*Puff*
Smoke drifted in the air.
Myles quietly stared at the floating smoke while holding his phone next to his right ear, the dimples on his face extremely clear.
"Yes, I have presented him with the offer. I think he should accept it without any problems. The terms were quite generous. Enough to make me feel jealous myself."
—Is that so...? Then why don't you-
"No, I'm sorry. I can't accept the offer."
Myles replied, his tone softening a little.
"I'm happy where I'm at, and I've got something that I want to achieve here."
—....
The line fell silent a moment later.
But then, a soft chuckle filled the line.
—Well, I guess that's that. I won't force you. I'm already quite satisfied with what I've got.
"Thank you."
Myles smiled faintly, taking another drag from the cigarette in his hand. His gaze followed the cars moving along the road in front of the Guild as he leaned back against the building, eyes steady and expression calm as he took it all in.
—I hope to receive a good answer in the next couple of days. Once again, I appreciate your help.
"Please don't mention it. I'm always happy to help."
—...I'll remember that. I hope to talk to you again someday.
"Likewise."
The call ended on good terms.
*Puff*
With another drag of the cigarette, Myles slipped his phone back into his pocket and kept his gaze focused on the cars that passed. A soft smile tugged at his lips, dimples showing clear as day. But gradually, the smile faded, and his gaze hardened, turning cold.
As it did, he mumbled,
"I really do hope everything goes well."
He flicked his cigarette away, turning his attention back towards the Guild entrance.
"...I wouldn't want to take drastic measures."
After all, he did quite like Seth.
But it was just unfortunate that the two couldn't coexist. He had something to achieve, and in order to do that, he needed to be the best.
He couldn't be the best if he existed.
***
I didn't wake up in the best of moods.
Rather, I woke up feeling like shit.
"Ugh..."
My mood was perfectly mirrored in my energy level, and I could barely get through my morning routine. Everything I did felt half-assed, like I was just going through the motions without really caring.
'I have just two days left to find a solution to this problem.'
I had spent the entire night racking my brain, but no matter how hard I tried, I came up empty. Lowering my gaze to the compass in my hands, I let out a quiet sigh.
"Still spinning. I guess this won't be any help for now."
My heart sank, though I hadn't held much hope to begin with. The problem wasn't a simple one.
"Right, this is also troublesome."
The number of reporters gathered at the Guild's entrance hadn't lessened. In fact, it had only grown. With no other choice, I took the long way around through the car park. Taking the elevator, I went to the lowest floor.
Ding—!
"Hm?"
The moment the doors opened, I was greeted by a small crowd.
For a moment, my heart stopped.
Wait, don't tell me...
Biting my lips, I felt my entire body tense as I walked closer to the crowd. Some people noticed me, but didn't pay much attention to me as they turned their attention away from me shortly after.
I sighed in relief once I saw this.
'...So I guess nothing happened.'
I walked towards the main area where I spotted several cubicles surrounded by certain groups. Looking around, I eventually spotted the area with the people I was most familiar with and walked up to them.
"What's going on here?"
They all seemed deeply absorbed in their work, but my attention settled on Zoey. She appeared to be at the center of the group's focus, her gaze locked on the monitor in front of her. A strange device clung to her ear, looping around it before moving down along her chin like some sort of microphone.
'What the hell is that...?'
That was the first time I had ever seen something like that. It took me a little by surprise, but before I could voice out my confusion, Kyle stopped me, pressing his finger over his mouth as he gestured for me to be quiet.
".....??"
I was even more confused now.
Just what was he so focu—
"Akh! Shit!"
BANG!
A hand slammed down on the desk as the keyboard on Zoey's desk flipped, and she stood up from her seat.
"Fuck!"
She started to curse all of a sudden, pulling the device from her ear as she glared at the monitor in front of her.
"Fucking shit...!!"
She looked to be properly raging.
I was even more stunned by the sight as she bit onto her fist and sat back down on the chair. Drumming her fingers over the desk, she looked back in our direction, finally taking notice of me.
"What are you doing here?"
"...Going to work?"
"Oh, right."
Zoey rubbed her face while turning her attention back towards the monitor. At the same time, she reached for the strange device again and prepared to put it on when I reached out and grabbed it from her.
"Huh? Hey—!"
"What is this?"
I analyzed it closely. It looked like some sort of earpiece.
"A fashion device? Hmm." I looked at Zoey strangely, her hand reaching forward to snap the device back.
"Give me that!"
Zoey held the device extremely carefully while checking for any damage. Only when she was certain that there were no issues did she sigh in relief as she glared at me.
"Be careful with that. It wasn't cheap."
"...Oh."
Fashion items usually did go fo—
"It's my new portable VR device. It wasn't cheap."
"Hm?"
I stopped, turning my attention towards the device.
"Pardon? What did you just say?"
"What?"
Zoey looked at me weirdly, holding onto the weird earpiece.
"Wait, what did you just call that?"
"...New VR piece?"
"What...?"
VR piece? That...?
Staring at the earpiece, I could hardly make sense of the situation. She wasn't messing around with me, was she?
How could something like that be a VR piece? And how come I had only heard about it now?
"...It's not released yet."
Kyle suddenly chimed in from the right.
"It's just a beta product that Zoey got sent. She was just trying it with a recent game that has been trending lately."
Kyle pointed at the screen of the monitor.
"Funnily enough, it's a horror game. It's called 'Death Company', and honestly, it's quite fun. Look around. Everyone is playing it."
Kyle rubbed at his nose, his mouth parting slightly before closing again. It looked as though he had something to say, but the words never made it past his lips. After looking at me, he suddenly grew hesitant.
What—
"Attention please!"
A voice suddenly filled the room, gathering the attention of everyone present.
I also turned toward the source of the voice, but the instant I did, my expression froze. A familiar head of silver hair entered my sight, and my body instinctively tensed.
No, don't tell me...
The Section Chief pointed towards the girl standing next to him.
"I just wanted to introduce everyone to the newest member of our department. Her name is Ariel, and I hope you get along well with her."
As he spoke, his gaze abruptly shifted toward me, and a sudden premonition struck.
He didn't even get the chance to speak before I spoke up.
"I refuse."
"...Our group is already full. We don't need any members. Please don't even think about adding her to my group. I don't want her."
I made sure to make my rejection clear.
There was no way I was going to let Ariel anywhere near my group or me. Let alone the fact that I had kicked her in the head and knocked her unconscious, she was batshit crazy. I knew this better than anyone else.
'And isn't she literally a part of the cult? What the hell is going on here???'
"Okay, Seth... Calm down. Let me explain."
The Section Chief did his best to de-escalate the situation, but I wasn't having any of it. There were moments when one had to yield, and moments when one had to stand one's ground. This was one of the latter.
'Not this psychopath. Everyone but this fucking psychopath!'
"Ugh."
My firm rejection immediately drew the attention of everyone in the room. The Section Chief ran a hand through his hair, his expression clearly troubled.
"I don't think I can handle another member. Thank you for the thought, but no. She's also stronger than me... And wasn't she part of the cult? Why would I want her? No. Did I say no? Because I want to make sure you heard me say no."
This was probably the first time I had spoken so fast and so eloquently in front of a lot of people. The reaction coming from the people around me also served to highlight this.
They all looked stunned, but...
'This has to be done.'
She was the last person that I wanted to be paired up with.
"Nein."
I even went as far as speaking another language.
"I'll quit the Guil—"
"Alright, alright."
The Section Chief waved his hand, evidently feeling a massive headache as he stopped me from speaking further.
"I get you don't want her as your team member. I got your message. You don't have to repeat it so often."
"....."
My eyes narrowed as I stared at the Section Chief.
Then—
"Good."
I patted my hands in satisfaction. The surroundings grew quiet as I did, several pairs of eyes settling on me, but I paid them no mind. Their opinions didn't matter. What mattered was keeping her off my team, and I was desperate enough to do anything to make sure of it.
"Now then..."
I turned around and prepared to leave.
But of course, things weren't going to go so smoothly.
"Hold on."
The Section Chief's voice stopped me dead in my tracks, a sinking feeling reaching the pits of my stomach.
As if reading my thoughts, the Section Chief raised his hand to stop me.
"Don't worry. I understand your message. Just come with me for now."
I narrowed my eyes while looking at him, but in the end, I decided to follow along.
'...I really do hope he won't ask again.'
This was something that I was very firm about.
But just as I began to follow the Section Chief, something flickered across my vision, and my expression shifted instantly.
This...
***
'My head hurts. It hurts a lot.'
Walking into a private room, the Section Chief rubbed his forehead. When Seth stepped in after him, he rubbed it again, the lines on his face deepening as though the sight alone doubled his headache.
'...It really hurts.'
It started to hurt even more when he stared at the silver-haired girl who was about to step into the room.
"Wait out for a moment. I'll talk with you later."
"...."
The girl stood in silence for a short moment before turning back and leaving the room. She had yet to speak a single word with him, but she had been strangely obedient ever since he had been given responsibility over her.
'I'm sure the Guild Master did something to make her like this.'
He was also the one who had given him the task of assigning her to Seth's team. Of course, only if Seth agreed.
The Section Chief was unsure of the reason for this command, but he understood that the Guild Master most certainly had some intention with this.
All he needed to do was follow orders.
"So...?"
Pulling his attention towards Seth as he sat with his arms folded, and his eyes narrowed, the Section Chief felt the lines on his forehead double.
I really...
"There are a couple of things that I want to talk about. Mainly, however, I want to know the reason why you don't want the girl in the group. Her capabilities are quite good, and if you're worried about her going crazy, then there's no worry. The Guil—"
"I thought you weren't going to mention her."
The Section Chief blinked.
"Did I say that?"
Seth's lips twitched, and he pressed his hands on the table.
"Alright, I guess—"
"Five hundred thousand."
Seth's movements came to a sudden stop.
His face grew blank, and his head slowly lifted to stare directly at the Section Chief as an audible gulp echoed.
"You said..."
"The Guild will invest another half a million in your game if you agree. Of course, the profits you make will be all yours."
"....."
Seth's chest rose and fell at a quicker pace. No matter how hard he tried to steady himself, his expression still gave him away.
This was half a million...
But still—
"No."
Seth remained firm with his rejection. That wasn't enough money for him.
"The offer is tempting, but—"
"One million."
Seth's breathing grew incredibly rough, his lips twitching alongside his dark eyes. He was desperately trying to keep himself calm, but in the Section Chief's eyes, he sounded no different than a starved dog.
He knew that all he needed to do was push a little more.
"One million alongside an individual marketing budget of—"
"Tell her to arrive early in the morning tomorrow."
Seth stood up from his seat, his expression firm and calm. As he opened the door to the room, he looked at the woman who stood outside the door and greeted her with a courteous smile.
"I hope you forgive me for what happened before. Let's hope for a happy cooperation."
Clank—!
The door closed shortly after, leaving the Section Chief alone in the room. As the silence settled, he leaned his head forward and muttered, "I've never doubted your commands, Guild Master, but I'm really starting to doubt them this time. Just what in the world are you trying to do?"
***
'Looks like they suspect something.'
The smile quickly wiped from my face the moment I left the room and entered my own office.
I wasn't stupid.
I could see that this was no coincidence.
'Judging from the Section Chief's face, he doesn't seem to be aware just yet, and the only person who can command him is the Guild Master. It looks like, just like Myles, he has figured something out. He's trying to use Ariel to investigate me further.'
The first thought that came to my mind when I realized this was, 'Should I leave? I have to leave.'
However, after a moment's thought, I realized that by leaving, I'd confirm all the suspicions.
It wasn't a wise idea to leave.
With that being said, it also became clear to me that something had happened to Ariel. She was a lot quieter and reserved than I had anticipated. At first, I had assumed it was because she was in enemy territory, but it became clear rather quickly that it wasn't the case.
[New Quest Activated!]
• Difficulty: N/A
• Reward: 10 Fragments [Purity 50%+]
• Objective: Help break the seal in Ariel's body.
• Location: N/A
• Failure: The user will have their identity exposed.
Description: A certain seal has been placed on Ariel's body. She is now extremely obedient and follows every order of the one who placed it on her. She has been ordered to keep a close eye on you.
Time Limit: N/A
[Will you accept the quest?]
▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]
Indeed, the quest that came the moment after I began to walk to the Section Chief's room made everything clear to me.
It was also the main reason why I chose to accept the offer. While the money was tempting, it wasn't as tempting as my own life. The reason why I had chosen to take the offer was something else entirely.
'Maybe, just maybe... I have found a way to get out of this predicament.'
But—
I slowly lowered my head to stare at my arms, noticing the hair that was bristling upwards as I forced a smile.
I could very well be falling into the depths of hell in doing so.
-x-X-x-
"Pay attention, everyone!"
The moment I opened the door to the room, I stepped to the side and introduced the girl who stood behind me.
"This here will be our new teammate. I hope that everyone can get along with her."
"...."
"...."
"...."
The room fell completely silent following my short introduction. I cleared my throat and looked back at Ariel.
"This crazy bi—Ehm. I mean, this girl right here is Ariel."
I then looked back at my team, ignoring the wide eyes and gaping mouths.
"These right here are your teammates. I hope you can get along well with them. Although they look like this, they are all extremely competent."
The silence continued even after the short introduction. In the end, the only thing I could do was point at the empty cubicle in the room.
"That will be your cubicle. You can decorate it however you want. Just let me know if you need anything else from me."
"...."
Without saying anything, Ariel proceeded to move towards her cubicle. I stared at her exposed back for a short moment before turning my attention back towards my team. It was there that I noticed Joanna standing up and dragging me out of the room.
Clank!
"Squad Leader! What's going on...!?"
She was clearly confused.
I couldn't blame her. After all, everyone was aware of the fact that the girl was the one responsible for the gate.
I could only shrug while looking at her.
"Orders from the Section Chief. I can't do anything about it."
"But...!"
"I know. I know."
She didn't have to tell me to remind me of the fact that we couldn't trust someone like her on our team. I also didn't trust her, but at the same time, it was clear that for now, she had been tamed.
Whatever 'seal' the Guild Master had placed on her, it had made her into a completely different person.
'She's way different compared to the crazy version of her that I know.'
I felt that this was good.
"Just accept her for now. I'll explain more about the situation to all of you later. For now, you shouldn't be too worried about her. The Guild wouldn't just let someone like her into their own department if they didn't think she was safe to use."
This was true.
I knew that the Guild was crazy, but they weren't crazy enough to allow a cultist into their Guild. If not for the system message that told me she was directly sealed, I'd have been worried.
"Are you sure...?"
"Yes, don't worry. I'll take care of it."
I reassured Joanna, patting her on the shoulder while looking back at the room.
I was certainly going to take care of it.
Of that, I was sure. I had already made up my mind.
"Go back in for now. There are a couple of things that I need to take care of."
"...Alright."
Although I could still see the doubt in her eyes, she ended up relenting and walking back towards the room. However, just as she was about to enter, she stopped, turning her attention back to me.
"Oh, right."
"Hm?"
Did she have something else to say?
"Did you release a new game?"
New game?
What was she talking about?
"You didn't?"
"No...?"
I had yet to even properly plan for one. I had messed around with the VR a bit, and I had several ideas in my mind, but I had yet to properly start a new game.
"Oh, I see. Never mind then."
With a shrug of her shoulders, Joanna proceeded to enter the room, leaving me at a loss as I stared at the door.
Scratching the side of my cheek, I frowned.
"What was that about?"
Ding!
A certain notification snapped me out of my thoughts.
Pulling out my phone and staring at the message that appeared, the smile wiped off my face as my eyes narrowed.
"Looks like it's time for me to act."
For me to release my anger.
I was done playing games.
*
I didn't know how many floors the Guild actually had. What I did know was that the Containment Department was buried at the very bottom, while the Guild Master's office sat at the very top.
Ding—!
As the doors parted, they revealed a wide lobby lined with tall glass windows on each side, offering a sweeping view of the world below. My gaze settled on the receptionist stationed behind a sleek black marble counter.
The moment the elevator doors parted and the receptionist caught sight of me, she greeted me with a smile before pointing towards the large wooden door.
"Please..."
I didn't bother with ceremony and strode straight to the door, pushing it open as though it belonged to my own house.
Clank!
A large and spacious office greeted me.
One that would make any normal person jealous. However, I paid no attention to my surroundings and just focused on the man who stood before me.
As though my presence meant nothing, he kept his eyes locked on the paper before him, his pen gliding across the surface in steady strokes. A quiet, intangible pressure seeped out from him, filling the room with an oppressive weight as I started to have a hard time breathing.
And yet—
I remained calm, moving towards the nearest seat and making myself comfortable.
The anger and annoyance that I was currently feeling were overriding any of the fear that I felt towards the man before me.
Before he could fully acknowledge my presence, I tossed a couple of papers on his desk.
Plack!
That finally drew the Guild Master's attention. His hand stilled, and with deliberate slowness, he lifted his head to meet my gaze. The instant our eyes locked, my breath caught in my throat, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as though even my heartbeat had stopped.
Every hair on my body rose, and a sudden coldness washed over me.
Gritting my teeth, I kept my gaze firmly locked in his direction.
That was until—
"What is this...?"
The Guild Master finally spoke, his gaze drifting toward the papers I had tossed onto his desk. The suffocating pressure eased just slightly, and I seized the moment to open my mouth and speak.
"Those are my resignation papers. I'm quitting."
The silence that had taken over the room moments prior turned even more suffocating as the Guild Master alternated his gaze between me and the papers.
His lips parted shortly after.
"Why are you quitting?"
"Do I have to say it?"
I looked at him meaningfully. I was aware of the fact that he suspected something. He was probably just like the rat, and was playing all sorts of annoying games with me.
There were too many things that I needed to take care of.
I was in no mood for games.
"....."
The Guild Master remained quiet, his gaze quietly focused on me.
But then—
He smiled, placing the papers down.
"You're rather surprising. I didn't think you'd catch on so quickly."
The ease with which the Guild Master carried himself made me feel uneasy, but I knew that I couldn't show any weakness.
With a smile, I answered, "I'm not the smartest, but I'm also not the dumbest. It doesn't take a genius to know what you're trying to do."
"Should I take it as you admitting that you're the Jester then...?"
The atmosphere froze over in the next instant, the Guild Master's eyes narrowing so sharply that my entire body locked in place, my breath ripping straight out of my lungs. Staring at his eyes, which were as calm as they could be, and feeling the constant beating of my heart, I clenched my teeth tightly before relaxing and leaning back on the chair.
"...Sure."
I nodded, coming clean to him.
"I am the Jester."
-x-X-x-
The Guild Master of the Guild was an extremely mysterious man.
There wasn't much news about him, and despite my best efforts to dig deeper, all I ever managed to uncover was surface-level information. Nothing substantial, just the kind of details anyone could stumble across without really trying.
He was a rising star of the Containment Department, rising like a comet and making a name for himself in the World Congress before fading completely into obscurity, appearing once more as the Guild Master of the Severed Star Guild, one of the fastest rising Guilds within the island.
There wasn't much that I could pick up during my search, but if there was one thing that I understood, it was that this man was no normal person.
Staring at him sitting opposite me, his half-smile fixed in place while those cold, dark eyes locked unblinkingly onto mine, it felt as though I was under the scrutiny of some enormous predator.
My skin tingled, and my lips pursed dryly.
Despite this, I managed to maintain my outward cool despite shivering on the inside. My stomach churned, and my legs felt like jelly.
I understood clearly that I couldn't give a single inch in such a moment.
In the still silence that took over the place, the Guild Master's lips parted shortly after.
"...So you're going to come clean just like that?"
"I am."
I nodded without hesitation, leaning back on the chair while keeping my eyes locked onto his.
"I can see from your eyes that you've already made up your mind. In that case, I'll just play along. I... am the Jester."
The Guild Master's lips pulled higher as he looked at me, a sudden understanding washing over him.
"Of course it wasn't going to be this easy..." He mumbled, his tone unreadable. For a moment, he reminded me of the rat.
A thought occurred to me.
Could they be related?
'Hmm, according to the storyline in-game, Myles should be an orphan, but I know better than to rely on the game storyline for the reality before me.'
The two didn't really look alike.
They just gave off the same 'snake-like' vibe.
I started to feel uncomfortable.
"Well, I of course didn't think things were going to be so easy." The Guild Master spoke, leaning back on his chair. "With that being said, I'm curious as to why you suddenly jumped to the conclusion that I found out about your relation to the Jester."
"Oh, that."
I answered truthfully.
"A certain rat came to me and told me his findings. I figured that if they can figure it out, so can you."
"....."
The Guild Master didn't reply, but from the slight tug of his lips, I could tell that he was more than satisfied with the answer.
"So there was someone else who figured it out? In that case, it suddenly makes sense as to why you'd want to meet up with me. You..." The Guild Master paused, his eyes flickering with amusement as he stared straight at me. "...You want to use my help in order to get rid of them, isn't that right?"
"That's right."
I nodded calmly as my leg trembled under the desk.
The longer his gaze lingered on me, the more exposed I felt, as though every layer I'd built around myself was being peeled away. It was as if he could sift through my thoughts, one by one, without effort.
This...
'It feels like shit.'
Silently clenching my teeth, I pointed at the proposal on the desk.
"Let's go with your assumption that I am the Jester. A being that somehow managed to help clear up several high-ranking gates. You've seen my capabilities. I'm sure you're aware of how invaluable I am. You can't do without someone like me."
I remained seated, using every last bit of energy to point at myself.
"...I'm most likely the best you'll get or will ever get. You, of all people, should understand just how previous someone like me is. Not only am I capable of creating games that can be used for training, but I'm also the Jester?"
I stopped before the desk, lowering my head to stare at the papers.
I tapped on them a couple of times.
"The choice should be obvious, right? Give me what I want, and I'll stay."
Pausing and taking in the silence that was between us, I took a deep breath before lowering my voice.
"Get rid of Myles Holms and I'll stay."
***
'Bold.'
That was how the Guild Master would describe that young man standing before him. With his dark hair, moderately sized frame, and pale face, he looked like the average human. His features were somewhat handsome, but it wasn't anything he hadn't seen before.
However, if there was one thing that stood out to him, it was his eyes.
They were...
Dark.
Very dark.
To the point where it almost felt as though he had no soul of his own.
But that wasn't the most striking thing about him. What stood out even more to the Guild Master was the ease with which Seth looked at him.
It was as if his gaze was nothing to him.
'It's such a rare sight.'
The deeper one delved into the gates, the more they were exposed to their darkness. In time, this bred a kind of pressure within them. A creeping intent that clung to the soul and was nearly impossible to shake off.
One that... could be clearly felt by those who held no 'order' or 'power'.
The fact that Seth could stare him in the eyes without feeling such 'intent' was a surprise in itself.
There weren't many people who could do that.
'Is he really the Jester then...?'
It had all been a hypothesis to the Guild Master. From the start, he didn't really believe that to be the case. He knew the Jester's strength, and he was also aware of the fact that Seth held no powers.
In reality, his thoughts were more in line with, 'He knows the Jester or has some information about him.'
He had never once thought that he'd be the Jester.
But what if...?
"Guild Master."
Seth's voice descended once more, his tone lower than before.
"...Although there's not much information about you online, from the little information that I have been able to find, I know that you're the pragmatic type. You only do things that will benefit you the most. In that case, I'm telling you that keeping me satisfied is in your best interest."
Despite the tone Seth spoke in, the Guild Master took no offense. On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy it all the more.
It was well known amongst the Section Chiefs of the Guilds that he disliked people he could control.
He liked people like Seth.
People who... could put themselves in such uncomfortable positions in order to fulfill their goal.
He leaned back on his chair while staring at Seth and then at the paper in front of him. After a small bout of silence, he tapped his finger against his desk.
"So you're saying that I can't keep you and him at the same time?"
"You cannot."
Seth didn't hesitate as he replied.
"It's either him or me. The two of us can't coexist."
"Hmm."
The Guild Master closed his eyes. It'd be quite a pity if someone like Myles left the Guild. He was extremely talented and a potential star like Kyle and Zoey. But at the same time, Seth wasn't much different.
Add to the fact that he could create games and was also the 'Jester', the choice was obvious.
"....."
Opening his eyes again and staring at Seth, the Guild Master smiled.
Tap!
"I'll need a good excuse to get rid of the Myles. I hope that you can provide me with one."
Seth's face changed for the first time. `
"Does that mean...?"
"Yes."
The Guild Master nodded.
"I'll agree to your terms. Of course, that is if you agree to mine as well."
Seth paused in that moment, his gaze locked onto the Guild Master.
But then—
"Alright."
He nodded, his hand reaching towards the Guild Master.
"...That is doable."
-x-X-x-
'Is he really going to agree?'
Staring at the Guild Master, I found it hard to believe he'd agree so easily. He wasn't the type of person who would agree so easily on things like these.
Wearing a faint smile as his deep eyes bore into me, I couldn't help but feel a growing unease.
'...Yeah, there's no way things are so simple. He did say he had some terms. What are they exactly?'
While my mind was in turmoil, I didn't let it show outwardly.
I took a deep and quiet breath before opening my mouth again.
"When you say it's doable, are you saying that you're willing to do it, or that it's possible?"
The Guild Master answered with a simple smile.
No words, no nothing.
Just a smile.
What is that supposed to mean...? I tried my best to hide my inner frustration, trying my best to decipher the Guild Master's intentions.
'He's clearly stated before that he would need a good excuse to get rid of Myles. This means that he's open to the idea of kicking Myles out in order to keep me.'
He also explicitly says that he agreed to my terms.
What I needed to know were his terms. What exactly were his terms? Were they going to be outrageous? If so... As though he could read my mind, the Guild Master spoke up.
"The terms that I demand are not very extreme. If you wish for me to get rid of Myles, then I would need you to sign a long contract with the Guild. Of course, I'll provide you with good terms for the contract. Be it salary or any other demands that you have, I can meet them. However, in doing so, you'll be stuck with us for quite some time."
My heart pressed tightly upon hearing the first part of the terms. This... it didn't sound extremely unreasonable considering how I was getting one of their star talents kicked out of the Guild, but at the same time, it almost felt as though I was caging myself to the Guild.
The terms could be great in the short term, but what about the long term?
How much freedom would I have?
'At this point, I should consider quitting.'
I didn't want to be tied down by anyone. I was already tied down by the system, and that was annoying enough already.
"...I can see what you're thinking, and I can reassure you that I won't be taking much of your freedom. Things will remain the same as they have always been. You'll just be with us for longer. The salary can also be progressive, meaning that it'll be based on your results. If you don't believe me, you can review it later when the contract comes."
"Really...?"
I stared at the Guild Master suspiciously. For some reason, I was still struggling to completely believe his words.
There was something about his gaze and expression that made me feel uneasy.
It was almost as if...
I was dealing with the devil directly.
H-ha...
'I really need to stop negotiating with people like these.'
It was just unfortunate that I had been pushed to this point. I was sick and tired of the rat and his antics. The two of us could no longer co-exist, and as such, I took the most extreme measure that I could possibly think of in order to get rid of him.
"There's nothing that you have to worry too much about, Seth. You'll just be treated as a top-tier talent. That's all. Everything will be exactly the same."
"Is that the case...?"
Despite hearing it from him directly, I still didn't feel completely at ease.
Still...
I clenched my teeth.
This was the path that I set myself.
This wasn't just about getting rid of the rat. It was more than that.
Staring at the Guild Master before me, I pulled my hand back and sat back down on the sofa while staring at him. I didn't say anything and just stared at him. He didn't say anything either and accepted my gaze calmly.
Eventually—
Tap.
I tapped my right hand against the armrest of the chair.
The Guild Master's brow rose, and his attention was quickly pulled to the monitor in front of him.
Flick!
The screen flickered, and a certain clown appeared.
Da Da Da~
A certain tune played in the air, and for the first time, the smile on the Guild Master's face faded.
"My Decree is called the Shepherd Decree."
I began to calmly explain what he was seeing.
"It allows me to control anomalies that I've encountered in the past. To some extent, I can even transfer their abilities onto me. What you're seeing is one of the anomalies that I've managed to contain. I am sure you are aware of their identity."
"...."
The silence that followed my explanation felt extremely unsettling. To the point where I felt every hair on my body rise.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
Despite my best attempt at remaining calm, my heart raced wildly, the back of my shirt entirely soaked in my own sweat.
However, I knew that this was a necessary step that I had to take.
The system had given me an option. Find a way to break the seal on Ariel's body and use her to keep the Guild Master from discovering the secret. However, I decided to reject the quest in the end.
I decided to go for a different option.
My option.
One... that went out of the script.
'I'll make a deal with the devil himself.'
There was no denying that, given all of the circumstances that had occurred, my identity as the Jester would be revealed. It was inevitable, and while I could drag the secret for a little bit longer, if the rat could figure it out, so would everyone else.
In that case, rather than delaying the inevitable, it was best to come clean and take advantage of that 'secret' to gain the best possible benefits.
'With someone as powerful as the Guild Master, I also won't have to worry too much about my identity and secret. With his abilities, I'm certain I can keep the secret from everyone else.'
I'd also be gaining an extremely powerful, albeit dangerous ally.
This was an extremely risky move, but at the same time, it was a move that I felt would benefit me the most in the long run.
I took a deep breath.
"I've tried researching more about this Decree, but it seems like I'm the only one who has such a Decree. This is a Decree that no other in this world has, and is held by a person that is currently tied to this very Guild."
"...."
The silence across the room remained, the Guild Master's eyes flickering with something ominous. A certain pressure bore down on me, causing my breathing to become rougher.
I paid no attention to the pressure and continued to speak.
"...I can assure you. My worth is something that you don't need to doubt. Between me and the ra-Myles, there's no comparison."
Slipping my hand into my pocket, I drew out a certain mask. Slowly, almost ceremoniously, I pressed it against my face. The moment it latched on, the faint chime of bells echoed into existence. Through the narrow slits of the mask, the world around me faded, leaving only one figure before my eyes.
The Guild Master...
Staring straight back at me.
"If you weren't sure about my identity before, I'm sure you are certain of it now."
I tapped on the mask on my face.
"I am the Jester."
-x-X-x-
The soft jingle of bells drifted through the room as two figures sat opposite one another, their dark eyes locked against each other. A heavy tension clung to the air, as if the room itself held its breath.
Staring at the Jester that stood before him, the Guild Master's eyes scanned him from head to toe. From the moment Seth put on the mask, his entire vibe changed. It almost felt as though an entirely different person had appeared in the room.
To some extent, his presence was 'alien'.
As if he were dealing with an anomaly rather than a human. He could hardly sense him at all.
It was no wonder he was mistaken for an anomaly.
'Interesting.'
The more the Guild Master observed, the more his interest grew.
He was completely unaffected by the subtle pressure coming from the 'Jester' opposite him, but he couldn't help but acknowledge it.
'It's interesting.'
His heart remained as steady as it had been at the start.
Rather, his heart slowed at the sight of the Jester.
'...Although I've previously made the connection, I was more inclined to believe he had ties with the anomaly rather than it being someone else. I wonder how he managed to enter the gates if that's the case.'
There were a lot of questions that he wanted to ask at the moment.
However—
"Do you think this is enough to prove my worth?"
The Jester's soft, yet cold words echoed quietly across the room, pulling the Guild Master out of his thoughts.
Turning his attention back towards the 'Jester', the smile returned on the Guild Master's face.
He didn't answer, but the meaning behind his smile was clear.
'Yes.'
Seth reached for the mask and slowly pulled it off his face. The moment he did, for just the briefest of moments, his dark eyes turned a deeper shade of black before returning to their normal colour.
The sight didn't escape the Guild Master's gaze as he opened his mouth, but right before he could speak, Seth's voice cut through.
"...I've shown you my worth. I hope that you can take it into consideration when creating a contract for me."
Seth placed both of his hands on the end of the armrests of the chair he was sitting on, helping himself up.
"While I wanted to keep it a secret that I was the 'Jester', the fact that you know doesn't mean that you've got leverage on me. Rather..." Seth paused, his eyes firmly fixed on the Guild Master. "...This is just me giving you the opportunity to use the secret to your advantage. At this point, I'm no longer concerned about keeping this a secret. Instead, I'm sure you understand what would happen if the world were to find out about my Decree."
The Guild Master's face didn't change despite Seth's words.
It almost felt as though he could see right through Seth's intentions, but at the same time, it worked out well for him.
"It won't be hard for me to make it impossible for others to link you with the Jester. There are several ways I can make it like that."
This worked out well for him as well.
It would be such a waste to reveal his abilities to the public. There were so many things he could do.
"...That would be ideal," Seth replied after a momentary pause. "I still would like it if fewer people know about my identity as the 'Jester'. It would be too troublesome otherwise."
"That's good."
The Guild Master smiled, staring at Seth as he walked out the door.
"I'll present you with a renewed contract soon. You can look at it yourself, and you can tell me how you feel about it."
"...Yes."
"Oh."
As if suddenly recalling something, the Guild Master opened one of his drawers and retrieved a long, black, rectangular device, placing it on the table.
"That is...?"
"It's me holding my end of the deal."
The Guild Master tossed it in Seth's direction shortly after.
He smiled at the same time.
"I hope you give me a very good reason."
***
Clank—!
Closing the door behind me, I walked towards the elevator door, ignoring the receptionist. It was only when the doors fully closed that I finally took a deep breath as my chest rose and fell repeatedly, the sweat sticking to my back as I struggled to keep it together.
"F-fuck..."
Despite doing my best not to show it, I had been under immense pressure and stress under the Guild Master's presence. Every little word that came out of my mouth had to be carefully chosen, and it almost felt as though I was walking on a tight rope, every step potentially the last.
"Hoo. Hoo."
I tried my best to calm myself down, but in spite of everything that I tried, I could hardly keep it together as I leaned back against the mirror of the elevator.
As I did, I silently clenched my fists.
'I did it...'
I didn't really know how to feel about my current situation, but it was one that came as a result of my desperation.
From the start, I had never planned on ever revealing my identity as the Jester.
This was primarily due to the fact that it would potentially lead to my death. I couldn't allow anyone to know about the system. The moment someone found it was the moment that I died.
Things were supposed to be like that, and yet...
'I've gone and done it.'
I had revealed my identity as the Jester.
Thankfully, I didn't have to worry about anyone finding out about the system. Now that I had reached the Third Order, I had different ways to explain the situations that had occurred in the past.
The Guild Master had yet to ask any questions about that, but I felt that the Guild Master wasn't the type to ask much. He was more the type of person who preferred benefits over anything else.
So long as I benefited him, then...
'Yeah, this is why I decided to do this.'
This was all for my own benefit.
To get rid of the rat and to have someone high in power to help me achieve my goal.
While I understood that this could potentially backfire on me, I also understood that this was a great opportunity for me.
With someone like the Guild Master backing me, I was certain that I'd be able to grow a lot faster than before. I'd also be able to gain access to information that I hadn't been able to in the past.
This was a necessary step that I had to take.
'Yeah, I had to take this step.'
Reassuring myself that I had taken the correct path, I slowly brought my hand up to stare at the item that the Guild Master had given me. It looked like some sort of rectangular pen, but there appeared to be no lid.
Calmly looking around the pen, I took out my phone and scanned the pen using the Guild Database.
'Since this is an item that the Guild Master has given me, I'm sure I can find this in the Guild Database.'
The scanning took no longer than a couple of seconds.
Right after, I waited for a couple of seconds before a match appeared.
But the moment it did, my expression froze.
"This..."
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
My heart raced through my chest, my hand reaching for my mouth as I found myself laughing.
"Hah."
This thing right here...
It was a very fitting device for the thing that I needed to do next.
-x-X-x-
"Has everyone gotten acquainted with the new team member?"
I entered the team room and clapped. The atmosphere was awkward, and the moment I entered, all eyes fell on me.
They all wore the same expression. One that seemed to say, 'Where have you been!?'
I coughed and pretended to ignore their gazes while sitting down in my chair and took out my laptop.
"I'm glad everyone is getting along well. Let me check my email to see if the results for the Trials are out."
I was actually quite curious about the results. It had been a bit since the Trials had ended, and I had been wondering whether the Section Chief had finalised the rankings.
But—
"Hmm. Nothing yet."
It looked like my mail was still relatively empty.
'That's a pity, but I guess it won't take too long before we get a result.'
I had a feeling that we'd all rank well. I hoped that'd be the case. Thinking about entering the World Congress, and all the views that would be placed on us...
I rubbed my hands underneath the table.
'It's the perfect place to advertise my next game.'
I was feeling rather excited. Of course, that would only work if I had a game to advertise. I had yet to start, but I already had several ideas in my mind.
'My team should be here soon. They've all signed the contract, so they'll be here the moment they clear their stuff in their current office.'
It was about time that I got started with my new game. I had been delaying it long enough.
'Hmm, thinking about a new game...'
I switched the page on the computer and opened the Dock app.
'There's been a game recently that has been trending quite a bit. The one that Zoey was playing not long ago... she did mention that it was a horror game. I wonder if it's good.'
I needed to check the competition.
But—
The moment I stopped at the game page, I paused.
[Price — 159.99$]
My lips twitched. This was quite a lot for a game. But that wasn't the part that threw me off the most.
No, that was fine. There were a lot of games that went for this price. Especially if they were optimised for VR.
The part that truly unsettled me was something else.
It was...
'Nightmare Forge Studios.'
The company that was in charge of the game. This was the very same company that I used to work for.
I had mixed feelings about them. They weren't a very good company to work with, and the only reason I had even chosen to work with them in the first place was because I had been desperate for money.
However, it was also true that they were the company that had introduced me to this world of games.
To some extent, I had a sort of attachment to them. I didn't hold any jealousy towards their success.
Well...
Staring at their numbers, I swallowed my saliva.
'Maybe just a little.'
Not only were the reviews great, but the number of sales was also ridiculous. Just thinking about all the money that they'd make from the game made my stomach churn.
With that much money...
'No, let's not think about it. For now, I'll just download the game and play it when I have time.'
I was very interested to see how they made the game. Perhaps I'd be able to get a better idea of how to improve my own game.
There were more important things that I needed to take care of.
Checking my watch, I looked back at the team. Everyone looked busy doing their own thing, but judging from the expressions they were wearing, they were still not satisfied with the decision of having Ariel in the team.
I turned my attention in her direction and saw her quietly sitting in her seat, doing nothing but blankly staring at her screen. She looked like some sort of soulless doll, and for a moment, I almost started to feel pity for her.
Just what sort of seal had the Guild Master placed on her?
For a moment, I started to question my prior decision to work with him.
In the end, it was a little too late for me to regret my decision. Closing down my laptop, I stood up while looking at everyone else present.
I've checked my emails, and it seems we don't have anything else to do. You can all leave and do whatever you want. I don't think any of us is fit to enter the gate."
With all said and done, I could take it easy for the day.
And that was what I was planning on doing for the next day or so.
After all, I needed to get ready for what was to come.
I couldn't wait for the day to come any faster. Especially since I knew the Guild Master was working with me.
'It's about time I get rid of the rat...'
***
There were no significant events in the days that followed. The rankings for the Trials were still not released, and the Guild remained relatively quiet.
And yet—
Walking into the Guild and moving past the familiar areas, I couldn't help but feel the air was different than usual.
There was a certain heaviness to it that I couldn't ignore as I walked past all the familiar faces and finally arrived at my own office.
Clank—
Opening the all too familiar door, and turning on the lights, I looked around before making myself comfortable in my own seat.
The sense of heaviness lingered as I sat down, pressing further into my mind. Quietly, I adjusted to the sensation before taking care of everything in the room. I started polishing the table and placing the disorganized papers into more organized piles. I even went as far as scrubbing the table with a towel, making sure that everything was spotless.
It had to be spotless.
After all, I was going to be receiving a guest today.
To Tok—
One that eventually arrived as I turned my attention towards the door.
As my actions paused, I opened my mouth but soon closed it.
I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to hide the trembling.
Eventually—
"C-come in."
A faint tremble escaped my lips as I spoke. It was accidental, and for a moment, my heart skipped a beat.
But soon...
Creeaaaaak!
The door opened, and a familiar pair of dimples appeared before my vision.
Staring at those dimples, I pressed my hand tighter onto my face as the rat continued to push the door open before entering the room.
As he entered, he calmly looked around before sitting down on the chair opposite me.
A tense silence followed right after as the rat waited until the door was fully closed to speak.
"So...?" His voice was calm, almost joyful. Hearing the voice, it sounded almost like that of someone that was trying their best to hide their excitement.
'Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.'
I bit my lips, trying my best to calm myself down.
But then—
"What is your decision? Have you decided to leave the Guild?"
Ah.
I pressed my hand tighter against my lips, the edges curling on their own as I stared at the rat.
Don't smile...
'Don't smile.'
-x-X-x-
"So...? What's your answer?"
The rat came in boldly, sitting down as if he owned the place.
Holding onto my smile, I found myself unable to respond. The rat seemed to mistake my silence for weakness, the corners of his lips curling wider as the dimples on his face deepened, his beady eyes glinting with a certain satisfaction.
"...I see that you're still rather hesitant about quitting. But what's really so bad about quitting? You're getting a very good job with a good salary. You can say that I've been very nice to you. This really isn't a hard decision."
But it was...
While his words held some truth, they conveniently left out several key details.
I was appreciated in the Guild.
It was clear from the way the Section Chief treated me that he regarded me as some sort of remarkable talent, someone far above the average recruit in his eyes.
The same couldn't be said for the new Guild. Not only was I a stranger from a distant island, but I was also an unknown talent... hardly a name that carried any weight. It would take time and effort before I could prove my worth to them.
That wasn't all.
The Guild also provided me with a great budget and a room to create my games.
Creating games was fundamental to me. They served not only as my primary source of income but also as my main means of earning SP.
Although I was no longer obligated to create games, the system was so perfectly designed for it that not making use of it felt like an incredible waste.
Not only that, but I was also keenly aware that creating games wasn't merely a means for me to earn points.
There was undoubtedly more to it than that, and because of this, I couldn't bring myself to stop creating them.
I knew...
Very well knew that the system was preparing me for something by creating the games.
'It's just about finding the reason why I have to make the games.'
But besides that, and the most important point of them all...
I despised talking to strangers and meeting new people. Joining a new Guild would only make me dread going there each day. I knew I'd feel tortured, endlessly overthinking how to start a conversation and struggling to keep it going without it descending into awkward silence.
'Oh god, no.'
I felt shivers just thinking about it.
Unlike with the new Guild, I was already familiar with many of the people here. Talking to them didn't feel awkward, and while I still preferred to keep some distance, since holding conversations drained me, I could at least tolerate it.
I didn't want things to regress to how things were when I first started.
I... had only recently started to be more open with the people around me.
'Yeah, it's just not possible for me to leave the Guild.'
Of course, I wasn't going to let the Guild Master find out about this. If he knew, then it would make things a little bit more troublesome for me.
"Do you still have the contract with you? You should've signed it by now. I don't have a lot of patience. Just give it to me, and we can be done with all of this."
The rat leaned in, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits as they bore into me. I didn't respond right away. Instead, I chose to turn the tables and ask him a few questions of my own.
There were a few things that I was curious about.
"Why do you want to get rid of me so badly?"
Was it simply because of his insecurities...? Although I was aware of how jealous and insecure he could be, I didn't think it would be the main reason for him to push me out of the Guild so desperately.
He could very well be using the 'information' for his own use instead of kicking me.
And yet—
He seemed extremely keen on trying to get me kicked out.
Why was that...?
There had to be a deeper reason than just insecurity.
My hunch solidified the moment I noticed the dimples on the rat's face fading as he fixed his gaze on me.
"Why are you dragging the conversation on longer? Are you trying to waste time?"
He looked around, his eyes scanning the place.
I remained seated where I was, face locked onto his.
Eventually, I opened my mouth to speak.
"I'm not trying to waste time. I'm asking you out of curiosity. I want to understand why you—"
"Don't bother asking."
The rat cut me off, his eyes turning colder. I could tell from his gaze that he wasn't willing to share any information with me. This made me even more curious. Just what in the world was he trying to achieve by kicking me out?
Why did he seem so desperate too...?
"Hoo."
Taking a deep breath, the rat's expression relaxed after a short moment. The smile returned on his face shortly after as he leaned back on the chair.
"Sorry for that." He apologized, the dimples on his face returning alongside his calm.
"I'm just a little bit impatient if you know what I mean."
He looked at the table again, his smile growing kinder.
"I'm sure you wouldn't want your 'secret' leaking out. If possible, I'd like to hear your decision. Will you stay at the Guild, or will you..." He paused, his narrow eyes widening slightly as he locked his full attention on me. He opened his mouth, but soon after closed it.
He didn't need to say anything else.
His message was clear.
"....."
A heavy silence settled over us as I fixed my full attention on the rat.
Eventually, as the tension peaked, I leaned to the side, pulled a stack of papers from my bag, and let them fall onto the table with a soft thud.
"Here."
"Ha."
The smile on the rat's face widened, his dimples so pronounced they were almost nauseating, as he swept his bowl-cut hair aside and reached for the papers.
"See? It wasn't so hard to get to the point, right? I've always known that you were a reasonable pe—"
The rat's words came to an abrupt halt as he stared at the papers. The silence that had previously swept the room returned, and his eyes trembled for a short moment as he raised to look at me.
"What is this...?"
His tone was calm, but I could sense the anger hidden within it as he tried his best to calm himself down, placing the papers down on the table.
He lifted his head and looked at me.
"...What is this?"
He repeated, his tone colder than before. The dimples were long gone, and the cracks began to show on his face.
"Oh."
I looked at the paper, confused.
I reached forward to look at them until it suddenly clicked.
"Ah!"
I smacked my forehead.
"How silly of me. I completely forgot to sign it!"
Glancing around, I reached for the drawer and pulled out a pen. Bringing the tip to the paper, I attempted to sign it, but—
"Shit! It's out of ink!"
I put the tip of the pen near my mouth and started breathing over it. This was a great way to get the ink to work again.
Or should've been...
"Damn... It's not working at all."
I looked at the rat, his eyes so cold that they almost made me shiver. I paid no mind to them as I reached for my drawer again, trying to grab another pen, but...
"There's no other pen. It looks like I'll need to go ask—"
"Okay."
The rat placed both of his hands on the table, standing up from his seat.
"It seems to me that you've made your position clear."
I hesitated, shifting my gaze back to the rat. The cracks that had marred his flawless face were gone, replaced by an icy, detached expression that for a moment sent chills down my spine.
Seeing his current expression, I opened my mouth, thinking of new excuses, but...
"Ha."
In the end, I found myself unable to hold my smirk back.
"You're right. I had never considered it in the first place. I just wanted to play along for a little longer."
"....."
"What? Did you really think I would just sit here and wait for you to do your nonsense?"
I laughed, staring at his cold expression.
"Listen up, rat bastard."
I no longer held myself back while staring at the rat.
"You can threaten me all you want, but in the end, nothing will come of it. I'm not the Jester or whatever nonsense you're trying to bring up, and while things might become troublesome for me, in the end, I'll be cleared of all suspicions. After all, I'm not the Jester."
"You're not...?"
The rat's mask fully cracked, his lips turning into a disgusting smirk as he brought his hands to the table and leaned towards my direction.
"I think you're underestimating me a little. Or more like... you've underestimated my influence within the Guild. While you were busy loitering around creating your little games, I created all sorts of connections. Whether the rumor is believable or not, I can make it so that everyone believes me."
He brought his hand closer, his expression twisting.
"This is the difference between the two of us. I have enough influence to turn things my way, while you don't."
His lips pulled up into a smile as his eyes flickered, the dimples appearing once more.
"Instead of wasting time wearing sunglasses and creating your little games, you should've—"
The rat's words came to an abrupt halt as I took out a small black item and placed it on the table. The moment he caught sight of it, his expression changed, and his gaze turned towards me.
I just smirked.
"So? What ar—"
BANG!
I was never able to finish my sentence.
The moment I opened my mouth, a large fist came smacking against the side of my face, knocking me back.
"....!?"
-x-X-x-
BANG—!
The impact left me recoiling back on my chair, smashing against the floor as I raised my head to look at the rat who stood before me, his face frosted all over as he tried to reach for the device on the table.
"No!"
I didn't let him.
Despite being on the floor, I still acted, hurriedly dragging myself toward the table, my palms scraping against the cold surface as I reached for the device, just barely managing to shove it away from him before his fingers could graze it.
"....!?"
The rat's expression twisted further, his eyes widening with a crazed glint as the device scattered across the floor, clattering against the tiles. Without hesitation, he lunged toward it, his desperation clear.
"Fuck off!"
Pushing myself up, I smashed my shoulder against the rat's body, knocking him off balance.
BANG!
"Ukh!"
His body staggered back a couple of steps.
That was all the time that I needed to reach for the device and grab it with both hands. At the same time, I turned my back against the wall while staring at the rat, his gaze locked firmly on me.
A tense silence followed as the rat's eyes turned white.
One that made every nerve in my body tense.
Eventually—
"How... did you manage to hide that from me?"
The rat shattered the silence around us.
"I could've sworn I had checked everything in the room. How did you manage to hide that from me?"
I paused, staring back at the rat.
But soon, I smiled as I showed the black device to the rat.
"This? Well..."
I inwardly laughed while thinking about the item.
"You can say that this isn't just a special recording device."
This was an item that had been given to me by the Guild Master. It was a recording device that was completely undetectable. There were several other, more intriguing functions of the device, but this was all that I needed to deal with the rat.
"...I know full well about your capabilities. With your node and Decree, I'm sure nothing can get past your eyes. Since that's the case, I just used something that you wouldn't be able to see. I've recorded the entire conversation, and I now have enough proof that you're trying to frame me."
I had now gathered the perfect piece of evidence to give to the Guild Master to kick the rat out of this Guild.
"....."
The rat's face underwent a series of changes as I spoke.
Eventually—
A pair of dimples surfaced on his face once more as he looked around the room before settling his gaze on me.
I could feel a sudden shift in his demeanor, and my body tensed once again.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Alright, you got me."
The rat muttered, his claps growing louder.
"...You really got me."
I started to have a bad feeling, stepping back.
But—
".....!?"
The moment I did, the rat lunged in my direction.
'This bastard!'
I knew instantly what he was trying to do, but he was a lot faster than I was, his hands shooting toward my waist with startling strength before lifting me clean off the ground.
"Ukh!"
He smashed my back against the wall, the impact rattling my spine and knocking the air out of me as he struggled to free his hands to strike my head.
"F-fucking... r-rat!"
Of course, I didn't give him the chance to do that, lunging forward with a burst of adrenaline and grabbing him by the hair, yanking his head back with all the strength I could muster.
"L-let go... bastard!"
"Fuck you!"
"Ekh!"
".....!!!"
It all turned into a messy scuffle from that point forward. I grabbed his hair, he slapped my face over and over, the buttons of our shirts flew across the room, and in my desperation, I even went as far as clawing at his face.
"Ahhh! My face...!"
The rat's wails brought a twisted sense of joy to me, but it didn't last. He drove his elbow straight into my nose, and I heard a soft yet unmistakable crack echo through my skull.
"Fuck!!"
Blood started to spill, and just as the two of us were about to strike again, a loud clank echoed through the room, and several people rushed in.
"Stop!"
"...Stop it immediately!"
"Get the two of them off each other!"
The voices were familiar, but I was so absorbed in my rage and hatred for the rat that I barely registered them, my focus tunneled on getting one more hit as I lunged forward.
'One more. Just one more...'
But—
"Stop!"
A hand grasped my arm, stopping me in my tracks as I tried my best to push through and get one more clean hit.
The rat had stopped a long while ago, his eyes locked onto mine with an innocent look, and that was when I also stopped, finally taking note of all the people and eyes that were present in the room.
The Section Chief, Kyle, Zoey, Rowan, and several others...
They were all present in the room, staring at me and the rat.
It was only once I fully processed their presence that I stopped, my arm lowering in the process as Kyle finally let go of me.
"Have you calmed down?"
I didn't answer Kyle's question, keeping my gaze fixed on the rat as he calmly assessed the surroundings. Eventually, the Section Chief looked at him.
"Are you okay...?" He asked the same question Kyle had asked me, but his reaction was different.
"I..."
He bit his lip, his eyes trembling as he looked at me. I took a look at his face, taking note of his hair, which was a mess, and the several bruises across his eye, alongside the scratches and blood leaking down his nose.
Although I knew I was probably in no better state, I found great joy and pleasure in his state.
I had dreamed of such a sight for quite some time.
"I... I am not okay."
The rat trembled, his face showing clear signs of fear as he looked at me.
The Section Chief turned his attention towards me, his brows furrowing for a moment as I opened my mouth to speak, only to be cut off by the rat as he pointed at me.
"I-I... he att-acked me out of nowhere. I... found his secret and tried to confront him about it, a-and as a r-result, he attacked me...!"
I had to say, his acting was top-notch.
For a moment, I even started to believe him myself.
"He attacked you because you found out his secret?"
"Y-yes."
The Section Chief's eyes narrowed.
"What secret did you find?"
"T-that's..." The rat looked hesitant, his lips quivering and face turning paler. He looked legitimately scared, and seeing this, the Section Chief lowered himself to the rat's eye level and placed his hand over his shoulder.
"You don't have to be scared. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you here, don't worry."
The rat's lips quivered further, his head bobbing up and down in a sort of agreement as he looked at the Section Chief.
I thought about speaking in this situation, but realized I wouldn't be able to get any words out until he spoke.
And soon—
"J-jester..."
A trembling hand pointed in my direction.
"H... he's the Jester."
All eyes turned on me.
I became the sole focus of everyone's attention.
-x-X-x-
The room fell silent once more. This time, the quiet felt even more oppressive than before, all eyes fixed squarely on me.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
My heart drummed loudly inside my skull, pounding so intensely that it felt like it was all I could hear.
And just as I was about to speak and prove my innocence...
"I see."
The Section Chief stood up, letting out a long sigh as he cast a disappointed glance at the rat.
"I really tried my best to get you to stay longer. Had you been honest... Haa."
The Section Chief let out another sigh, and the faces of everyone in the room turned toward the rat, each expression more complex than the last.
"W-what?"
Completely taken aback, the rat looked around.
"W... what? I am not lying. Look at everything that has happened so far! From the time that he disappeared at the gate to the time he joined the Guild. All the clues are there! Why can't all of you see it?"
All of a sudden, he was no longer scared and trembling.
His voice was smooth and clear.
"It's so clear! He's the Jester! I'm telling you...! He's the Je—"
"Stop."
The Section Chief cut the rat off, placing his hand over his forehead. The disappointment in his gaze was unmistakable as he looked at the rat.
Even so, the rat didn't seem to get the hint.
He continued.
"I'm telling you! He's the Jester! Why don't you believe me? The clues are there! Even if he's not the Jester exactly, I'm sure you can see there's a connection between him and the Jester! This bas—"
"Do you think we're all deaf?"
The Section Chief cut off the rat once more, leaving him stunned.
"W-what?"
Shaking his head, the Section Chief gestured toward the door.
"You left the door open. All of us heard the conversation. You think we don't know what you were planning? Agh..." The Section Chief rubbed his forehead. "I really had high hopes for you, Myles. I really did. I just didn't think you would be like this."
"W-what? Open...? B... but..."
The rat's mouth opened and closed repeatedly, seemingly stunned by the sudden turn of events.
But then—
His eyes turned to me once more, and as our gazes met, the corner of my lips curled. Time seemed to slow down in that moment as the rat's mind processed the entire situation.
Soon, his face contorted.
"It's you!"
He screamed, his body jerking.
"This is all because of you!!"
His shouts reached every corner of the room. Gone was the usual calm, relaxed smile he wore, along with the dimples that usually accompanied it. In its place was a twisted and demented expression.
He lunged at me, but—
"Stop him!"
"Stop!"
He was quickly apprehended by the others in the room.
"All because of you! Bastard! I'll kill you!!!"
His screams echoed throughout the entire department as he was escorted out of the room, thrashing about in the process, the Section Chief watching the scene with a cold, detached look. Eventually, he shook his head and turned his attention toward me.
"I'll take care of this. In the meantime, you can take some time to heal up your face and wounds. I'll make sure to get a good grasp of the situation. We'll talk right after."
He proceeded to leave right after that, some following after him.
Soon, it was just me and a few familiar faces.
"Hey..."
Kyle nudged my arm, pulling my attention towards him as he looked at me with a worried look.
"Are you okay?"
"Me...?"
I took a deep breath, slowly nodding my head and helping myself up.
"I'm... doing okay. Just a little surprised."
"I'm also surprised." Kyle sighed, his expression turning complicated. "Who would've thought he was like that?"
"...I didn't think of him as a person like that. He really had me fooled."
Zoey added, staring at the door, her eyes just as complex as Kyle's. I could tell that the two of them had spent a good amount of time with him and, as such, assumed that they had gotten a good grasp of him. The surprise they must've received after seeing his true nature was certainly not small.
"Same."
I held onto my face while listening to the conversation around me. They were all saying similar words to Kyle and Zoey. Something about their shock and disappointment.
I took the scene before closing my eyes, and feeling the device the Guild Master had given me beforehand.
'...I guess I should give this to him later.'
Just as he had requested, I now had the 'excuse' that he needed in order to kick the rat out of the Guild.
***
Following Myles's outburst, he was taken to the interrogation room within the Guild. It was usually the kind of place used to interrogate cult members or people who were generally against the Guild, but today marked the first exception.
"You can leave the two of us. I'll take it from here."
Dismissing everyone, the Section Chief closed the door behind him and turned his attention towards Myles.
He thought back to the previous situation.
He had been busy handling his own matters when he was suddenly called for an emergency. Since he wasn't far, he rushed toward the main area, and it was there that he noticed a group huddled near a certain door.
The shock he felt upon hearing the conversation between Myles and Seth, along with the sudden fight that occurred, was hard to describe.
He was still struggling to process it.
"Myles..."
Sitting down on the chair opposite Myles, the Section Chief looked at him. His expression grew even more complicated as he studied him. Although most of his face had healed from the fight he had endured, scratches and bruises were still visible all over.
Eventually, the Section shook his head while leaning back on the chair.
"I'll be honest, I didn't expect you to be like this. You were the last person I'd expect to do something like this. What... made you do this? Is it because of Seth? Are you jealous of Seth?"
While he didn't get to listen to the entire conversation, the Section Chief was still able to gather some information from those who had witnessed the entire fight. From what he managed to piece together, it all seemed to stem from Myles wanting to kick out Seth because he was standing out too much.
'There's some truth to the information, but at the same time, Myles isn't trailing too far behind Seth. I don't see why he would do something like this.'
Was this simply insecurity, or was there more to it than he knew?
The Section Chief carefully studied Myles, and just as he was about to open up his mouth to speak, Myles cut him off.
"Section Chief, I know you aren't dumb. I'm sure you can see what I can see."
Myles's voice was rather hoarse, but his words were enough to make the Section Chief pause as he stared at Myles. He didn't say anything, but his silence spoke volumes. How could the Section Chief not make the same connection that Myles had made?
He wasn't dumb.
He saw the subtle connections.
It was just that... it was too unbelievable to accept.
"He is certainly hiding something. Whether he is the Jester or not, I'm sure he has some connection to it. You know it, I know it..." Myles clenched his teeth, his body leaning forward slightly, but just as the words were about to leave his mouth, the door opened.
Clank!
A smiling figure walked in shortly after, and the Section Chief stood up immediately.
"Guild Master!"
"Mhm."
With a casual nod, the Guild Master looked at Myles and then the Section Chief. While he didn't say anything, the Section Chief immediately understood the situation and excused himself.
"I'll be leaving him in your care."
"Yes."
The Guild Master nodded, not saying anything else until the door closed.
Then—
Just as a tense silence filled the room, Myles's voice drifted in the air, his voice even hoarser than before.
"It's been a while..." His face contorted as he stared at the man before him, pure hatred marring his features. "Father. I... missed you."