Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 573: Death [4]

Spurt—!

Agony consumed my thoughts entirely, devouring every trace of rational thinking. I fought hard to suppress any scream while crimson liquid poured from my eye and splashed onto the floor below.

In that instant, all the surrounding clamor ceased, and I sensed countless eyes fixed upon me.

"....."

Aside from the rhythmic patter of my own blood dropping, silence enveloped everything. The atmosphere remained motionless, the quietness total.

Slowly, at that very moment, I lifted my head to survey my environment.

And that's when I noticed it.

A multitude of blank faces, lacking any defining traits, gazed directly at me.

...Ah.

Abruptly, the explanation dawned on me for why Leon remained unaffected by the circumstances. It wasn't due to immunity, but rather his ability to perceive the stark reality unfolding right before us.

As my eyes swept over the area, just two individuals retained complete facial features.

Esteban and Drake.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Seth...!? How are you holding up? What's going on?"

"Why would you harm yourself like that?"

"Should we call for a medic?"

The sounds resumed shortly after, with folks nearing me, their faces showing deep worry. Yet, as soon as I detected their advance, I recoiled on instinct. These individuals... No, these entities... They weren't truly human.

They represented something completely different.

"Seth, are you alright?"

Seth... Seth...

Indeed, that was my name.

"Seth?"

"A-ah, I'm okay."

I attempted to stay composed, though my voice emerged rough and strained.

"...I'm merely exhausted. I... believe I require some rest."

"Is that the case? You should have mentioned it earlier. Please, take some time to recuperate."

"Yes, get some sleep. We'll remain right here."

"If anything's needed, just inform us."

They continued to act kindly, their tones soothing and reassuring.

To such an extent that, for a short while, my tension began to subside.

’No!’

Gripping the glass fragment tightly, I slashed across my wrist.

"Seth!?"

"What on earth are you doing!?"

"Ah, it's nothing. Truly nothing."

I managed a strained grin while facing the featureless countenances encircling me.

"As I've stated, I'm worn out."

The sharp pain sharpened my focus.

Without further words, I pivoted and made my way back to the castle. During my steps, those persistent gazes trailed me, causing a tightness in my throat. Nevertheless, I disregarded them and pressed on.

Step. Step—

The castle had transformed.

With clear vision now, the inside appeared far less opulent and preserved than previously. The hallway and foyer remained spacious, yet all was aged and dilapidated. Cobwebs draped across each nook, and the once-vibrant overhead lamps had dimmed long ago, casting the passages in a faint illumination that bordered on shadow.

Through the gloom I advanced, clutching my wounded eye while striving to ignore the torment.

Although appearances had altered drastically, the arrangement stayed familiar. I navigated precisely to the intended spot, arriving in the prior chamber, pausing merely to observe my suspended form.

"....."

I gazed mutely at my dangling corpse.

"W-why?"

Why did it persist in hanging there?

I'd offered my eye as tribute. Illusions should have vanished entirely. Then why?

Why did my remains linger?

"N-No, I won't be deceived. Resist the trickery."

Settling onto the tattered mattress, I ripped a piece from the fabric and applied it to my eye. The material swiftly became saturated, turning scarlet as it drank in the flowing blood.

’This location poses great peril. I must swiftly discover an escape route. However...’

I clenched my teeth, averting my gaze from the hanging figure.

Was escape even possible...?

"No, avoid dwelling on that. First, locate the way out. Yes, that's the priority. That's what I—"

"Searching for the exit?"

"——!"

My attention whipped to the side, toward the silhouette positioned near the window where drapes fluttered in the breeze. His countenance stayed obscured by the moving cloth, yet via a slim opening in the fabric, I glimpsed the subtle upturn of his mouth.

"Why seek departure? Moments earlier, you seemed utterly at ease. What drives you to abandon this haven? Does the notion of death trouble you so? But what's amiss with it? As long as you dine, slumber, revel, and pursue every desire, why resist embracing death?"

His words carried the allure of a seductive murmur.

The longer I listened, the more my heart quivered. Right then, the soggy, decrepit setting began to morph, gradually yielding to the well-known lavish ambiance as his murmur echoed anew.

"...What's the purpose of resistance? You're deceased regardless. You... ended your own life. Clearly, existence has been a constant battle for you. Exhaustion weighs heavy. Thus, you opted for respite. And that's perfectly acceptable. Why deny yourself rest? You've earned it."

Creaaaak—

A faint tearing noise resounded distantly as my pulse pounded fiercely within my skull. Simultaneously, the voice murmured in my thoughts again.

"Time to release your grip. Indulge freely. No reason to grasp a futile existence doomed to subjugation by some bizarre force. Remain true to yourself. Reject external dominion. Embrace liberty. Enjo—"

SPURT!

"Aaaakh!!"

Fresh torment seized my senses as I plunged the shard into my thigh. The abrupt wave of suffering almost toppled me while the environment flickered once more.

The drapes swayed at the window anew, but the silhouette had vanished.

I shot a fierce look toward the window.

"You... speak excessively."

***

Clank—!

A rusty metal entrance swung ajar, allowing a group to emerge. Toying with a compact gadget in his grasp, Leon scanned the vicinity with a grin. He stood within a modest dwelling. Nothing appeared unusual about the structure, and glancing back at his entry point revealed only a compact space.

’It must have disappeared.’

He proceeded from the abode, arriving on the deserted avenue of Point Z, surveying the area.

"Looks like we've successfully escaped that trap at last."

He glanced over his shoulder at his team.

A twinge of regret hit him over the loss of two comrades, yet overall, outcomes remained favorable. Clutching the data transmitter, control over the Congress lay within reach.

’Admittedly, the cost was steep.’

Leon brushed his fingers over his eye socket.

It remained absent even now. Still, concern eluded him. He trusted the Menders to devise a remedy. Though eccentric, their skills proved unmatched.

"Time to seek a spot for recovery. The Congress extends a few more days, and meanwhile, we ought to check if we can fi—"

Click!

Leon's face stiffened upon sensing an object jab into the nape of his neck.

Fatigue might have dulled his awareness, for he hadn't detected the approach until then.

After a few blinks, a grin spread across his mouth as he rotated to meet the intense dark gaze confronting him.

"Ah."

He lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender, offering a friendly welcome.

"Well, if it isn't Liora. Quite the dramatic greeting you've chosen."