The Spectator's Prospective Inspection

「The world was slowly tilting toward the unknown, each day bringing its share of mysteries and desolation. Amid this slow apocalypse, a bluish glow split the sky. A notification window appeared, floating like a digital omen: 

[Remaining Solver in the Asian Continent: 37%] 

This number, stark and indifferent, marked humanity's inexorable decline. 

The world had become a vast puzzle. Everywhere, enigmas emerged, challenging human logic, memory, creativity, and cooperation. 

No one knew who was behind this macabre game or what its purpose was. Some believed it was an extraterrestrial experiment, others a government conspiracy, and still others a divine manifestation. But everyone agreed on one thing: survival was the priority. 

In the oppressive shadows of a vast room, a panicked man ran, gasping in terror. His screams echoed off the dark walls: 

"I don't want to die! Not like this!" 

His erratic footsteps drew him deeper into the darkness as a monstrous creature closed in, its claws tearing through the air with relentless ferocity. 

Then, a chilling gust swept through the room, freezing the scene. A figure emerged from the shadows—imposing and magnetic. Ryo Kanjo. 

Without a word, he advanced, every movement exuding mastery and unwavering confidence. His dark coat billowed slightly, enhancing the almost supernatural aura surrounding him. The monster lunged at him, but in a fraction of a second, Ryo unsheathed his weapon. 

The blade sliced through the air with surgical precision, cutting the creature down in a single fluid motion. A shimmering light flashed upon contact with the blade, briefly illuminating his face—stoic and unyielding. 

Silence descended heavily upon the room. The terrified man remained frozen, eyes wide, unable to look away from this man who seemed to embody sheer strength and determination. 

The man, still trembling, dared to break the silence. His fragile, hesitant voice betrayed his distress: 

"Is... is it over? Is the monster defeated? Or... will time reset again?" 

Ryo didn't respond immediately. He merely turned his head toward the man, a faint glimmer of detachment in his dark eyes. He smirked slightly—a mix of confidence and nonchalance, as if he had been in control long before the man even grasped the situation. 

"The monster was just a pawn." His deep, composed voice resonated in the room. "It wasn't my target." 

He gestured toward the ancient clocks, suspended in midair and emanating an eerily golden glow. Their incessant ticking vibrated through the walls, like the beat of a cursed heart. 

"Those clocks... They sustain its power. They enable it to manipulate time. Without them, it's nothing more than a fallen puppet." 

With an elegant, almost theatrical motion, Ryo sheathed his weapon. Behind him, the clocks cracked, shattering one by one in bursts of light. Each detonation marked the end of their malevolent influence. 

He turned to the man one last time, his piercing gaze seeming to delve into the man's very soul. 

"It seems some people weren't born to survive..." 

[Core Room #2: Chamber of Frozen Time 

Cleared.] 

The rest of the group, until now hidden in the shadows, stepped out of their hiding spots, their faces etched with a mix of relief and exhaustion. One of them, younger and more impulsive, threw his arms in the air in a burst of enthusiasm: 

"We did it! Only five bosses left! Just a little more, and we'll finally unlock the exit portal!" 

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group, but the tension remained palpable. They knew today's victory was just one step in an increasingly arduous series of trials. 

The leader, a man with a face marked by battles and a calm yet authoritative voice, stepped in to restore order: 

"Before we charge ahead, we're taking a break. The remaining bosses are all at expert level. If even one of us isn't at 100%, we won't stand a chance." 

He turned to Ryo, who was still gazing at the shattered clocks with an unreadable expression. 

"Even you, Ryo. No unnecessary risks. We recover, then we move to the next one." 

Ryo nodded silently, turning away to lean against a wall. The group settled in, each taking moments to tend to their wounds, check their gear, and mentally prepare for what lay ahead."

As Ryo leaned against the wall, eyes half-closed, a hesitant shadow approached him. A man, far less imposing than Ryo or indeed any other member of the group, stood there awkwardly.

His slightly askew glasses and nervous gait immediately set the tone, and he carried a stack of crumpled sheets under his arm, some already annotated with messy diagrams and calculations.

"Er... Mr.Kanjo?" he began in a slightly shaky voice, almost fumbling over each word.

Ryo opened one eye, giving the man a quick but piercing glance. This simple gesture was enough to make the other man blush, and he rushed to speak before losing his courage:

"I just wanted to... thank you. For all you do in every room at boss. Without you, we'd probably all be... dead."

He sketched an awkward smile and handed his leaves to Ryo, his hands trembling slightly.

"I... I know it's not much use compared to what you do. But... er... I've traced the whole way here. I thought... maybe it could be useful?"

The sheets were covered with neat drawings, improvised maps, annotations on traps encountered and monster movements. Every detail seemed to have been meticulously noted.

"I mean, I know, it's no big deal," he continued, bowing his head in embarrassment. "I'm completely useless in combat. Frankly, I wouldn't be able to do what you do... But I figure, while I'm here, I can at least help in my own way. It's not as impressive as defeating monsters, but..."

Before the man could stammer out an answer, Ryo raised a hand to interrupt him, his dry tone cutting off any attempt at explanation:

"Never mind your schemes for now. We don't even know how to avoid spiked rooms."

He looked away, opening his notification window with a precise gesture. A bluish glow lightly illuminated his face as he carefully reread the riddle title.

[Puzzle n°72: -The hotel of the humpback rooms-

Explanation: You're trapped in a mysterious hotel filled with heart chambers, each of which hides a boss. Your objective: free the exit portal, currently blocked by an Onryō, a vengeful spirit. 

Choose the difficulty class you wish to challenge: 

- Class S: 7 bosses to defeat (expert). 

- A class: 5 bosses to defeat (normal). 

- Class E: 3 bosses to defeat (easy). 

Time: Unlimited 

Rules: - Each heart chamber contains a boss. Once defeated, the chamber becomes inaccessible. 

- You must defeat all bosses to unlock the portal. 

- You must all move together. 

- If one of you remains alone in a heart chamber for more than 3 seconds, the Onryō moves in to kill him. 

- Spade chambers are chambers where there are no bosses. 

- Passing through a spade chamber will considerably reduce the size of the portal to the point where it can no longer be accessed. 

- It is impossible to use the portal as long as the Onryō is in front of it. 

- There's a bell at every door leading to a room. Activating it will reset the puzzle. 

Mystery solver: Portal release, 18,290 coins earned, ??? 

Failure: The curse of the Onryō spreads, turning the hotel into an eternal trap] 

The man glanced worriedly at Ryo, noticing his pensive gaze.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked shyly.

Ryo looked away from the room to stare at the man for a moment, before answering in a neutral tone.

"No."

The group leader, who had been observing the scene from a distance, stepped forward and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

"The break is over! Back to the riddle. Get ready, we can't afford to hesitate."

Ryo straightened up, letting his gaze slide over the room. In front of them, two doors stood closed, each seemingly silently challenging their next choice.

The leader drew in a deep breath, taking measured steps towards the two doors. His gaze flickered between them, one hand clenched into a trembling fist.

"Please don't let it be a room spade..." he murmured in an almost inaudible breath, a prayer addressed to a fragile hope.

With a slow gesture, he grasped the handle of one of the doors, opening it cautiously. The resulting creak echoed in the silence, amplifying the tension. The group, silent and motionless, exchanged nervous glances before following the leader inside.

Once inside, everyone held their breath, their heartbeats accelerating in unison. The rules were clear: you had to wait three seconds before the boss appeared. If nothing happened after these three seconds, it was a spade room and they were doomed.

1s

The room felt stifling. Every creak of the floor beneath their feet seemed to herald disaster.

2s

Ryo squinted, his muscles tense as if preparing for an assault. The tension was so palpable that it seemed to freeze time.

3s

The silence was broken by a dull rumble. A shadow loomed over the room, growing into a terrifying shape.

A notification appeared in a bluish light before their eyes:

[Heart Room n°3 : Room of Regrets]

A collective sigh of relief shook the group, but the respite was short-lived. Facing them, the boss materialized in full, a colossal snake with scales as black as night, its eyes piercing each member of the group with an icy stare.

As they prepared to face the snake, whispers began to echo around the room. Furtive at first, they quickly gained in intensity, enveloping the air with an almost tangible weight.

"Do you hear that?" whispered a group member, his face pale.

The leader scanned his surroundings nervously, his gaze searching for an invisible source. "What's that?!" he exclaimed, his voice broken with worry.

Ryo suddenly raised his hands to his head, a deep frown marking his confusion. The murmurs seemed to intensify for him, becoming clearer, more accusatory. One word stood out from the auditory chaos, repeated insistently:

"Rot... Rot..."

His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his breathing coming in gasps. His hands clutched his temples as if to chase away the deafening echo, but this only aggravated his discomfort.

"What... is...?!" he cried, his voice echoing with pain and despair.

When he raised his head, it was no longer the snake before him, but a garbage can.

Ryo blinked, unable to understand how he'd ended up here. A cold sweat trickled down his temple as he noticed a leaf stuck among the detritus. Something about it caught his attention, a familiar sensation that awakened his instincts.

Trembling, he reached out and grabbed the leaf. As he unfolded it, his breath caught. It was a script, his script! The one he'd given to his superior for a meeting with publishing houses.

"What's it doing here?" he muttered, his hands clutching the paper, his mind tormented by a cascade of unanswered questions.

Making his way through the brightly lit, hectic corridors of the video game company where he worked, Ryo advanced at a brisk pace, his hands clenched into fists. He was looking for his superior, his mind tormented by the whispers of failure and the vision of the script abandoned in a dustbin.

When he finally found his superior, he was sitting at his desk, concentrating on some documents. Ryo stepped forward, his face marked by restrained anger.

"I need an explanation. Why was my script in a garbage can?"

The superior looked up, a mixture of surprise and annoyance crossing his face. He put down his pen and crossed his arms.

"Ryo, listen..." he began, in a condescending tone. "Nobody's going to want to invest in a scenario like yours. It's not... salesy enough."

Ryo gritted his teeth, but remained silent, waiting for the next part.

"And then frankly, you're a level designer. Not a writer. You should already be satisfied with being credited in the little games we produce here. That kind of ambition is... unrealistic."

The words struck Ryo like a cold blade, cutting through the secret writer's dream he'd harbored for years. He felt his throat knot, but refused to show the slightest weakness.

Just then, his superior's telephone vibrated. He picked it up immediately, a smile appearing on his face at the sight of the name displayed.

"Hey, HIKA!" he exclaimed, in a warm tone.

Ryo froze. This name, HIKA, was that of a famous streamer in the video game world.

"Yes, yes, I've just heard from the publishing houses. They love your idea for the manga! They're ready to invest. That's really promising, congratulations!"

Ryo's heart heaved as the truth dawned on him. His superior had never given his script to the publishing houses. Instead, he had preferred to pass on HIKA's draft, attracted by the star's notoriety rather than the passion and hard work of an employee like himself.

When the call ended, Ryo asked, his voice broken but full of resentment:

"So, that's it? My script was never shown because you preferred to bet on HIKA. Because he has a name? Because he's famous?"

The superior shrugged, his gaze faraway.

"Look, this is how the world works. Big names attract investors. It's not personal, it's just... reality."

Ryo felt a wave of despair wash over him. This wasn't just a script. This was his dream, his ambition, what he'd always wanted to achieve. Since he was a child, he had imagined his stories, hoping one day to share them with the world.

And today, that dream had been trampled underfoot. Not because he wasn't good enough, but because he wasn't famous enough.

Silence fell between them. Ryo looked away, clutching the crumpled script in his hand. A dull ache settled in his chest, mixing anger and disappointment.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the room, leaving behind his shattered dream, but also a new flame: that of a desire for revenge against a world that saw only the power of money and fame.

On the building's terrace, under a heavy, overcast sky, Ryo stood alone, leaning against the railing. The icy wind whipped at his face, but he paid it no mind. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the torment of memories he couldn't forget.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the whispers of his memory resurface. The image of his little sister appeared, her radiant smile lighting up his dark mind. He saw himself promising her, in a voice trembling but full of sincerity:

"I'll always protect you. I'll make sure you can live in a better world."

But he had failed. That better world didn't exist.

All around him, society was a vast lie, a ruthless machine where everything, absolutely everything, was dictated by money. Dreams trampled underfoot, lives crushed under the weight of greed and indifference. Nothing had value unless there was a profit to be made.

Anger surged through him, burning and uncontrollable. He struck the railing violently, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.

"This world..." he whispered, his voice trembling, before screaming, his gaze raised to the sky as if in defiance of the entire universe. "This world is nothing but rot! A stench gangrenous with greed and selfishness!"

His cries echoed in the void, carried by the wind. He inhaled deeply, but each breath seemed to weigh down his chest.

"You deserve nothing. Not your dreams, not your lives, not even your hopes." His voice broke, tinged with a mixture of hatred and despair.

He clutched the railing one last time, his black gaze plunging into the dark horizon.

"I hope this world collapses under the weight of its own greed. I hope it all disappears."

A heavy silence fell. The city below continued to shine, unaware of his rage, indifferent to his pain. To Ryo, it embodied the monstrosity of humanity: a blinding light masking an abyss of corruption and despair.

He turned away from the sight, jaw set. It was no longer just anger. It was resolve. If this world was doomed, he would help it fall.

The cold, oppressive air suddenly seemed to dissipate. The murmurs died away, giving way to a heavy silence. Ryo abruptly opened his eyes, gasping as if he'd just awoken from a terrifying nightmare. The illusion had faded.

Scanning the room, he saw that the other members of the group were in the same state. All were frozen, their faces twisted with pain and grief. Everyone seemed to be still trapped in regret, haunted by memories they would have liked to forget.

Ryo clenched his fists, his jaw set. This monster was playing with their minds, reducing them to empty shells, unable to react. But he couldn't let that continue.

He lunged at the snake, his katana gleaming in the room's flickering light. The monster, massive and sinuous, seemed imbued with malevolent energy. With a swift, precise movement, Ryo delivered a powerful blow aimed at disrupting its power.

The snake let out a shrill cry, writhing in pain, and the dark aura it projected flickered. In a split second, the illusion shattered for the others too. Their eyes opened in confusion, as if waking from a dream they didn't yet understand.

Ryo straightened up, his breath short but his gaze determined. He turned to the group, his powerful voice echoing through the room.

"Get out of here now!"

Some, still stunned by recent events, wondered what was going on. The idea that Ryo would wish to abandon their mission seemed inconceivable to them, and they struggled to understand his decision.

It was then that the snake, taking advantage of the uncertainty and tension in the air, managed to regain control. His influence spread once again, invading minds and forcing them to bend under his perfidious domination.

But the leader, keeping calm despite the pressure, decided:

"Ryo is right. We need to withdraw to think and establish a solid strategy. Without that, we have no chance of triumphing."

His words sounded obvious, and the protests gradually died down. Reluctantly, but determined not to give in completely to failure, they set off. All returned to the door they had entered, the snake's shadow still lurking in their minds.

As the whole group rushed towards the door, a figure remained behind. Ryo recognized it immediately: it was his superior. The man advanced with difficulty, looking exhausted by the fierce battle they had just fought.

As he approached, Ryo, in a gesture of apparent calm, held out his hand to help him through the door. But just as his superior grabbed hold of this saving hand, a sudden movement interrupted his momentum. With a sharp, deliberate thrust, Ryo propelled him backwards.

The man staggered, unable to regain his balance, and collapsed to the ground. 

Ryo stood in front of the door, staring coldly at his superior, who looked at him with incomprehension and horror. His eyes, devoid of all emotion, betrayed neither regret nor remorse.

"Sorry..." he murmured in an icy voice, a sly smile on his lips. "My hand slipped."

Ryo closed the bedroom door with calculated speed, locking it before anyone could intervene. A heavy silence fell over the corridor. Some members of the group, frozen in incomprehension, exchanged incredulous glances.

"Why?" stammered one of them, struggling to understand Ryo's brutal gesture.

The leader, his face hard, strode towards him.

Ryo, what have you done?" he growled. Do you realize that, now, this man is going to be attacked by the Onryō? And all because of you!"

But Ryo remained unperturbed. His expression was cold, indecipherable, as if he wore a mask that let nothing show.

"There was another solution," he finally said, breaking the silence.

The leader frowned in surprise.

"Another solution? What are you talking about?"

Ryo crossed his arms, taking care to articulate every word so everyone understood.

"To activate the portal, it's simply a matter of the Onryō not being in front of it. Killing him isn't the only option. In reality, you just have to move it... And for that, a distraction was needed. Someone had to stay behind, alone in the room."

The leader took a step back, shocked by what he'd just heard.

"You mean you sacrificed your superior? Is that your plan?"

Ryo shrugged, his tone implacable.

"We'd already failed that riddle, anyway. It was the only solution if we were to have any chance of getting out of here alive."

The leader's gaze darkened.

Then a notification appeared.

[The exit portal is now accessible 

Time remaining before closing: 2 min 59 seconds]

All eyes instinctively turned to Ryo. He, calm and motionless, observed their reactions with a hint of contempt in his eyes.

You see?" he began, breaking the silence. You don't have to play the hypocrite. You're all ready to abandon this man to save your own skins."

Ryo's words fell like a sentence. The group stepped back slightly, avoiding his piercing gaze.

The leader, trying to maintain his authority, frowned and clenched his fists.

"You're talking nonsense! It's not what we want. We could have found another solution if you hadn't acted alone, Ryo!"

But his words lacked conviction. His gaze soon betrayed his hesitation. His eyes, drawn despite himself to the notification, revealed a burning desire. To take advantage of the opportunity to flee.

Ryo noticed immediately and made sure to exploit it.

Look at you," he continued with an icy smile. You want to run away as much as everyone else. So stop being a hero and face up to what you are. You've got less than two minutes to make up your mind."

A shiver ran through the assembly. Ryo's words carried the weight of a truth they didn't want to hear.

Then, without further ado, someone took the first step. Followed by another. And another.

The leader tried to intervene, but his voice trailed off as he watched everyone make their way to the departure chamber, where the portal awaited them. The doors had unlocked, as if a victory condition had been met.

With his hands in his pockets, Ryo watched the silhouettes disappear one by one into the corridor. He hadn't moved an inch, watching the scene like an indifferent spectator.

"Hypocrites", he murmured, a cold glint in his eyes, before he too started walking.

Ryo advanced at a measured pace towards the exit portal, the leader following a few meters behind. The flickering lights of the corridors underlined the heavy atmosphere, but Ryo seemed strangely relaxed, as if oblivious to the chaos around him.

In his mind, a thought was taking shape, dark and determined.

These puzzles... these trials... they're nothing less than the final judgment.

He clenched his fists slightly, an icy glint crossing his eyes.

If this is how it must end, then I see no reason to save them. Humanity deserves this end. It has always been corrupted by its own greed and hypocrisy. And if I can drag it down... then I will, without hesitation.

Abandoning his superior to his fate he blurted out in a low voice, "All you had to do was be smarter."」

I looked at Saei, sitting next to me, her gaze fixed on the screen. She seemed immersed in intense reflection, as if trying to decipher the mysteries of the riddle Ryo had just solved, or rather abandoned.

"But... what was the real solution?" she finally murmured.

I couldn't help smiling at her question. "I'll explain it to you... if one day we find ourselves faced with this kind of problem," I said with a laugh, amused by the absurd idea that this situation could become real.

At the time, I had no idea how this film would turn out...