Werewolf Survival Vol 1 chap 3

Choosing the First Prey

“It's decided then," said one of them.

“Yeah. I'm certain, he's the werewolf," another voice chimed in.

“Hey, hey, what are you guys saying!?" I panicked. “I was the only one who didn't sleep when we were inside the car!" I tried to justify why I was so tired that night, and why even the piano couldn't wake me up.

“Hmm...I think Hayato's right, when I woke up for a moment only he was awake," Usagi was slowly but surely remembering what happened. “And I couldn't sleep last night, probably 'cause I slept like a rock inside the car."

“See that, guys?! As you can see, I'm not the werewolf," I said with a strong sense of relief. But Tsubame and Yamane were still glaring at me with suspicion in their eyes.

“Are you not lying?" Tsubame asked, trying to perceive my intentions.

“No, I swear!" I said, starting to become tense again. “Moreover, the timing is wrong. The werewolf must have disguised himself as one of us soon after we came here."

After a brief pause, I continued. “So it doesn't make sense to point your fingers at me like that just because I didn't listen to the piano last night."

“You're right, we can't accuse someone without solid proof," Tsubame said, looking at my face. “Then, as we talked earlier, let's compare our memories from the time we were at the camp."

“On the first day..." She asked while looking at me, “What was the special spice that Ori-san used in the curry?"

"I think...its name was parsley, and he had brought it from his personal garden," I said.

Then I turned to Usagi, “Usagi, on the first day who was the person who tried to sneak out of the tents in the middle of the night?"

“It was Omuro, right?" Usagi replied.

Continuing our word game, she looked at Yamane, “Uhm...Yamane, on the morning of the second day..."

In this manner, We threw questions at each other in turns.

And the conclusion... every question was answered correctly.

“Whoa, whoa, What's this!! Everyone remembers everything that happened at the camp!!! Who the hell is the werewolf!?" Gyukaku grumbled.

Suddenly, we heard a piano playing a pleasant tune.

Für Elise

“It's time. The ballot shall begin," It was Count's voice. He had appeared without notice on the second-floor balcony.

Already?! Frightened, we looked at the clock. It was exactly eight o'clock.

Is it possible that last night's Für Elise was due to Ori-san and Imako-san playing the game too!?

“Please, wait! We haven't reached a consensus yet," Tsubame said.

“Umm, the werewolf game I know is different from this. Aren't we supposed to have a Seer or other roles? Besides, there are virtually no clues at all, how are we supposed to make a deduction like this?!" Usagi complained.

“Therefore, you wish to back down from the ballot? Whether you leave or stay, I don't care at all. However..." Count was looking down at us.

If you leave, you will breach one of the Prohibited Conducts, thus the werewolf would attack you without mercy.

Recalling this, we were filled with terror.

“Wh—, what do we do now, Hayato?" Usagi said while clinging onto me.

I cannot afford to be a coward here! I have to protect her.

“We have to pick someone, anyone!" I shouted.

“'Anyone?!' What are you saying, Hayato!!? Whoever we choose will be eaten!!" Gyukaku shouted back.

“It's not a matter of choice, we have to do it," Tsubame replied plainly. “As we currently don't know who's the werewolf, we should vote on the most useless person to relieve our burden."

“Burden?" I was confused.

Tsubame pointed out one person.

“Yamane, what did you do today?" Tsubame asked.

“What...?" Yamane said.

The answer was simple, Yamane didn't do anything.

“You locked yourself in your room and cried all day, am I right?"

Yamane gulped.

“Hereupon, if we want to find out the werewolf we have to put our heads together and use every tiny bit of information we can gather."

After saying that, Tsubame picked up the white rodent from the table and flung it into the ballot box's opening. We heard a loud thud when it hit the bottom.

“Even if you weren't here, it wouldn't change anything. On the contrary, if you weren't here it'd be better, given that crybabies are useless here."

Following Tsubame's statement, Yamane's frightened face slowly changed.

“I'm not useless!!" Yamane screamed.

“In that case, please tell us, who is the werewolf?"

All of a sudden, Yamane grimaced, “It's you..."

“Huh?" Tsubame raised one eyebrow.

“If we regard how you've been treating us so far, you're the most likely to be it!" Yamane rushed to the table, picked up the purple swallow badge and threw it into the ballot box — thud.

“Yamane."

“Don't all of you think so too!?"

We were truly dumbfounded by Yamane's outburst.

“There is no sane person who would say 'we should discard the most useless to relieve our burden'; she has to be the werewolf! I'm certain of it!!" Not only rage, but I could also sense the desperation in her words.

“What are you saying, Yamane!?" Tsubame was taken aback by her accusation.

“In the next ballot, even if the person isn't the werewolf if Tsubame says they are useless, would you vote against them?" Yamane was glaring at us, her eyes looking just like a beast's.

“It would be better if she wasn't here."

“Argh. You guys, vote for her quickly! As I thought we must—"

Suddenly, we heard a 'scratch'. The sudden sound startled Tsubame.

The sound was made after Gyukaku picked up one of the badges. “Hey, Count. Can I shuffle the badges?" he asked. "As it's the first time, it's fine; But using the current method, it's impossible to vote in secrecy. In other words, the current system places a heavy burden on the voter."

"Suit yourself. As long as it doesn't break any rules, you can do whatever you want," Count replied.

Following Count's consent, Gyukaku immediately started to shuffle all the badges. After a while, he picked up the purple swallow badge.

“You too, Aoyama? Why...?" Tsubame was shocked.

“Because of the words you said earlier, even if we don't know who's the werewolf we should vote for someone just to relieve our burden? Don't play with me," Gyukaku scowled at Tsubame. "My line of reasoning is different; if we don't know the werewolf's identity, we should vote on the most dangerous person."

Gyukaku continued, “You have a good head on your shoulders and have a way with words. Assuming you are the werewolf, you could completely control the game. In this way, we would simply listen to your words without doubting them, and in the end, it'd be our loss."

Thus, Gyukaku put the badge into the ballot box.

“You're the one who it would be better to be without."

Two votes for Tsubame. One for Yamane. Two remaining votes, mine and Usagi's.

“I-It's not me! You're mistaken!" Tsubame screamed with a pale face.

Five people, five votes. Whoever gets three votes is out. If Tsubame gets one more vote, it's the end for her. No... even if Usagi and I cast our votes on Gyukaku, Tsubame would be eaten.

Certainly, the participant with the most votes will be eaten, but if there's a tie between two or more, the tied participants will be eaten. Therefore, to save Tsubame, both of us have to vote on Yamane. This is the only way, otherwise, she'll be eaten.

“Hayato..." Usagi said while looking at me. As I looked back at her panicked face, I felt cornered; I didn't know what to do.

Who is it... Dammit, who is the werewolf! — Naturally, it isn't me. Also, I think it isn't Usagi either, as she's someone I have to protect.

“Hurry up, Hayato!" Gyukaku urged. “Remember the rules? You have to vote within five minutes."

What do I do, what do I do —Thump, Thump — my heart started to pound like crazy, my vision flickered and I couldn't see anything.

“Hayato! Hurry up!! You too, Usagi!!" Gyukaku shouted.

I focused on one of the badges at the tiny table and dashed forward; Usagi was trailing after me. We took one of the badges and swiftly hid it. Then we went to the ballot box and put it inside without revealing the badge's color.

Thud, thud — It was done.

"Then, shall we calculate the results?" Count declared, and a fissure opened on the floor. The mushroom ballot box swiftly receded into the crevice, and after a few seconds, the newly opened fissure closed.

We heard a loud noise under the floor — clank, clank — it moved towards the wall, then up the wall, and stopped on the second floor.

Then, the ballot box slowly rose from the floor, and Count used a key to open the box to retrieve the votes, “Purple. White. Purple."

Count's voice echoed, reminiscent of a teacher calling the names of their students.

Tsubame was on the edge, her shoulders trembling slightly as she held her breath waiting for the final two votes.

“White.... Then...also white," Count concluded.

Immediately, I looked in Usagi's direction, she was also looking at me. We had voted on the same person, Yamane.

“Yamane Shiroishi, you are the most voted player."

“N-n-noooo..." Yamane cried.

“Thus, allow me to declare the outcome. What a pity... Yamane Shiroishi isn't the Werewolf."

Yamane stared in my and Usagi's direction. Seeing her grind her teeth made me feel guilty. I was powerless, I had to vote on someone. Even if I had voted on Tsubame, the end result would've been the same.

I didn't know if Yamane was the Werewolf, but as I'm not if I had broken any rules, I would have put the others in danger. I was left with no option, it was a truly helpless situation. Should I apologize? I don't know...

“Hence, I'll release the werewolf. The other four players should flee to your rooms at once," right after Count's words, I felt goosebumps, I was shivering intensely.

What's this?! This sensation. It felt like we were deep down in a freezing cold pool.

“Did someone turn on the air-conditioner?! What is this bone-chilling wind?" Usagi said.

“There isn't an air-conditioner here! Something dangerous is coming!!" I replied.

In the main hall, the flickering flames of the candles were extinguished one by one, the same thing happened at the entry hall. The mansion was plunged into darkness.

“You should make haste. The werewolf is hungry," eventually, the lights on the second floor were also extinguished. Count's figure was swallowed up by the darkness.

“Come, Usagi! Let's go!!" I shouted as my body moved instinctively. I took Usagi's hand, and we made a dash for the staircase. Trailing behind us were Tsubame and Gyukaku. Only Yamane was glued to her original spot.

“W-wait!!" Yamane said, chasing after our backs.

We scrambled up the staircase. Me and Usagi were the first to arrive on the fourth floor. The whole floor was still illuminated by candles.

“My room, my room! Where?!" Just when I was checking the door number, I heard a squeal.

"Eek!" Yamane had tumbled while climbing the staircase.

“Yamane!! Usagi, go ahead, don't wait for me!" I shouted and looked at the staircase.

“Wait, Hayato?!" Usagi yelled back.

“It's fine!! Go!"

The other three soon reached their individual rooms and rushed inside while I was talking to Usagi.

Bam, bam, bam. Listening to the slamming of their doors, Yamane sounded desperate, “Wait! Please, don't leave me alone!!"

“Damn it," I was struggling, I couldn't take a step. If there wasn't a werewolf, I wouldn't think twice and would rush to the staircase to help her. But now... the darkness at the end of the staircase resembled a deep well.

I could feel it... an instinctive fear, something was approaching. Just like Count said, I needed to hurry, I had to go to my room.

“Hayato! You haven't reached your room yet?! Hurry up!!" Tsubame shouted.

Yes... I should go.

“Wait, Hayato!" before I could move, Usagi's voice reached me. “If you are still out there, please save Yamane!"

If I leave here, Yamane will be eaten; but if I make a mistake here, I'd be eaten too. Should I listen to Tsubame or Usagi?... Which one?!

“Hayato, please!!!" Usagi pleaded.

Following Usagi's shout, I hurried off to Yamane. Running down the steps, I stretched my hand to help her get up. Then we pushed on until the fourth floor.

“T-Thank you," Yamane said, flustered.

“Don't worry about it, hurry up! Go to your room," I replied.

Then, I rushed in the opposite direction, swiftly reaching my room and closing the door. The lock automatically locked the door.

I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath, Yet I heard Yamane's voice in the hallway. “H-Huh? W-Why!? It's not opening!" she was hitting her door, trying to open it forcibly — Bam, Bam.

“Open up!! Please, open up!!" Yamane cried.

“Yamane!? Your door is locked?!" I shouted.

Why!? It doesn't matter. If that's the case, I'll bring her to my room! I can do it if I trust in my fast leg—

What!?

The door handle isn't moving. It didn't even budge when I tried to put both of my hands on it. The handle was solid as a rock.

“YAMANE! RUN AWAY! QUICKLY GET OUT OF HERE!" I shouted.

Suddenly — creak — I heard the sound of a door opening. Sharpening my senses, I perceived a cacophony of strange noises. Heavy footsteps, followed by a loud ripping sound of claws tearing apart the carpet on the floor; lastly, a powerful bang, like a tail or rope powerfully striking the wall.

Sensing the ominous air for only a few seconds was enough. This wasn't an animal, it was a monster, pure and simple.

I shuddered thinking of what would happen if it came inside this room. I retreated until I was at the furthest place in the room, near the window.

It could break this door easily!

I couldn't calm down, my heart pounded loudly just like the engine of a sports car.

“N-n-noooo..." Yamane... I couldn't bear to listen to Yamane's shrill cry, I covered both of my ears.

Then, the unknown monster turned over and descended the staircase.

I was paralyzed, my lips were shivering and teeth chattering. Overwhelmed by fear, even breathing was difficult.

“I hereby declare, tonight's game is over. May all of you have sweet dreams~" From somewhere, Count's voice rumbled.

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