The Crimson Game Chapter 6

For the next hour, no customers came to tables six or seven.

Bored, I leaned against a pillar in the hall, arms crossed over my chest, watching the other players' progress.

The player at table eleven had clearly drawn the short straw.

Seated at his table was a hunched old woman.

Her eyes glowed blood-red as she pounded her cane against the male player kneeling on the ground.

"You don't even have tomato and egg soup! What kind of restaurant is this? Believe me, I'll put YOU on the menu!"

The male player swayed under the blows, his face gradually contorting with pain and humiliation.

"You! I already told you we don't have it! Are you deaf?"

The old woman suddenly stood up, staring down at the player with a sinister laugh.

"What did you say?"

The next moment, the male player looked down at his abdomen in disbelief.

A hand covered in corpse spots pulled out of his stomach, clutching a blood-red organ.

The player's head lolled to the side as he collapsed to the floor.

I watched the scene, squinting and turning my head away.

The old woman grabbed her cane, struck it twice against the floor, muttered something under her breath, and walked away with an unsatisfied expression.

As she passed me, her eyes flickered briefly in my direction.

Every hair on my body stood on end. I immediately straightened up, keeping my head bowed low.

The old woman huffed and shuffled away.

I didn't go help that male player. You can call me cold-hearted if you want.

But mostly, I felt numb. I treated this whole thing like a nightmare that couldn't possibly be real, hoping only to wake up soon.

After the first wave of customers left, eight players were missing from the hall.

Besides the one I'd just witnessed, the others had been decapitated with a single slap, had their tongues ripped out, or had their arms and legs torn off.

Blood and flesh covered the dining hall floor. The deep red liquid flowed toward my feet.

I stepped back.

The "Welcome" announcement sounded at the restaurant entrance.

I gathered my focus to greet the next wave of customers.