Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 644: Headache [2]

Not much distinguished this day from the one before it. Beyond a palpable sense of urgency, circumstances remained largely unchanged. Everyone had dispersed to gather intelligence on the unfolding situation.

Having already concluded my interrogations of all individuals of interest, there was no longer a need for further questioning. The others’ focus shifted entirely to uncovering more clues related to the 'convention'.

I glanced at the time.

Tik. Tik—!

It read [12:08 P.M]

"What do you reckon...?"

My gaze settled on the towering, gaunt figure before me. Simultaneously, I produced the compass.

Its needle swung, indicating a specific direction.

"I have a notion of where we need to go. Shall I proceed...? From what I can discern, this appears to be the work of some sort of low-level cultist. I believe I can manage this entire affair solo. Since the compass guides me to the precise location, I intend to go there and resolve the situation myself."

"...And what makes you so sure the compass won't lead you astray?"

"Because I can also feel that something is occurring in the direction it indicates. As I perceive it, the 'convention' is situated somewhere near the shard."

The shard was among the more 'prominent' structures that had once been part of this locale.

'On second thought, there was one in London too, back in my original world. Yet, none of the architecture here resembles anything British. Perhaps everything was rebuilt from the ground up.'

It mattered little now, in any case.

"I'm considering heading there immediately to surprise the cultist. With your assistance, we should be able to conclude this matter swiftly."

"...."

The Conductor remained motionless, absorbing my words. It simply observed me with amusement, its lips stretching wider with each sentence I uttered, until the threads finally gave way, and its mouth opened into a broad grin.

I found myself intrigued as I watched him.

"Do you reattach your threads yourself when I'm not looking, or—"

"You should wait."

The Conductor’s voice interrupted me, causing me to pause and frown.

"Wait? What do you mean, wait?"

"Exactly as I said. You should wait."

"Why?"

"Because the cultist or organization is in the midst of preparing something. Wouldn't you prefer to witness what they are preparing?"

"Ah...?"

"It might be connected to what you are seeking. I also suspect there's a strong possibility you could uncover something significant if you simply wait."

"But that would elevate the danger to myself."

"And...?"

The Conductor tilted its head.

"What if the challenges become greater? Isn't that more enjoyable?"

Is it...

I contemplated for a moment before finally breaking into a smile.

"Well, I suppose you have a valid point."

I checked my watch once more.

Tik. Tik—!

It was [12:11 P.M]

My smile vanished.

"...This is going to be quite amusing."

***

Cedrick, accompanied by his associates, spent the entirety of the day traversing the Western District, investigating various locales and inquiring about a specific 'convention.' This time, their exploration was undertaken independently, without the presence of a certain individual.

The group felt a sense of relief, as if they could finally breathe freely.

"Honestly, yesterday was quite overwhelming. It feels considerably better to handle things in this manner. It was almost like walking on treacherous ice."

One of the group members remarked, prompting Olive to halt and glance back.

He rubbed the side of his cheek.

"You're not wrong. However, it wasn't primarily due to feeling pressured, but rather because it seemed as though our contributions weren't truly necessary. He handled everything while we merely observed, acting as guides. Frankly, I didn't particularly care for that dynamic."

In a sense, Oliver possessed his own sense of pride. They were all elite members of one of the most prominent guilds on the island—a King-Grade Guild. Despite none of them being rankers, they still held their own self-respect. To have achieved so little and primarily served as escorts...

"...But I must concede that his capabilities were truly remarkable."

Olive sighed, his gaze drifting towards the familiar complex in the distance. Brushing away some of the perspiration from his brow, he resumed walking towards the compound with the rest of the group.

"Today, we dedicated the entire day to seeking any hint regarding this peculiar 'convention,' yet we haven't uncovered anything of significance. To be candid, it feels as though we've squandered our entire day, leading me to ponder..." Oliver paused, then added, "Had he been with us as before, would we have reached a conclusion?"

His words were met with silence, as no one offered a response.

In a way, the quietude served as a tacit agreement. No one uttered a word, yet they all shared the same sentiment.

Cedrick felt no differently, following the group wordlessly. However, as he walked, he involuntarily stopped, his eyes narrowing as he turned his head in a particular direction, sensing an intangible 'gaze' directed towards him.

His eyes fixated on a specific structure, honing in on a particular window marred by a visible crack.

Cedrick’s stare remained fixed on that spot, but as the daylight began to wane, his ability to discern details diminished.

He only halted his observation when the Squad Leader's voice cut through the air. "We've arrived. Let's all take a moment to rest. We've been out the entire day. Grab some dinner and get to bed early. I'll debrief with the Team Leader regarding the situation and our findings."

"Roger that."

"...Understood."

The group dispersed, each member retreating into the compound.

Cedrick was the last to enter, his head swiveling back towards the building just once more before he finally turned away. He proceeded in silence towards his own personal quarters, a modest one-bedroom apartment. Though the space was unremarkable, the instant he stepped inside, he couldn't help but falter.

A chilling draft snaked into the room, raising goosebumps along his skin as he observed the billowing curtains, the window carelessly left ajar. By this point, the sun had completely set, and an eerie darkness pooled just beyond the drapes as Cedrick stood near the doorway.

'I don't recall leaving the window open. Was it room cleaning...?'

Cedrick walked over to the window and secured it. He turned back moments later, intending to retire for the night, but just as he prepared to move, he froze, his head snapping back involuntarily.

"....."

He was met with the sight of a blank wall.

His brows knitted together in confusion.

"What's happening to me? Am I just exhausted?"

"Nope."

A voice whispered near his ear a moment later. His eyebrows shot up as he spun around abruptly, but it was already too late. The room seemed to collapse into itself with darkness, and his body hit the floor with a soft thud.

Thump!

*

"Haa. Haa."

The ragged, unsteady cadence of his breathing filled the silence.

Each inhalation felt more burdensome than the last, the atmosphere oppressively dry.

A profound sense of suffocation permeated the space.

The deeper he breathed, the more intense this feeling became.

And then, suddenly—

"Huaa!"

His eyes flew open, the lingering darkness receding as he was immersed in the faint amber glow of candles, a dim, warm light spreading outwards. Cedrick slowly lifted his head, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of chamber, candles meticulously placed all around him, and a peculiar symbol intricately carved into the floor beneath him.

"W-where..."

Step. Step—!

The distinct, uneven sound of approaching footsteps echoed, drawing Cedrick's attention. The wooden door in the distance creaked open, and a solitary figure made its entrance.

The instant the figure crossed the threshold, Cedrick caught his breath.

"...Not entirely prepared, but I suppose this will suffice for now. Since he is arriving tomorrow, I must endeavor to offer him the most fitting welcome."

Suddenly stopping, the figure paused, and Cedrick's eyes widened in disbelief.

"W-what... H-how..? How can it be you...?"