Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

X Beijin finds Dai Wu at Dai Wus subordinates residence.

What is surprising is the fact that Dai Wu is actually wheelchair-bound.

Surprised? The casual, almost jumpy young man shrugs dismissively.

Then he says, this is why I call it a Second Life, literally. I dont like the Tower. I like being in Nightmares instead.

Even with a disability, he might still be the only person in the world to say he enjoys Nightmares.

X Beijin asks, why didnt you try heading to higher floors?

He is aware of some people who claim theirmyopiawas partly alleviated by ascending floors.

Dai Wu shakes his head, though, saying, I My body is already like this. Even the information panel displays a physical disability.

He says with a nonchalant tone of voice, its going to be the same wherever in the game.

X Beijin is at a loss for words.

He didnt know Dai Wu had such circumstances.

Now that he thinks about it, Dai Wu was always standing up in Nightmares, whether as a cashier, ticker sales reception, or more crucially, a survivor in the post-Apocalyptic ruins, he stood there, talking about a Second Life with a smile.

Missiontakers have a sense that Tower residents all have at least one debilitating quirks, whether mental, or physical.

Dai Wu quickly skips over the topic on his physical form, and asks, so what do you need? Then he looks over at his subordinate, and adds, or maybe youre here for him?

Im here for you, replies X Beijin, and he gets straight to the point, Im planning to let others into my Nightmare.

Dai Wu is completely shocked.

X Beijin then explains, there will not be many people in my Nightmare, though.

After the shock, Dai Wu smiles, and nods, saying, Im really curious what would be in your Nightmare

You wont be inside, X Beijin immediately clarifies, and tells him what hes here for, Im here for a related matter preparations for the worst, say.

Dai Wu wasnt paying much attention to the last part, though, as hes pretty fixated on the first part, wondering, why are you so sure? Why would I not be inside of a Nightmare on the bottom floor? Is your Nightmare really that special?

Then he immediately jumps to the most obvious conclusion.

X Beijin confirms what hes thinking. He nods and tells him, yes, there are no Actors in my Nightmare. Not a single one, save for myself.

Dai Wu is now absolutely astonished. He says, now Im really starting to believe that there is some great secret in your Nightmare. But youve also told me, your Nightmare isnt the Ultimate Nightmare Then, what could that really be?

X Beijin remains silent.

Dai Wu then gives X Beijin a fierce stare, asking, you know about it, dont you? The Ultimate Nightmare.

X Beijin wasnt going to move at first, but then he slowly nods.

He recalled NEs rather ambiguous stance on all this, so he doesnt need to be so careful anymore. He is trying to work together with Dai Wu, so there is no need for subterfuge.

Dai Wu seems quite enthusiastic getting a positive response, and he asks, whats the Ultimate Nightmare like? Is there really an exit inside?

And How does X Beijin know?

Dai Wu doesnt ask that last question out loud, of course. Pretending he wasnt thinking about that last question, he simply looks eagerly at X Beijin.

X Beijin appears to fall into thought opposite Dai Wu, and finally, he says, well, yes

Dai Wu appears stunned for a moment before immediately exclaiming, theres really an exit?! I really thought it was a rumour!

X Beijin sighs inside, though. The exit is probably not what theyre imagining the exit to the Tower to look like.

At least, it is not one in the traditional sense.

X Beijin would rather not give puzzles to Dai Wu, or give him false hope.

Whether or not the Ultimate Nightmare even will or can open up to the Missiontakers is for later, even if that is related to what hes here for.

So he decides to use it to bait Dai Wu, Im here partly because of the Ultimate Nightmare.

Dai Wu continues to listen, still visibly shocked and excited.

X Beijin says, if you want the Ultimate Nightmare to open up, then I need you to get as many Actors as possible on your side. Prepare as many available men and women as you can.

On what grounds? Dai Wu asks astutely.

X Beijin simply replies, I cannot tell you at this moment.

Dai Wu then furrows his brows, that doesnt sound a lot like an equivalent exchange.

X Beijin goes speechless. Why would he hear equivalent exchange even here?

But thats beside the point. He tells Dai Wu, this is the condition for the Ultimate Nightmare to open. If you cannot do it, then the Ultimate Nightmare will never open up.

X Beijin is asking Dai Wu to do this largely because Dai Wu must have an enormous web of connections in the Tower. At least, when it comes to Actors.

His suggestion to treat all of this as a Second Life has likely helped many an Actor to stay sane and lucid.

After this, X Beijin is planning to visit Su Enya, but he doesnt need to hurry exactly; hes sure Mu Jiashi would have headed for her right after him.

Perhaps it would be better, too, that Mu Jiashi would talk about X Beijin opening his Nightmare up with her. He can expect her to be primed and ready mentally.

And then there are the Missiontakers.

X Beijin is quietly thinking about it.

Shortly thereafter, he continues telling Dai Wu, remember. Gather up the Actors, as many as you can, and for the rest, you should try to figure out the movement patterns and, better yet, where they are at all times.

Dai Wus face is turning pretty serious, even if his tone is still quite light.

Hes clearly still trying to take in the stringent and all-encompassing nature of this condition to open the Ultimate Nightmare. He asks, I wont say I cant do it but, what are you trying to achieve with all the Actors?

A successful exit from the Tower.

Bold words, but talking will get us nowhere.

X Beijin shrugs, and nonchalantly tells him, thats why Im trying to convince you to act.

It almost sounds like something Dai Wu would say to people; the latter looks speechless.

He gives the gloomy young man a glare, and asks with a threatening tone, can you even call this convincing?

X Beijin raises his brow.

Then Dai Wu simply breaks into a smile, and says, its a friends request, so Ill do it. No convincing needed.

He pauses, but still cautions X Beijin, of course, while Ill do as you ask, but for the truth behind the Tower its at least time to let me in on what I can know?

So then he turns to his subordinate nearby, and has him leave the room for now. Then he smiles as he looks back at X Beijin, asking, will that do?

X Beijin

Well, yes. He thinks about it, and says, so, Im planning to open up my Nightmare

And?

My Nightmare, is some sort of prerequisite for the Ultimate Nightmare to open up, X Beijin then tries to word it as carefully safe as possible to get what he needs across, therefore, it is important for me that everything is arranged properly before I enter my Nightmare. When it starts, everything must already be in place, because there is only one possible chance.Ican only have one go.

Dai Wu quietly listens.

X Beijin gives him the sternest expression he has ever put up so far, this one chance, is all or nothing.

Dai Wu is holding his breath at this point at the seriousness of it all, until finally, he exhales slowly.

He says, I see, then he pauses, and adds, not that wed have had a chance for a redo even if there could be a second go.

Then he looks down, at the stumps where his legs end, and then, looks outside the window, where the fog continues forming and dissipating.

Finally, he turns to X Beijin, and says, I, would definitely, never be complacent, just having some Second Life in this fake, videogame-land.

Even if my legs are completely healed within Nightmares, even if I can once again walk freely, even if I can be rid of this cursed, weak form

A fictitious reality, holds no meaning to me.

X Beijin watches him quietly.

Dai Wu concludes, even if only death awaits, I will have my final moments, on Earth.

A short while afterwards, X Beijin nods firmly, and tells him, you willWewill succeed.

For the first time ever in X Beijins memories, the giddy smile is wiped from Dai Wus face. He nods heavily, solemnly.

While X Beijin walk talking with Dai Wu, just as X Beijin thought, Mu Jiashi went straight for the residence of Xie JiOf the residence of the purported Tower resident from a higher floor.

Hes going to look for Su Enya.