Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The world has changed [1]

"....."

Tuesday morning.

I stood in front of my cubicle, a box resting on my table, all my possessions packed inside. Just like that, I was fired. No call. No face-to-face meeting.

Through text.

No, not even through text... I got told by my drunk colleague.

The general vibe around the office was gloomy. I wasn't the only one packing up my stuff, with several other colleagues doing the same, their heads hung low.

Even though I had expected it from the beginning, the reality of actually being laid off only hit me now.

And... it sucked.

It sucked a lot more than I previously expected.

This was especially so when taking into account that I had only been given a two-month severance pay.

In that time, I needed to find a way to develop a one-star horror game, otherwise...

"Huu."

I massaged my face and stared at the monitor in front of me.

'It's a good thing that the strange app can be deleted.'

The computer belonged to the company, so I couldn't bring it with me. Thankfully, I managed to transfer everything to my laptop and wiped the rest from the system, making sure nothing was left behind.

As the final files completed their transfer, I closed the laptop with a resigned sigh and placed it in the box.

Shortly after that, I turned around and left.

Ding!

The elevator chime rang, and I stepped inside, pressing the 'G' button. I waited as the doors began to close.

Just then, a soft, harmonious tune filled the air. Hearing the sound of it, a small smirk played on my lips.

"Isn't this the same song I gave to that strange conductor?"

But unlike the one I had given to the conductor, this one was complete.

It was soft and soothing to the ears, making me involuntarily close my eyes. Was it exhaustion? Or was it the weight of everything that had just happened?

I felt my mind begin to sink.

The darkness embraced me, and I sank deeper and deeper into the darkness.

It felt cold, and yet at the same time welcoming.

"How nice."

Ding!

My eyes snapped open the moment the elevator chime rang again.

"Oh, crap. I was about to fall asleep."

I really was overworked, after all.

I moved out of the elevator.

"Anyways... What should I do now?"

The first thought that crossed my mind was finding another job. My current priority was finding a way to develop a game that would meet the quest's satisfaction.

There were many different studios that could provide me with the necessary tools to develop such a game, but my expression grew grim when I thought about them hiring me. Let alone the fact that I was one of the people who had worked to create that disaster class, how long would it take for them to hire me?

'I don't have much time.'

I had no savings, and the severance pay only covered two months' worth of income. That would hardly be enough to last me several weeks, if I took into account the cost of my medicine.

"This is bad..."

I ruffled my hair as I made my way out of the lobby. Just as I found the exit in the distance, I felt a small vibration from my pocket.

I picked up my phone to see a familiar name.

"Hello?"

—....Seth?

—I heard about... your recent game. Are you...?

—Ah, that's... how are you holding up?

—You're still going to develop games...?

—Then...