Jung-hyuk kept hopping forward, one square at a time.When he reached square 9, he nearly lost his balance and almost fell.
VIP 5: "Oh my god!"
He steadied his other foot and grabbed the edge with both hands.Slowly, he stood back up.
Then, he jumped to square 4, bent down to pick up the sandbag, and jumped all the way back.
"Player 357, success."
In the VIP room, VIP 2 asked:"Why are you so excited?"
VIP 5 replied:"I bet a lot of money on him, just because he was the previous winner."
The Host stared at Jung-hyuk.
Time's up. The game ended.
Jung-hyuk was exhausted, panting heavily. He looked down — a pile of corpses.It reminded him of the fifth game three years ago: B.I.N.G.O.
Back then, Il-hoon had fallen and died right in front of him.
VIP 4 said:"It's so exciting. I can't wait to watch tomorrow's game."
Scene transition — Jung-hyuk, Soo-mi, Zhen-yan, and Player 81 were now dressed in suits.
The four of them sat at a square table, one on each side.
The screen showed: 4 players remaining, 45.2 billion in prize money.
A Masked Man spoke:"Tonight's dinner is to thank you, the final participants, for the sacrifices and efforts you've made.We hope to see even better performance in the final game.
Please, enjoy yourselves."
Zhen-yan and Player 81 devoured the food like they hadn't eaten in days.
Meanwhile, Soo-mi and Jung-hyuk ate cautiously, savoring the rare meal.
That night, while Jung-hyuk was watching the sleeping Zhen-yan,
a Masked Man approached him and said:"Player 357, he wants to see you."
Jung-hyuk's eyes widened in shock.
Scene shift — Jung-hyuk rode the elevator to the Host's office.
When the doors opened, he saw the Host sitting in his chair, waiting.
Jung-hyuk slowly walked over and sat down.
The Host took off his mask.
It was Oh Il-nam.
(Oh Il-nam is Player 001 and the true mastermind in the real-world Netflix series "Squid Game.")
Il-nam said:"I have a proposal for you. It concerns your future."
Jung-hyuk replied:"Do I… even have a future?"
Il-nam placed a knife on the table:"Take this back to the dorm.Kill those pests in their sleep."
Jung-hyuk looked at Il-nam.
Il-nam continued:"They've eaten their fill. They're fast asleep.Even if you slit their throats one by one, no one will notice."
Jung-hyuk picked up the knife and pointed it at Il-nam.
Il-nam said calmly:"Going to kill me? Go ahead. It's just us here.But even if you do, nothing will change.Someone else will replace me.Tomorrow's game will proceed all the same."
Jung-hyuk's hand stopped mid-air.
Il-nam asked:"I'm curious — why are you so obsessed with ending the game?You already won more money than you could ever earn in a lifetime."
Jung-hyuk shouted in anger:"You wanna know why?!You never played these games yourself.You don't know what it's like to watch your friends, your loved ones, die right in front of you!You don't understand!"
He turned around and was about to leave when Il-nam said:"Zikai is dead.
Mingyu is dead.All your teammates are gone.Player 357… Do you still believe in humanity?"
Jung-hyuk heard those words, then stepped into the elevator with firm resolve.
Back in the dorm, Jung-hyuk stared at the sleeping Zhen-yan.He raised the knife to his neck.His hand trembled uncontrollably.
In the end…He couldn't do it.
Jung-hyuk returned to his own bed.He stared at the knife in his hand, memories flooding back.
(Yoon-ho:"Hi."
In the final second, Il-hoon hit the bullseye.Their hearts, suspended in the air, finally settled.
Yoon-ho smiled:"When you get out… don't forget, your first time — you gave it to me."
Il-hoon, smiling with effort:"Thank you… Lee Jung-hyuk."
Yong-jun:"Let's all do our best. No matter the game, we work together."
Yong-jun:"Are you okay?")
Jung-hyuk smiled through tears.
Then, he raised the knife…
…and stabbed it into his own neck.
Back at HQ, Il-nam watched everything unfold.