Horror Game 65 - The Terror of Option

Chirp! Chirp!

The soft chirping of birds echoed in the background, my head still lowered as I ruffled my hair. The silence that followed felt stifling, and I found myself lost in my own thoughts. Eventually, I raised my head and leaned back against the bench.

"Right, there's no need to go that far."

I was exaggerating.

There was no need for me to go that far.

'...It seems like I'm starting to let my inner thoughts get the best of me lately.'

Even if I chose to go down that route, I was far from strong enough to do so. At the same time, things hadn't reached the point where I had lost everything. I could still fix things.

"Well, that's that."

I looked at Kyle and smiled.

"Thanks to you, my head is a lot clearer."

I felt liberated to some extent.

I knew what I had to do next.

"Oh, right."

I looked at Kyle.

"I'm curious, why did you join this line of business? You said that I never cared to ask, but I'm asking you right now. If you do, then I promise that I'll eventually bring the old Seth back."

Those brief moments of 'enlightenment' made a few things clear to me.

Simply put, I wasn't fit for this world. No matter what I did, I would never be accepted. Kyle, the Matriarch, everyone I knew... They were the same, yet not. They were fakes, just as much as I was.

Since that was the case, all I had to do in order to fix this was just go back to my old world or reverse things. But was this even possible? Honestly, I didn't know, but I had a feeling that it was.

Either way, I wanted to give it a try.

"You..."

Seeing the surprise on Kyle's face, I smiled.

"Well, you were right."

I shrugged.

"I'm not the Seth that you've grown up with. I'm still Seth, though, don't get that twisted. I'm just a Seth that comes from a distant place."

I was careful with my words. Thinking about the first restriction I'd received, the one that said I couldn't talk about the system with anyone, I tried to keep things vague. Then again, Kyle wasn't exactly human, so maybe I could've said it to him, but it wasn't worth the risk.

Even if he asked me to elaborate, I'd just keep silent.

"Although I'm not certain, I think I can bring him back. Well... I can't make promises, though. I'll still try."

"..."

Kyle didn't say anything.

He just stared at me.

He seemed conflicted. Although he didn't say anything, I could pretty much tell what he was thinking inside his mind.

'Is he telling the truth? But what if he's lying? Then... does it mean that there's a chance for Seth to return?'

I just smiled. Even though this wasn't the Kyle that I had grown up with, he was still Kyle. I knew how he'd react, and sure enough...

"You... really can?"

"As I said, I can't make any promises, but I can try. While I don't know how I ended up here, I do have a feeling that it has something to do with the Seth that you knew. He... caused all of this mess."

Yes, this much was true.

I thought back to the entire situation back in Malovia with the cult and the brief flashbacks. Although it had only been a passing thought, the more time I passed in this world, the more the idea seemed to solidify in my mind.

'He must've done something in his desperation. Summoned something that caused this entire mess. Something to ease the pain he was in, or make it fade. Maybe he struck some kind of deal, and now he's in my world. Maybe the system is the very thing he summoned.'

Haha, well, this was a reach to some extent.

But maybe this was also the closest thing to the truth.

I shrugged.

Meeting Kyle's gaze head-on, I leaned back against the chair, feeling far more relaxed. For the first time in a long while, I felt free from the chains of my own thoughts. Instead of trying to fix the mess I was in, it felt better to simply let go.

Kyle was right.

I was an avoidant. I liked to avoid things.

In this regard, I was going to avoid this entire world.

"I just... want to go back home."

There was a brief, yet unexpected pause as I mumbled those words. Lifting my head to look at the sky that seemed to be familiar yet so unfamiliar, I found myself smiling.

Yeah, I wanted to go back.

This world just wasn't for me.

Looking back at Kyle to see his stunned expression, I extended my hand in his direction.

"What do you say? Willing to cooperate with me? If you think I'm stepping over the line, you can always try to stop me. At least, you'll know and be aware of what I'm doing. That being said, I'm not so sure I'll listen to you, but I'll certainly give it a few seconds of thought."

"..."

Kyle closed his eyes and brought a hand to his face, his lips curling slightly. Almost as if he found my words ridiculous.

No, it would be more accurate to say that he found this entire situation to be ridiculous.

He looked down at my hand before sighing.

"...I don't trust you. I really don't trust you. However, I have no choice but to trust you."

After which, he reached for my hand and shook it.

"Seth..." He mumbled softly, "I'll definitely bring him back."

I stared at his expression and looked away.

'Kyle...'

Yeah.

'...I'll meet him again soon.'

***

The moment Zoey left the hospital, the first thing she did was call the Guild and had several cars come to the location. Looking at Rowan, it was clear that he wasn't in the right state of mind. His situation was rather serious, and as things stood, he'd have to be put in the mental ward for a while.

Zoey's heart sank as she looked at Rowan.

However, as her recollections of those moments back in the hospital resurfaced, she could only clench her teeth ⎯

'Judging by how it seemed like he had just come out, the gate had some sort of time dilation. Whatever the case is, this isn't something that I can just dismiss.'

Turning her head to the dark SUV before her, she walked toward it as the door opened and let herself in. The engine roared to life as the car began to move. Seated in the back, she leaned her head against the seat, thinking about what she would say upon reaching the Guild.

But at the same time⎯

"..."

Zoey retrieved the small device from her pocket, her hands fiddling with it slowly.

'He was a fake.'

As in, the Seth that had left during the situation in the operating room.

He was a fake.

She felt bad for the way that she acted, and judging from how clueless he seemed during her outburst, it was obvious that he wasn't aware of what had happened in that room and with Rowan's sister. He wasn't there after all.

'...I would've fallen for it if not for the device Liora had given me.'

She was emotional by nature, but not stupid. She knew better than to trust everything she saw, and thought this was a good way to determine whether the Seth before her was real or not.

In a way, she was also curious to see what sort of result the device would bring. Was he really as sick as Liora told her?

Turns out, he was a fake.

The device didn't even show any change when his blood came in contact with it.

The only reason Zoey acted the way she did was because it was clear Seth had been the target of the attack. Their goal was obvious: to create friction between them. She played along for now so that the one responsible wouldn't suspect a thing.

However, she was clear about the situation.

This was some orchestrated event to make them hate Seth.

'The stuff about the Jester was probably bullshit too.'

Zoey clenched her fist, her body leaning forward slightly as her teeth ground together.

'I just hope... that Rowan's sister's body was fake too.'

Thinking about the little girl, Zoey felt her heart tighten in her chest. Especially when she remembered how her body had disappeared from the hospital. Now, no one really knew where she was.

However, if it was based on what had happened in the hospital, then...

Zoey closed her eyes, sucking a cold breath.

Please be fake. Please...

-x-X-x-

Simply put, they decided to keep the matter on a 'hush'.

'They probably don't want to bring too much attention to this matter since it involves me. Especially since several people have died or disappeared.'

Arriving at my office, I leaned back against my chair while looking around.

As my finger tapped against the table, I sat in silence, musing over the situation. Now that my head was clear, there was only one thought in my mind.

For them to target me...

They knew a lot about me, but I didn't know much about them.

Things were spiraling out of my control.

I tilted my head.

"Hmm, yes. Quite a bit."

"...You're getting there. You're getting there."

"What do you think about the current situation?"

I raised my brow. This guy...

Bursting into a light chuckle, the Conductor lowered its hands as it shook its head, "So you're talking about that matter. In that case, there's no need for me to say anything."

"...You already know the answer." The Conductor paused, its voice suddenly lowering, "I know that you're already aware of what you need to do."

My gaze continued to linger in the Conductor's direction as the silence stretched thin. But eventually, such silence was shattered by another figure.

When I turned my head, I saw Kyle alternating his gaze between the two of us from the opposite direction.

"I understood nothing."

Deciphering the Conductor's intentions had always been annoying. It spoke in maddening riddles that had given me more than one headache.

Kyle gave me a strange look while he stared at me.

"That thing? I'm not a thing. That actually hurts my feelings."

Kyle looked at the Conductor for a brief moment before looking back at me.

"Not you too."

He was quite a lot more distant.

I no longer cared about such matters. I had my own objectives too.

I scratched the back of my head and tried to muse over their words. At least, I tried. But not even a second later, a sudden knocking echoed.

I turned to face the door.

'I don't think I have any sort of appointment today. No, wait... It could be regarding the incident.'

'Actually, did I even complete the quest?'

Still⎯

Clank!

'Damn it.'

"And I don't."

She sat opposite me, her legs crossing. After which, she didn't say anything else.

"Since you don't want to see me, why are you here? What is it that you want from me?"

"Huh?"

It threw me off a little as Zoey remained calm while leaning back against the chair. For some reason, she looked around the room once more. It was almost as if she was checking for something.

"It wasn't clear to me before, but I'm now even more certain of it. You're... very likely the Jester or at least connected to him. I already had my guesses before, but now I'm almost certain of it. The way you behaved back then."

But as I looked at her, I didn't quite know how to reply. Especially when I noticed that something was off with the way she was looking at me.

"Don't think for a second that I'll ever forgive you for what you've done. You're the Guild's star right now, so it won't be easy to take you down or convince them you're some kind of anomaly without evidence, but don't worry... I'm patient. I'll wait for the right moment to expose you. And when that time comes..."

"...when it does, I'll make sure to savor every moment."

"I'll make sure to savor every moment of your downfall."

The door closed right after, silence filling the room as my eyes lingered where she had left. In the end, I lowered my head, staring at one of my pockets before reaching in to feel the note that resided in it.

I muttered, pulling my hand out and keeping the note there.

'Looks like something interesting is happening.'

-x-X-x-

I was being monitored.

This much had become clear to me from the moment I had been subjected to the Gate back in the hospital. Although much of the information about the one responsible could be pieced together by connecting several dots, I was painfully aware there was a good chance I was being monitored in some way.

Thinking about the note in my pocket, I knew that Zoey probably thought the same.

...At least, this was how it seemed to me.

Why else would she do all of that in order to give me a note?

My fingers were itching. I really wanted to read the note, but I couldn't be too obvious about it.

"Really. What an annoying situation."

I sat back down on my chair while pretending to be frustrated.

No, I really was frustrated.

I knew that there wasn't any sort of technology that was being used to monitor me since I had Mr. Jingles check around the place, but that wasn't my worry. What if I were being monitored using some sort of item or anomaly? Things would truly be troublesome if that were the case.

'Let's also not think about how I wasn't even able to meet the children from the orphanage due to the sudden situation.'

Mr. Jingles wasn't quite happy with me.

The only thing I could do was promise that I would go back to visit again.

There was also the situation with Rowan's sister.

"Haa."

I sighed.

Things really weren't easy for me.

'Thankfully, it's not like I can't deal with the current situation.'

Standing up, I mumbled, "Let's just start working on a new game. Get my mind off the situation."

There was one place where I wasn't afraid of being monitored.

That was probably the only place where it would be impossible for it to happen, as I shifted my attention toward the door on the right and walked to it, opening it and entering my game development room.

"It's been a while since I've been here. This emptiness... It's rather strange to see."

I looked around, noting the absence of everyone before closing the door behind me and making my way toward my area. Taking a seat, I leaned back against the chair and finally reached for my pocket, pulling out the note I had been quite curious about.

"Let's see."

Unfurling the piece of paper, I gave the first few sentences a quick skim before suddenly pausing, after which I burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

A certain presence appeared before me, looking at the piece of paper in my hand with evident confusion. I didn't answer and instead just handed him the letter.

"Have a read of it yourself."

Without saying anything else, Kyle reached for the letter and gave it a quick skim, after which his expression changed as he turned his attention toward me. I laughed once again, leaning back in the chair.

"It seems like she was aware of the situation from the start. She also seems to be aware of the fact that I'm being monitored, hence why she's acting the way that she is. But you know what's funnier?"

I pointed at the letter.

"...She seems to think this is a good opportunity. In a way, she wants to use the 'conflict' between the two of us to catch the one responsible for what happened to Rowan's sister and figure out what happened to her."

I had always known that Zoey was clever. I mean, a lot of people in this line of work were clever. They had no choice but to be clever in order to survive.

While I still wasn't sure how Zoey managed to figure it out, this was a rather unexpected piece of news.

A very good one at that.

But...

"You know, I don't really like it."

I stopped laughing.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

As my finger drummed against the table, I propped my elbow on it and leaned my cheek into my hand, my finger continuing to tap.

"I don't really like how this entire situation turned out. From the start to the end, I still don't know anything about the one who initiated all of this. How big a player is he on this 'game' that we're playing? Is he a big shot, or is he just some cheap user that wants to show off after figuring out my identity?"

Tap. Tap.

But that wasn't the thing that annoyed me the most.

The thing that annoyed me was my lack of control over the situation.

From start to end, it felt as if I was being moved exactly how he wanted. The worst part was that I was fully aware of it, and yet still moved the way he desired. This didn't sit well with me.

"Looks like you've finally realized your answer."

Suddenly, the Conductor's figure appeared.

Its soft chuckle echoed across the surroundings as it moved closer to me.

"...The fact that it took you this long to realize, despite the face you were making, is quite an amusing sight to see."

Face that I was making?

I turned to look at Kyle, only for him to give me a strange look as he looked elsewhere.

Ah, I see.

'So it seems like I had already made up my mind, with me only realizing it now.'

I covered my mouth, finding the whole situation amusing as I stifled a laugh. Right, right... I was now quite different compared to how I was in the past. Usually, I'd let something like this go and wait for the perpetrator to attack me again so that I could learn more about them and tackle the situation from there.

But things were different now.

I didn't want to wait.

I wanted to get rid of them now. More than that, I wanted to send a message.

A message to everyone else who was likely 'aware' of me.

"Yeah, it's just like the last time. In the Limbo."

I stared at my hand.

It was trembling.

"...I wanted to step on them."

Lifting my head, my eyes locked with the Conductor.

All of a sudden, I smiled.

"Wait, wait."

But strangely, the Conductor didn't smile back. Instead, it seemed to lose a bit of its usual composure as it looked at me.

"That's overkill. You'll be wasting an opportunity if you do that."

"I know."

"In that case⎯"

"But I'm not right in the head."

I tilted my head while staring at the Conductor, my head subconsciously tilting as the trembling of my hand subsided.

"Right now, at this very moment, I am not thinking rationally. I can't think rationally. My mind is consumed by one thought, and one thought alone..." I paused, my thoughts lingering on what had happened in the hospital. "I want to make them suffer. I want them to experience the very same thing I experienced, but far worse."

And to achieve that, I planned on doing anything and everything within my power. Even if it was overkill or a massive waste of an opportunity.

This was just who I was.

Standing up, I turned my attention toward the distance while rubbing the ring on my finger. The moment I did, the space around me began to fluctuate as the surroundings trembled faintly and a wave of cool air filtered into the room.

My entire body chilled under the cool air, but I paid it no mind as I calmly stared at the space before me, as something began to form, something akin to a door, its faint outline appearing before me.

Staring at it, my lips curved into a smile as I reached toward it.

'I didn't expect to see you so soon, but circumstances have made it so that I have no choice but to visit you again. I'm rather excited about what you'll tell me.'

Dreak King Paimon~

-x-X-x-

It was exactly as I last remembered it. I paused for a moment, letting my gaze drift as I scanned my surroundings, taking note of the pristine walls and the soft red carpet that lay beneath my feet.

The air felt still, almost welcoming, and from the moment I stepped into the castle, a quiet sense of comfort settled over me as I took a slow, steady breath.

'Honestly, besides home, this is probably the place that I found myself most comfortable in.'

I wanted to admire the place longer, but as I looked around, my feet began to move on their own, guiding me through the familiar halls. Without thinking, I climbed the stairs, each step echoing softly beneath me.

A certain door stood in front of me before I knew it.

To Tok—!

I knocked on the door twice, standing by the door in silence, and waited.

The wait wasn't long, as the door opened soon after, a soft creak spreading through the silence around me as the door slowly gave way. Beyond it, the interior of a well-kept office came into view.

A soft tune drifted through the air as my gaze settled on a certain chair, its presence drawing my attention almost immediately.

"You've come."

A voice followed after that, the voice belonging to a face I still couldn't quite discern.

"...Hello, again."

I entered the room, closing the door quietly behind me as I made my way toward the chair that sat opposite Paimon. Without hesitation, I took a seat.

"I didn't expect you to come to me so early. Do you already have a question that you wish to ask of me?"

I just smiled while staring at him.

The smile wasn't because I found the situation amusing or I was glad to see him. It was more of a smile of... annoyance?

Yes, annoyance.

My lips parted.

"I'm sure you're already aware of the reason why I'm here."

"Oh?" Paimon feigned ignorance, his legs crossing, "and what makes you think that? I'm a rather busy demon. It's not like⎯"

"You're Paimon, the demon of knowledge. I'm sure you're more or less aware of the reason I'm here. I don't believe for a second that you aren't."

"....."

Paimon sat in silence, his lips stretching as he eventually laughed.

His laugh was warm, almost inviting, and it stirred an unexpected sense of comfort. Yet the more that warmth settled in, the more unease crept beneath it. Even so, I didn't react. I kept my gaze fixed on Paimon, meeting his attention as it remained steadily on me.

He eventually leaned back against the chair.

"You're right. I'm quite well aware of the reason why you're here. I just had to keep up appearances, you know?"

"No, I don't."

"But you know, I'm curious about something."

Paimon suddenly leaned forward as he observed my face carefully.

"Although I do know a great deal, that doesn't mean I know everything. I may have an idea of what you want from me, but I struggle to understand why you'd seek that kind of information. I'm sure you're aware, but I know a lot. The breadth of knowledge my mind contains isn't something your minuscule mind could truly comprehend. Despite this, I can only say that I won't be able to fulfil your request. Perhaps one or two, but not all of them. And that's already pushing it since we're dealing with an authority that is stands above me. Are you sure you want to still ask this?"

He leaned his head closer, trying to observe me more closely.

"Tell me, why do you seek such trivial knowledge when I can provide you with the answers you truly desire? Your origin, I can tell you that the moment you ask. How to cure the disease inside your head, I can give you that answer as well. Wasn't that your goal to begin with? If you simply ask, I can tell you. Or maybe..."

Paimon paused, his eyes flickering for a brief moment before a slow smile spread across his face.

"Or maybe you want to know about your old world, whether it's possible to return, and how. If you ask, I can tell you. I can..."

All of a sudden, Paimon stopped speaking.

Perhaps, he realized it.

The smile faded from his face as he observed mine.

"Hmm, I see."

Indeed, he seemed to have finally realized it.

"I understand."

He suddenly stood up and moved back toward his office desk. Without another word, he began sifting through several files, his eyes scanning each page carefully. I watched him in silence.

Even without saying what I wanted, I knew he had already guessed.

And sure enough⎯

"All the information that you seek is here. I've had it prepared in advance."

"Thank you."

I reached for the papers, only to pause the moment I was about to grasp them as Paimon pulled them back slightly.

His voice echoed softly once more.

"Are you sure? Is this what you wish to use your request for?"

"....."

Once more, I didn't answer.

I just smiled.

There was no need to answer.

His gaze lingered on me for what felt like forever before he finally stepped forward and handed the papers back, his expression unreadable as he let them fall into my hands.

As the files fell into my hand, I couldn't help but overhear his soft muttering, "I've never seen a human like you. No... can I even consider you human?"

His words had no effect on me.

He was probably saying those words to make me waver, but nothing could make me waver at the moment. There was nothing that was going to stop me from doing what I had set out to do.

"Very well."

Paimon moved back into his chair.

I was just about to stand when he suddenly pressed his hand down.

"There's no rush. Just because I've completed your request doesn't mean you have to leave now. I'm sure you're aware that time here flows differently. Have a bit of a conversation with me, is that alright?"

I looked at the papers in my hand.

In all honesty, I wanted to study them as soon as possible. However, when I looked up at Paimon again, I realized that this was a great opportunity.

'Maybe I can figure out some information while talking.'

"Yes, that's a good idea."

Paimon spoke as though he could read my thoughts. No, he could read my thoughts.

Or at least to some extent.

"Oh, you can learn a thing or two from chatting with me... if you're clever enough. But don't expect me to just hand over the answers you're after. Nope. You'll have to tease them out, piece by piece. Think of it less like a Q&A and more like a little game between us. Ready to play?"

A game?

I looked at Paimon. His features still didn't quite stick in my mind, but I could see them clearly. His eyes, the shape of his face, and even his lips. I could see it all. But at the same time, his face just refused to show up inside my head as I muttered.

"You did it on purpose, right?"

I spoke slowly.

"...When you showed the entire world what had happened to me during the Limbo. You showed it on purpose. You had a goal by showing the entire world that. There's no way you wouldn't have a goal when you showed the direct weakness of the Limbo in that way."

From the moment it was shown in the World Congress, I knew that it had been due to Paimon's will. Otherwise, it would've been impossible. I was also aware that this wasn't because he was trying to do me a favor.

He did it for a reason.

And that reason was⎯

"You're trying to spread your name into the real world. Why is that? Are you doing it to warn the other demons? Or is it because you want to spread your name?"

I had mused over the situation over and over again.

In the end, the only conclusion that I came up with was, "You're trying to ascend into the mortal world. By spreading your name, you're..."

My words came to a sudden stop.

Ba... Thump!

Lifting my head to stare in Paimon's direction, I saw it clearly for the first time, his face fully revealed as his lips curled into a sinister smile, his fingers interlocked neatly before him as he watched me.

Feeling his gaze, my breath came to a sudden stop.

Was I right?

The silence stretched thin.

Staring in Paimon's direction, I could feel it. The loud yet powerful palpitations inside my heart as I swallowed my saliva. The more my gaze lingered in his direction, the stronger the palpitations became as I took a deep breath, trying to contain the unease that was slowly starting to build up within me.

'I was right? Did I hit the matter in the nail?'

This thought lasted a few seconds before I heard a sudden clapping sound.

Clap! Clap!

When I looked up, Paimon was no longer smiling like before. No, the smile remained, but it had softened, no longer as wide, carrying a warmer, quieter edge as he leaned back against his chair.

"Haha."

He laughed as well, the sound as warm and easy as the softened smile resting on his face.

It made me feel at ease, and for just a moment, I almost fell for it.

However, I quickly recomposed myself, my expression settling as I fixed my gaze back on Paimon.

"Am I right...?"

"You're not far off."

Paimon replied, his tone at ease as he leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly to gaze up at the ceiling.

"I did use your situation to spread my name. You've got that part right, but I'm that part wasn't hard to guess. I'm more surprised by the fact that you'd think I'd want to step into the human world. What made you think I would do that?"

"Dantalion..."

That was what made me think he'd try to enter the human world.

Even now, I still wasn't aware of the reason behind Dantalion's plan. He had orchestrated an entire orophange and cult in order to ascend into the human world, waiting for several years in the process.

Dantalion was a Duke.

Since he wanted to step into the human world, surely Paimon would have such thoughts, too, right?

"Well, not quite."

Paimon answered calmly.

"But you're not wrong about the part where I want to enter the human world. Of course, I won't tell you the reason why I would want to enter since that's a bit of a secret. But hey, if you had the papers back, I could tell you. Do you want to know?"

"....."

I paused for a moment, my gaze lingering over the papers in my hand. However, there was no temptation. The thought of handing him the papers and exchanging the wish never crossed my mind.

I was still clear about my actions, and not once did I plan on doing anything else.

"A pity."

Whether he meant those words or not, I wasn't sure.

However, if there was one thing I was certain of, it was the amusement in his face as he stared at me.

"As I was saying... sure, the human world does intrigue me, but don't mistake curiosity for desperation. I wouldn't stoop to something so... clumsy as founding a cult or hunting for the 'perfect vessel.' Please. That's tedious, drawn-out, and unbearably slow. Especially when time here drips by like molasses. No, no... if I ever decide to cross over, it'll be done with a bit more elegance. I do have standards, after all."

"Then...?"

"Well, you can say that it was my way of sending a message."

"A message?"

"Mhm."

Paimon smiled, and my lips closed. The moment I saw it, I understood there was nothing left for me to say. Even if I asked, he would remain silent.

"I wanted to send a message to someone. That's all you need to know."

He leaned back against his chair, and so did I.

The room felt more relaxed as I turned my head to the right, where I spotted a teacup resting nearby. It hadn't been there before. Nevertheless, I reached for it, lifting it without hesitation before bringing it to my lips.

It was still hot.

Taking a sip, my mind felt a lot more relaxed.

"Tell me about yourself."

Paimon's voice echoed softly in the background as I took another slow sip of the tea, the warmth lingering as his words settled into my mind.

"How are you feeling lately? Do you feel okay?"

"...I feel great."

"You can say that all you like... but are you really alright? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like there's quite a bit weighing on you. More than you're letting on."

"There are a lot of things that used to bother me all the time. I've learned to deal with them."

"Oh? Is that how it looks to you? Funny... because from where I stand, it seems like you're not really dealing with them at all. Just skirting around the edges and hoping they'll sort themselves out."

"You're right."

I took another sip of the tea.

"Let me rephrase. I've learned to avoid the troublesome things."

"So that's how you want this to go? Just... keep sidestepping everything and hope it somehow works itself out? Because that's a dangerous little game. The more you avoid, the more it all stacks up..." Raising his hand, Paimon pressed it down, "until one day it doesn't just sit there anymore... it collapses on you all at once. And when that happens, there's no neat way to pick through the wreckage. So tell me... do you really think that's the path you want to keep walking?"

"It doesn't really matter what's the best thing for me."

I took another sip of the tea. Before I realized it, the tea was already finished.

I set the cup down and looked back at Paimon.

"I've been like this since birth. Things have piled up to the point where there's no turning back. No..." I paused, my thoughts drifting toward a certain place. "There is somewhere I can return to, a place where everything that's piled up will eventually fade away. That's what I'm working toward."

"And what if that place doesn't exist?"

"If it doesn't exist?"

I looked at Paimon. After which, I smiled.

Paimon's smile seemed to fade the moment I smiled. What did he see behind my own smile? I was curious, but I didn't ask as I stood up from my seat.

"This conversation was nice."

I looked back at the piece of paper in my grasp.

Tapping it with my finger, I turned away from Paimon and moved towards the door.

"I wish we could talk like this again. Honestly, the conversation was rather pleasant, and I feel much clearer about what I'm supposed to do."

Reaching for the handle, I pulled the door open and was about to step out when Paimon's voice called out to me once more, stopping me in place.

"Ooh... now this path you're on? It's getting a little dangerous. You've got those blinders on. Zeroed in on all the wrong little details while the important things slip right through your fingers. If I were you? I'd take that medicine you've been given... while you still have the sense to do so. Because right now, you're not just drifting, you're starting to spiral. And if you keep going like this... well... I wonder how far down you'll go before you even notice?~"

"I am aware."

My hand lingered on the cold knob as I pulled the door fully open. Looking out into the distance, I allowed a faint smile to form.

"...I am fully aware of my tunnel vision and the problems that I'm currently facing."

I didn't need to be reminded of them. In fact, I had been aware of them for quite some time. From how I would laugh in situations that weren't funny, to my impulses. I was very well aware of everything.

But...

"I'm aware of them, and I'm keeping them."

This change...

It was a necessary change.

In order for me to survive in this world, I had no choice but to be like this.

And...

Looking back at the notes in my grasp, I smiled.

"If you're watching, I'll show you something entertaining."

I turned back to face Paimon for the last time while tapping on the notes.

"If you're entertained, I hope that you'll invite me over here again. There are a lot of things that I wish to ask of you."

"....."

Paimon just stood in silence, his gaze directed my way.

He stood in silence until his lips eventually pulled into a smile.

"Alright~"

He sat back down in his chair.

"We've got a deal."

"Isn't that great?"

I turned to face the door and moved past it.

-x-X-x-

The entire world was white. The brightness lingered in my vision for several long moments, swallowing everything as I struggled to see or feel anything at all. Slowly, the sensation began to fade, and before long, I found myself back in the game office.

The place was entirely empty, not a single presence to be found. I looked around cautiously, scanning the quiet space before finally taking a seat.

"Haaa."

I took a deep breath, feeling a little exhausted.

Despite it only being a conversation, it had taken more out of me than I expected. It felt as though I had to weigh every word carefully, and that even the slightest misstep, even for a moment, would have cost me my life.

But despite his temptations, I never once wavered.

From the start, my mind was clear.

'Well, it doesn't matter. I've managed to acquire what I've been looking for.'

I looked at the papers in my hand and set them on the table.

Tap. Tap.

My thoughts lingered on the conversation I'd had with Paimon, but only for a few seconds before I pushed them aside, shifting my full attention to the papers laid out before me.

"Should I have a look?"

I counted the pages. There were about twelve in total, each one dense with detail. My eyes skimmed over the information before settling on the first page.

"Oh?"

The page was extremely detailed, and as my eyes moved over the information, I found a faint smile forming before I even realized it. Especially the moment my gaze settled on the name written down.

"...So that's your name."

Found you~

***

Milia.

Located on the outskirts of the Central Island, just a few hours away by plane, the island was moderately sized, with a peak population of 3 million. What set Milian apart from most satellite islands was the presence of four King-Grade Guilds, alongside several Queen-Grade Guilds.

Among these guilds, the most notable was the Cloud Reverence Guild, its influence standing above the rest.

Although it was a far cry from the guilds of the Oak Circle or the top five, it was still a relatively notable organization, one that regularly participated in the World Congress.

At the moment, a meeting was being held within the Guild.

Standing at the front was a tall man with short dark hair and a relatively fit build, his posture straight as he faced the gathered guild members.

"The current situation is rather delicate. Even though the World Congress has ended, the sudden rise of the Severed Stars Guild has created a gap within the Oak Circle and the top guilds. I'm afraid things will start to get rough soon."

"But how does that involve us?"

One of the guild members suddenly asked.

To her question, the Team Leader replied, "I honestly don't know as of yet. We've yet to see any sort of movement from the large Guilds, but it won't be long before the large Guilds make a move and try to swallow up the Severed Stars Guild. Their foundation is too weak."

Suddenly, the Team Leader sighed.

"Honestly, their performance in the World Congress was worthy of praise. However, that success is a curse in itself. I'm certain those from the Helios Vanguard Guild aren't pleased. Not only that, but I've heard their star member has renewed his contract with them. I'm not so sure that was the smartest decision he could've taken."

Once more, the Team Leader sighed. He felt that it was rather pitiful that the situation had turned out like this.

The iron grip that the Oak Circle and the top guilds held over the others was far from small. Though rare, and never quite as extreme as the Severed Stars Guild, there had been attempts by lesser guilds to break free from that control. Every time, it ended the same way.

Merger, or complete absorption.

This was why the Team Leader felt pity for the Severed Stars Guild.

"But enough about them."

The Team Leader's expression suddenly became serious as he scanned the room.

"The reason I called this meeting today is because of the abnormalities I've begun to notice around us. There have been numerous reports of people going missing. Has anyone discovered what's happening?"

Silence followed the Team Leader's question, prompting him to frown as she scanned the surroundings.

"Nothing...?"

The silence lingered, stretching across the room. Just as the Team Leader was about to speak again, a soft yet deep voice echoed from within the crowd.

"...I've studied the situation a bit."

All heads turned towards a certain direction.

"Cedrick?"

The Team Leader tilted his head slightly, his attention settling on the young man with messy dark hair that obscured his features. His build was lanky, and his clothes hung loosely on him, as though they were a size too large.

Being a Team Leader, he was naturally aware of him.

But the same couldn't be said for the others, as Cedrick rarely stood out.

He was rather average in that aspect.

Even his performances were rather average. The fact that he had yet to be cut was a miracle in itself.

'No, perhaps that's a skill in itself.'

The Team Leader's opinion of Cedrick was neither high nor low. He simply treated him as any other recruit. So long as they didn't die or make any mistakes, he was fine with them.

"What have you found?"

"...Ehm, so... the victims all appear to be male. From what I've managed to figure out, they all disappeared around the same area in the western district."

"Western District? That's a rather poor area. Is there a pattern to the missing people? Age? What about their age? Is the age the same? Or anything of the sort?"

The Team Leader was particular about the details.

Although such details seemed insignificant at first glance, in cases like these, even the smallest piece of information could help form a clearer picture later on. Nothing could be overlooked, as any detail might reveal what was truly going on.

"Ah, yes."

Cedrick replied slowly as he brushed his hair slightly.

"Each victim appears to be between twenty and thirty years of age. There have been a total of seventeen disappearances over the past month, and all of them share the same zodiac sign."

"Zodiac sign?"

The Team Leader was taken aback as he looked at Cedrick.

"And... what sign exactly?"

"Cancer."

Cedrick replied softly.

"Their Zodiac sign... It's cancer for all of them."

The room fell silent as the Team Leader looked in Cedrick's direction. He stood like that for a brief moment, musing over the entire situation before eventually nodding his head.

"Alright, thank you very much for this information. This will be helpful for us later."

He then turned his attention towards the recruits.

"With seventeen people missing in just the past month, it's clear the situation is serious. I want several teams assigned to this case. Look into it carefully and make sure to analyze everything." Pausing, the Team Leader took a deep breath as he muttered seriously, "I'm afraid we may be dealing with a high-class anomaly."

Tapping his fingers lightly against the table, the Team Leader's brows furrowed as he retrieved his phone. He glanced at it briefly before looking back at the recruits, turning it over in his hand.

"Seems like another person has gone missing. A code red has been issued."

-x-X-x-

The Cloud Reverence Guild wasn't the only one making moves. The remaining King-Grade and Queen-Grade Guilds began mobilizing as well, the situation clearly escalating, with citizens in the Western District urged to remain inside their homes.

The BUA had also been alerted, keeping a close watch on the situation. As of now, no one truly understood what was happening, but it was clear that it was dangerous.

"Keep in mind that the Western District is very different from the Eastern District we're in. The buildings are far more run-down, and poverty is much more apparent there. Make sure not to wear anything too distinctive when you go. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention, even if we're from the major guilds."

After going through a brief checklist, the Team Leader reminded everyone of the dangers in the Western District.

"Anomalies aren't the only dangers that lurk within the Western District. You have to be careful of the people, too."

Thinking about the crime rate and the daily homicides in the Western District, the Team Leader felt a surge of disgust, as if he might spit on the floor. The situation had only reached such a point due to a past incident several years back.

'I still get shivers while thinking about that incident.'

It had been quite some time ago, yet even now the Team Leader could clearly recall the incident. In a way, it was similar to what had happened in Malovia, except that it wasn't an - ranked gate but something just below it.

Rank.

While it might not sound particularly frightening now, at the time, an Ranked Gate was among the highest the world had ever witnessed.

The moment the Gate appeared, it felt as though the entire island trembled, as if it might collapse beneath it. It had nearly fallen from the sky, only barely held in place by the combined efforts of foreign guilds and engineers who had come to aid during the crisis.

It was a Gate that nearly sent the entire world into a state of panic. Thankfully, it was eventually cleared, but the number of casualties was far from small. It became a tragedy that many on the island had yet to forget, with the Western District remaining a direct scar left behind by the Gate.

Many lost their home, their jobs, their families...

Everyone had lost something, and those who had were left with no choice but to settle in the Western District, while new guilds rose to prominence and claimed the Eastern side.

'Now that I think about it, there are quite a few that came and joined this Guild due to that incident.'

As the Team Leader's gaze swept over each recruit, his gaze eventually settled over to Cedrick as he sat in his seat in silence, his gaze directed towards the window.

'...Right, he joined us after that incident. As far as I'm aware, he lives alone, his entire family having died because of it.'

Thinking about Cedrick's situation, the Team Leader felt a twinge of pity as he shook his head and sat down. In the end, everyone had their own circumstances. Although the Team Leader felt pity for Cedrick, this was all it ammounted too.

His life wasn't easy either.

"Oh, right."