Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! novel Chapter 103

"So you're telling me that during your investigation of the house, the floor suddenly cracked, and that's what led you to the discovery?"

The Team Leader looked at me in doubt. His bushy brows were raised while his thick arms were crossed together as he sat back on his chair, his voice echoing throughout the small and confined room.

The only thing that separated the two of us was a small metal table.

Following the findings this morning, the Guild brought me and the rat in for questioning.

We weren't in trouble or anything like that.

The Guild was just trying to get to the bottom of the situation. After all... We didn't just find a simple hole.

What we found was something else entirely.

I wasn't really sure of what it was, but it seemed pretty important.

"....It was something like that, but just before it happened, I heard a certain cracking sound coming from the corner of the room. Thinking that I was mishearing, I moved towards there to check it out when the floor suddenly cracked."

"I see."

The Team Leader nodded, pretending to understand.

In reality, he probably had seen the footage of the situation through the cameras. If he had already seen them, then he knew that my story was in line with what he saw.

And regarding the noise part...

That was a lie.

I just couldn't really tell him that I had actually seen it through the glasses.

"Your story does check out, for now. It's the same as the one Myles told us. Well... more or less."

More or less?

I tried my best to keep my gaze steady.

'As expected. That rat... he probably tried to lie and make it seem like this is all my fault. I'm sure that with his personality he—'

"He was quite humble about it. He said that you deserve all the credit for the finding."

'Eh...?"

My mind went completely blank the moment the Team Leader spoke.

What… what did he just say?

The rat... did he really give all credit for the situation to me?

That...

I struggled to come to terms with these words.

What sort of game was he playing at?

Were there any motives behind his actions, or was this out of kindness?

'Ugh!'

I really wanted to rip my hair out. I felt incredibly frustrated by the situation. This felt like some sort of mind game. Was he good, or was he bad? This constant juggling between the two made me feel incredibly tense.

In the midst of my thoughts, the Team Leader spoke.

"Considering the significance of what we've uncovered, it's only fair you receive compensation. Whether that takes a monetary form... or something else entirely, is your choice."

"Compensation?"

My eyelids fluttered. Did he just say compensation?

"Of course. Why wouldn't we compensate you for finding something like this? Accident or not, you were present at the scene, and the Guild provides compensation for any discovery related to the case."

"...I see."

I licked my lips, trying my best to hide my excitement.

All of a sudden, the rat... he didn't feel so much like a rat. Perhaps I was wrong about him all along.

He was a good guy! _{ƒгeewebnovёl.com}

"Setting compensation aside, there's something that I'm curious about."

Placing his hand over the table, the Team Leader drummed his fingers over it, his face turning strange.

I turned my attention towards him.

What? Why was he looking at me like that?

"What is it with you and the sunglasses? This isn't the first time that I've seen you wear them."

"You've seen me wear them before?"

I paused for a moment before looking at the Team Leader weirdly.

"You've seen the stream?"

"Uh... Eh, yes?"

Turning his head slightly, the Team Leader pursed his lips.

"It was everywhere, so I saw it. I think a lot of people saw it. I'm curious... Why would you wear them when it's dark? Aren't you just making your life harder?"

"About that..."

I wasn't panicked by the question. Not only did I foresee something like this happening in advance, but I had multiple answers ready at my beck and call. I also had some spare sunglasses that looked almost identical.

In case they wanted to examine them, I could just give it to them.

"So...?"

Seeing the Team Leader look at me, I looked him straight in the eyes before leaning back in my chair.

"It's simple, really..."

I pursed my lips.

"...I wear the sunglasses so that I can't see ahead."

"Huh?"