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

Chapter 265: Till my fingers fall off [3]

Dang—!

I played a random note on the keyboard.

The sound was loud and sharp, and I paused after hearing it.

“Yes, this might work.”

The objective of the quest was supposedly to find the exit. However, I now understood that my office was the very same exit.

Taking into consideration the fact that I couldn’t leave my office, and that my office was the exit, the only way for me to clear the quest was by somehow getting everyone to find the exit.

This was what was clear to me.

However, given that going out seemed to be rather hard, the only way for me to get everyone to come to the exit was by making enough noise to attract them.

…And I had the perfect instrument for that.

“Who would’ve thought that things would turn out this way?”

I smiled before setting up the keyboard in front of the door. Going back to my desk and taking out a music sheet, I placed it on top of the piano.

Sitting down on the keyboard stool, I placed my hands over the keys.

“…..”

The surroundings grew silent in that moment.

Tik, tik—

Save for the ticking of the clock on the wall.

I was suddenly reminded of the piece that I needed to play for the conductor and closed my eyes.

’Focus. I need to focus.’

I suddenly thought back to the lessons that I used to take.

To my old teacher.

Mrs. Clarke.

She was an old lady with graying hair and a soft smile. She would come to the orphanage every week to teach us the piano.

Placing my hands on the keyboard just as she had taught me, I pressed down and let the first note resonate into the silence.

Dang!

The last time I had truly played the piano was back in Mirelle’s gate.

I tried to recall the sensation of playing the piano. The smooth glide of the keys beneath my fingers and the rare clarity that settled in my head.

However—

Dong!

“…..”

I flinched and stared at the key in front of me.

The note was off.

I didn’t let that affect me as I continued again.

Dang!

I pressed the first key and began to follow the sheet in front of me. I was familiar with the notes and I followed them clearly, but…

Dong!

From time to time, I’d continue to mess up.

“Why?”

Taking a moment to pause, I looked at the keyboard in front of me.

I knew that I was rusty. This much was clear to me.

But it wasn’t just that. The piece I needed to play wasn’t normal. It was haunting in its tone, steeped in a tension that refused to let go. Each note was sharp, cutting through the air, and the tempo pressed forward with each note that played.

I looked at the keyboard in front of me.

At this moment, I forgot all about the scenario and everything that I needed to do. The only thing on my mind was the keyboard in front of me.

Dang, Dang—

I began to play the first two notes.

It went well, but—

Dong!

By the time I reached the seventh note, I made a mistake.

I tried again, but the result wasn’t much different.

Dong!

I made a mistake once again.

I didn’t give up. I had time. Regardless, the only thing I could do was play.

And that was exactly what I did.

Dang, Dang, Dang—

The rust started to shake off gradually.

I started to play more smoothly, and the notes were starting to unfold before my very eyes.

And yet—

Dang!

“No.”

I stopped and looked back at the keyboard.

While everything was going smoothly, it still didn’t feel right.

Something about what I was doing felt wrong.

Furthermore, turning my attention towards the door and seeing how nobody had knocked on it, I bit my lips.

’Is my plan going to work? …At this rate, I might be stuck here for a very long time.’

I scratched the back of my head.

“No, I can’t give up.”

I looked at the keyboard again and prepared to press on the key, when—

“Eh…?”

My surroundings grew dark, and everything reverted back to how it was before.

“…..”

I sat blankly on my chair before looking around me.

All until…

Click!

I heard the sound of the door locking, and I turned my attention towards it.

’…Someone died. The loop reset.’

I swallowed quietly before taking a deep breath.

I more or less expected the first trial to fail. However, the part that worried me was my current level.

“It’s… not possible.”

In the small amount of time I had spent, something became clear to me.

I was not good enough. In order for me to reach a level where I could play properly, I’d need at least ten years of proper practice. This was the bare minimum.

While the loop did provide me with more time, the time was still not enough.

“Not enough…”

I ruffled the back of my head while feeling a certain sensation pierce my chest. It was a tickling yet rushed sensation that made my toes tingle.

Biting my nails, I leaned back against the chair.

“…Things can’t keep going like this. I really need to think of a way to solve this. But how? How can I do that?”

I turned my attention towards the compass.

I clutched it tightly and thought, ’Point me where I can find a way to clear the conductor’s trial. Just a clue. Something.’

I was desperate.

I stared at the compass anxiously as it started to spin under my request.

The compass arrow spun faster and faster. I swallowed hard, my eyes locked on its frantic movement, anxiety tightening in my chest.

’Come on. Come on…’

My legs tapped rapidly against the ground.

Time ticked, and the compass continued to spin. My heart sank at the sight.

Waiting for several more minutes, I eventually gave up when I saw that the arrow wouldn’t stop spinning. In the end, covering my mouth, I leaned back against my chair while blankly staring at the ceiling.

I closed my eyes and thought deeply about my current situation.

’At my current level, I won’t be able to do anything unless the loop continues for ten years. The compass is also not working, meaning that the item that I need in order to beat the conductor isn’t here. In that case, I need to quickly find a way to get out of this place in order to find that item.’

I already had an idea of what the item I needed was. I had already caught sight of it back when I was in the Guild.

That was the item that I needed in order to clear the bet.

So long as I managed to press each key properly and didn’t make any mistakes…

’Yes, I need to hurry up and get out of this place.’

I pressed my hand against the table and renewed my goal.

I stood up, reaching for the keyboard, when my eyes landed on a box at the far end of the room. One holding carefully chosen pieces of clothing. In that brief moment, as my gaze lingered on the items, something inside me clicked, and I blinked slowly, caught in sudden clarity.

“Wait…”

I moved towards the box and carefully took out each of the items.

From the red wig to the shoes, and the red ball.

Staring at the items in my mind, I slowly set them down and shifted my gaze toward the corner of the room, where a familiar clown figure stood, its blank expression fixed on me.

“Do you think it’s possible…?”

The clown continued to stare blankly at me.

I opened my mouth again to ask, but the clown soon nodded.

“….”

I took a deep breath, feeling my heartbeat quicken.

’It’s possible…’

I didn’t let my emotions get to me.

I looked at the clown again.

“…How long will it take for me to be completely hypnotized. Do you think you can make it quickly?”

It usually took a bit of time to hypnotize someone.

It took about a week to hypnotize the guy from the gaming studio.

’But even if it isn’t quick, I guess I do have a lot of time.’

And as I looked at the clown, I saw it soon shake its head.

“So it’s not possible…”

I closed my eyes in understanding.

This wasn’t the end of the world. Since I had time, I was fine with waiting a little bit.

“Okay.”

I stood up slowly and handed the items to the clown.

“Do it.”

I muttered, staring straight at the clown.

“Hypnothize me.”

Make it so that I never make a mistake while playing.