Death Game: Starting as a Trickster, Pretending to Be a God

Chapter 21: The Ability, Rewind!

Yu Longguo was undoubtedly a smart man.

Lin Yu admitted he had slightly misjudged him before.

Among the other six players, Yu Longguo was definitely the most ruthless and intelligent.

And precisely because of this...

It wouldnʼt be easy to deceive him through ”acting.”

But conversely, once such a clever person was fooled...

He would start helping Lin Yu ”fool himself.”

So when Yu Longguo saw Lin Yuʼs ”helpless” smile and heard his words, he immediately sensed something wrong.

”What do you mean by ʼagainʼ...? Have we met before?!” Yu Longguo said coldly.

Watching Yu Longguoʼs reaction, Lin Yu continued his performance calmly and composedly.
”Of course. Why donʼt you guess when else we might have met?”

”Donʼt listen to him, heʼs probably just bluffing!” Xu Xiumei said sharply.

Yu Longguo wanted to think so too, but Lin Yuʼs current demeanor... was too composed!

Who would remain this calm before death just to bluff?!

”What exactly are you trying to say.”

Lin Yu smiled and turned to Chen Zhuo.

”Hey, otaku... Chen Zhuo, among the anime you like, thereʼs Danganronpa and Detective Conan, right? Do you like Haibara Ai? Thereʼs a new season youʼre currently following, isnʼt there?”

Chen Zhuo froze.

”How... how do you know that?”

—Of course! Because you clearly showed great enthusiasm for this ”deduction”-themed game, so you must enjoy similar anime!

And among ten otaku who watch Conan, nine like Haibara Ai!

Then Lin Yu turned to Xu Xiumei.

”Teacher Xu, youʼre teaching a graduating class with good grades, right... but there must be a few troublesome students youʼre worried about... And your own childʼs academic performance must be giving you headaches too.”

Xu Xiumei, who had been planning to urge Yu Longguo to kill Lin Yu directly, was now dumbfounded.

”You... how could you know?”

—Again, obvious! Xu Xiumei clearly looked like a highly capable teacher, and such teachers usually teach graduating classes! And as a responsible teacher, how could she not worry about her students?!

Her strong ”obsession” to be here must relate to her students!

As for children—Xu Xiumei wore a wedding ring, and given her age, she most likely had kids. And Lin Yu had never met a teacher-parent satisfied with their own childʼs grades!

Lin Yu then looked at Yao Zhengye.

”Thief, I actually quite like you... Though you call yourself a thief, youʼve had it tough and havenʼt stolen much. I think... your family really treated you poorly, both your father and mother!”

”After dying this time, you really want to turn over a new leaf after getting out, donʼt you?”

Yao Zhengyeʼs mouth fell open: ”Detective... how do you know all this?”

—Still obvious! If your parents had loved you and your family was good, would you have become a thief?!

And what thief doesnʼt want to reform after getting out?!

Lin Yuʼs composed gaze finally landed on Yu Longguo.

His previous persuasive tactics utilized his analytical skills and the psychological ”Barnum effect”—people tend to believe vague, general descriptions apply specifically to them.

Though partly a gamble, it seemed... he had won.

All three were now ”shocked.”

Upon closer inspection, they might notice something off, but Lin Yuʼs rapid-fire statements left no time for that!

Moreover, the othersʼ shocked expressions created a herd mentality effect.

But now came the toughest challenge—Yu Longguo!

He was ex-military, strong-willed, and genuinely smart.

Even somewhat socially awkward and paranoid.

So...

”Activate ability: Probe Yu Longguoʼs deepest, darkest secret.”

Lin Yu exhaled, and then...

An image surfaced.

”Ah Guo, what are you doing?! Smuggling this stuff is a serious crime!!!”

”Platoon leader... Iʼm sorry, my mother is very ill!”

A bloodied, buzz-cut soldier in uniform was brutally bashed with a rock by Yu Longguo!

”She has uremia... still 400,000 short for a kidney transplant!”

”If there was no matching kidney, fine, but... we found one!”

”I desperately need the money! Platoon leader!”

”Iʼm sorry!”

He kept smashing.

Lin Yu exhaled.

Final puzzle piece obtained!

The show must go on!

He turned to Yu Longguo and grinned.

”And you, Yu Longguo—I never liked you...”

”But youʼve had it rough too. Youʼre really worried about your mom, arenʼt you?”

”Uremia... even after the transplant, she needs your care.”

As Lin Yu spoke, Yu Longguoʼs face darkened.

”What the hell... are you trying to do?!”

Lin Yu remained expressionless.

”Everyone here has reasons they must survive. I understand that, I know none of you want to die...”

Now, his ”performance” had created a crucial impression—that Lin Yu ”knew” them intimately.

Time for the climax.

No time for them to recover or think.

Lin Yu spread his arms with a regretful expression: ”As youʼve guessed, this isnʼt my first time playing this game... While you retain no memories, for me, this game has repeated over ten times.”

”Thatʼs how I know you all, understand why each of you wants to live!”

His words shocked everyone.

”What?!”

”How is that possible?!”

”Youʼre spouting nonsense...”

Xu Xiumei pointed at Lin Yu: ”I donʼt know why youʼre saying this, but... you got this through detective skills, right?!”

Lin Yu smirked: ”Forget how itʼs only day three and I know all four of your secrets...”

He reached into Chen Zhuoʼs pocket and pulled out the lie detector.

Lin Yuʼs face showed nostalgia.

”Ah, the lie detector... helped so much in previous runs...”

He pressed the button, and the indicator lit up.

Lin Yu spoke slowly: ”Listen carefully. My awakened class isnʼt ʼDetective,ʼ but a Unique Class!”

He held up the lie detector.

The green light remained steady—no reaction.

He tossed it aside.

Then...

Lin Yu delivered the most crucial line of his performance!

”My class name is ʼPlayerʼ!”

”My ability is... ʼRewindʼ!”