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The Terror of Option

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Horror Game 25

Chapter 2089 - Horror Game 25

Da— Da!

The notes of the keyboard were sharp.

I pressed it a couple of times to make sure that everything was alright. In the end, setting the keyboard away, I leaned back against the chair and covered my face with both hands.

'The stage has been set.'

'Your turn.'

The conductor's words replayed in my mind as my heart sank into my stomach.

I'd known from the start that everything happening outside was the result of the conductor's meddling.

I wasn't stupid.

The dots were extremely easy to connect.

And yet—

Hearing outright that an entire -rank gate had been created solely to match my "perfect piece" sent a shudder through my whole body.

What perfect piece!?

I could hardly play the piano as I was still rusty at it. I had been practicing more lately, but it was far from enough!

At the rate things were progressing, by the time the deadline arrived, I'd be turned into a 'faceless' audience member before the entire world.

'I'd rather die than for that to happen.'

It wasn't so much because I was scared of getting humiliated before the entire world. I didn't mind that part one bit.

My main issue was getting turned into one of 'those' things.

Just the thought of being reduced to a mindless husk, forced to endure the same music on repeat, sent a shiver through my entire body.

"No, anything but that!"

I needed to quickly think of a way out of the situation.

'...But that's the problem.'

I had spent a good month or more thinking about this situation. And yet, the best that I could come up with was a simple item from the Guild.

This was far from enough for me to resolve the situation.

Not only that, there were even more problems piling up at the moment.

The Guild's top recruit was now on my back thanks to some ridiculous instinct of hers, and since every gate I entered seemed to rise in rank, I knew I couldn't risk stepping into one. At least, not while she was around.

'At all, if anything...'

The Guild was now aware of the 'Jesters' unique trait.

"Thankfully, all gate excursions are suspended for the next couple of days until things are a bit more under control. In the meantime, I need to figure out how to deal with this, alongside the conductor's situation."

The situation was dire, but not impossible.

Pulling out my laptop, I booted up the app and immediately started typing on the system box.

[Are you the one responsible for causing all gates that I enter to increase in rank?]

Pressing 'Enter', I waited for a response.

I didn't have to wait long for an answer, and yet, each second that I waited felt like a second too long as a notification flashed on my screen.

It was just a single-word answer, and yet, it was all that I needed to hear as I typed back.

[Is there a way to disable this feature?]

I sent the message again, and this time the answer came a lot faster.

My eyes lit up.

There was a way. Great!

I began typing again.

[How do I disable the feature?]

The system didn't reply.

It just left me on read.

I tried typing again, but yet again I was left on read.

"This fucking..."

I was extremely tempted to toss the laptop aside, but I managed to hold back, sinking into my chair instead.

'There is a way for me to disable the feature, but the system won't tell me. This must mean that I need to figure this part out myself. But I don't really have time to figure this part out.'

One month and ten days.

This was how much time I had at my disposal.

It sounded like a lot, but it was far too little.

I covered my face with both hands as I tried to sort the entire situation in my head.

'Since the system isn't being useful, I need to think of a way to solve this entire situation. How can I come up with a perfect piece?'

How could I make it seem like I was playing a perfect piece?

My skills fell short, and no amount of training within the next month would let me play the perfect piece the conductor demanded.

I had to think outside the box.

Ruffling my hair, I leaned forward and grabbed a piece of paper as I started to highlight all possible ways for me to clear this quest.

Originally, the mission was a Third Order one. In that regard, it wasn't impossible for me to clear. It was extremely hard, but not impossible.

I had the means.

"...Should I just try to push myself to the Third Order?"

The mission was of the Third Order, so it did seem like a plausible conclusion. However, I soon shook my head. That would help, but it wouldn't solve the situation.

"Wait, what if..."

Taking out my phone and looking through the Guild Database, my eyes paused on several gates.

My heart suddenly sped up as a dangerous thought crossed my mind.

My breathing grew heavier.

"...What if I try to contain an anomaly that can help me with this?"

That, combined with my second node, Trait Swap, made me feel like I could actually accomplish something.

I held my mouth and thought deeply about the situation.

'Yes, this might actually be possible.'

But there was only one issue.

'I'd either have to enter a gate or directly go to the containment area.'

Neither was an option for me right now. The Containment area was where all of the anomalies were stored, and it was under extreme scrutiny and surveillance. If I tried something, they'd know immediately.

The same was for gates, and given my current situation, I had to lie as low as possible.

In that case...

"Do I have no choice but to try to find the person who lent the item that I wanted?"

I frowned, weighing my situation. Nearly all my options were gone, and I felt like a mouse trapped inside a maze, where all roads led to the same dead end.

Just as my thoughts began to scramble in all directions, my eyes were drawn to one of my drawers. It was slightly ajar, and inside, something caught my attention.

Curious, I reached out for it when—

A sudden notification cut my thoughts short.

Pulling the notification down, my breath paused, and my eyes widened.

Hastily pulling the notification down and checking the date, my mouth hung open as I suddenly laughed.

"I actually forgot..."

Today was the end of the month.

[$747,348 has been credited to your account!]

It was the day that I got paid.

And as if that wasn't all, I got a message from the Section Chief not long after.

[Meet me in the storage space at the back of the Guild. The equipment that you've requested has arrived, and it's... quite a lot. It's best if you check it out yourself.]

The VR equipment that I had requested had also arrived.

From one bad news after another to one good news after another.

I didn't really know how to feel at the moment.

Nonetheless, the anxiety and stress from the situation were still ever-present as I stood up from my seat and left my office.

It was time for me to check out the new equipment.

"Here are some odd-looking suits. Supposedly, you have to put them on before playing. The machine heats up considerably, and these are meant to keep you cool during the experience."

The Section Chief explained while holding onto a massive manual. At the same time, he bent down and grabbed a couple of dark blue sights and felt them with his hand.

"Feels like rubber..." He mumbled while going through all of the items on the list.

There were quite a lot.

We were in the Guild's storage area on the side of the first floor.

A massive space with towering shelves stretching in every direction, stacked with huge packages and equipment. Forklifts weaved between workers, the whole place bustling even more than the Guild's main entrance.

It was essentially just a massive warehouse.

In front of us were five massive packages. The first one was rather big, and looking into it, I saw a massive capsule.

'I presume that this is the capsule used in order to enter the Virtual World?'

I traced my finger along its frame, feeling a cool touch before pulling away. The sleek body, finished in clean white with neon blue accents, felt metallic, giving it a distinctly futuristic appearance.

The other items in the packages ranged from weird helmets, suits, and all sorts of other items that made my head spin.

"Best of luck."

Even the Section Chief seemed overwhelmed as he handed me the massive booklet, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat.

"...The Guild believes in you."

He gave me an encouraging fist.

I'd have felt better if not for the fact that his face was extremely contorted.

He... really didn't believe in me, did he?

Thankfully, I wasn't planning to do this alone. I intended to hire a few people who knew the system well to help with my games.

In short, my own team.

And for testing...?

'Well, I have my own Squad, don't I?'

"Eh...? Did you say something?"

"Ah, no. I was just... coughing a little. I'm sensitive to the dust in the air."

The Section Chief nodded in understanding.

He then turned his watch and looked at the time.

"In that case, I should get back to work. There's a lot that I need to handle, and—"

"I stopped the Section Chief before he could leave."

"Hm? Is there—"

"Yes, actually."

I looked at all the items in front of me. Looking at how many things there were, the main problem was obvious.

"I'll need a lot of space in order to operate with this equipment. Do you think the Guild has some extra space?"

Seemingly understanding my predicament, the Section Chief slapped his hand against his palm.

"...Don't worry about that. I've already thought about it."

He looked around before reaching for his pocket and taking out a pair of keys.

"These are...?"

"This will be your working area. I tried to get you a place within the Guild, but there was simply no space. I asked the Guild Master to perhaps get you a location, but he's currently busy handling the matters with the recent gate."

"So I found the perfect place for you!"

The Section Chief slapped me in the back while laughing.

"You're going to love it!"

He said while looking all happy.

"And you know what's the best part of it? You don't even need a location to go there! You can go so long as you have the keys."

I suddenly didn't feel so good.

But before I could even protest, the Section Chief hooked his arm around my shoulder and dragged me back to the Containment Department. As we walked through the main area, all eyes followed us, and I wished I could dig a hole and bury the Section Chief in it.

In the end, we stopped by the door of my office as the Section Chief moved inside without even asking for my permission.

I didn't even get the chance to protest before he said, "You're the last person to complain. Lately, you've been barging into my office without knocking."

And so, I just forced a smile.

"Hmm. What a small space this is."

Coming into the office, the Section Chief turned on the light and looked around. He looked quite amused by the place as the first thing he did was stop by the painting on the side of the wall, staring intently at it while commenting things like, 'Not a bad painting. Where did you get this?'

He then turned his attention towards the fax machine on the table.

He paused and then looked at me.

"....It looks nice?"

He just shook his head and started fiddling with everything in my room. He looked like a child who had just found his new toy.

It was right as I was about to complain that he extended his hand in my direction.

I handed him the keys he had previously handed me.

Then, right before my eyes, he stopped at the far end of the office, facing the empty wall opposite the door.

Before I could even figure out what he was planning on doing, he stabbed the key into the empty wall.

Just then, a door materialized out of nowhere. A loud click echoed as the door slid into the wall with a series of strange noises.

My mouth fell open in a silent 'O' as I struggled to process what I was seeing.

But as if that wasn't enough, the Section Chief reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open.

Before me lay a massive classroom, furnished with wooden chairs and tables, and dominated by a whiteboard at the front. I stared at the classroom and then the Section Chief as he reached forward and grabbed me before dragging me in.

"I've been thinking..." he mumbled, glancing around the classroom before locking eyes with the windows that overlooked a large corridor. "The Guild's main building may be cramped, but it's not like we have no space at all. Actually, we do!"

He excitedly walked over towards the door of the classroom and pulled it open, revealing the corridor in all its glory.

A... long corridor.

One that stretched for seemingly forever as doors appeared on all sides.

I slowly looked at the Section Chief as he handed me a file.

It said, [VILE - 303].

"This is an infinite working space. Nobody will disturb you here, and you can make as much noise as possible. Hell, you can even run around naked for all I care."

He chuckled after saying that.

But I wasn't chuckling.

Especially not after I opened the file and read the information on the place.

Class : Elcid (Daytime) Melas (Nightime)

Description : VILE - 303 is a normal school accessible only with a specific key. By day, it functions normally, but at midnight, all doors leading to VILE - 303 lock shut, trapping anyone inside. From midnight to 6 AM, hostile entities called "teachers" emerge and hunt anyone remaining. The school's interior appears infinite, making escape impossible during this time.

Warning : Doors must be locked from the outside before midnight!

I paused and looked at the Section Chief.

He looked back at me and the file in my hand.

He smiled before patting me on the shoulder.

"Just don't overwork. That's all..."

This fucking lunatic!!!

"One of these days, I swear…"

I bit my fist while sitting down on one of the numerous wooden chairs sprawled around the empty classroom. The classroom was quite spacious if all the furniture were taken away, with the windows on the other end of the room completely sealed, while the others displayed the long corridor next to it.

An LED lamp lit up the entire room from above, as the surroundings were entirely engulfed in silence.

'I knew the Section Chief was crazy, but I didn't think he'd be this crazy.'

This place was no normal classroom.

It was an anomaly in itself.

VILE - 303 to be exact. The description of the anomaly was self-explanatory.

This place was a normal place until a certain time hit. The moment it did, the entire area would seal shut, and strange creatures would emerge, hunting down anyone still within the school's grounds.

The clock by the end of the room ticked within the silence, the sound filling the entire classroom as I struggled to concentrate.

Something about the clock felt suffocating.

"No, this isn't actually too bad. Let's not think it this way."

Ruffling my hair, I looked around me. While the idea of being here was crazy, it wasn't like the Section Chief was entirely wrong. This place did contain a lot of space, and the best part of it all was that it was attached to my own office.

The location was extremely handy.

"That's not all."

I sat up and walked out of the classroom, staring at the long corridor that stretched until my eyes could see.

"...Even if I do run out of space, I still have more space. If anything, there's too much space."

If I ran out of space, I could just open up the next classroom. Space was no longer an issue.

"In that sense, the only thing I need to worry about is the time limit, but it shouldn't be too difficult to follow. Everything will go bad if I miss the time, right?"

"I just have to not miss the deadlines."

Setting up multiple alarm clocks could help. Keeping a constant watch of the time could also help.

Furthermore, I had also been going back to the dorms earlier.

There were no real issues with the arrangement.

"...Yeah, I guess the place isn't too bad."

The more I thought about it, the more advantageous this place appeared to be. There were a few drawbacks, but they weren't that bad.

Well, sort of...

"I'm still going to get back at the Section Chief, though."

Walking back to the classroom, I took out my phone and walked back towards my own office, where I made a phone call.

"Yes, hello? Right.. I need some help moving some stuff. Can you bring it down to my office?"

The entire process of moving the items wasn't very difficult.

The main problem was getting the unnecessary items out. That took a little bit of work, but thankfully, the Guild had a moving team, so things were still relatively easy.

By the time everything had been moved out and all the equipment had been moved in, the entire room was different from what it was before.

It was emptier, but it was supposed to be like that.

At the far end of the room, where the whiteboard once stood, was a massive capsule flanked by several monitors. The monitors were turned off, but once they were turned on, they'd display the view of the person playing the game.

It also served to measure their metrics. From heart rate, oxygen level, and so on....

This was meant to help me understand what frightened people and what didn't. It also served as a safety measure in case things went too far. I planned for the capsule to automatically shut down the game if their heart rate spiked too high.

'Of course, I'll only do that for everyone but the Section Chief and the rat.'

They could die.

"Maybe not just the two of them. The Team Leader, too."

She was walking on thin ice.

Aside from the capsule, wires dangled from the middle of the room. On the wires were several helmets. Those were supposedly meant to measure the brain activity of the 'actors' that were supposed to fine-tune the movements of the players in the game, and so on.

"That's at least what it says right here on the booklet."

I tapped the hardcover of the book.

Quite frankly, I wasn't so sure if I was right or not. The booklet said it was, so I could only trust it.

"I really need to hire some people to help me with this."

I could do this by myself. This much was clear to me.

I also didn't really have the time to start a new project. There were more pressing things that I needed to take care of.

Like the Conductor's Trial.

In that regard, I planned on spending some time to better learn the ways of Virtual Reality.

"...Hmm. It's best if I leave now."

I checked the time.

It was actually quite late.

I was just thirty minutes shy of the deadline.

'I was supposed to sleep earlier, but with how everything needed to be set up, I ended up staying later than usual.'

I gave the room one last glance before stepping out and closing the door behind me. At the same time, I locked the door. Instead of leaving right away, I lingered until the clock struck midnight.

At that exact moment, something occurred.

A subtle clicking sound echoed from the door.

The sounded like someone was trying to fiddle with the lock.

'Is that it...?'

I continued to stare at the door, hoping for something to happen. But... even as I waited for a couple of minutes, nothing seemed to occur.

"I guess that's—"

My body paused right as I was about to leave.

I glanced back at the door and saw the handle slowly begin to press down.

It jerked twice before coming to a stop.

A stifling silence took over the surroundings, and the door remained still. Whatever had lingered behind the door had left.

Swallowing silently, I looked at the keys in my hands before leaving.

'...Let's not forget to lock the door.'

As I did, I took out a certain compass and looked at it.

I pursed my lips before shaking my head.

The compass was currently spinning in all directions. It had been going on for quite some time. I had tried to use it to help me, but the moment I did, it suddenly started spinning like crazy.

At the same time.

In a different room within the Guild.

Six elites, Clara among them, sat around a large table as the Section Chief entered the room. A large projector hung from above the ceiling, casting a projection over the wall at the end of the room.

"There's good and bad news."

The Section Chief's voice was somber as he spoke.

"...The good news is that so far, the ranked gate hasn't made any strange movements. From the looks of things, the gate will remain dormant until the time when it needs to open up. The scouts that did manage to come out have also confirmed this. But there's also bad news."

Placing the files on his table, the Section Chief sighed as he looked at the top elites of the Guild.

"We'll have to push the date of the ranked gate excursion by quite a bit. Do you think that all of you can do it? If you can't, then that's also alright. We'll just eat up the loss."

While the loss was big, it wasn't going to be any bigger than the loss of losing several top recruits.

The room fell silent shortly after his words.

All the recruits looked at each other, wearing different expressions.

But soon—

"Don't worry. It's possible."

Clara's voice echoed as she stood up from her seat and stared at the title of the gate presented on the projection.

[The Hourglass]

"...Alright, if you all really are confident in participating in the gate, then I don't have any right to stop any of you."

The Section Chief's face was a mix of worry and satisfaction. Concern for the recruits and pride in their courage.

While he tried his best not to show it, this ranked gate was extremely important for the Guild.

It wasn't so much because of the investment they made for the First-Clearance pass. But it was more because it was necessary for them to have higher-ranked gates in order to acquire more fragments.

The more fragments they 'collected', the higher the chance they'd get promoted to King-Grade.

This was something that the Guild had been aiming for a very long time.

"Since all of you have made up your mind, let's start talking about the gate."

The projection changed, and details regarding the gate appeared.

"From the scouts' initial reports, the Gate appears to be a looping type. This is a rare type of gate, but I'm sure most of you have studied up on it, so I won't dwell on the details, but among all anomalous Gates, this type of gate is the most difficult."

Looping gates were to some extent considered the 'safest' gates since it was impossible to die. However, they were also considered the most 'dangerous' gates since the loop may cause someone to go mad from the repeated and infinite loops that happen.

They were the type of gates most people tended to avoid.

"...We don't know much about the Gate's objective, but from what I've gathered, it seems to be a kind of chase scenario. Based on the brief clips I've studied, the anomaly prowls the empty streets of a small town, hunting you relentlessly. The goal appears to be finding a way to escape the pursuit. However, there also appears to be a dense fog, obstructing the view."

The projection changed, and several items were listed on the board.

"Taking everything into consideration, these are the items that we deem are the best for you to bring. If you feel like there's more to add, please feel free to tell me. We'll make sure to add them. Don't bother about the expenses."

Given the importance of the mission, the Section Chief didn't care at all about the cost of the mission.

He was going all in.

Especially since they were strained for time.

'...I really hope this goes well.'

As if recalling something, the Section Chief looked at the others.

"This is also supposed to be a rescue mission."

The next day.

I woke up fairly early in the morning.

Despite the fact that I stayed rather late, I still managed to get a good amount of sleep before heading to the gym and getting changed.

By the time I reached the Guild and stopped in front of room 507, it was nearly 8 a.m.

'Looks like I'm just about in time.'

I opened the door to see everyone already present. It was a gratifying sight to see as I headed towards my desk and placed my stuff down.

Then, taking out my laptop, I drummed my fingers over the desk.

Today was supposed to be a rest day, and there wasn't much planned. Looking at my team, I could see that most of them were bored and trying to think of a way to spend time. Given that we couldn't explore any gates, this was only normal.

"You guys look bored."

Who said that they didn't have to do anything?

"Eh...? Well, kind of?"

"A little."

"No, I'm fine."

There was a mixed reaction in the room, mainly from Nora, who was chewing on her gum while holding one of her earbuds. She had a face that seemed to say, 'Leave me alone. I want to listen to my music.'

Well, too bad.

I took out a thumb drive.

"Since all of you are bored, it's about time that you guys get another shot at the game that you previously played. I'm sure all of you have been dying to play the gam... ke."

I almost slipped up for a moment.

But it couldn't be helped. Staring at the slowly changing faces of the team before me, it was extremely hard for me to laugh.

Just thinking about what was to come while they played my game..

"O-oh god."

Mia's voice trembled as she looked at me.

With a visible gulp, she looked towards the others.

"I'm not the only one seeing this, right? His face...!"

Mia tried to stand up, but I stood up before she could as I tossed the thumb stick in Joanna's direction.

"Load up the game. You all are going to spend the next couple of hours training your teamwork. I'll be watching all of your progress from here."

Groans filled the room shortly after.

I could even hear the clattering of Mia's teeth as she stared at the thumb stick in horror.

She begged and pleaded with me, but I ignored her plight. Based on the previous event, this was going to be a good thing for all of them. It would not only improve their teamwork, but it could also build up the experience that they lacked.

I originally planned on supervising the entire situation, but right as they all loaded up the game, my eyes paused on a small gap in one of the drawers of my desk.

Curious, I reached out for the drawer and pulled it open.

'This is...?'

It looked like an hourglass.

I reached for it and pulled it out for a closer look. Both the top and bottom were crafted from wood, their surfaces polished to a crisp, smooth finish. Inside was a layer of black sand, and as I tilted the hourglass slightly, the sand moved towards the other side.

'How peculiar.'

This was the first time I had seen the hourglass.

It was certainly not present before.

In that regard, I felt a little creeped out. This couldn't be, right...?

Feeling something, I reached into my pocket and retrieved a small compass. It was currently spinning like crazy.

What sort of—

Before I even had enough time to react, the spinning stopped.

The arrow pointed at the compass.

Not even a second after the thought entered my mind, a notification appeared before me.

[Congratulations! You've obtained a Gate Key!]

[Gate Key] – A special key that grants you entry into a Gate. Once the hourglass runs out, you will be instantly transported inside. The difficulty of the gate will adjust to the user present.

I didn't even know how to react. I was extremely caught off guard by this sudden situation.

It wasn't like I didn't know what a Gate Key was. In fact, I had one myself. I just didn't expect the system to suddenly provide me with one.

This made no sense at all.

..And why now, of all times? So randomly at that?

This... didn't feel like some sort of coincidence.

Especially when my eyes fell on the compass. The fact that it stopped there meant this hourglass contained something I needed.

'No, I doubt this is some sort of coincidence. It is never a coincidence with this weird system.'

Could this quest be related to the strange cult again?

...Or was it related to the conductor?

If there was one thing I'd learned about the system so far, it was that every mission was interconnected in some way. It was either about the cult, the conductor, or my past. Each quest had a meaning to it.

It was just unfortunate that there wasn't much information regarding the gate that I was about to enter.

'...Or maybe there is?'

I looked at the hourglass.

Could that be a clue?

I pursed my lips while staring at it.

As I did, a new notification appeared.

[Do you wish to turn the Hourglass?]

▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]

The answer was a no-brainer to me.

If this really connected with one of my other quests, then...

This was the only answer.

The Hourglass flipped.

There was something unsettling about the hourglass, its fine black grains of sand slipping one by one through the narrow gap, as though quietly marking the moments until something inevitable loomed.

'No, that's exactly what is happening.'

I felt restless.

But at the same time, this was something that I had chosen.

The system never gave useless quests. Given how this was something of the Second Order, it was within my capabilities.

'The only thing I have to do now is figure out more about it.'

...But how was I going to do that?

So far, I only had one clue about the gate. It was the 'Hourglass'. What could this mean?

Was this gate a time-related one?

Or was there more to it?

'For now, I'll check the Guild Database and see what I can find.'

I typed 'Hourglass' in the database and was just about to press answer when I paused. Wait, was this a good idea...? There was something that I realized as I typed the words on the Guild Database.

That was...

'The Guild can see I am the one who typed these words. It could just be me being extremely paranoid, but if I want to avoid situations where I can arouse suspicions, I'd better be careful.'

I wouldn't have cared as much in the past.

However, following the recent exchange with the top recruit in the Guild, it felt as though every one of my movements was being closely monitored.

'Let me be more subtle about it.'

I opened the web browser and began to type nonsense like, 'Nice decorations for my desk. Glass preferably.'

Once the results came, I scrolled through several images before finding an hourglass and pressing on it. I spent the next couple of minutes like that until I just started randomly typing hourglass everywhere.

Even the Guild Database.

The results came right after, and I took a quick screenshot of everything before closing down the page and continuing with my nonsense.

'...This should be good enough.'

Once I felt that I had wasted enough time, I looked through the screenshot.

Immediately, one file stood out to me.

[The Hourglass]

It was straightforward, and the instant my eyes fell on it, every pore in my body seemed to open, as if I'd just found exactly what I'd been searching for.

'This has to be it!'

At the very least, it was the only result that showed up with the word 'Hourglass' in it.

'It is also possible that I'm thinking in the wrong direction, but I don't think so.'

I looked at the small description that was left on the file, and my face froze.

'A B-Ranked Gate?'

No, this made no sense...

This was simply too much for me to handle.

I suddenly recalled the system's previous words, and understanding dawned on me.

'The difficulty of the gate will adjust to the user present.'

Everything clicked in my mind, and I felt even more certain that this was the gate that the hourglass was going to lead me to. Looking through more of the description of the gate, the feeling of certainty only grew stronger.

'This gate is one that the first raid team is planning on raiding, and they even have a first clearance for it. However, looking at the time at which the gate is supposed to open, then...'

It became even clearer to me.

This gate was indeed the same gate that the first raid squad had been planning to raid. The timing and everything made sense.

'But I still don't understand something. Why am I supposed to enter this gate? What am I supposed to achieve from it...? And...'

I looked at the Hourglass and then checked the date on which the conductor's appointment was going to appear.

My heart raced.

At what exact time was the Hourglass going to end?

My breath shook as I looked at the hourglass. The more I stared at it, the more ominous it became as I matched it with the time of the conductor's trial. Looking at the rate at which the sand was falling, it definitely looked close. However, there was no exact date.

I bit my lip while feeling a heavy sensation settle on my chest.

Just as I was about to think of something—

A loud noise shook me out of my thoughts as I hastily turned my attention forward, and I watched Nora stand up from her seat. Her face was pale, and her body was shaking. For a moment, she stood like that while trying to process what had happened.

"Fuck this!"

She tossed the keyboard to the side before grabbing her bag and leaving the room.

The door closed with a loud sound, and just as she left, another scream filled the room.

Mie rolled back on her chair as her body shook.

Another one had fallen victim to the game.

Despite the initial chaos that the rank gate had brought to the island, the situation within the island wasn't as terrible as the people and Guilds expected it to become. The BAU was quick and efficient in stopping the Guilds from entering the islands.

Given the nature of the gate, there was no need for the Guilds from the main islands to arrive.

At least, not yet.

The BAU kept them on standby in case the situation turned for the worse.

They also didn't want the island to be congested.

Nonetheless, the Guild still stopped all gate operations for the following two weeks. While this caused massive losses for the Guild, it was done in order to prepare for the gate.

This worked out well for me since it meant that I didn't have to enter the gates and risk exposing my trait.

But it wasn't like I didn't understand the Guild's decision.

While the ranked gate meant disaster, it also meant opportunity.

A huge opportunity.

None of the Guilds wanted to miss out on the opportunity.

"How is your current progress with the Virtual Reality stuff? Do you think you can create a new game already...?"

Sitting inside the Section Chief's office, I forced a smile.

"...Not quite. Not quite."

My leg tapped rapidly against the floor. I looked around, trying my best to maintain my calm.

I barely had any progress in that department.

In fact, I pretty much had none at all. The past few weeks had been spent trying to figure out a way to clear the conductor's trial while also researching more about the 'Hourglass' gate and so on.

"Not quite? How long do you think you need?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe a little bit after the ranked gate is cleared or taken care of?"

The Section Chief looked a little disappointed, but also understanding.

Then, as if recalling something, he looked at me.

"On another note, how are your recruits doing?"

I thought for a moment before giving him a bitter smile. Both good and bad. Given that they had no gates to dive, most of them were bored. Thankfully, I had my games with me, and I had them train with that.

From time to time, I'd make some adjustments to catch them off guard.

The changes might not have been drastic, but they still raised the difficulty. So, just when they thought they were on the verge of clearing the game, a curveball would come their way.

It was torture.

Just thinking of all the times I had to keep my face straight while they...

'That's besides the point.'

Their progress was quite staggering. They were now at a point where their teamwork was a lot better than it was in the past.

But it wasn't like there were no problems.

While the recruits worked well with each other, the same wasn't true for their personalities. There was this strange, hostile tension between them that made the general atmosphere of the squad tense.

It was rather uncomfortable.

'Still, at least for now, it's not bad. It hasn't gotten to the point where it's interfering with the team.'

So in that regard...

"They're doing well, I guess."

My leg tapped harder against the floor.

"That's good to hear."

The Section Chief smiled. Then, checking his watch, he looked at me. I understood the message and stood up from the seat, moving slowly out of his office before closing the door behind me.

Done with that, I stood in front of the door for a few seconds before darting towards my office at full speed.

I could even hear people telling me not to run as I sped past the area, but I ignored their words and dashed into my office, closing the door behind me as sweat pooled down from the side of my face.

Catching my breath, I looked at the Hourglass on the table.

The last few grains were falling.

...The gate was about to open anytime now.

This was faster than I previously anticipated.

The grains of the hourglass continued to trickle down. Every second that I stared at the hourglass felt tense.

I could tell that the last grains were about to fall any minute now, but each second that passed leading up to that moment felt agonizing.

Especially since there were quite a few things that didn't make sense.

'According to my estimates, the first team should start clearing the gate in a few more days, not now. I thought that I would be forced to do the gate with them, but that doesn't look to be the case anymore.'

In that case...?

'I'm going to be going alone? A ranked gate...?'

Just the thought sent shivers down my spine. Although I knew that the gate was going to 'adjust' according to my current strength, to what extent was it going to adjust?

The information that I managed to pick up regarding the dungeon was also extremely small. I did try my best to get everything that I possibly could to help me, but was it enough?

I took a couple of deep breaths, trying my best to calm down while staring at my desk.

It was empty.

I had taken everything that could've been taken.

All besides the fax machine. For a moment, my gaze fell on it.

'Should I take that too?'

I wanted to laugh, but didn't have it within me to laugh. Taking off my bag, I checked everything inside. From all the items that I bought from the system, to even extra stuff like water, food, rope, and whatnot.

I brought anything that I thought would be able to help me with the gate.

And just as I was busy sorting through everything—

The last grain of the hourglass fell. Silence swallowed the office, thick and suffocating.

I stood frozen, every instinct screaming that something was about to happen.

The entire place remained silent as no change occurred.

"Did it not work?"

Confused, I picked up the hourglass and flipped it over. Nothing happened. The silence pressed in, heavier than before, as if the room itself were holding its breath.

"Is it broken?"

It sure felt like it.

I flipped the hourglass again and tried to look at the bottom. There was still nothing. The grains also refused to move.

"How odd..."

Rather than relief, a tight knot of anxiety coiled in my chest. I couldn't believe for a second that nothing had happened. The room had clearly shifted.

Something... had changed.

I could tell.

But what? What exactly had changed?

I scanned the room, my eyes tracing every corner, every shadow, searching for anything out of place.

"Nope, everything looks normal..."

I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. A sudden chill crawled up my spine, and my breath caught in my throat.

Straining my ears, I heard it.

The soft sound of a step.

What came after was the soft sound of a knock.

Staring at the door, I hesitated.

"Who is it?"

My words were met with silence.

"Who is it?"

I tried yet again.

But even then, I received no response.

A creeping unease settled over me. Something was wrong. Frowning, I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling slightly.

'Let me contact Kyle.'

I just wanted to be certain.

But right as I took out my phone, I paused.

There was no signal.

'...I knew it.'

Something was indeed wrong with the place. How could there suddenly be no signal? Something like this had never happened before, even when we were on the lower floors.

I would've normally have dismissed such a signal, but this abnormality came right after the hourglass flipped.

I was certain of it.

The Gate had already begun.

The knocking echoed once more.

This time louder.

I stared at the door. Someone was standing right behind it. I could feel it.

Holding my breath, I turned to the side and flipped the switch.

Darkness took over the surroundings.

It pressed on me in every direction as I felt a sudden chill. And yet, I didn't care as I lowered my head. That's when I saw it... The shadow stretching beyond the sliver of light spilling through the narrow gap of the door.

I swallowed hard, feeling the fear crawling up my spine.

I grabbed my bag and yanked out my knife, fingers tightening around the hilt. A shadow flickered nearby as I pressed myself against the side of the door, every nerve screaming.

'Alright. Calm down. This is just like last time.'

Staring in the Dreamwalker's direction, I nodded.

Creaaaak—

The door creaked open, light spilling into the dark room. I gripped the hilt of my knife tighter, drawing in one last breath. Summoning every ounce of courage, I lunged forward and swung.

I didn't manage to hit a single thing as I slashed the empty air.

Hastily raising my head, I looked around.

The moment I did, my entire body froze as I found myself in what appeared to be an abandoned factory, its ceiling lost in shadow, rusted machinery scattered across the floor, and broken windows that let in only thin slivers of light, while the air hung heavy with dust and the smell of rust.

What sort of...?

I looked behind me to see the door of my office still open. Inside, despite it being dark, I could still see all my stuff as I looked back at the factory.

'...Rather than me being transported into the gate, my entire office got transported?'

I tried to make sense of my current situation.

I was extremely confused.

But that confusion didn't last long. Not long after, a notification appeared before my very eyes.

[The scenario is now starting...]

[Operation: The Hourglass]

Class : ■■■

: One abandoned factory. Countless shadows. Somewhere inside, a relentless killer hunts. You have but one goal: survive. Every corner may hide death. Every sound could be the last you hear. Find a way out before the hunter finds you, or become another victim claimed by the darkness.

[Scenario candidates will be joining shortly. Do you wish to purchase any item?]

[From the moment the scenario begins, you won't be able to purchase items]

[You have sixty seconds]

Reading through the description of the scenario, I felt chills run down my spine. That figure I felt before...? It was the killer, wasn't it?

I took a couple of breaths while looking at the timer that suddenly appeared.

'Yet again, I only have sixty seconds to buy an item from the shop.'

This was the second time that something like this had happened. Thankfully, I had somewhat expected this from the start and wasn't flustered. I already had some items in my mind.

[Shadow Lantern]

: A small lantern that casts a faint, eerie light, revealing the footsteps of anyone present. The light lasts for 45 minutes.

Beware: The glow may attract attention.

Warning: Handle with caution in confined spaces.

Non-Consumable.

Price: 51,040 GP

I had been eyeing this item since I had become aware of the gate. Following my research on what I knew about the gate, I felt that this was the most appropriate item. However, I held off on buying it since I was waiting for the scenario description to appear in order to be absolutely certain.

Now that I had seen the description, I didn't hesitate to buy it.

The space above me creaked, and a lantern tumbled into my hands. Its cold metal bit into my skin as I examined it. The lantern was old, forged from black iron, with a large handle that appeared above it.

Holding onto the handle, I looked down to see a small button on the top.

I pressed on it.

Immediately, a dim blue light flickered from the lamp, stretching long shadows across the room. The air grew colder, and for just a split second, I felt a presence stare in my direction.

My skin crawled as I hastily looked in the direction of where I felt the presence.

All that met my gaze was silence and darkness.

I swallowed nervously before looking away and checking the system panel. In particular, my gaze drifted towards my balance.

[SP : 6,087]

'Everything that I've saved up is practically almost gone.'

Thankfully, I still had yet to convert the money that I had received from my latest paycheck. I still had about 70,000 SP at my disposal.

In fact, I had more than that.

The Guild had given me 3 million. Most of it was meant for Virtual Game Development, but they weren't exactly leaving me be with that money. They still monitored where and when I spent my money.

This was company money after all.

[The time limit is up]

[The shop is now closed]

[Best of luck!]

A series of notifications flashed before me, then vanished as suddenly as they appeared.

The surroundings turned eerily quiet as I slowly raised the lamp.

As the dim glow stretched ahead, my eyes froze.

They... appeared in every direction.

They shimmered under the blue light of the lamp as I looked around.

The scent of rust grew stronger as the lamp swayed in my hand, casting long, shifting shadows around me.

Swallowing nervously, I looked at all the paths before me. They all led towards different areas of the abandoned factory. The darkness made it hard to see where all the paths led, but I knew that one of the paths probably led to the exit that I needed.

'I just need to find the right path and leave this place.'

In principle, this didn't sound very hard.

But at the same time, staring towards the pitch darkness ahead of me, and looking around, I felt a certain unsettling feeling grow.

Almost as if someone was staring at me from within the darkness.

My skin crawled.

'Okay, relax. The faster I get this done, the better. I don't know why the system gave me this mission, but it should be useful for me.'

Tightening my grip on the handle of the lamp, I started moving forward.

At the same time, I checked the time.

Tik, Tik—

It was 17:44.

The gentle echo of my steps rang hollow in the silence as I moved forward, the lamp trembling faintly in my grip. Its dim light pushed weakly against the darkness, stretching thin across the floor where the footsteps trailed ahead.

My steps continued to echo as I eventually stopped before a certain point.

I raised my hand and shone the lamp ahead.

A white door greeted my sight.

It was half-open, hanging lopsided on its hinges, and the footsteps disappeared into the darkness beyond it. The faint smell of rust thickened, metallic and sour, stinging the back of my throat.

I hesitated.

But then—

...The door opened on its own. As if telling me to enter.

My instincts screamed at me.

Telling me to go back.

But I couldn't go back.

I gripped my knife with everything I had before going forward.

The room inside was vast, littered with broken machinery and towering shapes that loomed in the dark, twisting into strange forms that made me pause.

The lamp's dim light brushed faintly against the edges of the machines, revealing little more than jagged outlines and broken parts scattered across the ground. My footsteps echoed louder here, bouncing against the tall walls like whispers that didn't belong to me.

I maintained my gaze towards the steps.

I could tell that these ones were fresher than the ones outside. They were brighter than the older ones.

I swallowed nervously.

'I'm getting closer.'

The fresher tracks curved toward the left side of the room. I followed them, each step feeling heavier than the last, my chest tightening as if the space itself was closing down on me.

The sound of something dropping somewhere in the shadows froze me. The lamp shook in my grip as I hastily swung it in the direction of the noise.

Just twisted metal piled against itself. The shadows it cast shivered slightly as the lamp continued to sway.

I bit my lips.

For a moment, I considered going there, my grip on the knife so tight that my fingers ached.

I soon shook my head.

'Stay calm. Just follow the trail. Just focus on what I'm supposed to do. I can figure everything else later.'

I forced my legs to move. The footsteps continued toward a far corridor, a narrow opening tucked between two large machines that almost looked like teeth gnashing together. I had to tilt my body sideways to slide in.

The passage smelled worse. Rust mixed with something else. Something sharper.

Something like...

'That's...'

I swallowed quietly while raising my hand to illuminate ahead.

That's when I saw it.

Streaks of dark stains smeared across the metal of a machine ahead, patterned almost like a handprint dragged downward.

Almost as if they were desperately running away from someone.

My throat tightened.

'Just keep going.'

The footsteps turned deeper inside.

I looked at the time.

It was 17:53.

It hadn't even been ten minutes since I entered, but it felt much longer.

My breathing grew louder in my ears. The corridor stretched endlessly, narrowing further, before finally spilling out into another room.

I stepped inside.

This one was larger but emptier, with less machinery. The floor was smeared with dust and long, dried tracks like something heavy had been dragged across it. The footsteps in front of me overlapped, weaving in and out of the room, forming a chaotic mess of trails.

The steps... I could see that they belonged to two different people.

My lips parted.

'What is...?'

I took a cautious step forward, the subtle crunch beneath my shoe feeling loud in the silence.

And then, somewhere above me—

A heavy sound.

I hastily raised my lamp.

The ceiling stretched far above, swallowed by the dark. No matter how I strained my eyes, the lamp's glow could only reach so far.

Beyond that, all I could see was the darkness.

Another thump.

Something was moving up there.

My grip on the lamp tightened until my knuckles hurt.

'Keep moving. Don't stop. Don't give it time.'

I forced my legs forward, choosing the path with the freshest tracks. My pace quickened, heart hammering against my chest. The steps weaved toward another doorway, and I slipped through.

Behind me, faintly—

My head snapped back.

The sound of footsteps...

They were soft, and they matched my own pace.

The lamp shook violently in my grip, its light jittering across the walls as I hastened my steps. My breath rasped in my throat, a certain panic starting to surge from deep within me.

'Don't look back. Don't look back.'

The corridor behind me was empty.

Only darkness.

Only silence.

I turned forward again, breath uneven. The trail led me into yet another chamber, this one packed with rows of tall shelves. Rusted tools and boxes leaned precariously on them. Some had already collapsed, scattering debris across the ground.

The footsteps wove between the shelves, so I followed, ducking beneath a half-fallen beam.

As I moved, the sound came again.

This time closer.

My stomach dropped.

Swooosh—!

I swung the lamp wildly, its glow spilling across the gaps between the shelves. Nothing. Nothing but dust and broken tools.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose.

Someone was there.

Watching me.

The footsteps ended abruptly at the far side of the room.

"Haa... Haa..."

I stopped, panting. My chest heaved with each breath, and the lamp trembled in my hand. The prints simply... stopped.

Only the blank white wall ahead.

My lips moved silently.

'No... no, this can't be right.'

I crouched, placing the lamp lower. The faint glow shimmered across the ground, but there were no more tracks.

Just a sudden, empty end.

The sound of breathing filled my ears.

"Haa... Haa..."

It matched the rhythm of my own.

It wasn't mine.

Slowly, my head turned.

Through the gap in the shelves, I caught sight of something.

White, cracked, with dark hollows for eyes.

Staring right at me.

I paused for a brief moment, staring into those eyes as they stared back at me. Every hair on my body rose in that moment as my heart leaped out of my chest.

I jolted back, stumbling into the shelf. Tools clattered to the floor with a deafening crash. The mask tilted slightly, fading behind the shelf.

I held my breath, desperately reaching for my knife. My legs moved on their own, scrambling backward as I turned and ran down the aisle, the lamp jerking violently in my hand.

'Run! I have to run!'

I thought about fighting, but it felt impossible.

The shelf behind me toppled with a thunderous roar, spilling metal and wood across the floor.

I didn't look back.

I couldn't.

The footsteps followed, quicker now.

My lungs burned. The lamp's glow flickered as my grip slipped, but I held on desperately. Ahead, I saw a door. A real door. It was made out of metal, a little bit dented, but intact.

I sprinted.

The sound behind me grew louder.

It was almost at my neck.

I shoved the door open, practically throwing myself inside.

The room was dark, empty, the walls bare. However, I didn't care as I hastily turned back and reached for the door.

I slammed the door shut, twisting the rusted handle. My body slid down against it as I panted, heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst.

For a moment, nothing.

Just silence.

The quiet dragged on as I pressed myself against the door, trying to will it to hold. I forced several ragged breaths, letting my lungs fill and empty, before lifting the lamp again. Its weak glow stretched across the room, illuminating the edges of broken machinery and scattered debris.

...And then my eyes caught the steps ahead.

They looked fresh...

And as I slowly brought the lamp up, I saw it.

The same white mask.

Standing right before me.

I reacted quickly, propping myself up. Holding onto the knife, I swung it forward. However, as if deeming my movements worthless, the man dodged the attack before swinging at me. I hastily called the Dreamwalker, but it was too late.

Something pierced my lungs as I stared ahead in shock.

And then—

My vision grew dark.

By the time I regained my consciousness, I found myself back at my office.

Slowly bringing my head down, I stared at my watch.

It was 17:40.

Tik, Tik—!

Sweat trickled down the side of my face.

My vision was blurry, the edges of the office bending and stretching out of shape.

I forced myself to take slow, steady breaths, trying to calm the shaking in my chest. But it was easier said than done. My hand clutched at my shirt, pressing against the spot where the blade had pierced me.

The pain still lingered in my mind.

"Haa... Haa..."

My breath continued to remain heavy as I leaned back against the chair.

I struggled to keep myself composed. The pain, along with the image of my own death, clung stubbornly to my mind, threatening to consume me at any moment.

'....I've looped back into the starting spot just like the information said.'

Thankfully, I had seen and experienced my fair share of things.

After a minute, I finally managed to steady myself, my gaze settling on the desk right where a certain lamp had appeared.

"I guess the system thought it through."

I closed my eyes and recalled everything that had happened.

'Just like I thought. The killer's inside the factory, stalking me, waiting for the right moment. I still don't know the exact rules or conditions of this mission, but from what I've gathered, he can't kill me right away. There's also blood scattered around, and I've seen multiple sets of footsteps. What does that even mean?'

I opened my eyes and felt my heartbeat quicken.

This place...

I wasn't the only person present.

"Are they part of the scenario, or are they people that entered the gate?"

This was a looping gate, where time moved at a much slower pace compared to the outside. I wasn't certain of the exact ratio, but I knew enough to be sure of that. The first squad hadn't even entered yet. Which meant... if there really were people from the outside here, they would've entered long before me, and been trapped inside for an unthinkably long time.

Repeating the loop over and over again without any success.

Just the thought sent shivers down my spine.

Would someone even be able to remain sane after dying for so long without any hope of leaving?

"...I won't be like them, right?"

I swallowed quietly before slowly bringing myself to my feet.

And right as I did—

I heard an all too familiar knocking sound.

My body froze for a split second as I turned my head in the direction of the door.

It was just like last time. This was where it all began.

I hesitated before walking towards the door. The pain of death still lingered in my mind as my chest throbbed.

But at the same time, I didn't really have much of a choice.

While time flowed more slowly here, it still flowed.

I needed to get out of this place before the deadline with the conductor.

"No... even before that. I need to get out before the Guild notices I'm gone."

Things would get extremely messy if they started searching for me. They'd probably even brand me a scammer.

Just thinking about the mess that would occur made my heart speed up.

I really needed to find a way out of this place.

Creaaak—!

I pulled the door open and stepped out, holding the lamp before me. Footsteps sprawled across the floor ahead, and the sharp scent of rust hit my nostrils. The darkness seemed to recoil from the lamp's dim blue glow, stretching weakly around the edges of the room.

Looking around, my gaze fell on the steps I had previously followed.

This time, I turned in a different direction.

'Since that one is a dead end, let's try a new path.'

The echo of my steps rang again through the abandoned factory. Shadows from the towering machinery loomed on all sides, twisting into strange, sickly forms. I forced myself to ignore them, keeping my focus on the footsteps ahead.

I moved through the silence, following the footsteps ahead, forcing myself to ignore the constant, unsettling sense of being watched.

And then—

'Different steps.'

I noticed a new pair of steps. One different in size from the normal ones.

They were fresh, and they moved ahead.

I paused for a moment, then slowly pulled a mask from my bag and stared at it.

The mask looked normal. It was just an empty white mask. But the moment I pressed it onto my face, it seemed to take on a life of its own, clinging to me as if it were alive.

Long strips of red fabric hung from the top of the mask, each tipped with a small, jingling bell, and my vision began to narrow.

"Haa... Haa..."

Taking soft and steady breaths, I brought the lamp up and stepped forward.

One couldn't be too careful.

"Haa... Haa..."

Heavy breaths echoed.

A figure lunged through the darkness, his pale face catching the faint light coming from the shattered windows, eyes darting wildly. His hands swept over the rusted machinery, searching desperately for something to steady himself

'I need to leave. I need to leave. I need to leave.'

A certain madness consumed his mind as he looked all over the place.

How long had he been stuck in the loop?

Morland had forgotten. All he knew was that it had been a very long time.

He had been part of the scouting team, tasked with entering the gate to uncover what lay beyond. But unlike most scouts, he was different. He belonged to the BUA and had received specialized training for exactly this kind of mission.

He, alongside his team.

They were all trained professionals who were supposed to be able to escape any gate.

"H-help..." His voice cracked, immediately swallowed by the oppressive silence.

He couldn't escape.

He... along with his team, had been trapped inside the gate with no escape. Some had already succumbed to madness, wandering aimlessly through the endless corridors, waiting for death to find them.

Morland was the last one who had still managed to keep his sanity.

But even he was on the verge of losing his mind.

"H... help."

He was desperate.

He stumbled into yet another corridor, narrower than the last. The acrid scent of rust and decay burned in his nostrils. His lungs screamed for air, his legs trembled, and each step felt heavier than the one before.

And then—

A faint blue light glimmered ahead, piercing the darkness.

Morland froze on the spot, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the dim blue light in the distance.

This was the first time he had ever seen the blue light as it slowly started to approach his direction. His heart sank, muscles locking as dread clawed through his chest. The light drew closer, pulsing faintly, until it stopped, hanging in the air.

The world grew eerily still as the light slowly lowered to reveal a Jester. Its polished mask reflected the cold glow of the lamp, the bells at its tips jingling softly, each sound twisting through the silence that had swallowed the space.

In that moment, the two eyes met.

The world stood still.

And then—!

Morland's mind blanked as he passed out on the spot.

I stared at the man passed out in front of me.

I really didn't have any words. Before I even had the chance to speak to him, he passed out before my eyes.

'Am I really that scary...?'

Holding the lamp as it swayed before my eyes, I thought of the mask on my face. Realization dawned on me rather quickly.

'In hindsight, I probably would've reacted the same.'

Nonetheless, bringing my lamp forward, I tried to get a better look at him.

Under the dim blue light of the lamp, his pale face emerged before me. Short black hair, a thin nose, flaky and dried lips... but what caught me were the nail marks carved across his skin. They looked fresh, as if clawed into his flesh with desperation. Had he done this to himself... or had something else done it for him?

I studied him carefully, then shifted my gaze to his clothes. He wore a crisp black suit. One that even put the ones I had to shame. Tilting his body slightly, I traced the lines of the fabric until my eyes landed on his breast pocket, where a golden symbol glimmered in the dim light.

It was one depicting a monolith, and the moment I noticed it, I understood immediately where he came from.

'He's from the bureau.'

I pulled the lamp back while staring at him. If he were from the Bureau, he was most likely one of the scouts that had been sent in advance in order to gain information about the gate.

My expression changed subtly at the realization.

While there did exist professional scouts, it was also true that a lot of the scouts sent were death row inmates.

In this situation...

This case...

'There's a possibility that not just one serial killer exists here, is there...?'

The lamp in my hand trembled as I lifted it, its dim light crawling across the shadows around me. I moved it slowly, but a loud thumping echoed inside my mind, drowning the silence and sending a wave of tension rippling through my entire body.

I could feel the atmosphere shift in that moment as I continued to look around.

The temperature seemed to drop as I felt a certain gaze directed my way.

My body tensed as I continued to move the lamp, searching for any sign of movement. All I saw were tall, jagged machines, their edges glowing faintly in the dim light, casting enormous, twisted shadows that writhed across the walls like living things.

My breathing grew quicker, and as I looked around, I looked towards the footsteps on the floor.

I traced them with my eyes as my gaze fell particularly towards a certain step.

It was fresh. Much fresher than the others.

Following it instinctively, I slowly found myself turning around.

I raised the lamp.

A figure stood before me, a blank mask hiding its face, half its body swallowed in the lamp's dim glow.

The hair on my body rose as our gazes met.

But then—

"Haaaaa—!"

A scream ripped through the distance, its echo bouncing off the walls and filling the entire factory with a bone-chilling roar.

Before I could even process the situation, the world around me changed.

My vision blurred, and darkness swallowed everything around me. When I finally regained my bearings, I was back in my office.

Sweat ran down the side of my face as I yanked the mask away and scanned my surroundings.

"What's going on? Why am I back here?"

This didn't make sense at all. How was it possible for the loop to restart? The killer was right before.

I suddenly paused, a certain thought crossing my mind as I covered my mouth and slowly sat back down in my seat.

"...What if it doesn't just have to be the killer that kills?"

I swallowed nervously.

'I'm not the only one who is within this loop. In fact, based on what I've seen so far, there are other people, too, and they don't all belong to the scenario. In that case, does the loop restart whenever someone dies?'

In that case...?

The memory of that heart-wrenching scream, echoing through the factory, slammed into me, and I covered my mouth with even more force.

'There's more than one killer.'

The killer wasn't someone who belonged to the scenario. It was very likely one of the death-row inmates.

My heart sank at the thought.

Wasn't the scenario supposed to have been adjusted based on my strength?

Why did it feel like it had gotten harder than it was supposed to be?

Biting my nails, I remained seated on my seat while sorting through the entire situation.

The goal of the entire scenario was easy. It was to find the exit and leave. A serial killer existed, and its job was to hunt me or anyone within the scenario down and kill them before we reached the exit. The moment someone died, the scenario would restart.

'So long as one person dies, the entire loop restarts. And... a death row inmate has started to kill the other scouts.'

I bit my lips.

This entire scenario was messed up.

One serial killer was already incredibly annoying to deal with. But now there wasn't just one...?

Covering my face, I pulled out all the items from my bag and looked at them.

As I did, my gaze fell on a certain item.

"...Using this should be a no-brainer."

I picked up the compass and tilted it slightly. The northern arrow quivered, then slowly swung toward the door, as if guiding me.

'With this, I should be able to find the exit.'

I had avoided using the compass before, hoping to get a better sense of the scenario. Now that I understood, it was time to put it to use.

'...If just one person dies and the loop restarts, it should also be true that if one person leaves, the entire scenario is cleared, right?'

I stood up from my seat.

And right in cue, a knock sounded from the door.

Holding onto the compass with one hand and the knife with the other, I decided to head out. Due to the nature of the lamp and how it attracted the serial killer, I decided not to use it for this round.

'In the previous two rounds, the serial killer had found me both times because of the lamp. Leaving it behind this time might give me a better chance of staying hidden.'

The darkness was also not a problem since I had my phone with me. It served as enough light to show me the compass as I followed the arrow. According to the description of the compass, it would lead me to my desired destination.

In this case, it was the exit.

I moved towards a path that I hadn't taken before.

Within the silence around me, the echo of the steps felt louder than ever as my heart drummed loudly within my mind.

I tried my best to ignore my rapidly beating heart as I navigated through the maze of the factory.

Eventually, I reached a door and pushed it open. Inside was a huge room. Twisted conveyor belts hung from above, chains dangling like sharp teeth. The floor was broken, and shadows moved in the corners. I kept going, following the faint glow of my phone, alongside the compass.

'I should be going in the right direction...'

I kept moving in the silence, every sound sharpened in my mind. The faint creak of old machines, the drip of water from the damp air, and even my own footsteps echoed loudly around me.

Even the smell of rust hit me stronger as I turned slowly.

A loud sound jerked my gaze from the compass. I turned my head toward it, every nerve on edge.

Swoosh, swoosh—!

My eyes froze on the chains hanging from above. A few shifted on their own, moving as I watched, as if an invisible wind was brushing against them.

A certain cold crept over me as I kept my eyes on the swaying chains.

And my body slowly tensed.

'Someone is here...'

I could feel it. My nerves were screaming at me.

My grip over the knife tightened as a long and tall shadow appeared next to me.

Holding onto the knife, I stared at the compass once more.

I took a step forward.

The moment I did, the chains above dangled with even more force.

Tap, tap, tap—!

The sound of rapid steps.

Heading towards me.

A shadow burst from the darkness behind me, moving with impossible speed. My heart slammed against my ribs as I turned around, and a figure came into view.

It was right before me.

I didn't have enough time to react as I felt it reach me.

But right as it was about to attack, a shadow appeared before it and clung to its body.

I didn't waste a second and slashed down with my knife.

Blood sprayed over me in that moment as I froze.

And then—

My vision grew dark.

By the time I regained myself, I found myself back in the office.

And it was there that I realized.

I had just killed someone.

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