Death's Deception

Chapter 9: The Crucible of Truth

The hallway fell into a deathly silence. The Accountant's final words echoed like a bell tolling in a graveyard.

"The game is over."

Aoi Himura's trembling hand clutched Shun Hayashi's arm, her voice a whisper of disbelief. "What... what just happened? The game's over? I don't believe it... this can't be the end."

Shun's jaw was tight, his voice low but unwavering. "The truth is about to be revealed. No more lies. No more hiding."

A sudden hissing sound filled the corridor. Gas, thin and mist-like, began to pour from vents above. Mei Tsukino's breath caught in her throat.

"Wh-what's that?!"

The fog thickened rapidly, crawling down like a curtain. One by one, the players collapsed, their limbs giving out as sleep—or something deeper—claimed them. Darkness swallowed the scene.

---

A dimly lit, narrow room. Two shadowed figures stood amidst the gloom, their long coats brushing the ground. Both wore identical black masks, mouths frozen in twisted, painted grins.

The first figure spoke with wonder. "Wow... what a spectacle. The culmination of it all, just like we planned."

The second was more composed. "General, can you explain exactly what you mean? What just happened?"

The 'General' stepped forward. His posture was rigid, his voice laced with quiet authority. "This child—our 'VIP'—is the epitome of perfection. The last survivor from the test rooms."

The second figure nodded slowly. "So, he actually survived the Room Test?"

"Yes. The test no ordinary mind can withstand. It breaks bodies, fractures will—but it can forge something more. A genius, sharpened by suffering."

The General's pride surfaced in the chill of his tone. "All thanks to our benefactor. This 'game' was never about simple survival. It was evolution. The crucible that transforms weakness into strength."

They said nothing more. But beneath their masks, they smiled.

---

A lavish dining room. Ornate, too pristine to be comforting. A long table stretched across the room, each setting laid with steaming plates of untouched food.

Bodies slumped over, unconscious. Silence reigned.

Then: a twitch. A breath.

Shun Hayashi's eyes opened. Confusion gave way to vigilance. He scanned the room—Mei, Aoi, Tatsuya, Ren, and Daichi—were all unconscious.

He rose, unsteady, then knelt beside Aoi, shaking her. "Aoi. Hey—wake up!"

She stirred with a groan. The others followed, gradually rousing.

A mechanical buzz pierced the stillness. A spotlight snapped on, illuminating a corner of the room. The Accountant's cold, digitized voice filled the air.

"Welcome, players… to the final phase of judgment."

No one moved.

"Today, we reveal the truths you've hidden. The actions you've taken. The lives you've risked… and the rules you've bent."

Eyes darted. Suspicion simmered.

"We begin with Tatsuya Kuroda."

The spotlight shifted. Tatsuya stood slowly, arms crossed.

"During the game, you changed your role card with Mei Tsukino's. You also voted—for yourself."

Gasps. Mei clutched her mouth. Aoi stared. Ren muttered. The Accountant demanded an explanation.

Tatsuya's voice was ice. "There's no rule that forbids exchanging roles. Or voting for yourself."

He glanced at Mei. "She couldn't handle it. She would've broken. So I made the call. For her."

The Accountant confirmed no rules were broken. Floating text appeared:

Votes cast by Tatsuya: 5

2 VIP — correct

1 Detective — correct

2 incorrect

Bonus awarded: +2 lives for correct VIP votes

"Your decisions were unorthodox… but effective," the Accountant said.

Tatsuya didn't flinch. "This game demands ruthlessness. Mei was too fragile. I did what survival required."

The spotlight slid to Aoi Himura. Her eyes met the light head-on.

"Votes cast by Aoi Himura:"

Daichi Hayasaka (Killer) ×2 — ✅

Tatsuya Kuroda (VIP) ×2 — ❌

Ren Sakamoto (Civilian) ×1 — ❌

Aoi's voice was calm, remorseful. "I doubted Tatsuya because he was too cold. That was my mistake."

Ren Sakamoto's turn:

Daichi ×3 — ✅

Aoi (Detective) ×1 — ✅

Mei (Civilian) ×1 — ❌

"I read Daichi and Aoi right. Mei? Just a hunch gone wrong," he said, smirking.

Shun Hayashi's spotlight:

Tatsuya (VIP) ×2 — ❌

Daichi (Killer) ×2 — ✅

Aoi (Detective) ×1 — ✅

"I feared Tatsuya. That fear misled me."

Daichi Hayasaka:

All five votes — ❌

He laughed bitterly. "You guys nailed nothing. Keep shooting blanks."

Mei Tsukino:

Tatsuya (VIP) ×3 — ✅

Daichi (Killer) ×1 — ✅

Ren (Civilian) ×1 — ❌

Her voice wavered, but held. "I trust Tatsuya. And I'm done being silent."

The Accountant's final judgment began.

Aoi Himura: 2 correct, 3 incorrect — Lives left: 2

Ren Sakamoto: 4 correct, 1 incorrect — Lives left: 4

Shun Hayashi: 3 correct, 2 incorrect — Lives left: 3

Daichi Hayasaka: 0 correct — Lives left: 1 (Killer clause)

Mei Tsukino: 4 correct, 1 incorrect — Lives left: 4

Tatsuya Kuroda: 2 correct VIP votes — Bonus awarded — Lives left: 7

"Your lives are few," the Accountant declared. "Trust is fractured. The next moves you make… may well seal your fate."

"And now… enjoy your rest. The next game—and your new roles—will begin soon."

---

The players sat in the dining hall. The tension had not faded; it merely quieted. Plates of warm food waited. Hands moved slowly. Silverware clinked. No one spoke.

There was no victory here. Only survivors.

---

Later, chairs became makeshift beds. Tatsuya clenched a fist in sleep. Mei clung to the edge of her seat. Aoi leaned against the wall, half-dreaming.

---

Outside the building, night had fallen. The school stood on an isolated plateau, no roads, no escape. The sky burned a soft, ominous red.

Above this unnatural world… the next phase waited.

Silent.

Watching.

Next in Chapter 10: President Vs Bomber