Regression Is Too Much-Chapter 149
“…”
Inside the elevator, the number [31] was displayed. Outside, it showed [4].
To confirm my hypothesis, I erased the [31] inside and entered [25] instead.
[10]
As if on cue, the number outside the elevator changed again—to [10].
With this, I confirmed one thing: the sum of the internal and external numbers was fixed at [35].
“What are you doing?”
“…”
The Acne Guy tried talking to me, but I ignored him. Running a hand down my face, I gathered my thoughts.
As I suspected, I was right.
This elevator only allowed one person at a time. And unlike a normal elevator, it had a ‘Confirm’ button.
Which meant…
Just as my doubts turned into certainty, I heard a voice from outside—the girl with glasses.
“Wait a second! Everyone, step away from the elevator!”
“Huh? What?”
“I think I’ve figured out the twelfth floor. Gather around! Sit here.”
With a triumphant smirk, she put her hands on her hips. Then, striding confidently into the elevator, she grabbed both my arm and Acne Guy’s, pulling us out.
Once she’d seated us on the metal chairs, she began her explanation.
“Listen up. I think this is a kind of loyalty game.”
She adjusted her glasses, her voice full of conviction.
“I played around with the keypad earlier. The highest number you can enter is 35. Coincidentally, the number displayed above the elevator is also 35. And we know that only one person can enter per round, and each person gets just one turn per cycle. Do you see what that means?”
“…Nope.”
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“We each have to go into the elevator one by one and contribute to reaching [35].”
Surprisingly, her conclusion was the same as mine. So those glasses weren’t just for show.
“My guess is this: every time someone enters the elevator, they input a number. Then, by pressing the Confirm button, they take some kind of ‘test.’ After all five of us have gone, the sum of our numbers must equal 35. The higher the number you choose, the harder your test will be.”
Each of us would pick a number and enter the elevator one at a time. As long as the total added up to [35], we’d clear the floor.
“Oh… Ooooh…”
“Wait, so that [35] might be the sum of the numbers written next to our rewards…”
She was sharp. Too sharp. Maybe I’d underestimated her. Or maybe she was just that competent.
Either way, I found myself nodding in satisfaction.
“Alright. I picked 10.”
I had no reason to hide it, so I stated it confidently.
To reach 35, we needed two 10s and three 5s. That meant one other person must have also picked 10, while the remaining three had chosen 5.
The strategy was simple: each person inputs the number they selected for their reward, takes the corresponding test, and we proceed. Basically, a pay-for-what-you-take system.
“Got it. I picked 5. What about you guys?”
“…Me too. I picked 5.”
“I played it safe and picked 5.”
“Same here. It was my first time, so I picked 5.”
“…”
We had a problem.
There was already a freeloader.
We needed two people to have picked 10, but four people just claimed they all picked 5.
Someone was lying.
“…Hey. Are you serious right now?”
The Glasses Girl scowled, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
I remembered that the four of them were supposed to be on the same team. And yet…
“We haven’t been together for long, but we’re still a team, aren’t we? How could you do this?”
“…Wait. You just started working together?”
“Oh, yeah. We met on the 11th floor and decided to stick together…”
“…”
Right.
Floors 6 to 10 were solo stages.
It made sense that their teamwork was shaky.
“I swear, I really picked 5.”
“It’s not me! I swear on my mom!”
“…Same here… I really chose 5…”
The three of them kept insisting on their innocence, their faces filled with genuine distress.
Could it be that Glasses Girl was the one bluffing instead?
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