Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 831: Rain [4]

The rain was heavier the next morning.

It struck the windows along the corridor, running down the glass until the buildings outside were difficult to make out. Even with the lights on, the upper floor seemed darker than the last time Seth came here.

He stopped in front of the Guild Master’s office.

The staff member who brought him upstairs said something before leaving. Seth gave a small nod, although his attention remained on the door.

There wasn’t much to wonder about.

Liora knew about the anomaly. So did the Guild Master.

The Bureau would be next.

For a while, Seth stood without moving. Then his lips slowly curled.

“Stuck, I am once more.”

His voice was quiet.

There was nobody nearby to answer.

He adjusted his sleeve before raising his hand.

To Tok!

“Come in.”

Seth opened the door.

The Guild Master sat behind his desk, with a folder placed directly in front of him. His walking stick rested beside the chair, and a cup stood near his hand.

He wasn’t smiling.

Seth paused near the entrance, looking towards him before closing the door.

Behind the desk, water ran down the wide windows. The city was barely visible through the rain, leaving only a few lights scattered beyond the glass.

“Sit down.”

Seth approached the chair.

He sat carefully, adjusted his position, and rested both hands against the armrests.

The Guild Master watched him.

There were dark circles beneath Seth’s eyes. His face was pale, and when he moved his hand, his fingers trembled slightly before settling again.

But he was still smiling.

“I think I know why you’ve called me here.”

The old man’s attention returned to his face.

“I’m thankful for what you’ve done, and—”

“You mentioned wanting a loan, correct?”

Seth stopped speaking.

For the first time since entering, his expression changed a little.

His brow rose.

“…A loan?”

“Liora told me.”

“Ah.”

Seth looked towards the folder.

Then back at the Guild Master.

“I did.”

“How much were you hoping to borrow?”

“Quite a lot.”

The answer came without hesitation.

The Guild Master rested his hand against the folder, but didn’t open it.

“There are certain conditions attached to those loans. We don’t usually offer them to people outside the Guild.”

Seth remained quiet.

“The arrangement is intended for our members. Since your assignment is temporary, you wouldn’t qualify under the usual terms.”

“Of course.”

He nodded slowly.

His expression settled again, the brief interest disappearing as he looked towards the rain.

A few droplets struck the window harder than the others.

Seth followed one until it joined the water running down the glass.

Then he returned his attention to the desk.

“I understand. If that’s the case—”

His hands pressed against the armrests.

“But what if you weren’t an outsider?”

Seth stopped.

The Guild Master’s hand remained against the folder.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Seth slowly settled back into the chair.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“…..”

The rain filled the silence.

The Guild Master waited, his fingers shifting against the end of the cover.

Eventually, Seth spoke.

“Are you proposing a marriage alliance? I thought they’d only do that in novels.”

The old man’s hand stopped.

Seth continued looking at him.

“…I’m not quite sure it’ll work out.”

The old man’s brows furrowed before they relaxed and he shook his head.

“That isn’t what I’m talking about.”

“Then…?”

The Guild Master lowered his gaze.

He opened the folder, then stopped with his hand resting over the first page.

“I’m…”

The word faded.

Seth waited.

The old man looked up at him again, but whatever he was about to say didn’t come out.

Instead, he reached for his cup.

His fingers touched the handle before withdrawing.

“…..”

Seth’s gaze followed the actions.

Then it returned to his face.

The Guild Master let out a slow breath.

“Have a look at this.”

He took a paper from the folder and placed it on the desk.

For a moment, he kept his hand against it.

Then he pushed it towards Seth.

Seth looked down.

He didn’t reach for it immediately. His attention moved over the first few lines before he leaned forward and picked it up.

The old man stared at his face in silence as Seth quietly read the papers.

His eyes moved down the page, occasionally stopping before continuing. When he reached the bottom, he went back to a section near the middle.

Outside, the wind pushed the rain against the windows.

The sound grew louder.

Seth turned the paper slightly, bringing it closer to the light.

His smile remained.

Only his fingers moved, tightening a little against the lower corner before loosening again.

Eventually, he looked up.

“We’re related?”

The Guild Master’s lips parted.

This time, he didn’t look away.

“I’m your grandfather.”

“…..”

The paper remained in Seth’s hand.

He looked at the old man for several seconds before lowering his gaze towards it again.

There was no immediate question. To the point where it almost felt unsettling as Seth continued to stare at the papers in his hand.

The Guild Master waited while Seth read the same section once more. Each second that passed felt longer than the last.

Then the paper slowly lowered.

Seth placed it between them, smoothing the corner with his thumb before leaning back.

His hands returned to the armrests.

The old man’s attention followed him. He lifted his gaze towards Seth’s face, searching for something that would tell him what to say next.

But Seth only looked back, his smile the same.

The Guild Master felt a rare trace of unease as he stared at Seth’s unchanging expression.

Something about him… felt off.

There were quite a few things he was prepared to explain. Questions he expected, and others he hoped Seth wouldn’t ask yet.

He was even prepared for Seth to get up and leave.

To show some semblance of emotion.

But instead, his grandson remained seated, looking at him as a gust of wind drove the rain against the glass.

Seth’s eyes briefly shifted towards the window.

Then they returned to the desk.

The old man reached for the glass once more, stopping himself again. Taking a small breath, he managed to get a few words out again.

“I understand that this has come out of nowhere, and you must be shocked. There are things I should’ve told you earlier. I wasn’t certain how to approach you, and every time I thought about it…”

He stopped.

Seth was listening.

At least, he appeared to be.

His gaze remained steady, but the old man couldn’t tell what he was taking from the words.

“I understand that this might be difficult for you, but—”

“How much?”

The old man stopped.

“…Huh?”

Seth looked straight at him, no change in his expression. He felt there, but also not.

For the first time in a very long time, the Guild Master felt something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

He felt…

“How much can you lend me?”

Unsettled.