Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Guild Dinner [3]

The moment the Section Chief and the Team Leaders entered the room, the mood within the restaurant changed. It turned a lot more somber and serious.

And this was in spite of the relaxed expression on the Section Chief’s face.

"What? Why is everyone looking so gloomy? Come on... They’re not that terrifying."

He looked back to the other Team Leaders and cocked his head.

"On second thought..."

He pursed his lips.

"Just a little. Not too much though. Err... You know what, I guess they are a little terrifying. Ugly too."

The Section Chief flicked his head away, ignoring the sudden wave of glares directed his way.

"Well, leaving that aside. Please do enjoy your dinner. We’re not here to spoil it yet."

Yet?

What did that mean?

"Have fun. If you have any questions, ask them later. Let us have our moment too."

And with that, the team leaders, alongside the Section Chief, headed towards a certain table by the far end of the room. All eyes were focused on them as they moved.

From that point, the atmosphere changed as the previous carefreeness of the place seemed to be gone. In its place, people started to speak with lowered voices, and the drinking toned down.

’What’s going on...?’

I turned to the only figure I could turn to.

Myle-No, rat. Yes, rat seemed to be a more fitting name for him.

"Oh, well... I’m not too sure myself."

The rat answered while scratching the back of his head and showing his usual dimples.

"I’ve only been here for a little bit. I’m not particularly familiar with the situation, and I’ve only seen our team leader like once."

"Your team leader?"

"Yeah, her."

Myles nudged toward the distant table, subtly pointing out a woman with short black hair and dark eyes. At first glance, she looked completely laid-back, a packet of cigarettes neatly tucked into her breast pocket as she leaned back on both hands.

Some sort of conversation was going on there, but she didn’t look at all interested.

"She’s your team leader?"

She looked kind of young. Well, at least early thirties.

"Yeah, apparently. Word is she was one of the fastest in the Guild to make Team Leader. Supposedly, she’s incredibly good at her job. Some even say she’s the next in line to be the Section Chief once he retires or kicks the bucket."

I blinked slowly.

"Kick the bucket?"

"Yeah..."

The rat sliced his finger across his neck.

"Like that."

"...Oh."

That was a bit...

"It is what it is. This is how it usually works in this line of work. You never know who might die. The same goes for the Team Leaders and Section Chiefs. You’ve just got to do your best in order to survive."

The dimples on his face widened as he said those words.

’Ah, goosebumps. I’m feeling goosebumps.’

Something about his smile and words made me shiver.

I had to take a quiet breath to calm myself down.

’He might be different from the game. There’s no guarantee he’s the same. You might just be overthinking.’

Of course, just because it was possible that I was overthinking, it didn’t mean that I was going to let my guard down.

It was for that reason that I decided to call him rat inside my mind.

It was to serve as a reminder of what he could be.

"Either way, I think I might know what this could be about."

"You do?"

No, wait...

Thinking about it, I probably knew as well. The two of us had talked about it not too long ago.

"You probably know it too, actually."

As expected. It was that.

"It’s regarding the potential Thrall-Class entity, the Twisted Man. It looks like the situation is headed that way. We’ll see. It might also be that the department has figured something out. We should hear about it soon."

"Mhm."

’I... feel a sinister presence within the land that you reside in. I advise you to tread with caution. This is no kind or reasonable being.’

’...I really need to stay out of this situation.’

’No, I need to find a way to not have him get involved in this situation.’

’Guild-wide expedition? Isn’t that rare...?’

’The situation must be a lot more serious than I expected.’