Chapter 31

EP.31 Quiz Show

"I kind of like it that way."

While drinking iced tea, I continued. Hmm, it's sweet.

"A slight... the imbalance given by the contrast of the atmosphere and situation? For example, like this. It's a world in a fairy tale. The prince and princess are laughing and living happily. They decided to gather their forest animal friends for a banquet."

"If you only hear up to this point, it's a very beautiful picture, right? But then, a variation is introduced. The handsome prince, the beautiful princess, the brave lion, the cute rabbit, and the leisurely turtle gather together. They... well, they smoke cigarettes together."

"Bro, what kind of weird thing is that?"

Se-eun looked at me with a disgusted expression.

No, you don't have to look at me like that...

"I know what you're talking about."

"Su-bin?"

Se-eun looked at Su-bin with a shocked expression, as if she had been betrayed. Su-bin, flustered, waved her hands and said,

"No, I mean, I think I understand what Da-in is trying to say. A slightly cruel fairy tale? Is that the kind of story you're talking about?"

"Yeah, that's about right. It has a similar feel."

I nodded.

Actually, to be precise, it's more like... a drama inspired by Squid Game.

Squid Game, marble game, honeycomb game, etc.

Things that are very familiar to us, things that evoke a sense of innocence just by hearing them.

The dissonance when these things, instead of being used for fun games, are used for survival and death.

Not getting a honeycomb as a prize for successfully pulling it out, but dying horribly for failing to do so. That kind of rule. A game with such rules is so cruel, yet at the same time, so funny and familiar, creating a huge dissonance.

...If I told them this, they would just scold me for rambling and tell me to speak clearly. Se-eun would do it directly, and Su-bin would do it with her eyes.

And actually, it's awkward to explain because in this world, there is no drama inspired by Squid Game. As a patriot, it's quite sad to say that one element of national pride is missing.

"So... this terrorist act is like that?"

"Right. Whatever, the concept of terrorism must be clear. Since I've already used the dilemma concept twice, this time I'll go with the cruel fairy tale concept."

***

[THE EGO SHOW]

[Now Live]

At an altitude of 25,000 feet.

In a sealed space above the sky, with all communication, including phone and internet, cut off.

There are about 80 people on board.

It was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Or rather, only the sound of people's voices had disappeared.

People were silently listening to the voice coming from the speakers.

"Welcome to the highest quiz show, THE EGO SHOW, live!"

"Let's start the game, then!"

They didn't know.

The voice they had heard while eating dinner and watching the news.

The voice they had giggled at while watching YouTube.

That it could be this terrifying.

It was definitely a voice they had heard on TV at least once.

A bit frivolous, yet at the same time cheerful, and a voice that made people focus naturally.

But why did the voice coming from the speakers now instill such primal fear in people?

Only now could they reflect on what Ego Stick had done so far.

Two large-scale terrorist attacks.

Over 10 people killed by his own hands.

A top-tier villain, selected by the association, "extremely cruel and with a high likelihood of escape."

Everyone had laughed and called him Mango Stick, Mango Stick.

But only when it became a reality did they realize.

Why Ego Stick was called a villain.

The words coming from the speaker sounded like a carefree child happily conducting a game.

But the content was cruel to the extreme.

"The rules of the game are simple!"

"1. Absolutely no making noise! The moment anyone makes a sound, one of the three wires attached to the bomb will be cut automatically! If all are cut... you know what happens."

"2. No communication! Cheating is a crime. If any form of communication is detected... I'll just blow it up immediately. We can always have the quiz show another time."

The terrifying statements continued, and the faces of the people on the plane turned pale.

Some swallowed hard, some shed tears, and some closed their eyes and prayed to God.

Regardless, the voice continued to come from the speaker.

"Let's move on to the core content, rule 3."

At the same time, the display in front of each seat changed.

An 80s American cartoon-style black and white animation played, and English text began to appear.

[EGO's Funny Non-Sense Quiz]

'Non-sense quiz...?'

As if answering the question that arose in people's minds, Ego Stick's voice continued from the speaker.

"The rules are simple! There will be 10 non-sense quiz questions, and you just need to answer them correctly! If even one person gets all of them right, I'll let the plane go safely and quietly. But if everyone gets them wrong? Boom. The bomb will explode!"

It sounded so simple.

Answer 10 non-sense quiz questions?

Like a game that elementary school kids might play when they have nothing to do.

A game that seems too childish for adults.

But if your life is on the line, it's a different story.

"I'll read the non-sense quiz questions from 1 to 10 myself, and you can also read them on the display in front of you. Where do you send the answers? Just use the text app on your phone! There's a message from an unknown number, right?"

As he finished speaking, people hurriedly took out their phones, and indeed, there was a message.

[THE EGO SHOW: Send your answer here!]

A single message, the first one to arrive.

No one knew how the message could be sent in a plane where signals don't work, but it was definitely there.

The speaker continued with the announcement.

"Once the question is asked, you have 3 minutes to send your answer via text! Wow, 3 minutes! Enough time for a cup noodle to cook. It feels like a long time, doesn't it? After all, you have to wait a while for the cup noodle to cook after you pour in the water. I've given you a bit of extra time for your sake. Haha."

'What extra time, you lunatic!'

People could only think this to themselves, not daring to say it out loud.

If they made a sound, Ego Stick would cut the wires of the bomb, as he had promised.

"If you get even one question wrong, you're out! There's no second chance. If you get the first question wrong, knowing the answers to the remaining nine questions won't matter. But surely, among so many people, there must be someone who can get them all right. I believe in you!"

The rules sounded extremely unreasonable.

But they had no choice.

Before they could fully comprehend the situation, cheerful music started playing from the speaker.

With the cheerful music as the background, Ego Stick's voice rang out cheerfully.

"Let's get straight to the first EGO SHOW! First question! How many people can fit in the lifeboats of the Titanic?"

At the same time, the question appeared on the display in front of each passenger.

[First question. How many people can fit in the lifeboats of the Titanic?]

And below it, the countdown began in bold red letters.

[3:00]

[2:59]

[2:58]

People hurriedly started entering their answers on their phones.

When the time was up, the cheerful music played again, and Ego Stick's voice came back on the speaker.

"Yes! The time limit for the first question is over. The correct answer is... 9 people! Wow, I made it easy, and almost everyone got it right. As expected, the humorous Korean people! You're great."

Those who sent [9] received a message saying [Correct!].

Some breathed a sigh of relief, but others turned pale.

Regardless, Ego Stick's broadcast continued.

"Let's move on to the second question! What is the hottest fruit in the world?"....

***

[Hell's Quiz Show]

[Wow, I would have peed my pants if I were there]

[Ego Stick is definitely a villain. Who called him a hero? These people are going to die]

[Fact: As long as it's not me, it's fine]

[Wow, but how did he install the bomb on the plane? Don't they usually check for explosives thoroughly?]

[I don't know either]

[What is the pilot doing? Can an emergency landing work?]

[If he does, Ego Stick will probably blow it up immediately.]

"Mr. President, what can we do while the criminal is doing this up there?"

"We're useless."

The president watched the broadcast with a solemn expression and continued.

"Go get some popcorn, Stardus."

Stardus threw the popcorn next to her at the president's face.