Swooosh—
The capsule door opened, and a figure stumbled out a few seconds later.
Her expression was entirely pale, and as she moved out, she turned her attention towards me, her mouth opening and closing as if she was trying to say something. In the end, all she managed to mumble was a few words before staggering away.
I stared at her parting figure before looking at the others.
"Err..."
"I... I think I need to go to the bathroom."
"Me too."
"Mhm."
"Squad leader..."
"Get in."
I nudged the rest of the members into the capsules. Before I knew it, they had all gone out of their capsules to see what was going on with Nora. In the end, they got their fill, and now that they did, it was their turn.
"Get in. Now that I'm more familiar with the system, I can create different rooms for all of you."
".....!?"
The faces of everyone changed, with some even protesting.
Even the usually quiet Min and Sarah were desperately shaking their heads.
But I didn't care.
"Hop in."
In the end, despite their objections, they all ended up entering the capsules. I nodded in satisfaction before pressing onto the keyboard, allowing the doors of the capsule to close down.
Soon after, my monitor blinked five times, indicating that the capsules connected.
Having already prepared beforehand, I prepared five different saves and started them all at the same time.
"The game will start now. Good luck."
Click!
Five different images appeared on the monitor in front of me.
"W-what the... hell was that?"
Right before I could have the chance to start observing, a hoarse voice echoed next to me.
"Hm?"
I turned my right to see Nora near the desk, her hands trembling as she held onto it with both hands. With a pale expression, she looked at me.
"I... That... old woman..."
"Oh."
I suddenly understood everything and smiled.
"Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. It's the same woman who appeared in the game that you've been playing. I'm planning on unifying my games."
The thought struck me the day prior while I was developing this game.
I had originally intended to develop the game to test the VR setting and have a better idea of how to create VR games. This was the original plan, and I planned on sticking to it. However, in the midst of my development, a thought occurred to me.
'Wouldn't it be such a waste...?'
While the original game wasn't anything amazing, it was still a good game. So was the second one. Both games gained a good following.
In my mind, it kind of felt like a waste to keep them in the PC version.
There was so much more to them than that.
That was when the idea came to mind.
Foundation.
I planned on using the first two games as a foundation for the next game. One that centered all of my experiences and focused on long-term storytelling.
'Sort of like the quests that I receive from the system.'
While it did seem like the quests were all random, and there was no connection between each quest, it became abundantly clear to me with the passing of time that it wasn't the case at all. Each quest was interconnected in some way, leading towards the next quest or a specific goal.
'...There's still a long way, and it's just an idea, but if I can work it well, then I already have the base foundation of the game created. I'll just have to center the entire game around the old lady and create an overarching plot.'
For that...
I wasn't too worried.
I had plenty of ideas. Especially since I was aware of the fact that the old lady was related to the cult to some extent.
It was just a pity that the old lady was no longer here.
I would've been able to find out more from her. In the end, however, she ended up dying at the end of her own creations.
'Yeah, but I shouldn't have gotten her killed. This makes things a little difficult for me. I would've been able to find out more about the cult from her. Now... I'm starting from scratch again. It's not like there's another person that I can ask. The only other person that would know would probably be the Twisted Man, but that's just—'
"Eh...?"
I suddenly paused, my eyes blinking slowly as a thought suddenly occurred to me. One that made me silently swallow my own saliva as I tried my best to keep my breath in check.
'Wait, wait, wait...'
The old lady was dead, yes.
She was related to the cult. Of that, I was certain. The quest came directly after I figured out more about the Twisted Man.
In that regard...
"....."
I swallowed my saliva yet again, feeling my hand tremble.
I actually did have a way to gain information about the Guild. And that was through my newest skill.
[Anamnesis]
'Yes, there was this way...'
I could hardly keep my mind from spiraling in a direction that I didn't want it to go. The more I thought about the situation, the more I felt myself spiral.
But—
'This is the best way.'
It would help me figure out the past of the Twisted Man and learn more about the cult.
'But wait...!'
I thought, suddenly struck me as another anomaly crossed my mind. This time, it was a little girl whom I was all too familiar with. If there was another anomaly that I knew was related to the cult, then it had to be her.
What if...
'No, let's not think about this now. Let's focus on the Twisted Man first.'
Mirelle's situation was complicated. While she was connected to the cult, whenever I asked her about it, she would say that she didn't know much. I believed her.
She was young, and it wasn't like she understood much.
Her family most likely also didn't tell her anything.
I didn't think I'd receive the answers that I desired if I used the skill on her. However, it wasn't like I wasn't going to do it. Even if the chances were low, I needed as much information as possible about this strange cult.
The Conductor...
I didn't think it would have any information about the cult. Even if it did, I doubted it would tell me. I had tried multiple times to get it to tell me more information about itself and the reason for its transformation, but in the end, all efforts ended in vain.
It seemed like most of its memories had been erased.
'I also tried to ask it about the thing that resides within this gate, but it just told me that it was dangerous. That's all it really knows...'
I planned on finding some time to properly speak with the Conductor.
"Eh...?"
Suddenly bringing me out of my thoughts was a sudden voice.
I turned my head and caught sight of Nora, her gaze fixed on the monitor where the others were being displayed. Her hand was pressed to her mouth, eyes locked in concentration as she watched them struggle to navigate the scenario, just as she had done before.
Seeing her reaction, I also looked at the monitors.
'Heh.'
I almost laughed.
My chest tingled at the sight of their panicked faces. I just barely kept my expression straight as I held onto my laugh with all my might.
'I can't laugh. Not here. They'll think I'm weird. I need to maintain my image as Squad Leader.'
But then—
"Kek."
A weird noise came out of Nora's mouth as she looked at the monitors.
"...Kek."
A smirk played on her lips right after as she turned towards me.
"I finally get it."
"Hm?"
Get what...?
"I get why you like this job. It's funny as shit. Kek..."
Nora covered her mouth again, pointing at Joanna with the other while chuckling to herself and mumbling things like, 'Not so high and mighty anymore, heh? Kek. Wait, let me take a video.'
"...."
I stared at her for a brief moment, until—
"Kek."
I also started to laugh.
"Keke."
"...Kek."
"It's really fun."
"I know, right?"
-x-X-x-
"What? Can you repeat that again?"
"...I'd like to get access to one of the containment rooms to see VILE-819, the Twisted Man. There are a few things that I'd like to study for my upcoming game."
"No, I heard you the first time."
"But you asked me to repeat it."
"For the simple reason that I didn't believe you'd ask for something like this"
Staring at me, the Section Chief's face changed several times. I could understand why he was reacting like this.
Following the decision that I had made during the game testing, the first thing I did after getting everyone to play the game was to head to the Section Chief and ask him to meet the Twisted Man.
No normal person would even think about asking something like this.
"I guess I should've seen a request coming from someone like you."
"Someone like me...?"
What the hell was he talking about?
If anything, he was the weird one.
The Section Chief didn't say anything but just gave me a meaningful look.
'Hold it in. Hold it in. Hold it in.'
I just barely kept myself from lunging at him. Mainly because I'd be the one to get beaten up by the end of it.
"...Are you sure about your request?"
"I am."
I nodded after looking at the Section Chief.
"And you need to visit the anomaly in person?"
"I do. With VR now in the mix, I can craft even more lifelike monsters. As you probably know, the inspiration for the creature in my game is the Twisted Man. I believe that if I can get a closer, more personal look at it, I'll be able to understand it better and create a more authentic monster for the game."
This was just nonsensical bullshit.
However, it was also very convincing bullshit. Especially since the Section Chief was aware of my game. He had seen it firsthand and was aware of the monster lurking within the game.
The goal was for me to get close to the Twisted Man and use my new node on it.
But there were still some problems.
'Even if I do get to meet the Twisted Man, it'll very likely be in a monitored setting. That would make things a lot more difficult for me. Especially since the skill requires me to touch the anomaly before using it.'
I still didn't know how to handle that part.
However, I first needed to make the meeting with the Twisted Man possible.
I could think about everything else later.
"Hmm."
A frown tugged at the Section Chief's face as his expression shifted several times, clearly torn as he struggled to agree with my request. In the end, though, he gave in.
"Alright, fine."
I secretly clenched my hands, trying my best to contain my excitement.
And just as I was about to stand up to thank the Section Chief, he stopped me with his hand.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. This isn't something I can decide alone. I'll need to reach out to the Team Leader overseeing the Containment area for their approval. It might take a while. You can wait, right?"
"Yes, no problem."
In fact, it was better this way.
I still needed to plan my approach to the Twisted Man under so much supervision.
'Maybe I can think of a way to hypnotize the person overlooking the cameras? Or maybe I can get the Conductor to play a certain tune to distract those watching?'
All sorts of ideas crossed my mind.
I stood up and started to turn away, but just as I was about to leave, the Section Chief spoke again.
"Wait a second."
I stopped and looked back.
"Yes...?"
Pinching the middle of his brows, the Section Chief tapped the table a couple of times before asking.
"What do you think about Myles...?"
"Huh?"
My face stiffened.
"W-wha..."
"I'm thinking of promoting him. He's just reached the Second Order. He's currently stuck in Kyle's team, but given his current results, it might not be too bad if he becomes an assistant Squad leader for another thing. I heard that the two of you are close. I just wanted to ask about your opinion."
Close...?
Who spread this nonsense?
The two of us were anything but close. If anything, he was a rat that I wanted nothing to do with.
"So? What do you think? Based on his current achievements, he can get promoted. He'll be the second fastest member to get prompted after you."
"I..."
Biting my lips, I eventually forced a smile.
"Yes, I think he's ready."
*
Clank—!
Coming out of the Section Chief's office, my stomach churned. I felt sick to my stomach. The thought of that rat getting promoted off the back of my hard work made me feel sick to my core.
Still, it wasn't like I could say no to the Section Chief.
I could see it from his face that he had already made up his mind.
Saying no would just make me look petty and jealous.
'I feel like shit.'
I wanted nothing more than to head back to my dorm and take a long, calming shower. But of course, nothing ever seemed to go smoothly in my life. As soon as I turned to leave the Guild, a familiar face appeared in front of me.
With his signature dimples and cleanly cut bowl cut hair, the rat appeared before me.
"Hi."
He waved happily at me.
"It's been a while. How have you been?"
"...Good."
It took everything out of me not to show my disgust.
But that was easier said than done. Just one look at the rat was enough to make me sick to my stomach.
'I'm sure he feels the same. He's just not showing it.'
I knew the rat even better than he knew himself. That was why I was confident in the fact that he loathed me more than I loathed him.
The more I shone, the more jealous he became.
'...If my guess is not wrong, he may have already made some moves to get me out of this place.'
I wasn't sure just yet what he did. However, I knew that he had done something. This became especially clear by how bright the smile on his face was.
So much that I couldn't help but ask,
"You're smiling quite a lot. Did something good happen?"
"Hm? Me?"
The rat pretended to look surprised by the fact that I noticed. But as his dimples became even clearer, he nodded.
"Yes, actually. Well..."
Looking around, the rat leaned closer to me before suddenly whispering, "...I actually talked with the Section Chief. I might get promoted soon. I'm just happy about this fact, hehe."
Even his laugh sounded innocent.
That made my stomach churn even further as I looked at him and patted him on the shoulder.
"In that case, I hope everything goes well for you. If you would excuse me."
Moving past him, the smile quickly faded from my face.
'Things can't keep going like this.'
The rat was growing more and more dangerous by the day. I had been neglecting him due to everything that had been happening recently, but I could no longer do that.
'I can't stay passive anymore.'
I made up my mind at that moment.
The rat...
I needed to get rid of him.
-x-X-x-
The air within the department grew tenser by the day.
This became more evident with each passing day, as the department grew increasingly quiet, with more teams heading out through the gates. This was something that even I managed to notice, despite spending a lot of time in my own office or with the team.
"Just what in the..."
"The teams are most likely getting ready for the upcoming department trials," Joanna answered, noticing my confusion. Her face was slightly pale, and her eyes were slightly bloodshot.
This was most likely because she had just come out of the VR capsule.
I honestly didn't want to enter another gate. At least, not yet. This was mainly due to two factors. One, I was just tired. Two, because I knew that the rank would increase the moment I entered.
This was just something that I was pretty much certain of.
And for that reason, I decided to stay still for now.
'But then again, it's not like I can't go in again.'
The doppleganger had actually made things a little easier for me to some extent. Not only had it helped me fill the monthly quota, but it also helped me get rid of any suspicion, if there was any.
Just one look at the logs, and I could tell that the gates that it had dived in had remained of the same rank.
'That's good and all, but the same can't be said for me.'
I was still sure the gates increased in rank the moment I entered them. That was why I needed to be extra careful when entering.
"By the way, Squad Leader..." Speaking in a hesitant voice, Joanna scratched the side of her face as her eyes darted away from me. I tilted my head at the sight.
What was she trying to say?
"Well..." She scratched her face again. In the end, looking at me, she sighed.
"Do you think it's a good idea to spend time doing this? With the upcoming trials, wouldn't it be better if we spent that time training in the gates?"
"You want to go into the gates?"
"Err..."
Joanna stuttered for a moment. But only for a brief moment as her face turned resolute.
"More than wanting to go into the gates, I just want to do well in the trials. I heard that those who will do well will be able to enter the World Conference. I'd like to make it there. This is something that I've been trying to achieve for quite some time."
I stood silent upon hearing her words. After a moment, I turned my head to see the others all looking in our direction, their expressions quickly changing the moment I looked at them, as they all hastily looked away a moment later.
They looked like frightened little birds, and for a moment, I almost felt like laughing.
I still retained my expression.
"...I see. I get what you're trying to say."
"Then...!?"
Joanna's eyes lit up, but I soon shook my head.
"No, we're still doing this."
"....!"
"Squad Leader!"
".....!?"
I could see the immediate change in the faces of everyone as I rejected their request. But it wasn't because I didn't understand them or didn't want to go to the gates.
It was mainly because there was no better training than this.
"There's no need for our team to enter the gates. The department trials are right around the corner, and the best training you can get is continuing exactly what you're doing now."
I paused, looking at everyone present before taking out my phone. Seeing the message written on it, I slowly turned away from them and headed for the door.
"...What's the point of entering a gate if you can barely keep yourself from screaming at a game?"
To that, everyone fell quiet.
Indeed...
There was no better training for them than this.
*
Ding!
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out.
The moment I did, I paused for a moment as I looked around me.
'So this is the true Containment Department?'
[-3]
This was the first time I had stepped onto this floor. This was also one of the most important floors within the department, as it was where all the anomalies that were contained were placed.
At the end of the corridor from the elevator, a vast marble reception opened up, lined with seats along the sides and intersected by corridors extending in each cardinal direction.
People in white lab coats and members dressed in black security attire appeared everywhere.
This place was even more crowded than the main area.
I stopped by the reception.
"I have an appointment. If you could please check it."
"Yes, no problem. What is your name?"
"Seth Thorne."
"I see. Let me check with the database."
The receptionist was a relatively tall man wearing a crisp black suit. He looked rather serious, and after doing a couple of checks, he nodded, pointing towards the corridor behind him.
"Please head that way. I've already notified the security in there. You may go whenever you wish."
"...Thank you."
Thanking the man, I proceeded to follow his directions and headed towards the corridor behind him.
Stepping into the corridor, it was almost as if the entire atmosphere had changed.
The air grew colder, and the noise that had been present moments prior had completely faded. Instead, a certain chilling quiet had replaced it.
*Step*
My footsteps echoed sharply through the hall, flanked on either side by towering white metal doors, each marked with labels like [VILE - 794] and [VILE - 805], and so on... The numbers felt infinite.
'Just how many anomalies are contained within here?'
Furthermore, each couple of doors was guarded by one of the security guards. It made me question just how many people the Guild employed, and also made me understand the enormous expenses the Guild had.
Eventually, as I continued forward, I stopped before a certain door.
[VILE - 819].
"This should be it."
Staring at the door, I swallowed nervously.
Unknowingly, my heart started to speed up as I came face to face with the door. Thinking back to the Twisted Man and my encounter with it, I started to feel nervous.
But I was quick to push it away as a man in a lab coat approached me a few moments later.
"You must be the one who requested to see 819, correct?"
"...Yes."
I handed over my Guild ID.
Following a brief check, the man handed me the ID back before briefing me on the rules.
"You are not to directly engage with the anomaly. Cameras are installed, and we'll be monitoring your every movement. If you so much as try to do something with the anomaly, you will be eliminated on the spot. Do you understand?"
"I understand," I replied, my lips twitching slightly. Pretty harsh...
"Okay."
The man in white reached for the door and pressed his badge to the pad next to it.
A loud metallic clank echoed as the door creaked open, dragging against the silence with agonizing slowness. The air turned cold, biting at my skin, and every hair along my body stood up.
From the widening gap emerged a tall, lanky figure, wearing a tall top hat and suit, its presence stretching the shadows until they seemed to crawl toward me.
Clank!
Eventually, the door opened fully, and I stood face to face with an old acquaintace.
The Twisted Man.
-x-X-x-
I had grown quite a bit since the last time I had encountered the Twisted Man.
And yet, despite having grown, its presence still remained intense. Almost suffocating to me.
"Hooo."
I had to take a deep breath in order to calm down.
Staring at the anomaly, I drew my hand back, doing my best to hide the trembling. Fear still lingered, but I had come a long way from before. The old me would've already doubled over, and most likely have puked all over the floor.
The fact that I had yet to feel like that meant progress.
'I still feel like I might puke later, but the fact that it's taking me longer is the good part. Maybe in the future, there might be a day when I'd no longer feel like puking.'
I wasn't so sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. After all, no longer puking meant that I'd no longer feel something like fear.
Was that really a good thing...?
—The anomaly is currently contained. Please do not approach it. Remain where you are, and don't cross the yellow line. The moment you cross the yellow line, we will not be held responsible for your life.
A voice spoke from the speakers.
I turned towards it and nodded subtly.
"I understand."
I turned my gaze back to the Twisted Man. It stood fixated on the wall, where a disturbingly familiar message was etched across the surface.
It was the one that I had written in the past.
The method of containment for the Twisted Man was the poem itself. Having lost the game, it was now stuck staring at the poem. The moment its gaze left the poem was the moment the Twisted Man broke free once more.
'Should I get ready...?'
I glanced around and found myself in a vast white room. The only barrier between me and the Twisted Man was a single yellow line stretching across the floor. No glass, no walls. Nothing else stood between us.
Taking out a notepad, I began to write some things on it.
I started to take notes of the shape of the Twisted Man. From its height, the clothes it was wearing, and everything that I could see.
I proceeded like this for the next twenty minutes or so.
Once I managed to get everything down, I nodded subtly.
'Okay, I can begin.'
I closed my eyes and pressed the pen against the notepad. My node churned, and right on cue, I heard a subtle twitch coming from the camera system.
The moment I heard the sound, I took out my phone and stared at it.
Flick!
A certain clown appeared not long after.
"...Okay."
Mr. Jingles wasn't just useful for hypnosis. It could slip into camera feeds and electrical systems and knock them out for a few seconds. I'd tested it in my Virtual Games, so I knew firsthand it could do all of that.
But of course...
The Guild System was no simple system.
If it could get hacked by a simple anomaly, then it would, without a doubt, be a very useless system.
I had already prepared for such a scenario.
Instead of disabling the camera system, I opted for something else.
The audio feed.
'Let's not waste time.'
Scrolling through my phone, I selected a certain recording.
Daaa~
Immediately after, a soft tune began to play in the air. It was a soft and melodious tune that filled the air. I could feel a certain change in the air.
T-Twitch!
The Twisted Man twitched.
Daaa Daa~
The music lingered, soft yet haunting, seeping into every corner of the room. As its eerie notes carried on, the Twisted Man slowly turned its head, fixing its gaze on me. The air grew colder in an instant, the temperature plummeting until it clawed at my skin.
—What's going on? Agent! Is something happening? Quickly get out of there!
The voice of the operator echoed from the speakers. However, I pretended not to hear it as I stared at the Twisted Man in a trance.
As if recognizing me, the Twisted Man's lips pulled into a twisted smile.
*Step*
It took a step forward.
I remained where I was, staring at it.
*Step*
Its smile grew more and more twisted as it drew closer to me.
*Step*
It crossed the yellow line.
—Hey! Hey...! Can you hear me? What is going on? Quickly get out! Ah, shit! Agents!
The voice on the speakers was flustered. I could hear the rushed sound of steps coming from outside.
They were quick to react, and it didn't take more than a couple of seconds for the door to burst open.
But by then, it was already too late.
The Twisted Man's hands were on my neck.
I felt it squeeze it tightly, my breath fading completely as all I could see was its Twisted Smile. Looking down on me from above.
"Quick! Quick—!"
The agents got to work.
They surrounded the Twisted Man from all sides as it kept its gaze on me, and as I stared at it, I activated my third Node.
[Intermediate Node: Anamnesis]
In an instant, my world changed.
‖—[10%]—————‖
"Maaan... I'm so jealous of you. What kind of dog shit luck do you have to find a girlfriend so pretty?"
A rough man slapped another man, his frame thin, and his face awkward.
"Well..." He scratched the side of his nose. "I guess I got lucky. I don't know. Sometimes I question myself why she would choose someone like me. I plan on making the most out of this situation."
"You better be!"
The man replied, slapping the thin man again while laughing.
"All of us here are working our assess off every day, while you get to play with your rich, pretty girlfriend. What kind of luck is this? You're not handsome. You've got no money. You have no educational background. How in the world did you manage to hit it off with her?"
"...I wonder too."
The man replied awkwardly. It wasn't like he was unaware of his circumstances. He was extremely aware of it, and he felt inferior every day.
However, this was also part of his luck.
His girlfriend was perfect in almost every way. He couldn't find a single flaw in her.
She was just so...
Perfect.
‖——[30%]————‖
"What do you find attractive about me?"
A woman stood before the man, her hair cascading softly over her shoulders, framing her oval face and delicate features. There was an undeniable allure in her presence, a quiet grace that left the man utterly spellbound.
He smiled at her.
"Your eyes. Your face. Your soft voice. I like everything about you."
His words were cheesy, but there was genuine affection in his eyes. The more he looked at the woman, the more attracted she seemed to him.
"Is that so...?"
The woman giggled, touching his chin and lifting it slightly.
"In that case, would you be willing to do anything for you?"
"But of course."
"Really...?"
"Really."
The woman smiled.
"Then..."
Her voice softened.
"Let's play a game."
"A game?"
"Mhm. A game."
The woman replied, her smile growing softer.
"...A very fun one."
-x-X-x-
‖———[50%]———‖
"....This looks good on you. Don't you think?"
The man stared at himself in the mirror.
"Is this me...?" He touched his face, feeling incredulous. Not only was his skin a lot better than before, but with his black suit, he almost looked like an entirely different person.
"This is you."
A soft hand pressed against his cheek as a head leaned over his shoulder.
"My eyes are never wrong. From the moment I saw you, I knew that you had the potential."
"Oh."
The man looked at himself in the mirror again.
After a short moment, he began to cough.
"Cough! Cough...!" It wasn't anything strong, but it had been happening more and more frequently.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm... fine."
"Okay. Just give me a moment."
Turning back, his girlfriend faded from the reflection for a brief moment. She came back not long after.
"This is...?"
"Just a finishing touch."
Going on the tip of her toes, his girlfriend placed something on the man's head.
"Here. Much better."
With a pleased smile, the woman guided the man toward the mirror once more. This time, his eyes caught on the addition. A tall black top hat, standing tall and perfectly matched to his suit.
"Look at you. It's perfect!"
"...Mhm."
The man nodded, also finding the top hat to be a great addition.
"Mhhh. Actually, there's something missing."
The woman whispered from behind, placing her hands on the edges of the man's lips and pulling them up.
"A smile. We're missing a smile."
‖————[70%]——‖
"Are you sure about this? Cough...! Won't your family reject me...? I mean, I know we're already married and I've yet to meet them, but I'm nothing special. I'm just a singer. If—"
"Don't worry too much."
The woman pressed her finger against the man's lips, shutting him up as she smiled.
"My family doesn't care about background or where someone is from. They are very understanding of my choices. Let's just go without any worries. I'm sure they're going to love you."
"...Okay. Cough!"
Holding onto his luggage, the man slowly turned back.
A massive train greeted his sight, steam billowing from its smokestack as people streamed in and out of its doors.
Taking a step up, he followed his wife into the train, entering his cubicle and sitting down. As he did, he stared at the window outside, just barely containing his emotions.
But soon, a warm hand pressed against his.
He turned his head to see his wife smiling softly at him.
"Like I said. Don't worry. My family is very understanding. Just..." His wife paused, her lips pursing together as she eventually smiled. "Just give them your best smile."
‖—————[80%]-—‖
The estate rose out of the countryside like a painting. Broad lawns, sculpted hedges, fountains spilling silver water under the sun. The man held his wife's hand as they approached the entrance, luggage dragging behind him.
The door opened before he could knock. A butler in white gloves bowed with perfect grace.
"Welcome, miss. Welcome, sir. The family has been expecting you."
Inside, the air smelled faintly of roses and polished wood. Chandeliers glittered above, light scattering like broken glass across the marble floor.
"Mother! Father!"
His wife called out brightly, staring ahead.
"We're here!"
From the top of the stairs, two figures emerged. Her father was tall, broad-shouldered, in a pristine suit. Her mother glided at his side in a gown that shimmered faintly as though woven with threads of silver.
Their smiles were wide, their voices warm.
"So this is him," her mother said, stepping forward to embrace him as if he were already family. "You're even more handsome than she described."
The father gripped his shoulder firmly. "A singer, yes? We've heard so much. The arts run in your blood. That's good. That's very good."
The man flushed.
"I... I'm honored to be here."
"Oh, nonsense," the mother laughed. "You're one of us already."
They led him deeper into the house. The corridors were long, branching out in different directions as the walls were lined with more portraits. In each portrait, he noticed something peculiar. Their clothing... It looked similar to his. He tried not to stare.
Dinner was a lavish affair.
Crystal glasses, silver cutlery, platters of roasted meats, and fruit glistening like jewels. The family gathered around the long table. Uncles, aunts, cousins, each more refined and gracious than the last.
Their eyes shone with interest as they asked him questions.
"How did you and our darling meet?"
"When did you first discover your talent?"
"Would you sing for us, perhaps? Just a little something?"
Encouraged by their eagerness, he did. His voice filled the hall, echoing beneath the chandelier.
The family listened intently, not a fork or knife moving, every smile fixed on him.
When he finished, the room erupted in polite applause.
"Marvelous!"
Her father said.
"Truly marvelous. That voice... It's a gift."
Her mother leaned forward.
"But gifts must be shared. Given freely. Don't you agree?"
"Eh...? Oh, yes, ma'am." He replied, not fully understanding the meaning of her words.
The meal carried on, the family laughing and telling stories, but he noticed it. The way their laughter always seemed to fall into the same rhythm, as if rehearsed.
The way they sometimes looked at each other too long, lips moving as though repeating words silently.
Later, when he excused himself to the bathroom, he passed a study with the door ajar. Inside, he glimpsed an open book on the desk. Its pages were covered in verse, old ink spelling out words that made his skin prickle:
He walks in echoes, he creeps in noise.
He feeds on whimpers, he drinks your voice.
He shivered, his eyes darting around before settling on the drawing of an eye. One that stared back at him.
Shivers ran down his spine, and his mind throbbed.
For a brief moment, he nearly collapsed on the spot. Thankfully, collecting himself quickly, he shut the door and moved away.
Back in their room, he whispered to his wife, "That book downstairs... what is it?"
She turned her head on the pillow, smiling softly. "Just an old family poem. Nothing to worry about."
"Still... it felt strange."
Her hand slid to his cheek. "You think too much. Sleep. Tomorrow they'll show you the grounds. You'll feel more at home."
"Mhm."
Huh, wait...?
How did she know which book he was talking about?
‖—————[90%]—‖
The days blurred together.
Her cousins took him hunting, yet no animals stirred in the woods. Her aunts invited him to tea, pouring cups but never drinking themselves. The butler guided him through galleries where every portrait seemed to follow his movements with their painted eyes.
Always the same words:
"Smile more."
"That suit suits you."
"The hat will look perfect on you soon."
One evening, as the sun bled across the horizon, the father invited him into the library. Shelves climbed the walls, heavy with leather-bound tomes.
"You have a rare gift."
The father said, pouring two glasses of wine.
"Do you know how many singers lose their voice by your age? But yours... yours has such strength."
"Thank... you, sir."
The father handed him a glass, his eyes gleaming.
"Our family honors strength. But what we honor above all is faith. We're trying to change the world, albeit slowly. The secret lies in here." Pointing at his temple, the father looked at the man. "It's in your head. The answer to everything."
The man shifted uneasily.
"I... don't quite understand."
"You will."
The father's smile faded.
That night, he dreamed of voices, hundreds of them, crawling into his ears. 'Run! Run as fast as possible! Leave this place!' When he opened his mouth to scream, he found his voice completely stripped from his mouth.
He awoke gasping, his wife's arms wrapped around him.
"It's only nerves."
She murmured.
"They love you already. Just trust me."
‖————————[98%]‖
The final night came. A celebration, they said. The entire family gathered in the great hall, dressed in black suits and gowns, top hats crowning their heads. Candles burned in a perfect circle around the floor.
"Stand here."
His wife guided him gently to the center.
"What's happening?" He whispered, his heart pressing against his chest.
"An initiation. Nothing more."
Her mother's voice rose, reciting words in a tongue he didn't know. The family joined in, the chant swelling until it filled the hall.
The man clutched his head. His mind... It felt like something was hammering it strongly. He could feel it pulse in his mind, and his body grew weaker by the second.
"I... I can't..."
"Don't fight it," his wife whispered. Her smile was soft, almost tender. "You'll be so much more when it's done. You're only feeling sick for a short moment. That's just your cognitive shard acting up. Once everything is done, you'll be free."
"F-free..? W-what? Cough! Cognitive... what? No, I can't... I need to leave."
Shaking his head, the man turned around. But just as he did, a hand pressed against his shoulder, stopping him in place.
"....!?"
He turned around to see his wife staring at him.
The smile wiped off his face.
"You know I can't do that."
A sinister red circle lit up moments after, enveloping him completely. His face changed drastically moments later as he felt a piercing pain in his mind.
"Ahhhh—!"
A scream ripped out of his throat.
Thump!
His body convulsed violently before collapsing to his knees. From the polished floor, his reflection leered back at him, his lips splitting into an ever-widening grin.
Fingers stretched unnaturally long, jerking with erratic twitches.
Cra Crack!
His spine cracked as his back arched, his frame twisting, unfolding into something impossibly tall, grotesquely thin.
And soon—
Silence.
A long and stifling silence.
A hat settled on his head not long after.
"There. That's better."
A voice whispered not after.
He tried to speak, but no words came. He only smiled.
The family cheered.
"Congratulations to our new family member."
"Welcome!"
"It's very nice to have you!"
The man, no longer himself, rose on trembling legs. His grin never faltered. The cheers around him increased, pressing against his ears.
He turned, gazing at his wife.
She kissed his cheek gently, a tear falling down his eye.
"Welcome home, my Twisted Man."
‖————————[100%]‖
-x-X-x-
Clank—!
A door burst open.
The Section Chief rushed in a moment later.
"Are you serious...?!" His voice held a mix of confusion and anger as he turned his attention towards a glass panel, where a certain figure lay on the opposite end.
"His conditions are stable. He is facing no serious injury. He passed out from the lack of oxygen."
It was only after he heard the doctor's words that the Section Chief calmed down. Taking a few deep breaths, he turned back.
Several agents stood behind him, their expressions grave.
The Section Chief's expression turned stoic right in that moment.
"Explain to me the situation in detail. Don't miss out on any detail. I want to know everything."
This was all sudden to him.
In one moment, he was handling the paperwork and the arrangements for the upcoming Department Trials, and in the next moment, he received an urgent call, telling him that one of his most prized members had been attacked by an anomaly.
He wanted to understand how exactly this was possible when the anomaly should've been contained.
"That..."
A man stepped up after a moment of hesitation. He was the same man who had given Seth the guidelines and had been monitoring the situation. Taking out his phone, he played a certain video.
"If you look here, sir, you'll notice the anomaly's body suddenly begins to twitch. This occurred about thirty minutes in, and before anyone realized what was happening, it had already turned on the guest. I'm still trying to understand what brought this sudden change."
"...."
The Section Chief stared at the recording with a frown. Eventually, retrieving the phone, he took a better look at it.
That was when he noticed something.
"Is there no barrier separating the two? Just a yellow line?"
"Yes, that's correct."
The agent replied, his expression serious.
"After extensive research and monitoring, we've confirmed the anomaly is contained. This isn't the first time we've had visitors, and until now, nothing unusual had occurred. Even when presented with stimuli, VILE - 819 never reacted."
The agent calmly explained, the words rehearsed beforehand.
"Agents were stationed just outside, which allowed us to respond swiftly. Even so, it's clear our protocol requires further improvement. This wasn't something that we had expected to happen. I do apologize for this."
"Hmm."
The Section Chief grunted, keeping his attention on the recording. He was being unreasonable. He understood that this was a one-off situation that should never have occurred.
The Guild usually took tests repeatedly, and even had a special, dedicated cleaning squad that went into the room to clean it.
VILE-819 had been classified as a 'contained' anomaly after extensive research, which explained the lack of precautions. But it was now clear. They had gravely miscalculated.
'Or did we...?'
The Section Chief's eyes narrowed as he stared at the video. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that something was off.
And then—
"Sound? Where is the sound...?"
"About that..."
The agent made an awkward face, and the Section Chief's face fell.
"Don't tell me..."
"It looks to be some sort of system failure. This isn't something that I can control."
The agent lowered his head in apology. He really did try his best to check and retrieve the audio, but almost as if the microphone had broken down, he wasn't able to pull anything out.
This was the first time something like this had happened.
He didn't know what to do.
"..."
The Section Chief continued to stare at the agent. Eventually, he let out a short breath and didn't pursue the matter further. He understood that this wasn't something that the agent had control over.
Furthermore, the audio cut off was only for a short moment. It wasn't for very long.
But still...
'Just what in the world happened for the situation to turn like this? Why did it attack all of a sudden when it never did moments prior?'
Narrowing his eyes, the Section Chief's gaze eventually fell on the young man on the bed. He looked to be sleeping soundly, and after seeing his serene expression, he decided to question him later.
For now, he sent himself the footage.
There were a lot of things that he needed to take care of.
"Make sure to take good care of him. If you need anything or find anything, do contact me."
And with that, the Section Chief left.
It was also in that moment that everyone present sighed in relief.
"Looks like we're keeping our jobs."
"...Thank god."
"I really thought I was going to lose it."
"Same."
***
"...."
Greeting my line of sight was an empty white wall. One where bright lights flickered above. I stared at those lights for a short moment before turning my head and looking around.
'Ah, so I'm here.'
This looked like a hospital ward.
I wasn't unfamiliar with this place.
Closing my eyes, I felt my body. After checking, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it. I felt a lot more relieved knowing this.
'...I guess it wasn't a bad decision to pass out.'
The Twisted Man never truly hurt me. From the moment it touched me, and I used my third node, the Twisted Man had already stopped moving. It didn't hurt me at all. What happened was that I pretended to pass out right after the guards had entered.
It was the perfect chance to do so.
...And also, it was the best chance for me to avoid being questioned.
'Not that it won't happen now. I'll probably be questioned not long from now.'
But this was fine. I had prepared myself for this in advance.
Furthermore, with the additional time that I had managed to buy myself, I could think of a better way to handle this.
But most importantly...
'The situation is a lot more complicated than I expected.'
I thought back to what I had managed to see, and my heart tightened. That estate...
'...It's the same one that Mirelle was in.'
I had no doubts about this. Having been to the place, I was well aware of the fact that the estate within the memories was the same one that I found myself in back in the gate where I had found Mirelle.
This was obviously no coincidence.
'I've always known that rich people owned the house, and that they were connected to the Guild, but I didn't think that they were this twisted.'
Just thinking about it made me shudder. But that wasn't the worst part, no.
The worst came with the final memories. As I lifted a trembling hand to my head, a sharp pain surged through me. It was there that I took note of the Cognitive Shard inside my head and thought about the final words from the father.
'You'll be so much more when it's done. You're only feeling sick for a short moment. That's just your Cognitive shard acting up. Once everything is done, you'll be free.'
Not just the words, but his symptoms. From the coughs to the night sweats.
I could recall all of it.
And it was then that I came to a conclusion.
One that made my very own heart tighten considerably.
'The anomalies...'
I took a deep breath.
'...There's a chance that they're born from those who have Cognitive Shards.'
Just like me.
-x-X-x-
It was all just a theory for now.
However, given what I had seen, it almost felt like it was the truth.
'Now that I think about it, I also heard that those from the cult have the medicine to heal those who have fractures and Cognitive Shards. Is this a coincidence...?'
I didn't think so.
I had a feeling that there was a deeper level to Cognitive Shards than I knew. They weren't just a terrible disease that came from the overload of fractures. Perhaps... They were also a gateway into turning a person into an anomaly.
'It's pretty much confirmed from the Conductor, Mirelle, and the Twisted Man that the anomalies all have pasts.'
Pasts in which they were once human.
But what about the Dreamwalker...? Did it have a past?
I had yet to check.
In fact, I had taken the Dreamwalker for granted the entire time. It had been my first ever anomaly, and unlike Mirelle and the others, it wasn't unique. For Mirelle, the Conductor, and even Mr. Jingles... All three of them were unique anomalies. On the other hand, the Dreamwalker, or previously known as the Nightwalker, was merely a spawn of its gate.
The true anomaly wasn't the Nightwalker.
It was the gate.
For that reason, even if I were to go back to the gate where I had acquired the Nightwalker, a new one would most likely have been produced.
It wasn't unique in that regard, and as such, I didn't think it would have a past like the others.
That made me think...
'Not all anomalies are previous humans who had somehow turned into them. Some other anomalies form from different means. But how...?'
I felt a headache while thinking about the situation.
There were so many questions, and yet so few answers.
"Haa."
In the end, leaning back on the bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling above me.
"I'm lost."
I didn't really know what to think about everything that was going through my mind. It started to make me question the system once more, and its motives. Just what sort of game was I playing...?
'Am... I going to turn into an anomaly as well?'
***
Room [507].
A deftly silence filled the entire room.
Mia sat with a pale face, her lips trembling as she tried to hold onto the mouse of her computer.
Despite her best efforts, she struggled to do so.
"Damn it!"
She wasn't the only one. Standing up, Nora grabbed her mouse and banged it on the table a couple of times.
"Stupid fucking thing!!"
Bang! Bang!
"Heyiaah-Nnn!"
Mia immediately looked back to shout at Nora, only to stop when she felt her glare. Clearing her throat, she looked away. "I didn't see anything..."
Clank!
Just then, the door opened and Joanna entered. Immediately, she stopped to stare at Nora.
"What is the problem here?"
It was hard not to notice that something was wrong with her from her heavy breathing and annoyed expression. In the end, suddenly being questioned by Joanna, Nora's face relaxed as she sat back down.
"It's nothing."
"It doesn't seem like it's nothing."
"It is. Don't b—"
"She's tired of playing games."
Niel suddenly interjected from his cubicle. Nora's eyes widened as she sliced her throat with her thumb, but he ignored her while looking at Joanna.
"She's been complaining about how we're not going into gates recently."
"Oh...?"
Joanna's brow rose as she looked at Nora. Her expression twisted, but she met Joanna's gaze head-on.
"Alright, fine. I am frustrated." Nora eventually came clean, sitting back down in her seat. "The Trials are about to start soon, and we've hardly done anything else besides playing these stupid games. I know they're supposed to help us, but how helpful can they be compared to real-life experience?"
"Not much, honestly."
Niel replied, pulling his glasses up.
"We've been getting carried by the Squad Leader in our recent gate dives. Even if we were to go, we'd just be turned into puppets like usual. I've figured that with the games we're at least learning something."
Nora opened her mouth to retort, but as she did, she found that she couldn't argue at all.
Indeed...
Up until now, they had been going to a lot of gates. And yet, most of the time, it was the Squad Leader who was doing most of the work. In fact, most of their achievements came as a result of the Squad Leader.
Frankly speaking, they were a sub-par team with a monster of a Squad Leader. This was something that she knew, and everyone else was aware of. The logs were clear for everyone to see. It wasn't private information.
Without their Squad Leader, they were just...
"...."
"...."
"...."
The room suddenly fell silent, everyone's thoughts syncing for a brief moment. The atmosphere grew heavy from that point, and just as the heaviness grew to an unbearable level, Joanna spoke.
"Let's leave all those matters aside for now. I'm here to report on our Squad Leader."
"The Squad Leader? What about the Squad Leader?"
"Did something happen?"
"...Are you—"
"He was attacked by an anomaly yesterday."
".....!?"
"...!!!"
"What!?"
"...!!"
"....."
The faces of everyone present practically changed at once. But before they could go on their own tangent, Joanna promptly cut them off.
"He's currently resting in the Guild Medical Wards. I'm not sure when he will return, but there's a chance that he might not make it for the trials."
The temperature dropped further.
"He... won't make it? But without him, we..."
"...It's that serious?"
"Yes."
Joanna nodded, her expression solemn.
"But he's not in any harm, so you don't need to worry about him."
"That's good..."
As Mia sighed in visible relief, Joanna tossed a couple of papers on everyone's desk. She didn't wait for them to pick them up before she started to explain.
"I've spent some time the past few days gathering information on the other teams in our department and who we will be up against in the upcoming trials." Joanna paused, turning her attention towards everyone in the room. In that moment, all eyes fell on her as her expression turned even more serious. "Most of you are already aware of the rumors and talk that revolves around us. I don't have to mention it, but I will do so."
Trying her best to hide her clenched fists, Joanna forced the words out of her mouth.
"We're currently treated as a one-man show. A group leeching off of their Squad Leader. A bunch of lucky nobodies that don't have to do anything but rely on their Squad Leader."
None of them was deaf.
All rumors did reach their ears. To some extent, their group was ostracized. Their excellent performances didn't go unnoticed, and as such, invited a lot of jealousy from the other groups.
'They're merely leeching off their Squad Leader.'
'...Lucky bastards.'
'They're practically useless.'
Each word pierced through the chest of everyone present. They all wanted to argue, but none of them could.
This was the harsh reality of their situation.
"...I know all of us present have a reason to be here. Nobody in their right mind would ever choose to be in this department without their reasons."
A small smile tugged at Joanna's lips as she talked.
"Everyone here wants to prove their own worth and grow. That's the same for me. I also want to prove my worth."
Not just to her, but her previous Guild. The one that had forced her to leave.
Raising her hand to show the papers, Joanna's gaze swept the room.
"Review everything that I've given to you. It'll be extremely helpful for the upcoming trials. Now that we don't even know if the Squad Leader will be with us, it is important that everyone does their best for the trials. We can't disappoint our Squad Leader in his absence."
-x-X-x-
"....."
I stared at the message on my phone.
'Ah, fuck... How do I handle this one?'
The message came from Joanna. It was nicely written, and it sounded concerned about my health, but if I had to summarize it in words, it basically said, 'I don't think the team is good enough at the moment. Please allow me to take over so that we can prepare for the upcoming trials. I'd like to take charge in the time that you're gone.'
I pinched the middle of my brows.
"I should've seen this coming."
While I didn't like to mingle with the other members of the Guild, it wasn't like I was completely oblivious to what was happening.
I was well aware of the rumors and the ostracism that the members of my squad were experiencing. I thought that the rumors would eventually die off, but they only grew louder with each passing day.
It truly opened up my eyes to how petty and competitive a lot of the members of the Guild were.
"...I'm also all healed up. I can leave when I want to."
Sitting up on the bed, I groaned. This message ruined my plans. I had originally planned on going back to the team to have them test the VR system again, but it seemed like I could no longer do that.
'It's nice that they want to grow, but... I think they're underestimating themselves quite a lot.'
It was indeed true that 'I' had carried them in the past.
However, it was also true that they had learned a lot from the doppleganger. The experience wasn't actually useless. It was just that they weren't aware of it.
Not only that, but with the fact that they had been continuously playing my games, their individual growth was even more impressive.
This became especially clear when taking into account the fact that the games could be replayed over and over again, unlike the gates. If they failed, they could just try again, and with me tweaking things here and there, the experience was never completely dull.
They were most likely not aware of it yet, but they were all monstrous in their own right.
'They also got a lot of fragments from the dives.'
Perhaps because they had been living in their own bubble, but at the moment, my squad was made up of elites.
Elites that surpassed me...
"Oh, shit."
Thinking about it, I was probably the worst one in the group.
I was also not the doppleganger. I couldn't solve the gates as programmatically and efficiently as the doppleganger. Coupled with the fact that I couldn't use any powers and that the Trials were just around the corner, I started to shiver.
Fuck...
My heart sank.
"How the hell do I weasel my way out of this?"
*
In the end, there was no use thinking about it. The more I thought about the situation, the more helpless I felt.
As such, seeing that I also couldn't go to my other office, I decided to go to my main office.
But—
'...Is that him?'
'Did he really get attacked by an anomaly? How is he still fine?'
'Do you think he provoked it?'
The moment I stepped into the main hall, I could feel the gazes of everyone present on me. It had been like this even before, mainly because of the doppleganger's results, but never to this extent.
I could see their eyes bearing holes down the side of my face as I walked towards my office.
But just as I was about to reach it, a figure appeared before me.
"Is it true...?"
He seemed a little worried, but as I looked at him, I couldn't help but notice the changes that he had gone through compared to how he had been in the past. His brown hair, once perpetually unkempt, was now neatly kept, and the dark circles that had shadowed his blue eyes were no longer there.
'He looks like a completely different person.'
Almost like the first time that I had seen him.
"Seth?"
"Hm, ah."
Clearing my throat, I nodded.
"Yes, I was attacked by an anomaly."
"What...!? Are you serious?" Rowan lowered his voice as he asked. I nodded again.
"Yes, it's all true. Nothing big, though. Just some sort of freak accident."
"Is that so?"
Rowan didn't look fully convinced, but in the end, he patted me on the shoulder.
"If you say so. I do hope you remain healthy. Even though I no longer need our sessions as much, in case something does happen, I wish you'd be here."
It looked like he truly meant his words.
Seeing him like this, he really did seem like a completely different person compared to the past.
'I guess this is nice to see.'
I was just about to bid Rowan goodbye when his next words stopped me.
"Oh, and did you hear about Kyle and Zoey?"
"Hm?"
I immediately turned my attention towards him. Right, what about them? I hadn't seen them in a bit, and neither of them responded to my messages. Especially Kyle, as I asked him multiple times, only to be ignored.
I could get Zoey since she usually tended to ignore me, but Kyle...?
'He usually answers pretty fast, but he hasn't been answering me for a bit. Just what on earth is he up to?'
He only told me that he'd be busy.
Some sort of secret mission? Or...
"I heard that they've both got promoted to the Fifth Order."
"....!?"
The news completely threw me off.
"F... Fifth Order?"
I had a hard time processing the situation. It wasn't like I didn't expect them to reach the Fifth Order. As far as I was aware, they had both been stuck at the Fourth Order for quite a while and had been trying to get to the Fifth Order, but with no luck.
Who would've expected them to reach the Fifth Order so quickly?
'It must be because of the sudden offer by those from the main island. The Guild probably decided to invest heavily in order to keep them.'
This had to be the only explanation.
"Impressive, right?"
"Huh? Oh...!" Snapping out of my thoughts, I nodded. "Yes, quite impressive."
Rowan smiled after seeing my reaction.
"Tell you a secret."
He leaned closer a bit.
"I'm also about to reach the Fourth Order. I'm just getting ready for that."
"...!"
I was even more surprised to hear that Rowan was also about to rank up. This threw me off a little, but as if reading my thoughts, Rowan pulled his head back as he retained his smile.
"This is all thanks to you, actually."
"Me...?"
"Yeah."
Rowan nodded.
"If not for you, I would've probably still been stuck with the nightmares, and would've most likely have died inside of a gate. You're pretty much my savior."
"...Oh."
I started to cringe.
Praises just... ukh. Just stop.
"Anyways, I was just passing by to make sure that you were okay. I also hope that you're ready."
"....?"
Rowan smiled ambiguously while walking back, keeping his front body facing my direction.
"The Trials this year are a little different than usual. I heard that it's going to be quite big. If you somehow manage to qualify, then you're in for a treat. Anyways, rest well. I'm leaving."
And with that, Rowan waved his hand and bid me farewell.
I could only stare at his parting back before looking back at my office.
'Going to be quite big?'
I pursed my lips.
Why did I have a bad feeling about this?
-x-X-x-
"So Kyle is reaching the Fifth Order..."
It made me happy to hear, but at the same time, it kind of showed just how wide the gap between the two of us was. It would take quite a while for me to reach the Fifth Order.
'Not that it matters too much. I've got my own path, and he has his. For now, I should focus on more important matters.'
Grabbing my laptop, I opened it up and searched, [The Lady of the White Umbrella].
I looked up at the painting opposite me. This was the original name of the painting.
It was clear now that the location of Mirelle's old house was a place of great importance to the cult.
So long as I found it...
"Let's see... from what I've gathered, the painting was supposedly commissioned by Mirelle's parents as some grand tribute to her beauty. That's the story they wanted everyone to believe. But I know better. Parents who truly cherished their daughter wouldn't have done what they did to her. She was probably their next big thing.'
I continued to search around.
I even went as far as putting the painting in the 'image finder' in order to see if I could get an exact location, but all I received was a plain, [Your search did not match any registered locations] on the page. It was almost as if the place had been completely erased from the world.
I tried different places and other means, but all provided me with the same answer.
The place...
It didn't exist.
"There's no way this is true."
I had seen it before.
Both in the gate and in the vision from my node. The house existed.
Given how advanced the technology was, I also didn't believe the website was incapable of locating the painting.
It was clear to me.
The ones behind all of this were wealthy beyond imagination, capable of obscuring details like that. The thought alone made my heart sink, yet I knew I couldn't give up.
This was far too important to me.
Thankfully, I wasn't completely helpless. There was a way.
A possible way...
I fixed my eyes on the painting in front of me, identical to the one flickering across my computer screen.
After a moment of thought, I reached for my drawer and took out a pack of chips.
*Shake* *Shake*
I shook them.
The sound echoed loudly within the room.
*Shake*
Once, twice, and three times.
It rattled loudly within the room.
And soon, a head soon emerged from the painting. With bulging, fishlike eyes, she scanned the room before fixing her gaze on the pack of chips in my hands. A moment later, an audible gulp echoed within the room as Mirelle wiped her mouth and pretended to look elsewhere.
"Do you want it...?"
*Shake* *Shake*
I shook the chips again, enticing the little girl once more.
At last, the little girl let out a heavy sigh and gripped the bottom edge of the painting. She pulled herself through and dropped onto the floor, wincing as she clutched her back before taking a few steps toward me and coming to a halt.
"....."
After a moment of silence, she stared at me.
I stared back.
And then—
"Give it to me."
I stopped shaking the chips and looked at Mirelle.
"Where's my plea—"
"Stop the nonsense."
"....?"
"Give them to me."
"Wha..."
"Vile thief. Give them."
Mirelle extended her hands as her expression seemed to say, 'Hurry. Hurry.'
What sort of...
I found myself at a loss, mixed between amusement and annoyance. In the end, I lowered the pack of chips and shook my head.
"No, not yet."
"You—"
"Don't worry!" I stopped Mirelle before she could throw a tantrum, "I'll give it to you. I just need to ask you a couple of questions. If you answer those questions, I'll give you the chips. Sounds fair, right?"
Mirelle's eyes narrowed following my words. In the end, however, she nodded.
"Okay."
"Good."
I smiled, reading to speak.
"Hurry."
Mirelle sounded impatient, her eyes firmly fixed on the chips in my hand. Each passing second seemed to torment her, and she looked ready to spring at me at any moment. That was when I chose to quit dragging things and cut straight to the point.
"Do you remember the house that I found you in...? Do you have any memories of it? Any clues?"
I took out a piece of paper and showed her the eye symbol that I had seen before.
"Do you recognize this symbol?"
Mirelle's brows knitted the instant I brought up the house. I could see why. Those memories were likely far from happy for her.
Nonetheless, I still had to ask.
It was vital for me to know.
I didn't hold out much hope, but I still wanted to see if I could catch even the slightest clue. I just needed something, anything.
And soon, I received my answer.
"....Hmm. Remember...? Yes. A little."
"Hm?!"
My eyes shot open.
Though I asked, I didn't expect much. This wasn't the first time I'd questioned her. Before, she'd always said she didn't remember much. I was only asking again to be sure, but...
"I remember."
"Huh...? Wha... Really?!"
"Mhm."
Mirelle nodded, sneaking a glance at the chips in my hands.
I got the hint rather quickly and handed them to her.
"...."
She merely gave them a look before looking back at me. My lower lip twitched, but I complied, opening the bag and handing it back to her as she nodded, bringing her little hand into it and grabbing a handful before shoving them down her throat.
Munch. Munch.
Her cheeks instantly inflated like balloons as she started speaking.
"House... I remember... not very far from here... I can... bring..."
My eyes lit up again.
"Really?"
"...Yes."
Mirelle shoved another handful of chips in her mouth. Staring at her, I wanted to hug her in excitement, but held myself back as a thought suddenly occurred to me.
"How do you remember all of this? You didn't remember before."
"Oh..." Mirelle blinked her eyes, also looking confused. In the end, shoving down more chips, she just said, "I just remember now. I don't know. It's not very far."
"You don't... know?"
"I don't."
"Really?"
"Yes."
A heavy feeling settled in my chest. I didn't know how to feel about her sudden epiphany. Suddenly going from not knowing to suddenly knowing. It didn't really make sense. No, wait... That was until a thought occurred to me.
'Could it be because of my sudden increase in Order?'
Mirelle's strength was directly proportional to mine. In that sense, maybe she could remember more now because I had grown stronger.
'Yes, that would make sense.'
It seemed like a solid explanation, and as I watched the little girl savor her chips, I stood up.
"Okay, I guess I now know what I need to do in a bit. But before that, let me put more focus on the Trials."
I had time to figure this out. I didn't want to rush in when I had time.
There were more important matters at hand.
Only two days remained until the Trials, and I could practically feel the heat within the department. The air in the Guild had grown tense, and even a few reporters had shown up at the entrance.
Since the winners would be chosen to participate in the upcoming World Congress, the Trials, which were broadcast across the island, drew an enormous amount of attention.
So much so that I started to tense up whenever I thought about it.
"Are you sure...?"
Just then, a voice caught my attention. I turned and saw a tall figure coming out from the door by the side of the office. With its stitched mouth and eyes, the Conductor leaned its tall and lankly body in my direction.
Bzz! Bzzz—!
"If we take advantage of this opportunity, we may be able to perform in front—"
"Stop."
I cut the Conductor off, feeling a headache starting to build up. The Conductor had been practically begging me to start a band since the moment it caught sight of Mirelle and the others, always trying to get them to play an instrument or sing.
It had gotten to the point where they all now just clung to me.
Bzz! Bzzz—!
The sound came from my phone.
It was the clown shaking.
Seeing as the Conductor was about to say another word, I extended my hand and was just about to say my piece, when—
Ding!
A sudden notification appeared in my vision.
[You have been haunted]
One that completely took my breath away.
-x-X-x-
""That's... w... what?"
My mind went blank at the sight of the notification. I had no idea how to react, completely thrown off by it. How...? When? Why...?
"H-how is this possible?"
Why was I suddenly haunted? From who...?
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
My heart suddenly raced for no clear reason. The air grew heavy, almost suffocating, as a cold chill swept through the room.
It was the entity itself, announcing with the very change in the atmosphere, that it was coming for me.
'It has to be my imagination.'
I thought it was.
But—
"Hmm."
Noticing the sudden shift in the Conductor's expression as it scanned the room, the sinking feeling in my chest only deepened. Then its gaze fixed on me, and its lips parted with a slow rip, releasing a voice weighted with an unfamiliar seriousness.
"What sort of sinister presence did you provoke?"
The Conductor lifted its arm, revealing its hand. Slowly, its lips curved into an amused smile as its gaze settled on me.
"...Even I am getting shivers."
I lost my breath.
***
The atmosphere within the Guild grew more heated by the day.
Not just the Guild, but the world outside.
As a Queen-Grade Guild, their actions were closely watched by the entire world. Especially after the recent Ranked gate, where the Section Chief and their team had survived against all odds.
This had not only elevated public opinion, but the Guild was now on the cusp of reaching the King-Grade.
It was only natural that their Department Trials garnered a lot of attention.
Would their island be able to compete against those from the main island in the World Congress?
"This year's Department Trials will be a lot different than usual."
A meeting was taking place within the Guild. All members of the Containment Department were sitting in front of a large projection as the Section Chef briefed everyone on the rules of the Trials.
"Since we want to test the very best in the Guild, we've decided to change things up. This won't be the usual test where we have individual tests for teams and measure the speed at which they can clear a certain anomaly."
A mysterious smile played on the Section Chief's face as he looked at everyone present.
Finally, he pressed the remote. The projection flickered, then snapped into focus. A massive building loomed before everyone; its windows were dark, with cracks all over. It looked like a hotel, but there was something about it that felt wrong... Something that made the air grow colder and the room fall unnervingly silent.
"The Trials will be held in VILE — 417, Hotel Claire."
The eyes of many widened at the announcement.
While not everyone knew its full reputation, many present were aware of the Hotel. It was considered one of the Guild's most grueling anomalies, each floor harboring a different, unpredictable threat.
The Hotel had seven floors in total, and only a handful of teams had ever reached the seventh. No one had ever cleared the final floor, ominously known as the "Gates of Hell."
The silence in the room felt suffocating as the Section Chief continued.
"The goal of the trials is to climb the hotel. The higher your team ascends, the better your score. There will be a set limit, and any team that cannot continue will be forcibly removed. No exceptions."
Clicking on the remote, several pictures appeared.
Pausing, the Section Chief looked at everyone present.
"Keep in mind that this will be broadcast to the entire island. It would be best if all of you didn't have to be forcibly removed. That wouldn't reflect very well for your team, and the potential sponsors that it might bring."
Each team had its own sponsor.
Be it on an individual level or a team level. The money provided to the team would range from the competency of the team, with the strongest team getting paid the most money.
After all, there was no better way to advertise a brand than through the Trials and World Congress.
"I'll now brief you on the details of the anomaly. Each team will be allotted 100,000 Guild Points for the Trial. Choose your items carefully. Of course, these are temporary and must be returned immediately after the Trial."
With a greasy smile, the Section Chief continued outlining the trial to the department. What they were expected to do, and the rules they had to follow.
This continued for an entire hour before everyone was finally dismissed.
As the others gradually filed out, only one figure remained seated. Seth's gaze was distant, unfocused, and he didn't react to anything around him.
That was until—
"Squad Leader?"
Joanna tapped him on the shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts.
As he looked at his team and saw everyone looking at him, Seth pursed his lips.
"Right."
He thought back to everything that he had heard.
"Joanna, take charge of the team. Use the points as you see fit, and make a solid plan for the upcoming trial. I'm leaving this in your hands for now."
"Huh?"
Not expecting such a request from him, Joanna didn't know how to react. The rest of the team was also confused.
"Wait, Squad Leader..."
"Are you saying that you can't do this?"
"Eh, no... I—"
"Then that's settled."
Seth stood up from his seat, holding onto his head, trying his best to calm his headache.
"I'll leave all of the planning to you. If you need something, send me a message and I'll see what I can do. I believe in you."
Seth patted Joanna on the shoulder and walked away, leaving her and the team frozen, staring after his retreating back.
They stood like that for the next minute, until Joanna took a deep breath and silently clenched her fist. Not out of anger, but out of excitement. For the first time, the Squad Leader was relying on her.
This...
She couldn't mess it up.
"Alright."
Joanna turned around and led the team elsewhere.
"Let's go."
***
The next day.
One day before the Trials.
I didn't get much sleep.
After learning I was being haunted, I couldn't get an ounce of sleep. Every small sound felt eerie, every shadow a possible threat, and every smell reminding me of blood. I was so out of it that I hadn't even been paying attention to anything about the Trials.
I knew that I was most likely being paranoid, but thinking about the Conductor's words, I knew that I wasn't dealing with a normal entity.
But why...?
Why was I suddenly being targeted?
'Is it possibly related to the cult?'
I bit my lip. It made sense when I thought about it: the cult knew my identity. Their inaction until now felt odd. Maybe it was because I had been holed up in my office, but after everything I had done, their silence made no sense.
'...Have they finally started to look for me?'
I swallowed hard, my eyes fixed on the street ahead. Cars drifted past on the left, and the crowd moved along as if nothing at all was amiss.
The path to the Guild wasn't far.
I clutched my drink and tried to act normal, but every movement felt monitored.
As if a pair of eyes were constantly watching me.
My breathing sped up, and my steps grew quicker. The Guild was very close, only a few minutes' walk. I just had to—
"....!?"
A hand suddenly reached from behind me, halting me on the spot.
My entire body froze, and slowly, my head turned.
A pair of sunglasses met my vision. The fear that had gripped my heart a moment prior disappeared, and my mouth opened on its own, "Offer me 10,000,000$ guaranteed, and I'll join."
The smile on Hermes's face froze.