Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 769: Return [2]

⎯Still nothing from Claude’s team?

Secretary Kim moved the phone against his ear while looking over the technician’s shoulder. Several camera feeds filled the monitor, showing different areas around the Gate.

"There’s been no direct contact. The scouts are still searching for them."

The Secretary replied over the phone, the Section Chief’s voice following right after.

⎯And their condition?

"All four are showing normal vital signs. There haven’t been any sudden changes since they entered."

⎯That’s good.

The Secretary used the opportunity to check the display beside the camera feeds. The numbers had risen again, prompting the technician to compare them against the previous readings.

"The Gate’s output is still increasing."

The technician mumbled, his brows creasing slowly as he went through the numbers displayed on the monitor.

"The current estimate remains B-Rank, but it’s getting closer to A. The BUA might take over soon."

Overhearing the technician, the Section Chief’s tone lowered.

⎯Let me know when there’s confirmation. Until then, don’t give the reporters another reason to panic. I’m going to reassure the BUA that we’ve got the situation under control.

Kim glanced towards the barriers, where two reporters were arguing with a Guild member about how far back they needed to stand.

More vehicles had arrived while he’d been on the phone, and several cameras were already broadcasting the scene.

"That might be difficult."

⎯Then give them something useful instead. The rescue team should be arriving shortly. Have them bring Claude and the others out before the situation starts to get out of control.

"What about the other Guilds?"

⎯Don’t worry about them. We’ll get this sorted before they can cause any trouble.

"I understand."

⎯Get this done quickly.

The call ended shortly afterward, leaving the Secretary staring at the display for another moment before putting his phone away.

A black car approached from the southern road, slowing as it reached the vehicles parked near the barriers. Kim recognized the department insignia before the doors opened, and his shoulders relaxed slightly as four people stepped out.

The Hoarding Department had more elite members than any other department in the Guild. Even after sending Claude’s team, Johansberg still had people capable of handling something like this.

At the front was Damien Kross, the squad’s captain, a tall man with dark hair and the relaxed expression of someone who rarely seemed concerned by what was waiting for him. Beside him walked Irene Stahl, one of the department’s senior field agents, her attention already moving across the Gate and monitoring equipment.

Apparently, the reporters recognized them too.

"Are you the rescue squad?"

Damien turned towards the question while adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.

He had barely moved away from the car before another microphone appeared beside the first.

His expression didn’t change much as he replied.

"We’re here to assess the situation and assist the people already inside. This isn’t a rescue mission, and nobody is missing."

"Is that so? But from what we’ve gathered, you’ve lost contact with them."

"And? This is normal."

Damien smiled faintly as the reporter tried asking another question.

"Claude knows what he’s doing. I’m sure he’s already found something useful by now."

"Then why has another team been sent?"

Irene looked towards the enormous Gate before answering.

"This is standard protocol. We don’t just send one team to handle everything. Scouts and inspection squads are always sent to aid the inner teams."

Several cameras immediately turned towards her.

She didn’t seem bothered, her attention briefly passing over the monitoring equipment before settling on Kyle and Zoey.

"The Guild has people suited to different tasks. Once a situation reaches this level, it’s better to leave it to those equipped to deal with it."

Kyle’s brow furrowed.

Although she didn’t make it obvious, it was clear that her words were meant to target him.

A reporter noticed where Irene was looking.

"Are you saying the investigation was mishandled?"

"I’m saying we’re here now."

"...That’s enough."

The Secretary caught Damien by the sleeve before he could add anything and guided him towards the equipment. The others followed, leaving several unfinished questions behind them as Guild personnel moved to keep the reporters from coming closer.

"You can speak to them afterward."

The Secretary added, pushing the team away from the reporters.

"Preferably once this entire situation is handled."

Damien’s smile remained, his attention shifting towards the monitor.

"Then tell us what we need to know."

Kim brought up the latest report and pointed towards the camera feeds.

"The second scouting group entered through this section. Their vital signs are stable, but they haven’t located Claude’s team or the first batch of scouts. The interior resembles the original school, although we can’t rely on the old floor plans."

"Do we have a confirmed route back out?"

"Only as far as they’ve checked."

Damien leaned forward and followed the marked route across the screen. Behind him, the other members began checking their equipment, their earlier conversation stopping as Kim went through the reports.

Kyle watched them for a while before looking away.

They weren’t incapable. That was what made dealing with the Hoarding Department so irritating. Any member of the Hoarding Department could work in any other department and become their star recruit.

They weren’t as smart, but they could easily brute force their way out of many situations.

"You’re going to burn holes in their backs at this rate."

Zoey nudged Kyle’s back, prompting him to look away.

"I’m thinking."

"About what?"

"...Well, the entire situation."

He looked towards the Gate again, trying to feel anything from Seth.

His connection was still thin, but that wasn’t what bothered him. With each second that passed, he was growing more and more irritated.

Every second he spent there felt like an eternity for him.

He was so occupied by his thoughts that he didn’t notice the expression on Zoey’s face as she looked at him. Eventually, her lips parted.

"Did you know?"

"Hm?"

Kyle looked at Zoey, their eyes meeting.

And for just a moment, a strange silence settled between the two.

Until⎯

"Hm?"

"...?"

Both suddenly turned to face the Gate as something pulsed in the air.

The change was slight at first, barely noticeable beneath the distortion already covering the school. Then, another pulse swept out from the direction of the Gate.

"Secretary."

Someone called out for the Secretary, who had long since started paying attention to the Gate.

The new arrivals stopped checking their equipment and moved apart, giving themselves room as the Gate warped again. Damien’s expression lost its earlier amusement while Irene raised one hand towards the reporters.

"Stay behind the barriers."

Someone shouted for the cameras to turn, and several reporters began speaking at once.

Kyle barely heard them. The school was becoming visible, its roof gradually emerging through the darkened surface before he could make out the broken upper windows and the trees along the road.

"It’s fading!"

The technician leaned over the monitor, his fingers moving rapidly as the readings changed.

"The boundary’s losing stability. Output is dropping!"

"What about the scouts?"

The Secretary asked immediately.

"Still normal... All four of them."

Kim stared at the screen before slowly lifting his head, a smile appearing across his face.

"...As expected, they cleared it."

Damien let out a soft breath and lowered his hand.

"I guess we came here for nothing."

"He could’ve saved us the trip," Irene muttered, watching the school emerge. "At least they’re not completely useless."

The Secretary said nothing. He was already reaching for his phone while the reporters pushed closer to the barriers, their voices louder than ever.

"Has the Gate been cleared?"

"Was it the Clean Up crew?"

"Can you confirm the missing personnel is safe?"

The Gate drew back across the road before the Secretary could answer. The main gates of the school reappeared beside the large building that made up the school.

"Look!"

"Oh my god! That’s...!"

That was also the moment something came into view for everyone present, and as the Gate shrank further, a figure became visible near the entrance.

"What the..."

The Secretary lowered his phone slightly as he stared at the figure, his expression changing for the worse as he noticed the bodies behind the figure, lying across the ground.

One wore a scout’s uniform, his equipment still secured around his chest, while several others wore the familiar insignia of the Hoarding Department.

He instantly recognized them.

Claude lay on his side with one arm folded beneath him, while a little farther away, Rena remained motionless beside the others. Her chest rose faintly beneath her clothes.

Neither was the person standing.

The Secretary’s expression changed with each passing second, turning extremely dark.

Beside him, the new squad stood completely still, their attention moving between the unconscious bodies and the man standing before them.

"Seth...?"

Click! Click! Click!

The rapid clicking of cameras flooded the area.

Seth stood alone in front of the others, his hair and clothes rather clean.

He seemed to finally notice how many people were watching.

His gaze moved across the cameras, the Guild vehicles, and the people gathered behind the barriers.

Click! Click! Click!

Then the reporters surged forward.

Guild personnel barely had time to react before microphones appeared from every direction, cameras lifting above shoulders as questions began overlapping one another.

"Seth! What happened inside?"

"Are those members of the Hoarding Department?"

"Did you clear the Gate?"

"What happened to Claude’s team?"

"Why were you the only one standing?"

"Are they injured?"

"Did you defeat whatever was inside? We weren’t made aware of your presence. Does the appearance of this Gate have anything to do with you!?"

Several reporters pushed against the Guild members trying to hold them back, while others moved around the sides in an attempt to get a clearer view of Seth and the bodies behind him.

"Seth! Over here!"

"Can you tell us what happened?"

"Did the Hoarding Department fail the mission?"

"What exactly happened inside that school?"

For several seconds, Seth simply stared at the swarm of microphones and cameras rapidly closing in around him.

Then he slowly lifted his head towards the open sky, his shoulders easing as a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Stuck..."

His voice drifted quietly, bringing everyone to a momentary silence.

Then⎯

"...That, I no longer am."