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

Chapter 314: More Clues [2]

The air within the department grew tenser by the day.

This became more evident with each passing day, as the department grew increasingly quiet, with more teams heading out through the gates. This was something that even I managed to notice, despite spending a lot of time in my own office or with the team.

“Just what in the…”

“The teams are most likely getting ready for the upcoming department trials,” Joanna answered, noticing my confusion. Her face was slightly pale, and her eyes were slightly bloodshot.

This was most likely because she had just come out of the VR capsule.

I honestly didn’t want to enter another gate. At least, not yet. This was mainly due to two factors. One, I was just tired. Two, because I knew that the rank would increase the moment I entered.

This was just something that I was pretty much certain of.

And for that reason, I decided to stay still for now.

’But then again, it’s not like I can’t go in again.’

The doppleganger had actually made things a little easier for me to some extent. Not only had it helped me fill the monthly quota, but it also helped me get rid of any suspicion, if there was any.

Just one look at the logs, and I could tell that the gates that it had dived in had remained of the same rank.

’That’s good and all, but the same can’t be said for me.’

I was still sure the gates increased in rank the moment I entered them. That was why I needed to be extra careful when entering.

“By the way, Squad Leader…” Speaking in a hesitant voice, Joanna scratched the side of her face as her eyes darted away from me. I tilted my head at the sight.

What was she trying to say?

“Well…” She scratched her face again. In the end, looking at me, she sighed.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to spend time doing this? With the upcoming trials, wouldn’t it be better if we spent that time training in the gates?”

“You want to go into the gates?”

“Err…”

Joanna stuttered for a moment. But only for a brief moment as her face turned resolute.

“More than wanting to go into the gates, I just want to do well in the trials. I heard that those who will do well will be able to enter the World Conference. I’d like to make it there. This is something that I’ve been trying to achieve for quite some time.”

I stood silent upon hearing her words. After a moment, I turned my head to see the others all looking in our direction, their expressions quickly changing the moment I looked at them, as they all hastily looked away a moment later.

They looked like frightened little birds, and for a moment, I almost felt like laughing.

I still retained my expression.

“…I see. I get what you’re trying to say.”

“Then…!?”

Joanna’s eyes lit up, but I soon shook my head.

“No, we’re still doing this.”

“….!”

“Squad Leader!”

“…..!?”

I could see the immediate change in the faces of everyone as I rejected their request. But it wasn’t because I didn’t understand them or didn’t want to go to the gates.

It was mainly because there was no better training than this.

“There’s no need for our team to enter the gates. The department trials are right around the corner, and the best training you can get is continuing exactly what you’re doing now.”

I paused, looking at everyone present before taking out my phone. Seeing the message written on it, I slowly turned away from them and headed for the door.

“…What’s the point of entering a gate if you can barely keep yourself from screaming at a game?”

To that, everyone fell quiet.

Indeed…

There was no better training for them than this.

*

Ding!

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out.

The moment I did, I paused for a moment as I looked around me.

’So this is the true Containment Department?’

[-3]

This was the first time I had stepped onto this floor. This was also one of the most important floors within the department, as it was where all the anomalies that were contained were placed.

At the end of the corridor from the elevator, a vast marble reception opened up, lined with seats along the sides and intersected by corridors extending in each cardinal direction.

People in white lab coats and members dressed in black security attire appeared everywhere.

This place was even more crowded than the main area.

I stopped by the reception.

“I have an appointment. If you could please check it.”

“Yes, no problem. What is your name?”

“Seth Thorne.”

“I see. Let me check with the database.”

The receptionist was a relatively tall man wearing a crisp black suit. He looked rather serious, and after doing a couple of checks, he nodded, pointing towards the corridor behind him.

“Please head that way. I’ve already notified the security in there. You may go whenever you wish.”

“…Thank you.”

Thanking the man, I proceeded to follow his directions and headed towards the corridor behind him.

Stepping into the corridor, it was almost as if the entire atmosphere had changed.

The air grew colder, and the noise that had been present moments prior had completely faded. Instead, a certain chilling quiet had replaced it.

*Step*

My footsteps echoed sharply through the hall, flanked on either side by towering white metal doors, each marked with labels like [VILE – 794] and [VILE – 805], and so on… The numbers felt infinite.

’Just how many anomalies are contained within here?’

Furthermore, each couple of doors was guarded by one of the security guards. It made me question just how many people the Guild employed, and also made me understand the enormous expenses the Guild had.

Eventually, as I continued forward, I stopped before a certain door.

[VILE – 819].

“This should be it.”

Staring at the door, I swallowed nervously.

Unknowingly, my heart started to speed up as I came face to face with the door. Thinking back to the Twisted Man and my encounter with it, I started to feel nervous.

But I was quick to push it away as a man in a lab coat approached me a few moments later.

“You must be the one who requested to see 819, correct?”

“…Yes.”

I handed over my Guild ID.

Following a brief check, the man handed me the ID back before briefing me on the rules.

“You are not to directly engage with the anomaly. Cameras are installed, and we’ll be monitoring your every movement. If you so much as try to do something with the anomaly, you will be eliminated on the spot. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” I replied, my lips twitching slightly. Pretty harsh…

“Okay.”

The man in white reached for the door and pressed his badge to the pad next to it.

A loud metallic clank echoed as the door creaked open, dragging against the silence with agonizing slowness. The air turned cold, biting at my skin, and every hair along my body stood up.

From the widening gap emerged a tall, lanky figure, wearing a tall top hat and suit, its presence stretching the shadows until they seemed to crawl toward me.

Clank!

Eventually, the door opened fully, and I stood face to face with an old acquaintace.

The Twisted Man.