Winning by Playing Dumb [Infinite]

Everyone says the boss of this survival game is too vicious, as if he absolutely despises the players. He kills them before they even have a chance to deal with him.

No one knows what he looks like, because nobody who has seen him has survived.

But recently, something unexpected happened: an exceptionally powerful player named [Falcon] entered the game.

Defeat the boss and you can earn an extra reward, giving you an advantage in the next instance. The other players all think [Falcon] must have gotten his reward from the boss.

[Falcon] never admits to having encountered the boss and never reveals any information about him, but every time, he clears the game quickly with a reward in hand.

In reality, [Falcon] discovered the boss's secret: the boss is actually incredibly softhearted. Once, [Falcon] pretended to slip so he could kill the boss when he came closer, but the boss carefully helped him back to his feet.

Not only that, the boss also kindly warned him that the game was dangerous, and that the players were killing one another. A dope like him had to be careful.

Then the boss sent him on his way.

[Falcon]: "A dope"?

Got it. I'll just play dumb from now on.

--

The boss has a secret: he can't remember why he became the boss of every level, or why he hates the players so much, but he keeps attacking them against his will.

He thinks he must be an NPC who has awakened.

Until one day, he discovers that the dope he keeps letting go out of pity has been sneaking off to steal the "treasures" he hid whenever he's not around.

The scene feels strangely familiar.

He suddenly remembers how he became the boss:

A long time ago, he was also a player in this game, and the top-ranked one at that.

He always had a dope for a teammate. The guy probably wouldn't have survived half an episode on his own, and it was only because he carried him that they got anywhere.

But just as their team was about to clear the game, he suddenly died for no apparent reason. Later, he became an amnesiac boss.

Now, the more he looks at this dope, the more he looks like that other dope.

Lovers who kill each other over two lifetimes (crossed out) + First round: powerful player x powerful player; second round: player who plays the pig to eat the tiger x a ruthless, heartless boss

1. Their relationship isn't quite as it appears in the blurb. It'll be explained later. Just know that they're made for each other.

2. The gong's appearance changes after he becomes the boss, so the shou doesn't recognize him.

22.9.8

Theme: Never give up hope.