Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 587: Mirror [2]

Clutching my leg, the hands exerted force, pulling me toward the reflective surface. I maintained my composure despite the circumstances. Ignoring the stinging sensation as my hand scraped the timber floorboards, I redirected my focus toward the cloth I had lowered only moments ago.

Without a second thought, I extended my hand, triggering [Trait Transfer]. A dark, translucent film enveloped my fingers, stretching out until it grasped the fabric. With a sharp flick, I launched the cloth toward the mirror, successfully shrouding the upper half.

“——!”

The reaction was instantaneous. Several of the grasping hands vanished into nothingness, and the resistance against me waned significantly. Seizing the opportunity, I shoved myself backward, driving my heels against the floor.

The Realmwalker remained persistent, grasping at me once more, yet I barely managed to break free from its icy hold.

Even so, my pulse remained elevated, and my lungs burned as I gasped for air, keeping my eyes fixed on the partially concealed mirror.

Observing my own reflection, it glared at me with hostility. My heart hammered against my ribs, fueled by the residual adrenaline pulsing through my veins.

Had that mirror been the origin of the hell I was thrust into?

My logic pointed to that conclusion, yet significant gaps remained in my understanding.

For the moment—

RATTLE! RATTLE!

Abruptly, the mirror began to shake violently. The entire structure of the house groaned in unison, and rhythmic thuds resonated from beneath the floorboards. Was it people? I paid no mind, focusing instead on the multitude of hands reaching out. I activated [Trait Transfer] once more, invoking the second ability of the Realmwalker.

The hands dissolved from my sight as I surrendered to the shadows, shifting rapidly behind the mirror before manifesting again. I snagged the cloth, pulling it taut to completely muffle the reflective surface.

My movements were precise and ruthless, giving the mirror no time to counter.

Swoosh!

A sudden stillness descended.

The rattling ceased, and the noises from below hit a dead stop.

A heavy, suffocating silence filled the room, and I maintained a tense posture with my hand gripping the mirror’s frame, scanning every shadow and corner. My eyes roamed from the wardrobe to the open window and the doorway before eventually dropping to the floor, where something caught my attention.

With my torch handed back by the Realmwalker, I lowered the light, observing a feeble reflection glimmering on the floor. My breath hitched as I realized what it was.

I recalled the moment I had hurled the chair at the glass. I could only offer a grim smile as the jagged shard vibrated, my reflection staring back at me from the ground.

Refusing to flinch, I reached down and snatched up the piece.

The fragment shuddered in my grip, my reflection appearing to whisper something, yet I silenced it through exertion of my will—

[Containment Vessel]

I successfully deployed my first node once again.

***

Initially, she had been oblivious to the irregularities.

No... that was not entirely accurate. Seraphine had detected them. She had archived those specific details in her mind, but by the time she moved to investigate, she found herself completely isolated.

Thus, she wandered for what felt like hours. Whether the duration was precise didn't matter.

Crucially—

Rather than succumbing to fear or intimidation, Seraphine found the environment intriguing, attempting to decipher the mechanics governing the maze.

“Illusionist Decree? That seems the most plausible explanation, given everything I have uncovered regarding the ano— hm?”

Coming to a halt, Seraphine cast her gaze upward. Through the swirling mist, the silhouette of a sprawling two-story residence manifested, looming against the bleak horizon.

Her eyes narrowed upon sight of it.

The house emitted an unsettling vibration.

As she stood still, the nodes within her flared, reacting to a power hidden beneath the surface.

She didn't hesitate for long.

Seraphine advanced purposefully. Oddly, a specific figure crossed her mind, though she quickly dismissed the thought as absurd.

Her hand reached for the frigid doorknob—

The moment she touched it, reality shifted.

“Hm?”

RATTLE!

The house trembled violently. Her expression hardened; she threw the door open and stepped inside, sweeping the interior with keen observation. Dark tendrils unfurled beneath her, snaking around the furniture to probe the depths of the room.

Then, she slowly gazed upward.

“It must be there.”

With her internal nodes pulsating, Seraphine ascended to the second level. Her passage was silent, her eyes darting across the hallway to catalogue every detail.

Finally, her focus settled on a lone door.

She moved toward it without delay.

As she neared, the atmosphere grew heavy, a sinister pressure prickling against her senses. It was potent enough to disturb even her tranquil heart.

Just as she reached for the door—

The pressure ceased.

Everything vanished. The rattling stopped, and the presence evaporated. A suffocating silence claimed the house.

Seraphine stood frozen, her eyes boring into the wood, her heightened senses screaming for caution. Slowly, she gripped the handle. After a beat, she pulled.

A piercing creak shattered the silence.

Craaaaaak—

Seraphine leaned in, her gaze adjusting to the gloom. She surveyed the wardrobe, the window fluttering with a cold draft, and the sparse room contents.

Finally, her eyes locked onto the figure standing to the right.

He stood immobile, holding an object, his form blending into the darkness. Sensing her presence, he turned his head.

Dull, lifeless eyes met hers.

For a fleeting second, Seraphine’s heart faltered, and her grip on the door slackened. However, she instantly regained her composure, her face returning to a mask of apathy.

Seth’s facial muscles twitched before relaxing, and he offered a faint smile.

“Oh.”

He discarded the object in his hand. Seraphine’s gaze descended to see a mirror shard clattering against the floor.

“It seems you finally tracked down the house,” Seth said, rubbing the fatigue from beneath his eyes. “Good. Although, I have already taken care of things.”

He gestured toward the covered mirror behind him. “See? Handled.”

Before she could challenge him with a question, Seth’s intense stare silenced her. Seeing the sincerity in his expression, Seraphine pressed her lips together; she realized he had no reason to deceive her.

Suddenly—

BRRR!

Something buzzed in their pockets. They exchanged a look and pulled out identical devices, glancing at the screens.

“Ah,” Seth remarked, stowing his device and looking back at her. “Time certainly flies. This is a timely notification.”

He turned to the shrouded object, piling several heavy cloths over it before hoisting the bundle beneath his arm with surprising ease.

“This will suffice.”

Without another word, he strode past her, his gait steady and devoid of interest, never glancing back.

Seraphine lingered in the doorway, her gaze fixed on the small screen in her hand. A soft green glow illuminated the message:

[Gather back. The Congress will be ending shortly.]