A group composed of several individuals waited inside a tall chamber, rows of large monitors humming softly as thick tubes connected them to a swirling portal suspended at the center of the room.
Besides the soft hum of the computers, the room was otherwise silent.
"How is the situation? Any information?"
Breaking the silence, one man spoke up. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he was the Section Chief of the Hoarding Department. Clement White. Despite being green-lit by the BUA to dive into Gates once again, the events in Malovia still haunted the minds of many present.
"...Section Chief, we're waiting for more information. I'm trying to get a visual on the situation, but we can't see anything. The only good thing is that we can still measure their vitals. There's been no deaths yet. We might be able to make it in time."
"And how long do you think that is?"
"I... I am not sure."
The technical agent replied as he twinkled with the device that connected to the Gate.
Feeling the Section Chief's burdensome gaze, he could only quietly swallow his words before getting to work.
The Section Chief crossed his arms, his foot tapping against the floor.
"I need you to hurry. The World Congress is just around the corner. We can't afford to lose our recruits. Especially not this batch. This batch will be the one that will place us in a good ranking. They're the ones that I spent so much time developing. They're even better than any team from the main guild. If we lose them, then we'll—"
WHIIIIIRL!
A loud whirling sound cut the Section Chief short as the Gate suddenly began to fluctuate. His expression, along with those of the others present, changed as they all turned toward the technical agent, who stared at the Gate with a flustered look.
"Wait, what...? This doesn't make sense. Why is the gate fluctuating? Is the gate imploding? No, that isn't the case. The numbers don't suggest that. Then...?"
Hastily scanning the digits appearing on the computer beside him, his expression slowly shifted into something strange.
"What's wrong? What's with that expression?"
The Section Chief pressed the agent, who didn't answer but instead looked at the gate.
That was when a change occurred. Several shadows appeared a moment later, their outlines growing clearer as the figures everyone had been anxiously waiting for finally emerged from the Gate.
"....!"
"They're here!"
The room stirred.
Everyone rushed the group at once, their minds filled with questions, but before any of them could voice them out, they stopped.
Because...
"....."
"....."
They finally took notice of their expressions.
Dull expressions hung on their faces, like those of someone who had just seen a ghost, as they stared blankly at their surroundings.
The Section Chief raised his hand, stopping everyone from speaking as he looked at the group in front of him with clear worry. Eventually, however, he turned his attention towards the one who seemed the most clear-headed.
"Catherine."
His voice was soft.
"Hey, Catherine."
Approaching her, he nudged her shoulder, prompting her to look up to him, exposing her twisted expression.
'Oh, fuck. Not again...'
The Section Chief sucked in a breath as he eventually asked, "What's going on? Can you tell me exactly what happened?"
***
The room was exactly as I had left it. As I finally emerged, I looked toward the meat grinder just as it ground to a halt. Moving towards it, I grabbed it and placed it away.
'...I think I'm going to turn vegetarian for a while.'
Just the thought of meat made me feel nauseated.
Feeling a sense of exhaustion, I turned to look at the chair, and just as the thought of sitting down crossed my mind, I looked down at my clothing and shook my head.
"No, maybe I shouldn't."
Thankfully, my clothes were an item.
By simply pressing on them, I was able to change in an instant.
I was now wearing a simple black shirt with jeans. Without further ado, I finally sat down on the chair and leaned back, allowing my eyes to finally close for some rest as my head began to twitch.
'Kill...! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!'
Words echoed over and over inside my mind as the darkness swallowing my vision slowly deepened, shifting into a heavy, suffocating shade of red. What followed was an extreme sense of weakness as the effects of the knife started to finally wear off.
I wasn't flustered by the sudden turn of events.
I had long been aware of the consequences of my actions. Power didn't come free, and everything I had done was to test the limits of the power that I had been granted.
'Two hundred and three...'
These were the number of anomalies that I had killed back in the Gate.
It was also the limit of the knife.
Any more and...
"It would be for the best if I don't exceed that number."
Opening my eyes, I stared blankly at the ceiling. Countless red dots swam across my vision as heat began to seep through my body.
Maybe I was starting to run a fever.
"No, I... very likely have a fever."
Thankfully, this appeared to be the extent of the consequences. At least, for now. But there was something more pressing for me to think about.
'In other words, I fell for a trap.'
Was this all a test for me?
'I don't exactly know what their goals are, but they appear to be aware of my abilities. This is rather troublesome. But to make things even worse, the one responsible for all of this appears to be inside the Guild.'
I pressed my lips together, feeling the skin on my arms prickle.
"Goosebumps. I'm getting goosebumps."
Outside of that, however, it wasn't all bad. Taking into consideration its words, I more or less could tell that it wasn't aware of my 'new' abilities.
'...I hope you enjoy my gift. It should entertain you for a bit.'
It didn't.
Perhaps without the knife, I would've struggled against the boss. But with it in hand, it took no time at all for me to deal with it.
A
'But still, this isn't an ability that I can just use as I wish.'
A powerful urge to cut down everything in front of me lingered, added to the fever; I really had to pace myself when using this ability in the future.
I could only imagine what the side effects might have been had I prolonged my exposure or gone even further down the rabbit hole.
Still, this wasn't all for nothing.
I now had a clear understanding of the knife and its abilities. I also had an idea of my limits.
If utilized properly, this could very well serve as a good weapon for me.
'But I'll need to be careful.'
"...I wonder when Kyle and the others will come here."
Checking the time, I tried to push all thoughts aside. There was a lot I needed to think about, but I was in no state to do so. The knife's influence was still strong, and the more I thought about the situation, the greater my bloodlust became.
Reaching for my pocket, I took out several crystals. They were the ones I had gained from clearing the Gate. In total, there were about seven of them, and they all looked rather pure.
'Not bad.'
Checking them to the side where they faded into the darkness, I looked at my phone.
"They should be here soon."
I had already contacted my squad. They were supposed to arrive soon.
Thinking about my squad, I suddenly started to miss them. It had been a while since I had last seen them. How were they doing?
"As far as I'm aware, they should be doing well. It isn't like they participated in the Malovia Gate incident."
They had been a little bit too weak to participate.
"I should probably give them a call. Remind them that I still exist."
Thinking about how much I had neglected them, a bitter smile tugged at my lips. Just as I was about to make the call, a sudden knock stopped me mid-motion.
Knock! Knock!
I didn't even have the time to look up when the door opened.
Shortly after, a pair of green eyes met my sight.
"Excuse me."
Her voice was soft, almost polite, but her actions told a different story; she entered as if the room were her own and took a seat in the chair opposite me.
"I'd like to talk with you for a moment."
I could only stare at her in silence.
Quietly placing my phone down on the desk, I could only offer her an insincere smile as I mumbled to myself, '...What is this crazy bitch doing here?'
-x-X-x-
There was no doubt about it in my mind.
She was a crazy bitch. She had hidden it well when I first met her, but those eyes I saw in her final moments, despite being fixed on something that could only be described as an anomaly, were unmistakably insane.
That was most likely her real self.
Yes, she was a crazy bitch.
'I guess it was all a facade. I can already see her real personality leak before my very eyes.'
"I'll make it quick."
Despite her best attempts at hiding it, her face was haggard.
"I was asked to escort you to the Guild Master. It seems like he wants to talk to you."
"The Guild Master?"
My heart froze.
Thinking about that man, I felt my stomach twist.
Don't tell me he noticed something? Thinking about it, given how sharp the Guild Master was, I could see him suspecting me of being the 'Butcher'.
"Yes, he wants to see you."
Even Catherine appeared surprised by the fact that the Guild Master wanted to see me, but she didn't appear to be too interested as she switched the topic.
"Besides that, there's been a little incident. There will be no Gate diving for a while."
"What?"
I pretended to be surprised.
"But I thought the BUA had given the green light."
"They have."
"Then...?"
"This is an internal decision. You'll be filled in on the situation later."
As if tired of speaking to me, she stood up and nudged the door with her chin.
"If possible, I'd like to get done with this quickly since I'm rather tired. Is that okay with you?"
"Oh, yes."
Considering her current situation, I didn't make things more difficult for her. I nodded and stood up. Or at least, I tried.
".....!"
Propping myself up with the armrest, I nearly stumbled back into my chair as a wave of dizziness and weakness washed over me.
"Hm?"
Catherine stopped, turning her attention towards me.
I hastily clenched my teeth and forced myself upright, playing it off as though I was fine.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. A hit the leg of the chair."
"...Oh."
She hid it well, but her expression seemed to say, 'What an idiot.'
I ignored it and forced myself to act as naturally as I could. Even so, it became painfully clear that I was in a weakened state. My back was drenched in sweat, and every step felt heavier than it should have. Thankfully, Catherine seemed to be in a similar condition and didn't pay much attention to me.
Otherwise...
"...Let's go."
Catherine spoke up, her voice strained.
"Let's not make the Guild Master wait for long."
*
How could I go and describe the Guild Master's office in the branch guild? It was certainly different from the one in the main Guild.
The ceiling was tall, the floor paved with gray marble, while dark pillars rose along the sides to support the structure. Large windows exposed the streets below, and even the desk was impressive, crafted from dark marble that matched the floor.
"Ah, it looks like you're here."
The Guild Master greeted us with a light smile as he sat behind the marble desk, his clean dark suit neatly outlining his well-built frame.
Standing beside the Guild Master was a figure I didn't recognize. Still, given his presence in the Guild Master's office, it was clear he held a high position within the Guild.
Most likely a Section Chief of sorts.
"Ehm."
I still pretended to be confused as I walked into the room.
Looking around, I settled my gaze back toward the Guild Master.
"I heard a little bit from Catherine, but I'm not quite sure about the situation. What am I being called here for?"
It seemed I hadn't chosen the right words; the moment they left my mouth, the man I assumed to be a Section Chief frowned in displeasure. Thankfully, before he could say anything, the Guild Master spoke up.
"Your confusion is understandable. I'll explain the situation to you in a bit. For now, sit down."
I subconsciously sat down.
Not because I wanted to, but my body just moved on its own.
It was always like this with the Guild Master. Ours was a cooperative relationship, yet the longer I stayed in his presence, the more suffocating it became. He looked friendly and easygoing, but there was something lurking in his gaze and the way he carried himself, something that made me feel as though I were being quietly swallowed whole.
Before I knew it, my already drenched back was even more soaked.
"I'll get straight to the point. There's been an incident."
The Guild Master's gaze was directed at me as he spoke.
"It only occurred recently, and the reason I'm bringing this up is that I don't believe this incident was a rare case caused by a Gate's mutation. There's reason to believe it happened due to someone's interference."
"What?"
This time, I didn't fake my surprise. I was genuinely surprised as I looked at the Guild Master. How did he know?
How did he know that this incident occurred due to someone's influence?
"I won't get into the technicalities, but after analyzing the reports and the analyst's data, the Section Chief and I have reached an agreement. There's reasonable suspicion that the incident occurred due to someone's influence."
A heavy silence hung across the room as neither Chaterine nor I spoke.
But eventually, it was Catherine who shattered that silence.
"Is it because of the World Congress?"
"There's reason to believe that's the case, yes."
The Guild Master nodded, his expression calm.
I alternated my gaze between the two, still finding the situation to be confusing.
"The two of you are the most promising recruits present in the Guild at the moment. You two were probably the target."
"....."
The Section Chief, beside the Guild Master, grew even darker in expression, so much so that it almost seemed as though storm clouds were gathering behind him. It looked like he had something to say. Especially when he looked at me.
He looked at me, right?
"To some extent, you can say it's your good luck for not going into the Gate today." Directing his attention back to me, I felt my back straighten subconsciously as I quietly nodded my head, "...I guess so."
But why did it seem like there was another meaning to his words?
"We'll go into more detail about the situation later when we have more information, but I'm here to inform this to the two of you so that you're more careful in the future. Since you might be targeted, it's best to pay closer attention to your surroundings. Of course, the Guild will try its best to keep you safe, but given the nature of the situation, there's reason to suspect there's a traitor within the Guild."
"....."
'He's really sharp, isn't he?'
He was somehow able to deduce most of the situation. Of course, the sharper he was, the more his gaze stung.
Feeling his gaze sweep over my one more time, I took a quiet breath.
Relax. He doesn't know anything.
Don't show anything.
"Aside from that, there are a few things that I'd like to mention..."
The conversation continued from there, with the Guild Master speaking for several more minutes, and he turned his attention towards the Section Chief and Catherine.
"I think I've said everything that I needed to say. If possible, I'd like for the two of you to give us some space."
Catherine and the Section Chief exchanged glances before then looking at me. While I didn't feel anything from Catherine's gaze, the Section Chief's eyes appeared to tell me a lot of words as he stared at me in silence.
But fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the two of them soon left the room, leaving only the Guild Master and me behind.
"....."
"....."
The silence in the room felt suffocating as I tried to speak, and I felt the weight of the situation press down on my mind as I struggled to find my words.
Thankfully, the Guild Master's lips opened a moment later.
"VILE - 2032."
"...Excuse me?"
Looking at the Guild Master, I saw his lips curl further up.
"The Butcher. That's the name assigned to the anomaly present within the Gate's incident of today."
Staring at me with his deep eyes, his tone lowered.
"Is that your new identity?"
-x-X-x-
Snake-like bastard.
It was always like this. There was no reason for me to be surprised.
And yet, the deep sense of suffocation only heightened as the Guild Master smiled at me.
"My guess is not far off, correct?"
"....."
I swallowed quietly, my mouth bone-dry as the Guild Master's gaze pressed down on me, its weight growing even heavier on my mind.
"I take your silence as confirmati—"
"No, you're wrong."
I was surprised by how calm my voice sounded when I spoke. Given the situation, I had expected it to be shaky and nervous, but it was anything but.
"I'm wrong?"
Even the Guild Master looked taken aback by my words as his brow rose momentarily.
Pursing my lips, I quietly nodded.
"I'm not the Butcher."
I had considered it as I made my way toward the Guild Master, but in the end, I decided not to reveal my new "identity" to him. We were in a cooperative relationship, but that didn't mean I had to tell him everything.
We worked together, but that didn't mean that I trusted him.
I couldn't reveal all my cards for that reason alone. Especially to someone I didn't know much about.
"...Is that so?"
The Guild Master's eyes flickered for a brief moment, his gaze never leaving me. Under that weight, the suffocating pressure I'd felt earlier intensified further, to the point where I could feel my hand trembling beneath my clothes.
"I take it that this isn't you keeping it to yourself because you're being wary of me, right?"
This snake..
"That's not the case."
I was surprised by my ability to remain calm under these circumstances.
There was no denying the fact that he was seeing right through me, but it was also true that he had no concrete proof to pin the fact that I was the so-called 'Butcher'.
"You're rather adamant about this."
"Because I am being wrongly accused."
"If you say so."
And that's how the topic was dropped.
But for some reason, staring at the Guild Master, it felt like the complete opposite. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves. But the calmer I felt, the more it seemed like he was seeing through me.
How did I look? Was my face pale? Was I sweating too much...? Just what about me was making him look at me like this?
'I really did end up making a deal with the devil.'
"Since I've got no evidence, and I'm just going by a hunch, I'll believe you. In that case, there's something else that I want to ask you."
Here it comes...
I mentally prepared myself while staring at the Guild Master. I knew exactly what sort of question was awaiting me, and sure enough, it came a moment after.
"What exactly happened?"
He paused, his hands interlocking before him.
"...What exactly happened in Malovia? I assumed you were the Jester, but it appears not to be the case; more like you were working with the Jester. Or did you use some sort of doppleganger? But that wouldn't make sense since I didn't notice anything amiss. What exactly is the truth?"
The simple mention of a 'dopplenganger' was enough to send tremors down my spine and heart. Yet again, this man... seemed to read right through my thoughts. Thankfully, he was only giving it a guess as I observed his reaction as calmly as possible.
Eventually, I spoke.
"No, there was no doppleganger. They were both me."
"Both?"
Leaning forward a bit, the Guild Master looked intrigued. He nudged me with his hand, indicating for me to continue.
I took a moment to adjust my thoughts before speaking.
"Given the extreme circumstances that I was facing, I had no choice but to split my body into two different bodies. It was a last-ditch attempt in order for me to preserve my life."
The Guild Master's brow rose in surprise, seemingly taken aback by the fact that I could split my body in two. Of course, that was nonsense.
The less he knew, the better.
"I placed my main consciousness inside the Jester while sending the other body away. The reason I created a Gate was to get used to the new body. Coordinating between the two bodies, I was able to eventually find the demon and get rid of it. In the last moments, I also made sure to 'kill' the Jester while actually transferring my consciousness back to my real body."
I sprinkled a lot of bullshit in my explanation; this much was true, but it wasn't like I had a choice. I couldn't reveal any hints about the system that I had. If the truth got out, then I was as good as dead.
Even now, I remember the system's warning.
Nobody could know about the system.
'At least, so long as they're human.'
Dantalion did learn about the system, but I was still alive.
This meant that demons were fine.
"Hmm."
Listening to my entire explanation, the Guild Master didn't speak. Instead, he leaned back on his chair while gently tapping the marble desk. I also chose to remain quiet while staring at him, feeling the silence around me stifling.
The more I basked in the silence, the more nervous I became. I couldn't decipher a single thing about his thoughts. From his expression to his mannerisms. There was nothing that I could pick out as he sat back with a serene expression.
But eventually...
Trrr! Trrr!
The silence was shattered as his phone rang.
Giving a quick look, the Guild Master smiled as he turned his attention back to me.
"It's a pity, but it looks like we'll have to end our conversation here for now. There are quite a few things I wish to ask you, but they can wait. Enjoy your time at the branch. I'll keep in touch with you."
"...Yes."
I stood up fast. Maybe a little too fast, as I nearly gave away the fact that I was too eager to leave.
No, perhaps I had already given it away as the Guild Master smiled at me.
In the end, I offered a small bow before leaving.
***
The call lasted about half an hour. It was an unexpected call, but a very important one. Once the Guild Master was finally done, he hung up his phone while staring at the empty seat before him.
Fiddling with the phone in his hands, the Guild Master eventually set it down, his thoughts lingering on the conversation from moments earlier.
"Was I wrong?"
He began to subconsciously tap his finger against the marble desk.
"...My haunch says that I'm not, but he appeared rather calm. So much that I'm starting to second-guess myself."
Seth's composure was quite noteworthy.
From the moment he entered the room to the moment he left, the Guild Master felt barely any fluctuation in his emotions or even his heartbeat. He was calm to an unsettling degree, and as he recalled those eyes, so deep they seemed capable of swallowing anyone who stared too long, the Guild Master found himself smiling.
"It's interesting..."
He mumbled quietly, his fingers coming to a direct pause.
"When was the last time I've had a hard time reading someone. It's been a really long time."
Leaning back in his chair, the Guild Master slowly turned to face the cityscape below. He stared at the slow-moving cars beneath, alongside the numerous pedestrians who moved about from place to place.
"He's still a bit raw, but I'm sure he'll get there in the future."
A look of satisfaction marred his features as a pair of dimples appeared on his cheeks.
"...He'll make a great Guild Master."
-x-X-x-
Each Section Chief had their own office. While nowhere near as spacious as the Guild Master's, it was still moderately sized and well-decorated, offering a clear view of the streets below.
"How are you feeling?"
There was a look of concern on the Hoarding Department Section Chief's face as he looked at the young woman sitting opposite him.
"I've looked through the footage, and I can tell that this was no normal anomaly. I've already sent a team to get more information. Although none of you are harmed, I'm just asking again to make sure that nothing is wrong."
"I'm fine."
Catherine replied flatly.
Sitting down cross-legged, she held no real expression.
But it was such an expression that made the Section Chief sweat.
"Are you sure you're fine? If you want, we can provide you with some sort of compensation of sorts and even hire a therapi..."
The Section Chief's words stopped abruptly as he stared at the slowly changing expression on Catherine's face, and he hurriedly shook his hands.
"No, that's not what I meant. I was just thinking that—"
"Cut the bullshit."
Catherine's eyes narrowed as she stared at the Section Chief, her tone low as her expression gradually twisted.
"You're just trying to coax me because you're waiting for me to renew the contract with the Guild, right?"
"No, that's far from the case."
"Are you taking me for stupid?"
"As I said, I'm not."
"Bullshit!!"!
Catherine's hand slammed down against the armrest of the sofa as she stood up, her expression twisting with fury. She grabbed the nearest thing she could find and hurled it at the floor.
BANG!
Glass shattered.
And yet, the Section Chief didn't show much of a reaction. In fact, he had grown used to Catherine's tantrums. He had grown used to them for quite some time.
This was her true personality.
It gave the Section Chief many headaches. Thankfully, this personality only carried within the Guild, and not outside. The world knew her as an up-and-coming Paragon-in-the-making with a bubbly personality, while those within the Guild knew her as the Guild's crazy demon.
She had always been like this, but things truly twisted the moment her parents died.
That was when she became... even more twisted.
"Please, calm down!" the Section Chief said, doing his best to soothe her. "I understand why you're angry, but I'm not doing this for any ulterior motives. I'm genuinely concerned for you. What happened wasn't normal, and it's only natural to have negative feelings about it."
BANG!
Another object shattered.
"That's not the reason I'm fucking pissed, is it? There are a lot of things that piss me off, and that's just one more added to the pile."
Grabbing another item, she was just about to toss it when she stopped.
Eventually, she set it down.
"Tsk."
Her tongue clicked.
As if she had grown tired of tossing and breaking objects, she sat down on the chair and crossed her legs while propping her cheek over her raised fist.
"That bitch is about to come soon. I heard that she only recently reached the Fifth Order. I've reached that way before her, but somehow, everyone seems to be praising her to the moon. That's one thing that pisses me off. Let's not talk about the guy who ended up coming early. That lucky dude."
Catherine clicked her tongue again, this time, her expression marred with even more annoyance.
"Its clear from a glance that he got lucky. Do you know how fucking hard it was to pretend in front of that guy? Pisses me off just thinking about it. Ugh, fuck."
Loosening up her uniform, Catherine turned her attention towards the Section Chief.
"...I wanted to see him in action today, but he ended up ditching. Maybe it's a good thing that he didn't go, given what had happened, but the more I think about it, the more annoyed I feel."
Feeling her gaze, the Section Chief calmly bent down and picked up the fragments of the items that she had broken.
In spite of everything that had happened, he didn't look at all pissed.
"Don't worry, I'm also quite annoyed by his appearance, too."
"He's a bit of an eyesore, isn't he?"
Catherine said, watching silently as the Section Chief bent down to clean up the items she had shattered across the floor.
"Especially with all the attention he's receiving from the Guild Master. At this rate, he'll probably be the face of the Guild during the World Congress."
"I know."
The Section Chief replied, rubbing his clean-shaven face as he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. He nudged some of the broken pieces aside with his foot before sitting on the edge of his desk and leaning back against the chair.
"Regarding the situation, I'll keep a close eye on it. And I share your opinion about him as well. You should be the one leading the Guild at the World Congress. If some unknown 'game developer' who just got lucky with a single Gate ends up taking the lead, we'll become the laughingstock of the world. I won't let that happen. Especially when you're here."
"Good."
Catherine stood up, her expression easing quite a bit.
Adjusting her clothes, she headed for the door.
As she did, the Section Chief stood up.
"Ah, about the contract..."
"I'll think about it."
Clank!
The door closed immediately after that, leaving the Section Chief frozen mid-motion.
"...Ah."
***
The days at the branch guild passed rather slowly. Well, time flowed the same, but it felt like it moved a lot slower. An incident occurred during the last gate expedition, so the gates were temporarily closed.
Even though I had no interest in entering them, it didn't mean that I didn't want to see how the members of this branch guild operated and handled the gates.
In fact, it was a pity.
And because of this, there was essentially nothing to do the entire time.
I just stayed in my office, working on updating the game with the little resources I had, while staying connected with the others to get the update going. The progress was good, but not good enough.
At the same time, I also started to feel better. The voices still lingered, but I was faring much better than before.
"Fuck, I really need them to come faster. At this rate, I'll never be able to get it done in time."
Time was running short for me.
Clank!
Closing down my laptop, I leaned back and rubbed my eyes.
"Ugh."
Just closing them stung.
This was how tired my eyes were from having stared at my screen for so long.
I was also extremely tired.
So much so that I didn't even notice the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision, closing in until it finally swallowed everything.
By the time I opened my eyes again, Kyle looked down on me with the eyes of a grim reaper.
"Are you alive?"
"....."
I checked my heart. It was beating.
"Maybe? I think so. Perhaps?"
"What sort of nonsense..."
"...Oh."
It finally clicked to me then as I sat up.
"You're finally here?"
"I am... wait, what sort of reaction is this?"
Kyle stepped away from me, his expression containing both annoyance and relief.
"What?"
"I almost died. We haven't seen each other for so long, and neither of us was even able to get in contact with the other. Is this really your first reaction when you see me?"
"Oh, right."
So this was the reason for his reaction.
I nodded.
"I'm glad you're back."
Kyle clicked his tongue.
"At least try to sound sincere."
"I am though. I really am."
"Is that so...?"
Kyle tilted his head, examining me closely as he frowned.
He eventually shook his head.
"What?"
"Maybe you really are dead. Those eyes of yours..." He held both sides of his arm, "I'm getting shivers just looking at them. They look so dead."
"....."
"....."
Neither one of us spoke.
And then...
We both grinned at each other.
"Glad you're doing fine, you son of a bitch."
"Same."
-x-X-x-
"...I see that you're not doing so bad yourself. And here I was all worried about you."
Kyle said as he gripped the metal armrest, leaning back against the leather cushioning and letting out a satisfied sigh. He muttered under his breath, "Lucky bastard. Not even my chair at the Guild is this good. And this is just a guest chair?"
I ignored his useless grumbling and took a good look at him.
'He seems to be doing fine.'
I was honestly quite worried. I had been for quite some time.
Thinking about what I had done to him, a part of me felt extremely guilty.
The Kyle that stood before me...
He was no longer human.
"So? Have you suddenly become mute after meeting me?"
"Not quite."
The words finally left my lips as I took a deep breath and took a good look at him. His complexion was a little pale, but in general, he looked fine. There was nothing about his appearance that gave away his status as an anomaly. In fact, it was pretty much impossible to even tell he was an anomaly.
'I'm glad that's the case.'
"I'm thinking of updating my latest game."
"What?"
"What, what?"
"What do you mean, what?"
Kyle looked at me with a baffled expression, his hand rising to cover his face as he muttered, "Can you believe this guy?"
I pursed my lips.
"I'm a game developer. I'm obviously going to focus on my games. I wasn't quite satisfied with my latest game, so I decided to update it. I'm thinking of addressing many of its major flaws. It'll do well."
"....."
Listening to me, Kyle's face appeared to be a mix of both amusement and frustration.
"Are you still going to run with that game developer thing?"
"But... I am one?"
"Are you now?"
Kyle tossed his phone over. A single glance was enough for me to understand, and I quickly shut up and caught it.
There were countless headlines, many of them ones I had seen before.
[Seth Thorne. Severed Stars Guild's secret weapon. Who is he? Will he manage to rank in the upcoming rankings?]
[The man who cleared the Malovia Gate. What will become of him? Next super rookie?]
I put the phone back down.
"They're speaking nonsense. It was all luck."
"....."
Kyle remained quiet, reaching for his phone.
"Sure."
"No, really."
"Okay."
"I'm telling the truth."
"And I said okay."
"....."
Should I have beaten him harder back then?
"Fine."
In the end, I gave up.
"How are you doing?"
I ended up asking him the thing I was most curious about.
Even though my mind wasn't completely lucid, I still remembered everything that had happened. I also remembered how I had forcefully shattered his node to convert him into an anomaly.
I had been fully aware when I had done it.
It had to be done.
...That was the only way to defeat the demon.
There was no other way. In the end, using my abilities, I turned him into an anomaly and 'captured' him, saving him and capturing the 'demon' as well.
Everything worked out in the end, but only on the outside.
I didn't truly know how Kyle was doing.
"Me?"
Kyle shrugged his shoulders while massaging the back of his neck.
"I'm doing quite well, if I have to say."
He lifted both arms and moved them freely. As if trying to show me that he was completely fine. And he did look fine, but the more normal he looked, the more my heart clenched.
"I'm generally doing fine. At least, in most places. I did break quite a lot of bones, but if I have to say so myself, I think most of them have healed by now. There's nothing that is really stopping me from going back into action. Oh, yeah."
He looked at me with a smile.
"Even my nodes are fine. In the end, I didn't really suffer much. I guess you can say that I got lucky, haha."
Leaning back once more, Kyle laughed.
Seeing his smile, I forced one myself.
"I'm glad that's the case."
But soon, Kyle leaned forward.
"But hey, there's really not much to worry about. I've been cleared medically for everything. I'll soon start my training for the Congress. You should start too. Your team is waiting for you. At this point, I'm shocked that they've yet to forget about you. Crazy bastard. How long has it been since you've last been with them?"
"...Too long."
"You..."
I opened my mouth to answer, but was stopped by Kyle.
"Ah, nevermind."
Kyle shook his head, placing his hands on the table and standing up.
"You're a game developer, right?"
That...
"That's what you were going to tell me, wasn't it?"
How did he know?
"It's because you always say the same thing."
Shaking his head, Kyle turned around and headed for the door.
"In any case, I'll take my leave. I'm glad that you're doing fine. There are still a few things that I need to do, but I should be done soon. Will you be here for the Guild dinner later?"
"Likely."
"That's good. I'll see you there."
Nodding slightly, Kyle proceeded to leave the room.
In the end, I could only stare at his retreating figure in silence, basking in the silence he left behind.
'He looks fine...'
I bit my lips.
"...But is he really fine?"
***
Clank!
"Crazy lucky bastard."
Stepping out of Seth's office, Kyle paused and glanced back at the door. The longer he looked at it, the more jealousy crept in. How long had he been working in the Guild? What sort of rank had he reached?
...And yet.
"I've yet to receive my own office."
Clicking his tongue, Kyle walked away. His mental health demanded it.
But he didn't even get to move a couple of steps when a voice suddenly called for him.
"Kyle."
A head peeked out from behind one of the corridor's white pillars.
Her emerald eyes narrowed like those of a cat as she looked around, seemingly looking to see if there was someone else with him.
"Don't worry. He's not here."
"Huh? What...? Who is not here?"
Stepping out of the pillar, her long lashes fluttered.
"I'm not looking for anyone."
"I know."
Kyle merely smiled.
Zoey's lips twitched, her gaze flickering towards a certain office for a brief moment before she coughed and turned serious.
"How are you doing?"
"Not you too..."
"What? I'm just checking up. You've seemed a little bit out of it lately."
"That's because I'm mentally drained."
"Hmm, well..."
Scratching the side of her neck, allowing her soft blonde hair to gracefully fall over her shoulders, Zoey eventually nodded.
"...I can't say I don't understand you. We've been put through a lot. Especially with the last incident. And with the upcoming World Congress, I'm struggling to keep my mind sane."
"Right?"
"I guess."
Zoey shrugged, her expression easing a little.
Turning her wrist and checking the time, she looked at Kyle.
"In that case, I'll head out and get myself ready for dinner. Rest a bit."
"I will."
Kyle smiled as he watched Zoey turn around and leave.
He stared at her parting back for a couple of seconds before he suddenly called out for her.
"Zoey."
"...Yes?"
Still walking, Zoey turned her head.
Kyle's smile grew as he spoke.
"He's also doing fin—"
Cla—K!
Tripping over her legs, Zoey stumbled forward.
-x-X-x-
The room was simple, furnished with all the necessities: a bathroom, a wardrobe, and most importantly, a bed. Best of all was the view from the higher floor, offering a clear sight of the city streets below.
Such was the bedroom that Kyle had been given.
"This is nice."
Stepping out of the shower and tightening the towel around his waist, he brushed his dirty-blond hair back and stared down at the streets below for a long moment. He allowed himself to bask in the silence around him before walking back to the bathroom to do his skin care.
While he wasn't extremely popular, he was getting there.
He needed to maintain his image.
A good image was always good.
But there was a problem.
"...Looks like I'll need some makeup."
Kyle pinched the skin beneath his eyes. It was dark and sagging slightly.
"I'll start looking like Seth at this rate."
There was a trace of amusement in Kyle's voice as he applied light makeup to hide the dark circles, but beneath it lingered a quiet pain and exhaustion.
"H-ha."
Halfway through his motions, Kyle had no choice but to pause, bringing both hands to the sink as his hands started to tremble uncomfortably.
He didn't experience any pain, but even if it was, he'd much prefer that.
'It's happening again.'
The trembles...
This was what Kyle called them. He was still unsure what they truly were. They happened often, and he couldn't stop them. Parts of his body would suddenly begin to tremble, as if possessed, forcing him into a state of total paralysis.
Ever since the incident, he had been experiencing these symptoms, only growing more frequent with each passing day. To the point that they occurred in his sleep, forcing him awake and preventing him from sleeping.
He thought it would only pass with time, but...
"It's getting worse."
Taking several deep breaths, Kyle raised his head.
But as he did, his heart stopped.
"....!!"
Because a face stared back at him.
It was obscured, but the image was clear.
His entire body froze at the sight. Almost as if something or someone had taken over completely, rendering him completely immobile.
The face stared at him in silence, sweat dripping from the side of his face as he stared back at the face.
And then—
"....."
Everything returned to normal, the image fading as the mirror slowly clouded over.
But despite everything fading, Kyle remained rooted in place, the dark circles beneath his eyes growing even more pronounced as he blinked slowly and mumbled, "What was I doing?"
"Ah."
He reached for the makeup next to him and dipped his finger.
"...Skin care. I'm doing skin care."
***
Well, I expected something a bit fancy considering the Guild's wealth, but maybe I thought a little too much.
'Is this really the right place?'
[Central Kebab]
I checked my phone to see if I was in the right location, but it really did seem to be the case. I'm not wrong...?
"...Ah, maybe it's some sort of disguise."
I smacked my fist against my open palm. Now that makes sense... Why would the Guild invite us to a kebab shop for the Guild dinner? It obviously made no sense. Especially since from the outside, the shop looked like one of the lower-quality kebab shops.
Without any further hesitation, I reached for the metal handle of the glass door and pulled it open.
The moment I stepped inside, a heavy scent of char and spices washed over me.
I subconsciously frowned.
Tables were lined up along both sides of the room, with people seated on either side, laughing and toasting with one another. I caught sight of many familiar faces.
But that wasn't what unsettled me.
What bothered me was the fact that this place was truly a kebab shop.
'They're really going to host a Guild dinner here?'
I had to do a double-take, but looking around once more and seeing that they were truly eating kebabs, and with some beers at that, I decided to give up. I liked kebab too.
Approaching the nearest table, I pointed at one of the chairs.
"Can I sit here?"
"Ah, yes-Huh?"
Huh?
All of a sudden, it was as if everyone at the table had stiffened at once. A quick glance was all it took for me to realize what was going on.
'I guess they're still in shock with what happened back in Malovia?'
"So?"
"Ah, that... Err." The poor guy looked at the others on the table, only for them to look away. In the end, he forced a smile. "Yes. Please... sit."
So I did.
I even ordered myself some kebab with rice.
"Make sure to add a lot of sauce. The white one specifically. I'm not very good at dealing with spicy food."
The moment I placed my order, I glanced around the room. For the most part, everyone present was a member of the branch guild. Those from the main Guild had yet to arrive, leaving me as the only one there from it.
There was no one that I could strike up a conversation with. Not that I was interested in talking with anyone.
In fact, I felt extremely uncomfortable.
'...So many strangers.'
Keeping my expression steady, I quietly hoped my order would arrive sooner as I scrolled mindlessly through my phone. I wasn't even sure what I was looking at, my thoughts drifting far from the screen. I was just scrolling for the sake of scrolling.
'I hope my food gets here faster.'
"Does that page look interesting?"
"...?"
Turning around, a pair of emerald eyes stared at me. A bubbly smile greeted me a short while later as Catherine sat in front of me. The crazy bitch is back?
She then pointed at my phone again.
"That... I saw that you were looking at the same article multiple times. Is it interesting?"
I looked down at my phone.
[My Cold CEO is my baby's...]
"I didn't know you weren't into that stuff. Is it good?"
"....Passable."
No, passable what?
I didn't even know what it was.
"Should I give it a read?"
"Yes, it's really good."
The bubbly smile faltered for a brief moment before she leaned back in her chair. When I glanced around again, I realized that everyone who had been sitting beside me just moments earlier was gone.
It was just Catherine and me now... and the many stares fixed on us from every direction.
"I'm honestly really surprised you're into this stuff. I thought that you'd be really busy considering all the work that you have, but maybe I was wrong."
Leaning back against the chair, she fiddled with her phone.
"Is it the same with my sister? Is she into this stuff?"
"I don't know."
"You don't? Are you not very close to my sister? I thought you were."
"Not reall—"
"Tsk."
I raised my head. Did she just...
"Damn randoms."
Ah, so she was talking about a game.
"Ah, sorry about that."
Lifting her head, she quickly apologized.
"I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about something else. There's this gam—"
Catherine's voice cut off halfway as she turned her attention toward the door. She wasn't the only one. People throughout the shop turned as well, and when I followed their gaze, a group I was all too familiar with stepped inside.
But when I looked at them, specifically the Section Chief, I couldn't help but be taken aback by their expression.
The one that looked as though they had eaten shit.
-x-X-x-
"Did they say where we're going?"
"...No, but it's not very far. The GPS also doesn't seem to have much information on the place. It must be some sort of restaurant exclusive to the Guild."
The Section Chief replied calmly while following the GPS. From time to time, he would stop and tilt his phone to the side, as if that would actually help him get to the location faster.
Kyle and the rest could only follow him in silence.
They were already used to the Section Chief's bizarre antics. Thankfully, while he struggled to use the GPS, they soon found the place.
But...
"....."
Soon, the Section Chief came to a stop.
He stared blankly at the shop in front of him.
"Section Chief?"
Taking note of his actions, everyone else stopped. They all soon turned to look in the direction of the shop.
"A kebab shop?"
"Why are we in front of a kebab shop?"
"Section Chief?"
Hearing the numerous questions coming from behind him, the Section Chief didn't answer. Instead, he continued to stare at the shop while alternating his gaze between the sign and his phone. The more he alternated between the two, the more his expression contorted.
"Wait, don't tell me this is the place."
As if finally realizing something, the faces of a few turned strange.
"There's no way, right?"
However, looking at the Section Chief's face, the hearts of many sank.
"To be honest, I think it's probably a disguise. Given the nature of the dinner, there's a good chance that this is just a front for the Guild dinner. It's most likely different inside."
Noticing the mood, Kyle tried his best to offer an excuse for the situation. However, his words only made the Section Chief's face crumble more. Kyle's heart sank. Especially when he heard the Section Chief's mumbled, 'What front? These bastards and their usual tricks...'
Kyle scratched the side of his face, turning to look at Zoey, who was staring intently at the sign on top.
Eventually, the group entered the shop.
Kyle hoped.
...He hoped his earlier guess would prove correct, but that hope was quickly crushed. The moment the group entered the shop, the atmosphere fell silent as they found nothing more than an average-sized kebab shop. One that didn't even have enough seats to accommodate all of them.
The Section Chief's already crumbling expression fell even further. Moments later, a figure approached them, lips pulled into a thin smile as he adjusted his gold-framed glasses.
"Hahaha, if it isn't the famous Section Chief of the Containment Department."
It was a friendly greeting.
"I hope you don't mind the location of the dinner. We were previously thinking of going to a better place, but given how the entire world is currently sensitive to us, I thought this would be the best place for our groups to finally meet each other."
He looked extremely amiable. Even apologetic, but the Section Chief's face remained cold as he stared at the figure standing in front of him.
'He must be really angry.'
This was one of the few times Kyle had ever seen the Section Chief wear such an expression. It stood in stark contrast to his usual lethargic, dead look.
But it wasn't as if he couldn't understand.
There had always been some level of tension between the Main Guild and the Branch Guild. Despite being only a Branch Guild, they consistently saw themselves as superior to the Main Guild, a mindset that had led to several past conflicts.
Holding a Guild Dinner in a kebab shop was no coincidence.
"...It's been a while."
Thankfully, the Section Chief was able to keep his cool as he shook the man's hand.
"I didn't expect the dinner to be in such a place. You guys really outdid yourselves."
"Haha, like I said. Circumstances. Circumstances."
"Hey."
Just then, Kyle felt a small tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Rowan's hand pointing in a certain direction.
"Look."
Turning his attention towards where she pointed, Kyle's attention fell on a certain table.
His expression turned quickly strange.
He wasn't the only one. He could see many expressions turn strange as two figures sat at the table, one trying to eat his food while the other tried to chat with him and steal it.
"...Relax, I'm just getting a taste."
"No."
"There's so much sauce."
"I like it this way."
"Your tastes are weird."
"I know."
"About the novel..."
"....."
"....."
Their conversation was also strange. Novel? What novel?
Wait...
But as if finally recognizing the girl sitting opposite Seth, Kyle's expression turned even stranger as he turned to look in Zoey's direction. She, too, was staring at the two, but her expression was stiff as a rock.
As if she couldn't believe the scene in front of her.
"You've got some sauce on your face. Let me wipe it."
"No."
If not for the visible annoyance on Seth's face, one might think the two were dating. In fact, they weren't the only ones shocked. Pretty much everyone within the room, besides a few, looked shocked as the noise died down a little.
Thankfully, as if finally noticing Zoey, Catherine stopped, her eyes lighting up.
"Sister!"
She called out in a bubbly voice, jumping out of her seat and rushing towards Zoey. With her arms spread open, she hugged her tightly.
"I missed you!"
Zoey's expression twitched.
"We just saw each other."
"So? I still missed you!"
Zoey opened her mouth, but soon closed it.
She seemed to give in as she let her sister hug her. At the same time, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Seth, who was wiping his forehead with an unmistakable look of relief.
A smile subconsciously formed on her lips as she saw this.
Seeing this, Kyle's expression grew strange. Then, as a thought occurred to him, it shifted even further, and he slowly opened his mouth.
But—
"I don't."
"...I didn't even say anything."
"Your expression said a lot. I don't."
"But..."
"I'll gouge your eyes out."
"....."
And so, Kyle stopped speaking. Thinking about it, he knew it was nonsense.
"Now that we're here, might as well enjoy the dinner. The Guild Master said that he won't be attending, so there's no need to be stiff, and if I have to say so myself, the kebab here is absolutely amazing. Plus, there will be drinks."
As the Hoarding Section Chief of the Branch Guild spoke, the eyes of a few lit up. In particular, Team Leader Soran's face as she audibly gulped.
"Drinks?"
The faces of several grew stiff, but before anyone could voice out anything, the Section Chief extended his hand to his right and nodded.
"Let's do that."
"....?!"
".....???"
Question marks appeared on the heads of many, some alternating their gazes between the Section Chief and the Team Leader.
In the end, the Branch Leader Section Chief laughed.
"That's excellent. I assure you, the kebab here is quite good. Please, let's continue further down. There are other Section Chiefs who are eager to meet you. We've heard quite a bit about you."
Patting the Section Chief on the back, he paused, turning his attention towards the others.
"I hope you all enjoy yourselves as well. As I mentioned, the kebab here is quite good. Please feel free to sit wherever you prefer; there is seating available throughout."
Although he said this, it was not actually the case. From the looks of things, not everyone would be able to find a seat. Aware of this, the others exchanged glances, but before anyone could voice a concern, the Section Chief of the Branch Guild led the Section Chief away.
This left everyone else in an awkward position.
"...They're doing it on purpose, aren't they?" As Rowan mumbled, Kyle could only force a smile as he turned his attention towards Team Leader Soran. He wasn't worried about the situation.
He was more worried about her.
She...
"Will this really be okay?"
"I wonder."
Kyle replied, pursing his lips together as he looked at the excited Team Leader.
"...I wonder."
-x-X-x-
"Come! Have a seat with us! I do once again apologize for the venue, but I assure you, this is one of the best kebab places that you can find."
The Section Chief of the Hoarding Department, Clement White, guided everyone to a separate table in the shop, where the other Section Chiefs from the Branch Guild were gathered along with several Team Leaders.
The members from the Main Guild glanced over at those already seated, exchanging nods and offering brief greetings.
"It's nice to see you."
"It's been a while."
That was all.
Just a brief greeting before they returned to their conversation.
This didn't go unnoticed by those from the Main Guild, but no one said anything as the gold-rimmed Section Chief laughed and gestured toward the table.
"Come. Let's have a seat and talk. There's quite a lot that we need to catch up on."
His friendliness was hard to refuse as everyone got seated.
"There are drinks for everyone, and if anybody wants to order something, feel free to do so. This is all on us."
He began to pour drinks into the cups of everyone present.
Seeing him act like this, the tension eased up slightly.
Soon, Section Chief White sat down as he poured himself a drink.
"I can tell the mood here is a bit tense, but there's really no need for it to be. I know this is just a kebab shop, but I'm sure you all understand our current circumstances. It's not that I'm trying to slight anyone."
He eyed the Team Leaders and the Section Chief as he spoke.
"...I want our relationship to be good. I don't want us to have any conflicts or anything like that. That's why I want us to be more relaxed with each other. This place is also fitting for such an atmosphere."
It truly did seem like he meant those words.
But not everyone believed his words.
"So you want us to be more relaxed with each other?"
Team Leader Soran asked, her eyes drifting over the many drinks laid out before her as her fingers brushed restlessly against each other.
"...That doesn't sound too bad."
"I'm glad you think so!" Section Chief White replied, taking a good sip of his drink as he placed it on the table. "I want all of us to be relaxed. Especially since we're soon going to be taking part in the World Congress. Its important that we all have a harmonious relationship if we want to achieve a good ranking. And for that to happen..."
The Section Chief paused as he reached for his drink again, gulped down the last of it, then set the glass aside and looked toward the Main Guild's Section Chief.
"....I hope you can let us lead in the Congress."
***
The dinner was going smoothly.
Despite the small hiccup at the start, everyone eventually got seated. Well, for the most part. Some had no choice but to squeeze onto the same seat.
My table was especially full.
"So, Squad Leader... How have you been doing? It's been a while since we've heard from you. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine."
"But are you? You looked so weird during the broadcast. What really happened?"
"I'm sure you all know by now."
"But is it true?"
"Sort of. I was lucky."
I was surrounded by my squad members. Although it had been a while since I had last gone on an expedition with them, I still saw them quite a bit back in the Guild. They all seemed very interested in what I had been doing.
I answered as patiently as possible while eating the kebab.
'I guess they weren't lying when they said that it's really good.'
It was good.
Much better than I anticipated.
But I couldn't quite enjoy the kebab as much as I wanted to. Not when I was being stared at from all directions. I massaged my face.
'It feels like I'm in the zoo.'
"You sure are grabbing a lot of attention. How does that feel? I'm sure the PR team will be all over you soon enough."
Lifting my head, I was met with a bubbly smile. Catherine rested her chin in both hands, her legs swinging lightly beneath the table as her smile grew even sweeter.
I felt my innards curl at her smile.
This crazy bitch... Just what sort of stunt was she trying to pull?
"It's important that you go talk with the PR team. A person's image is extremely important. This industry isn't just about going through gates and removing anomalies. It's also about maintaining image and sponsorship. The more money the better, right?"
"I..."
I was just about to reply to her when I stopped.
Wait, did she just say money?
I blinked a couple of times, my mind churning as I thought back to her words. Zoey and Kyle's figures stood out in my mind.
'Indeed, don't the two make a lot from sponsorships? As far as I'm aware, Zoey makes a lot of money from her modelling gig, while Kyle also gets quite a lot of money from similar endeavors.'
Since I rarely went out with them, I wasn't fully aware of just how famous they were, though I knew they were well known. Every so often, I'd catch sight of posters or billboards bearing their faces.
I had never bothered since I was more preoccupied with my games and everything else that was around me, but now that I thought about it carefully, this wasn't something that I could ignore. Especially since I was in desperate need of money.
'Money... Yes, money is everything. I need more money in order to acquire more fragments and buy SP points.'
Previously, my games were my only source of money, but with everything that had happened, I now had another path to create money.
My thoughts became clear as I raised my head.
"...What do I need to do?"
"To be honest, your appearance isn't too bad. It's just that you can look quite scary. But still, you might not need to go there for your appearance, you can-huh?"
As if not expecting my answer, her expression momentarily froze. She wasn't the only one. Kyle, Zoey, and everyone else who was around me stopped, their eyes widening slightly as they all turned to look in my direction.
I massaged my face again.
No, seriously, am I really not in a zoo?
"Wait, what?"
Kyle was the first one to speak up, his head snapping in my direction.
"Are you really interested in this stuff? You... who hates attention and interacting with people?"
I felt my brows furrow at Kyle's words.
"Ehm."
Quickly realizing what he had said, Kyle coughed.
"I'm just saying. I'm surprised that you would be interested in something like this, considering how you usually are."
"I know."
"Then...?"
"I need money."
"...."
Kyle's lips parted, silently mouthing something along the lines of, "But what about your ga—" only for him to stop short, as if a realization had just struck him. He then looked at me with clear pity.
This guy...
"No, my game did not flop."
"Okay."
"...It didn't."
"I believe you."
"I'm telling you, my game is doing well."
"And I said I believe you."
I gave up.
Seeing the pity in his eyes deepen, I knew there was no way I could convince him. Even if I brought up the game stats and everything else, he still wouldn't believe me. Worse still, he could probably look all of it up on the internet anyway.
"Oh, right... I did hear that you were a game developer."
My attention fell on Catherine once more as she stared at me with her bubbly smile.
"That could be something the PR team could work with. Let me check real quick."
Turning her head, her attention fell on someone else a couple of tables away. She waved her hand.
"Patrick! Patrick!"
Immediately, a young man with a bowl cut and a long nose paused mid-bite, his head slowly turning toward Catherine. He wasn't the only one. Several others turned as well, their gazes shifting in our direction as Catherine pointed at me.
"He seems pretty interested in doing some PR work. Why don't you help him out since you work there? I'm sure that with your skills, you might be able to help him out quite a lot."
"...Oh."
Patrick's gaze flickered over me for a moment before he shook his head.
"I wish I could help, but I've been quite swamped lately. Maybe another time."
"Oh, come on..."
Catherine dismissively waved her hand.
"I know you're busy, but you can't be that busy. I'm also sure your job won't be that hard. Everyone pretty much knows his face by now. There's a lot you can work with."
"Hmm."
Patrick paused, shooting me a sidelong look before turning away with a quiet scoff. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Let's be real. Everyone knows it's all luck..."
His words were quiet, yet loud enough for all of us to hear, freezing the atmosphere in an instant. I wasn't particularly surprised, already familiar with their true thoughts after spending time in the Branch Guild. Still, when I turned my head, it wasn't the expressions on the others' faces that caught my attention.
Something else drew my attention instead, my eyes pausing for a brief moment. But just as I was about to speak, a loud crashing sound echoed.
CRASH!
Followed by a loud voice.
"Ya'll are fucking bastards... hic!"
The entire venue fell completely still as every head turned toward the noise. I followed suit, and that was when I finally noticed the woman standing there, a bottle of alcohol in her hand as she slurred her words.
"You all are fucking bastards... hic!!"
She repeated.
As if she had already forgotten she had said it moments earlier.
"You... all... think we're stupid? He... he. You're... stupid. Your mother is stupid. No, I am your mother!"
-x-X-x-
Smack!
I could practically hear it.
The sound of everyone from the main Guild smacking their forehead as Team Leader Soran stood on top of a desk, holding onto a bottle of alcohol that looked like whiskey while waving it in the air and shouting.
"Stupid...! I say... stupid... hic! How could you disrespect your mother like this!"
There was no doubt about it.
She was drunk beyond any measure.
BANG!
She tossed the bottle to the ground, where it shattered into hundreds of pieces, and glared at everyone seated at what had once been her table. One look at their expressions was enough to tell just how furious they were.
"Fucking... Fucking. Fucking. What... even is the point of doing this political bullshit? We're... part of the same.... fucking. Fucking. Hic...! Guild!"
The Team Leader continued to slur over her words.
In the meantime, I looked around me. It was strange. No matter how I looked at it, given the situation, everyone should've tried to stop her, but looking at the Section Chief alongside the other Team Leaders present, I realized that nobody was even considering stopping her.
Did they also share the same thought?
"...You won't say it... But I can... fucking tell! Ya'll think you're... the hot shit while we're just the guys who... take the credit and resources. You all think that those from the main... island are better. Nooooo....? Hic!"
The more she spoke, the colder the atmosphere seemed to become.
Everyone could tell that she was drunk. Everyone could see that she was speaking nonsense.
And yet, her drunken speech seemed to hit the situation right on the nail.
"Instead of... properly addressing us or showing your displeasure, you... hic! Resort to such a roundabout way... of spouting nonsense. As if... the Guild Master would take pity on you. He..." The Team Leader giggled, looking at the leaders from the Branch Guild with a ridiculing expression. "You... all think too highly of yourselves. You all know how the Guild Master... hic! is. He will never... choose the weaker side. He'll always side with the side he... think is bett-hic! Wooooooow!"
Stopping halfway with her words, the Team Leader stumbled back a couple of steps as she nearly tripped on one of the tissues that had scattered on the ground.
Thankfully, she was just able to stop herself from tripping as she directed her gaze towards a Team Leader from the Branch Guild.
She smirked at him.
"You!"
The Team Leader stood up.
"W-what?"
Soran glared back, raising both hands.
"You gonna hit a woman? A powerless one like that?"
"No, that's..."
Her eyes fluttered as she covered her mouth and pretended to cry.
"How could you look at your mother like that...
"This bit—"
The Team Leader just barely held himself from swearing at her.
But it wasn't as if Soran was going to stop there. If she stopped there, she wouldn't be Soran.
"Hic...! To swear at your mother like this..."
"You!"
"I'm pregnant."
"....."
"And you're not the father."
"——I'll kill her!"
"Woooow! Wooooo! Let's stop there!"
It was also at this moment that one of the other Team Leaders stood up. They all restrained the charging Team Leader.
"Let's relax for a moment."
"Relax!? How can I relax when that crazy woman is spouting all that stuff!?"
"Let me handle this."
One of the Team Leaders from the main guild stepped up.
He was fairly handsome, with short blonde hair and blue eyes. However, I wasn't quite familiar with him, meaning that he was probably a Team Leader from another department.
The Team Leader looked at everyone, his face lowering apologetically.
"I sincerely apologize for everything that's happened. I hope none of you were offended by her words. As you can see, she's had far too much to drink. I'll escort her out right away. Once again, I'm truly sorry for the disturbance."
He lowered his head and brought Soran's hand over his shoulder.
"I'll be escorting her back to her room."
"Hic...! The baby... Oh the baby~"
As he spoke, another Team Leader stood up as well. She was someone I didn't recognize, her curly hair falling to her shoulders as she brushed it aside to get a better grip on the drunken Team Leader. Moving to Soran's other side, she slipped an arm over her shoulder, helping support her as they prepared to escort her away.
"Let's go."
"Hic... But I'm not... done yet! You... How could you just toss me aside like this?"
She suddenly turned her head in my direction.
"You evil bastard!"
Several heads turned to look at me.
I suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"You think I'm some convenient bitch you can just toss after sleeping with?"
"....."
The stares felt even more uncomfortable.
No, this...
"I hate you!!!"
"Shh. You've already created too much of a mess. Quiet down."
"No...! I don't want to! No...! Hic!"
In spite of her protests, the Team Leader was escorted out of the shop. The silence that followed was extremely uncomfortable, as all eyes remained fixed on the door.
I had to say so myself, but the way they were all able to retain their calm was quite impressive. Not that they weren't mad. I could see that they were seething. Perhaps also noticing this, the Section Chief I was all too familiar with stood up from his chair.
"I apologize once more for what my Team Leader has done. For now, I think we've already introduced ourselves. I'll go and check up on them."
He was the next to leave.
As he left, his every step remained scrutinized under the gaze of the Branch Guild Leaders, and soon enough, the other Team Leaders started to leave.
"I guess I'll take my leave too."
"...Same for me."
One by one, everyone began to leave.
"I guess I should go as well."
"Same."
Kyle, Zoey, and the others also appeared to stand up. As they did, they looked at me. I looked away from them and onto my meal. My stomach rumbled.
I looked up.
Damn it...
"...I guess you can catch up later."
"Yeah, there's no need to rush."
They all soon left after that, leaving me alone. Feeling the numerous gazes directed my way, I sighed and picked up the fork.
'That crazy bitch...'
***
"Hic! Hic..! Hic!"
A series of hiccups rang out as Team Leader Soran was carried out of the shop. With two Team Leaders supporting her on either side, her struggles were futile, leaving her unable to break free.
"Let... Hic!... me go!"
Her steps faltered more than once, but with the support of the two Team Leaders, she managed to stay on her feet.
The scene attracted quite a bit of attention, but whenever someone looked for too long, the Team Leader would glare at them and shout, 'What are you... hic! looking at? I'll... kill you!'
Her face didn't look threatening in the slightest, yet people still averted their gazes as the group of three made their way back toward the Guild. As they moved on, the surroundings gradually grew more secluded, and it was there that the drunken look on Soran's face finally began to change.
"Okay, this is enough."
The drunken haze that had clouded her features vanished, replaced by a clear look of irritation.
"...I can't believe I had to leave so many drinks behind for some stupid political bullshit. They really never get tired of pulling this crap."
Freeing herself from the other Team Leaders' support, Soran smacked her lips together, trying to savor whatever lingering taste of alcohol she hadn't been able to enjoy back at the dinner.
She eventually ruffled her hair, looking back in the direction of the dinner while shaking her head.
"Well, I guess it had to be done. If not, I really do think we would've started fighting."
Placing her hands in her pocket, she looked at the other Team Leaders.
"Tell the Section Chief I won't be able to stick around for longer. This entire thing has left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. Can't believe they want to take over the Congress like that. Ugh... fuck."
Ruffling her head, she brushed her hair behind her ear.
"They weren't like this in the past. I also know the Guild Master is probably enjoying this. That sick bastard..."
"Hey."
"What?"
Soran looked at the other Team Leader. Jack was it...? She couldn't quite remember his name. Just maybe, she was a little drunk.
"Come on. Be real. You know damn well the Guild Master wants conflict to occur between us. The only thing he cares about is results. I'm sure he's taking this entire conflict with pleasure. Tsk."
Clicking her tongue, Soran turned around and began to walk away.
"They're lucky I was told to hold back. Otherwise, I'd have smashed a few bottles over their heads and knocked some of them down. Kek...! That would've been funny."
Waving her hand, Team Leader Soran left.
But just before she left, one of the Team Leaders spoke.
"But hey, why did you make the life of that guy so difficult? You didn't have to say things like that... You went overboard."
"I did?"
Soran stopped, looking up at the night sky.
Eventually, she smirked.
"But I didn't lie~"
She giggled.
"We really did sleep together."
".....!!"
"—!"
The eyes of the Team Leaders widened to the point where they nearly felt like they would pop out at any second.
***
*Puff*
Smoke drifted in the air.
Leaning back against a wall in a secluded area, Catherine took a drag from her cigarette while staring up at the moon. Her bubbly, cheerful smile was long gone as she gazed at the sky with a distant, hazy look.
The departure of those from the Main Guild marked the end of the Guild Dinner. It ended early, but the goal had been achieved.
Thinking back on the Section Chief's words, Catherine rested her head against the wall she was leaning on. As she did, a certain image surfaced in her mind.
Her expression twisted as a curse slipped out of her lips.
"...Fucking disgusting."
She soon flicked the cigarette in her hand.
Massaging her face, her expression twisted further as she thought about how she'd had to put on an act in front of everyone, all while trying to butter up that guy. Just the thought made her feel repulsed, and it wasn't like it brought anything to fruition. The only reason she even interacted with him was that she was interested in knowing more about that sister of hers.
Given how her sister would mention him on occasion, she thought they were somewhat close.
But it didn't seem to be the case.
"It was a fucking waste of time."
The more she interacted with him, the more repulsed she felt by him.
Catherine clicked her tongue and reached into her pocket for another cigarette. Just as her fingers brushed her jeans, she froze, lifting her head and turning to the right, where she felt a presence.
Tak—!
A pair of dark eyes watched her from a distance, causing her to freeze for a brief second. Then, slowly, her lips curved into a smile.
A cheerful smile.
"It's you! How are you—"
"You can stop the act."
An emotionless voice drew out as the figure approached, his appearance gradually revealed beneath the faint glow of a streetlamp until he came to a stop not far from her.
Pausing, his gaze dropped to the cigarette butt on the ground before he stepped on it.
"I don't understand your relationship with your sister, but don't drag me into your nonsense. Especially when you try to act close to me."
He paused before adding, "It's creepy."
Lifting his head, Seth looked at Catherine.
Feeling his gaze, her smile faded, replaced by that familiar look of irritation.
Her lips parted, but just as she was about to speak, Seth spoke first.
"...Crazy bitch."