Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 604: Obsidian Bastion [1]

Throughout the day, my mind kept returning to Zoey's words spoken to me. The more I dwelled on them, the angrier and more irritated I grew.

They irritated me far beyond my initial expectations.

Admittedly, I had been negligent.

In the midst of all that had befallen me, I had totally overlooked Kyle's vanishing. Knowing full well he was secure, I never mourned it. I could understand her seeing my behavior as devoid of compassion.

Yet her statements couldn't be further from the truth.

I genuinely cared.

"Are you ready to listen to me?"

I gazed at the figure seated across from me. His eyes lacked focus, and his hair was utterly disheveled. Even while I addressed him, he showed no sign of registering my words.

I drew in a deep breath.

'He's incredibly obstinate.'

"Listen, I get your worries, but I'm not the killer you believe me to be. It's true my choices indirectly caused numerous deaths, but that was beyond my control. I merely acted to stay alive."

"....."

Gritting my teeth in silence, I inhaled deeply.

"....Do you realize I was once a test subject in the orphanage?"

A faint change flickered across Kyle’s face.

I hadn’t shared that earlier, fearing it would disturb his thoughts, but with events unfolding like this, coming clean was the right move.

"The orphanage served as a front for a massive cult aiming to craft the ideal vessel for a demon to manifest on Earth. I was that vessel. What I did stemmed from needing to exorcise the demon, which later possessed you. I had... no alternative but to treat you as I did to banish the demon. I—"

"So why didn't you let me remain dead?"

Kyle’s interruption cut my words short.

Lifting my gaze to meet his, a huge lump seemed to choke my throat, particularly upon seeing his look.

"You... went through with your actions, but why not let me stay dead? Why inflict this on me?"

"That's..."

Obviously, because I refused to let you die!

"You robbed me of my humanity."

Kyle rasped, his voice rough.

"...I know the dangers of this work. Each day, I brace myself to stake my life on it. You, more than anyone, should understand that. In truth, you above all should grasp my reasons for it."

I went rigid.

I should know...?

How?

How could I possibly know?

You’re—

"And yet..."

BANG!

Kyle shot to his feet, slamming his palm on the table and fixing me with a fierce stare.

"...You transformed me into the exact thing I loathe the most!!"

His roar echoed through the room as I stared at him in shock.

"You...! You damn well turned me into what I hate with every fiber of my being! Death doesn't scare me, not at all. But why turn me into this?! Why!?"

His yells kept resounding across the space.

Helplessly, I watched his features twist right before me, at a loss for a reply. That moment brought sudden clarity.

Just as I wasn't the Seth he remembered, he wasn't the Kyle I recalled.

It mirrored Zoey's case.

I'd presumed full knowledge of her as my game's creation, yet soon learned differences existed. Here, I'd repeated the error with Kyle.

He...

"I hate you."

Kyle’s cold stare pierced me, freezing my heart solid.

He didn't shout it.

He merely murmured it. Yet that whisper struck deeper than any yell.

"...You've morphed into the very force that pushed me into this career," he continued. "From where I stand, you'll soon follow the same path, slaughtering more innocents. You'll pin it on your plight, shirk all blame, and repeat the cycle."

Kyle’s features hardened.

"Bring back the real Seth."

He scowled as he spat the demand, his face sharpening with fierce resolve. Suddenly, he bellowed again, shattering the oppressive quiet blanketing the room.

"BRING HIM B—"

With a wave of my hand, his form vanished from view.

Silence descended once more, pierced solely by my heaving breaths. My chest rose and fell in short, frantic gasps as the rush ebbed away, replaced by an icy void within.

Unknowingly, my gaze shifted to the shattered mirror.

There, my reflection stared back, rooting me in place.

My face.

...It looked downright horrifying.

***

Obsidian Bastion Guild.

Chaos reigned within the Guild. The World Congress outcomes blindsided every top Guild, and with an obscure Guild surging to the Rankings' peak, the leaders buzzed with worry.

Yet one topic dominated all talk.

"We must find means to enlist him."

"Even with his fresh Guild contract, snatching him remains feasible. Rival major Guilds are already advancing."

"Actually, joining us would serve his interests best. Trouble looms otherwise."

A voice hushed the gathering abruptly.

Seated with composure, Konrad Micheals, Hoarding Department's Section Chief, eyed Kaelric directly.

"His moves, alongside the Guild's, have irked several powerhouse Guilds—especially those swayed by Ariel. Backlash from her deeds lingers heavily. The strain on our Guild is immense. Don't get me started on Helios Vanguard."

Helios Vanguard's name paled a few faces. All had witnessed the Congress finale and Leon's fallout. Though still elite, his standing had crumbled.

This wasn't Seth’s doing, yet the Guild seethed regardless.

"Helios Vanguard's response remains unknown, but their influence will crush Severed Stars Guild. Thus, offloading Seth aligns with their gain. The new contract likely hikes his worth. Thoughts?"

Konrad’s lips thinned as he watched the mute Kaelric.

Tap!

Finally, with a finger tap on the table, Kaelric responded.

"...We won't push it."

His quiet declaration shifted some expressions.

Yet before objections arose, he pressed on.

"I intend to invite him personally. We'll gauge his reply then."