Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 610: Internal Meeting [1]

"...Are you Zoey from the Severed Stars Guild?"

Out of the blue, the question startled her. Zoey had been waiting near the café by the Guild when a voice hailed her, causing her to halt abruptly.

As she whipped her head around, her features tensed up at the sight of a woman sporting oversized sunglasses.

Puzzled, Zoey scanned the surroundings before inquiring,

"You are...?"

"Ah, right."

The woman tipped her glasses down just a bit, and Zoey’s expression froze solid while her eyes popped wide open simultaneously.

"Y-you..."

"That’s not quite important at the moment."

Sliding her sunglasses back into position, Liora headed to the counter and got two drinks. Zoey gawked at her retreating form in a stupor, her brain scrambling to make sense of it all. This had to be Liora Halecrest of the Obsidian Bastion Guild, didn’t it? Zoey had laid eyes on her plenty of times. Absolutely no mistake—this was Liora herself.

But why...?

Why was she here?

Why had she shown up out of nowhere?

Totally bewildered, Zoey soon composed herself as countless possibilities raced through her head.

Ultimately, her face settled back to neutrality.

Zoey wasn’t foolish. She felt sure Liora had come for Seth, and the earlier thrill she’d sensed faded away entirely.

Glancing over her shoulder, Liora motioned to a quieter table while balancing two drinks in one hand.

"Please."

Zoey trailed after her in silence.

Once seated, rays of sunlight streamed over the wooden surface as Liora peeked at the big windows before handing Zoey one of the drinks.

"Thanks."

Without hesitation, Zoey accepted it and took a light sip before meeting Liora’s gaze.

Still in her sunglasses, she tucked her long black hair behind her ears.

"Judging from your expression, you seem to have an idea as to what I want to ask you."

"I more or less have an idea, yes."

Zoey answered steadily.

"You’re here to ask about Seth, right?"

"Mhm."

Liora sipped her beverage.

Then, she fixed her eyes on Zoey.

"You’re right. Are the two of you close?"

"To some extent."

No, not really.

Their bond hovered more toward acquaintances than true friends. They might have edged closer once upon a time, but now? Not even close.

Still, Zoey wondered.

What was her angle?

"To some extent?"

Liora’s eyebrows knit together, as if expecting more from Zoey, yet all she got was a faint smile.

"Hmm."

Tapping her finger on the table, Liora pondered in silence, the hush between them growing before she broke it.

"Well, I guess that’s fine."

Raising her gaze to Zoey once more, Liora continued, "I’m not asking for help with recruiting Seth, if that is what you’re worried about. The reason why I’m speaking with you is that I need your help determining something."

"What?"

"He’s sick."

Liora stated evenly.

"...But I don’t know the extent of his injury."

Zoey froze mid-motion.

Meanwhile, Liora kept talking.

"I’m sure that you’ve heard about the situation from the Congress, but he’s sick. I am of the belief that his node is fractured in multiple areas. If it doesn’t get treated soon, then things will become rather bad for him. That’s why—"

"Why are you concerned about him?"

Zoey cut in abruptly, her brows clenched tight.

"You... do you have a sort of relationship with him? Why are you suddenly asking him about him and trying to determine the extent of his injury? Realistically speaking, the two of you should be strangers. So why...? Why are you asking about him?"

"Because he’s talented."

Liora replied coolly, utterly unshaken by Zoey’s pointed queries.

"It would be a pity for such a talented person to die. Especially when it’s become increasingly clear that the Gates are becoming stronger, and so are the anomalies. At the rate that things are going, we’re all headed for extinction."

Zoey’s mouth opened, but no words came out as she watched Liora rise.

"Take this."

Liora pushed a compact device across the table.

"...It’s a simple device that can measure the extent of his ’illness’. All you have to do is drop a little bit of his blood."

Zoey eyed the device, then Liora.

"I’m only doing this because I’m concerned for the future. It is up to you to do this. I have already reached out to a few others, but he doesn’t seem to be too keen on getting tested. For his sake, he should get himself tested. I’m sure you’ve also noticed some of the side effects he’s exhibiting."

Zoey kept her face impassive, her thoughts wandering over recent events as she compressed her lips.

’Right, maybe that’s also why...’

With that, Liora departed without another word.

Zoey stayed put, her gaze fixed on the device before she finally grabbed her drink.

"Did I..."

Her lips met the straw.

"...Did I fuck up again?"

***

"What should I do with these? Should I just give them to Sarah?"

I flung the pills from Liora onto my desk and slumped into my chair. Truth be told, I wondered how well they worked, but no chance was I testing them out.

I remained totally in the dark about their true aims and intentions in spilling all this. I knew nothing came without strings, and though they’d ’struck’ a deal with the Guild Master, the specifics escaped me.

I trusted nobody.

"...Alright."

Stretching out, I pulled my laptop close and powered it on.

Back home now, it was time to kick off the next phase of my scheme.

But barely had the laptop begun loading when a knock echoed sharply.

To Tok—!

Right away, the door swung open, revealing a face I knew well.

"Rowan?"

He still looked worn out, yet better off than earlier, managing a strained smile.

"You free?"

"I... am?"

My response lagged a second as my stare clung to the laptop display.

Rowan swept back his hair and jerked a thumb backward.

"We’ve all been summoned to the main hall. The Section Chief wants to address everyone about the Congress and some other matters. It’s not mandatory for you, but you ought to come. Especially since..."

Rowan hesitated, his features twisting.

"...Especially since he’s going to be talking about Kyle."

"Ah."

I dipped my head, lips pressing thin, feigning some emotion.

"Right."

Rising, I shut the laptop and headed toward Rowan.

"...Right, right."

Rubbing my mouth, I stepped from the room.

’How annoying.’