Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Mission Complete [1]

Wam!

The orchestra came to life!

Music surged from every instrument, cascading through the theater in flawless harmony. The rhythm, the melody—perfection. And yet...

And yet...

"...."

With a single motion of the conductor's hand, it stopped.

Silence.

"Why...?"

The conductor's skeletal fingers clutched the music sheet, flipping through it with jerky, unnatural movements. Its head twisted, angling at odd degrees as if trying to decipher something incomprehensible.

"...It should be like this?"

Another flick of its hand.

Wam!

The music started again.

The same tune. Same rhythm. Same... everything.

And as a result.

"Stop."

Once more, silence strangled the air.

"Why...?"

The conductor grabbed the music sheet.

The conductor's grip tightened around the sheet, fingers twitching as its sewn eyes traced each note. It knew something was wrong. I could see it. But its obsession—its need for perfection—kept it shackled, stubbornly refusing to let go of the flaw.

It... needed to make it perfect.

'It's time to end this.'

I reached for the walkie-talkie.

But just as my fingers brushed the button—

"—!"

Pain.

'Shit! Why now of all times...!'

A sharp, piercing pain stabbed through my skull. My fingers trembled violently, my body spasming as if my own nerves had turned against me.

I could hardly get any air out as I struggled to keep myself seated.

I was having an episode.

....At the worst times.

"Kh...!"

A subtle groan escaped my lips as I tried to hold it in together, my chest trembling and my legs pulsing.

'I... just took the medications too!'

But I knew this was probably a result of all the stress that I had just experienced.

My condition... it was relapsing. But at the worst possible time. Just when everything was about to be over.

No!

I clenched my teeth and brought the communication next to my mouth.

WAM!

In the background, the music continued.

I pressed the button.

Click!

"Insult it again. Let it... tell it how easy this music was."

I didn't get an immediate response back. Instead, I saw them all looking at me. Watching. Waiting. Doubting.

I swallowed back the pain and pressed the button again.

"What are you waiting for?"

And then it started.

"What is this crap? It's e-ven worse than before." _{ƒгeewёbnovel.com}

"Isn't this quite a famous work? Why can't he play it?"

"I'm disappointed."

"....Is there a way to get a refund?"

The insults poured in, each one more venomous than the last.

The conductor flinched. Its movements stiffened—but it refused to stop.

"Just stop."

"Let us out."

It waved its hand. The orchestra played.

The same result.

"Stop, just stop."

"Kill me already."

It kept trying. Again and again. Trapped by its own delusion of perfection, bound to an imperfect piece.

"....."

As the conductor stopped once again, the insults rained down again. It was now on the breaking point, its entire body trembling.

My entire body tensed at the sight.

Even though my mind wasn't as sharp as before, and I was still suffering from the after-effects of my condition, I could tell that something was about to happen.

I gripped the armrest of the chair.

'What's it going to do...?'

I nervously licked my lips, waiting for the conductor to do something.

"Let us—!"

Bang!

A sickening crash echoed as the conductor seized a cello and smashed it against the floor. Splinters flew. The remains of the instrument lay twitching at its feet.

"....."

Pin drop silence filled the theater as all eyes fell on the conductor.

BANG. BANG. BANG!

'I can stand!'

This was different than before.

'It's almost over. It's almost over.'

[Congratulations, you have cleared the scenario!]

[You were able to exploit the conductor's weakness to perfection in order to clear the scenario. You have passed with flying colors!]

[Rewards are waiting for you!]

[.....]