Chapter 226: Chapter 226:Finale [1]
In the end, there could only be one winner.
Usually, this would be the time in the movie when everyone would begin to turn on each other.
Since there were seven of them, and only one could be the winner, something had to be done.
And in most cases, this would be where a betrayal or internal fighting would take place.
However, as the members of the main cast glanced at each other, there were no signs of distrust or betrayal.
Only... confusion.
Liam, trying to regain some of his former dignity, was simply staring off into the distance dramatically, trying to show he did not care in the slightest.
On the other hand, Kevin finally managed to stop laughing and stared at Alya, trying to think of a way to apologize.
After all, it was his fault that the snowball had hit Alya.
If he had taken the hit instead of dodging it, she would have been completely fine.
Ruby, pleasantly surprised at the fact that no one was considering betraying each other for the win, curiously looked around.
Alya was simply staring at her drenched clothes with an indecipherable expression, her rapier resting in her sheath.
Zach was rummaging through the items that they had gathered while looting the chest, trying to find a tissue or towel to dry both Liam and Alya.
And finally, Irene was playing with her wand, spinning it like a pencil, without a care in the world.
As silence descended after Irene's remark, Lily fidgeted for a couple of seconds before finally asking.
"...well, does anyone want to win?"
"..."
In all reality, it didn't matter to any of them who won, as all of them had a hundred percent chance of being recruited.
As long as one of them wins, fulfilling the principal's deal, they will be fine.
What they didn't know was that the principal was already satisfied and ready to give them the item, no matter if they won or lost.
After witnessing the fights that took place a couple of minutes ago, especially between Liam and Bertus, she had been pleasantly entertained.
And if she, a top-ranker was entertained, it was easy to say that the rest of the recruiters and school administrative were.
Liam couldn't lie; he did feel an urge to raise his hand and win the battle royale.
But would this really count as a win?
This was more like... charity.
And Liam didn't need any free handouts!
Seeing no one was raising her hand at her question, Lily sighed before asking once again.
"Does anyone... want to nominate another person to be the winner?"
"..."
Ruby and Irene alternated glances while Lily stared at Liam, and Kevin just stared at Alya, who had regained her composure and was now paying attention.
And finally... Zach seemed like a bobbly head as he desperately tried to glance at every member of the main cast, showing that he wanted to... nominate all of them!
Having already predicted something like this, Lily sighed before asking once again, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
"Why don't we let luck decide?"
Pretending to act nonchalant, Liam stared at the tower, which had a gigantic hole in it, before asking in an emotionless tone.
"And how do you suggest we do that?"
Trying his best to hold in his laughter at Liam's act, Kevin snorted before also curiously turning to Lily.
Thinking for a moment, Lily stared at the seven of her teammates before replying.
"Why don't we... we play... rock paper scissors!"
"..."
Ignoring the confused expressions of her teammates, Lily urged them to huddle up around her.
Once everyone was paying attention, Lily formed a scissor, rock, and paper with her hand one after one before explaining.
"Scissors beats paper. Paper beats rock, and finally, rock beats scissors?"
Making a fist with one of her hands and laying out a hand with the other, Lily moved her fist down, hitting the paper before saying.
"Do this motion three times; then you make with your hands the choice of rock, paper, or scissors that you want."
Being the smartest students in the academy, the main cast easily understood the instructions of the game within a couple of minutes.
Finally, all seven of them turned to face each other before making the same fist with one hand and laid out hand with the other as Lily.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"ROCK!"
"PAPER!"
...
In the first round, Ruby lost as she was the only person to form scissors out of everyone.
Stepping out of the huddle without any complaints, Ruby watched the second and third rounds take place.
During the second round, both Kevin and Irene were taken out as they were the only ones to form paper, while everyone formed scissors.
And, finally, during the third round, Alya and Lily were taken out as they both formed rock while Liam and Kevin made paper.
Thus, in the last round, Kevin and Liam stood face-to-face, staring at each other with fierce expressions.
Sighing, Liam said.
"You do know... this is a game of luck, and the results really don't c-"
"I'll win anyway."
Shaking his head, Liam smiled.
He cared just about the outcome of the game as Kevin, despite his last words.
Liam was simply trying to lower Kevin's confidence, but seeing that it didn't work, he changed into his true self.
"Nah, I'd win."
"3"
"2"
"1"
"ROCK"
"PAPER"
Shifting his gaze from Kevin's hand to his face, Liam smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"What'd I say? I told you that I would win."
Then, acting as if it didn't matter to him in the slightest, Liam simply walked out, leaving the furious Kevin behind.
However, stopping Liam from walking away, Lily sighed and said.
"We still have to figure out how to do this."
From the sidelines, Ruby seemed to recall something as the words, "THERE ARE TEN STUDENTS REMAINING" echoed through her head.
Smiling, Ruby shrugged her shoulders and asked.
"Should all of us just eliminate ourselves besides Liam?"
...
...
...
Back down in the tunnel, below the surface of the magic space, Han and Jin asked.
"REN, WHY ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE TOWER!? WE'RE GOING TOWARD THE CLOSING BARRIERS NOT AWAY!"