's up. Player 300 died.
The screen shows 24 people.
After unbuckling, Jeong-hyuk asked 369, "Are you okay?"
369 replied, "I… I'm fine."
Jeong-hyuk followed up, "What's your name? I still don't know."
369 said, "I'm Kim So-yeon."
Jeong-hyuk smiled at her.
Round four began.
As the creepy music played, Jeong-hyuk grew more uneasy.
When the music stopped, everyone rushed. Jeong-hyuk and So-yeon got knocked over. Ignoring the pain of being trampled, Jeong-hyuk pulled her up and they ran for chairs.
So-yeon found a chair quickly and sat down.
Jeong-hyuk charged toward an empty seat. Just as Player 223 was about to sit, Jeong-hyuk shoved him away and took it himself. He closed his eyes and whispered:
"I'm sorry. I just want to survive."
The screen shows 19 people.
The final round began. Everyone was on edge.
As the music stopped, chaos erupted. People were knocked over and trampled ruthlessly.
Jeong-hyuk and So-yeon found seats and sat down. Jeong-hyuk buckled up.
Just as So-yeon was about to fasten hers, Ki-hyun ran over and yanked her to the ground.
Jeong-hyuk was about to unbuckle to help when another man picked So-yeon up and carried her away, disappearing from Jeong-hyuk's sight.
As time ended, the sound of gunfire filled the air, and Jeong-hyuk trembled uncontrollably.
He unbuckled and shouted at Ki-hyun, "You f***ing piece of trash!"
Then he punched him hard.
Masked men stepped in to stop him. Just as Jeong-hyuk was overwhelmed by rage, he saw So-yeon in the distance.
"She's alive," he thought to himself.
Jeong-hyuk finally calmed down.
Only 9 players survived that game.
Back in the dorm, Il-hoon and Yun-ho were very worried about Jeong-hyuk and So-yeon.
The small door opened. Il-hoon and Yun-ho rushed to the front—and saw Jeong-hyuk and So-yeon returning. Il-hoon ran up and hugged Jeong-hyuk tightly. Jeong-hyuk looked at Yun-ho with a helpless expression.
Back at their beds, Il-hoon said, "I knew you guys weren't gonna die that easily."
They gave awkward smiles.
Yun-ho looked at Player 40. "And who's this?"
So-yeon introduced, "Oh, he's the one who saved me just now."
Jeong-hyuk added, "Yeah, he picked her up at the last second. Even I was shocked."
Il-hoon asked, "What game did you play?"
Player 40 said, "Musical chairs."
Il-hoon asked, "So you picked her up and brought her to a chair?"
Player 40 said, "Yes."
Soon, the masked men handed out food.
Ki-hyun looked at the number on the screen: "25." Then at the prize: "43.1 billion."
He said to Player 94, "Only a few eliminated. Should we go again tonight?"
Player 94 replied, "Better not. How can you be sure you won't get killed? You almost died last night. Did you forget? I'm the one who saved you."
Hearing this, Ki-hyun continued eating silently.
Elsewhere, Jeong-hyuk said to Il-hoon, "During the game, 123—your dad's friend—he pulled So-yeon off a chair. If it weren't for Player 40, we might not be seeing her now."
Il-hoon replied, "That dumbass."
Just then, the broadcast rang: "Lights out in 30 minutes. Please prepare for sleep."
Jeong-hyuk said, "After lights out, who knows if they'll try something again. Everyone, be on guard."
Yun-ho said to Jeong-hyuk, "You better watch out. That 223 guy… ever since you got back, he's been staring at you."
Jeong-hyuk looked toward Player 223, feeling a wave of unease.
That night, Il-hoon sat on his bed, unable to sleep.
Jeong-hyuk sat next to him. "You okay?"
Il-hoon looked at him. "I'm… fine."
"Why'd you come here? You're so young. And it's not like you're poor," Jeong-hyuk asked.
Il-hoon replied, "I've had enough of that house. I couldn't stay there another minute. My parents only cared about my grades. Never once about me. Here... I actually felt a little love. If I die here, I won't regret it."
Jeong-hyuk gently patted his back. "Get some sleep."
Il-hoon nodded.
When Jeong-hyuk returned to his bed, he saw Player 223 waiting there, holding a glass bottle.
Jeong-hyuk asked, "Wh-what are you doing?"
Player 223 didn't respond. He just stared at Jeong-hyuk.
Suddenly, he swung the bottle. "You selfish b***ard!"
Then he pinned Jeong-hyuk to the floor. "F***ing die!"
Just then—slash! Blood gushed from 223's neck.