Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 611: Internal Meeting [2]

The whole Kyle fiasco was growing increasingly irritating to me. I comprehended Kyle's worries and the root of his rage, yet why wouldn't he simply hear me out? I longed to communicate, but he stubbornly wouldn't listen.

No words from me appeared to have any effect.

I wished to resolve matters, yet he showed no desire to.

I felt utterly helpless.

And at this point...? I was compelled to follow along with the absurd events unfolding, faking sorrow for him despite knowing full well he was unharmed.

"How are you feeling?"

Rowan's voice softly drifted to me as we proceeded toward the central hall. Meeting his eyes, I faked bowing my head while replying, "...He’s still fine. I’m not worried."

"I see."

Rowan placed a hand on my shoulder, his gaze filled with sympathy.

I could merely receive his pitying stare with my head downcast.

"Kuek."

"Ah, it’ll be okay."

"...Y-yes."

I gritted my teeth, suppressing the urge to laugh. Strangely, this absurd scenario had me on the verge of chuckling.

Finally, we entered a spacious chamber littered with chairs, folks seated all around. The instant we crossed the threshold, silence blanketed the space as every eye fixed upon me.

The weight of those stares unsettled me deeply, though I kept my face impassive, head lowered, as I claimed a seat.

That sensation remained unchanged.

Whether before or now, it always hit me the same way.

Reclining in my chair, I stayed mute, uttering nothing while the room filled with more arrivals—from known faces like Ariel and the rest, to Clara, and finally Zoey.

Every key figure in the Guild gathered for the assembly, Catherine arriving last, her expression shifting faintly upon locking eyes with me. Disdain radiated from her gaze.

"Ehm. Can I have everyone’s attention?"

Capturing the room's focus, the Section Chief positioned himself upfront, his locks disheveled as always, stubble thicker than usual. His weary appearance suggested scant rest.

Not that sleep came easily to him anyway.

"I won’t take much time. I’m sure everyone is busy."

Once quiet settled, the Section Chief cleared his throat once more, shifting aside to let the projector's beam strike the rear wall.

"Anyways, I would like to first congratulate everyone for their achievements during the Congress. Thanks to everything you guys have achieved, I now have more work. A... round of applause."

Clap! Clap!

His were the sole claps resounding.

Moreover, they rang out weakly.

"...Setting that aside, I am here to tell you not to become arrogant after our recent success. If anything, you should be a lot more cautious. Now that our name has started to spread, we’ll start to become targeted by the other Guilds. We’ve attracted a lot of attention."

The Section Chief's glance briefly touched me. Subtle though it was, I sensed it and shut my eyes.

Truthfully, such a warning was unnecessary for me.

I was fully cognizant of my predicament.

I nearly let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, although I say all this, you all shouldn’t worry too much. With our newfound fame, we’ve also drawn quite a bit of interest from sponsors and other potential investors. We’re planning to upgrade the Guild and bring in new hires very soon. As things progress, we shouldn’t be too worried about the major guilds."

"New hires...?"

"We’re getting more people?"

Murmurs instantly rippled through the gathering. Even I raised my head at this unforeseen revelation.

This development caught me off guard. Still, it stood to reason—the Guild's growth demanded fresh talent amid rising funds and renown. Talented applicants would surely flock soon.

"So, that brings us to the main topic at hand."

The Section Chief scanned the crowd.

"...We need a few people to overlook the entrance examination for the new recruits."

At length, his eyes rested on me.

In that moment, clarity struck.

"We plan to select recruits in the coming weeks. For that, we’ll choose a group of people to oversee the entire process. They’ll be responsible for inspecting and selecting members based on their own tests. We won’t do much. In a way, this is also a test for you guys."

I held my breath.

"...This will be a way to determine who is fit to become a Team Leader."

*

Recruit --> Squad Leader --> Team Leader --> Section Chief --> Guild Master.

These constituted the hierarchy in a Guild. Exceptions existed, like 'star' recruits rivaling or surpassing Squad Leaders, but generally, these held true.

A recruit remained basic, whereas a Squad Leader commanded a unit of several recruits.

Team Leaders oversaw multiple squads, however.

Distinct from recruits and Squad Leaders, they possessed elevated access, often engaging in covert operations unknown to others. Team Leaders seldom lingered at the Guild.

They appeared sporadically, otherwise handling mysterious affairs.

This aspect had long piqued my intense curiosity.

Suddenly, a promotion opportunity emerged.

More precisely, the Guild Master had orchestrated this path to Team Leader status. Direct elevation wasn't feasible, but he could engineer the chance.

This signaled: 'Advance swiftly.'

Though the abrupt push's intent eluded me, securing it was imperative. Squad Leader rank meant greater authority and access, revealing more about the world and bible-related mysteries.

Glancing about, temptation gripped others too.

Numerous familiar visages betrayed their allure to the prospect.

"Before anyone jumps the gun, I’m just stating that this is a stage to see whether you’re qualified to become one. There’s no guarantee that anyone will become a Team Leader after this. In any case, we’ve already put together a list of people we want for the selection process. Soon, you’ll all receive details on your phones about how we want you to test the ’new’ recruits."

The Section Chief droned on about standards for minutes thereafter. In truth, my focus had waned long before, awaiting his conclusion as his gaze returned our way.

His demeanor shifted.

"...That’s enough from me. Now that I’ve gotten over that part, I’d like to spend some time to remember the unfortunate ones that weren’t able to make it during the Congress."

Stoic as his features stayed, a faint tremor crossed his face before he bowed his head. Kyle's photo then flashed on the projector, hushing the room completely.

I remained still, eyes fixed on the wall's projection.

The Section Chief's words murmured distantly, and in quiet contemplation of the image, a realization dawned.

Nothing stirred within me.

Did knowledge of his survival cause this?

No, that wasn't it.

Surveying faces around, then dropping my gaze, I sensed my heart utterly void. No... almost. Buried deep, a faint emotion lingered.

I...

"Pftttt—"