Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!

Chapter 354: Explosive Game [3]

”Pay attention, everyone!”

The moment I opened the door to the room, I stepped to the side and introduced the girl who stood behind me.

”This here will be our new teammate. I hope that everyone can get along with her.”

”....”

”....”

”....”

The room fell completely silent following my short introduction. I cleared my throat and looked back at Ariel.

”This crazy bi—Ehm. I mean, this girl right here is Ariel.”

I then looked back at my team, ignoring the wide eyes and gaping mouths.

”These right here are your teammates. I hope you can get along well with them. Although they look like this, they are all extremely competent.”

The silence continued even after the short introduction. In the end, the only thing I could do was point at the empty cubicle in the room.

”That will be your cubicle. You can decorate it however you want. Just let me know if you need anything else from me.”

”....”

Without saying anything, Ariel proceeded to move towards her cubicle. I stared at her exposed back for a short moment before turning my attention back towards my team. It was there that I noticed Joanna standing up and dragging me out of the room.

Clank!

”Squad Leader! What’s going on...!?”

She was clearly confused.

I couldn’t blame her. After all, everyone was aware of the fact that the girl was the one responsible for the gate.

I could only shrug while looking at her.

”Orders from the Section Chief. I can’t do anything about it.”

”But...!”

”I know. I know.”

She didn’t have to tell me to remind me of the fact that we couldn’t trust someone like her on our team. I also didn’t trust her, but at the same time, it was clear that for now, she had been tamed.

Whatever ’seal’ the Guild Master had placed on her, it had made her into a completely different person.

’She’s way different compared to the crazy version of her that I know.’

I felt that this was good.

”Just accept her for now. I’ll explain more about the situation to all of you later. For now, you shouldn’t be too worried about her. The Guild wouldn’t just let someone like her into their own department if they didn’t think she was safe to use.”

This was true.

I knew that the Guild was crazy, but they weren’t crazy enough to allow a cultist into their Guild. If not for the system message that told me she was directly sealed, I’d have been worried.

”Are you sure...?”

”Yes, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

I reassured Joanna, patting her on the shoulder while looking back at the room.

I was certainly going to take care of it.

Of that, I was sure. I had already made up my mind.

”Go back in for now. There are a couple of things that I need to take care of.”

”...Alright.”

Although I could still see the doubt in her eyes, she ended up relenting and walking back towards the room. However, just as she was about to enter, she stopped, turning her attention back to me.

”Oh, right.”

”Hm?”

Did she have something else to say?

”Did you release a new game?”

New game?

What was she talking about?

”You didn’t?”

”No...?”

I had yet to even properly plan for one. I had messed around with the VR a bit, and I had several ideas in my mind, but I had yet to properly start a new game.

”Oh, I see. Never mind then.”

With a shrug of her shoulders, Joanna proceeded to enter the room, leaving me at a loss as I stared at the door.

Scratching the side of my cheek, I frowned.

”What was that about?”

Ding!

A certain notification snapped me out of my thoughts.

Pulling out my phone and staring at the message that appeared, the smile wiped off my face as my eyes narrowed.

”Looks like it’s time for me to act.”

For me to release my anger.

I was done playing games.

*

I didn’t know how many floors the Guild actually had. What I did know was that the Containment Department was buried at the very bottom, while the Guild Master’s office sat at the very top.

Ding—!

As the doors parted, they revealed a wide lobby lined with tall glass windows on each side, offering a sweeping view of the world below. My gaze settled on the receptionist stationed behind a sleek black marble counter.

The moment the elevator doors parted and the receptionist caught sight of me, she greeted me with a smile before pointing towards the large wooden door.

”Please...”

I didn’t bother with ceremony and strode straight to the door, pushing it open as though it belonged to my own house.

Clank!

A large and spacious office greeted me.

One that would make any normal person jealous. However, I paid no attention to my surroundings and just focused on the man who stood before me.

As though my presence meant nothing, he kept his eyes locked on the paper before him, his pen gliding across the surface in steady strokes. A quiet, intangible pressure seeped out from him, filling the room with an oppressive weight as I started to have a hard time breathing.

And yet—

I remained calm, moving towards the nearest seat and making myself comfortable.

The anger and annoyance that I was currently feeling were overriding any of the fear that I felt towards the man before me.

Before he could fully acknowledge my presence, I tossed a couple of papers on his desk.

Plack!

That finally drew the Guild Master’s attention. His hand stilled, and with deliberate slowness, he lifted his head to meet my gaze. The instant our eyes locked, my breath caught in my throat, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as though even my heartbeat had stopped.

Every hair on my body rose, and a sudden coldness washed over me.

Gritting my teeth, I kept my gaze firmly locked in his direction.

That was until—

”What is this...?”

The Guild Master finally spoke, his gaze drifting toward the papers I had tossed onto his desk. The suffocating pressure eased just slightly, and I seized the moment to open my mouth and speak.

”Those are my resignation papers. I’m quitting.”

The silence that had taken over the room moments prior turned even more suffocating as the Guild Master alternated his gaze between me and the papers.

His lips parted shortly after.

”Why are you quitting?”

”Do I have to say it?”

I looked at him meaningfully. I was aware of the fact that he suspected something. He was probably just like the rat, and was playing all sorts of annoying games with me.

There were too many things that I needed to take care of.

I was in no mood for games.

”.....”

The Guild Master remained quiet, his gaze quietly focused on me.

But then—

He smiled, placing the papers down.

”You’re rather surprising. I didn’t think you’d catch on so quickly.”

The ease with which the Guild Master carried himself made me feel uneasy, but I knew that I couldn’t show any weakness.

With a smile, I answered, ”I’m not the smartest, but I’m also not the dumbest. It doesn’t take a genius to know what you’re trying to do.”

”Should I take it as you admitting that you’re the Jester then...?”

The atmosphere froze over in the next instant, the Guild Master’s eyes narrowing so sharply that my entire body locked in place, my breath ripping straight out of my lungs. Staring at his eyes, which were as calm as they could be, and feeling the constant beating of my heart, I clenched my teeth tightly before relaxing and leaning back on the chair.

”...Sure.”

I nodded, coming clean to him.

”I am the Jester.”