Shortly after, the system voice was heard, and a new rule emerged.
"New rule added!"
"On the third floor, whoever you vote for, the system will cast one vote against you in return!"
When we heard the rule, there were those among us who hesitated. They seemed to be trying to make the third floor an increasingly more dangerous area. After everyone understood the rule, we were free again on the third floor. I quickly told Alice and Ayame to follow me. We went next to the twins. Since the person who had just been with them was no longer in the game, they had a somewhat tense facial expression.
Meanwhile, Itsuki saw that we had gone next to them. He was aware that he wouldn't be able to convince the twins, so he disappeared with Daito and Zei. When they vanished, I turned my face to the twins. Before this, I thought about Itsuki's action to myself.
Thinking about it, they're still in a difficult situation. Did he do it just to eliminate one person instead of protecting his teammates? That might make more sense. I understand.
I turned my mind to other matters. We were five people in total, and they were three. We were superior in numbers, so the advantage could be considered in our hands. I told them that the same situation had happened again and that Itsuki had actually done this just to eliminate one person.
"Rei, we're on the third floor, are you aware? We can vote for each other, after all, we're not a team?"
"In situations where we eliminate one of us, I don't think it's much to our advantage. After all, you're eliminating an ally while there's an enemy. After a while, the numbers could equalize, and this time the player next to you could betray you, and we could end up in a difficult situation. But still, we all need to be careful."
"I understand. You're saying it's not easy for us to betray each other because it's not beneficial in the long run. After all, there are better options to be eliminated."
"Exactly."
"Wouldn't it work if we did the same thing on the first or second floor instead?"
"On the third floor, we can predict the prediction right, meaning they're much more vulnerable here. Even if it's risky, we need to agree among ourselves and vote for someone here. Like I said, we're superior in numbers, they can't retaliate. Also, players who don't vote for the person who gets the most votes and will be eliminated are also eliminated. So in a situation where we all agree and decide to vote for someone, even if someone betrays us and votes for someone else with a number equal to or greater than the votes we agreed to cast, they could still be eliminated because of this rule."
"What you mean is, when we decide together to vote for someone, one of us can't betray us alone because they'd be eliminated. To avoid elimination, they'd need a number equal to or greater than the votes cast, so they'd need to convince multiple people, and you're saying that won't be easy, from what I understand."
"Yes. Also, we couldn't form a team in the previous round, so when the person we voted for votes for us, our former teammates' votes won't be invalidated. Teams reset every time we change floors, so we would have needed to form a team again on the second floor, but we moved to this floor before forming a team. So this rule won't work on us this time."
"Did Itsuki's side form a team, then?"
"No, he's also aware of this. He didn't form a team while searching for buttons to avoid being affected by the rule."
"I understand. So the five of us will agree and vote for one person, right?"
"It seems that way."
"But how will we know if they used their prediction right or not? They've moved away, they could be bluffing. If one of us predicts whether they used their prediction right or not and it turns out wrong, we'll understand they didn't use it and wait next to them. This way, if our target uses their prediction right, we'll see it and eliminate them. But then the player who made the wrong prediction is left completely weak, after all, they can't defend themselves since they can't use their prediction right. Anyone could betray at any moment and vote for the weakened person. At that time, people who voted for the other person could be eliminated because they didn't vote for the person who got the most votes and will be eliminated. What do we do in this situation?"
"I understand, I was just about to talk about that. We're facing this kind of obstacle. In such a situation, it would be quite normal for our teammates to betray us. I'll think about this, but for now, let's not forget we're a team. It's better for us to stay on this floor, so let's find a button in a room and get in front of it."
"Are we going to do what Itsuki did?"
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"Yes, we'll keep the game on the third floor in the same way."
"Alright then, let's hurry. They're probably searching for buttons."
Within some time, the five of us searched around and finally found a button in a room. I sat in front of the button and leaned my back against the wall. Now they would have to push me to touch the button. The game would continue on the third floor until the voting ended. There were five hours left until the voting ended.
CURRENT THIRD FLOOR RULES
You can predict people who have used their prediction right. If your prediction turns out correct, your prediction right continues and that person is eliminated. However, if your prediction turns out wrong, both of your different prediction rights are lost for one voting round.
While on the third floor, if the voting ends and the person with the most votes has ten or more votes, that person is not eliminated.
On the third floor, if you vote for the person who voted for you, the votes cast against you by the players from that person's previous team are invalidated. However, the vote of the person who voted for you remains valid.
On the third floor, if a situation occurs where the voting ends and a scenario arises where the person with the most votes will be eliminated, everyone who did not vote for the person with the most votes is eliminated.
On the third floor, whoever you vote for, the system casts one vote against you in return.
After checking my phone and reviewing the rules again, I continued sitting on the ground and thinking to myself. The others seemed to be silently thinking about what we could do. Ayame and Alice hadn't joined the previous conversation, so I thought it was because they had nothing to say and continued thinking to myself.
The fourth rule is dangerous. Even if you use your prediction right, you must be eliminated for not voting. But there's an important privilege, it seems like the person needs to be in a position to be eliminated. If not, the rule probably won't work. But still, using the prediction right seems completely dangerous unless you receive votes against yourself.
Itsuki's Side
The three of us were sitting together in a room. Zei seemed bored, they were behind in the game, so he was getting angrier by the minute. Daito was trying to calm him down, but he was still angry. He was reacting to Itsuki on his own.
"Itsuki, you said we'd eliminate Rei, when is that going to happen? We're outnumbered now, damn it!"
"Calm down."
"What good are you, you bastard?"
Itsuki didn't like Zei's angry behavior. He didn't have to protect him, after all, he had his own protection. After this option came to his mind, he thought about eliminating this useless guy. Since what he needed to do for this came to his mind, he began to leave the room and walk away.
"Hey, where are you going? Are you going to betray us!"
Daito had understood what Itsuki wanted to do, so he began walking behind him. He was also betraying Zei, if he didn't, the probability of him being the next person to be eliminated would be very high. Zei began shouting after them, came next to them, wanted to push and grab them, but he was aware that he would be eliminated.
"Where are you going, damn it? Are you going to betray me?"
Without saying anything, Daito and Itsuki set out to find the others. Zei continued shouting and following behind them for a while, but after some time, he too understood that there was nothing he could do and began to understand the situation better. He stopped following behind them and secretly used his prediction right against the wall, he was in a helpless situation.
Within a short time, they found the room we were staying in. They slowly opened the door and two people entered. When they entered, the others seemed surprised. Alice asked what they were looking for here, and Ayame answered by stating that they were here for an agreement. The twins were casting a hard glance at Itsuki.
"What do you want?"
"It's very simple. I have immunity, and Daito is with me. Let's all vote for Zei together. That kid is a complete troublemaker, I don't want to deal with him anymore. To find out if he used his prediction right or not, I can predict it myself before the voting period ends. Even if I predict wrong, I won't be eliminated because of my immunity."
"Rei, are they telling the truth?"
"It seems that way, there's nothing illogical in what they're saying. They must be tired of Zei, agreeing and eliminating him would be to all of our benefit."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. You're sure too, right?"
Everyone nodded their heads in approval.
"Alright then, we can make an agreement."
"Okay, we've agreed. We'll wait until voting time, and then I'll use my prediction right on him for control purposes. If he's used it, I'll have eliminated him already."
"Let's wait and see."
Shortly after, Zei burst in by kicking the door, he looked furious. The others were scared, some people didn't seem very scared since violence was prohibited. Zei was barely holding himself back, after the game I played with him, he seemed to have lost his ability to think logically. He wasn't the Zei I knew.
"You sons of bitches, you've teamed up and are planning to eliminate me, you bastards!"
None of us answered. Zei was in a helpless situation, he could only grumble. For several hours, we just waited until voting time came. When there was a short time left until voting time, Itsuki used his prediction right on Zei, this way it could be determined whether he had used his prediction right or not. Zei was no longer around, the system voice was heard.
"Wrong prediction!"
"Both of Itsuki's rights have been lost for one voting round!"
We ignored the announcement. Then, as we had agreed, we all voted for Zei. Everyone had used their voting right, making seven votes in total. Zei didn't use his voting right until the very last moment, at the last second he used his voting right on someone random and shouted out of anger. When the voting ended, the system voice was heard, Zei hadn't been able to use his prediction right.
"One player eliminated!"
Zei had been eliminated from the game, leaving seven people. Since one more person had been eliminated, we felt more at ease. We were in the advantageous position, but Itsuki's immunity continued. This situation was important. Either he would be one of the three winning players, or a solution to this situation would need to be found. The game continued.