A white orb floated in the middle of the darkness.
The orb appeared bright, pushing away at the darkness.
It levitated in silence.
There was a strange sense of peace that emanated from that single orb. One that made Kyle feel very relaxed as he basked in the strange warmth and glow of it.
But that strange sense of peace didn't last for long.
Cra Crack—!
Cracks began to form on the very same white orb.
The space fluctuated, and the surroundings turned incredibly cold.
Cra Crack! Cra Crack! Cra Crack!
More cracks spread across the surface of the orb, multiplying rapidly. With each new fracture, the light within it dimmed further, thinning and weakening, and the darkness began to seep in and slowly take over.
The process was quick, and before Kyle could even realize it, the orb was swallowed up by the darkness.
The process was swift, and before Kyle could even register what was happening, the orb had become just a mere speck within the darkness, its light just barely reaching Kyle within the darkness.
Along with the coldness was a strange heaviness that pressed heavily against his chest, making it harder and harder for him to breathe.
And soon—
Swooosh!
Even the last bits of the light were swallowed.
In its place was an endless and dreadful darkness that threatened to swallow him from all directions.
One that felt vaguely familiar.
"Haa——!"
A scream ripped out of Kyle's throat as his eyes flared open and he sat up on the bed.
"Haa! Haaa...! Haa!"
Clutching his chest, Kyle sucked in a series of rushed breaths as his body curled forward. His forehead pressed against the bed, sweat dripping down onto the sheets beneath him.
"I-its... Haaa... It-s that... dream again."
Kyle wasn't unfamiliar with the vision.
Ever since the incident with the Gate, his nights had been plagued by the same dream.
No, they weren't quite the same.
With each dream, he'd feel more and more from that one single event. The darkness grew more profound, and the sense of coldness that clung to his body grew even icier. He felt suffocated.
It felt as though with every dream, he was being pushed deeper and deeper into the depths of some unknown waters.
It... really felt suffocating.
"Haaa..."
Calming himself down, Kyle sat up and leaned his head against the back of the wall as he closed his eyes and took some time to properly recover.
'Just what in the world is that dream? Why does it keep showing in my mind over and over again? And...'
Kyle held onto the side of his head.
'Why does my node hurt?'
For a moment, he started to question the doctors who had checked up on him. It had already been a couple of weeks since he had been discharged from the hospital, and while they all told him that there was nothing wrong with his body, Kyle didn't feel the same.
"Is it possible that I'm still... possessed?"
The thought made Kyle shiver, but he quickly shook the thought away. Although he wasn't certain, he didn't think it was the case.
Then...?
"I don't know. I really don't know."
Grabbing onto both sides of his head, Kyle shook his head. The more he thought about the situation, the more lost he felt.
In the end, he took a few extra moments to steady himself before getting out of bed and changing. It was still early, around 5:30 a.m., but there was no point in staying there any longer. He knew he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, even if he tried.
'I guess I'll head back into the Guild.'
Putting on a coat, Kyle walked out of his apartment and headed down.
Because it was so early, his usual coffee shop was closed.
'Not that it would be open, anyway.'
Despite a couple of weeks having passed since the Gate incident, the island was still in a state of closure. The citizens had yet to immigrate back into the island, with the BUA and several other Guilds investigating the main location of the Gate to better understand what had happened.
Not only that, but the island itself had sustained some damage to its core. In order for it to be safe again, there needed to be a lot of repairs.
With no people around, all the shops were closed.
The only things that were functional within the island were the Guilds.
Ding!
Stepping into the elevator, Kyle pressed the [-5] button and turned to face the mirror at the back. He stared at his reflection for a moment before lifting a hand and touching just beneath his eyes.
The couple of weeks had taken a toll on him. Dark circles had long formed due to his lack of sleep.
"...I'm starting to look like Seth."
A small smile spread across his lips as the thought entered his mind.
However, it was only for a moment as his smile faded a moment after that. Thinking about Seth, Kyle's chest grew heavier.
In the past two weeks, he had yet to hear a single thing about Seth.
The only thing he knew was that the BUA had him in custody somewhere on the main island. Whenever he tried asking the Section Chief, he'd just shrug his shoulders, telling him that he also didn't know and that the Guild Master was also on the main island.
"Haa."
Kyle let out another sigh.
'I hope he's fine.'
Ding—!
With the elevator coming to a stop, Kyle stepped out and walked towards the main area of the Containment Department. As he walked in, he expected the place to be empty, but contrary to his expectations, there was one person before him.
"Kyle...?"
"Section Chief?"
Kyle paused, staring at the Section Chief in front of him. His haggard look was the same as always, although the dark circles beneath his eyes appeared even more glaring.
'Another one...'
It looked like everyone was starting to look like Seth.
"Trouble sleeping?"
"You can say that."
Kyle half-heartedly replied, moving towards his cubicle before dropping his stuff.
"...It's getting a little bit better, but I'll need more time to adjust before I can have some proper sleep."
"That's reasonable."
The Section Chief nodded, leaning against the cubicle wall.
Turning his head to look at him, Kyle cocked his head.
"What about you, Section Chief? You look even more tired than usual. Are you also—"
"No, it's not that."
The Section Chief waved his hand.
"I'm just being overworked."
"....?"
"The Guild Master is gone, so someone has to take the brunt of his work, no?"
"Ah."
"The same goes for the other Section Chiefs. We're all being overworked right now, especially with the fallout from the entire situation to deal with. We're still in the process of re-containing all the anomalies that escaped our facilities. Thankfully, with the BUA's assistance and the reduced population on the island, it's been manageable, but it's still proving to be quite a lot of work."
"...Right."
Kyle lowered his head. He felt quite bad about the situation. Because of his situation, he hadn't been able to help at all. It was probably because of this that he had forgotten about the situation.
"Don't worry."
Patting him on the shoulder, the Section Chief comforted him.
"Just keep resting for now. You can join once you get better."
"Yes."
Kyle nodded, doing his best to stay positive. Even so, despite his efforts, a trace of disappointment slipped through, clear in the way his expression fell for just a moment.
The Section Chief took notice of this, but didn't say anything.
Instead, he brought something else up.
"Oh, right. I've got some news for you."
"....?"
"We're going to be heading to the main island in a couple of days.
"The main island?"
"Yup."
The Section Chief pulled his hand away from his shoulder.
"From the new ranking announcement to the World Congress, we'll be away for quite some time. In the meantime, I also have some good news for you..."
"Good news?"
"Yup."
The Section Chief cracked a smile.
"...Seth is going to be released soon. You'll be able to see him then."
-x-X-x-
"Haaa..."
Lately, Jensen has been sighing quite a lot.
Staring at the stack of papers spread out before him, Jensen thought back to the first time he had started filling them out. A faint smile crossed his face as the memory resurfaced.
Compared to back then, after endlessly working for the past couple of weeks...
"...The pile has gotten bigger."
Thud!
Jensen slumped his head over the table.
"Maybe I should quit."
It had gotten to the point where he couldn't take any more. He wasn't the only one. He had heard that several people had already quit the bureau.
This couldn't be helped.
Not only did they need to deal with the aftermath of the Malovia Gate, but they also needed to deal with the upcoming World Congress and Ranker Announcement.
'There's also the issue with public opinion.'
At present, the world's opinion of the BUA was far from favorable. The Malovia Island incident was widely viewed as a major failure. Thankfully, there weren't many casualties, but that didn't mean that the entire incident was without any casualties. The total death toll was still unknown, and with anomalies still rampaging around, the island was still uninhabitable.
"They really demand too much out of us."
Sitting back up, Jensen picked up one of the papers on the table. They were the latest headlines.
Breaking — [Malovia Island Gate Crisis Sends Shockwaves Through Global Markets — Questions Mount Over BUA Responsibility.]
Breaking — [World Economy Reels After Malovia Gate Disaster: Did the BUA Fail Its Mandate?]
Breaking — [From Containment to Catastrophe: How the Malovia Gate Crippled Trade and Trust.]
Breaking —
[Billions Lost Overnight: Malovia Island Incident Exposes Fragile Global Defenses.]
Breaking — [In time of dire need, where were the top rankers? Have they gone into hiding?]
The headlines weren't pretty.
However, a lot of the things that were being said were true. The economic impact that the incident has had on the entire economy was very large. Trade with several islands had come to a complete halt, with the shares of several major Guilds falling.
The uppermost Guilds were no different.
Billions of dollars were lost in the span of a day. Trust with the Guilds and BUA was at an all-time low. Despite resolving the situation and sustaining minimal losses, everyone had witnessed the entire scenario from the start. They could see just how helpless the BUA and the Paragons had been on certain occasions.
But this wasn't anyone's fault.
The entity that they were dealing with was just that monstrous.
And yet...
"Ungrateful fuckers."
Scratching the back of his head, Jensen tossed the papers away. The more he thought about the situation, the more he felt his blood pressure go up.
"...I should at least count myself lucky. I'm sure they are having a much harder time than I am."
By 'they', he was referring to the absolute top rankers.
Because of the abruptness of the situation, despite this being a global crisis, not all of the Paragons were able to make it. This wasn't due to them not wanting to show up, but it was mainly because they were stuck in certain Gates.
This was particularly so for the uppermost rankers.
'I can see many articles about them already. I wonder what sort of reaction they'll have when they find out what happened while they were clearing their Gate.'
Jensen smiled wryly.
However, just as he was about to return to his work, the door swung open abruptly, and an agent walked in.
"Sir."
"Yes?"
Standing up, Jensen looked at the agent.
"Is something the matter?"
"Nothing serious, sir. I'm just here to report to you that the paperwork has been filed. As of tomorrow, detainee Seth Thorne will be released." Holding onto a file, the agent handed it to Jensen, who grabbed it and looked through it. "The last thing that is required is your approval."
"...I see."
Jensen pulled his gaze away from the time.
'So it's already time for him to leave...?'
Jensen didn't know how to feel about the situation. Although Seth had passed his detection, Jensen still felt that there was something wrong with him. That he was hiding something. However, regardless of how much he tried to push, he'd just receive the same answers.
If only he had more time...
"Sir?"
"Hm? Oh, yes..." Perhaps showing the tension on his face, Jensen quickly shook the thoughts away and dismissed the agent. "You've done a good job. You may leave now."
"Thank you."
Bowing once, the agent left the room.
"....."
Jensen stood in silence, rolling the paper and slapping it against his palm a couple of times. Eventually, he shook his head and proceeded to make his way out of the room.
'I guess I should send him off personally.'
*
The BUA headquarters were very large.
The entire headquarters was made up of several massive buildings, each more distinctive than the last, with the main structure, 'The Shell', standing out as the most remarkable of them all.
Resembling the shell of a snail, the massive metallic structure curved inward on itself, its layered surface catching the sunlight in muted silver tones. The metal reflected the sky faintly, and as a gentle breeze moved through the nearby trees, the structure stood out quite a lot against the surroundings.
Even Jensen, who had grown used to the sight of the Shell, couldn't help but marvel at the structure.
His admiration merely lasted a few seconds before he headed in the opposite direction.
Eventually, a building came into view as he walked into it and passed the main security, where he was soon escorted before a white door.
"....."
Standing in silence, Jensen hesitated for just a moment before reaching for the door and pulling it open.
Clank—!
This wasn't the first time he had come to visit him. And yet, with each visit, he found himself growing more and more nervous.
There was something about the detainee that made him feel unsettled each time he interacted with him.
Eventually, a slow and monotonous clicking sound reached his ears.
Click! Click! Click!
Jensen came to a pause, his expression tensing as he looked ahead.
The clicking sound ceased, and at the same time, a head slowly turned. A pair of dark eyes was revealed. So deep they seemed to consume the shadows around them, swallowing whatever darkness dared to linger.
A thin smile soon appeared on Seth's face.
"I take it that my time here is coming to an end."
"....."
Jensen's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Seth. A strange pressure radiated from him, subtle yet suffocating, and despite his best efforts to stay calm, his heart ignored him, beating faster with every passing second.
'He's different compared to before.'
This was one of the observations that Jensen had noticed.
Unlike the cold, detached version of Seth he had seen inside the Gate, and during their first encounters, the man standing before him now felt different.
He was a lot calmer.
More contained.
And yet...
He also felt a lot more terrified than before. The sense of oppression he gave out was far greater than before, and the darkness in his gaze appeared to be even deeper.
The more Jensen looked at him, the tighter he held onto the papers.
'...He's not normal. He definitely knows more. I'm sure of it!!'
Scrunch—!
"Huh?"
Before he even realized it, the papers in his hands had crumpled under his grip. By the time he realized, it was already too late. Or at least, that was what he initially assumed.
"Ah, this..."
Jensen looked at the papers in his hand in shock.
When did...
"I'll be taking these."
Appearing before Jensen, Seth grabbed onto the papers. He gave them a quick scan before nodding.
"I can finally leave this place. That's good."
His words, however, fell on deaf ears as Jensen stared at the papers in shock.
That...
He was sure that he had scrunched them up.
How come...?
How come they were fine?
-x-X-x-
'I guess I should start packing my things up.'
I looked at the paper in my hands with satisfaction. I had been waiting for quite some time to get discharged. Although the place was quite nice and large, besides the cafeteria and gym, I was restricted from going to most places.
There was also no Wi-Fi access, limiting me to only old movies I wasn't very interested in watching.
"At least they gave me a laptop."
That was the only means of comfort that I had.
Turning back to face the desk, I stared at the laptop. It wasn't anything fancy. A middle-end model that could just about do anything that didn't require high-level computing. It did have a few games, but without internet, the games available were rather boring.
Not that I was keen on playing them.
The main reason why I even needed the laptop in the first place was so that I could better organize my own thoughts regarding my last game.
I only had two more weeks until the final deadline of the quest that I had recently received. Knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to develop my games without any internet and a team, I decided to properly study my game and determine its flaws.
In other words, I wanted to determine the reason why it failed to crack the 3-star rating.
In the end, after a lot of thought, I came up with a conclusion.
'I was simply too focused on making sure that the player killed themselves by the end of the game than making sure the game is actually 'fun'.'
The horror aspect of the game was present. However, everything else wasn't. The game wasn't really a game. Besides the initial aspect of selection, the player didn't have much of a choice after that.
The players...
They didn't have any means to properly struggle or fight back. All they did was observe and wait for their eventual death.
This was what I believed to be the main flaw of the game.
'At the end of the day, making them struggle and still leading up to them killing themselves will make the game even more terrifying. Right... It's not fun if they struggle just a little bit. I need to give them hope before removing it... Kek. It's only that way that their death might seem even more genuine.'
The more I thought about the game, the more I started to shudder. Thinking about all the changes and plans I had in my mind... I struggled to contain myself.
"...Kuk."
I hurriedly covered my mouth, holding my laugh back.
Me and my old habits...
"Still, it won't be easy."
I had already planned out several ideas. But there was an issue. Each one of my new ideas would require a lot of time to develop.
I planned on expanding the game beyond what it currently was. In order to give the player more means to stru—play, I needed to expand the game. One such way was by giving them the ability to inspect floors and scenes closely. I could also have the player interrogate the guests and give the player special abilities picked up from rooms, with locations randomly changing each new game.
A mask that could see through disguises. A microphone that could detect lies once. A knife that could be used for self-defense...
The possibilities were endless. The more I thought about it, the more concrete the idea became. I started to feel a surge of motivation and excitement. For a moment, I forgot about everything that had happened in the recent weeks.
That...
I was still taking my time to process everything.
'I'll go crazy if I continue to think about it.'
This was so that I could keep my mind away from those matters. Of course, alongside the excitement, I also started to feel nervous.
Two weeks...
Could I add all these changes in two weeks?
"It's worth a shot."
Making up my mind, I took a deep breath and closed down the laptop.
'Alright, let's pack everything up for tomorrow.'
*
I woke up before my alarm could even go off. Besides the nagging boredom and the feeling of confinement, the two weeks had been quite good for me.
At the very least, sleep wisely.
I had been able to get more than eight hours of sleep each day.
But all good things needed to come to an end. Grabbing my luggage and the papers from yesterday, I quickly headed out of the room without looking back.
Stepping out of the building and feeling the morning breeze, I tugged my jacket closer to me.
"Cold..."
Looking around, I followed the path leading away from the Shell until I reached the gate. Tall exterior walls enclosed the headquarters, their presence making the space feel closed off and controlled in spite of its large size. I was stopped immediately for a thorough security check, and every item was inspected before I was finally cleared. Once my belongings were returned, I stepped aside and transferred the files from my laptop to my phone.
Following which, I handed the laptop back.
...Or at least, tried to.
"You can keep it."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes, consider it a gift for holding you for so long."
"That's pretty generous of you guys."
"I'm glad you like the gift."
Staring at the guard and then the laptop, I pretended to be thankful. In reality, I wasn't quite sure of what to make of the situation. Despite being a middle-end model, it was still better than my current laptop.
But there was a problem...
Safety.
I wasn't sure how safe this laptop was. What if their goal was to use it to monitor me?
'Then again, even if I purchase another one, they can spy on that one.'
Rubbing the back of my head, I shook my head and stored the laptop away before leaving.
'I'll think about it more later.'
"I'll be leaving. Thank you."
"Have a nice day."
Nodding once, I stepped out of the walls.
"Finally..."
The first thing I did when stepping out was stare at the blue sky above. There was no difference between the sky within the walls and outside, but something about the air outside the headquarters felt different.
Something about it felt... less stuffy.
Perhaps it was just me, but it felt as though a massive weight had been lifted off my chest.
"Okay, I guess I should start booking a flight."
The plan was to go back to Malovia. That was also where my office and team were. In order to work on the updated version of the game, I had to—
"You're just about on time. I was just coming out as well."
"....?"
Turning around, I was stunned to see a familiar figure. He stood not far from me, walking out through the gate as his large dark coat fluttered in the wind. One hand slipped out of his pocket to adjust the hat on his head, his movements unhurried and calm.
"Guild Master?"
'He's here?'
Not only that, but from the looks of things, he seemed to have been waiting for me?
"You came out at just the right time, Seth. I've already called for a cab."
"A cab?"
"Did you expect a private driver?"
"Not really."
I didn't even expect him in the first place.
"Well, I would've liked to have had a driver to pick us up, but there's a certain situation at the Branch Guild, and he won't be able to make it. We'll make do with a cab for now."
"...I see."
I actually had no clue as to what was going on.
I was kind of struggling to make sense of what was going on. In the end, the Guild Master cracked a smile as he turned his attention towards the road where a black SUV began to approach.
"Our Guild has a branch on the main island, just like any other Guild. Given that Malovia is currently still in a state of shutdown, going there is impossible. Not only that, but given the recent situation, there's no point in staying in Malovia for now. Especially with the few upcoming events."
Blinking harder, I started to frown. Was he talking about the World Congress? Were they still going to host that...?
Was it really appropriate?
"Well, those are the excuses that I'm using for now. The reality of the situation is quite different."
Reaching for his pocket, the Guild Master retrieved a mask and a pair of sunglasses and handed them over to me, adding to my growing confusion.
"Wear them."
"What for?"
"What for?"
Chuckling slightly, the Guild Master lowered his hat and stepped into the cab.
"Why else? For your own safety. You're currently one of the most famous people in the entire world."
-x-X-x-
"Could you please provide a formal statement on the matter?"
"Who is Seth Thorne, and how was he able to determine what was happening? Why has he not been previously known to the public or to members of the press? Is he the Severed Stars Guild's secret card for the upcoming World Congress?"
"Will you be issuing an official statement, and if so, when can we expect it?"
"Where can Seth Thorne currently be reached? Additionally, what are your expectations for the upcoming World Congress, and do you believe this incident affects your chances of attaining King Grade? Many observers remain optimistic about your prospects."
"Could you please respond to at least one of these questions?"
With the BUA Headquarters located far from any city, the drive to the branch Guild took over an hour.
By the time we arrived, a swarm of reporters had already gathered at the entrance, crowding in from all directions and pressing in on every member and staff who tried to pass through.
'That's...'
I swallowed nervously at the sight of them. But above all, I finally caught sight of the branch guild.
Contrary to my expectations, the building itself was just as large, if not larger, than the one on Malovia Island. The massive skyscraper pierced straight into the sky, forcing me to crane my neck upward just to glimpse the top.
"There's no need to be surprised. Although this place looks bigger, we don't actually own the entire building. It's shared with other companies and Guilds."
"Ah, I see."
That made a lot more sense.
The Guild was rich, but I didn't think they were 'that' rich, especially since we were in what appeared to be a good district.
'I still have no clue as to where I am.'
The main island was simply too unfamiliar for me.
'I presume we're in Sines, at least. The main capital.'
"Please stop here."
Seeing the situation unfold, the Guild Master asked the cab to stop. He paid the fare without hesitation before turning to look at me, his expression calm.
He didn't need to say anything to me, but he didn't need to. I had already put on my sunglasses and mask.
'If you ask me, I'll look even more suspicious this way, but...'
Staring at the crowd outside the branch, I started to shudder. I could already imagine the chaos that would ensue if I showed myself.
"Let's go. There's no need to worry too much. With me here, nothing will happen to you."
The Guild Master's words felt rather comforting. Throughout the entire cab ride, I kept expecting him to ask about what had happened or about the incident itself. Instead, he remained quiet the whole time, eyes fixed on his phone as he made a few brief calls, offering no real talk and no questions.
The entire ride felt suffocating, and I found myself just sitting in silence, doing nothing, occasionally scrolling on my phone.
Seemingly not noticing my inner struggle, the Guild Master led on as he continued to speak.
"It must be surprising, right...? Seeing this many people calling and demanding your name."
"Sort of..."
I wasn't quite used to so much attention, not even when I was in the middle of my petty feud a while back. But taking into consideration the events of a few weeks back, this wasn't anything surprising.
"This shouldn't be surprising considering what you've managed to achieve. Everyone saw it with their very own eyes, and even though the videos were altered, the real versions of them have already blown up over the internet."
"...Yes, that seems to be the case."
"A lot of people have been praising you lately."
"I imagine there are also quite a few who aren't on my side."
"That's to be expected."
"I suppose so."
I was well aware that I had blown up across the internet. The Guild Master's words back at the entrance of the BUA were what finally pushed me to look into it myself, and the moment I did, my stomach churned at what I found.
For the first time in a very long time...
I finally felt like puking again.
"They're saying you're suspicious. That there's no way someone as 'uninformed' as you could've resolved the entire situation on your own. Others are claiming you were directly involved in the incident, that you might've been the instigator, or that you simply got lucky."
Pursing my lips, I looked at the Guild Master. However, all I was met with was his smiling gaze as I understood the hidden meaning behind his words.
Inadvertently, I looked away from him.
"Whether their words are right or not, I don't know. I'm quite interested to know, but now is not quite the right time. There are quite a few things that I need to take care of before the two of us can have a proper conversation."
Before I knew it, we had made our way to the back of the branch Guild. The area was completely deserted, not a single reporter in sight. That was hardly surprising. There was no door, no visible entrance to speak of. Just a neglected stretch filled with scattered trash and a quiet hum that seemed to come from the large radiators outside of the building.
'...Is there supposed to be some sort of secret entrance around here?'
"Here."
Sure enough, the Guild Master led me to an inconspicuous section of the building. He scanned a card against the wall, and a hidden door slid into view.
He opened it without hesitation and stepped inside, leaving me to follow behind him.
We both eventually stopped before an elevator.
"There's no need to make yourself known just yet. Head to the top floor and get yourself a key for a room to stay in. Rest for today, and later tomorrow you can head down to meet everyone at the branch."
"...I understand."
This arrangement worked out for me. I hated interacting with new people and socializing, so there was no way I'd be against it.
Following the Guild Master's instructions, I headed up to the seventeenth floor and obtained a card.
The moment the woman at the desk noticed me, a strange expression flickered across her face. She suppressed it quickly, handing me the card without a word. I took it and left just as fast, soon finding my room and moving in.
Clank—
"Haaa..."
It was only then that I finally let out a quiet sigh of relief and took off the mask and sunglasses. I took a moment to scan my surroundings, making sure I was truly alone, before heading over to the nearby desk and sitting down.
The first thing I did was take out my phone. I tapped the screen once, and not long after, the image of a clown appeared.
"Check for any wiretapping and cameras."
Flick!
The screen turned off a moment later, turning back on after half a second. Seeing the clown once more, I closed my eyes and started to relax.
'Looks like there aren't any.'
Even if there were, I wouldn't be too worried. With me working with the Guild Master, I was certain that it didn't matter even if he found out, unlike the BUA.
He was also very likely the reason why I had been able to get out of the headquarters in just two weeks.
"I guess I made the right decision by working with him."
There were risks, but there were also benefits. So far, the benefits have helped me out massively. If not for the Guild Master trusting 'me' during the Gate events, then things would've truly become quite annoying.
"Enough of that."
Leaning both hands against the table, I calmed my racing heart.
"Now that I'm alone, it's finally time that I check it..."
Clenching my fist softly, a dark figure began to emerge from the ground beneath me. The figure's presence filled the room as I slowly turned toward it, my gaze lowering to its hand, where I finally caught sight of it.
Butcher's Knife.
The knife I had used to kill the Jester. The same one that grew dependent to what it killed and how much it killed.
"...I wonder just how much it's grown after killing such a strong anomaly."
-x-X-x-
I could already tell from the first glance that the knife had changed. A bloodthirsty aura seemed to emanate from it, and I could feel sweat forming at the back of my shirt.
"....."
Staring at it in silence, I then turned my attention back towards the Realmwalker.
It stared at me in silence, not saying anything.
One glimpse at the loyalty tab and I knew why. I started to scratch the back of my head, pursing my lips at the same time as I started to speak.
"The situation was outside of my control. It was the only way for me to survive."
"....."
"I understand that you've died multiple times, but you were of great help."
"....."
"If you think about it, if I die, you die. At the end of the day, you can say that you did this to protect yourself."
"....."
"It won't happen again."
"....."
"I—"
Pausing, I frowned.
Why was I making so many excuses? There was no need for me to make any excuses. I did what I did in order to survive.
...I didn't regret my actions one bit.
"Show me the knife. Let me have a look at it."
Thankfully, the Realmwalker's grudge wasn't too deep. Its loyalty dropped all the way down to 42, but this was still not low enough for it to revolt against me.
Swooosh!
The moment I grabbed the knife, a window appeared in front of me.
———
[Bloodthirsty Butcher's Knife]
Fourth Order:
: Through repeated killings, the knife has absorbed vast amounts of blood essence, awakening into a bloodthirsty butcher's knife. The blade now exhibits autonomous predatory traits, granting it several abilities.
Ability 1: Butcher's Instinct.
: While wielding the knife, the user gains heightened perception of vital points of anomalies.
Ability 2: Meat Sense
: Passively detects living creatures within a short radius, revealing heartbeat intensity, injury severity, and what type of living being they are.
———
"Hiss."
I drew a deep breath the moment I caught a glimpse of the new abilities of the knife. They were far beyond anything I had expected.
Just the Butcher's Instinct alone made all the effort worth it.
'It's good that I didn't forget to use the knife at the end.'
Knowing that I would eventually swap places with the doppelganger and that I would have to kill the Jester, I had deliberately left the knife behind for that moment. The goal had been to use the opportunity to feed the blade, to turn it into something I could wield without issue.
This knife...
This 'Bloodthirsty butcher's knife' was the result of my effort.
Holding onto its wooden shaft and gripping it tightly, I raised my head to look at the Realmwalker.
The moment our gazes met, the Realmwalker took a step back.
"I'm not going to cut you down."
The Realmwalker took another step back.
"....."
"Stop moving back."
Its back was now pressed against the wall.
"What sort of..."
In the end, I tried my best to ignore it.
'Let's test this new ability out.'
Taking a deep breath, I activate the first ability: Butcher's instincts.
The effect was immediate. The moment it activated, the surroundings seemed to bleed red, every sound around me sharpening and rising as it flooded my mind.
"Haa... Haa..."
Most prominent was the sound of my very own breath.
Each breath echoed loudly inside my mind as I looked at my surroundings. Everything was the same, but as opposed to before, all colors had faded, completely taken over by a muted red. Slowly looking around, I eventually settled my gaze back towards the Realmwalker, and it was there that I spotted the series of red dots scattered around its body.
Four...? No, five.
I could see five of them.
The hand gripping the knife twitched, a sudden urge to cut down the Realmwaker surging through my mind as I struggled to restrain it.
'Deactivate.'
Only when I deactivated the skill did I finally regain a sense of myself as the colors returned.
"I see."
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath.
I now had a better understanding of how the new skill worked. This was definitely going to help me out a lot in the future.
'That's good.'
I handed the knife back to the Realmwalker.
"Keep it for now."
The Realmwalker grabbed the knife and faded into nothing shortly after that. It looked too eager to do that, leaving me at a complete loss.
'At least I can now use the Realmwalker to store items.'
I no longer needed to carry items with me. By giving it to the Realmwalker, I could practically have it keep the item for me, and whenever I needed it, I could call for it to give it to me.
"It certainly makes my life a lot easier."
Stretching my body, I sat down on the bed and took out my laptop. My real laptop. Of course, I had Mr. Jingles do a check-in to make sure everything was okay before turning on the web browser and searching for "Hot Horror Games right now."
The system's words, a while back, had never left my mind.
For the past several weeks, they had been nagging at the back of my mind continuously.
What did it mean by its words?
Was it hinting at the fact that I wasn't the only one?
That there were other people like me?
"...I wouldn't be surprised if it's the case."
The doppelganger's attitude had made it clear to me that the system had planned to dump me because of my actions. I could also tell that it wasn't too worried about discarding me. Thinking about the demon that I fought against and the possibility of the system trying to hunt down such demons, I quickly realized that I alone wouldn't be enough.
'Is the system trying to create a sort of army to deal with the demons?'
The thought settled in my mind for half a second before I discarded it. No, this made no sense.
If that was truly the case, why would it try to make me develop games...?
There was more to it. I was sure of it.
'From the way it spoke, this also seems like a sort of competition. If there truly exist other beings that have the same system as I... then there's nothing that guarantees that they are going to be on the same side as me. In fact, it looks more likely they will be against me. Just what is this weird system planning?'
The more I thought about it, the more lost and confused I felt.
I really didn't like this feeling...
"Ah."
As the page in front of my computer loaded up, I paused, my eyes falling on the result that came from my search.
[Horror Games Surge as the Industry's New Trend, with Multiple Island Studios Entering the Spotlight.]
[From Niche to Mainstream: Horror Games Dominate Upcoming Releases Across the Islands.]
[Rising Fear: Island-Based Horror Games Poised for Silver and Gold Awards This Year.]
[The New Wave of Horror Gaming: Upcoming Titles from Multiple Islands Draw Award Buzz.]
"....."
Seeing the numerous results in front of me, I took a deep breath but didn't react. Instead, I pressed on the links and dived deeper. I checked the date at which the trends started and what sort of results the games created.
I hoped...
I prayed that it was nothing.
However, the more I researched, the clearer it became to me.
"There's no doubt about it."
My expression turned grim.
"...This is no coincidence."
It was very likely that my previous guess was correct. I wasn't the only one who had the 'Horror Developer System.' Furthermore, judging from the awards some of the games were receiving, I was lagging quite a bit behind.
I didn't know the purpose of all this, but I grew even more apprehensive about the situation.
Just what was the system trying to do?
And... what exactly was its end goal?
I ended up dwelling on the matter all night.
It was to the point where I didn't get a single ounce of sleep. The only thing that I could think of was the situation and what the system was trying to do. The more I researched and discovered, the more apprehensive I became.
There was definitely something suspicious about the situation, but without any more information, the only thing I could do was slowly gather more and more evidence.
'For now, I'll just focus on reaching the three-star rating.'
I was intrigued to see the 'feature' that I had supposedly unlocked.
Thankfully, I had already contacted my team. They had all evacuated from Malovia and weren't too far from where I was.
Filling them in on the situation, they had already started updating the game, but without the necessary equipment, things were going to be much harder.
"Huaam."
Yawning, I got out of bed and moved over to the bathroom.
Staring at my own reflection and seeing the dark circles, I pulled the skin slightly before moving my hand away and washing my face.
Given the Guild Master's words, I had to get ready.
Today...
Today I was going to meet with the branch members.
My stomach flipped.
"...I don't want to do it."
***
"Did you hear...? He's here at the branch."
"Here? You mean..."
"Yeah, the one that ended up killing that anomaly on the island. I heard some people say that if not for him, many more people would've died. The secretary yesterday said that she saw him and even gave him the keys to one of the apartments. He's really here."
"What? Are you serious...?"
"Yes."
"Is he really strong?"
"To be honest, nobody really knows. There are some who say he's lucky, and others who argue that he's some sort of secret trainee developed by the Guild Master. Nevertheless, if you see him, you should be careful. There's something about him that feels off."
"You thought so too, right?"
"Maybe it's just his looks at the end of the day; if he's here, then it means that the BUA has cleared him. I'd still stay away."
The Severed Stars branch Guild was rather lively today. Located near the uppermost floor, covering at least a dozen floors, the branch could be considered quite big. They couldn't compare to the true giants of the main island, but they weren't lacking in most aspects.
27th floor.
A man leaning back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin, glanced around at the two people surrounding his cubicle.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not buying it."
Across from him, one of the two shook their head, arms crossed tight over their chest. A faint crease formed between his brows as he gradually unfolded his arms.
"They're overrating him. They just don't know what we know."
"I'm with Andreas here."
Beside him, Elias Moreau adjusted his glasses and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. Unlike Andreas, his expression remained composed and thoughtful, but the confidence in his eyes made it clear he'd already reached his conclusion.
"He may look impressive, but I don't think he's actually that strong. I think he just lucked out with the situation. Right place, right time. Not that I'm taking credit away from him, as he isn't without merit, but I'm with Elias. People are overrating him."
"Really?"
Marcus sat up in his chair while tapping on his phone and replaying the scenes from the Malovia Gate. His gaze remained fixed on a certain individual. He continued to watch the video for a while before shaking his head.
"I honestly can't tell. The entire video is a little too chaotic. I would've had a better idea if I had been there. It was just about to become my turn to go as well."
"Come on... Don't be ridiculous, Marcus."
Rolling his eyes, Andreas moved closer to Marcus as he showed him his phone.
"It's obvious. The guy found himself at the right place at the right time. Didn't you see the official report by the BUA? He was originally going there for a stream and stumbled upon a cult place. That last anomaly let him kill it."
"...I guess."
Marcus couldn't argue against such logic.
Not everyone was aware of the real truth, but by now, the truth behind the matter had already started to spread amongst the higher-ranking members within each guild. And with the three of them being the aces of the branch guild, it was only natural that they were already aware of it.
"Still, it doesn't look like the standards of the main guild are that great."
Elias muttered as he moved closer to Marcus, his eyes settling on the video playing on the phone.
Though the others didn't reply, their silence spoke volumes about their opinions. Although they were supposedly from a branch guild, they all subconsciously looked down on those from external islands. It wasn't that they were inherently bad, but the stage was simply too small.
The three of them alone had probably cleared more gates in a week than those from the main guild had done in a couple of months.
There was no real comparison.
Especially since they were all top graduates from the top academies across the main island.
This wasn't about ego.
It was just the truth.
"What are you all doing?"
"....!"
"Shit!"
".....!!!"
Suddenly, a voice cut into their discussion. All three stiffened at once, turning toward the source. Their faces paled as a figure stepped into the room, a cardboard box held loosely in their arms.
"What? Cat your tongue? Why is nobody speaking anymore? Heeelloo?"
A head peeked out from the side of the box, a loose ponytail hanging down as a pair of green eyes settled on them. Her features were flawless enough to captivate anyone who looked her way.
And yet, despite her appearance, the moment she showed her face, the three immediately had anything but 'captivation' in their eyes.
"I, ah..."
"That's... Squad Leader, we were just talking about the upcoming World Congress."
"Oh? And what about it?"
"...We just felt that we had a pretty good shot at it. Oh, right. I think there's also a chance that you might be able to rank in the new upcoming ranking."
"Mhhmm. I don't know about that. I think it's a little bit too early for that."
Setting the box down on the cubicle to her right, she patted the top of it a couple of times before diverting her attention back to the group.
Her smile grew wider as she did.
At least, for a few seconds. Eventually, the smile faded from her lips as she stared at the three in silence.
"Do you like taking the piss out of me?"
"....!"
"No, we—"
"Cut the bullshit. I could hear you all the way down the corridor. Don't take me for a fucking idiot. I'll kill you if you do."
"....."
"....."
"....."
Neither of the three spoke. None of them took her threat lightly. Perhaps she wouldn't kill them, but cripple them?
Very much possible.
Seeing the three shut up, Catherine looked away from them and back towards the box. Patting it once more, she began mumbling, "I don't give a single fuck about what you think about that guy from the Gate, but my sister will be coming soon to the Guild. I don't want you all to screw up her image of us the moment she enters. Is that understood?"
The three hastily nodded, signaling that they understood.
And just as one of them was about to speak, came a sudden knock from the distance.
Immediately, all heads turned.
A moment later, a pair of piercing dark eyes met their gaze.
"This is the right place, right...?"
Those eyes alone were enough to make everyone tense.
At least, that was the case until Catherine stepped forward, a bubbly smile blooming across her face.
"You should be Seth, correct?"
Before he even had time to respond, Catherine extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Catherine." She paused briefly before adding, "Catherine Terline. I've heard all about you from my sister. I'm happy to finally make your acquaintance."
-x-X-x-
In hindsight, I should've seen it coming.
From the moment I appeared in this world, I had been hit by surprise after surprise.
Therefore...
"Catherine Terline. I've heard all about you from my sister. I'm happy to finally make your acquaintance."
This sudden introduction shouldn't have come as a surprise to me.
"...I'm quite happy to meet the man of the hour. I've been wanting to meet you ever since I saw you on the live stream."
So she said, but...
'Since when did Zoey have a sister?'
There was no denying the resemblance. Although her hair was more on the light brown side, and she looked more bubbly than Zoey, her green eyes stood out quite a lot. They were no different than Zoey's.
"Hello?"
"...Ah, I apologize."
Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked towards the extended hand and nodded. I wanted to shake her hand, but my hand was currently too sweaty. Be it the lack of sleep or the nervousness that came with interacting with new people, my hand was a sweaty mess.
Thankfully, she didn't seem to mind as her smile became sweeter and she lowered her hand.
"You didn't get much sleep last night?"
"No, not much."
"Is that so? Most of the apartments here are quite nice. If you want, I can ask the staff to have the bed changed."
"There's no need for that. It's more of a me problem."
"I see. In that case, if you need anything, you can always tell me."
"...I will do that."
Catherine was it?
She seemed quite easy to get along with.
I already had quite a nice impression of her. But all that aside, I was still surprised by the fact that Zoey had a sister. Then again, the game never truly went beyond the island where Zoey and her parents fell. There was also not much dialogue about her family back home, like how many siblings she had and what the situation at home was like.
'I also can't dismiss the fact that things are different compared to the game. In the game, Zoey was supposed to have survived with her parents, but in the real world, they didn't survive.'
There were quite a lot of things that were different than what I knew. I couldn't just rely on my game's knowledge. Their backstories were at most similar to those of the games.
"Okay, that's great!"
Clapping once, Catherine grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away.
"Hm?"
Her sudden actions caught me completely off guard.
"...What?"
"Since you're here, I might as well give you a tour of the branch guild. I'm sure that you're unfamiliar with this place. I also have quite a few questions for you."
I wanted to pull away, but the moment she dragged me away, I noticed three other people standing behind her. It was only for a moment, but as we locked eyes, they all averted their gazes, seemingly looking sympathetic?
No, wait...
*
Contrary to my expectations, there wasn't much that I needed to worry about.
Despite my initial reservations about the situation, Catherine proved to be surprisingly professional. She escorted me through the branch, guiding me across its floors while introducing the various facilities along the way.
"Each department has its own floor. The Containment Department, which you'll be part of, is on the twenty-sixth floor. I'm currently with the Hoarding Department, but I used to work in Containment as well."
So she wasn't part of the Containment Department?
"Why did you decide to leave?"
"Because I'm not very good at using my brain. I'm more into killing directly."
Knocking her head, she stuck her tongue out.
"My sister is better at that than I am."
Looking at her sweet and bubbly persona, I found myself agreeing with her evaluation.
Of course, I kept those thoughts to myself.
"...I see."
"What about Zoey? How is she doing lately?"
"Zoey...?"
I wonder too...
I wasn't really that close to her. We were on speaking terms, but that was about it. I didn't even have her number or any means to contact her. I honestly had no idea about how she was doing.
Not even Kyle.
But I didn't really need to speak to him to know how he was doing.
"I saw her during the livestream. She did quite well, no?"
"You can say so."
"Right."
Catherine smiled. It was the same bubbly smile that she had shown multiple times already, but for some reason, something about that smile of hers felt off. I couldn't quite put it into words, but it felt... insincere.
But before I had any time to dwell on it, she clapped her hands.
"We're here!"
She stopped before a certain door.
Pointing at it, she looked at me.
"This will be your office going forward."
"Office?"
"Yes, I was honestly quite surprised about it too. Despite being here for so long, I've yet to have my own office. I'm quite jealous, you know?"
"Is that so...?"
"Well, this was apparently an arrangement made by the Guild Master. I think it's some sort of reward for your achievements back during the Gate incident. I can't say I don't envy you, but your achievements speak for themselves."
Tapping the door a couple of times, she stretched her back.
"Well, I think that's enough from me for now. I've taken up enough of your time, and I still have several things I need to take care of."
She offered the same bubbly smile I had already grown accustomed to and stepped away from the door. Just as she did, she paused, as if suddenly remembering something.
"Oh, right! Before I forget," she added, "I heard they're going to run a drill down in the Containment Department. Since you're here, I think you can also go. It should be a good way for you to get more familiar with the other members and their skills. Let me know if you want to take part in it. I think it would be good for you."
Opening my mouth, I soon shook my head.
"I think I've had enough of Gates for now."
"Okay, then! I hope you enjoy your break. The others from the main guild will be arriving in a few days, so feel free to do whatever you like until then."
"...Will do."
With all that said, she finally left.
I could only stare at her parting back before focusing my attention back towards my new office.
'Catherine...'
"She seems quite easy to get along with."
***
"Hmm~ Hmmm~ Hmmmm~"
A soft hum echoed across the corridors of the branch guild. Walking with her hands behind her back, Catherine hummed quietly to herself.
As people walked past her, she'd receive several greetings, which she returned with a sweet smile and nod.
Her reputation within the branch guild was quite good.
To some extent, she could be considered the ace of the Guild. There were a couple of people who were on her level, but they were just about the same. It was just unfortunate that nobody had yet made it into the world rankings.
But perhaps soon.
"Hm?"
Coming to a stop, Chatherine retrieved her phone and looked at the caller ID.
The sweet smile wiped away from her face shortly after as she answered.
"...Yes, I got."
Her tone grew increasingly colder as she leaned against the wall, scanning the surroundings to see if there were any people. Once she was sure that she was alone, she answered, "I checked. He does appear to have a node, but it's just one. Aside from that, I wasn't able to check further. He's being quite cautious. I've invited him to tomorrow's outing, but I'm not sure if he'll show up. Either way, I don't understand why you're doing all of this."
Pausing, she added, "...He doesn't seem to be all that. I don't know why you're looking for him, but I think it's a mis-"
Catherine stopped, her eyes closing as she eventually nodded.
"Alright, I understand. I won't ask any more questions."
The voice on the other end of the phone eased, and after exchanging a few more words, Catherine hung up the phone, her expression hard to read.
But eventually, she turned to face a certain direction as she mumbled, "...I guess I'll see for myself tomorrow."
-x-X-x-
Kaelric Halecrest sat behind his desk, his back turned to the large glass window that framed the city's skyline. Towering skyscrapers stretched into the distance behind him, their lights reflecting faintly off the glass, when his voice suddenly echoed across the room.
"You don't need to ask questions. Just do as you're asked. I will hold up my end of the deal if you do so as well."
He ended the call there and then.
Not even a moment later, Jennifer Lance, his private secretary, stepped into the room, her expression already troubled. The concern on her face deepened the instant she noticed Kaelric's expression.
It was one marked by unmistakable fury and irritation, barely restrained, simmering just beneath the surface.
"...Sir."
Her voice wavered as she spoke, hesitant at first, but her words eventually managed to reach him.
He finally took notice of her.
"Jennifer."
"...Sir, I think... I think you're rushing things. I don't think there's a need for you to do something like this. We can take more time to do some proper research before reaching out to him."
"I am doing what I'm doing exactly because I want to make things clearer," Kaelric said, lowering his gaze to stare at the monitor in front of him.
Although the monitor was turned away from her, the assistant could clearly tell what the Guild Master was watching. It was the recording of the Gate incident that had occurred not long ago.
Although the monitor was turned away from her, the assistant could clearly tell what the Guild Master was watching. It was the recording of the Gate incident that had occurred not long ago.
As the Guild Master of the [Obsidian Bastion], part of the big five, and a powerhouse that ruled the entire Central Island, he was naturally aware of what truly had transpired in Malovia Island, with a couple of Paragons from his Guild.
But he felt odd right now. Staring at the feed, Kaelric couldn't take his gaze away from one particular individual as he stood before the imposing creature.
Alone.
His black hair fluttered silently as he stood face to face with that creature. And yet, he didn't look at all scared.
But that wasn't the part that was odd to him.
Kaelric could still remember the order he had given back then. He had poured an absurd amount of the Guild's resources into the search, chasing faint leads and empty trails. When time passed and nothing came of it, he was left with no choice but to abandon it. His single thread of hope disappeared just like that.
Or at least, that was what he had believed.
Now, staring at the monitor in front of him as the footage replayed once more, Kaelric felt a rush of memories he had long buried surge back to the surface. His thoughts tangled together, old faces and moments resurfacing one after another, as his aged hand slowly reached out toward the screen.
He watched the boy slash down the anomaly that had terrified the entire world. With one smooth movement, he decapitated the anomaly, ending the nightmare that had taken over the world.
His actions were decisive, and his movements were clean.
But it wasn't the way that he killed the anomaly that Kaelric was paying close attention to. It had never been about the way he killed the anomaly.
No...
What Kaelric cared about was something different. That... distinctive appearance of his that closely resembled his own—a younger version of him.
He was so similar, and yet so different.
"Seth Thorne."
Kaelric drew a deep breath, his chest coming to a subtle pause as he tried to quell the rising anger that was fueling deep within his body. The more he looked at the boy, the more the rage grew. His anger wasn't directed at the boy, but towards the individuals who had caused the situation to turn out this way.
To the people who had taken him from his home.
"Jennifer."
Kaelric spoke, his tone as calm as he could possibly try to make it.
"I want Ray and Martha to come to my office as soon as possible. Make sure they come without any complaints. If they have any, then tell them they can find another Guild to work in."
"Understood."
The assistant answered at once, her head lowering for a brief second as she raised it back up to ask, "What about the youngest mistress? Would you—"
"No, there's no need for that."
Kaelric shook his head, his expression regaining some semblance of calm as he managed to quell the rising anger from before.
"The World Congress will be starting soon. I don't want her to get distracted by things that are yet to be confirmed. I'll think about telling her when I'm absolutely certain that it's him."
Reaching the glass cup on his desk with his aged hand, Kaelric took a small sip of his drink before leaning back on the chair and turning back to stare at the scenery below.
"Some say that he did what he did due to luck, but... I have a feeling that the situation is quite different from that. I have a feeling he'll also participate in the Congress. In that case, I'm curious to see how he'll interact with her."
Taking another sip of his drink, Kaelric smiled faintly.
"...I'm really curious indeed."
***
The office I was given was far larger than the one I'd had back at the main Guild. Large windows lined one side of the room, offering a clear view of the city streets far below. There was even air conditioning, a small detail, but one that immediately made the space feel more comfortable.
In many ways, it was better.
But...
"I prefer my old office more."
Pressing the remote to lower the curtains, I sat down on the chair and leaned back.
"I need to hurry up and get my shit together."
Time was ticking, and I had yet to make any meaningful progress with the game update. The ideas were there, and I had already shared them with the others, but with the equipment still back in Malovia, getting things done was quite difficult.
'I've already contacted the Guild Master regarding this matter, and he's already said that he's going to provide me with the equipment, but that'll take some time too. I don't know if I have enough time to spare.'
"Ugh."
Groaning, I took out my laptop and got to work.
Even without the equipment, I could still do some things to make things much easier when heavy programming had to be done.
'Should I try hiring more people?'
It was worth taking into consideration. What I wanted to do now was get the update done quickly before the quest time ran out. I wasn't planning on making money. I could do that later.
Maybe...
"Ah, I don't know. It might take some time to fill them into the project. Might make the entire process even slower than expected."
Groaning, I tried to think of more solutions, but no matter how hard I pushed myself, every idea only made things worse. In the end, I just gave up and continued to do things the hard way.
'I might end up forgoing sleep once more, but I feel like I have to complete this quest at all costs. I don't know what the new feature will be, but I have a feeling that it's going to be extremely important further down the line.'
Taking a deep breath, I cracked my fingers and got to work.
Or at least...
Tried to.
The moment my hands touched the keyboard, a sudden notification rang across my mind.
Ding!
The moment it did, my fingers froze.
'I should've seen it coming.'
-x-X-x-
[You have been haunted]
The notification came abruptly, and yet, staring at it, I felt nothing. This notification didn't come as a surprise to me. In fact, there was still one anomaly that was currently 'hunting' me down and had yet to make a move.
I was more worried about that than this new notification.
'With everything that has gone down recently, this shouldn't be surprising. It might be something or someone related to the other demons.'
I knew that the cult wasn't the end of it.
In fact, it was very likely just the start of it.
From the Ars Goetia to the Unholy Trinity. I was deeply aware of the hidden depths of the world and that the system was somehow linked to it.
That begged the question...
Was the system against the demons, or... was the system part of the demons?
My breath turned shallow upon reaching that point; however, I was quick to curb my unease as I leaned back against the chair and let my mind relax. Just the thought of what lay ahead of me made my stomach churn, but as opposed to the past, I no longer held the same fear.
"...I can manage it."
Whatever it was, I could manage it.
All I needed to do was focus on what I could manage.
I needed to be more proactive.
I needed to get rid of problems before they truly became problems.
"So let's start by getting rid of this thing."
Reaching into my pocket, I took out a compass. Holding the compass tightly, I thought about the anomaly that was hunting me.
'Bring me to it.'
There were two who had set their target on me. I didn't care which one it was; I needed it to bring me to whatever one was closest.
Clenching and unclenching my hand, I slowly began to activate my nodes as I stood up from the seat.
"...It's about time I started to test this body properly."
I had taken the emblance shards. My mind was a lot clearer than it had been in the past, and having already requested the Guild Master with more fragments, it wouldn't be long until I reached the Fourth Order.
Not even a second after I stood up, the compass began to spin rapidly, moving in all sorts of directions. I stood in silence, waiting for the compass to stop eventually. Thankfully, I didn't need to wait long to see a result, and the tip soon stopped.
"I see."
I didn't hesitate.
Holding onto the compass, I began to follow the direction of the tip.
Subconsciously, I had already started moving toward the door, expecting the anomaly to be somewhere farther away. But the moment I turned in the direction indicated by the tip, my heart came to a stop, my movements freezing as my head slowly turned back.
Back... towards my desk.
"...."
Tightening my grip on the compass, I didn't let the situation take hold of my mind.
My nodes began to churn quietly as I kept my gaze fixed on the desk. There was no reason to panic yet. I scanned it carefully, searching for anything out of place. But as my eyes moved across the wooden surface, I found nothing that seemed amiss.
Step—!
Drawing nearer, I kept my entire body tense, my eyes continuing to scan the surroundings as I tried to pick anything out of place.
But...
'Nothing?'
I didn't let my guard down.
Moving next to the table, I stared at the drawers. Holding onto the compass and bringing it closer to it, the compass began to spin in all directions.
"...So it's here."
Nodding, I put the compass away before tapping the floor with the sole of my foot.
A dark figure began to emerge as I pointed at the drawer.
"Help me check if there's anything inside."
"....."
The figure didn't move. Instead, it just stared at me in silence.
I averted my gaze slightly, pretending to be oblivious to the Realmwalker's gaze.
But...
Instead of listening to my order, the Realmwalker took a step towards me and tilted its head, trying to get me to face its gaze.
"....."
I averted my gaze further, but the Realmwalker tilted his head further, peering closer and closer to my face before eventually meeting my gaze head-on as I pursed my lips.
"I'm not using you as a meat shield."
"....."
"I'm only asking you to check something for me. There's nothing dangerous about checking a drawer, right?"
"....."
"Look, my death would mean your death..."
"..."
Under the Realmwalker's pressuring gaze, my voice grew weaker and weaker, not out of fear, but from a growing sense of shame.
"You're not a meatshield, okay? You're much more valuable to me than that."
"....."
This persisted until I just decided to give up and chose to remain silent. The Realmwaker's gaze never changed, and feeling it, I knew that I had to sort this situation out.
'I have a feeling that he might start an anomaly union soon enough.'
I couldn't allow for something like that to happen.
Not on my watch.
"Are you not going to check?"
"....."
Giving me one last dirty look, the Realmwaker finally complied and moved toward the drawer, opening it without hesitation. Throughout the entire process, my body stayed tense, every muscle coiled and ready, prepared to react to anything that might spring out at any second.
Clank!
But contrary to the dramatic outcome I had braced myself for, nothing came out of the drawer. There was no sudden hiss, no grotesque creature, no invisible force lunging for my throat.
Just silence.
Instead, a shiny object appeared.
"Hm?"
Confused, I took a step forward, and when I finally caught a glimpse of the object, question marks appeared on top of my head.
"A meat grinder? What...?"
The object's randomness caught me completely off guard. However, it became clear to me that this was the anomaly that was haunting me, or at least, was related to the anomaly. Pushing all other thoughts aside, I moved closer to the meat grinder, and it was when I drew close enough for it to be at arm's length from me that a new notification flashed across my vision.
[Do you wish to start the grinder?]
▶ [Yes] ▷ [No]
It was a notification that felt vaguely familiar.
"....Ah!"
Everything became a lot clearer to me a short moment later.
'Isn't this like the Hourglass from before?'
Yes, this... was very similar to it.
"In that case, if I turn it on, I'll very likely be brought into a Gate. Most likely, I'll be brought into the same gate where the anomaly that is haunting me is located. And for the object to be here of all places..."
It was very likely the system's doing. Just like last time, it was likely trying to 'help' me.
In that case...
"It would be rude of me to refuse."
I dropped all hesitation and pressed [Yes]. Unbeknownst to me, in the brief moment my hand moved to press the button, I caught a glimpse of my own reflection on the shiny body of the machine, and it was there that I noticed something peculiar about my expression.
'I'm smiling?'
Smiling?
I was smiling?
For what reason...? Why was I smiling?
"He.... He."
Was the idea of hunting an anomaly that amusing?
-x-X-x-
Krrrrr—!
With the eventual start of the meat grinder, the surroundings began to distort. The office flickered in and out of view, alternating with an entirely different scene. One that was still too unclear for me to fully make out.
But the changes weren't all visual.
The pungent smell of iron soon began to fill my nostrils.
It thickened along with the warmth of the surroundings, clinging to the back of my throat. The hum beneath my feet deepened into a constant, mechanical growl, vibrating through my bones.
When the office blinked away again, it didn't come back.
Steel hooks swayed from the ceiling, surrounding me from all directions.
The floor was slick, reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights in trembling streaks of red. Somewhere nearby, the subtle sound of something being dragged echoed. When I turned to look in that direction, I only managed to catch a glimpse of a fading shadow.
"...This looks like a slaughterhouse."
I got my confirmation shortly after.
[Operation: The Host's Invitation]
Class : Melas
: A remote slaughterhouse resumes activity after a prolonged shutdown, despite no workers being present. Trucks arrive on schedule, gates open on their own, and the animals are processed without human intervention. But recently, business hasn't been very good. Something about the animals... isn't quite right.
"Here it is."
The scenario notification.
Reading the notification, my eyes opened up slightly.
'The class is no longer hidden like it's always been in the past. Is this because this is no longer the trial version? That's interesting... will there be even more changes in the future?'
I carefully pondered the situation while staring at the notification.
'Melas Class, that's in line with what I expected. Doable.'
The appearance of the meat grinder was all I needed to see to know it was related to the system. Knowing the system wouldn't make me do the impossible, I knew it was something that I could clear.
I didn't just blindly accept to enter for the simple reason of hunting an anomaly.
'But looking around this place, it really is quite large.'
The area was vast, chains hanging down in every direction, swaying faintly as if recently disturbed. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air, thick enough to taste, while shadows flickered along the walls and floor. At both ends of the room stood white doors, each hanging loosely open, as though inviting me forward.
Staring at both sides, I didn't rush towards the doors.
Instead, I took out a white mask.
"....."
I stared at it in silence, a mix of emotions rising in my chest. The mask itself was simple, holding no special powers. Yet, it was no doubt my most dangerous item.
"I'll get killed on the spot if I turn myself into the Jester."
That identity...
It was no longer one that I could use.
At least, for now.
At this moment... I needed a completely different identity. And as soon as I put on the mask, a string of different options appeared for me.
But I already knew what I wanted.
There was no need for me to dwell on my option as I scrolled down and selected it straight away.
▷ [Jester]
▷ [Clown]
▷ [Skull]
.
.
.
▶ [Pig]
The transformation was instant.
Once the option was selected, the mask began morph into the selected option. The moment I touched my face, I felt all the unnatural creases running down it, alongside the ears fur.
'It's fitting when considering the place.'
"...Ah, this is bad."
I covered my mouth, trying to pull my lips down, but the more I thought about the situation, the more my lips refused to listen to me.
But it couldn't be helped.
What sort of person would purposely choose to make themselves look like a pig so that an anomaly would come and hunt them?
"Ah, this is bad. This is pretty bad."
I wasn't sure of what was happening, but ever since returning to 'my body', things hadn't been quite right with my mind. I thought that the Emblance Shards would fix me, but even now, there was something fundamentally different compared to before.
"No, that's not quite right..."
Thinking about it carefully, I did return to how I was before. The Emblance Shard did do its job, but perhaps, it did it a little too well.
My mind felt clearer than ever.
And that was most likely the problem.
My mind was too clear.
The inner shackles that once restrained my true instincts had thinned to brittle threads. Becoming the Jester hadn't twisted me into something new; it had peeled me back to what I always was.
With my mind finally clear... parts that I tried to bury deep within me started to slip out.
"He... he."
Clutching my face and forcing my lips shut, the laugh still managed to force its way out of my lips as my shoulders trembled. Biting my lips, I began to head for the door as I reached my right hand out to the side, a familiar weight settling into my palm.
I didn't need to look to know what it was.
As though it were an extension of my body, I clutched the handle tightly as the surroundings started to turn red.
"Haa..."
I let out a long breath, moving past the first door.
"...Where are you?"
The one who haunts me.
*
Clank! Clank!
The chains brushed against one another, their slow clinking echoing as the shadows stretched unnaturally across the white walls of the slaughterhouse. The scent of iron that gripped the surroundings grew suffocating.
Heavy enough to taste.
On either side of the room, one larger than the one from before, carcasses hung in silent rows, their swollen bodies swaying ever so slightly. Thick red liquid slipped from torn flesh and pooled on the floor before creeping toward the drain at the far end.
Pigs. Cows.
There were all sorts of carcasses, and holding onto the knife, I calmly walked across the space.
'I can't feel anything here.'
Taking out the compass, I followed the tip, moving towards where it was guiding me.
The deeper I walked, the colder the surroundings felt.
It grew so dense that a faint mist began to form with every breath I took, blooming in the air before slowly sinking, as though the room itself was exhaling alongside me.
Staring at the mist, I stopped.
"....."
The silence was deafening, and taking in my surroundings, I soon shook my head.
"...At this rate, it'll take too long."
This was the moment I reached for my pocket and retrieved a pair of sunglasses.
'Since it'll take too long for me to find it, I might as well get it to come with me.'
Swooosh!
The changes were immediate. The moment I put on the glasses, the coldness that spread across the surroundings didn't just cling to my body... It seeped into it, crawling under my skin like a thousand worms.
My spine tightened with a sharp, unnatural tingle as the blue tint tried not just to overwhelm the crimson in my vision, but to devour it, swallowing every trace of warmth as the world dimmed into something colder, darker...
"H-haa."
My chest trembled once more as my mind adjusted to the changes, trying its best not get overwhelmed by the sensations.
But above all, I could feel it.
Them.
...The numerous eyes that were staring in my direction.
The carcasses surrounding me started to sway with more momentum, their chains clattering louder as each swing grew sharper. In the distance, the heavy sound of chops echoed through the cold air, matching the beat of my own heart.
Pak! Pak!
Keeping hold of the knife, I looked around.
Waiting.
'It's coming. Something is coming.'
I could feel it.
Pak!
The chopping sound grew louder, my eyes tracking the carcasses as they swayed left and right. Their momentum increased, and as they continued to swing, I noticed the dark liquid dripping from them beginning to pool beneath my feet.
Faster.
Harder.
The carcasses continued to sway, blood striking the white walls before sliding back down, spreading into growing pools that slowly crept across the floor.
Tightening my grip on the knife, I watched the spreading pools of blood merge together, forming larger shapes that soon reached the tips of my shoes. When I looked down at the dark surface, a pig's head stared back up at me.
"....."
For just a brief moment, the surroundings came to a complete standstill.
A deafening silence took over as I silently stared at the reflection.
And then—
"Finally showing yourself?"
Swoooooosh!
The pool of blood stirred, then a blood-red hand shot out, grabbing for my ankle. But it wasn't alone. The surrounding pools rippled, and more hands burst through the surface, reaching from every direction and latching onto my feet.
One, two, three, four...
The numbers kept climbing, each hand gripping tighter, crawling higher up my legs as they tried to pull me down.
Staring at all of this, I raised my hand and slashed down.