I Activated Cheat Mode in a Bizarre Game

“Why did the point total suddenly go up...?”

“Y-Yeah. And by 2,000 points at that...”
People around me whispered in disbelief.
Fortunately, no one had seen me throw the name tag.

I was just as bewildered.
I didn’t expect that tiny name tag to be worth 2,000 points.
It made me think—maybe items related to monsters give higher point values.

If that’s true, then is my next target going to be the monsters’ name tags?
My cowardly instincts began creeping back in.
Sure, I managed to win easily this time, but who knows about the others?

It’s terrifying... but if this is the only way to escape—
Maybe there’s no choice...
A famous line from an old hero comic popped into my head.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” or something like that.
Watching people get hurt or disappear right in front of me, it felt like even a coward like me had no choice but to act.
The lobby was once again shrouded in heavy silence and unease.

10,000 points. We were halfway there, but we couldn’t exactly celebrate when so many hadn’t returned.
“...What now?”
The pressure to go on the next exploration, mixed with fear of running into another monster, made the atmosphere in the lobby suffocating.

We gathered quietly around the Settlement Hole, holding our breath as we waited for another group to return.
That’s when it happened.
Click, clack. Click, clack.
From one side of the lobby—the hallway—came a strange sound of footsteps.

The slow, rhythmic pace was enough to put everyone on edge.
All eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
“Maybe... another group is back?”

“But the footsteps sound a little too... huh...!”
Someone started speaking but quickly held their breath.
What emerged from the darkness was a mannequin wearing an extravagant, luxurious purple dress.

It had a wide-brimmed hat on its head and even a jeweled necklace around its neck.
But despite the elegant outfit, its face had no features, and its joints were grotesquely twisted.
Judging by its appearance, it was clearly a different “guest”-type monster—not like the janitor mannequin from before.

Click, clack. Click, clack.
“...!”
With nowhere to run, we could do nothing but hold our breath and watch the mannequin approach.

It slowly walked to the center of the lobby and stopped.
Then, with a chilling crick, crick, it started turning its head.
One by one, it scanned over us.

Even though it had no eyes, I was certain it was looking at us.
After observing us for a moment, the mannequin reached into its dress and pulled out a green felt-tip pen.
Then it walked toward the man from the exploration team, the one holding the “hotel manual.”

Screech—
“Ugh... Ughh...!”
As the man stood frozen in fear, the mannequin casually drew a green check mark on the cover of the manual.

Startled, the man dropped it to the floor.
The mannequin turned its body again and slowly approached where our team was gathered.
My heart felt like it was going to explode.

This mannequin was different from the hotel staff one.
Up close, it looked taller, sturdier—even more menacing.
My mind was a mess.

...Should I jump it first? But it doesn’t seem like it’s attacking...
The mannequin stopped in front of the university student, who was trembling and nearly in tears.
Then, just like with the manual, it marked a green check on her forearm.

“Mmph!”
The student swallowed a gasp.
She was paralyzed by fear and couldn’t move.

Crrrk! Crrrk!
The mannequin in the dress twisted its body strangely, shoulders jerking up and down.
It almost looked like it was dancing—or maybe even laughing.

Leaving behind two green check marks, the “guest” mannequin turned gracefully and walked back the way it came, as if it had just finished shopping.
Only after the sound of its high heels faded did the lobby erupt with gasps and confused shouting.
“Haah... haah...!”

“What the hell was that just now?!”
“Why the check marks...?”
“The green check... don’t tell me...”

Panic spread.
More than relief that we weren’t attacked, there was fear over what the monster’s bizarre behavior meant.
After all, monsters weren’t known to help humans.

“Shit! We’ll know if we check!”
The man with the rough expression grabbed the hotel manual off the ground.
Without hesitation, he threw it into the Settlement Hole.

All eyes turned to the number above the hole.
[11,500 / 20,000]
The number increased.

By 1,500 points.
The green check mark the mannequin had drawn was indeed valid.
Whatever the mark was on—it became something that could be submitted for points.

“It really worked...?”
“Then don’t tell me...”
A chilling silence fell over the lobby.

And slowly—very slowly—everyone’s gaze shifted to a single spot.
The university student, shaking in fear, marked on the arm by the mannequin.
“Ah... Aaah... Uuuu...”

She began sobbing as she felt all their eyes on her.
She, too, had become something that could be “submitted” for points.
Terrified, she backed away in trembling steps.

At that moment, the middle-aged woman from our team stepped in front of her and shouted sharply.
“What the hell are you all looking at?! Like you’re going to eat her alive! Get a grip, all of you!”
“I—no... ahem...”

Some flinched and looked away at her scolding, but others’ gazes didn’t change.
As if they no longer cared about right or wrong.
Monsters didn’t help humans.

That one green check mark had stirred all this up—for just 1,500 points.
Are they seriously considering it...?
Even ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) I felt sick to my stomach at the disgusting looks being cast her way.

No matter how dire things got, I had never once had such thoughts.
People say humans are scarier than ghosts.
They’re right.

“Hey—where are you going?”
As I slowly walked toward the lobby’s exit, the man in work clothes called after me.
“...I’m going to go gather some items.”

“What, alone? What if a monster catches you...?”
“It’s fine. I’ve already escaped from one once. I’ll bring back items, so... don’t do anything stupid.”
“...”

I said it loudly on purpose, then turned around and headed down the hallway the lone returnee had said led to the “dining hall.”
I didn’t know where this confidence was coming from.
I just wanted to get away from that disgusting atmosphere—and draw attention away from that student.

But the moment I stepped into the dark hallway, all my bravado melted like snow.
“...I’ve really lost it.”
The words slipped out of my mouth.

Cold sweat ran down my back, and my legs started trembling.
They said the dining hall had a “guest” and a “head chef” monster.
Going there alone? I must’ve gone insane.

But I had to go find a monster.
The name tag...
I knew that item alone had been worth 2,000 points.

Gripping my flashlight tightly, I desperately checked the map in my head as I walked.
Red dots were clustered at the end of the hall and inside the dining area.
Should I just go back...? No. I already made a big scene...

As I moved like a turtle, torn between pride and fear—
“E-Excuse me!”
A hurried voice called out from behind me.

Turning around, I saw the university student, panting, running to catch up.
She must’ve fled the lobby too, unable to stand that awful atmosphere.
I found it unbearable—and I wasn’t even the one being stared at.

Her face was still stained with tears and fear, but when she saw me, I thought I saw a flicker of relief.
“Can I... come with you?”
“...”

I hesitated.
I could manage by using my cheat abilities, but for her, this could be truly dangerous.
But when I thought about the looks she had just endured, I couldn’t bring myself to send her back alone.

And, to be honest...
“Yeah. Let’s go together.”
It was far better than walking through this darkness alone.

Just having her nearby gave a little strength back to my trembling legs.
I felt slightly reassured.
As long as I protected her, it would be fine.

“...Oppa, you can speak casually to me.”
“...Should I?”
“What’s your name?”

“I’m... Kim Minjun. You?”
“I’m Rahee. Lee Rahee.”
Side by side, we cautiously began walking toward the dining hall—where the “guest” and “head chef” were supposedly waiting.

It was still terrifying and overwhelming, but not being alone made a world of difference.
“Oh, right... That guy who returned alone gave me some advice.”
Come to think of it, the dining area had already been partially explored.

Even though only one of the three who went had come back.
“He said the guest-type monster doesn’t attack unless provoked. The real problem is... the waiters and the head chef...”
Rahee winced.

“He said they’re holding weapons... He was shaking as he told me.”
“...I see...”
I tried to respond calmly, but I felt a shiver go down my spine.

They had weapons.
I wished I had something like that.
We carefully made our way down the dim hallway leading to the dining section.

Beyond an arched entryway, we saw faint light—and heard the sound of utensils clinking on plates.
Clatter, clink. Clatter.
I motioned for Rahee to stay quiet and pressed myself to the wall as I peered inside.

In the large dining hall were several tables, and seated at them were “guests.”
Like the dress-wearing mannequin we’d seen in the lobby, they were all mannequins dressed in suits and dresses from various eras.
They sat around the tables, intently eating something.

Hoo...
Hoping the man’s advice was right—that the guest-type monsters wouldn’t attack unless provoked—I stepped into the dining area where the monsters were having their meal.