The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 315: Second Night

“Vermilion Bird knows who she saved, and with the information, she chose to run for sheriff.”

“X, getting the alpha role, naturally came out to claim the seer role. However, he hadn’t expected factors outside the game to prevent him from gaining our trust. Even the other wolves didn’t dare vote for him for one reason or another.”

“Green Tea, an experienced player, was the only one who voted for X, but it ended up exposing him. Although he chose to give up his vote during the second round, it was already too late.‘

“Electric Mouse and Joker are both villagers. They died during the night and had their identities revealed, so there’s no need to talk about them.”

“Among the survivors here, I believe Can stands the highest chance of being a wolf.”

She turned to Can. “Why? According to my logic, Green Tea, who had experience with the game, was the only one who voted for X when he ran for the sheriff pretending to be the seer.”

“Which means that among X’s fellow wolves, two were too scared to vote for him, which would stem from timidness—commonly seen with new players.”

“Here, at this table, the only new players are White Tiger and Can. Green Snake and Scarlet Fox are somewhat new, but not entirely. Since White Tiger is pretty much confirmed to be the guard, the process of elimination would dictate that Can is the most suspicious.”

“Therefore, we should vote Can, the most suspicious one, out during the day, which would leave only one wolf.”

“I think the last wolf would be between Green Snake or Scarlet Fox.”

White Rabbit stared at Qing Ling and Scarlet Fox. “One of you should be the hunter, and the other the wolf. I don’t know which is which, but I believe Green Snake is more likely the hunter given how assertive and confident she’s been.”

“Lastly, I’ll talk about my role. Like Seven Shadow, I’m a villager. We are the last two villagers, in fact. Protect one of us tonight, White Tiger. From the perspective of the wolves, their shortest path to victory is to eliminate all villagers. With three special good roles left, it’d be unlikely for them to kill all three.”

“That’s it. I welcome you to correct me if you think otherwise.”

Gao Yang applauded her inwardly. Her deduction was almost identical to his.

In Gao Yang’s opinion, she could be a wolf in deep cover too, but he had to admit that Can was most likely to be a wolf given the current situation.

Because Can’s role had been too debated throughout the game.

Based on his previous experience, that usually meant she was either a wolf or a special role. Since Can was definitely not a special role, though, she was very likely to be a wolf.

“Number 1, speak.” Chen Ying had foregone names altogether to call them by numbers.

Gao Yang nodded and tried his best to analyze the situation without letting his emotions get in the way. “I more or less agree with White Rabbit. We’re almost playing with our roles out in the open. I’m not wholly convinced that Can is a wolf though. There is a chance that she is, but I don’t think her suspicion is greater than that of White Rabbit, Scarlet Fox, or Green Snake.”

“And Elder White Tiger, please do protect me tonight. I know it’s selfish of me to say this, but I’m the only villager given a gold water by both the seer and the alpha. I’m basically confirmed to be on the good team. To ensure the wolves won’t eliminate a whole group, you must protect the surviving villagers.”

“Although there’s a slim chance for that being the case, I’d be the last villager standing if Green Tea wasn’t a wolf. I do believe he is, though, so there should be two villagers among us.”

“Among Can, White Rabbit, Scarlet Fox, and Green Snake, there is a hunter, a villager, and two wolves, but I don’t know who is what.”

“That’s it for me.” Gao Yang leaned back.

Chen Ying prompted, “Number 2, please speak.”

Can stopped crying. She had become much calmer after the rollercoaster of emotions.

She tugged at her lips and earnestly defended herself, “I’ve made my case. I’m a villager. I’ve never lied once from start to finish. I’m not smart. I don’t know how to deduce anything. I don’t dare suspect anyone. You may call me out for being lazy, but I don’t wanna die.”

She was quiet for a long time.

Just when Chen Ying thought she was done with her statement, she suddenly looked up at everyone. “However, you can vote for me if you don’t know who to vote for in this round. I only wish that my death won’t be in vain, that my death will help you root out the wolves.”

She looked up at Gao Yang. “Elder Seven Shadow, you must win. Avenge me and Ronnie!”

Gao Yang’s heart seized up.

Shit, calm down!

Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Don’t break down. Close your heart!

“I’m done.”

“Your turn, number 4,” said Chen Ying.

Scarlet Fox’s eyes sharpened. “I’ll be frank. I’m the hunter. Whoever votes for me, I’ll shoot and bring you with me.”

Gao Yang started, and the others showed varying degrees of surprise too.

“As for myself, I vote Can. Although we belong to the same organization, I do think she’s suspicious. Everyone has shared the reasons why.”

“Outside of Can, I’m also suspicious of Green Snake. She’s never said if she’s a villager, and she never claims any special role. I think she may be a wolf and is playing by the ear.”

“White Rabbit also seems suspicious to me. Her statement is fine, but as a villager, she knows too much and makes too perfect a deduction. That stands out to me.”

“That’s it.” Scarlet Fox turned to Vermilion Bird.

“Sheriff.” Chen Ying turned to her too.

After a moment of silence, Vermilion Bird turned to Can apologetically. “I agree with White Rabbit. I’m sorry, Can. If I have to pick someone today, I’ll pick you. You’re the most suspicious and the most controversial player at the table. It’s a miracle that you’ve survived this long.”

“As for Scarlet Fox, Green Snake, and White Rabbit, you should be a wolf, a hunter, and a villager respectively. I can’t tell which is which, and I don’t dare vote for either of you yet. I’ll put you aside for now.”

“If I have to choose, though, I am more inclined to think that the wolf is between Green Snake and Scarlet Fox.”

“My reason is that Green Snake and Scarlet Fox had insisted on voting Can out before, likely to keep Green Tea around. It’s a little suspicious for them to so firmly maintain their stance when we had almost no information.”

“That’s me.”

Vermilion Bird lowered her head and didn’t look at anyone—she didn’t dare to.

As the sheriff, her hands were already covered in the blood of her companions, but the damn game continued.

“Please vote and decide the player to be eliminated.” Chen Ying started counting down. “Three, two, one.”

A few hands raised at the same time.

Gao Yang counted. Three voted for Can: Vermilion Bird, White Rabbit, and Scarlet Fox.

Qing Ling was the only one voting for Scarlet Fox, changing her stance.

Gao Yang, Can, and White Tiger abstained.

“Number 2.” Chen Ying turned to Can and announced in a cool voice. “You’ve been ostracized. Your role won’t be revealed, but you may leave with your last word.”

Everyone else was paralyzed and silenced.

Having foreseen her fate, Can didn’t seem particularly sad or scared.

She slowly rose to her feet and looked around, her gaze finally landing on Gao Yang. “You haven’t voted for me until the end, Captain. Thank you.”

Gao Yang clenched his teeth, struggling and failing to break free of the invisible restraint.

He had closed his heart, he had...tried. Still, he felt a dull pain in his chest.

He wanted to yell, to shout, to hurl the worst curses at Sir Zuo.

However, all he could do was watch Can turn around and walk into her cell, like a helpless fool.

Her figure was so slim and tiny, looking so lonely.

She stopped at the door suddenly and looked back with hesitance, casting Gao Yang one last glance and a sad but bashful smile, her eyes red.

“It’s good to know you, Captain.”

Then she entered the cell without another look back.

Clang!

The metal door shut. Then the gray fog followed. The petite girl wavered for two seconds in the fog before collapsing and disappearing.

Gone.

The deadweight, the flatterer, the bundle of joy on their team. The one who couldn’t do much but pulled all the mischievous antics, the one obsessed with games, the one with avoidant attachment personality, the one who couldn’t play sports well for the life of her, the one who was insecure about her boyish figure, the one who found so much joy in a successful serve during a volleyball game.

The gremlin who chased him around, calling out, ‘Captain, Captain!’ The girl who broke into a smile just because he had given her a word of encouragement.

Who had always cared about everyone on the fifth team.

Gone.

“Please return to your cell.”

This time, Sir Zuo spoke up before Chen Ying did.

Gao Yang instantly recovered control over his body, but he did nothing. He simply returned to his cell.

Sitting down on his bed, he covered his face with both hands without moving, without making a sound.

But quietly, the gaps between his fingers became damp.

“The night has fallen. Close your eyes. Guard, please come out...”

...

Gao Yang didn’t know if White Tiger protected him tonight, but the wolves didn’t come after him.

Then Chen Ying spoke up.

“The day has come.”

Click.

The metal door opened. Gao Yang walked out and sat down on a high-back stone chair before the stone table. The seat that had belonged to Can was now empty.

He looked up to scan the table. To his surprise, no one died last night.